One New Heart Sponsored Child

The Dannecker family in Jerusalem is still involved in helping Palestinian children get life-saving heart surgery through their program, One New Heart. Below is a report on a currently-sponsored child named Hanan.

http://www.1newheart.org/Current_Sponsored_Child.html

In addition, I received an update on another sponsored child, Sadel:


Dear Friends,

Today I made a phone call to Wolfson Medical Center to find out when they were going to schedule Sadel for surgery. To my surprise we were told that the doctor decided to operate on her yesterday, on Sunday morning.
Today when I arrived at the PICU the doctors were discussing her case, I was told that the surgery went very well and that she was in stable condition. This baby girl is only nine days old and has undergone major heart surgery to reverse the Transposition of the great arteries.
Transposition of the great arteries (TGA) is the most common cyanotic congenital heart lesion that presents in neonates. The hallmark of transposition of the great arteries is ventriculoarterial discordance, in which the aorta arises from the morphologic right ventricle and the pulmonary artery arises from the morphologic left ventricle.Although transposition of the great arteries was first described over 2 centuries ago, no treatment was available until the middle of the 20th century, with the development of surgical atrial septectomy in the 1950s and balloon atrial septostomy in the 1960s. These palliative therapies were followed by physiological procedures (atrial switch operation) and anatomic repair (arterial switch operation). Today, the survival rate for infants with transposition of the great arteries is greater than 90%.

It was very interesting to learn that the mother did not get permission to come to the hospital but the father did. As I was walking away I witnessed this young father praying for his little baby girl.



Grace & Peace,

--

Hank Dannecker Jr.
1 New Heart

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you are interested in helping, you can follow the links on their website-which is also listed on this blog under, "Worthy of our support".

Al Gore: Green Energy Scam?

"What's it all about, Alfie?"


Fox News is reporting that Al Gore is being accused of having a conflict of interest over his involvement in two companies. Here are the details.

http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/04/09/apples-hydrogen-power-plans-fueled-by-al-gores-conflict-interest/

So is this another example of how people are making huge bucks in the green energy business? Is Al Gore, who sits on the board of Apple, involved in a conflict of interest when Apple purchases expensive goodies and services from another company that Gore has an interest in? Don't ask me; I'm just a broken down old DEA agent and soon-to-be broken down old English teacher. I don't know squat about business.

I can smell a fish though.

Susan Candiotti's Gaffe on CNN

In the wake of racial issues that are being raised by the events in Florida and Tulsa, CNN reporter Susan Candiotti has offended some by using the exact language from a Facebook entry from one of the Tulsa murder suspects. Candiotti, who is an experienced reporter was doing a live report from Tulsa and in quoting the entry, she apologized for the language then said the two words ("F-------ing N-word"). The unedited video is below.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/cnn-correspondent-apologizes-cursing-n-word-air-video-article-1.1058559

Sort of raises an interesting discussion, doesn't it?

Candiotti has apologized, as has CNN. Anchor Frederica Whitfield, herself African-American, also apologized for the language immediately in closing the segment.

First of all, I think Candiotti's apology should be the end of the story, but then again, I am not black. To me what is important is the context in which she said it. She was quoting from a suspect's writings on Facebook and alerted the viewers to the offensive language before saying it. I think it would be way over the line to fire her.

So is it inappropriate to use the F word and the N word even in quoting for context? Clearly, it is relevant to the story. Assuming the Tulsa suspects are the shooters, this seems clearly to be a series of shootings by two white guys who hate blacks. These are truly the kinds of hate crimes we need to concern ourselves with.

On the other hand, had Candiotti said, "F-ing N-word", everyone would have known what she meant. The expression N-word has made its way into our lexicon because we are making a conscientious effort to eliminate the real N-word from the English language. From a  linguistic point of view, that can be achieved since languages evolve and some words do die out through disuse. As I have commented before, it would be great if some blacks stopped using the word since it simply perpetuates its use or survival, if you will.

A few days ago, in the Trayvon Martin case, I used the word "coon' to describe how some believe that word was uttered in George Zimmerman's 9-11 call (which is now dubious). Was I wrong to use the word even in context? I have not gotten any feedback on that, but I am not Susan Candiotti, and I am not on CNN.

One thing we can all agree on; racial epithets are ugly words in our language, and we need to keep working to eliminate them from the language altogether.

Then, hopefully, we can even eliminate the "N-word."

