Between 1860 and 1960 the river Thames was reduced to sewer status. Deprived of oxygen due to shit eating bacteria, the river's London reaches formed an impassable barrier to fish. The government declared the Thames biologically dead in the 1950s and various groups have worked to rehabilitate it since then. London's sewage-treatment facilities have been enlarged and improved, which is the major reason why the river has been cleaned up. Seals, dolphins, salmon, pike and sea lampreys can now be seen swimming in the healthier river.
Last April short snouted sea horses were found in the Thames, which was remarkable, but these latest finds defy belief. Last week three mermaids were caught and photographed by anglers on the south bank, opposite the houses of parliament. In the true spirit of conservationism they were thrown back in.
REPUBLICANS FILL THEIR MOUTHS WHEN DENOUNCING SOCIALISM
I will explain it one more time, and will probably do so again and again. Suffice it to say that I don’t consider myself a socialist, so if you are going off on a rant about that you are dead on the water. But I do realize that some areas of our economy and our government have to, need to, ought to be in the public domain. To do otherwise is to invite lack of competition, abuses, price gouging and worse: economic blackmail.
When you talk about what in economics is known as “NATURAL MONOPOLIES” then these are activities and companies that have to be in the public trust. A good example of this is public utilities. Electric companies, telephone and cable, water and sewers are but some of the obvious examples. The reasons are kind of obvious in these cases: can you imagine 20 power companies running 20 sets of wires in the streets and alleys of our country? Can you picture 5 water and sewer outfits all providing the same service? You could have constant street and pavement repairs and digging. The possibilities for chaos are astounding. What if all roads and highways were privately owned?
But then there are other endeavors that have to be in the public trust as well. Why is that, you might ask? We have to appeal to the better angel in all of us to answer that one. I think that most of us agree that it is unethical to make a profit out of people’s misery; it is downright immoral to make an obscene profit; and that would be the case if you have the whole health care system in private hands. Sprinkle in the way we administer health care through private insurance companies and the result is that we spend more than 17% of our GDP in this area. Sadly, insurance companies exist and they don’t provide any significant improvement or produce anything other than unadulterated profit; they are parasites and are holding the public hostage to their need to make a profit and their built in greed.
The question still lingers: are we, as Americans, as a nation, receiving any benefits or are we better off to have insurance companies or drug manufacturers in the mix? The answer is obviously no. These are all endeavors that other countries have corrected by implementing some kind of socialist model. Oddly enough, these countries are getting a lot more for their investment and the cost of health care to its citizens is less than half of that which we have in America…and yes they are getting much better care than we are…Canada for example with all its flaws has a system that costs them a hell of a lot less and yet they have a much longer life expectancy than we do. That is why when White House Spokesman Gibbs says that us on the “professional left” will not be happy unless we have Canadian health care he is right…we are not going to be happy until we see the insurance companies out of business and our health care costs go down more than half…we don’t mind it either that everyone then would have it nor do we mind that they will not put outrageous price tags on life-saving procedures.
Other things come to mind like our safety nets…Social Security and unemployment benefits. More than once Republicans have attempted to privatize Social Security. This was one of Bush’s most infamous attempts at a give away to his Wall Street cronies. Some Wall Street types were salivating at the prospect of this happening and were conjuring up Madoff style Ponzi schemes that would have evaporated the retirement piggy banks of middle class citizens. Americans mobilized and stood steadfast against this and it was not even brought to consideration. The reason: could you imagine what would have happened if all of our country’s seniors had their retirement funds invested in the Stock Market when it went precipitously down? I can answer that one for you because I had a 401K and a pension that both disappeared overnight in September of 2008; and so would have billions of our senior’s dough.
So, Republicans, listen up; you can’t continue to disparage the word SOCIALISM anymore because people in general are learning what the word means and they are not scared of it neither are they scared of the word LIBERAL or PROGRESSIVE. That kind of bullshit is no longer a weapon in your speech arsenal.
If you hear the word Christian and the word Socialism in the same sentence, it should rub you the wrong way - if you are a disciple of Jesus Christ. These words are diametrically opposed to one another. It is mixing two completely different world views, and we are dealing with it in the Church today in a big way.
Christians who approve of socialists principles agree with the idea of stealing, since that is what the redistribution of wealth essentially does. They also believe there is nothing wrong with depending on the state/government for their livelihood, which makes the state their provider, thus making them their god. The bottom line is that socialist values principles intend to destroy Christianity.
