Posted by
peripheral on Monday, October 19, 2009 5:58:28 AM
From My Perspective - - -
Last week, most Cable News Channels featured a heart-wrenching account
of six-year old Falcon Heene of Fort Collins, Colorado who was
allegedly playing in a weather-type balloon that accidentally launched.
Helicopters were scrambled; Denver Airport temporally halted flights;
Emergency personnel were quickly on the scene pursuing the Balloon; and
people were temporally riveted to their TV sets hoping and praying the
young boy could be rescued. The public was so caught up in the event
that they emailed suggestions of what might be tried to bring the
balloon safely down.
Hours and days have now past and a news headline in today’s - The Wall Street Journal Online – is “BALLOON INCIDENT A HOAX, POLICE SAY”.
The body of the news report states: “Colorado law-enforcement officials
are now certain that the tale of the ‘balloon boy’ was a publicity
stunt, they said Sunday, and are planning criminal charges against the
child's parents for reporting that he had drifted into the sky aboard a
saucer-shaped balloon. Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden said
investigators had concluded that Richard and Mayumi Heene made up the
story involving their 6-year-old son, Falcon, in hopes of attracting
media coverage and getting a contract to star in a reality television
show. Parents of the boy in the Colorado wayward balloon chase now face
criminal charges over the much publicized incident. It has been
determined that this was a hoax, a publicity stunt, the sheriff said
Sunday, adding, On the bizarre meter, this rates a 10…He would
recommend the filing of two felony charges against the parents -
contributing to the delinquency of a minor, which carries a maximum
sentence of six years, and attempting to influence a public servant.
The government will also seek restitution for the money it spent
scrambling to find the child…”
Today, The London Times Online reports: “HILLARY CLINTON SUFFERS ‘MIS-SPEAKING’ RELAPSE WITH BELFAST BOMB CLAIMS”.
The body of the report states: “Hillary Clinton has been caught
‘mis-speaking’ again in a manner that suggests that she hasn’t learnt
from past experiences of her globe-trotting, ‘lily-gilding’ speeches.
The US Secretary of State was exposed during her battle with Barack
Obama to become the Democratic presidential nominee over her claims to
have landed in Bosnia under sniper fire. She was even described as ‘a
wee bit silly’ for claiming greater credit than was her due for the
Irish peace process, having made several visits to Northern Ireland as
First Lady. She was back in Belfast last week, giving a gentle push to
politicians dragging their heels over a final piece in the peace
process jigsaw. During a speech she made to the Stormont parliament she
said that Belfast’s landmark Europa Hotel was devastated by an
explosion when she first stayed there in 1995. The Europa, where most
journalists covering the decades-long conflict stayed, was famed as
Europe’s most bombed hotel, earning the moniker ‘the Hardboard Hotel’.
The last Provisional IRA bomb to damage the Europa was detonated in
1993, two years before President Clinton and his wife checked in for
the night. The last time the Europa underwent renovations because of
bomb blast damage was in January 1994, 22 months before the
presidential entourage booked 110 rooms at the hotel. Mrs. Clinton told
assembled politicians at Stormont: ‘When Bill and I first came to
Belfast we stayed at the Europa Hotel…even though then there were
sections boarded up because of damage from bombs’.”
It would be refreshing if lives would be lived and seen as honest and
true. It would also be welcomed if there was less embellishment in
terms of what is said and communicated. It would be beneficial if
Biblical Principles for life and speech would be the reality that
governs one’s words and actions. In The Amplified Bible - Romans 12:17,
“Repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is honest and
proper and noble - aiming to be above reproach - in the sight of
everyone. And, in II Corinthians 8:20-21
– “We are on our guard, intending that no one should find anything for
which to blame us…For we take thought beforehand and aim to be honest
and absolutely above suspicion, not only in the sight of the Lord but
also in the sight of men.” Above Reproach and Aiming To Be Honest and
absolutely above suspicion – worthy goals and practices. That should be
our Hope and Daily Pursuit. Consider These Things With Me!