Orthodixie

“Today’s Herod would seek the baby Jesus to implant a computer chip somewhere deep under his skin as the mark of that beast that, in poet William Butler Yeats’ phrase, “its hour come round at last, Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born.”

On December 17, 2004, President Bush signed into law measures that gaurantee a National ID system. With the overwhelming coverage of the horrendous tragedy in Southern Asia, I totally missed this news item — though there was some coverage.

However, some of the coverage may have been less than full disclosure:

“What Reuters doesn’t mention is the section of the bill that would drastically overhaul each state’s driver’s license regulation. According to [Sec. 7212] Driver’s Licenses and identification cards., the minimum requirements of a federally approved identification card would “subject each person applying for a driver’s license or identification card to mandatory facial image capture.” The bill doesn’t specify what portion of the face, so this could be an entire facial scan, or a retinal scan. The biometric data would be saved on the card, as well as in a database, so that the card holder could be verified at a later time.”

What does it all mean?

“The new generation of ID cards must be able to digitally store biometric data such as facial photographs and fingerprint images, bear contact and contactless interfaces, and allow the encryption of data that can be used to electronically verify the user’s identity, according to NIST draft standards.”

Should it even be a concern?

Yes. At least some think so. (Thanks to Slightly Rough.) Though I’ve read that William F. Buckley sees no harm in such measures, the Cato Institute opposed it in 2001.

“A national I.D. is coming soon, perhaps disguised as your state driver’s license but carrying a unique code such as your Social Security number. It may in the beginning even be “voluntary,” like the airline traveler I.D. that will permit you to bypass the two-hour inspection lines at airports – but soon those refusing to submit to this carding process will be suspect and surveiled. Within a decade, the national I.D. card will also be your United Nations I.D. card.”

The purpose of the measure is, alledgedly, to combat terrorism. For example, unless you are registered in the National ID system you will not be able to board a plane. These measures may be in place as early as the end of this year (2005). The bill also allows sharing of this information from state to state.

Britain’s House of Commons passed a similar measure a few days later, December 20, 2004.

“The Government and Opposition have joined forces to back the world’s most far-reaching and comprehensive identity measures. The Identity Cards Bill passed its Second Reading in the lower house on 20 December despite widespread and passionate opposition from almost 100 rebel MP’s. A national campaign http://www.no2id.net chaired by Privacy International’s director has vowed to stop the plans. The legislation must pass through the House of Lords before it becomes law. Political observers believe the proposals will meet stiff opposition there. See our ID card page for coverage of ID cards around the world and in the United Kingdom.

One could assume that, given other countries’ participation in similar programs, this National ID system — or, for all intents and purposes, ID Card — will actually have international uses (FAQ.) Hitting some of the links listed in this blog post would lead one to believe the info would be shared among “friendly nations.”

Such programs are already in place in Thailand:

“In one of the most ambitious Java-based smart card deployment schemes in the world, the Thai government plans to issue the high-tech national ID card to all 61 million citizens. The card will contain biometric identification, as well as insurance, tax and welfare benefit information. The scheme is expected to be launched later this year.”

Is it the Mark of the Beast, 666, yada yada yada? I don’t know. Similar measures were debated in Russia (March, 2001) when they introduced their tax ID number (INN). At that time the Russian Orthodox Patriarch Alexei said:

“that the fear of INN had, like the fear of the ecumenical movement, been encouraged by those who wanted to push the Russian Orthodox Church into isolation.”

“In his message to be read on Sunday, the Russian Patriarch reminds Christians that neither salvation nor spiritual death can occur simply “for some external reason, without our personal participation.”

But he promised that the church would continue to monitor technological developments which could hinder individual freedom.”

The Greek Orthdoox clergy went nuts over the ID system introduced in Greece for a different reason. The government had decided to drop the ID designation of one’s religious preference. This was due in large measure to pressure from Jews and Muslims. The GOC strongly objected.

For Romanians — and here’s an idea for American Liberals — the National ID Cards played a role in the recent election.

“To prevent multiple voting, the CEC required a stamped sticker recording the fact that a person had voted to be attached to the rear-side of Romanian citizen’s laminated ID cards, which were required to identify a voter. This precaution was far from infallible.”

Yet, here in America, one would think there would be great opposition to the ID Card by its Evangelical President and the great host of “Left-Behinders.” Not so. Yet.

For those interested, particularly Federal Employees …

“On Jan. 19, the agency will hold a public meeting at the Potomac Center Plaza in downtown Washington to discuss policy, privacy and security concerns associated with the development of the new ID card standard.”

