SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:

- Marielena Stuart, Republican Candidate for the United States Senate 2012, from the Great State of Florida

- Endorsement by the Honorable Robert K. Dornan

THE PRIVILEGE TO SERVE

I love America.  My adopted country opened its doors to me and my family so that we could walk into the greatness of its freedom and its founding values.

Every time I look at our beautiful flag and place my hand over my heart for the Pledge of Allegiance and sing our National Anthem, I am reminded of our nation’s promise to all her citizens– as the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Yet freedom is never really free, is it?  It always comes at a great price.

Does not each successive generation of Americans have to pay the price for due diligence in order to secure these treasures for ourselves and our posterity?

Is it not time that every American ask– what will our legacy be to the next generation?

I have asked myself this question and frankly, I don’t like what I see happening to our beloved country. My candidacy is in part a response to the great challenge before us.

America stands at the raw edge of a great precipice. We see an ever expanding impersonal government that spends money it does not have, and passes laws that are blind to the Law-Giver.  It is devouring all that is good and honorable.

As your Senator, I pledge to do my utmost to take any and all actions directed at curbing this nation’s current fiscal crisis.  I will strive to articulate the economic needs of Floridians within the framework of a smaller government that supports private sector growth, job creation and lower taxes.

Florida is a state blessed by God in so many ways.  Not just for its beauty and natural resources, but more importantly, for its wonderful people– many of whom have come to America, like my family did, in search of freedom from tyranny and want.  In search of a dream for themselves and their families.  They deserve representatives who will defend their constitutional rights.

All Floridians should be able to follow their dreams—without the threat of a bloated  federal government that taxes them excessively while taking away their sacred rights, including the right to life, which is granted to them by God– and secured by our Constitution.

The family, which is the building block and foundation for a civilized society—is under attack.  The family existed from man’s beginning– before the creation of the State and the Church.  We need to support legislation that is pro-family– and vigorously oppose legislation that endangers the family.

Abraham Lincoln was inspired by the Founding Fathers who preceded him, as he fought for unity and strength.  The danger that Lincoln faced then is once again before us.  We are becoming a fractured nation.  In this present crisis we must pull together—or we will fall apart.

We need leaders in Washington who will have the strength of character and the will to succeed in rebuilding our nation—not just economically, but morally as well.   This is why I am presenting my candidacy for the United States Senate.

I pledge to listen to Floridians, and to represent, uphold and lead in everything that is good, everything that is noble—and everything that supports and protects life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness in this Great State of Florida– and in this greatest of nations.

Marielena Stuart

Please visit my campaign website www.MarielenaStuartforUSSenate2012.com

● ● ●

Endorsement by the Honorable Robert K. Dornan (Rep) United States Congress, 1977-1997

I have been called “the original Tea Partier”– and I must say that my many years of experience in the United States Congress taught me to discern what a true conservative really is. 

As I examine the present state of our nation and the critical need for strong candidates that can carry forth our conservative values, both morally and fiscally, I cannot think of a better American, and a better leader than Marielena Stuart, to represent the Great State of Florida in the United States Senate, after winning next year’s election.

Marielena Stuart is a freedom fighter and a patriot.  

Together with her family,  Marielena opposed and survived the ravages of Communism under Fidel Castro.  From an early age she learned to defend her God-given rights, while members of her family were imprisoned, tortured, and executed.  Marielena Stuart knows the price that is paid when freedom is lost.  She knows, first hand, that a socialist leaning government has a devastating effect on economic growth and job creation. 

As socialism grows in our government our individual freedoms are being taken away.  This is why Marielena believes in open and transparent economic development.  She believes that less taxes and a strong private sector are the best ways for America to regain its economic strength.   

Marielena  is a wife and a successful homeschool mother.  She has a firm conviction that now—more than ever — we must instill a sense of pride in America, so that our youngest citizens can grow up with a clear understanding of our sacred rights given to us by God, and protected under the United States Constitution.    

Marielena Stuart is a solid pro-lifer.  She has never been afraid to defend the right to life with an uncompromising strength in her own community and her State—and through her nationally-read columns.

In 2010-2011 she was immensely influential in helping defeat the establishment of an anti-life genetic facility in Southwest Florida, a project which was backed by powerful land developers and government bureaucrats.  She fought in defense of the human embryo, the tiniest of our kin, and in doing so Marielena Stuart also helped save Florida tax payers hundreds of millions of dollars.      

Her success in this grass-roots battle reflects Marielena’s determination to give Florida citizens the right to be heard in the public square – citizens who have long been silenced by political backroom deals and bail-outs.

As a columnist for Renew America (http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/marielena) Marielena Stuart  has demonstrated her expertise in foreign affairs, national defense and strategic military matters — especially those dealing with China-U.S. relations.  Marielena is a powerhouse of important information on vital national and international issues. Her writings also reflect her conservative values, and her love for America.

Like me– and all true conservatives from George Washington to Ronald Reagan — Marielena Stuart believes in “Peace through Strength”.

I promise you that, as your U.S. Senator, Marielena Stuart will lead and unite the State of Florida and the nation. Hers is a vibrant message and commitment to life and prosperity for every Floridian, and for every American who wishes our country to remain – One nation UNDER GOD, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all – born and unborn.

Marielena Stuart embodies the perfect conservative storm that Florida citizens need to deliver to our nation’s capital in 2012.  She needs and deserves your financial support and your vote.

Thank you and God bless.

www.MarielenaStuartforUSSenate2012.com 

UPDATE:  Bevilacqua ordered to appear in court

BREAKING NEWS – August 4, 2011:  Philadelphia District Attorney Requests that Bevilacqua testify again– in spite of his “dementia”

—–

“They are monsters.  They are dangerous— and they are organized.”– From Tom Monaghan’s “invaluable” Cardinal Bevilacqua…

The betrayal

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia has become the latest ‘ground zero’ of sexual abuse cover-ups inside the Catholic Church in America.

The  immorality and corruption being exposed through internal Church records and directives, as well as through years of criminal investigations–  is beyond gruesome.

The Philadelphia Inquirer, which has closely followed the events, obtained Cardinal Bevilacqua’s testimony before a grand jury—shortly before a judge sealed it.

The testimony has been published and is unprecedented, as a window into the mind of one of the most notorious protectors of pederasts and pedophiles, inside the Catholic Church.  It is impossible to encapsulate in words the reaction to such evil—which has existed under the authority of church officials—including popes.

It is also a testimony of how modernists—in other words, non-believers, have betrayed the Church.

Celibacy is a crowning jewel

Celibacy in the Roman Catholic Church is a crowning jewel.  Many men and women religious who uphold and defend their sacred vows find themselves often rejected by Church officials who are more interested in covering up sexual scandals, than embracing authentic holiness.

The Roman Catholic Church does not need to change her structure.

The Roman Catholic Church needs to rid herself of impostors—and their lay travelling companions.

A battle cry still echoes inside a 17^th Century church

Cuban political prisoner before being executed by a Communist firing squad

Our earliest experiences in life are essentially points of departure.

As a practicing Roman Catholic and one who respects Church authority I am drawn to reflect on the events of my Catholic experience,  growing up under Fidel Castro’s murderous Communist regime.

I was taught by my parents to defend our Catholic faith, in spite of the persecution that we suffered.

At least I survived.

But thousands of others have been imprisoned, tortured and executed — among them, members of my family– as they cried out “Long Live Christ the King!”

