I decided that since I did not have one thing that pissed me off this week to do a whole column on, I would instead write about a number of small things, both current and ongoing, that piss me off on a daily basis.
*Let's start with people running government. The governor of Texas, Rick Perry, is proof positive that people in this country are getting dumber and dumber. It took him how many hours to open the southbound lane so that traffic conditions would ease the gridlock from the Hurricane Rita exodus? Folks, this is something that me, PL and Crabby could have done in 20 minutes and a few orange cones.
*And speaking of moronic, Mike Brown has resigned from FEMA and is still receiving a paycheck as consultant? Huh? This is the guy who resigned in disgrace after fucking up royally and he is still being paid taxpayer money! Where is all the talk of government waste now?
*Can we please get rid all TV ads which have a cool, techno theme with quiet xylophone being played in the background? You know the ones that show how technology is improving our lives everywhere. I am not up nights worried about how many Bank of America ATMs are located near my house!
*People that are over the age of 18 that play video games are LAME!! Dude (it's mostly guys) take your girl out for a fucking steak and dancing. Show her a good time instead of figuring out how to take your proton blaster tablet to go to level 4 and ignoring her. Getting excited about the fact that a bar has Golden Tee or Big Buck Hunter instead of getting excited about your girlfriend on all fours with her butt up in the air means you have a serious problem.
*People under the age of 55 that like to go to casinos. Are you dead? Go out to a club and see a band. Or see a movie. Better yet, get together with your friends and play cards instead of being a zombie and playing the electronic one armed bandit (See above)
*People who watch poker on TV. I don't think I need to say anything else here.
*People who have the little yellow wristbands for Livestrong. Y'know I am all for cancer research support but how many of these people (mostly guys again) are doing this to look cool at a bar. Show your support for cancer treatments by volunteering your time at a cancer ward for kids or giving your time away with people that are sick.
*Closely related to people who wear yellow wristbands are people who obsessively train for triatholons. They are often the same person. Has anyone heard about his latest craze? Suddenly everyone is really INTO IT. People, you are not going to live the olympic dream at the age of 40. Are you doing it because it is fun or because it is trendy?
Well, that's it for now. Stay tuned for further Grab Bags of Irritation in the future!!
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Friday, September 16, 2005
Our Father Who Art In Where?
A couple of weeks back, a friend of mine sent me this article.
AND WE SAID OKAY
This one will make you think In light of the many perversions and jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke, it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking. Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her "How could God let something like this happen?" (regarding the attacks on Sept. 11). Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, "I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?"
In light of recent events...terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found recently) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school . the Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK. Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said OK. Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves. Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with "WE REAP WHAT WE SOW."
Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace. Are you laughing? Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they WILL think of you for sending it. Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us. Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not then just discard it... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in!!
After reading this note from my friend I was reminded once again why there are so many problems in the world: it is because of myopic views like this one.
The reason why prayer is not allowed in schools is because if we allowed such activity there would be daily fights as to which God to worship and which religion is right. Muslim, Hindu, Jewish, Christian...which would it be? Of course this note was sent by people who believe there is only true God and that is the Christian God. Just for the record, I am a Presbyterian but embrace all faith as necessary in any path to true enlightenment. As long as you believe in some kind of spirituality, you are on the right track. I am not speaking here of people that pervert any religion as an excuse for violence. I am simply stating that a spiritual person is more well rounded and engaging.
I find it interesting that people like Anne Graham think that people have turned their back on God. I think she should come to my church sometime and ask people that question. Our church has a congregation of 1500 strong and is growing. There are activities in our church every day and every night that our children and anybody else's children can be involved in if they desire. Not just on Sunday. So my question to all of you (and Anne Graham) is does your church offer the same programs? And if so, why do you feel the need to have more religion in schools when you can get plenty at church? The answer is that these people have an agenda and they want to shove it down our throats. They want power and control not salvation, peace, and love. They want to dictate what they perceive as God's will to people.
Funny how the will they want to force on us is all Old Testemant stuff and not anything from the New Testament. The 10 Commandments should be in goverment buildings but how about a picture of Jesus? How about some quotes from Jesus? "Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the Earth. Blessed are the poor and the sick..." In fact, how about we fill up our government buildings with quotes from Jesus, espousing peace, respect for life, and equality for all people. Of course, that is not the God they want people to understand and love.
I think Anne Graham's viewpoint once again sadly illustrates that people like her feel the need to portray themselves as victims when in actuality they are trying to manipulate people in to believing that their way is the Right Way. These people are so stuck in a belief system that encourages ignorance and intolerance that they can't see that the original message of Christ.
And how about religious education starting and ending at home? Our children have several books about the Bible and our daughter always reminds us to pray before every meal. I have recently become fascinated by the life of Christ and how his teachings really apply today. I have also become interested in learning more about what he did between the ages of 12 and 33....an area of history absent from the Bible. So, basically my children and my extended family for that matter have much of these basic values in our lives without getting that at school. Schools have enough things to teach our children like basic reading and writing skills, how to do simple math, and history.
True enough, the Bible says Thou Shall Not Kill and Thou Shall Not Steal and yet we are essentially doing that in Iraq. But that's Ok because we are Americans. By my understanding of the Bible, only God can give life and take life and regardless of whether or not it is in self-defense, it is still a sin. If my family were killed and I killed the murdered in return, which I would want to do of course, I would still sin. And Jesus would weep for all the killing.
I think one should question what the Bible says and what the newspapers say. I am not saying the Bible is wrong or bad but should I really sell my daughter into slavery? Or is that particular part a sign of the times in which the Bible was written? I think being interested, being engaged and learning all sides will make you a survivor in this grey world or ours. In the end it will make you a more complete person who can deal with the complexities that our life offer us every day.
I copied my response to my mother's Minister and this is what he wrote back. It really sums it up perfectly.
Thanks for passing on your comments and remarks responding to the Anne Graham "chain letter" e-mail. I receive a fair share of similar messages each week. What strikes me is that religious "simplicity" is presented as neglected clarity in our fallen world, when in truth, simplistic theological answers (as in the Graham e-mail) only impede grasping spiritual truths. God thrives on the complexity and richness of life and having diverse people of faith asking probing questions about what's most important. If that were not so, why do we have four gospels? Why do we have two testaments of material containing everything from history to poetry to legalistic nitpicking? Why must the God of quantam physics and eternity and rainbows and a thousand human cultures be put in a spiritual Cuisinart and condensed to one, tepid, monochromatic broth? It does neither God nor humanity any justice to oversimplify faith in this way.