Jeremiah Wright Attacks Clarence Thomas

Jeremiah Wright is back in the news again for incendiary comments. This time, President Obama's pastor has attacked Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

http://www.newsmax.com/US/JeremiahWrightsermonJustice-Thomas/2012/04/09/id/435259

Ever since Thomas came to prominence in his confirmation hearings, he has had to endure these attacks from little people like Wright. Through it all over the years, he has maintained his dignity. I don't know Thomas, but when I was living in Centreville, Virginia during the 1990s, I was told he and his wife attended the same church as we did. I never saw him, but I can't say I went every Sunday myself.

I have seen him occasionally on TV speaking to troubled young people who were living in alternative homes after having gotten in trouble. It is a side of Thomas the public doesn't hear about.

For Wright to continue his attacks does not speak well of someone who is supposed to be a follower of Jesus and a man of God. Personally, I doubt ten Jeremiah Wrights could make one Clarence Thomas. I still consider it troubling that our president could have sat in Wright's church for 20 years listening to his hateful diatribes. Oh, that's right. He never heard them.

"Never Shake Hands With an Asian"

File this under, "Are you kidding me?" Senator Dick Durbin apparently thinks this is bigger than those reports that old J Edgar Hoover wore a dress.

http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2012/03/29/fbi-teaches-agents-to-never-shake-hands-with-an-asian/?ncid=txtlnkuscare00000002

You talk about much ado about nothing. As I read this, it seems that the agents were being trained in Arab culture for good reasons. Before I was sent by DEA to Bangkok for three years, I was taught never to touch a Thai on the head or sit with the soles of my feet pointed to a Thai. Surely the trainer was pointing out that shaking hands is a Western custom. I don't think he meant that  Asians were not fit to shake hands with.

As for that statement about Arabs having outbursts, what does Durbin expect-that agents should only be taught what is great about Arabs (Asians)? If agents were being trained to deal with Koreans, would it be wrong to point out that that Korean guys like to drink, sing songs, and occasionally fight? Is it offensive to call Koreans the "Irish of Asia"-as many do? Does Durbin think that foreign diplomats training to be stationed in the US are told only the wonderful things about Americans?

Saudi Ministry of Interior training picture for diplomats

"Americans love pigs"

Other than being offensive, you could argue that the FBI is bending over backwards to accommodate Arab culture here in the US rather than expect them to accommodate to our culture.

As for that statement that the FBI can bend rules etc, I recall a lot of  DEA agents being told by FBI counterparts that they (FBI) could do things that DEA couldn't. Mostly that was if J. Edgar Hoover wanted it done. Otherwise, those poor suckers couldn't go to the bathroom without J. Edgar's written permission teletyped from Washington.

"Permission denied. Agent is to be transferred to Oklahoma City immediately."


People like Dick Durbin need to wake up to real life.

A Reaction to the Hillel Letter to LA Jewish Journal

Hat tip Hillel Watch (whoever they are)

Last month, I posted a letter written to the LA Jewish Journal by a group of Hillel directors from several University of California campuses stating that reports of anti-Semitism on UC Campuses were exaggerated. This morning, I received a video from HillelWatch (whoever they are) in response to that letter.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/W8ggwfUb9uk

Hopefully, the people who wrote that leader will watch this video. Better yet, I hope the LA Jewish Journal will see it as well.

Tomfoolery at UC San Diego

UC San Diego-Where the inmates run the institution



UC San Diego has recently struggled its way through yet another one of those anti-Israel divestment resolutions, this time spearheaded by the ever-obnoxious Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP). The resolution failed, fortunately, but not without being accompanied by some ugly accusations of racism against those who opposed the resolution.

Richard Cravatts, who teaches at Simmons University in Massachusetts, and who has just published a book on the liberal onslaught against Israel and Jews on university campuses (Genocidal Liberalism), has written this piece, which appears in the web site of Scholars for Peace in the Middle East (SPME).

http://spme.net/articles/8602/4/19/Victimology-101-at-UC-San-Diego.html

It gets better. Here is a letter written to UC San Diego by SPME that complains about the treatment of a UCSD professor, Shlomo Dubnov, who spoke against the resolution in front of the student government. Dubnov was accused of following a pro-resolution speaker out of the room and verbally harassing her.

http://spme.net/articles/8599/4/19/A-Message-to-the-University-of-California-at-San-Diego-(UCSD)-from-Scholars-for-Peace-in-the-Middle-East.html

So the question is; did Professor Dubnov follow a pro-resolution speaker out of the hall and harass her in any way? Fortunately, the meeting was videotaped and is submitted here below.



