Hugo Chavez gives thumbs up to Sean Penn’s ‘axis of evil’ tour

In the Celebrities-Making-Idiots-Of-Themselves department: Sean Penn and Hugo Chavez become best of buds and applaud each other for their hatred of the U.S. government (mainly Bush).

- Alexander, TheScroogeReport.com

Associated Press:

Sean Penn applauded President Hugo Chavez as the Venezuelan leader lambasted the Bush administration and demanded an end to war in Iraq.
Chavez met privately with the 46-year-old actor for two hours Thursday, praising him as being “brave” for urging Americans to impeach President Bush.

“In the name of the peoples of the world, President Bush, withdraw the troops from Iraq. Enough already with so much genocide,” Chavez said before an auditorium packed with his red-clad supporters.

Penn sat near the front, at times applauding and nodding in agreement. He is the latest in a series of celebrities who have visited Caracas, including Danny Glover and Harry Belafonte.

Chavez said he and Penn discussed the question of “why the (U.S.) empire attacks Chavez so much,” saying Venezuela’s oil wealth is a key reason.

He also said Washington is “afraid that the people of the United States will learn the real truth” about the situation in Venezuela, citing his social programs for the poor.

You say you want a revolution?

“If the people of the United States, those millions and millions of poor people … if that nation realizes what is truly happening here, there would be a revolution in the United States,” Chavez said, eliciting applause from Penn.

But, wait! There’s hope in Hollywood!

Some Chavez opponents were angered by Penn’s visit.

Cuban-born actress Maria Conchita Alonso, who grew up in Venezuela, said Penn is lending support to a “totalitarian” leader who wants increasing control of society—a charge Chavez denies.

In a phone interview from her home in Beverly Hills, Calif., Alonso said although she respects Penn as an actor, she hopes he “comes to his senses and he realizes that he’s being used.”

I know nothingk…I say nothingk…

Penn, who won an Oscar in 2004 for “Mystic River,” didn’t speak publicly. Chavez said the actor came wanting to learn about Venezuela.

And the quote of the day:

“That man has opposed the war in Iraq with all his strength, and not only that, he went to Baghdad … and now he comes here. He’s going around touring the ‘axis of evil,’” Chavez said with a chuckle.

Harvest: Would you pray for these things?

From HarvestCrusade.org:

The Southern California Harvest is almost here and we need your prayers!

As with any large event, there are so many last-minute tasks that need to get done before the crusade begins. As we get ready for Friday night, would you please pray for these things?

Pray for Pastor Greg—who has been battling a case of bronchitis over the last week—that he would be healthy and ready to go Friday night. Pray that he will be able to speak clearly and effectively.

Please pray for the webcast team as they get things set up, that the computer equipment would work properly with no glitches, and that many would be able to view the Southern California Harvest online. Pray also for all the sound and video technicians, that everything would run smoothly.

Pray for the foreign language translators who will be translating Pastor Greg’s message into five languages for those in attendance and those watching the webcast. Pray that they’ll be able to work quickly and communicate the biblical truths Pastor Greg is sharing.

Pray for the stage crew, making their final adjustments being done on the set-up. Pray that the transition between musical artists and speakers would go smoothly.

Pray for each and every volunteer who will serve at the crusade, that they will arrive safely and be able to do the job that God has called them to. There are more than 4,000 volunteers, from decision follow-up workers to ushers to prayer warriors. Praise God for their willingness to serve and pray for their safety throughout the weekend.

Thank you so much for your prayers. We hope you’ll have a chance to see the Southern California Harvest, either in person or live online. The webcasts will begin at 6:50 P.M. on Friday and Saturday nights, and 5:50 P.M. Sunday night.

For even more updates from Anaheim, check out the Crusade Connection blog, featuring photos from the event and behind-the-scenes news.

Politics playing a wicked game with South Korean hostages

Politics inappropriately mixing in with international crisis is at an all time high – just take a look at the South Korean hostage situation in Aghanistan.

By ALEXANDER
TheScroogeReport.com 

While Taliban members began holding 23 Christian relief workers 15 days ago, two male hostages have been killed, various captor deadlines have passed, and the blame game has begun in earnest.

Associated Press reports today:

Frustration over the plight of South Koreans seized by the Taliban is starting to focus on the United States, a frequent target of resentment here.

Politicians and citizens of all persuasions are increasingly calling on Washington to help resolve the 15-day-old standoff, believing the United States to be the only country capable of pushing Afghanistan to meet the captors’ demands that Taliban prisoners be freed.

We’ll be hearing more soon…as in tomorrow, because a delegation of top South Korean lawmakers left today for Washington to press their case for an exception to the U.S. policy of refusing to make concessions to terrorists.

Meanwhile, among reports breaking at the exact same time that a military operation has begun and that one has not, it’s hard to get the real story. Equally as hard is to be able to put faces on the hostages and their purpose in Afghanistan as well. For the most part, you have to look to Christian news sites, as I did and am still doing.

Did you know, for example, anything about the second hostage killed Monday?

This from Compass Direct News:

For Shim Sung Min, 29, traveling to Afghanistan with an aid group of 23 members of his home congregation in South Korea reflected an active desire to live out his faith.

The former IT worker, a graduate of South Korea’s Gyeongsang National University, had volunteered his time to teach Sunday school classes to handicapped church-goers on a weekly basis at the Sammul Presbyterian church, a member of the church said.

Prompted by the needs of poor Korean farmers negatively affected by globalization, Shim had decided to quit his job and pursue a graduate degree in agriculture, the church member told Compass.

“He always wanted to help,” the church member said. “He was moved to go to Afghanistan in order to help people.”

Amazingly, the spin continues, even from fellow countrymen. More from Compass Direct:

The kidnapping has aroused a storm of anti-Christian sentiment among Koreans online, who not only labeled the group’s trip to Afghanistan as naïve but also condemned the Christians for supposedly carrying out evangelistic work.

Both the Korean government and church leadership, as well as a member of the congregation speaking to Compass, confirmed that the group was carrying out service work in orphanages and hospitals.

But several Korean Internet users posted a video clip on Youtube.com with pictures and writings from the homepages of the victims, suggesting that the Korean hostages were conducting evangelistic activities in mosques, Korean daily Chosun reported.

My suggestion to those wanting to get proper perspective on the South Korean hostage situation is to look for updates here and at the PersecutionBlog.

Also, to get commentary from someone right on top of the liberal slant from some on this crisis and the astounding silence brought on by apathy, check out Michelle Malkin.