AND WE SAID OKAY
This one will make you think In light of the many perversions and jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke, it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking. Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her "How could God let something like this happen?" (regarding the attacks on Sept. 11). Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, "I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?"
In light of recent events...terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found recently) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school . the Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK. Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said OK. Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves. Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with "WE REAP WHAT WE SOW."
Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace. Are you laughing? Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they WILL think of you for sending it. Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us. Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not then just discard it... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in!!
After reading this note from my friend I was reminded once again why there are so many problems in the world: it is because of myopic views like this one.
The reason why prayer is not allowed in schools is because if we allowed such activity there would be daily fights as to which God to worship and which religion is right. Muslim, Hindu, Jewish, Christian...which would it be? Of course this note was sent by people who believe there is only true God and that is the Christian God. Just for the record, I am a Presbyterian but embrace all faith as necessary in any path to true enlightenment. As long as you believe in some kind of spirituality, you are on the right track. I am not speaking here of people that pervert any religion as an excuse for violence. I am simply stating that a spiritual person is more well rounded and engaging.
I find it interesting that people like Anne Graham think that people have turned their back on God. I think she should come to my church sometime and ask people that question. Our church has a congregation of 1500 strong and is growing. There are activities in our church every day and every night that our children and anybody else's children can be involved in if they desire. Not just on Sunday. So my question to all of you (and Anne Graham) is does your church offer the same programs? And if so, why do you feel the need to have more religion in schools when you can get plenty at church? The answer is that these people have an agenda and they want to shove it down our throats. They want power and control not salvation, peace, and love. They want to dictate what they perceive as God's will to people.
Funny how the will they want to force on us is all Old Testemant stuff and not anything from the New Testament. The 10 Commandments should be in goverment buildings but how about a picture of Jesus? How about some quotes from Jesus? "Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the Earth. Blessed are the poor and the sick..." In fact, how about we fill up our government buildings with quotes from Jesus, espousing peace, respect for life, and equality for all people. Of course, that is not the God they want people to understand and love.
I think Anne Graham's viewpoint once again sadly illustrates that people like her feel the need to portray themselves as victims when in actuality they are trying to manipulate people in to believing that their way is the Right Way. These people are so stuck in a belief system that encourages ignorance and intolerance that they can't see that the original message of Christ.
And how about religious education starting and ending at home? Our children have several books about the Bible and our daughter always reminds us to pray before every meal. I have recently become fascinated by the life of Christ and how his teachings really apply today. I have also become interested in learning more about what he did between the ages of 12 and 33....an area of history absent from the Bible. So, basically my children and my extended family for that matter have much of these basic values in our lives without getting that at school. Schools have enough things to teach our children like basic reading and writing skills, how to do simple math, and history.
True enough, the Bible says Thou Shall Not Kill and Thou Shall Not Steal and yet we are essentially doing that in Iraq. But that's Ok because we are Americans. By my understanding of the Bible, only God can give life and take life and regardless of whether or not it is in self-defense, it is still a sin. If my family were killed and I killed the murdered in return, which I would want to do of course, I would still sin. And Jesus would weep for all the killing.
I think one should question what the Bible says and what the newspapers say. I am not saying the Bible is wrong or bad but should I really sell my daughter into slavery? Or is that particular part a sign of the times in which the Bible was written? I think being interested, being engaged and learning all sides will make you a survivor in this grey world or ours. In the end it will make you a more complete person who can deal with the complexities that our life offer us every day.
I copied my response to my mother's Minister and this is what he wrote back. It really sums it up perfectly.
Thanks for passing on your comments and remarks responding to the Anne Graham "chain letter" e-mail. I receive a fair share of similar messages each week. What strikes me is that religious "simplicity" is presented as neglected clarity in our fallen world, when in truth, simplistic theological answers (as in the Graham e-mail) only impede grasping spiritual truths. God thrives on the complexity and richness of life and having diverse people of faith asking probing questions about what's most important. If that were not so, why do we have four gospels? Why do we have two testaments of material containing everything from history to poetry to legalistic nitpicking? Why must the God of quantam physics and eternity and rainbows and a thousand human cultures be put in a spiritual Cuisinart and condensed to one, tepid, monochromatic broth? It does neither God nor humanity any justice to oversimplify faith in this way.
Monday, September 05, 2005
The Invisible Buck
Everyone one who reads this knows how fond I am of one of our former Presidents, Harry S. Truman. I was born in Missouri and always felt a certain kinship with President Truman and in particular the sign he had on his desk which read: The Buck Stops Here.
Every president we have had since then, with the exception of John F Kennedy, has seemed to forgotten that they are the leader of this great land of ours and that they bear the ultimate responsibility for our country's direction or lack thereof. When government policy goes wrong, the president is to blame. When a national crisis occurs, the president is the person who the nation should turn to for leadership.
When the 9-11 attacks occurred our country seemed completly taken by surprise. This was odd, of course, because as recently as one month before the attacks our president was told that terrorists were planning to attack our country using airplanes as missles. After the attacks, it wasn't until days had passed that I felt that George Bush was leading at all. In fact, in the hours after the attack the person who seemed to dive right in to the crisis and work the problem was the mayor of New York, Rudy Guilliani. I guess I felt better knowing that at least someone with some authority was trying to create solutions.
Here we are four years later and a national crisis has occurred, worse than 9-11, and the government response has been abominable. People were literally dying while our government, supposedly preapred for national disasters, did ABSOLUTELY FUCKING NOTHING. And once again, the spin doctors are out blaming FEMA and the Homeland Security Director Michael Chertoff for not responding quickly enough. Or my favorite excuse, that the folks down there were just too stupid and poor to leave their homes. This coming from people that are supposed to have restored morality in our government. Once again, I have to ask, do any of these people actually read the Bible and know what Jesus was all about?
You can point the finger at all the governmental departments you want but in the end I know what my friend Harry would say: the president is the one in charge. And our president's reaction was excatly the same as 9-11 and the Tsunami disaster: indifference followed by paralysis followed by PR spin followed by a call to his daddy and President Clinton to bail him out once again.
I guess PL and Crab will be all over me being a Bush hater with too much bias so I guess my opinion will be invalidated once again but the image of President Bush playing a guitar on vacation (just as he was before 9-11) while people in the city of New Orleans were wondering when help would come absolutley sickened me. It proves all along what I have been saying: Bush doesn't really care about common people or is just so out of touch with reality that it's scary.
