News of the Middle Ages

Conundrum: a question or problem having only a conjectural answer, as in:

1.      “Why do we continue to invest our Nation’s blood, honor and treasury in a place (Afghanistan) still so firmly rooted in the 12^th century?” Or,

2.      “ Why do theoretically modern peoples of the world continue to invest their support for an institution still so firmly rooted in the Middle Ages (Catholic Church)?”

Two reports out today to amuse and enlighten we peoples of the world. 

The first is a report that the Afghan parliament just passed a law that essentially prohibits family members or victims from testifying against the members of their families who have purportedly committed acts of mayhem, and even murder against them or other members of the family. The new Afghan law will allow men to attack their wives, children and sisters without fear of judicial punishment, undoing years of slow progress in tackling violence in a country blighted by so-called "honour" killings, forced marriage and vicious domestic abuse. The small but significant change to Afghanistan's criminal prosecution code bans relatives of an accused person from testifying against them. Most violence against women in Afghanistan is within the family, so the law – passed by parliament but awaiting the signature of the president, Hamid Karzai – will effectively silence victims as well as most potential witnesses to their suffering.

So, there. Now Afghan men can continue to practice their 12^th century concepts of morality on the women and children in their care. So says the official government of Afghanistan. And that’s what we are being asked as an American public to support? That’s why we have invested blood, sweat and tears, over the past dozen or so years?  So that Afghanistan can continue to reside firmly in the 12th century? Perhaps we need to bring back Emperor Babur and then return our own troops to their home shores.

And then there is the second report. A special United Nations Human Rights committee  has issued a report that, “The Vatican "systematically" adopted policies that allowed priests to rape and molest tens of thousands of children over decades. The committee urged the Vatican to open its files on pedophiles and bishops who concealed their crimes.

In a devastating report hailed by victims, the U.N. committee severely criticized the Holy See for its attitudes toward homosexuality, contraception and abortion and said it should change its own canon law to ensure children's rights and their access to health care are guaranteed.”

Finally, some authority is calling it like it is. The Holy Roman Catholic Church has been corrupt ( I believe that systematically raping children could be classed as corruption) from top to bottom.  And the good folks of the world over, who have been practicing the teachings of this institution, are being forced to accept that it has been following corruption.  My doesn’t that make the faithful feel good?

And on another exoplanet, Bill Nye, a “science guy” debated Ken Ham, president of the Creation Museum. Ham believes the earth was created 6,000 years ago and fossils were formed in Noah's flood. Yeah, and Punxsutawney Phil  can actually read the weather maps to accurately predict our weather based on whether he sees his shadow on one day in February. Hahahahaha  Oh, by the way, Ken Ham may or may not actually believe the claptrap he preaches. He makes money by conning the folks out there who remain uncertain. We call such people con artists, or sometimes charlatans . . . on the other hand, maybe the Tooth Fairy is real . . . and Santa Claus . . . don't forget Santa Claus . . .

Ta ta folks.