Mark Elrod, a political science professor at Harding, is featured in a New York Times article with the headline “Obama Supporters Take His Middle Name As Their Own.” Would that be Mark Hussein Elrod?
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Here is a shot of the Library of Celsus in Ephesus:
Love it!
AlHusseinGuy
Not a Muslim
Silliness in light of the seriousness of this election. But then, that’s jmho.
I guess they’re all serious. This time it’s refreshing because there seem to be two good candidates. I could live with either one. But the students are making an important point: that slandering one of the candidates because his name isn’t one we’re used to IS silly.
I don’t care for either as a presidential candidate. Obama is an extreme liberal, dare I say socialist, and while I have respect for McCaine, he is not a conservative. He also puts a person to sleep.
I didn’t know about the New York times thing, but when I saw your group on facebook, I thought, “that’d be a good news story.” ! As the more conservative younger sister to J Valentine, (smile) I appreciate your take on things. I’m reading even though I don’t comment all the time. Have a good week.
I’m not big on bandwagons, so I won’t be jumping on the Hussein name change, but it’s a good idea. Obama’s middle name is treated like a curse word or indication of his status as a terrorist-in-disguise. Maybe this effort will help mainstream it, or at least take off the negative edge.
I’m sorry, I’m really slow. That’s Mark “Hussein” Elrod, political science prof at Harding. Wow. I wasn’t in the regular program when I was there (I was in the Omega class of HSBS, now CAMT), but was always under the impression that Harding was a Republican stronghold. Young Republicans and all that.
Either things have changes, or (more likely) I really needed to get out more when I was at Harding.
Obama is an extreme leftist and McCain is not much better. The country can’t afford either.
Speaking of Obama, he just hired an ACU grad, Shaun Casey, as his “religious affairs adviser.”
Thanks, Steve. You can read about it here. Shaun is a member of the Fairfax Church of Christ.
Mike - it was great to be at Highland yesterday - it had been way too long - sorry I didn’t get to shake hands with you again.
Wonderful to see our college kids developing their own political ideas and leanings.
It seems that people are making too much of a big deal over his name. It does not sound American enough for some people. But we must remember it is just a name, not a political position.
http://www.matthewsblog.waynesborochurchofchrist.org
Matthew Moore - “It seems that people are making too much of a big deal over his name.”
Exactly my point!
I cannot believe the support you are giving to Obama. He is pro-death (abortion), he is pro-homosexual. He is the most liberal member of congress. We are members of Christ’s church and you are outright supporting someone that goes so much against what Christ preached. This is a sad day for Harding and The Church.
Is there a reason you are deleting my response? All that I said was the truth. Obama is pro-death (abortion) & pro-homosexual which both go against Christ’s teaching. I am assuming that as member’s of The Church, you would care. This is a sad day for Harding and for The Church.
Thank you for putting my original response back.
Why did you take the last two posts of Chris #2 off? They were on 10 minutes ago.
Please ease up on the paranoia. I haven’t touched anyone’s comments. I didn’t take them off; I didn’t put them back on. You’re welcome to say what you want to.
About the comment, though: “You are outright supporting . . . ?” To whom is that addressed? I haven’t outright supported anyone.
My apologies with the 2nd posting. The message went away but then I refreshed a few minutes later and it was posted.
Chris - Your comments are flippant and hardly worth engaging, but I’ll bite anyway:
Would a “pro-war” stance also fall into the “pro-death” category? Where does your candidate stand on the issue of war?
My impression is that both candidates support going to war when justified, despite the inevitable high number of civilian casualties war causes. (43,000 Iraqi deaths just since 2005!)
Does “life” start at conception and end at birth, or do the lives of Iraqis matter just as much as those of the unborn?
Saying someone is “pro-death” because they don’t think turning the abortion industry into a black market is the best solution to reducing their number is pretty shortsighted, IMHO.
Chris,
If you’re upset over this wait till you read Dr. Elrod’s views on gay marriage.
Get ready for the ensuing comments:
-Jesus never said anything about homosexuality
-Jesus never said anything about abortion.
-Paul was a homophobic bigot
-We don’t worship the Bible
-The Bible isn’t our final authority and can’t be trusted
And so on.
Let the fun begin!
However, to those who do not care for the poor he will say: “Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food,..” Matt. 25:41-42.