When we stood up as Catholics against the Communists in Cuba, we did so immediately and without hesitation.  Our defense of  the Church was based on faith and conviction.  We did not stop to consider “conspiracies” from the Communist bureaucrats.

Within the confines of our home I was secretly taught the Catechism by my mother— the Catechism being the authoritative expression of the Catholic faith.  Our formation had to be strong, in order to fight the evil that surrounded us.

We did not look for public relations maneuvers—nor did we appeal to Cardinals  for help.

We were Christian soldiers left in a battlefield of brutal violence and hatred against our God-given rights—and it was up to us to stand up and defend those rights.

Having lost our liberty, the only source of hope was our faith and our love for Christ and his Church.

The world chose to ignore our suffering.  To this day, it still does.

In fact, even the Holy See has increasingly betrayed and abandoned the plight of the Cuban people under Castro— through diplomatic maneuvers between Rome and Havana.

Under Communism, my living example of greatness and loyalty within the Church was the priest who risked his life to make sure that I received my First Holy Communion, while armed Communist military thugs threatened us– as they lined the walls of my hometown’s beautiful church, which dates back to the 17^th Century.

The battle cry in defense of our faith still echoes inside the walls of that church.

Not enough can ever be said about the lay Catholics who never wavered in their defense of the Church—in spite of the persecution they suffered under Communism.

I never knew liberty until I came to the United States.  I am still exhilarated by it.  But liberty did not prepare me for the realization that the Church we had defended against the Communists, was being attacked from within.  And an attack on the Church is a universal act that cannot be nuanced—even more so when the perpetrator of the attack is a Cardinal himself.

I had never seen a Cardinal growing up under Communism— given Castro’s repressive activities against the Church.

In the United States, my most vivid archdiocesan experience was under a modernist, Roger Cardinal Mahony—and one I would rather forget.  With his progressive exhortations and innovative social experiments, Cardinal  Mahony managed to destroy the Archdiocese of Los Angeles—both morally and financially.  Under Mahony’s reign, Los Angeles witnessed one of the city’s darkest periods, as victims of clerical sexual abuse began to step forward.

What is Cardinal Mahony’s legacy?

Abusive priests from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles still live unmonitored across the nation. (PDF).

A new reality sets in

Under Communism we at least knew who the enemy was—but in the Catholic Church, the enemy is hiding.

Catholic Church officials have run out of excuses.  The recently published testimony of the infamous Cardinal Bevilacqua, before a grand jury, puts to rest any notions that there is an external “conspiracy”— as more and more victims come forward, exposing how Church officials have covered up the sexual abuse of children in the Church.

If there is a “conspiracy”– it is internal—and it is hidden under the breath and whispers of certain members of the Roman Curia.

A cover-up is a lie—and Cardinals are not supposed to lie

Cardinal Bevilacqua’s role in the cover-up of the sexual abuse of children is a betrayal of the Church—which includes the faithful Catholics who gave up their lives in her defense.

What made Bevilacqua even more dangerous is that he isn’t just a Cardinal.

Cardinal Bevilacqua is a canon lawyer—as well as a civil lawyer admitted to practice before the Courts of New York State, the Courts of the State of Pennsylvania and the U.S. Supreme Court.

This is the ultimate insult to injury— considering Cardinal Bevilacqua’s background as a lawyer, and his understanding of the criminal implications of covering up and protecting dangerous sexual predators.

Bevilacqua’s history of cover-ups is not limited to Pennsylvania.  Memos reveal that during Bevilacqua’s tenure as Auxiliary Bishop at the Diocese of Brooklyn, he covered up and transferred an extremely dangerous predator, Father Romano J. Ferraro, who is now serving a life sentence.

While this was happening, Cardinal Bevilacqua  was also working closely with both Pope John Paul II and Benedict XVI.

As recently as February 28, 2011, Cardinal Bevilacqua was listed as Chairman of The Papal Foundation — the Pope’s biggest monetary fund — an extremely powerful multi-million dollar American foundation which is managed by Benedict XVI.

A minimum $1 million dollar donation is required to become a steward.  A screen caption taken on July 30, 2011 of the Papal Foundation’s website now shows Bevilacqua as a “member” of the board of trustees—with Cardinal Wuerl, from Washington DC, having been moved up to the position of Chairman.

(Click to enlarge image)

But the Holy See is not the only place where the red carpet has been rolled out for Cardinal Bevilacqua, as a “prince of the Church.”

Wealthy lay Catholics for years have also been rolling out their own red carpets  for Cardinal Bevilacqua— even after a grand jury report had been issued, describing his involvement in covering up the sexual abuse of children—during his tenure as Archbishop of Philadelphia.

Is it that these wealthy lay Catholics—with their teams of powerful lawyers, simply ignore or do not care about such significant legal public records detailing the cover-up of the sexual abuse of children in the Catholic Church?  Is this part of the “this-is just-a-conspiracy- against-Catholics” approach to defending the Church?

Or is there a motivation for power, greed and control behind their actions—while they hold meetings—sometimes at luxury resorts and hotels—to raise money in “defense” of  human dignity and human life—in the company and under the oversight of impostors like Bevilacqua?

And I say impostors—because  Cardinal Bevilacqua did not operate alone.

It is prudent that faithful, well-intentioned Catholics, question and investigate the background of lay Catholic organizations and movements—before lending their names, or giving their time and money—or they may find themselves seated next to another Cardinal Bevilacqua—amidst luxury, pomp and circumstance.

But questioning the rich and powerful requires courage – and can be time consuming.  So most people prefer to give in to that fancy luncheon—where they can feel good about themselves, while millions of dollars are raised and channeled in different directions—all in the name of “working for the Church.”

But are they– really?

It is of serious concern, and very disturbing, that someone like Bevilacqua is allowed to hold the purse strings at The Papal Foundation– in the management of millions of dollars.

In contrast, Jesus, who lived and walked amongst the poor was able to influence and change the course of humanity, without a cent in his pocket.

Fortunately, there are courageous  Catholics and organizations that continue to work in defense of human life and the family—without compromising their work.  It is a worthwhile  effort to seek them  out.

The “invaluable” Cardinal Bevilacqua

It appears that Bevilacqua was very much in demand.

Cardinal Bevilacqua served as Tom Monaghan’s “invaluable” Ecclesiastical Advisor in  Legatus, almost from its inception, in approximately 1988, until December, 2010.  Tom Monaghan is the former pizza king-turned-Chancellor of Ave Maria University.  Legatus is Tom Monaghan’s  Catholic rich men’s club which claims  “to study, live and spread the Faith in [their] business, professional and personal lives.” Legatus has chapters in many cities.

Tom Monaghan’s support and close involvement with Cardinal Bevilacqua (see calling the Cardinal “invaluable“) continued in spite of the first 423-page Grand Jury Report issued on September 15, 2005–  which began as follows:

“This report contains the findings of the Grand Jury:  how dozens of priests sexually abused hundreds of children;  how Philadelphia Archdiocese officials — including Cardinal Bevilacqua and Cardinal Krol — excused and enabled the abuse…”

Upon reflecting on Tom Monaghan’s Legatus and its advertised mission “to study, live and spread the Faith in [their] business, professional and personal lives“– it is interesting to note that Mr. Monaghan has erected a building on his Ave Maria University, Florida campus bearing the name of a billionaire who has given millions of dollars to extreme-left wing, pro-choice,  NARAL-endorsed politicians—including Barack Obama.  Why?  In exchange for a $4 million donation to the university.

