A Heapin' Plate of Conservative Politics and Religion

by Tom Quiner

A Heapin' Plate of Conservative Politics & Religion

by Tom Quiner

The Summer of Hope

By Tom Quiner | July 26, 2010

By Tom Quiner As seen in the Des Moines Register on Saturday, July 24, 2010 It began on June 2nd.  The year was 1979 when the Alitalia jetliner set down in a land that history forgot for 123 years of its thousand year history.  A Man in White with kind eyes stepped onto the tarmac.  He knelt and kissed the earth. His next nine days in Poland would change the…

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Now for some beautiful bus advertising…

By Tom Quiner | July 25, 2010

By Tom Quiner Illumination Media is a group that helps pro-life groups get their message out to the local community.  I’m proud to say I’m on their Board.  The ad above is now appearing on four buses here in Des Moines.  What a refreshing change of pace from atheist bus ads. If you agree with the pro-life cause, be sure to check out Illumination Media’s website (http://www.illuminationmedia.org).  If you’re in…

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Why atheists advertise on buses

By Tom Quiner | July 23, 2010

By Tom Quiner Does God exist? This question is in the news more than ever.  We live in strange times.  Atheists have become evangelical.  Here in Des Moines and around the world, they advertised on buses last year in an effort to recruit acolytes.  Nationally, their books are best sellers.  Christianity is now under attack more than ever. Why? After all, Christianity offers a message of hope to believers, namely…

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How much confidence do you have in Congress?

By Tom Quiner | July 22, 2010

By Tom Quiner The Gallup Poll surveyed Americans about their attitude toward critical institutions. The poll was conducted July eight through eleventh.  Gallup asked people if they have alot/great deal of confidence in various institutions.  Here are a few high points. The military and small business ranked highest, with 76% and 66% confidence respectively. Congress finished dead last with but 11% confidence. The biggest drop came with the institution of…

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Live this Friday night!

By Tom Quiner | July 21, 2010

By Tom Quiner Scott Stilwell plays at Grounds for Celebration this Friday at 6:30 PM I had the pleasure of working with Scott Stilwell in a musical I produced earlier this year called “A Living Heaven.”  Scott was that perfect blend of being fun, professional, and just plain good!  Check out the music section of this blog for a clip of Scott in action in the role of Jesus. This…

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Should you be free to choose?

By Tom Quiner | July 20, 2010

By Tom Quiner [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cD0dmRJ0oWg&feature=player_embedded] What an interesting question!  It depends on the context, doesn’t it?  It depends on the principle involved. I pose the question in light of the great exchange in the video above between the late, great Nobel laureate economist, Milton Friedman, and a college student who is allegedly Michael Moore.  (I don’t know if it is really Mr. Moore, nor does it matter for purposes of this…

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Should we penalize marriage?

By Tom Quiner | July 19, 2010

By Tom Quiner Society has a vested interest in marriage. The institution was established thousands of years ago as society’s way to protect wives and their children.  To this very day, we see measurable benefits to traditional marriage: Marriage reduces poverty.  The poverty rated for single mothers with children is five times higher than married women. The poverty rate for single fathers is two-and-a-half times higher than married men. Two-thirds…

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Democrats take cynicism to new heights

By Tom Quiner | July 16, 2010

By Tom Quiner [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atD7sAJTiX0&feature=player_embedded] Governor Chet Culver should be ashamed. A group called “Iowans for Responsible Government” have been running attack ads against Republican candidate for Governor, Terry Branstad.  They smear Mr. Branstad as being too liberal, that he would make Bill Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, and Barack Obama proud. The goal of the ads was to tip last months Republican primary to Bob Vanderplaats.  The ads failed. So who is…

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The reason for American Exceptionalism

By Tom Quiner | July 14, 2010

By Tom Quiner [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNUc8nuo7HI] Why has America been exceptional? It is because we have embraced a set of exceptional values.  These values have defined and shaped our greatness.  The video clip above, taken at a forum at the University of Denver in May, talks about this very subject.  West Coast talk show host, Dennis Prager, is the speaker. With a watershed election coming up in November, it is worth reflecting…

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Ask not what your country can do for you

By Tom Quiner | July 13, 2010

By Tom Quiner [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VB6hLg3PRbY] President John Kennedy’s 1961 inaugural address is considered to be a classic speech.  In it, he invoked his famous line, “ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” In his presidency, Mr. Kennedy cut taxes. In his presidency, Mr. Kennedy used NASA to put a man on the moon. In his presidency, Mr. Kennedy faced down evil…

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Should we discriminate on the basis of religious orientation?

By Tom Quiner | July 12, 2010

By Tom Quiner [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTE9zWaQc_Y] The answer is yes if you’re the University of Illinois. They fired Kenneth Howell who teaches Introduction to Catholicism and Modern Catholic Thought.  His sin?  He expressed Catholic thought on the subject of homosexuality.  Here is his fire-able quote: Natural Moral Law says that Morality must be a response to REALITY.  In other words, sexual acts are only appropriate for people who are complementary, not the…

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Rational reasons to believe in God

By Tom Quiner | July 11, 2010

By Tom Quiner It’s the biggest question of our life.  Does God exist?  If He does, it changes everything. Some people drift away from a belief in God as they get older, just as some draw closer to Him.  Why do some draw away from Him?  I suppose there are many reasons.  Here are a few: 1. Belief in God seems irrational (atheism). 2. God’s existence is unlikely (agnosticism). 3.…

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