I feel once again like I am describing a crime that is painfully obvious what has occurred but will be diluted into PR spin until all is forgotten. The "liberal" media is saying the same thing I am but already the "conservative" media is criticizing them for armchair quarterbacking. Armchair quaterbacking?
Our governement as been warned for years about the dangers of flooding in New Orleans. As recently as 2002 a report was filed detailing EXACTLY what has happened over the last few days. Just as we failed to heed the warnings of 9-11, we have utterly failed to prevent the magnitude of this crisis. And, given the complete ineffectiveness of our current leader, we will fail again to prevent any kind of future disaster or attack on our country. And why?
I only point to the inevitable responses that will come after this post: Bush isn't responsible for this or that or I am too biased etc...in other words, the 60 million dumb fuckers that voted for this man will once again defend his ability to lead.
And once again, because reality is so fucking subjectively out of whack, we will all just accept it until something else happens. Then the debate will start all over again. I am curious how many more American bodies, because we are looking at around 20, 000 in New Orleans, 1700 in Iraq, and 2000 on 9-11, it will take before we all realize how important it is to elect a leader that actually knows what he is doing. This doesn't even include the countless thousands of people from other countries who have lost their lives because of a completly useless leader.
Obviously, acts of nature are not George Bush's fault. But preparedness and protection are his responsibility. Even he admitted this week that they did a poor job. He is going to have to go a lot farther than that. The War in Iraq has long been a distraction from what our real focus should be and that is protecting our own borders against the next terrorist attack. And natural disasters tie in to this sort of emergency management.
What the fuck have we been doing for the last four years, people!!??
Take a look at the City of New Oreleans (a city which I know Crab loves and is now gone forever) and watch what unfolds over the next few days and weeks and you tell me if you think our current administration was being responsible. You tell me if you think they were effective in managing this crisis after they pull body after body out of the water.
Every president we have had since then, with the exception of John F Kennedy, has seemed to forgotten that they are the leader of this great land of ours and that they bear the ultimate responsibility for our country's direction or lack thereof. When government policy goes wrong, the president is to blame. When a national crisis occurs, the president is the person who the nation should turn to for leadership.
When the 9-11 attacks occurred our country seemed completly taken by surprise. This was odd, of course, because as recently as one month before the attacks our president was told that terrorists were planning to attack our country using airplanes as missles. After the attacks, it wasn't until days had passed that I felt that George Bush was leading at all. In fact, in the hours after the attack the person who seemed to dive right in to the crisis and work the problem was the mayor of New York, Rudy Guilliani. I guess I felt better knowing that at least someone with some authority was trying to create solutions.
Here we are four years later and a national crisis has occurred, worse than 9-11, and the government response has been abominable. People were literally dying while our government, supposedly preapred for national disasters, did ABSOLUTELY FUCKING NOTHING. And once again, the spin doctors are out blaming FEMA and the Homeland Security Director Michael Chertoff for not responding quickly enough. Or my favorite excuse, that the folks down there were just too stupid and poor to leave their homes. This coming from people that are supposed to have restored morality in our government. Once again, I have to ask, do any of these people actually read the Bible and know what Jesus was all about?
You can point the finger at all the governmental departments you want but in the end I know what my friend Harry would say: the president is the one in charge. And our president's reaction was excatly the same as 9-11 and the Tsunami disaster: indifference followed by paralysis followed by PR spin followed by a call to his daddy and President Clinton to bail him out once again.
I guess PL and Crab will be all over me being a Bush hater with too much bias so I guess my opinion will be invalidated once again but the image of President Bush playing a guitar on vacation (just as he was before 9-11) while people in the city of New Orleans were wondering when help would come absolutley sickened me. It proves all along what I have been saying: Bush doesn't really care about common people or is just so out of touch with reality that it's scary.
I feel once again like I am describing a crime that is painfully obvious what has occurred but will be diluted into PR spin until all is forgotten. The "liberal" media is saying the same thing I am but already the "conservative" media is criticizing them for armchair quarterbacking. Armchair quaterbacking?
Our governement as been warned for years about the dangers of flooding in New Orleans. As recently as 2002 a report was filed detailing EXACTLY what has happened over the last few days. Just as we failed to heed the warnings of 9-11, we have utterly failed to prevent the magnitude of this crisis. And, given the complete ineffectiveness of our current leader, we will fail again to prevent any kind of future disaster or attack on our country. And why?
I only point to the inevitable responses that will come after this post: Bush isn't responsible for this or that or I am too biased etc...in other words, the 60 million dumb fuckers that voted for this man will once again defend his ability to lead.
And once again, because reality is so fucking subjectively out of whack, we will all just accept it until something else happens. Then the debate will start all over again. I am curious how many more American bodies, because we are looking at around 20, 000 in New Orleans, 1700 in Iraq, and 2000 on 9-11, it will take before we all realize how important it is to elect a leader that actually knows what he is doing. This doesn't even include the countless thousands of people from other countries who have lost their lives because of a completly useless leader.
Obviously, acts of nature are not George Bush's fault. But preparedness and protection are his responsibility. Even he admitted this week that they did a poor job. He is going to have to go a lot farther than that. The War in Iraq has long been a distraction from what our real focus should be and that is protecting our own borders against the next terrorist attack. And natural disasters tie in to this sort of emergency management.
What the fuck have we been doing for the last four years, people!!??
Take a look at the City of New Oreleans (a city which I know Crab loves and is now gone forever) and watch what unfolds over the next few days and weeks and you tell me if you think our current administration was being responsible. You tell me if you think they were effective in managing this crisis after they pull body after body out of the water.
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
The frustration of Hate
I finally figured out what is wrong with me. Apparently, I am a “Bush hater.” After reading the latest posts and some previous ones over again, it is all clear to me now: the only reason why I am questioning our current government and its policies is because I just hate Bush.
When it comes to politics, the person that bears the ultimate responsibility is the President. Being the Harry Truman fan that I am, I believe firmly in the sign that he used to have on this desk. I see some absolutely horrible things that are happening right now as a result of country’s actions or inactions. When I question my friends who support Bush about these things, they accuse me of being a Bush hater and being partisan.
I get frustrated and well, downright angry when someone accuses me of my opinion being biased just because I hate Bush or I hate Republicans. Nothing could be further from the truth. There are many Republicans that I admire and even respect a great deal. There are Democrats that I don’t like at all.
But I guess in this age of simplicity (See: The United States, current population 250 million, attention span of 3 seconds, books+learning=the devil’s work) I have been labeled as a Democrat who is just being partisan and hates Bush. It is a simple answer from simple minded people.