Is naming a building in honor of a billionaire who has given millions of dollars to rabid pro-choice politicians Tom Monaghan’s way of “living and spreading the Faith”?

The testimony

 “Grand jury transcripts are rarely made public” – wrote the team of journalists that has been following the Archdiocese of Philadelphia sexual abuse scandals at the Philadelphia Inquirer–  adding that Bevilacqua’s testimony would be of interest and help on an international basis—since these scandals are not limited to the United States.

The Catholic Church in Ireland collapsed under the weight of corruption, homosexual activity and the sexual abuse of children.   Investigations and lawsuits are taking place in other countries, including Germany and Belgium.

A lawyer who has represented victims of sexual abuse referred to the prosecutor’s  release of Bevilacqua’s testimony as “extraordinary and unprecedented.”

Read  Bevilacqua’s testimony… and weep.

© Marielena Montesino de Stuart

CLICK on the following LINK to access the testimony through  the Philadelphia Inquirer website.  It is also available at BishopAccountability.org in detailed searchable format.

Related reading:

Tom Monaghan’s “invaluable” Cardinal Bevilacqua accused by grand jury of covering up sexual abuse of children

Short related video:  What’s a Modernist?

…or listen to audio clip:

TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION:  Modernists + Questioning Lay Catholic Organizations and Movements +  Questioning the Holy See about the Sexual Abuse of Children in the Catholic Church + Pederasty +  Pedophilia.

Marielena Montesino de Stuart

E-Mail:    ContactTRCW@aol.com

You may also read Marielena Montesino de Stuart’s commentaries through: RenewAmerica, USAToday, Forbes.com, The Dallas Morning News, U.S. Politics Today (an EIN Service for Political Professionals-*) Poynter Online, Spero News, Daily Estimate, The New Liturgical Movement-Poland, The Naples Daily News, Les Femmes-The Truth, Culture War Notes,  ProLife Blogs,  The Wanderer, The Times of India, etc. Notice to readers

© All Rights Reserved

If…  “it’s  not Cut, Cap & Balance” then it doesn’t solve the problem

On Monday July 25 a new deal was announced by House Speaker John Boehner which sidesteps the core issues laid out under Cut, Cap & Balance.

So, what can we expect from the verbiage in this new deal from Speaker Boehner? — which has been described as “less than perfect” and “it’s not Cut, Cap & Balance.”

Not much.

It appears that this new nebulous proposal puts tax increases off the table—that is, until next year, when the issue of raising taxes would be debated again.  It adds trillions of dollars to our debt in the short-term and does not genuinely change Washington’s spending habit.  It appears to be a variation on the theme of the McConnell-Reid plan.

Meanwhile, a new “Super Congress” commission of 12 would deal with the issue of future deficit reduction and tax increases.  There is no question that this new commission will include Democrats who are allergic to spending cuts—which puts Americans at risk of tax hikes.

But wait.  Why do we need a “Super Congress” commission?

We already have a United States Congress—with all the legislative powers granted under Article I of the U.S. Constitution to bring about the changes that we need, right now, in order to stop government spending.

“Argument and Opportunity”

This “new deal” announced by Speaker Boehner also includes “argument and opportunity” for a Balanced Budget Amendment.  Speaker Boehner’s call for “argument and opportunity” means very little—since his new deal, as presented on July 25, does not appear to cap federal spending.  It caps appropriated discretionary spending, which is 39% of the budget.

Americans must put pressure on their representatives, so that the Senate will vote on Cut, Cap & Balance, which was approved last week by the House– and insist on a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which should be submitted to the states for ratification.

It is a logical conclusion that these temporary attempts—including the formation of a new commission with significant legislative power (as if we don’t have enough commissions already) are just ways of  “dealing” with the debt problem, instead of solving it.  This approach  will leave us with consequences that we may not be able to rectify in the future.

A debt default could come at some point—but not on August 2^nd.  If we default, it would be to the massive bureaucratic system that the Obama administration  is supporting– not  to our creditors.  President Obama may be trying to set up a “catastrophic” crisis, by using tax revenues for purposes other than debt service.  This Socialist bureaucracy with abusive spending habits will overtake our growth and destroy our economy.  There’s little hope for job creation in an economic environment like this.

In the meantime, President Obama, who is looking for a crisis that he can blame on Republicans, may also be setting the stage for a government shut-down.  If this happens, will he at least administer it in the manner least disruptive to Americans and the markets?

Senator Reid’s fictitious spending cuts

Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid (D-Nevada) has another plan—which uses fuzzy math and gimmicks—like a $1 trillion disguise for fictitious spending cuts—by assuming the continuation of a ten year surge-level spending in Iraq and Afghanistan, in spite of the decrease that the President announced.  The Committee on the Budget said:  “An honest budget cannot claim to save taxpayers’ dollars by cutting spending that was not requested and will not be spent. Senate Democrats are employing a budget gimmick that will not fool the credit markets and does not address the urgent need for Washington to get its fiscal house in order.”

This latest plan presented by the Democrats  is essentially political, rather than economic.  Senator Reid’s proposal does not include plans for a Balanced Budget Amendment.  This is not a surprise—since Socialists do not believe in balancing the budget.  They believe in a big government that runs on credit.

This is why Harry Reid rushed to table a debate on Cut, Cap & Balance in the Senate—ignoring its parliamentary legitimacy, as an Act passed by the House of Representatives—which, most importantly, reflected its overwhelming support by the American people.

Cut, Cap & Balance is what credit rating agencies see as a sensible solution—because it controls spending– and is the only plan so far that could save America’s credit rating.

Otherwise, as far as S&P and Moody are concerned—they would simply be doing exactly what President Obama asked them to do in 2009—that is, to stop overestimating the stability of financial institutions.   President Obama has only himself to blame for his failed economic policies and worthless bail outs.

Social Security checks can be paid— in spite of President Obama’s embarrassing scare tactics.  Professor Michael McConnell is a leading authority on constitutional history and constitutional law.  Here is what he has to say about Social Security checks:

“The Social Security trust fund holds about $2.4 trillion in U.S. Treasury bonds, which its trustees are legally entitled to redeem whenever Social Security is running a current account deficit. Thus, if we reach the debt ceiling (which I continue to think is a remote prospect, even if less remote than it seemed a week ago), this is what will happen. The Social Security trust fund will go to Treasury and cash in some of its securities, using the proceeds to send checks to recipients. Each dollar of debt that is redeemed will lower the outstanding public debt by a dollar. That enables the Treasury to borrow another dollar, without violating the debt ceiling. The debt ceiling is not a prohibition on borrowing new money; it is a prohibition on increasing the total level of public indebtedness. If Social Security cashes in some of its bonds, the Treasury can borrow that same amount of money from someone else.”

Americans must see through all the political maneuvering that is taking place in Washington.  This is why we must insist on Cut, Cap & Balance, as the only viable solution for the current fiscal crisis.

© Marielena Montesino de Stuart

E-Mail:    ContactTRCW@aol.com

Marielena Montesino de Stuart

You may also read Marielena Montesino de Stuart’s commentaries through: RenewAmerica, USAToday, The Dallas Morning News, U.S. Politics Today (an EIN Service for Political Professionals-*) Poynter Online, Spero News, Daily Estimate, The New Liturgical Movement-Poland, The Naples Daily News, Les Femmes-The Truth, Culture War Notes,  ProLife Blogs,  The Wanderer, The Times of India, etc.