When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” Luke 18:22
Chris, we support political parties who murder the poor (and Jesus) every day…
“Jesus didn’t speak at all about homosexuality. There are about 12 verses in the Bible that touch on that question. Most of them are very contextual. There are thousands of verses on poverty. I don’t hear a lot of that conversation.” - Jim Wallis
I want to see a majority of Christians out there adopting babies before they gripe about “respecting the sanctity of life.” Right now, I see a lot of Christians legislating abortion and doing nothing about protecting life on their own… Adopt or be silent!
Daniel “Hussein” Gray
I thought it was a given that God loves Americans more than others. And, is “Harding and the Church” a new religion? I missed the memo, but, then again I haven’t been through Arkansas in five years.
gt-
I love you.
Daniel,
Of course I do realize that no person who opposes abortion would ever adopt a child. And I am sure that Chris does not help the poor in any way. After all only liberals give to charity even though studies show that conservatives give a higher percentage of their income to charity. Look it up.
All you know of Chris is that he opposes abortion and feels homosexuality is sinful. You know nothing of his views on war, or if he gives genoursly to the poor, or if he has adopted a child.
All we get from you are judgements, arrogance and condacension.
Sorry for the harshness but it irritates me when someone feels strongly about abortion for example and the only comeback is “war is murder and you support that”.
gt - read Chris’ 10:03 post and ask yourself if it is condescending. I find it very condescending, because it forces the belief that Christians should monolithically not support the Democratic party, because of one or two viewpoints. I merely respond in the way I do, because Chris has posted her similarly intolerant comments on other blogs. The people who claim a “pro-life” platform are incredibly selective about its application. I merely challenge people to back up their political beliefs with word and action. Is that too much to ask or should be go on debating faith rather than living it?
I’m embarrassed — I do check your blog all the time, Mike, but when I commented I thought I was on Mark’s blog.
I do enjoy your take on things also! and your pictures, too.
There are two different “Chris” persons who are posting, however I agree with the other one.
Since somebody else cracked open the abortion door, I’ve got a question (actually, probably more than one). If Roe v. Wade is overturned and your state votes to criminalize abortion, who gets punished? Just the person who performs the abortion, or do you also punish the woman who voluntarily undergoes the procedure? Aren’t they equally culpable? And, what is the punishment? If we really believe abortion is “murder,” shouldn’t it the death penalty, or at least life imprisonment without parole? Just asking.
your right
chris is right
If Nancy Grace finds out Obama has a CoC adviser, Obama will not get the women’s vote.
I’ll change my middle name to Millhouse. For Barack Millhouse Obama.
Mike Lewis got me thinking. Millhouse is a middle name FAR worse than Hussein. Give me Hussein any day.
I’ll grant that outlawing abortion raises some pertinent questions–who should be charged? Should it be death penalty, etc? One thing is clear, however–the baby will not be sentenced to death, which is the current situation.
I know this isn’t the point of this post but something occurred to me reading some comments about abortion.
I don’t get why a 3rd position on abortion doesn’t come about and rival the other 2. I’m thinking something along the lines of pro-life as far as belief (which I think most Americans are pro-life) but believe in combatting abortions in a different way. What if our government threw some serious weight behind adoption initiatives and churches got out there and really encouraged it members to take on adoption as a new mission. To me right now, the two primary postions are only willing to talk about what the law should say. And while I’d prefer abortion to be outlawed, I agree with some of those on the left who point out some alternatives to abortion that aren’t being pursued enough. Personally, I think most of the religious left are using this stance to defend themselves on an issue that is problematice. But I would come closer to embracing a left wing candidate if they came out with a more aggressive and passionate solution to abortion (even if they defend Roe Wade) rather than just a defensible position.
Not sure if any of that made sense.
Kyle - it makes perfect sense. Sadly, people would rather legislate something than actually do something about it with their own lives. It’s a lot easier to tell people what to do rather than lead by example. Some Christians have it right, many do not.
There are mnay Christians that are against abotion and know that scripture is very clear that the homosexual lifestyle is sinful and also adopt children and others who are very generous in supporting numerous good works and also are engaged in a many good works of compassion. There some things we must always be against but there is also the balance of being involved in good works and proclaiming every positive command and truth found in the the scriptures.
Adoption is, no doubt, the solution. As to why Christians don’t adopt more… its the same reason this is even a discussion… the government!
My wife and I would adopt 2 kids TODAY (we already have 3) if we didn’t have to deal with a process which is often anti-christian. Can I love them as I do my own children and discipline them the same way? If not, how is that fair to them??? But a social worker who has most likely never had children is going to monitor how I raise them?
Just some thoughts.