I confront many Bush supporters with pesky questions like why are we not at war with Saudi Arabia when most of the 9-11 hijackers came from there? Why are we letting Europe, a group of countries most Bush supporters loathe, handle the continued defiance of Iran against the international community? Does it have anything to do with the fact that they supply us with oil?
When I ask these questions and back them up with facts I get accused of being “overly educated” and part of the liberal indoctrination machine. I have spent much time thinking about what this means and why this is occurring and I have come to the following conclusions.
We live in a very complex time that has many complex issues. This frightens the hell out of people who yearn for a time that was simpler. (See: NEVER) These yearning people are generally considered conservatives and want simple answers where none are forthcoming. They tend to get angry and frustrated at this hard reality and lash out at non-existant threats. These simple anwers don’t exist anymore and we need a leader who understands these issues and can handle a myriad of complex situations. We do not have that leader now.
I want to be clear about something before I continue. I don’t care what side of the aisle the next leader comes from as long as they can handle these problems in a more efficient way. An example of this would be really trying to understand the root of Islamic radicalism so we could not do a half ass…no wait a quarter ass job….of finding the leadership of Al Qaeda .
Speaking of energy, another issue of great complexity, what we don’t need is an administration who thinks the solution to this is to drill for more oil in Alaska. This is simple, short term answer to very intricate problem. Whenever I try to bring up some of the various fine points involved in improving our country’s energy consumption, my friends on the right once again give me the song and dance about how I just an overeducated liberal who is demeaning them.
It seems like that is the classic knee jerk response these days when I try to present facts that are contrary to the wonderful tale of fiction that is currently being woven right now in our country. What’s that? You don’t like high gas prices and you think that our President and his friends are profiting from this? Do you hate America, Mark, or just freedom in general?
China and India are going to be running our world? Why don’t you go live there then if you don’t like it here? You think our President is too busy making sure that he and his partners are wealthy and powerful to notice that our future is being squandered? Mark….Mark….Mark….that’s just liberal propaganda and don’t bother me with any of those so called facts you are presenting because we all know that you are just a Bush Hater!!
When it comes to politics, the person that bears the ultimate responsibility is the President. Being the Harry Truman fan that I am, I believe firmly in the sign that he used to have on this desk. I see some absolutely horrible things that are happening right now as a result of country’s actions or inactions. When I question my friends who support Bush about these things, they accuse me of being a Bush hater and being partisan.
I get frustrated and well, downright angry when someone accuses me of my opinion being biased just because I hate Bush or I hate Republicans. Nothing could be further from the truth. There are many Republicans that I admire and even respect a great deal. There are Democrats that I don’t like at all.
But I guess in this age of simplicity (See: The United States, current population 250 million, attention span of 3 seconds, books+learning=the devil’s work) I have been labeled as a Democrat who is just being partisan and hates Bush. It is a simple answer from simple minded people.
I confront many Bush supporters with pesky questions like why are we not at war with Saudi Arabia when most of the 9-11 hijackers came from there? Why are we letting Europe, a group of countries most Bush supporters loathe, handle the continued defiance of Iran against the international community? Does it have anything to do with the fact that they supply us with oil?
When I ask these questions and back them up with facts I get accused of being “overly educated” and part of the liberal indoctrination machine. I have spent much time thinking about what this means and why this is occurring and I have come to the following conclusions.
We live in a very complex time that has many complex issues. This frightens the hell out of people who yearn for a time that was simpler. (See: NEVER) These yearning people are generally considered conservatives and want simple answers where none are forthcoming. They tend to get angry and frustrated at this hard reality and lash out at non-existant threats. These simple anwers don’t exist anymore and we need a leader who understands these issues and can handle a myriad of complex situations. We do not have that leader now.
I want to be clear about something before I continue. I don’t care what side of the aisle the next leader comes from as long as they can handle these problems in a more efficient way. An example of this would be really trying to understand the root of Islamic radicalism so we could not do a half ass…no wait a quarter ass job….of finding the leadership of Al Qaeda .
Speaking of energy, another issue of great complexity, what we don’t need is an administration who thinks the solution to this is to drill for more oil in Alaska. This is simple, short term answer to very intricate problem. Whenever I try to bring up some of the various fine points involved in improving our country’s energy consumption, my friends on the right once again give me the song and dance about how I just an overeducated liberal who is demeaning them.
It seems like that is the classic knee jerk response these days when I try to present facts that are contrary to the wonderful tale of fiction that is currently being woven right now in our country. What’s that? You don’t like high gas prices and you think that our President and his friends are profiting from this? Do you hate America, Mark, or just freedom in general?
China and India are going to be running our world? Why don’t you go live there then if you don’t like it here? You think our President is too busy making sure that he and his partners are wealthy and powerful to notice that our future is being squandered? Mark….Mark….Mark….that’s just liberal propaganda and don’t bother me with any of those so called facts you are presenting because we all know that you are just a Bush Hater!!
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
The University of Propaganda and Ignorance
Well, I guess having control over the Executive, Judicial, Legislative Branches and the press isn’t enough. Being the paranoid always-a-victim bunch that they are I guess the Right felt it was high time they started getting their message out in yet another area of our life: the education system.
It seems that conservatives see bias in the school systems in our country and have decided to get their message into the classrooms. We all know that college campuses have seen many a battle go back and forth regarding alternating viewpoints.
But now K-12 is being targeted by the Right…..that’s correct folks….I am not making this up: K-12!!! A recent article in the Christian Science Monitor discusses how they are stopping this liberal indoctrination process.
Currently there are 14 states that have bills under consideration that would allow students to file grievances if they perceive political bias in the classroom. This is an important battle, according to proponents, because younger students are more impressionable. They are concerned about multicultural studies, particularly those that deal with the Muslim faith.
The article goes on to detail how some right thinking students would like to offer an opposing viewpoint when their instructor says that the Iraq War is about empire building and oil. Another student would like to be able to share his web site, which shows beheadings, with his school to prove that the Muslim faith is evil. The article ends with a vision of the future of schools: liberally leaning schools and conservative leaning schools that each teaches their own version of history.
Each time I write one of these I always think I have seen it all. I guess I never will see it all because there is no end in sight to the extreme level of bullshit that the right is heaping on people. It makes the manure scene in the Back to the Future movies look like a sudsy bath. Isn’t a 7 year old supposed to be learning the basics of Math and English? Does s/he really have to hear that Democrats hate America and freedom in general?