© All Rights Reserved

“When the people once surrender their share in the legislature, and their right of defending the limitations upon the government, and of resisting every encroachment upon them, they can never regain it.” – John Adams

It’s dark inside the White House

President Obama’s administration is leaving Americans in the dark, as it continues to push the United States further into debt and subservience to other nations.

On the other hand, the solutions that have been offered through Cut, Cap & Balance are transparent and have been the only ones that make sense– in this battle to save America at the edge of an economic precipice.

It is shameful that a debate on Cut, Cap & Balance was tabled by the Senate.

What do Senate Democrats fear?

The will of the people?

Americans are not interested in a “deal”.

Americans want and deserve a solution to the debt, and this includes passing a crucial Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Tax increases are not the solution to the debt.

Not surprisingly, President Obama has offered nothing concrete during the current debt talks.  With his socialist aversion to leadership, President Obama has reduced the significance of this matter to mere sound bites and clichés in front of television cameras.

The Hellenic Mirror:  A reflection of our reality?  

This ‘smoke and mirrors’ game is, in effect, part of the Socialist environment that is destroying our nation—much like the Socialist environment I witnessed during my stays in Greece—as the Panhellenic Socialist Movement grew and eventually choked that beautiful country, while participating in the equally socialist euro zone profligacy.

The fall of America as the world’s economic leader would be an event of proportions and repercussions never seen before.  It would overshadow any Greek Tragedy— including the current financial one.

Much to the detriment of our national security, Americans have been pawns in an economic environment “propped up” by borrowing money from other countries—most significantly from the Communists in Beijing.  As such, China is the biggest investor in the U.S. debt— and our most dangerous economic and military enemy.

Last year, Americans experienced Communist China’s anger after Washington sold arms to Taiwan.  China’s state-run Xinhua news agency published an interview where Major General Luo Yuan (deputy secretary general of the People’s Liberation Army Academy of Military Sciences) warned what the U.S. could expect in return:

“Our retaliation should not be restricted to merely military matters, and we should adopt a strategic package of counterpunches covering politics, military affairs, diplomacy and economics, to treat both the symptoms and root cause of this disease.”

Yuan added that Washington could be punished through “oblique  means and stealthy feints… such as dumping some U.S. government bonds.”

Added to the arsenal of punishments  that the Communist Chinese have in store for us, is the development of electromagnetic pulse weapons, which would be used against U.S. aircraft carriers– should the People’s Liberation Army attack Taiwan and Americans dare to intervene.

If America falls—no one can come to her rescue.  Only God can save America.

CLICK on the U.S. Department of the Treasury below to see who owns the U.S. debt:

© Marielena Montesino de Stuart

E-Mail:    ContactTRCW@aol.com

Marielena Montesino de Stuart

You may also read Marielena Montesino de Stuart’s commentaries through: RenewAmerica, USAToday, The Dallas Morning News, U.S. Politics Today (an EIN Service for Political Professionals-*) Poynter Online, Spero News, Daily Estimate, The New Liturgical Movement-Poland, The Naples Daily News, Les Femmes-The Truth, Culture War Notes,  ProLife Blogs,  The Wanderer, The Times of India, etc.

© All Rights Reserved

The Space Shuttle Atlantis returned to Earth today.  Its final landing at 5:56AM (EDT) marked the end of a glorious era in American history.  Here is a tribute to the thousands of men and women who have dedicated their lives to the American space program.

CLICK HERE for a breathtaking view of life from above…

TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION:  Space Shuttle Atlantis + International Space Station + NASA + American Space Program + Human Space Exploration + Kennedy Space Center in Florida + Cape Canaveral, Florida + Florida’s Space Coast.

© Marielena Montesino de Stuart

E-Mail:    ContactTRCW@aol.com

Marielena Montesino de Stuart

You may also read Marielena Montesino de Stuart’s commentaries through: RenewAmerica, USAToday, The Dallas Morning News, U.S. Politics Today (an EIN Service for Political Professionals-*) Poynter Online, Spero News, Daily Estimate, The New Liturgical Movement-Poland, The Naples Daily News, Les Femmes-The Truth, Culture War Notes,  ProLife Blogs,  The Wanderer, The Times of India, etc.

© All Rights Reserved

A Pro-Life, Pro-America Look at Human Space Exploration

Mission STS-135

For three decades members of the 45th Space Wing have provided vital  Eastern Range support for NASA’s space shuttle program.   They stand ready to give their support, one last time, during the final landing of the Space Shuttle Atlantis, when it returns to Earth upon completion of Mission STS-135.

The shuttle launched at 11:29 a.m. (EDT) from the Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A, on Friday, July 8.  One space walk is planned during the estimated 12-day mission.

This was the final space shuttle flight.  It is the end of an era in American history.

Shortly after the launch, the White House released a statement from President Obama, which included his encouragement of a Mars program– perhaps anticipating his destination in exile, after the 2012 elections:

“I have tasked the men and women of NASA with an ambitious new mission:  to break new boundaries in space exploration, ultimately sending Americans to Mars.  I know they are up to the challenge – and I plan to be around to see it.” – President Barack Obama, The White House, July 8, 2011.

These sound like nice words– but NASA cannot carry out such projects without committed programs to sustain them– and NASA has not been a priority for President Obama.  In fact, President Obama cancelled Project Constellation—which included plans to send astronauts to the Moon, to Mars and into deep space exploration.

President Obama also seems to be removing Americans as leaders of the space program, by enforcing  more and more his internacionalista ideology.   NASA Administrator, Charles Bolden, revealed President Obama’s marching orders to NASA:   “Reach out to the Muslim world and engage much more with dominantly Muslim  nations.”

On June 30, 2010  al-Jazeera aired an interview with Bolden.  Here is an excerpt, where Bolden explains  President Obama’s instructions:

“One, was he wanted me to help re-inspire children to want to get into science and math, he wanted me to expand our international relationships, and third, and perhaps foremost, he wanted me to find a way to reach out to the Muslim world and engage much more with dominantly Muslim nations to help them feel good about their historic contribution to science, math, and engineering.”

NASA’s assistant administrator for public affairs, Bob Jacobs, said that Bolden was speaking about priorities related to “outreach” — not about NASA’s primary missions of “science, aeronautics and space exploration.”  Not a surprising statement from a PR department, trying to do damage control.

Byron York, chief political correspondent for The Washington Examiner wrote on July 5, 2010 about the al-Jazeera episode:

Michael Griffin, who headed NASA during the last four years of the Bush administration, says the space agency’s new goal to improve relations with the Islamic world and boost Muslim self-esteem is a “perversion” of NASA’s original mission to explore space.  “NASA was chartered by the 1958 Space Act to develop the arts and sciences of flight in the atmosphere and in space and to go where those technologies will allow us to go,” Griffin said in an interview Tuesday.  “That’s what NASA does for the country.  It is a perversion of NASA’s purpose to conduct activities in order to make the Muslim world feel good about its contributions to science and mathematics.”

Bolden also asserted that the United States is not going to travel beyond low-Earth orbit on its own– and that no country is going to make it to Mars without international help.

According to a Fox News report , Michael Griffin disagreed with Bolden’s comment about Mars, explaining that the U.S. can accomplish such projects without international aid. “To the extent that we wish to go to Mars, we can go to Mars,”  said Griffin.

A “devastating” blow to the American space program

In April, 2010, Neil Armstrong, the first man on the Moon, published an open letter together with Apollo astronauts James Lovell and Eugene Cernan, which described President Obama’s cancellation of Project Constellation  as “devastating.”