“Mike Lewis got me thinking. Millhouse is a middle name FAR worse than Hussein. Give me Hussein any day.”
All y’all got me to thinking - I like my middle name and plan on keeping it!
M. Kathryn - otherwise known as ‘Kathy’
I love the pic of the Library in Ephesus. Seeing ancient architecture in person is such a pleasure, isn’t it?
Kerry — You said, “Can I love them as I do my own children and discipline them the same way? If not, how is that fair to them??? But a social worker who has most likely never had children is going to monitor how I raise them?”
I’m not following you here. I think you’re thinking about restrictions on FOSTER parents. I’m an adoptive parent, and I can assure that no social worker is monitoring how we raise our son. I’d hate for anyone reading this to be scared off from adoption by a myth. The government hasn’t made being an adoptive parent difficult for us. We received a huge tax credit, in fact!
Matt
Thanks for the info… I am probably a little jaded by the time we lived in California. Many Christian parents there were paranoid because a simple swat in the grocery store sometimes resulted in a visit by the authorities. I actually know a case in which a child was given back to an abusive family because a Christian parent spanked him.
You may indeed be right. I am not trying in any way to discourage adoption, but simply ranting about a secular goverment trying to infringe upon our families.
While there are many reasons to agree/disagree with presidential candidates, one reason I appreciate McCain (appreciate does not mean automatic endorsement) is the fact that the McCains did adopt their daughter. By example, a good way to emphasize pro-life.
Let’s give equal billing here. Cindy McCain’s Phoenix area pastor - Dan Yeary - graduated from Hardin Simmons, and spent time growing up in Abilene. Senator McCain attends, but apparently is not a member. Take that Hussein.
http://www.reporternews.com/news/2008/jun/28/pastor-to-mccain-has-abilene-ties/
“Jesus didn’t speak at all about homosexuality. There are about 12 verses in the Bible that touch on that question. Most of them are very contextual. There are thousands of verses on poverty. I don’t hear a lot of that conversation.” - Jim Wallis
Wow! Let me see if I can find a way out of Mr. Wallis’ inescapable logic here.
Well, how many verses are there on cannibalism?
This type of nonsensical thinking drives me crazy.
Somebody pass me the ketchup for ole Uncle Virgil’s thigh.
Wake up people!
but cannibalism is murder… pretty sure Jesus condemned that.
Not if it is road kill.
On a more serious note, Anna C., Jesus also condemned sexual immorality and I’m pretty sure that includes homosexuality.
but . . . . . . I’m not dead yet.
(with apologies to Monty Python)
eddy, I appreciate that you acknowledged my questions and recognized that they are “pertinent.” But you didn’t even take a stab at answering them. Why not?
Jesus never explicitly condemned homosexuality as a form of sexual immorality. The word we “think” Paul used to condemn homosexuality may not have referred to a monogamous marriage betweeen two men.
And this is typical of Christian circles, which is what Wallis’ point is about — and some of you play right into it. Christians get so caught up in government defining sexuality. Jesus clearly made a BIG deal about poverty, and many Christians could care less about it. Somehow, it doesn’t seem that our “big issues” align with God’s and that is a serious indictment against the church.
“Christians get so caught up in government defining sexuality.”
No, Anna, I think it is folks on the left who want the government to redefine sexual morality. The rest of us knew homosexuality was immoral long before the courts and the left started trying to convince us it wasn’t.
“Jesus never explicitly condemned homosexuality as a form of sexual immorality.”
And, Jesus never explicitly condemned cannibalism as a form of murder.
Anna, I think we’re going in circles.
Jesus never explicitly said the way to take care of the poor is to get enough people to vote in such a way as to forcibly take away wealth via taxation and give to the poor. That seems to be the way folks on the left want to do it. And, speaking of left and right, why do studies show the conservatives are more generous than the lefties (even after controlling for church giving)?
Don’t try to make a link between those of us who still believe homosexuality is wrong and those who hate the poor. You don’t have any clue whatsoever about to whom or what I give money.
I haven’t called you any names because you are trying to convince me Jesus thought homosexuality was a good thing.
“The word we “think” Paul used to condemn homosexuality may not have referred to a monogamous marriage betweeen two men.”
Well, whadya say, Mike? You’re the preacher here. Does Paul seem to endorse a “monogamous marriage between two men” and only have trouble with it if one of them starts tom-cattin’ around?
Help us out here.
here ya go Jim:
http://preachermike.com/2006/04/12/homosexuality
While Mike says that homosexuality is not what God intended (sin), he says that we shouldn’t be making a political agenda out of it, and in fact we should stand with those who are oppressed.