They are questioning the WRONG people. They are basically saying that we shouldn’t question our leaders but question the people that are providing us with an education thus removing any sense of intelligence from our culture leaving only autonomatons who blindly listen and never question our government.
Does anyone else out there see where we are heading? Sure the folks on the right will say that they will FINALLY get their say now. But are they really getting their say or just disseminating propaganda? We live in an age now where nothing can be questioned without being accused of being a criminal, a communist, a pedophile, a spy, or an anti-American hater of democracy.
And yet all vestiges of our democracy are being slowly removed from us and no one seems to care. Actually, many of them are cheering for it! I guess when I send my daughter to kindergarten this September I better make sure she is carrying all the appropriate literature with her. You know, the magazines and newspapers that tell say that all is well with US in the world.
It seems that conservatives see bias in the school systems in our country and have decided to get their message into the classrooms. We all know that college campuses have seen many a battle go back and forth regarding alternating viewpoints.
But now K-12 is being targeted by the Right…..that’s correct folks….I am not making this up: K-12!!! A recent article in the Christian Science Monitor discusses how they are stopping this liberal indoctrination process.
Currently there are 14 states that have bills under consideration that would allow students to file grievances if they perceive political bias in the classroom. This is an important battle, according to proponents, because younger students are more impressionable. They are concerned about multicultural studies, particularly those that deal with the Muslim faith.
The article goes on to detail how some right thinking students would like to offer an opposing viewpoint when their instructor says that the Iraq War is about empire building and oil. Another student would like to be able to share his web site, which shows beheadings, with his school to prove that the Muslim faith is evil. The article ends with a vision of the future of schools: liberally leaning schools and conservative leaning schools that each teaches their own version of history.
Each time I write one of these I always think I have seen it all. I guess I never will see it all because there is no end in sight to the extreme level of bullshit that the right is heaping on people. It makes the manure scene in the Back to the Future movies look like a sudsy bath. Isn’t a 7 year old supposed to be learning the basics of Math and English? Does s/he really have to hear that Democrats hate America and freedom in general?
They are questioning the WRONG people. They are basically saying that we shouldn’t question our leaders but question the people that are providing us with an education thus removing any sense of intelligence from our culture leaving only autonomatons who blindly listen and never question our government.
Does anyone else out there see where we are heading? Sure the folks on the right will say that they will FINALLY get their say now. But are they really getting their say or just disseminating propaganda? We live in an age now where nothing can be questioned without being accused of being a criminal, a communist, a pedophile, a spy, or an anti-American hater of democracy.
And yet all vestiges of our democracy are being slowly removed from us and no one seems to care. Actually, many of them are cheering for it! I guess when I send my daughter to kindergarten this September I better make sure she is carrying all the appropriate literature with her. You know, the magazines and newspapers that tell say that all is well with US in the world.
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
G.O.P. R.I.P.
When I was in high school, I used to engage in many rousing and spirited debates with kids who were on the right side of aisle. I remember fondly the lengthy discussions about less government, less taxes, welfare, communism, and the corruption of the Democratic Party. All of the discussions were mostly friendly and seemed to always be held within a realm of sanity. I actually learned quite a bit from them.
For the last few weeks, I have been riding up to my weekly volleyball match with a guy who is very similar to those folks who I debated in high school. “Bob” is a card carrying member of the GOP and has been for 30 years. He has always felt that government could work more efficiently and has cited the Democrats as being the chief cause behind the bureaucracy….something that has been true until the last five years.
The first time we rode together and he told me he was a Republican I cringed. This was going to be a fun carpool! But after our first trip I was surprised to find out that he did not vote for George Bush in 2000 or 2004 and he positively loathes what is happening to our country.
Bob has always believed in less government and he believes, quite accurately, that the current administration has lost sight of this credo. I only have to point to the Terri Schiavo affiair to illustrate how the GOP has wandered off in to a land of lunacy. My pals on the left will have you believe that it is the Jesus freaks fault but I contend that Jesus has nothing to do with these folks are doing. Bob sums it up best.
Our current government is run by oil men. Their number one goal is to make more money in that industry and its related areas. Bob works in the technology sector and is fond of pointing out how the tech crash really occurred right after Bush took office. All of the money came out of tech because investors saw what was on the horizon. Bob has seen many of the advances our country has made be put on hold or reversed because our current government's lust for material wealth and supposed commitment to the culture of life.
Bob also feels that the whole idea of Bush being a man of principle and morality is a crock. They are more or less pretending to be “men of faith” to scam people into voting for them just as carnies scam folks into playing the same rigged game over and over again. They are about as far from Christianity as one can be seeing that they regularly break the 6th and 10th Commandments. They use people’s fear, insecurity, and uncertainty, combined with an excellent PR campaign, to drive them to the polls. With a victory in hand and the blind belief of the people, they are free to do whatever they want.
When I asked him if others of his ilk feel the same he points to past GOP heroes such as Arnie Carlson and Dave Durenberger who have thrown up their hands in disgust at what is happening in Washington right now. I point to Christine Todd Whitman, an excellent candidate for President btw, who is despondent over the turn her party has taken.
Yesterday I got into yet another discussion about how I am not patriotic because I question the war in Iraq. And apparently, because it was Memorial Day, I was not honoring the troops. I was also told that Iraq attacked us on 9/11 and we are just defending ourselves by invading them.
Leaving the sheer idiocy of the last comment aside, I contend that it honors our troops if we NEVER send them into harm’s way unless it is absolutely necessary. Since WWII, this has happened one time and that was Afghanistan, a job which has been left unfinished.
In fact, my friend Bob has an interesting theory about the future of our army. The armed forces are poised for the largest base closings since 1995, which is ironic since I thought that was the GOP’s main gripe about Clinton. Now they are doing the same thing!!
The idea is that our army will be streamlined and specialized. Bob thinks it is because eventually our army will be run by private corporations and left out of the government chain of command. This way the “contractors” you hear about on the news will soon be referred to as soldiers, answerable only to the CEO of whatever company’s interest they are representing. I wonder if we will feel the same amount of patriotism in that future on Memorial Day as we do now.
I thought about all these things yesterday and wondered what happened to the GOP that I used to know and with which I used to politely disagree. Since when I am not patriotic or too partisan because I question something that has nothing to do with either? And as the Bush zombies driveled on yesterday about how I either hate America or freedom in general, my GOP buddy Bob was there too and he just shook his head and smiled at me.