The letter also stated that, “for The United States, the leading space faring nation for nearly half a century, to be without carriage to low Earth orbit and with no human exploration capability to go beyond Earth orbit for an indeterminate time into the future, destines our nation to become one of second or even third rate stature.”

As we witnessed the Shuttle Atlantis leave our planet on July 8, it was easy to see how fragile our extraordinary American space program has become.

America, which once ruled human space exploration, will now depend on the Russians to help us reach this new frontier.  For those of us who have followed the American space program with great respect and admiration, it is as if a gentle giant has gone to sleep.

God and human space exploration

Human space exploration, with Americans as leaders, can remain a noble scientific project that values and protects human life.

This is extremely important for those of us who believe that human life is strictly God’s divine creation.  Without question, our support of a space program that defines itself as “humanist”  must always include the condition that the defense of innocent human life must never be compromised.

For the sake of clarity, it is important to note that there is secular humanism– and authentic humanism, which is divine and centered on God as the Creator.

Dr. Christopher McKay is a planetary scientist at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California.  Dr. McKay has expressed his firm believe that, “Earth’s gift to the universe is the gift of life.”   Personally, I would change that to “God’s gift to the universe is the gift of life.”  Nevertheless, statements such as Dr. McKay’s could draw support for human space exploration, as a scientific project that respects and protects human life.

Recently I spent a full, glorious day, at the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum, in Washington DC.  And I say glorious– because there is no better way to describe what it felt like to examine this outstanding museum collection—which reflects the accomplishments  and sacrifices made by so many men and women, throughout the history of our space program.

There, piece by piece—from the most humble sketch to the most sophisticated mechanisms, one could witness our incredible human potential and noble spirit, in search of discovery.

I also have had the privilege of visiting the collection at the Kennedy Space Center, in Cape Canaveral.   My reaction upon leaving both museums was one of longing to return, very soon.

“Mars beckons… but Mars will not wait forever”

Such were the words of the former chairman of the National Space Society, Dr. Robert Zubrin, who is also president of  Pioneer Astronautics and of The Mars Society.

Dr. Zubrin has been clamoring for support of a Mars program involving  human exploration– where our  natural, noble human potential can be unleashed.

If  President Obama is serious about sending Americans to Mars, then he may want to get help from  Dr. Zubrin—a world-renowned expert on the Red Planet.   Dr. Zubrin should have no problem having a discussion about Mars with President Obama—which would include the most complex analysis, cost-effective means, as well as a lighthearted view of what American astronauts can expect once they reach the Red Planet.

Dr. Zubrin has been the driving force behind a program called Mars Direct, which would utilize existing technologies, and would place the Mars mission on a faster track– without the need of massive government expenses, bureaucracy or delays.  Mars Direct proposes  that missions to Mars should leave directly from Earth.

Tyranny, war and genocide

In The Case for Mars Dr. Zubrin writes:

“The essence of [a] humanist society is that it values human beings—human life and human rights are held precious beyond price.  Such notions have been for several thousand years the core philosophical values of Western civilization, dating back to the Greeks and the Judeo—Christian ideas of the divine nature of the human spirit. Yet they could never be implemented as a practical basis for the organization of society until the great explorers of the age of discovery threw open a New World in which the dormant seed of humanism contained within medieval Christendom could grow and blossom forth.”

Dr. Zubrin has expressed his rejection of population control, and passionately believes that space exploration must be humanist in nature—for it to serve a noble purpose. He stresses that human beings create new resources by finding ways of using new developed technologies.   He adds, “this is why (contrary to Malthus ) [creator of the Malthusian Theory of population control]  as the world’s population has increased, the standard of living has increased, and at an accelerating rate.”

“Malthusianism is scientifically bankrupt,” states Dr. Zubrin.  “All predictions made upon it have been wrong, because human beings are not mere consumers of resources.  Western humanist civilization, as we know and value it today, was born in expansion, grew in expansion, and can only exist in a dynamic expanding state.  If the idea is accepted that the world’s resources are fixed, then each person is ultimately the enemy of every other person, and each race or nation is the enemy of every other race or nation. The inevitable result is tyranny, war and genocide. Only in a universe of unlimited resources can all men be brothers.”

The sanctity of life

The defense of human life has been present, consciously or not, in each and every noble aspiration and human endeavor that man has ever embarked on; however, society’s increasing abandonment of the sanctity of life has been a death sentence, not just for ourselves as individuals.  The abandonment of the sanctity of life is fundamentally an attack on all of God‘s creation.

We must value our extraordinary human potential, if we are to respect God’s divine creation.

In The Case for Mars. Dr. Zubrin also states:  “Some people consider the idea of terraforming Mars heretical—humanity playing  God. Yet others would see in such an accomplishment the most profound vindication of the divine nature of the human spirit, exercised in its highest form to bring a dead world to life.”

Our greatest resource

We live in a world where population is only above replacement level in sub-Saharan Africa.  A world where life is disposable.  Where human potential is not valued as our greatest resource.

Fortunately, like the inevitable discovery of the New World—human space exploration is also inevitable.  Man is determined to return to the Moon—to reach Mars, whether through a private or government- sponsored program.

But, who will lead?  Will it be for a noble cause that supports humanity?

We are doomed if the space program is led by the Communist Chinese —the most powerful anti-humanist government on Earth.

Communist China’s  military-run space program is moving ahead, fast and furious.  China plans to launch the Tiangong 1 by the end of September—as the first module of a future space laboratory.  The Chinese will then attempt their first in-orbit docking , with the goal of having a fully established space station by 2020.

On January 11, 2010 China flexed its muscles by conducting  an exoatmospheric missile interception test, as a step towards development of a missile defense system.  This has put Washington DC on notice that Beijing’s goal is to militarize space and achieve strategic superiority in aerospace.

Rep. Frank R. Wolf, (R) from Virginia– who is a staunch critic of Communist China’s murderous activities and human rights violations, inserted a clause in NASA’s budget which restricts NASA’s ability to collaborate with the Chinese government or Chinese companies.  The restrictions  also extend to the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP).

Under the clause, these agencies are not allowed to “develop, design, plan, promulgate, implement, or execute a bilateral policy, program, order, or contract of any kind to participate, collaborate, or coordinate bilaterally in any way with China or any Chinese-owned company.”

NASA is also prohibited from hosting official Chinese visitors.

Rep. Wolf is Chairman of the Commerce-Justice-Science (CJS) Appropriations Subcommittee.

The clause was added to an emergency national budget bill passed in April, to keep the U.S. government running for six months.

Human space exploration: the infinite frontier

At a time when governments around the world are passing laws to reduce population growth through the incremental establishment of laws and programs that lead to the murder of innocent human beings, we must support programs that oppose these evil tendencies.

The success of human space exploration depends on the growth of a human population that will support its programs far into the future– of a new and infinite frontier.

Great innovation has resulted from great human endeavors– the building of pyramids, great cathedrals, the discovery of the New World.  At the time that these projects were undertaken they were the most complex for that age. These accomplishments have opened the door  to great human cooperation, integration, and advancements.  These accomplishments took place because of our extraordinary human potential.

Human space exploration is no different.

Americans must lead

Scientists at NASA, as well as in the private sector agree that Mars, as well as other human space exploration programs are within our reach—but it is crucial that Americans lead in these efforts.

Mars is reported to have vast quantities of carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen and oxygen– readily accessible to those who are willing to apply their skills, in support of discovery– and in support of developing  technologies for the benefit of humanity.