I’m not linking heterosexism with anti-poverty. And I didn’t quote Wallis, someone else did. But the point of Wallis’ quote is we devote WAY too much time talking about legislating a Christian morality on people when solidarity and support for the poor is clearly at the forefront of Christ’s call.
And by the way, killing a human being is murder, regardless of whether or not you eat the body.
And Jesus was in favor of cannibalism — he asks us to eat his body/blood in remembrance of him.
Barack “Hussein” Obama = cannibalism ??
I’m confused about this discussion…
I am a bit confused as to why you would quote Mike’s post stating homosexuality was sin. You seemed in an earlier post to suggest that the Apostle Paul only condemned a non-monogamous homosexual relationship. So, if Paul implicitly supports a monogamous homosexual relationship, do you believe Mike is wrong for saying homosexuality is not what God intended? You can’t have it both ways.
It is absolutely laughable for you to imply only one side is making this a political issue. The left has been using the courts (because they would have been unsuccessful in the legislative arena) to force social acceptance of homosexuality and they have been doing that for decades now. The right wing never made a political issue out of it until the left took it into politics via the courts and, when possible, through sympathetic legislative bodies and agencies.
I must confess I did not go back and read Mike’s article, but you say he says we should “stand with those oppressed.” I wonder, do you believe oppression includes having the belief that homosexuality is a sin?
Anna said, “I’m not linking heterosexism with anti-poverty.” Well sure you did! You don’t think that’s the first time I’ve ever seen that tactic do you? It is all over the Internet and in the popular culture debates about homosexuality. It is frequently the red herring thrown up against any who dare suggest homosexuality is sinful. The argument goes just as you made it: Christians want to rail against homosexuality, but have done a miserable job with poverty. However, many of the anti-poverty efforts around the world have a Christian base to them. So, it tends to be a baseless argument. The argument that we should redefine sexual morality because we haven’t spent enough time on poverty smells a bit fishy.
I’m just curious Anna, do you really want to take the position that something is moral unless it was specifically condemned by Jesus? You really don’t want to hang your hat on an argument like that.
Anna said, “And by the way, killing a human being is murder, regardless of whether or not you eat the body.”
Yes, Anna, that is true, but I think you may have missed the point.
Anna also said, “And Jesus was in favor of cannibalism — he asks us to eat his body/blood in remembrance of him.”
Well, you’ve got me there. Drats! That’s bad news for Uncle Virgil.
I did go back and read Mike’s post. This statement struck me: “It would help a lot if we could quit treating this like some special sin that deserves our fullest repulsion and rebuke. Sin is sin.”
I couldn’t agree more. But who is treating this “like some special sin?” Is it those who say sin is sin? Or is it those who say, “Well now wait a minute; maybe this isn’t a sin?”
I believe that homosexual activity is sinful. However, I don;t think that Christians organizing to oppose legalization of gay marriage or civil unions has advanced the cause of Christ. Regardless of the intent of those who protest gay marriage and homosexuality, the appearance is often hateful. Also, we unfortunaely live in a culture where the media often focus on shock and entertaiment value, and when there are some Christians that actually do talk about homosexuality in a hateful way, that is what will be broadcast. I think there is an overemphasis in Christian politics on homosexulity and abortion (I’m also pro life), to the detrement of other issues that are also important to Christ.
If you were to survey random Americans and ask them what do conservative Christians think about homosexuals? What kind of answer do you think you would get? What if you asked them about conservative Christian attitudes about the poor?
Amanda said, “If you were to survey random Americans and ask them what do conservative Christians think about homosexuals? What kind of answer do you think you would get? What if you asked them about conservative Christian attitudes about the poor?”
Amanda, I think there is validity in everything you have said. However, don’t underestimate the power of the media in shaping opinions about conservative Christians or conservatives in general. It has been shown that those who consider themselves conservative are more generous in their giving than those who consider themselves liberal. And yet, you would be correct about what would happen if you surveyed random Americans.
And of course, the very idea that you “consider homosexual activity is sinful” pigeon holes you in with the “homophobic, backward, ignorant” group collectively known on the left as “fundamentalists.” It is a real conundrum as to how to reach those caught up in this and not give into the immense cultural pressure to completely approve of it.
Here is a link to a Barna poll that addresses some points of your post. You may have seen it before.
http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=280
I think I’m going to destroy the earth by driving my SUV to Wal-Mart and buying items made in overseas sweatshops. Have a good evening. (See the power of the media?)
