Wednesday, April 3, 2013

THE SOUND OF PAPAL SILENCE

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THE SOUND OF PAPAL SILENCE
America vs America - a new Civil War

By Bernie Lopez

The silence of Pope Francis on the ongoing siege on the Papacy seems to be making his position worse. Is there wisdom in replying and clarifying on the accusations or rumors? All this talk about the new anti-Christ Pope with references to Malachy, Daniel and Revelation are in fact mere theories and vague subjective interpretations. But then again, how will he answer such a ridiculous notion, which is seen by many as the work of the devil to undermine the Church in crisis? Can a cardinal spokesman perhaps take the cudgels and give some answers, only because the silence is deafening? There is a snowball effect in the media and the Internet, if Vatican remains silent.

The vague Malachy prediction talks ridiculously about a Papal tie up with Israel as an omen of the anti-Christ. Pope Francis is scheduled to have talks with Israel this coming June. Malachy’s reference to ‘Petrus Romanus’ as the anti-Christ is seen by eyes of anti-Popes looking for things to say against the Papacy, as another such omen. Petrus, they say, means Peter the Rock, referring to the Pope. And Romanus means Italian. Pope Francis is of Italian descent. The wanna-be interpreters of predictions are having a field day.

It is an ongoing policy of American institutions to apply the principle of ‘the sound of silence’ when they are attacked or criticized in the media. This holds true for USAID, World Bank, IMF, the US State Department, Defense, Foreign Affairs, embassies, security agencies. It is an accepted practice. This principle is based on the fear that if you give a reply, you are fuelling the issue further and giving a chance to the accusers to fan the fire. There is wisdom in such a principle, but a point is reached when, if the fire has reached disturbing levels, one’s silence works against rather than for the accused.

America Vs America

Remember the movie Kramer vs Kramer. Here it is again on a larger stage. After a perceived financial dictatorship triggered the ‘Occupy Wall Street’ movement, a lot of articles have been coming out in the media about the possibility of a new American Civil War. In fact, there are unfounded rumors that the National Security Agency (NSA) has an ongoing ‘secret’ massive preparation for such an event, such as the procurement of small firearms on a mammoth scale. Some observers pooh-pooh this ‘alarmist’ doomsday prophecy, but others argue it is very possible under certain critical conditions, such as the fall of the dollar, a global financial tsunami that would make the 1929 depression look like a bankrupt rural bank affair.

A new American civil war would be a hundred fold of the old one in terms of size, intensity, and casualties. What would make it bloody is the fact that, under public pressure, the government agencies, such as the NSA, CIA, FBI, federal and and state governments may no longer be monolithic. A portion may start splintering and polarizing towards the rebels, just as what happened in the Libyan and now Syrian revolutions. When soldiers with guns start running towards the enemy, it will be bloody. When people are angry and discern a band-wagon movement towards the rebels, it can be the beginning of the end.

Polarization and splintering in the intelligence-bound agencies such as the CIA and FBI and NSA will compromise information. There will be double agents everywhere. No one will trust his superiors or staff. This pandemonium may trigger an ‘intel-info breakdown’ across the entire length of the government never before seen. The coups de grace would be the splintering of the Pentagon. Some say this scenario is ridiculous and impossible, but some observers say that when people start seeing massacres in the streets, things would polarize rapidly. Anger will take over fear. An American civil war will affect the planet, the United Nations, NATO. Other nations will see a weakening America as an opportunity or a threat, and will start to make new radical geopolitical plans.

The American Perspective

The American Perspective is multi-faceted like a rainbow, from ultra-conservative to extreme radical. But the American Perspective within the halls of power, the White House, NSA, Pentagon, etc., has a disturbing trend which could be the ingredient for future wars. Below is an email message quoting US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on threats of retaliation from North Korea against a U.S. ‘bombing drill’ –

“Top News: North Korea has readied its missile units targeting U.S. military bases in response to a U.S. bombing drill. On Thursday two nuclear-capable B-2 Spirit stealth bombers carried out a practice sortie over South Korea. The bombers dropped inert munitions off the Korean coast. ‘We must make clear that these provocations by the North are taken by us very seriously and we'll respond to that’, said Hagel. North Korea's state news agency responded by saying that the two countries could only settle their differences by ‘physical means’ and wrote that leader Kim Jong-un had ‘judged the time has come to settle accounts with the U.S. imperialists in view of the prevailing situation.’"

Hagel looks at this as ‘provocations from the North’ when the US bombing ‘drill’ was in fact the provocation against the North. This is how sick the American perspective in high places has evolved into. Any amateur analyst knows a war game or a bombing drill is a provocation and a psyche-war tactic that easily makes the enemy panic, who will ask, “Are they planning an invasion? Are they going to bomb us?” The American Perspective in high places is biased, flawed, has a chip on its shoulder based on superiority, and a dangerous kick-ass mindset that the American people are helpless to counter. eastwindreplyctr@gmail.com


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Ministry Inspirational Anecdote

BURNT TOAST

When I was a kid, my mom would prepare special breakfast every now and then. I remember one morning when my dad walked into the dining room looking like a hurricane victim, after a long hard day at work the previous day. My mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and burnt toast in front of him. I waited for my dad’s reaction to the black toast, but there was none. He reached for it, smiled at my mom, and asked me how my day was at school. I don’t remember my reply because I was such in fear of a looming war. He smeared butter and jelly on the black toast and ate every bite with relish.

When I got up from the table, I heard my mom apologize to my dad for the burnt toast. I will never forget his reply, “Honey, I loved the toast.” Later, when we were alone, I asked dad if he really liked the burnt toast. He wrapped me in his arms and said, “Your mom had a hard day yesterday just like me. She went for groceries, paid bills at the bank, weeded the garden, and so on. Besides, burnt toast never hurt anyone. You know, life is full of imperfect things and imperfect people. Never demand perfection.

“I am not the best at hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else. But what I have learned over the years is to accept each others’ faults and to celebrate each others’ differences, which are important keys to creating a healthy, growing and lasting relationship. Don’t you forget that, son. This is my prayer –

“that we all learn to take
the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of our lives
and lay them at the feet of the Lord
because in the end
He’s the only One
who can give us a relationship
where burnt toast is not really a big deal

understanding and openness
are the essence of any relationship
be it husband-wife, parent-child, or friends

don’t put the key to your happiness
in someone else’s pocket
keep it in your own
and don’t you ever forget
to eat burnt toast when it passes your way
because you will discover
that that is a golden opportunity
to eat something spiritually delicious and filling”

anonymous from the Internet
rewritten by eastwind

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especially from the terminally sick

amdg

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