Comments on: The Pope’s Visit http://www.oliverwillis.com/2008/04/15/the-popes-visit/ Like Kryptonite To Stupid Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:43:41 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Duros62 http://www.oliverwillis.com/2008/04/15/the-popes-visit/#comment-91305 Duros62 Wed, 16 Apr 2008 19:21:25 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/04/15/the-popes-visit/#comment-91305 B16 You sunk my Battleship! :-D B16

You sunk my Battleship! :-D

]]> By: John M http://www.oliverwillis.com/2008/04/15/the-popes-visit/#comment-91283 John M Wed, 16 Apr 2008 17:02:38 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/04/15/the-popes-visit/#comment-91283 Sarkozy is a head of state, but Merkel and Brown are not. The German president (Horst somebody, as opposed to Prime Minister Merkel) is Germany's head of state. Elizabeth II is the head of state of the United Kindom (and various other countries such as Canada and Australia). In some countries the head of state is the head of government, but in other countries it is not. As various news accounts have noted, Bush's greeting of B16 at the airport is unprecedented and unusual. On the other hand, the Pope is in an unique position in that he's the head of state of what is nominally a country and is the leader of a religious denomination that includes tens of millions of Americans. I think it's something of a pander, but certainly not in the top 1000 of disagreeable things done by GWB. Sarkozy is a head of state, but Merkel and Brown are not. The German president (Horst somebody, as opposed to Prime Minister Merkel) is Germany’s head of state. Elizabeth II is the head of state of the United Kindom (and various other countries such as Canada and Australia). In some countries the head of state is the head of government, but in other countries it is not.

As various news accounts have noted, Bush’s greeting of B16 at the airport is unprecedented and unusual. On the other hand, the Pope is in an unique position in that he’s the head of state of what is nominally a country and is the leader of a religious denomination that includes tens of millions of Americans. I think it’s something of a pander, but certainly not in the top 1000 of disagreeable things done by GWB.

]]> By: Duros62 http://www.oliverwillis.com/2008/04/15/the-popes-visit/#comment-91272 Duros62 Wed, 16 Apr 2008 16:25:30 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/04/15/the-popes-visit/#comment-91272 I think the term we're looking for is "pandering." I think the term we’re looking for is “pandering.”

]]> By: Oliver Willis http://www.oliverwillis.com/2008/04/15/the-popes-visit/#comment-91264 Oliver Willis Wed, 16 Apr 2008 16:07:03 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/04/15/the-popes-visit/#comment-91264 As I noted in my entry: Gordon Brown is a head of state. So is Angela Merkel. So is Sarkozy. Bush doesn't meet them at the airport, and they are far far far far more important than the Pope. As I noted in my entry: Gordon Brown is a head of state. So is Angela Merkel. So is Sarkozy. Bush doesn’t meet them at the airport, and they are far far far far more important than the Pope.

]]> By: Lee Coles http://www.oliverwillis.com/2008/04/15/the-popes-visit/#comment-91258 Lee Coles Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:57:45 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/04/15/the-popes-visit/#comment-91258 Two things justify the reception in the eye the majority population, and presidential protocol: The Pope is a head of state (the Vatican even has an embassy in D.C.). He is the titular head of a major denomination. Two things justify the reception in the eye the majority population, and presidential protocol:

The Pope is a head of state (the Vatican even has an embassy in D.C.).

He is the titular head of a major denomination.

]]> By: fafaroo http://www.oliverwillis.com/2008/04/15/the-popes-visit/#comment-91242 fafaroo Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:23:01 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/04/15/the-popes-visit/#comment-91242 "How many other world leaders does the president go to the airport to meet?" I'm wondering how many world leaders he'll ask to help him move. “How many other world leaders does the president go to the airport to meet?”

I’m wondering how many world leaders he’ll ask to help him move.