Apparently, the charges don't hold water. As the video shows, Dubnov left several minutes after the alleged victim and in the company with another faculty member, with whom he engaged in conversation for several minutes thereafter. The other professor has signed a statement that he left the building with Dubnov, and at no time did Dubnov verbally attack any students.

This is typical of what the folks running UCSD have to put up with.

Assembly of Muslim Jurists of America Opinion on US Jurisprudence

Hat tip to Translating Jihad.com



I have just added Translating Jihad to my recommended blog list and am posting this translation from a document issued by the Assembly of Muslim Jurists of America. It concerns their thoughts on the applicability of US law on Muslims living in America and has been submitted to Translating Jihad by the Center for Security Policy. I note that one of the participating jurists is one Yassir Fazaqa of the Orange County Islamic Center, which is headed by Muzammil Siddiqi, of whom I have often written. Just recently, this center hosted a town hall, whose main theme was that Shariah law is perfectly compatible with the US Constitution-as stated that day by Siddiqi. Siddiqi of course is the proud recipient of Rusty Kennedy's Orange County Human Relations Commission Community Leader award last year.

http://www.translatingjihad.com/2012/03/assembly-of-muslim-jurists-of-america.html

With all the controversy floating around about applying Shariah law in the US, documents like these are helpful to the public debate. Following the US Constitution and US law in America is not a pick and choose proposition.

Jewish Students at Florida Atlantic University Get Eviction Notices (From Students for Justice in Palestine)

(Sun-Sentinel)



Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP)  is an obnoxious organization closely linked with various Muslim Student Association chapters on university campuses across the country. This article from the Sun-Sentinel was sent by an anonymous reader. I have chosen to post it.

 http://www.sun-sentinel.com/florida-jewish-journal/florida-jewish-journal-eviction,0,192522.story

“The University has received a number of inquiries following the recent posting of mock eviction notices in certain FAU residence halls.   

The University, as an institution of higher education, prides itself on being a venue for free expression, regardless of viewpoint. However, the distribution of printed material on University property is subject to FAU policy and regulation. 

These policies require that printed material be distributed only at reasonable times and places and in reasonable manners. These policies are designed to ensure that the manner in which material is distributed is consistent with the educational mission of the University, its uninterrupted orderly operation, the safety of the University community, and the protection of University property and that of its students, faculty and staff.” 

The statement continued, “The recent mock eviction postings did not comply with the policies of University Housing and Residential Life or the Office of Student Involvement and Leadership concerning the distribution of printed material, and therefore the postings were removed.”

Blah blah blah, woof woof woof, quack quack quack. Can you imagine if certain other ethnic or religious groups had been subjected to this? The entire FAU campus would have been turned upside down. This is probably the last mention of this you will hear.

Center for Security Policy Community Alert on ICNA

The Center for Security Policy (CSP) has issued the below alert in regards to a campaign by the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) to promote Sharia in the United States.

http://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/p18956.xml

The president and founder of CSP is Frank Gaffney.

Below is ICNA's announcement of the drive.

http://www.icna.org/national-shariah-education-campaign-launched/

ICNA, in my view, is one of the more insidious of the so-called mainstream Muslim organizations in America. This is the same outfit that held that so-called charity dinner in Yorba Linda in February 2010 that drew a large protest. The ICNA speakers were Siraj Wahhaj, who has implicitly called for giving uzis to black ex-cons and turning them loose in the neighborhoods, and Amir Abdel Malik Ali, who has made dozens of incendiary speeches on California campuses in support of suicide bombers, Hamas, Hizbollah, Islamic Jihad, as well as  suicide bombers who commit terror against Israel. He has insulted Jews in many of his speeches. These men are both anti-American jihadists. No truly moderate and patriotic organization would have them as speakers.

So now comes this propaganda campaign to convince gullible Americans that sharia law is, as Muslim leaders Abdul Faisal Rauf and Muzammil Siddiqi assure us, perfectly in conformance with the US Constitution.

Wrong.

Killing homosexuals is not in conformance with our Constitution.

Killing apostates or those who criticize any aspect of Islam (blasphemy) is not in conformance with our Constitution.

