TwilightCafé

and as if that wasn't enough

The previous post could be surpassed by this one, if it's actually true. I am still looking up the details but here is the original article. Granted it is almost 2 years old, so it is "water under the bridge" I suppose.

Posted on Wed, Apr. 02, 2003

Water shortage works to chaplain's advantage

By MED LAUGHLIN

Knight Ridder Newspapers

CAMP BUSHMASTER, Iraq - In this dry desert world near Najaf, where the Army V Corps combat support system sprawls across miles of scabrous dust, there's an oasis of sorts: a 500-gallon pool of pristine, cool water.

It belongs to Army chaplain Josh Llano of Houston, who sees the water shortage - which has kept thousands of filthy soldiers from bathing for weeks - as an opportunity.

"It's simple. They want water. I have it, as long as they agree to get baptized," he said.

And agree they do. Every day, soldiers take the plunge for the Lord and come up clean for the first time in weeks.

"They do appear physically and spiritually cleansed," Llano said.

First, though, the soldiers have to go to one of Llano's hour-and-a-half sermons in his dirt-floor tent. Then the baptism takes an hour of quoting from the Bible.

"Regardless of their motives," Llano said, "I get the chance to take them closer to the Lord."

A blue-eyed 32-year-old with an abundance of energy, Llano goes out every day to drum up grimy soldiers for his pool. He talks to truck drivers, tank drivers, computer specialists - anyone and everyone. He goes out to the combat zone to the fighting soldiers and the combat support soldiers who keep them in supplies.

"You have to be aggressive to help people find themselves in God," he said.

He calls himself a "Southern Baptist evangelist," and justifies the war and killing with a verse from the Gospel of Matthew, which he often recites: "Give unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's and unto God the things that are God's."

"This means we are called upon by our government to fight and that is giving unto Caesar, as the Bible tells us," he said.

Earlier this week, word went out that portable showers might be installed here soon, but Llano was undaunted.

"There is no fruit out here, and I have a stash of raisins, juice boxes and fruit rolls to pull out," he said optimistically.

I'd be mad too

A friend of mine emailed me this story. I found it on the web here and have reprinted it in its entirety.

Villagers furious with Christian Missionaries

Samanthapettai, Jan 16 (ANI): Rage and fury has gripped this tsunami-hit tiny Hindu village in India's southern Tamil Nadu after a group of Christian missionaries allegedly refused them aid for not agreeing to follow their religion.

Samanthapettai, near the temple town of Madurai, faced near devastation on the December 26 when massive tidal waves wiped it clean of homes and lives.

Most of the 200 people here are homeless or displaced , battling to rebuild lives and locating lost family members besides facing risks of epidemic,disease and trauma.

Jubilant at seeing the relief trucks loaded with food, clothes and the much-needed medicines the villagers, many of who have not had a square meal in days, were shocked when the nuns asked them to convert before distributing biscuits and water.

Heated arguments broke out as the locals forcibly tried to stop the relief trucks from leaving. The missionaries, who rushed into their cars on seeing television reporters and the cameras refusing to comment on the incident and managed to leave the village.

Disappointed and shocked into disbelief the hapless villagers still await aid.

"Many NGOs (volunteer groups) are extending help to us but there in our village the NGO, which was till now helping us is now asking us to follow the Christian religion. We are staunch followers of Hindu religion and refused their request. And after that these people with their aid materials are leaving the village without distributing that to us," Rajni Kumar, a villager said.

The incident is an exception to concerted charity in a catastrophe that has left no one untouched.(ANI)

shadows and tsunami benefits

Happy Groundhog Day and Happy Candlemas! Punxatawny Pete saw his shadow. Six more weeks of winter. Did you know there is another groundhog in Georgia? Gen. Beauregard Lee, who did not see his shadow this morning. Does this mean only the North has 6 more weeks of winter? Is this Gen. Lee an official Groundhog Day groundhog? :)

Seems like most of my time lately is being spent costuming and rehearsing for the next hafla, in which my troupe is performing. We have some new girls added and my instructor is dancing with us as well. It is a "spear" routine, although really it is more like a staff routine. I think it is amazing and will be really great to watch. For those of you in the DFW area, the performance will be March 5 at 8 pm at the Horizon Unitarian Church on Hebron in Carrollton.

Also on the bellydance forefront is a tsunami benefit dance and set of workshops on February 27th at the Victory Arts Center in Ft. Worth. Actually, bellydancers are getting together all across the nation to dance for the tsunami victims, and you can get that information here:  http://www.dancefromtheheart.org/. I urge you all to find the performance near you and participate, donate, enjoy the show. Volunteer your time if you like. Donations will go to Oxfam.

goodnight, Johnny

Seems like all I have here right now is depressing news. Johnny Carson died this morning, peacefully and in his sleep according to his nephew. He had emphysema. When asked once what he wanted his epitaph to say, he quipped, "I'll be right back."

and now for something completely different

While reading my daily online comics, I notice that Randy of Something Positive has a list of some places to lend monetary or supply help for those survivors of the Asian earthquake/tsunami that has taken so many lives. Directly from Randy's site:

As many of you know by now, over 22,000 60,000 people are dead now in Asia after an earthquake, and resulting tsunami, devastated lives in Thailand, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka and Maldvives - among other places. Hundreds of thousands of people are now homeless as a result and need help. Organizations like Unicef, Direct Relief International, World Vision, and American Red Cross are beginning humanitarian efforts in these areas, but need your help.

Both Unicef and World Vision take monetary donations which allow them to meet the food, medical and shelter needs of those affected. Direct Relief International takes monetary and product donations. The American Red Cross is currently only accepting financial donations, but you can donate online or by call 1-800-HELP-NOW. -R

MSNBC has a page that lists many more ways to donate time, money, supplies to the victims of this horrible disaster. I urge you all to pass the word along, or to help in whatever way you can.

isn't it ironic?

While catching up on 4 days of news and blogs, I ran across this gem. Planned Parenthood is having Pledge-a-Pickets, in which Planned Parenthood supporters can pledge .25 to 1.00 per picketer at certain Planned Parenthood locations. Genius. Picketers want to picket the "evil" pro-choice organization, but by doing so they put money in the pockets of their enemies. Win-win for Planned Parenthood, lose-lose for obnoxious people who want to impose their will on others.

Whether you are pro-choice or anti-choice, you have to admit this is very clever.

I guess the fat lady's about to sing

Last count, Bush had 269 electoral votes. Unless something bizarre happens, he's won another 4 years.

I voted

...did you?

There will be lots of news shows on tonight covering the election results. Some satellite networks let you watch 6 at once with a split screen. Dish Network does this, and one of the six choices is Comedy Central. The Daily Show has live coverage of the election results starting at 10pm EST/9pm CST. No matter which station or stations you watch, this will probably be the biggest TV night since the Friends final episode .

the curse is lifted

Red Sox win the World Series!

gathering no moss

Why Hunter S. Thompson is voting for Kerry.