There is something Christianity and Socialism share, and that is caring for the poor and widows. But the Church is not commissioned to fix the problems of the world, as it seems to be eager to do. Those who attempt to do so are doing it under a false premise. The Bible does commission the Church to preach the Gospel to all nations (Mark 16:15). So if part of the Church does participate in work it wasn't called to do, they could be advancing the globalist/socialist agenda. This is especially so if there isn't a proper Gospel presentation, or if the Christian agency is presenting a soft, non-offensive gospel. You may believe my thinking is confused, but hear me out.
Textbook Definition of Christian Socialism
Christian Socialism generally refers to those on the Christian Left whose politics are both Christian and Socialist, and who see these two philosophies as being interrelated. This category can include liberation theology and the doctrine of the Social Gospel.
The most common religious viewpoint which might be described as "left wing" is social justice, or care for the poor and oppressed. Supporters of this might encourage universal health care, welfare provision, subsidized education, foreign aid, and Affirmative Action for improving the conditions of the disadvantaged. Stemming from egalitarian values, adherents of the Christian Left consider it part of their religious duty to take actions on behalf of the oppressed. As nearly all major religions contain some kind of requirement to help others, social justice has been cited by various religions as in line with their faith.
The Christian Left holds that social justice renunciation of power, humility, forgiveness, and private observation of prayer (as opposed to publically-mandated prayer), are mandated by the Gospel (Matt. 6:5-6). The Bible accounts of Jesus repeatedly advocating for the poor and outcast over the wealthy, powerful, and religious. The Christian Left maintains that such a stance is relevant and important. Adhering to the standard of "turning the other cheek," which they believe supersedes the Old Testament law of "an eye for an eye," the Christian Left often leans towards pacifism in opposition to policies advancing militarism.
While non-religious socialists sometimes find support for socialism in the Gospels (for example: Mikhail Gorbachev citing Jesus as "the first socialist)," the Christian Left does not find that socialism alone as an adequate end or means. Christian faith is the core of their belief which in turn demands social justice. [1]
Socialism Infiltrates the Church
Fabian socialists have infiltrated the Church as wolves in sheep's clothing for most of the 19th and 20th century. They wish to advance Marxism and Socialism without being detected as atheistic revolutionary "change agents." They have attempted to subvert Christians by using biblical ideas that actually contradict the Bible.
It was during this period that many Protestant denominations took on liberal theology, which includes the post-millennial view that Jesus cannot return until mankind has brought justice to the earth by ridding itself of all social evils. Hundreds of educational and Christian institutions were flooded with John D. Rockefeller's socialist money to teach this theological position. The Rockefellers and other powerful "change agents" fueled this movement.
This is when the Rochester Theological Seminary gave birth to one of the leading proponents of the social gospel. Rev. Walter Rauschenbusch (1861-1918) was known as “Father of the Social Gospel,” and the greatest single influence on the life and thought of the American Church in the last 50 years. He felt religion could change the social structure of a society and defeat social injustice. It didn’t seem to bother most Christians to know that Rev. Rauschenbusch admittedly embraced Socialism. He saw Socialism as the goal, with religion serving as a vehicle toward that goal.[2]
Through the socialist infiltration of America, we have seen the U.S. government take over the responsibility for the poor. Since the government has stepped in, the American Church (in general) has backed away from their charitable support of the poor. Over the past 20 years, this trend has begun to change.
What has begun to occur within the Church now is a deeper transition into good works and taking care of the poor and the world's problems. People like Rick Warren are manipulating the Church to "Go and do likewise" on a grander scale. The UN Millennium Development Goalsmatch the five points in Rick Warren's P.E.A.C.E. Plan. His plans are to mobilize the American Church internationally to meet the UN goals, and to develop good works. Again, the Church is not commissioned to fix the world's problems. Most of the help they are providing is only a temporary solution.
Community Outreach vs. International Outreach In the video Socialism: A Clear and Present Danger,leading Evangelical Christians spoke against socialistic principles, and their remarks were legitimate. What makes me suspicious about their promotion of charitable work is that some of these individuals are known Freemasons and big interfaith promoters, such as Kay Arthur and Chuck Colson. They have been strongly influenced by the teachings of the late Rousas Rushdoony, a Council for National Policy member and patriarch of the reactionary Christian Reconstructionist (Dominionist) movement which seeks Christian dominion over all aspects of society and the world. The CNP is the Christian version of the Council on Foreign Relations, whose goal it is for world government.