While some may argue that there are vast uninhabited lands in every continent on Earth, that could be turned into new frontiers– the fact is that this has not proven to be a strong enough motivation for expansion, or human population growth.

To the contrary.  Entire regions battle over control of natural resources.  America itself is a hostage of the oil industry—much of it controlled by countries who are hostile to us.  Human life has been devalued, and anti-human ideologies have permeated our societies and governments.

Maybe  a society that supports human space exploration as a noble cause, may begin to rediscover  the divine potential of each human life.

No nation can follow the pursuit of such a noble task better than America.

Before you go…

Human space exploration evolved  from the idea that there is a destiny full of optimism and goodness in the discovery of the celestial theater, and it needs human participation to accomplish it.

The greater the population, the faster the rate of innovation—and innovation  is what inspires  man’s dream of reaching beyond the Earth.

So, on a clear night, look up and think–that in our struggle for the defense of human life, God’s answer may very well lie amongst the stars.

♦  ♦  ♦

© Marielena Montesino de Stuart

E-Mail:    ContactTRCW@aol.com

Marielena Montesino de Stuart

You may also read Marielena Montesino de Stuart’s commentaries through: RenewAmerica, USAToday, The Dallas Morning News, U.S. Politics Today (an EIN Service for Political Professionals-*) Poynter Online, Spero News, Daily Estimate, The New Liturgical Movement-Poland, The Naples Daily News, Les Femmes-The Truth, Culture War Notes,  ProLife Blogs,  The Wanderer, The Times of India, etc.

© All Rights Reserved

TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION:

by Marielena Montesino de Stuart

A Meeting with U.S. Senator Marco Rubio in Washington DC: 

- ISRAEL

- THE UNITED NATIONS 

- THE WAR IN LIBYA

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio and Marielena Montesino de Stuart

On Israel

During a recent visit to Washington DC I had the distinct pleasure and honor of meeting with one of America’s greatest leaders, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, from the State of Florida.

As always, Senator Rubio is both distinguished and humble.  I felt the same warmth and sincerity from him, now that he is a U.S. Senator, as I did when I met with him during his campaign in 2010.

My visit with Senator Rubio was an auspicious moment to pose my questions, which were centered on Israel, as well as the war in Libya.

Senator Rubio, who had just met with the Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel, described to me how Chancellor Merkel shared his opposition to a United Nations unilateral action for Palestinian statehood, which could take place in September, during the annual UN General Assembly. The United Nations vote could serve as a proclamation of a Palestinian state, whose territory would include the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem.

A United Nations resolution proclaiming Palestinian statehood would also claim the 1967 “borders” as the boundary– which is nothing more than the 1949 armistice lines– whether President Obama’s admonitions on “land swaps” are included or not.  The Jordanian-Israeli 1949 armistice line [1] marked the farthest westward military point reached by Jordan during Israel’s War of Independence, also known as the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.

The Elusive Line in the Sand

The term “a line in the sand” takes a whole different meaning in this ancient region, when considering  international  borders  and battle frontlines.

The armistice lines established in 1949, to a certain extent overlapped, or were in proximity to the borderline  of Palestine during the British Mandate— except for the region of Judea and Samaria, and the surrounding  area of the Gaza Strip.

On the Syrian and Egyptian fronts  there had been a history of international borders between the British  Mandate of Palestine and their neighbors.  The international border between the British Mandate of Palestine and Egypt became the armistice line between Israel and Egypt;  however, the armistice line with Syria closely corresponds with the frontline.

The armistice line with Lebanon is close to the international border that existed during the British Mandate, with some overlapping.

As to the Jordanian front, Article II of the Jordanian-Israeli 1949 Armistice Agreement did not dictate territorial lines, stating that the provisions of the agreement were being “dictated exclusively by military considerations.”

After the 1967 Six-Day War, the drafters of United Nations Security Council Resolution 242 [2] declared that the old armistice line needed to be replaced with a new border– which became the reference point for the Arab-Israeli peace talks.  Resolution 242 did not recognize the line where the conflict began, and ignored the fact that the 1967 line was never an international border.  Yet, one of the framers of Resolution 242, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., Arthur Goldberg, acknowledged the historical absence of clear territorial boundaries in the region. This is why Resolution 242 did not ask for complete withdrawal from all territories captured by Israel in 1967 during the Six Day War, until secure and recognized borders could be established.

With the passage of time, boundaries, battle lines and lives have been erased, as agreements and documents are drawn in search of peace, sometimes even twisting the terminology in an attempt to rewrite history.  Meanwhile, the Palestinian National Authority staunchly refuses to recognize Israel as a Jewish state.

On April 14, 2004 President George W. Bush wrote a letter to Ariel Sharon, Israel’s Prime Minister at the time, as part of a final peace settlement:

EXCERPT:  “Israel must have secure and recognized borders, which should emerge from negotiations between the parties in accordance with UNSC Resolutions 242 and 338. [2][3]. In light of new realities on the ground, including already existing major Israeli populations centers, it is unrealistic to expect that the outcome of final status negotiations will be a full and complete return to the armistice lines of 1949, and all previous efforts to negotiate a two-state solution have reached the same conclusion. It is realistic to expect that any final status agreement will only be achieved on the basis of mutually agreed changes that reflect these realities.”

President Barack Obama appears to ignore the legal fact that President Bush’s letter was approved by a bipartisan majority in both houses of Congress.

Declaring that Palestine is a “state” does not grant it membership in the U.N.; furthermore, General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, so the General Assembly will not have the power to legitimize a state; however, a vote such as this would create significant political pressure– and that is exactly what the Palestinians want, knowing full well that there is no veto power in the General Assembly.

“Not the Right Approach”

Senator Rubio emphasized that “this is not the right approach”– referring to the impending U.N. resolution.

Many on Capitol Hill are considering the possibility of limiting contributions to the U.N., should this unilateral vote take place.  This is more than justified, given the United Nations abysmal record of embracing Communist states, that also harbor terrorists (such as Cuba) [4].  This time the U.N., would also be embracing Hamas [5] which the United States lists as a terrorist organization (the U.N., does not).  Hamas is part of the coalition government known as the Palestinian National Authority.  Limiting contributions to the United Nations is also a great opportunity for the U.S. to save money, during these desperate economic times.

In 2009, the current Prime Minister of the Palestinian National Authority, Salam Fayyad, announced that Palestinians would seek independent statehood by 2011.  This was echoed last September by President Obama, when he announced that the framework for a Palestinian state could be announced in a year.

But Palestinians are not united.  There is ongoing discord between Fatah, which is the dominant party in the West Bank, and the Islamic extremist group, Hamas, which is in control of Gaza.  A summit held in Cairo during  the month of June came to a screeching halt, when the President of the Palestinian National Authority, Mahmoud Abbas (Fatah Party)– and Hamas leader, Khaled Meshaal, continued to disagree on the leadership of an interim government.  Negotiations between the two parties are now at a breaking point.

Fatah has nominated Salam Fayyad, to lead the future interim government. Hamas rejects this plan, since they see Fayyad as being under the control of the United States and Israel.

Negotiations are underway to hold a Quartet meeting in mid July (the members of the Quartet are the US, EU, Russia and the UN)  to try to bring Israel and the Palestinians to the negotiating table– and to attempt to dissuade the Palestinian National Authority from seeking a vote for statehood, during the UN General Assembly.

Senator Rubio added that “we have to be a leading voice on this issue”– referring to the opposition of a unilateral move by the United Nations.

