Now this is only more horrific because he was a Priest; but does not eclipse the hundreds if not thousands who have been murdered, raped, chased from their homes in the past 30 days and cannot be any less for the hundreds of thousands who are suffering the same fate in this World today.
Having read and watched on TV in 2006 the dog and pony show when an Anglican Bishop (Most Revd Alberto Ramento), was killed by alleged members of the semi- military death squads of then President Arroyo. This in Tarlac in the Philippines on 3 October in his Church.
While of course ISIS was not in existence then it still showed the extreme steps a Corrupt Government or wannabe one will go to silence those who will speak against it. It was attempted to cover it up as a robbery, but all in the area know he had been threatened that he had best stop speaking out for the people there. Remember that ISIS has proclaimed their Caliphate in the midst of Syria and Iraq. Hopefully a very, very short term kingdom.
Is there in many ways any real difference between a bunch of Religious thugs who corrupt a Religion to pursue their evil intentions and an Elected group anywhere that will pursue just about any end to keep their power and stranglehold over those they say they represent? Please Trust me- NONE.
While I am posting this, it is raining quite hard. My wife noted how hard it is raining and asked about why I was writing on Bishop Ramento? I noted it was in a way similar in cause as of the Priest in France.
I told her; "you know why it is raining so hard"? She said no? I replied that it was GOD crying over the state of our World today. She gave me a sad face and walked away. I will say, I am happy that God is in our home even if not all garnished out as in many Churches. I enjoy going into Churches, but do not feel any closer to God than in the privacy of my home. I and hopefully you all know God is everywhere.
Evil is for sure gaining ground in the short term. But I would suspect the battle for the Hearts, Minds and Souls of good people are hard to sway and even harder to overcome. No matter the ways they are tempted to look at the Evil and past the Goodness that God brings to us each day if we listen?
And for sheer depravity, the murder of 19 disabled folks in their Care Center in Japan. If one knows how the Japanese care for their elderly and disabled the more horrific this is too. The attacker with his concept that all disabled should disappear is a harsh sentence on those who were disabled through no fault of their own. I speak not just of birth, but of those who contact illnesses later in life and of course those who become injured due to a usually daily situation. Disability is not a Sin; but a burden to be borne each day as they try for the best quality of life one can have?
I will hold any comments now on the changed VUB meeting from the 2d to the 9th of August. Just let it be known that it will be an interesting meeting to say the least.
The Wood BOE has passed a Levy for November where they expect to raise $43 Million from OUR pockets directly and another $10M from everybody's pockets. We currently have two (2) Levies and a School Bond in Vienna going now. I say Vienna as that is how it is listed on my "Statement of Taxes Due" that recently arrived. With supposedly NO inflation for Pension increases, my little chicken coop type home went up 2% in value. The value of the land changed a big fat $0., just the home.
What changed from the year before? Nothing, absolutely nothing. The year before with no Pension increase either it went up 1.44%. Why is this interesting? As I have noted before, each year the County adds a little "kicker" to push up the Property Taxes on the Home Owners. But it is so small, that most do not even notice it and therefore just go merrily along. They probably get hit much harder on the Fire and Casualty Insurance increases? County screaming poor mouth and the need for the County Sales Tax. Yet it got about a flat 20% of my Taxes. The State, County, City, Schools are crying there is no more meat on the carcass, yet forever can find money for pay and benefit increases. Absolute disconnects.
There has been talk of an average increase of $2.50/ Month for SSA and probably a like amount for the other Federal Pensioners. Don't bet on it yet. If you remember last year, the magic three months that determine our increases if any being July- September went to the dogs because of the falling gasoline prices. Look around; I just paid $2.06/ gallon down from the earlier $2.16 I think. In fact just today, it was now down to $1.99. Our $2.50 may be hot on the heels of the Great Auk into extinction again?
But getting back to the BOE Bond, it is alleged to be "only about $35/year". Does that sound familiar? how about the Fire Board Fee (TAX) due to start at "only about $35/year". Bet that comes out to pretty damn close to "only about $6/ month"? Don't expect that Protest Petition to get the legs it needs to put it on the Ballot. Too many names in too little time to succeed. State did not give folks a chance to really say "NO"; just a chance to get frustrated and angry. About $6.00 minus an "average" of $2.50 equals a grand minus of "about" $3.50/month. In business it could be called the Point of Diminishing Returns. An "increase" of $2.50 minus outflow of $6.00 would be bankruptcy for a business. In Bureaucratese, it is called tough folks; tough.
I would be 100% in favor of this IF and I repeat IF there is NOT ONE PENNY in raises, benefit increases or payment of employee cost increases by the BOE. I do NOT believe for a second this will be the Truth of the matter. They need to spell in out or I will vote against the Bond.
The kids deserve safe and sound educational facilities, be it a new school that is past its true "shelf" life. And of course things like repaired/ replaced roofs, windows and doors are a must. But the need to have to replace air con or heating units at say 10 years is a bit hard to stomach. The question on the maintenance of these items becomes questionable. It the BOE has been giving raises and NOT doing the necessary upkeep on the facilities than they are remiss and misusing Tax Dollars.
To keep using the kids as a TOOL to sneak in raises each year is a lot of hog wash if I may be uncivil? A raise should be the result of clear and valued improvements in the progress of the kids each year. I am advocating merit raises which I know the Teachers' Union consider sacrilege. But again we have the Union using the kids as a TOOL to further their agenda's versus the needs of the children. I have belonged to Union's and know the value they can bring to a work force subject to the whims and vagaries of bloated and arrogant management. But there has to be an unquestionable point where the KIDS are first, last and foremost------ period. I do not believe this is the case today by either side.
Clearly the two new guys got bloodied in this deal. I hope they stand by their guns and continue to look at reality versus the "Pink Cloud" most Academic people live on? This for sure includes the three who were Hell bent for more money no matter the cost to those with little or no say in it? One penny in raises, and I will be a big NO as a Private Citizen as I hope to help rein in this out of control School Board/ Administration. 'nuff said'.
(Paid for by the Candidate- Lawrence J. Wilson for Mayor of Vienna).