Blogging Floggers: Faith through Violence

The cat is getting ready. imagesApostates are being called out with violence and condemnation. Even the friendly old pope has put himself on the wrong side of the fence: “If my good friend speaks badly of my mother, he can expect to get punched. You cannot provoke. You cannot insult the faith of others.” pope-francis-easter-620xaThe fact is that insulting is allowed (freedom of speech) and punching is not (violence).

The society that condones punching, suppresses any sense of freedom of speech. Punching them is the same as flogging them. Is the same as killing them. raif-badawiAs much as one might find these Charlie Hebdos and Larry Flynts a pain, the only thing to be done is eye-rolling and making an appeal for decency. flynt3008_840_634_100Nothing more.

All of that said, my guess is that a greater conflict is to come in countries that espouse freedom of speech where so many in power maintain the guise of faith simply to avoid a violent reaction from a certain percentage of its citizenry. obama-churchAs personal as the question might be – “Do you believe in God, Mr. President?” – people will keep asking and inevitably the truth will come out. And it won’t be pretty.

Dave Feshuck: Idiot Toronto Star Reporter Strikes Again

Dave Feshuck, Toronto Star sportswriter, made news for himself yesterday by attacking Phil Kessel: “You’re the best player on the team, and the coach is fired…are you difficult to coach?”
Dave Feshuck: Idiot Toronto Star Reporter Strikes AgainKessel turned to the others. “This guy’s such an idiot; he’s always been like this.”

Mr. Kessel is, in fact, quite correct; Feshuck has always been like this. Even as an elementary school student, Feshuck enjoyed baiting others, once demanding of a Grade Four classmate: “You’re the best student here, the school burned down…are you difficult to teach?”

Dave Feshuck: Idiot Toronto Star Reporter Strikes AgainFeshuck gave international reporting a swing after college but had to be escorted back to Canada after he posed the following to Prince Charles, “You were supposed to be king, Princess Diana is dead…are you a difficult prince?” Dave Feshuck: Idiot Toronto Star Reporter Strikes AgainFeshuck had a brief reprieve under Mayor Rob Ford, because he seemed to like these questions. “You’re a heroine user, people laugh at you…are you a difficult mayor?”Dave Feshuck: Idiot Toronto Star Reporter Strikes AgainHowever Feshuck had to be escorted away again when he demanded of President Obama, “You’re a black guy, the police are killing black people…are you a difficult president?” Dave Feshuck: Idiot Toronto Star Reporter Strikes AgainIt is believed that Obama muttered, “This guy is an idiot.”Dave Feshuck: Idiot Toronto Star Reporter Strikes AgainAnd so, Feshuck, being dumb, aggressive and lazy, found he was qualified only for one thing: reporting on sports.

Rush Hour Walk

He went into the oncoming pedestrians, half of them on their phones, and failed to pull his shoulder back, knocking the woman, intent on her messages, sideways. Rush Hour WalkAnother was coming right after her, protecting a plastic bag. Rush Hour Walk“What ya got in there?”

“A crystal palace.”

“Looks like some bullshit trophy to me.” Rush Hour Walk“Come on, man, have a heart.” The homeless man was on his knees, hat and sweater askew. “Jesus had a heart for you.” Rush Hour WalkHe cut around him and hurried down the stairs to the 5 train.

My New Year’s Wish for the Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs are one of the most talented teams in hockey, and yet, as CBS Sports wrote,”They are extremely streaky and volatile. You never know which team is going to show up and what exactly is going to happen.”My New Year's Wish for the Toronto Maple LeafsThese players know how to play. They know how to pass. They know how to score. They know how to defend. They just need a coach to move them in the same direction.My New Year's Wish for the Toronto Maple LeafsCurrent head coach, Randy Carlyle, is the one to blame for this inconsistency. As he admitted himself after the team lost recently to Carolina, the team with the worst record in the league: ”I don’t think we were mentally ready to go out and play the type of game that was required. Simple as that.” My New Year's Wish for the Toronto Maple Leafs(Whose job is that? Oh, right, the coach.)

And so as simple as that, Carlyle has to go. Sign Dallas Eakins for the rest of the year and see how that goes.My New Year's Wish for the Toronto Maple Leafs If it doesn’t work out, get Babcock. Now is the time to win.

Looks like 2015 might be a good year after all: Leafs Fire Carlyle.