On Libya

I asked Senator Rubio to share his views on the war in Libya– in light of the 268 to 145 vote by the House on June 3, approving a resolution which strongly criticized President Obama for not obtaining congressional oversight of the military campaign in Libya.

Senator Rubio stated that he supports President Obama’s decision to attack Libya, “as a matter of U.S. national interest”– but he was quick to point out that he does not support the way in which President Obama has gone about this military action, without first seeking congressional approval.

In contrast, Senator Bill Nelson, (D) from Florida, whom I chatted with a few minutes after meeting with Senator Rubio, believes that President Obama did not have to go to Congress for approval to attack Libya.  When I asked Senator Nelson if he understood President Obama’s strategy in Libya, he responded:  “I don’t know if he has the right strategy.”

Senator Rubio is concerned that the war in Libya could be “dragged and dragged” and become “complicated.”   He added that the United States “is not leading”– and that is a concern.  Senator Rubio believes that had President Obama obtained the approval of Congress, the war plan in Libya could have been “decisive, quick and precise.”

I asked Senator Rubio if the tribal differences in Libya could affect the long term unity against Gadhafi and his forces.  His response was optimistic.  Senator Rubio believes that “rebel groups are well organized– and Libya, being a nation-state, has a national identity.”

Unity and national identity will definitely be crucial factors that will help the Libyan people as they fight to overthrow Gadhafi’s dictatorship, and hopefully establish a democratic government. In a situation like Libya’s, one can’t help but consider how Palestinian disunity and terrorist elements have set back the creation of a Palestinian state.

“They came to Washington DC”– added Senator Rubio, referring to the National Transitional Council, the rebel group fighting Gadhafi’s forces.  The National Transitional Council was recently invited to open an office in Washington DC.

Senator Rubio added, “any time we can take out a terrorist, we should– and Gadhafi is a terrorist.”

♦  ♦  ♦

Additional Commentary: 

Senator  Rubio’s position on Libya, as stated during our meeting, was again manifested on Tuesday, June 28, when he voted in support of a resolution [6] which authorizes the U.S. to continue participating in the NATO-led military actions in Libya.  The resolution sets a time limit by stating that “the authorization for such limited use of United States Armed Forces in Libya expires one year after the date of the enactment of this joint resolution.”

The resolution “does not support deploying, establishing, or maintaining the presence of units and members of the United States Armed Forces on the ground in Libya unless the purpose of the presence is limited to the immediate personal defense of United States Government officials (including diplomatic representatives) or to rescuing members of NATO forces from imminent danger.”

The U.S. Senate panel’s resolution will be considered on the Senate floor, during the week of July 11.

The U.S. Senate has also passed, by unanimous consent, Resolution (SRES 185) [7] cosponsored by Senator  Marco Rubio, “reaffirming the commitment of the United States to a negotiated settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, reaffirming opposition to the inclusion of Hamas in a unity government unless it is willing to accept peace with Israel and renounce violence, and declaring that Palestinian efforts to gain recognition of a state outside direct negotiations demonstrates absence of a good faith commitment to peace negotiations, and will have implications for continued United States aid.”

An article titled “We won’t let US derail our statehood bid, says PA official” by The Jerusalem Post  (June 29) quoted  statements made by Nimer Hammad, adviser to Mahmoud Abbas (President of the Palestinian National Authority).  Hammad responded to U.S. Senate resolution 185 by stating that Palestinians “can’t sacrifice their freedom in return for financial aid.” Hammad said that the PNA wants to maintain good relations with the United States – “but not at the expense of the Palestinians’ national project.”

The Jerusalem Post also published an article on June 30 titled ‘We recognize Israel, they should recognize Palestine’– where Mahmoud Abbas is quoted defending the PNA’s effort  to  obtain unilateral recognition of Palestinian statehood at the United Nations, claiming that such an attempt “does not seek to ignore or dismiss or delegitimize Israel.”

Related  documents:

[1] – The Jordanian-Israeli Armistice Agreement, signed on April 3, 1949  Island of Rhodes, Greece

[2]  United Nations Security Council Resolution 242

[3] United Nations Security Council Resolution 338

[4]  CUBA:  As a State Sponsor of Terrorism -  U.S. Department of State (Chapter 3, Page 6)  (Released: August 2010)

[5]  HAMAS:  Terrorist Organization – U.S. Department of State (Chapter 6, Page 6)  (Released: August 2010)

[6] U.S. Senate panel resolution on Libya (June 28, 2011)

[7] U.S. Senate S.RES.185 112th Congress, 1st Session

♦  ♦  ♦

© Marielena Montesino de Stuart  

E-Mail:    ContactTRCW@aol.com

Marielena Montesino de Stuart

You may also read Marielena Montesino de Stuart’s commentaries through: RenewAmerica, USAToday, The Dallas Morning News, U.S. Politics Today (an EIN Service for Political Professionals-*) Poynter Online, Spero News, Daily Estimate, The New Liturgical Movement-Poland, The Naples Daily News, Les Femmes-The Truth, Culture War Notes,  ProLife Blogs,  The Wanderer, The Times of India, etc.

© All Rights Reserved

“The Communist thugs in Beijing are now interested in social stability—after decades of exterminating their own people. This sudden benevolence is nothing but a theatrical mask to cover Beijing’s fear of political uprisings—such as the ones occurring in the Middle East—also known as the “Arab Spring”.   Imagine millions of Chinese on the streets protesting.  Imagine the tumultuous effect of a mammoth Tiananmen Square-like protest.”– Marielena Montesino de Stuart in The Beijing Affair (May 19, 2011).

Beijing feared this moment– but it’s here– rebellion in China.  This may not be the first time that the Chinese people rebel against their communist oppressors– but it is different, in that it follows in the footsteps of the “Arab Spring”– in other words, the feeling that rebellion is in the air.  This trend was also very evident today when several women in Saudi Arabia defied one of their country’s laws, which denies them the right to drive a vehicle.  Social media messages circled the globe offering support by saying, “Saudi women, start your engines”.  This is far from a small step for women in Saudi Arabia, where they can be killed, under the law, if accused of infidelity or pre-marital relations.

The Chinese Communist government knows that this environment of rebellion challenges their dictatorship in ways that they may not be able to control, except through massacre or imprisonment of protestors. But Chinese citizens are defying their oppressors, by mobilizing  against corruption and persecution.  These large scale outbursts and unrest taking place across China appear to have started as a reaction to the Chinese government’s abusive practices in compensation owed to citizens, for land seized for development.

Last week, in Guangzhou province, police pushed a pregnant migrant worker to the ground, to force her to move her food stand off a road in the town of Xintang.  Angry migrant workers filled the streets, setting vehicles on fire and hurling bricks at police buildings. By Sunday, communist government forces were using shotguns and tear gas to control the protestors.

This is why China’s Premier, Wen Jiabao, during the Fourth Session of the Eleventh National People’s Congress, made promises to urgently address inflation as a threat to social stability and future economic growth.  As I wrote in The Beijing Affair, this concern for social stability is not because the Beijing communist despots care about China’s citizens– but simply because they fear a “Chinese Spring”– similar to the Middle Eastern and North African protests, commonly referred to as the “Arab Spring”.

Chinese culture generally measures the acceptance of changes through the prism of its ancient history.  Yet nothing could be more foreign to the traditional Chinese family than the communist way of life.  Exposure to capitalism has not solved China’s biggest problem in modern times– that is, that this ancient culture lives under the control of a brutal and murderous communist government– a dictatorship which has also controlled the way in which they experience modern life.

