Posts Tagged ‘Matt Frei’
Rebecca is an atheist … Even during Oklahoma disaster
Often people make reference to faith at times of natural disaster, see Hemant for that. There is a predisposition also that faith gets people through a tragedy, especially when we use the same language.
I do not how else Matt Frei, who long term readers know is one of my favourite Brit journalists based in the USA, quotes and uses Rebecca mentioned in my previous blog for his article “Big weather fuels big faith in Oklahoma“
“We are so blessed”, Rebecca told me as she was clutching her two-year-old son Anders. He was shoeless and dressed in a girl’s outfit.
It happened to be in the back of her car when she decided to quit the bathtub she had chosen for shelter, get in her car and make a run for it. When she returned to her house after the storm only a concrete slab was left.
A stranger’s car she had never seen before was on top of what used to be her bed and the bath tub was crushed and filled with debris. “We would have died, for sure”, she said with a smile on her face, ” had we stayed.”
As mentioned earlier on this blog Rebecca is an atheist as reported unexpectedly on CNN when Wolf Blitzer expected she would want to give thanks to The Lord for her family’s survival. She handled herself honestly and with dignity.
Have told Matt via twitter of the error. Maybe next time you are here in the UK Matt you can buy me lunch.
Atheists Giving Aid – Oklahoma Tornado Relief
UPDATE: 24/5/13 Channel 4 deleted my comment correcting. Please use the link to ask them to correct article.
Article written by John Sargeant on Homo economicus’ Weblog
Follow @JPSargeant78
Election Night USA 2012
It’s midnight in the UK – and hopefully in next few minutes we might hear something on Virginia (VA). Holding breath time. An internal poll by GOP on Sunday had Romney down by five points. This may explain his last day tour of two swing states while Obama shot hoops on the basket ball court.
I will be on Twitter, @JPSargeant78 and I imagine I will be retweeting rather than creating original content as the night goes on. If you want a Brit journalistic perspective I whole heatedly recommend @mattfrei
His books, and reporting on the US have been insightful and entertaining.
I will return to the blog after a good day’s sleep 
UPDATE: CNN 49/49 on VA. could be a long night.
UPDATE: 3:30am GMT looks like Romney may win the popular vote but lose the electoral vote. Wonder that those who moaned about this in 2000 will feel the same this time.
Ohio seems key state at this stage. Obama having won Michigan looks like the automotive initiative and black/Hispanic hi turnout key factors in an Obama win.
UPDATE: 3:35am @mattfrei: With southern Florida still counting and historically Democrat, is Romney going to reach for the minibar? For an alcohol free lager
UPDATE: 4am @ingen1ous: Republican Richard Mourdock, who said pregnancy resulting from rape was “something God intended to happen” loses Indiana Senate race.
UPDATE: @JPSargeant78: Prediction: republican house will be more confrontational not less to the White House #mandate
UPDATE: 4:27am @JPSargeant78: Iowa means 275 Obama – he has won!!!!!
Follow Up Blogs: Obama Wins Second Term
Video Obama Victory Speech Romney Concession
Empire of Liberty
A new radio series, America, Empire of Liberty has started on Radio 4, past episodes you can listen to on the web – with an introductory debate on what events shaped America today, chaired by by Justin Webb. This is a regular Monday to Friday starting from 15th September lasting six weeks. Plenty of stuff going into detail, with the first week covering lost civilisations to English Planters.
The title is inspired by Jefferson:
“We shall divert through our own Country a branch of commerce which the European States have thought worthy of the most important struggles and sacrifices, and in the event of peace on terms which have been contemplated by some powers we shall form to the American union a barrier against the dangerous extension of the British Province of Canada and add to the Empire of liberty an extensive and fertile Country thereby converting dangerous Enemies into valuable friends.”
The Radio 4 programme is hosted by David Reynolds, Professor of International History at Cambridge University and a Fellow of Christ’s College. In three series it will charts the development of the United States, exploring three key themes: Empire, Liberty and Faith.
Which has come at the right time as I am halfway through reading Matt Frie’s (Webb’s fellow man from the BBC in the States) Only In America. Walking through the Washington Mall in DC made me fall in love with the Capitol so reading about Frei’s experience living there and reporting has been enjoyable. His injection of humor and turn of phrase makes the book a page turner while covering such events as Katrina, the White House, and trying to get a driving license and living on Tilden Street.
The more well known John Sergeant (who survived the first cull in Strictly Come Dancing on TV, with the 64 former BBC political editor being described as a warm Uncle on the dance floor) said of Frei’s work:
If you are searching for a book to describe the current mood in America, look no further… He moves from high politics to daily life with an engaging confidence
Is America a world guarantee of liberty or an evil empire? The debate programme covers in part religion giving a false moral rationale to justify actions (rather than a cause of) – such as Palin describing US troops being deployed in Iraq as “a task that is from God” being routed in the Puritan past. I agree with Biden’s (remember him?) comment that Bush did not ask god if he should go into Iraq – rather he prayed that it was the right thing to do having made the decision. Religion in American politics is a cover, rather like sheep’s clothing, that allows you to do things that would be considered questionable if not outright wrong.
However, if people really think they are instruments of god and that inexperience is therefore not a problem, may want to give us pause. That a well formed world view is seeing Russia from your bedroom window, rather than having a battered passport, give us a concern that they should get out more. Like a fire bell in the night the question of how Palin is considered Presidential material alarms, as the bell weather states warm to McCain over his running mate.
All I know is that I audaciously hope John McCain has a long life well into his 80s. I wonder if we can get a mantra going on that?
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