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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
send this anecdote to friends via link –
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for more inspirational
visit www.sisterraquel.com
for prayer requests
especially from the terminally sick
send email to sr.raquel.rvm@gmail.com
amdg
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