]]> By: fafaroo http://www.oliverwillis.com/2008/04/15/the-popes-visit/#comment-91241 fafaroo Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:21:36 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/04/15/the-popes-visit/#comment-91241 "aphasic" I love learning new words! Thanks! “aphasic”

I love learning new words! Thanks!

]]> By: merl http://www.oliverwillis.com/2008/04/15/the-popes-visit/#comment-91215 merl Wed, 16 Apr 2008 09:56:21 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/04/15/the-popes-visit/#comment-91215 chickengeorge had to meet him at the airport because the Nazi Pope wouldn't have dinner at the White House. chickengeorge had to meet him at the airport because the Nazi Pope wouldn’t have dinner at the White House.

]]> By: Oliver Willis http://www.oliverwillis.com/2008/04/15/the-popes-visit/#comment-91190 Oliver Willis Wed, 16 Apr 2008 05:39:26 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/04/15/the-popes-visit/#comment-91190 I'm sure the pope coming is a big deal for Roman Catholics. But it shouldn't be a big deal for the <i>President</i>. I'm not saying the president shouldn't receive him at the White House, but with this visit its as if Jesus himself were coming. How many other world leaders does the president go to the airport to meet? I’m sure the pope coming is a big deal for Roman Catholics. But it shouldn’t be a big deal for the President. I’m not saying the president shouldn’t receive him at the White House, but with this visit its as if Jesus himself were coming. How many other world leaders does the president go to the airport to meet?

]]> By: Bruce http://www.oliverwillis.com/2008/04/15/the-popes-visit/#comment-91189 Bruce Wed, 16 Apr 2008 05:25:15 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/04/15/the-popes-visit/#comment-91189 Interesting, Oliver, that while I am probably to your left on religion, I see the Pope coming as a bigger deal. To be a Roman Catholic is to view the Pope as Christ's deputy in charge, the Vicar (i.e. placeholder, substitute.) Whether this is a wholesome belief or not is immaterial. The Catholic Church is the largest religious organization in the country and the U.S. is the third largest Catholic country in the world. From a pragmatic standpoint, which this Pope is no liberal either in style or substance, it's pretty devastating to compare Benedict - an extremely erudite scholar whose ability to articulate his views in 8 languages, accents aside stuns friend and foe alike - to Bush, who remains a cue-card-reader at best and aphasic in his native tongue at worst. By comparison, when His All-Holiness Bartholomew I, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, the Orthodox Christian leader who enjoys primacy of honor in the Orthodox Church, came to town a few years ago, nobody noticed. Why? Well, there are Orthodox Christians in the swing states of Ohio and Pennsylvania in substantial numbers but not enough to matter mathematically. Maybe that's part of it, though part of it is that the Patriarch is not analogous to the Pope in many ways. Interesting, Oliver, that while I am probably to your left on religion, I see the Pope coming as a bigger deal. To be a Roman Catholic is to view the Pope as Christ’s deputy in charge, the Vicar (i.e. placeholder, substitute.) Whether this is a wholesome belief or not is immaterial. The Catholic Church is the largest religious organization in the country and the U.S. is the third largest Catholic country in the world.

From a pragmatic standpoint, which this Pope is no liberal either in style or substance, it’s pretty devastating to compare Benedict – an extremely erudite scholar whose ability to articulate his views in 8 languages, accents aside stuns friend and foe alike – to Bush, who remains a cue-card-reader at best and aphasic in his native tongue at worst.

By comparison, when His All-Holiness Bartholomew I, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, the Orthodox Christian leader who enjoys primacy of honor in the Orthodox Church, came to town a few years ago, nobody noticed. Why? Well, there are Orthodox Christians in the swing states of Ohio and Pennsylvania in substantial numbers but not enough to matter mathematically. Maybe that’s part of it, though part of it is that the Patriarch is not analogous to the Pope in many ways.