Wife beating is not in conformance with our Constitution.

Honor killings and stoning women is not in conformance with our Constitution.

Any denial of women to equal rights with men is not in conformance with our Constitution.

Denying women equal weight in court testimony is not in conformance with our Constitution.

Yes, there are aspects of sharia that are innocuous, however, it is the legal code of Islam and governs all aspects of a Muslim's life and sets out punishments which include death. It does not respect separation of the state from the religion.

Yes, they will tell you that Muslims living in a non-Muslim country are to obey the local laws-as long as they do not contradict Islam. However, as the Muslim percentage of the population increases, thus do the demands for accommodation. You need look no further than Europe to see where this is heading.

It is a long-range plan. Contrary to groups like al Qaida, many realize that bringing about a world-wide caliphate under Shariah law is a long term project, which can be achieved peacefully through immigration, demographic change, Da'wa (outreach) and finally, if necessary when Islam holds the power, forced conversions or violence (jihad). Today, in almost every predominately Muslim country, religious minorities are being persecuted.

ICNA is nothing more than another arm of the Muslim Brotherhood and Jamaat e Islam. Like other organizations, such as CAIR, they are engaged in in a massive taqiyya campaign of deception. In addition, they are indoctrinating the jihadists of tomorrow and making sure that Muslim youth in America stay within the fold rather than assimilate and become full-fledged Americans. What is sad is there are Muslims who came here to escape the stifling lives they led in their countries of origin. Now they see an effort right here at home to bring that stifling control here to America. We cannot let that happen. To allow sharia within the US is to tell Muslims that they cannot enjoy the freedoms to change religion, be gay, live your sex life as you wish, leave a marriage (if you are a woman), and other rights that we take for granted.

It is true that so many Muslims in America remain silent out of fear. Unfortunately, that makes them irrelevant to the debate. It is Muslims like Zuhdi Jasser, Stephen Schwartz, Tawfik Hamid, and others who dare to speak out and expose the threat in our midst. Yes, there are painfully few of them, but they deserve our support.

But to the 5th column at ICNA, ISNA, CAIR, MPAC and MAS, we must stand up and say no to sharia. If they want to live in sharia, they know where they can go back to.

California Passes Another Insane Law-SB 48

California has passed SB 48, called the Fair Education Act. It has been signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown. Essentially, what it does is mandate schools to set aside time and resources for teaching the role of gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, and trans-gendered people to the history of California and the United States.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FAIR_Education_Act

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/postquery?bill_number=sb_48&sess=CUR&house=B&author=leno

While this may be good news for textbook manufacturers, it is bad news for California tax-payers. Never mind that the state is broke. Never mind that our school kids are not being educated in the first place. Now our schools are going to have to come up with new texts and new teaching materials to comply with this law. Who is going to pay for it?

In addition, something will have to be set aside. What will it be, math, science, foreign language?

This may also open the door to a whole new field of research necessary to dig into the sex lives of historical Americans and Californians in order to find some that fit into those categories, and explain why said sexual orientation had anything to do with their accomplishments. Well, we can just make it up, I guess. Many teachers already are in other areas. What's the harm in making it look like Ronald Reagan was trans- gendered?

I know this will cause more readers to attack me as being "homophobic", but this is insanity. If you want to further the cause of gays, how about raising public awareness of what is happening to them in places like Iran, where they are hanged for being gay? How about speaking out on certain other ideologies that call for gays to be executed?

But we can't do that, now, can we?

More Pressure on UC Irvine to Remove Chehabi

An Orange County inter-faith coalition has called on the University of California at Irvine to sever ties with Dr Hazem Chehabi, who also serves as Syrian honorary consul.

http://www.ocregister.com/news/syrian-347961-chehabi-assad.html

As things now stand, Chehabi, who has donated one million dollars to UCI, serves as chair on the UC Irvine Foundation, which raises funds for the university. He also remains in his position as Syrian honorary consul, while UCI continues to defend him. One would think that something had to give, but nothing does.

By the way, if you peruse the list of organizations calling for Chehabi's removal, don't get the idea that I am in any way associated with those groups, especially CAIR, MPAC and Jewish Voice for Peace. In addition, somewhere in that inter-faith group surely lurks Imam Muzammil Siddiqi. Having said that, it is embarrassing for UCI to be associated with Dr Chehabi as long as he remains in his position as Syrian honorary consul.