For the last few weeks, I have been riding up to my weekly volleyball match with a guy who is very similar to those folks who I debated in high school. “Bob” is a card carrying member of the GOP and has been for 30 years. He has always felt that government could work more efficiently and has cited the Democrats as being the chief cause behind the bureaucracy….something that has been true until the last five years.
The first time we rode together and he told me he was a Republican I cringed. This was going to be a fun carpool! But after our first trip I was surprised to find out that he did not vote for George Bush in 2000 or 2004 and he positively loathes what is happening to our country.
Bob has always believed in less government and he believes, quite accurately, that the current administration has lost sight of this credo. I only have to point to the Terri Schiavo affiair to illustrate how the GOP has wandered off in to a land of lunacy. My pals on the left will have you believe that it is the Jesus freaks fault but I contend that Jesus has nothing to do with these folks are doing. Bob sums it up best.
Our current government is run by oil men. Their number one goal is to make more money in that industry and its related areas. Bob works in the technology sector and is fond of pointing out how the tech crash really occurred right after Bush took office. All of the money came out of tech because investors saw what was on the horizon. Bob has seen many of the advances our country has made be put on hold or reversed because our current government's lust for material wealth and supposed commitment to the culture of life.
Bob also feels that the whole idea of Bush being a man of principle and morality is a crock. They are more or less pretending to be “men of faith” to scam people into voting for them just as carnies scam folks into playing the same rigged game over and over again. They are about as far from Christianity as one can be seeing that they regularly break the 6th and 10th Commandments. They use people’s fear, insecurity, and uncertainty, combined with an excellent PR campaign, to drive them to the polls. With a victory in hand and the blind belief of the people, they are free to do whatever they want.
When I asked him if others of his ilk feel the same he points to past GOP heroes such as Arnie Carlson and Dave Durenberger who have thrown up their hands in disgust at what is happening in Washington right now. I point to Christine Todd Whitman, an excellent candidate for President btw, who is despondent over the turn her party has taken.
Yesterday I got into yet another discussion about how I am not patriotic because I question the war in Iraq. And apparently, because it was Memorial Day, I was not honoring the troops. I was also told that Iraq attacked us on 9/11 and we are just defending ourselves by invading them.
Leaving the sheer idiocy of the last comment aside, I contend that it honors our troops if we NEVER send them into harm’s way unless it is absolutely necessary. Since WWII, this has happened one time and that was Afghanistan, a job which has been left unfinished.
In fact, my friend Bob has an interesting theory about the future of our army. The armed forces are poised for the largest base closings since 1995, which is ironic since I thought that was the GOP’s main gripe about Clinton. Now they are doing the same thing!!
The idea is that our army will be streamlined and specialized. Bob thinks it is because eventually our army will be run by private corporations and left out of the government chain of command. This way the “contractors” you hear about on the news will soon be referred to as soldiers, answerable only to the CEO of whatever company’s interest they are representing. I wonder if we will feel the same amount of patriotism in that future on Memorial Day as we do now.
I thought about all these things yesterday and wondered what happened to the GOP that I used to know and with which I used to politely disagree. Since when I am not patriotic or too partisan because I question something that has nothing to do with either? And as the Bush zombies driveled on yesterday about how I either hate America or freedom in general, my GOP buddy Bob was there too and he just shook his head and smiled at me.
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
The culture of life?
Lately we have all heard the phrase “the culture of life” come out of our President’s mouth. During the entire Teri Schiavo affair, it was mentioned quite frequently. And we all know that folks on the right are against abortion. Ironically they are all against birth control and the very mention of sexual activities seems to raise the cockles on their skin. (Yes, I used the word cockles on purpose.) If someone could explain this dichotomy to me, I would be eternally grateful.
The phrase “the culture of life” originates from Pope John Paul II actually. It is very interesting that it does come from him because he was an example of a man who actually lived by it. Sure, there are beliefs that John Paul had that I did not agree with but at least he was a principled man who was pro life across the board. He was against abortion, war, the death penalty and even sat down and forgave the man who tried to kill him. I don’t think any of us could do that.
But what really puzzles me is how people in this country believe that George Bush is for the culture of life because he really doesn’t live by it at all. It amazes me that people believe his absolute bullshit when he mouths off about how life is sacred after there are innocent people that have died in Iraq.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I am all for ass kicking when it comes to the part of the world. Clearly there is a threat there and some innocent lives may be lost as a result of us trying to stop another 9/11. But when a war is waged for oil and pals, well…..
What I want to hear in the comments is defending this position. What I do not want to hear is how the Democrats are hypocrites too and the liberals this and blah blah blah….if you voted for Bush, defend his position and explain how he can kill people and still be looked as a moral compass.
Explain to me how he can talk about the culture of life and yet be for the death penalty. After all, doesn’t it say in the Bible that only God can give life and take life? Is there an asterisk after “Thou shall not kill?” I don’t think so.
The phrase “the culture of life” originates from Pope John Paul II actually. It is very interesting that it does come from him because he was an example of a man who actually lived by it. Sure, there are beliefs that John Paul had that I did not agree with but at least he was a principled man who was pro life across the board. He was against abortion, war, the death penalty and even sat down and forgave the man who tried to kill him. I don’t think any of us could do that.
But what really puzzles me is how people in this country believe that George Bush is for the culture of life because he really doesn’t live by it at all. It amazes me that people believe his absolute bullshit when he mouths off about how life is sacred after there are innocent people that have died in Iraq.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I am all for ass kicking when it comes to the part of the world. Clearly there is a threat there and some innocent lives may be lost as a result of us trying to stop another 9/11. But when a war is waged for oil and pals, well…..
What I want to hear in the comments is defending this position. What I do not want to hear is how the Democrats are hypocrites too and the liberals this and blah blah blah….if you voted for Bush, defend his position and explain how he can kill people and still be looked as a moral compass.
Explain to me how he can talk about the culture of life and yet be for the death penalty. After all, doesn’t it say in the Bible that only God can give life and take life? Is there an asterisk after “Thou shall not kill?” I don’t think so.
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
The Moral Needle
This week I was going to write a nice column on how the Republican Party has changed so much over the last 30 years. I was all set to frame it with a story of a friend of mine, who used to be a Republican, and has since switched sides. Maybe I will next week.
But I changed my mind when I woke up this morning and saw two articles in my morning papers that made me physically ill. The first one was in the Minneapolis Star Tribune and it was about pharmacists in our fair state that are refusing to give out birth control pills for “moral reasons.” The second one was about the Kansas State Educational Board mulling the idea of removing evolution theory from school’s curriculum.