Since Kay Arthur and Chuck Colson's natural inclination is towards globalism, it makes me think that they want Christians to do charitable work in foreign lands. Are they trying to make Christians change the way they view the world? It seems that Chuck Colson and Rick Warren are on the same page, because they wrote a book together, partly on the topic of finding solutions for the world's problems. [4]
If the globalist/socialist Christians are promoting world mission projects, perhaps we should instead be thinking about community projects. When we take our focus off of our community, are we are actually taking something away from it, making it a little weaker? If we were to build bridges into the lives of the people within our own churches, our neighborhoods, and our cities, so that our own community can grow stronger and help people have fuller lives, would this be a better way of expressing God's love to the world? Our chances of winning the lost to Christ and disciplining them in our own community, assures they have a solid walk with the Lord Jesus. This also builds the mutual responsibility and interdependence that Christians are to have for one other. It is unlike the temporary bandaid Rick Warren has to offer.
Conclusion So as you see, Socialism has two halves of the pie: one half that takes, and the other half that gives. The Christian Socialists are not for the taking aspect, but very big into the giving aspect. They don't always mind that government takes from those who have and gives it to those who don't. The Christian Socialist often tries to get you to look past your own community and think on a global perspective. Most of these same people think little of the ongoing Christian walk of the people they serve.
I would like to conclude by saying that I believe we have taken Christian outreach far beyond what the Bible ever suggested. Plus, we need to be more careful about where we send our donations. We should be concerned about the position they have on Dominion Theology. Ask yourself if you will be giving toward a project that is a hand-out or a hand-up. Is the project going to offer ongoing discipleship to those people who accepted Christ as Savior, or will they only be a number on a souls saved board? And finally, ask yourself if there is a way you can serve those closest to you who may be in need.
Remember, Socialism is a step before Communism. I urge you to consider your ways, so that it doesn't assist those who have an agenda.
Just like Rush Bouncy Bouncy Limbaugh and Sara Palin, you have managed to turn your controversial hate rhetoric into riches. You are profiting from spewing hatred and division…and because you are a Moron Mormon; that cult-like, fabricated religion of yours tells you that if you are successful and have derived so much wealth from what you are saying then it must be right and it is part of God’s plan…God approves of what you do because you are so successful.
But be careful, thousands just like you have attempted and to a certain degree succeeded in being false prophets. Some had a benevolent theme while others like Hitler met their untimely deaths in shame and humiliation. I predict that will be your demise as well because what you are doing is morally and ethically wrong. You are getting rich out of misleading people, lying to them and playing to their fears and basest emotions. Don't misconstrue this as a death threat...your demise may be just professional as you are "retired" by Fox when you can no longer muster up ratings when your followers one by one will realize what a hypocrite and unethical person you are and you will sink into the hell hole of oblivion where you belong.
Mr. Beck, so far you have been lucky; you have been able to spew hatred, racism and told lies without being questioned by your gullible, uneducated followers...there is no limit to your rants as you are equally insulting to Middle Class Americans and Poor, insulting to Jews and Muslims alike, to straight and gays and may your soul be safe from the wrath of the Creator if that is what you believe in; because when your followers realize their long time dream of finishing the seventh grade or even getting a GED they will be the first ones to turn on you.
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR’SSPEECH “I HAVE A DREAM”
Dr. King's famous speech delivered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial 47 years ago in Washington DC on August 28, 1963. Ironically, it is the same place a usurper of history is attempting to diminish King’s legacy and pander his own racist and megalomaniac ego…Glen Beck is doing this knowing full well it is an insult to black Americans and a divisive and hateful action.
The speech:
"I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.
Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.
But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. And so we've come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.
In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the "unalienable Rights" of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds."
But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so, we've come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.
We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.
It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. And those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. And there will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.
But there is something that I must say to my people, who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice: In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.
The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. And they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom.
We cannot walk alone.
And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead.
We cannot turn back.
There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their self-hood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating: "For Whites Only." We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until "justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream."¹
I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. And some of you have come from areas where your quest -- quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive. Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed.
Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends.
And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
I have a dream today!
I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of "interposition" and "nullification" -- one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.
I have a dream today!
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."2
This is our hope, and this is the faith that I go back to the South with.
With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.
And this will be the day -- this will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning:
My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing.
Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim's pride,
From every mountainside, let freedom ring!
And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true.
And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.
Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.
Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania.
Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado.
Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California.
But not only that:
Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia.
Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee.
Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi.
From every mountainside, let freedom ring.
And when this happens, when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:
Free at last! Free at last!
Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"
The police turned the dogs against the demonstrators in Birmingham, Alabama back then.
