Peace on Earth?

Big news on the wires: Al Gore wins the Nobel Peace Prize.

Yesterday, I had intended on writing a more moving, less-controversial blog. With today's news, I just cannot control myself. I am unable to stifle myself. All I can do is groan, "What a load of bull!"

Al Gore, aka Chicken Little, already won an Academy Award for his film An Inconvenient Truth. Of course, I have no problem with that. What I have a hard time stomaching is that Mr. Freak-out deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for squawking about global warming and living in a 10,000 square-foot mansion with $1,200 electricty bills. Yes, I do find that a bit hypocritical. Even though he does purchase "green power blocks," most observers would acknowledge that practice is simply a reinvention of the Catholic Church selling Indulgences in the corrupt days leading up to the Reformation.

What really disturbs me, however, is fact that what has been the most respected recognition for peace is going to those involved in a debated environmental discussion. The jury is still out on global warming. If one day the majority of environmental scholars comes to assert Global Warming as fact and not theory, then the work of Gore and the IPCC will deserve wide recognition and respect. Until then, as long as Global Warming enjoys the same theory status as the Big Bang, honors such as the Nobel Prize should be reserved for those fighting in legitimate battles for mankind.

A prime example is the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa. The emergency status of this continent is undisputable. Moreover, the people are dying each and every day that passes, so why are we putting so much energy and recognition toward the work of those that may fight off a climate change that might come and could kill us? Instead of rewarding Al Gore for his rants, the Nobel Peace Prize should have been given to Bono or World Vision for their work in fighting the AIDS pandemic.

(If you wish to challenge me on this matter, I would invite your comments.)

Gino's East

One of the goals of my recent trip to Chicago, aside from picking up some practical how-to's about small group ministry, was to try some authentic Chicago-style pizza. Allegedly developed by the chef at Pizzeria Uno in 1943, Chicago-style is almost a whole other category removed from the standard pizza with which most of us are familiar. For our experience, my friend and I settled on Gino's East in Rolling Meadows.

We went there starving. After only a few mozzarella sticks and a roll, our pizza finally arrived. It was a 12" pie, with the thickest crust I'd ever seen on a pizza. We did our best, but neither Kirk nor I could complete 3 pieces of this monster!