[12:58] <ctate> pumpernickel bagel with LIQUID OXYGEN!
iQue‘s two functions – G.P.S. and Palm organizer – the whole is indisputably greater than its parts. Even the calendar function is tied in: if you tap in a 7 o’clock dinner meeting at Joe’s Organic Pizza, the iQue promptly displays directions.
David Pogue loves Garmin’s iQue 3600.
From: Todd Stadler
Subject: On Bush’s speech
Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2003 00:43:49 -0700
Dan,
I’m not sure if you’ve already been told about this or not, but as to [the diary entry from yesterday]:
“Yes, I am mindful that we’re all sinners,” the president said Wednesday when asked for his views on homosexuality. “And I caution those who may try to take the speck out of the neighbor’s eye when they’ve got a log in their own.”Um, what?
Bush was referencing Jesus’ “sermon on the mount”, from Matthew’s gospel. Specifically, the section on judging others and hypocrisy.
Although I would say he didn’t exactly do it elegantly (clearly, or you might have understood what he meant), it’s meant to be a warning against judging other sinners when one has sins of one’s own that need to be dealt with first.
You’d perhaps be surprised how many somewhat-subtle references to Christian scripture show up in Bush’s speeches.
Thanks for pointing this out, Todd. My biblical knowledge is weak – truth be told, I never read much of the sequel.
Most of his Biblical and religious references are even less subtle. That was part of what I was reacting to. Moreover, I bristle at the way that he uses obfuscation – Biblical obfuscation, nonetheless – to hide and smooth and patch over the unspoken phrase:
“Homosexuality is a sin. Gays are sinners because of it.”
Which is in fact the logical reduction of his response to the query, “what are your views on homosexuality?” I am sure that while he takes the customary approach of claiming himself in the set of all sinners, he certainly does not feel that having a wife and children is a sin.
For a “straight shooter” he’s remarkably clever about what he says on a semantic level (even if he frequently bungles it in syntax).
“I think it’s very important for our society to respect each individual, to welcome those with good hearts, to be a welcoming country,” Bush added. “On the other hand, that does not mean that somebody like me needs to compromise on an issue such as marriage.”
Emphasis mine, of course.