The Antiochian website offers some reflections on the Feast of Theophany (Epiphany) including a poem I wrote, from water’s perspective, H E R E.

Fr Patrick Henry Reardon’s offering for the Sunday before Theophany helps to explain the essence of the Feast.

Thanks to Karl, here’s some more info & family ideas for the celebration of the Feast.

Fr John Whiteford and others await the Winter Pascha, the Feast of the Nativity.

Back in 1987, after less than a month of marriage, I got my wife a cat. It was our first Christmas; we were newlyweds. The landlord had a “No Pets” policy. But, doggonit, she wanted a cat and I wanted to make her happy. I sweet-talked the landlord, paid him an extra $75, and started hinting to customers that I was in the market for a cat. I was selling air time at a radio station in those days. A lady who managed a water bed store said that her mother, who lived on a farm, had a cat who had just given birth to two kittens … and one of them was so cute! Grey with little white boots. The other one, she said, was kinda ugly.

So it was that I found myself clandestinely heading to a farm in Lenoir, North Carolina, in December of 1987. My client met me there. She was very apologetic. Her mother, doggonit, had given away the grey cat. BUT. But, she said, “I looked at the other cat and she’s not nearly as ugly as I’d thought.” “Oh great,” I thought. I peered into the big cardboard box. That was my first meeting. She was a sweet kitty. Ultra-soft fur. Not much to look at. Great personality.

We called her “Blotch.”

I’d been saving money for a few months to buy my bride a string of pearls. I believe they set me back over $600. I should have saved them for another occasion. Because when she received the surprise cat gift, all other gifts paled in comparison. She was thrilled. We were newlyweds. No kids. Blotch became part of the family.

Blotch was a people person. Unlike standoffish felines, Blotch always wanted to be where the people were. She slept on your head, sat on your lap, would jump up and lay across your shoulders. She was always wherever you were. She liked tuna, loved bacon; was a good kitty.

In the summer of 1989 we headed off to Nashotah House, Wisconsin. The seminary had a “No Pets” and “no sweet talking” policy. So it was that Blotch went to live with my wife’s folks for three years. We got to see her a couple times a year when we came home and, in the meantime, they would take pictures and send them to us. My wife missed her cat.

Upon graduation and moving back to North Carolina, we were reunited. We lived near my wife’s work and, most days, Blotch would be perched on my shoulder peering out the front door window, watching for her return. Cats don’t smile and women don’t purr, so they both did their own thing.

We’d been trying to conceive a child for a number of years and, lacking success, we thought we might never have children. The pressure was on: Blotch was it. Yet God saw fit to allow otherwise. We have a picture of Blotch in the bassinet … jealously daring anyone to take her place. When Mary Catherine arrived in 1994, it took a while before Blotch warmed up to her. But, when she finally figured out that the new arrival was here to stay, they became buds.

We also have a pic of Blotch in the bassinet “awaiting” the arrival of Basil in 1998 and maybe even Helen in 2002. She eventually let them all join the family. She was a good kitty.

Several years ago we noticed that Blotch was deaf. Later, she become a water-holic. She would grab a drink whenever an opportunity was present: bowl, sink, shower, your glass, Christmas tree stand, whatever. The vet said that her old kidneys were probably giving out on her. So it was that, little by little, we began trying to prepare ourselves for the inevitable day.

That was yesterday.

Over the past few months her health kept sliding … to the point she couldn’t properly feed or clean herself. She drooled. But she would still sleep on your head, climb on your shoulders, warm your lap — and drink all waters in sight. She was a good kitty.

I always dreaded the day. (That would be yesterday.) I dreaded the day when I might have to deal with her death. Knowing that my wife would take it hard, I knew I was not the patient, compassionate man she would need to help her. Heck. Who’m I fooling? I dreaded the day for me. But, we took her to the Vet. It was way hard. That was my last meeting. She was a sweet kitty. Ultra-soft fur. Not much to look at. Great personality.

Blotch made my wife (me & our kids) happy for almost two decades. Glory to God! Other than the three years of seminary, that would leave 14 years, Blotch has always met us at the door upon our return. The inevitable that made my heart ache yesterday will soon be replaced by a sinking moment of sadness upon entering an empty house.

That would be today.

(I bet the grey cat with white boots died long ago.)

Michelle Malkin displays the inevitable … tsunami reflief scams.

For a list of bona fide relief agencies go H E R E.

For an account of an heroic effort by a small community go H E R E.