I wonder why the church gets bad pub at times. See the comments below to get an idea. I love how a simple post can turn so ugly.
Jim-
I agree that on the surface my opinion that homosexual activity is sinful may fit some people’s definition of homophobic, but that has not been my experience with gay friends of mine from graduate school. They respect my belief that their activity is sinful, with a couple of these frineds we actually talked a lot about why I believed that way.
When I first met several of these gay friends I was straight out of ACU. When they learned what university I got my undergrad at they were vary wary of me, maybe even a little scared. Each person had had at least one personal very negative experience with a Christian. When they saw that I was not like the Christians they had encountered before (and/or those shown in the media), we were able to become friends. All of that to say I think it is possible for a Chtistian to be convicted of the sinfulness of homosexual activity but still treat homosexuals in a loving way, and to have that tretment recognized and appreciated.
I understand that as a group conservatives tend to give more financially (they are also wealthier as a group), but public perception matters too. Regardless of what the true facts are, what people actually belive matters a whole lot.
Also, the media isn’t just against the conservatives. Have you seen the publicity gay pride parades get? The people in those parades are not exactly representative of the gay populaiton as a whole!
Mike, have mercy and start a new topic!
“I am a bit confused as to why you would quote Mike’s post stating homosexuality was sin.”
You asked Mike’s opinion, so I linked a previous post. Am I only supposed to blindly argue my point and not provide information that contributes to the discussion regardless of whether I agree with it?
I cited Mike, because in spite of his view, he suggests that as Christians, we shouldn’t force a secular society to play by Christian rules, and to some extent, we should support those who are oppressed. (Loosely paraphrasing).
To me, people who are homosexual and choose to enter into those relationships do not violate my rights or my heterosexual-ness. They should be allowed to do whatever they want. To deny them their own personal liberty as Americans (regardless of religious belief) is oppression.
Anna C. God bless you, but I can tell you from experience, you are fighting a loosing battle. The near sighted people you are fighting with can never see past their own beliefs to know that others have rights also, not just constitutional rights, but God given rights. If Mr. McCain were to be elected (which will never happen) the supreme court would be so packed with these narrow minded people all American’s rights would be in jeopardy.
What do you think of these names?
Steve Hussien Carrell
Tom Hussien Cruiz
Tom Hussien Hanks
Chris Hussien Rock
Dustin Hussien Hoffman
Morgan Hussien Freeman
Matt Hussien Damon
Brad Hussien Pitt
Johnny Hussien Depp
Kevin Hussien Spacey
Adam Hussien Sandler
Will Hussien Ferrell
Jack Hussien Nicholson
Samuel Hussien Jackson
Jack Hussien Black
Matthew Hussien McConaughy
Woody Hussien Herrelson
Ron Hussien Livingston
Robin Hussien Williams
Dana Hussien Carvey
Alec Hussien Baldwin
Tim Hussein Robbins
I like all those names just fine, but why aren’t there any women on that list?
A liberal supreme court thinks it’s their duty to make the laws.
Silly, the kind of giving that’s done by conservatives doesn’t count. Really caring about the poor must be trying your best do dip into somebody else’s pocket to get them to pay by force.
Obama glorifies sodomy, socialism, abortion on demand (including late term), and refuses to state that no one comes to the Father except through Jesus.
The fact that the person whose full-time job is to try to convince Christians to vote for someone like that is a member of the Lord’s Church is very dissapointing.
The second link in this post is no longer valid. The post it linked to has been removed. That’s all I’ll say about that.
Mike,
I pray for you and all the commenters/readers all the time. We are a vicious bunch, aren’t we? So concerned with Being Right instead of being righteous and loving law instead of loving our fellow humans. I’m sorry we flood your inbox and pollute the Web at large with our pointless dithering and ceaseless striving to prove a point, a point which rarely takes into consideration the people those points obscure.
If we spent more time with the women considering abortion in desperation or the homosexual brother or sister struggling with this “choice,” maybe we’d quit prooftexting so much and start being Christ to them. God forgive us for our debates.
If abortion is outlawed, only the rich get them.
Barack - the name is in the Bible. It is the man who said to prophethes Debora that he wouldn ‘t go to war without her.
Barack - the name is in the Bible. It is the man who said to prophethes Debora that he wouldn ‘t go to war without her.
Geez louise!
It plainly says in my bible that men shall not lie with men. I would think that would mean homosexuality would’nt it not? I will try and find the verse and reply back. Abortion would the same thing as murder to me.