The first article made me think of just how far right we have really gone. Last time I checked it was not up to a pharmacist to decide what was right for me or anyone. I give him money and he gives me my drugs. Period. I wonder if he is not giving out the pill to married people or just young women who he knows to be single. How can he tell?
This is the classic conundrum that the religious right perpetuates. They quite simply don’t want people fucking. They feel that it is wrong and no matter what they want us, if we are not married, to stop. They are against abortion and they are against birth control which makes no sense to me whatsoever. It’s completely unrealistic to push a moral code that most of the country is not going follow.
The second article just continues on the same “keep the people dumb so we can scam them” mentality. I want to go on record as saying that I think Darwin’s evolution theory is full of holes. I don’t agree with it. But it should be taught in our schools along with other scientific theories about the origins of life. Do you know where creationism should be taught? IN CHURCH!!! That’s why my family and I go there. Again I will ask, why does the right need to have religion in our public institutions? At my church, you can go everyday if you want. There are all sorts of activities every day and night of the week. Heck, you could spend more time in church than in school if you really wanted.
You know what folks? I would like to live in a country where I don’t see government interference in my life, injecting a moral code into me like a needle, and filling me full of bullshit that they don’t even follow themselves!!
I want to wake up in the United States again where my child can go to school and learn about all science and all studies and decide for herself what she believes. I want my child to go to a Presbyterian church and not be looked upon with derision because she is not an evangelical Christian. Yes, this has happened three times in the last year!!
Dude, where’s my country?
But I changed my mind when I woke up this morning and saw two articles in my morning papers that made me physically ill. The first one was in the Minneapolis Star Tribune and it was about pharmacists in our fair state that are refusing to give out birth control pills for “moral reasons.” The second one was about the Kansas State Educational Board mulling the idea of removing evolution theory from school’s curriculum.
The first article made me think of just how far right we have really gone. Last time I checked it was not up to a pharmacist to decide what was right for me or anyone. I give him money and he gives me my drugs. Period. I wonder if he is not giving out the pill to married people or just young women who he knows to be single. How can he tell?
This is the classic conundrum that the religious right perpetuates. They quite simply don’t want people fucking. They feel that it is wrong and no matter what they want us, if we are not married, to stop. They are against abortion and they are against birth control which makes no sense to me whatsoever. It’s completely unrealistic to push a moral code that most of the country is not going follow.
The second article just continues on the same “keep the people dumb so we can scam them” mentality. I want to go on record as saying that I think Darwin’s evolution theory is full of holes. I don’t agree with it. But it should be taught in our schools along with other scientific theories about the origins of life. Do you know where creationism should be taught? IN CHURCH!!! That’s why my family and I go there. Again I will ask, why does the right need to have religion in our public institutions? At my church, you can go everyday if you want. There are all sorts of activities every day and night of the week. Heck, you could spend more time in church than in school if you really wanted.
You know what folks? I would like to live in a country where I don’t see government interference in my life, injecting a moral code into me like a needle, and filling me full of bullshit that they don’t even follow themselves!!
I want to wake up in the United States again where my child can go to school and learn about all science and all studies and decide for herself what she believes. I want my child to go to a Presbyterian church and not be looked upon with derision because she is not an evangelical Christian. Yes, this has happened three times in the last year!!
Dude, where’s my country?
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
Lovers 4 Ever
Isn’t it special when two people are in love? It’s so wonderful to see that level of commitment to one another. I saw that today when I opened up my copy of the New York Times and saw our President holding hands with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. I know that my heart turns all warm and fuzzy when I see grown men hold hands. For those of you that would like to see the picture in all its glory, go here.
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/04/25/bush.saudi/index.html
Isn’t it great to see two people who care for one another that much?
President Bush, yesterday, welcomed the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia to the “Western White House.” First of all, am I the only one who is offended by the fact that George Bush’s house in Crawf0rd, Texas is now also known as the White House? I’m sorry but this just typifies our country’s mentality now. (I.e. guests of the Jerry Springer show) Hee Haw, folks! We done got ourselves a White House now! Now all that bih-ness of governing can be done white…I mean right.
Anyway, let’s get back to the meeting between our President and the leader of the country where most of the 9/11 Terrorists originated. Apparently, the discussions centered on how the President has been concerned about high oil prices. He wanted to make sure that Prince Abdullah understood that Americans are upset about this and he…..he..uh…..bwaah-ha-ha…..hee hee hee…..
Is any one else having trouble keeping a straight face at this point? Um, Ok, for those of you who don’t know (60 million of you btw), our President and his family are in business with the Saudi Royal Family and they make billions of dollars from oil together. The exact details of this relationship can be read in the book, “House of Bush, House of Saud” by Craig Unger.
Today on CNN, Robert Jordan, former ambassador to Saudi Arabia weighed in on his assessment of the meeting and the rising cost of oil. When asked about the Saudi relationship with the Bush family, Jordan simply smiled and said that it was all discredited by the 9/11 report, a section that I must have missed in my reading of the book. Maybe that part was in invisible ink. Mr. Jordan, incidentally, at one time was the personal attorney for George Bush.
Well, I for one am happy that all is still well in Dream Land, where any sort of behavior can be spun to look grand for the folks governing our fine country. I have a great deal of patriotism when I go to the filling station and get gas that comes from a country that encourages anti-American sentiment in their churches. I know that when I plunk down my 2.25 per gallon (and rising) that it is going towards the physical, mental, and emotional abuse of women all across Saudi Arabia.
I especially feel all tingly inside when I know that my President is best pals with the people from that country. It’s a relationship that has no end in sight from which we all get to benefit by paying out of our noses and living under threat of further terrorism.
Of course, my buddies on the right have a solution. Let’s go drill in Alaska. Great. Yeah, that’s real forward thinking there, Red. After you have finished reading this column (and moving your lips while doing it), why don’t you come up with a solution that doesn’t effectively give the drug addict more heroin?
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/04/25/bush.saudi/index.html
Isn’t it great to see two people who care for one another that much?
President Bush, yesterday, welcomed the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia to the “Western White House.” First of all, am I the only one who is offended by the fact that George Bush’s house in Crawf0rd, Texas is now also known as the White House? I’m sorry but this just typifies our country’s mentality now. (I.e. guests of the Jerry Springer show) Hee Haw, folks! We done got ourselves a White House now! Now all that bih-ness of governing can be done white…I mean right.