]]> By: Duros62 http://www.oliverwillis.com/2008/04/15/the-popes-visit/#comment-91186 Duros62 Wed, 16 Apr 2008 04:07:13 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/04/15/the-popes-visit/#comment-91186 Sean, I believe those are called platitudes. They go nicely with the beatitudes. Langx, some whole sage leaves and rosemary stalks with the lamb. Yum Sean, I believe those are called platitudes. They go nicely with the beatitudes.

Langx, some whole sage leaves and rosemary stalks with the lamb. Yum

]]> By: Langx http://www.oliverwillis.com/2008/04/15/the-popes-visit/#comment-91178 Langx Wed, 16 Apr 2008 01:08:53 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/04/15/the-popes-visit/#comment-91178 Religion is kind of weird. Women originated from a man's rib. Doesn't the discovery of DNA kind of throw all of that out the window. I'm not saying there isn't a creator or start to it all but to believe stories that are over 2300 years old when they thought the world was flat is kind of weird in itself. Got to go I have a lamb I need to sacrifice. Religion is kind of weird.

Women originated from a man’s rib.

Doesn’t the discovery of DNA kind of throw all of that out the window.

I’m not saying there isn’t a creator or start to it all but to believe
stories that are over 2300 years old when they thought the world was flat is kind of weird in itself.

Got to go I have a lamb I need to sacrifice.

]]> By: midderpidge http://www.oliverwillis.com/2008/04/15/the-popes-visit/#comment-91171 midderpidge Tue, 15 Apr 2008 23:46:24 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/04/15/the-popes-visit/#comment-91171 I don't understand why he's traveling with pedophiles, Lee. It makes no sense. I don’t understand why he’s traveling with pedophiles, Lee. It makes no sense.

]]> By: Lee Coles http://www.oliverwillis.com/2008/04/15/the-popes-visit/#comment-91164 Lee Coles Tue, 15 Apr 2008 22:44:39 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/04/15/the-popes-visit/#comment-91164 Dude expressed regret over the pedophiles on the plane en route to Andrews AFB. I ain't heard no politicians denouncing their priests in the manner Obama was asked to denouce Rev. Wright tho'. Dude expressed regret over the pedophiles on the plane en route to Andrews AFB. I ain’t heard no politicians denouncing their priests in the manner Obama was asked to denouce Rev. Wright tho’.

]]> By: Sean D. Martin http://www.oliverwillis.com/2008/04/15/the-popes-visit/#comment-91161 Sean D. Martin Tue, 15 Apr 2008 21:52:49 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/04/15/the-popes-visit/#comment-91161 <i>I am curious, however, what the Pope plans to say about the child rapists his church helped to hide for all those years.</i> What will he say? Why, <blockquote>"I am deeply ashamed and will do whatever is possible so that this does not happen in the future," he said. "It is more important to have good priests than many priests. We will do everything possible to heal this wound."</blockquote> OK. But what will he do, you ask? Well, <blockquote> The Pope has been asked to meet some victims of clerical abuse and their families during his visit but has so far declined to do so, the BBC's Rome correspondent David Willey says. </blockquote> Yeah, pretty much what Duros said. I am curious, however, what the Pope plans to say about the child rapists his church helped to hide for all those years.

What will he say? Why,

“I am deeply ashamed and will do whatever is possible so that this does not happen in the future,” he said.

“It is more important to have good priests than many priests. We will do everything possible to heal this wound.”

OK. But what will he do, you ask? Well,

The Pope has been asked to meet some victims of clerical abuse and their families during his visit but has so far declined to do so, the BBC’s Rome correspondent David Willey says.

Yeah, pretty much what Duros said.

]]> By: Duros62 http://www.oliverwillis.com/2008/04/15/the-popes-visit/#comment-91159 Duros62 Tue, 15 Apr 2008 21:46:16 +0000 http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/04/15/the-popes-visit/#comment-91159 <i>I am curious, however, what the Pope plans to say about the child rapists his church helped to hide for all those years.</i> Absolutely nothing. I am curious, however, what the Pope plans to say about the child rapists his church helped to hide for all those years.

Absolutely nothing.

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