Meanwhile, diplomatic circles on both sides seem to be dealing with the news of these riots in a rather quiet way.  Henry Kissinger, the guru of U.S.-China diplomacy since 1971, spoke to Greta Van Susteren during an interview which was aired Wednesday night on Fox, where Van Susteren asked Kissinger questions centered around the promotion of his new book titled, On China.

Kissinger spoke about China’s history, and the importance of a “partnership” which should include American awareness of Chinese sensibilities.  This, of course, is common diplomatic talk– which almost always excludes any mention of Communism as the true affront on the Chinese culture– such as mass sterilization of its citizens, violent forced abortions, as well as imprisonment and execution of dissenters.

Mr. Kissinger seems to miss the point.

Americans are not interested in disrespecting Chinese traditional values and sensibilities.  Americans are interested in combating the Communist dictatorship that is oppressing its people– and threatening the United States strategically, both through development of dangerous weapons and support of rogue states like North Korea and Iran.

While one can assume that Kissinger’s interview may have been recorded earlier, the absence of additional or updated commentary about the rebellion in China is more than noteworthy– considering that it erupted several days ago.

Communism, with its powerful persecution machine, represses freedom of expression and religion wherever it rears its ugly head– and that includes Vietnam.  Ironically, during the past two weeks Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have had Anti-China riots, over disputed waters. Vietnam is carrying out live-fire drills in the South China Sea while tensions escalate with Beijing.

Chinese state news claims that the Vietnamese fire drill is a military show of force to defy Beijing.  So, Beijing is not only facing protests from its citizens– but now it is also facing protests from another communist state.  This may be the beginning of the self-destruction of communism in Asia.

Yesterday I spoke with a Vietnamese Buddhist monk and a nun, visiting the U.S. as part of a larger group.  I have chosen to protect their identities given the fact that they are trying to carry out their spiritual practices under the Vietnamese Communist government’s watchful eye.  Like any spiritual or religious group in a communist state, these Vietnamese Buddhist monks and nuns are always subject to government intervention and restrictions.

I asked the monk if the Vietnamese government restricted their practices, and from his response it appears that Hanoi’s repressive government is alive and well..  The nun argued that the Vietnamese government cannot control everything that over 90 million Vietnamese citizens do– and that through the practice of her spirituality she is able to mentally block the controlled environment.

Current Vietnamese Buddhism has become more and more syncretic, as such, it is also more understanding of the reality of other Buddhist groups.  So, I asked the monk how he felt about China’s recent shut down of occupied Tibet to foreigners– as a desperate measure to prevent protests during the upcoming 90th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party.  His response was mostly centered on the concern for the poverty and the suffering of the Tibetan people– who continue to practice the Yellow Hat form of Buddhism, in spite of Beijing’s occupation and relentless abusive practices.

The question is, what will Washington do as Beijing escalates its violence against the Chinese population– particularly when considering President Obama’s current strategy of taking out Ghadafi in Libya, for his violent treatment of the Libyan people.

When it comes to the human spirit, Chinese people are no different than Americans.  More important than Kissinger’s concern with China’s ancient ways, is the natural order that God has decreed for man, which includes the irrepressible hope for a better life.

Hope springs eternal in the human breast;

Man never Is, but always To be blest:

The soul, uneasy and confin’d from home,

Rests and expatiates in a life to come.

                                     Alexander Pope, from An Essay on Man

Marielena Montesino de Stuart

♦  ♦  ♦

© Marielena Montesino de Stuart

E-mail:   ContactTRCW@aol.com

You may read about  Marielena Montesino de Stuart’s observations and opinions through: RenewAmerica, USAToday, The Dallas Morning News, U.S. Politics Today (an EIN Service for Political Professionals-*) Poynter Online, Spero News, Daily Estimate, The New Liturgical Movement-Poland, The Naples Daily News, Les Femmes-The Truth, Culture War Notes,  ProLife Blogs,  The Wanderer, etc.

© All Rights Reserved

TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION: Henry Kissinger, Greta Van Susteren,Fox News Network,Riots in China, Rebellion in China

By a vote of  268 to 145, the House approved a resolution that strongly criticized President Obama for not obtaining congressional oversight of the military campaign in Libya. 

On Friday, the House delivered its criticism by declaring that President Obama had failed “to provide Congress with a compelling rationale” — but the House did not demand a withdrawal of U.S. forces from Libya.  The resolution gives Obama 14 days to come clean with his strategy.  President Obama will also have to convince Congress that the attacks are essential to U.S. interests.

Legislators from both sides of the aisle said that they could take harsher measures should Obama fail to make his case in the next two weeks.  The measures include cutting the funding for the military operation, or voting formally to “disapprove” the operation.

♦  ♦  ♦

© Marielena Montesino de Stuart

E-mail:    ContactTRCW@aol.com

Marielena Montesino de Stuart

You may read about  Marielena Montesino de Stuart’s observations and opinions through: RenewAmerica, USAToday, The Dallas Morning News, U.S. Politics Today (an EIN Service for Political Professionals-*) Poynter Online, Spero News, Daily Estimate, The New Liturgical Movement-Poland, The Naples Daily News, Les Femmes-The Truth, Culture War Notes,  ProLife Blogs,  The Wanderer, etc.

© All Rights Reserved

The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) is based in London.  The IISS is the world’s leading think-tank for political-military conflict and strategy.  Each year the IISS sponsors the Asia Security Summit, known as the Shangri-La Dialogue– a series of military-to-military meetings held at the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore.

On the surface this may appear to be a friendly pow-wow– but in reality, it is not.  The tensions in the Asia-Pacific region, with the aggressive Chinese Communist  territorial agenda, including threats to Taiwan and the attempt to control major waterways– has increased tensions between Beijing and Washington.  Indeed, the Chinese suspended meetings with the U.S. military, when President Obama cut a weapons deal with Taiwan. Of course, the United States does not show the same degree of indignation, when China is caught providing military support to Iran and North Korea.

Various delegations that hold bilateral meetings during the Shangri-La Dialogue are also kept busy.  These delegations include many academicians and business analysts who have built careers around the opposing worlds of Communism and Democracy.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Liang Guanglie held bilateral talks during the Shangri-La Dialogue. This is the first time the Chinese defense minister has participated in this dialogue.  Even though the meeting was described as “cordial”– Gates and Guanglie discussed various points of friction.

Gates and Guanglie met during the month of January, in Beijing– so this conference is a continuation of their discussions.

Today’s meeting berween Gates and Guanglie was held at the same time that U.S. authorities investigate Google’s allegations that hackers from China stole email passwords of senior U.S. officials. Beijing denies responsibility for these cyber attacks– and claims that they have also been victims of cyber attacks in the past.  China may be gaining a lot of ground militarily and economically– but its communist system is incompatible with transparency– so Beijing’s words are not worth much in the world of diplomacy.  Apparently the cyber attacks were not discussed between U.S. and Chinese military officials, during today’s meeting.

Gates also met with Japan’s defense minister and Malaysia’s prime minister.  A notable U.S. supporter was Singapore’s Defense Minister, Ng Eng  Hen, who expressed his appreciation of the U.S. involvement in addressing regional security threats.

Gates will deliver the opening address for the Shangri-La Dialogue, on Saturday morning.

This is is the last Shangri-La Dialogue that Gates will attend as secretary of defense, since he will soon be replaced by CIA Director, Leon Panetta.

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© Marielena Montesino de Stuart

E-mail:    ContactTRCW@aol.com

Marielena Montesino de Stuart

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