Anyway, let’s get back to the meeting between our President and the leader of the country where most of the 9/11 Terrorists originated. Apparently, the discussions centered on how the President has been concerned about high oil prices. He wanted to make sure that Prince Abdullah understood that Americans are upset about this and he…..he..uh…..bwaah-ha-ha…..hee hee hee…..
Is any one else having trouble keeping a straight face at this point? Um, Ok, for those of you who don’t know (60 million of you btw), our President and his family are in business with the Saudi Royal Family and they make billions of dollars from oil together. The exact details of this relationship can be read in the book, “House of Bush, House of Saud” by Craig Unger.
Today on CNN, Robert Jordan, former ambassador to Saudi Arabia weighed in on his assessment of the meeting and the rising cost of oil. When asked about the Saudi relationship with the Bush family, Jordan simply smiled and said that it was all discredited by the 9/11 report, a section that I must have missed in my reading of the book. Maybe that part was in invisible ink. Mr. Jordan, incidentally, at one time was the personal attorney for George Bush.
Well, I for one am happy that all is still well in Dream Land, where any sort of behavior can be spun to look grand for the folks governing our fine country. I have a great deal of patriotism when I go to the filling station and get gas that comes from a country that encourages anti-American sentiment in their churches. I know that when I plunk down my 2.25 per gallon (and rising) that it is going towards the physical, mental, and emotional abuse of women all across Saudi Arabia.
I especially feel all tingly inside when I know that my President is best pals with the people from that country. It’s a relationship that has no end in sight from which we all get to benefit by paying out of our noses and living under threat of further terrorism.
Of course, my buddies on the right have a solution. Let’s go drill in Alaska. Great. Yeah, that’s real forward thinking there, Red. After you have finished reading this column (and moving your lips while doing it), why don’t you come up with a solution that doesn’t effectively give the drug addict more heroin?
Thursday, April 21, 2005
The Reverend Bill Frist
Last Sunday. I got up in the morning, put on my suit and went to the early church service at Faith Presbyterian Church. While I was there, I noticed several quiet and peaceful people worshipping the Lord and enjoying a fine spring day. Funny, though, I did NOT notice throngs of “liberal, communist pedophiles” trying to prevent me or anyone else going to church. I also did not see any activist judges telling me that I could not go to church or worship Jesus. This Sunday I plan on going back to church for another enjoyable service.
This Sunday Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist will join a handful of prominent Christian conservatives in a telecast portraying Democrats as "against people of faith" for blocking President Bush's nominees. According to news reports, the telecast, put on by the Family Research Council will have many speakers charging that there is a Judicial War on Faith being waged.
"As the liberal, anti-Christian dogma of the left has been repudiated in almost every recent election, the courts have become the last great bastion for liberalism," Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council and organizer of the telecast, wrote in a message on the group's Web site. "For years activist courts, aided by liberal interest groups like the A.C.L.U., have been quietly working under the veil of the judiciary, like thieves in the night, to rob us of our Christian heritage and our religious freedoms."
I am trying to get my head around this statement as I think it is very reflective of the absolute garbage that is coming out of our government these days. Its called fear based management, folks and it just isn’t close to reality. Here are some talking points…
First of all, our founding fathers fled Europe to ESCAPE religious prosecution. The very thing that Frist is proposing is the exact opposite of what our government should be based upon. And while we are on the subject of our Founding Fathers, let’s remember that their descendants live in the Northeast and are the very “elite, liberal scum” that are supposedly ruining our country. They are the ones that voted for Kerry while the South are once again mucking things up for everyone with their bizarre psychosis.
Second, no one is being blocked from worshipping whatever God they choose based on some decisions made by judges. People are still going to church, worshipping, and having fun WITHIN THEIR CHURCH. Why is there such a need to go beyond that and into public life? Is the Church not enough for these people anymore?
Third, why is the right still angry and yelling about everything? They won. They are running this country. So, now they want to change the law so they can run the one area of the country that is supposed to be outside of governmental control? It just proves my point that the right will never, ever be happy and constantly have to invent new enemies and devils to perpetuate their control over people.
What really strikes me the most about this is how many of my conservative family members and friends have told me that because I am Democrat I cannot be a Christian. I find this perplexing and would like some help on this one. Equally perplexing is that when I pray and talk to God, generally he/she doesn’t talk back to me and tell me what is right or wrong. He/She might give me a sign to help me with my particular problem but never once have I heard the Almighty say, “Go forth and stop judges from ruining this great land of ours.”
I can’t help but think that when this Sundays telecast wraps that the people watching and participating in all the fear and anger will have completely missed the true message of Jesus. This reminds me of a quote from a book I recently read by Maraget Starbird called The Woman with the Alabaster Jar. “The Jesus described in the Gospels is an anti-establishment hero, and incarnation of the spirit of wisdom, gentle and compassionate toward the poor and a champion of justice. It is this Jesus who is the role model for the life of any true Christian.”
Hmm. Sounds pretty good to me.
This Sunday Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist will join a handful of prominent Christian conservatives in a telecast portraying Democrats as "against people of faith" for blocking President Bush's nominees. According to news reports, the telecast, put on by the Family Research Council will have many speakers charging that there is a Judicial War on Faith being waged.
"As the liberal, anti-Christian dogma of the left has been repudiated in almost every recent election, the courts have become the last great bastion for liberalism," Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council and organizer of the telecast, wrote in a message on the group's Web site. "For years activist courts, aided by liberal interest groups like the A.C.L.U., have been quietly working under the veil of the judiciary, like thieves in the night, to rob us of our Christian heritage and our religious freedoms."
I am trying to get my head around this statement as I think it is very reflective of the absolute garbage that is coming out of our government these days. Its called fear based management, folks and it just isn’t close to reality. Here are some talking points…
First of all, our founding fathers fled Europe to ESCAPE religious prosecution. The very thing that Frist is proposing is the exact opposite of what our government should be based upon. And while we are on the subject of our Founding Fathers, let’s remember that their descendants live in the Northeast and are the very “elite, liberal scum” that are supposedly ruining our country. They are the ones that voted for Kerry while the South are once again mucking things up for everyone with their bizarre psychosis.
Second, no one is being blocked from worshipping whatever God they choose based on some decisions made by judges. People are still going to church, worshipping, and having fun WITHIN THEIR CHURCH. Why is there such a need to go beyond that and into public life? Is the Church not enough for these people anymore?
Third, why is the right still angry and yelling about everything? They won. They are running this country. So, now they want to change the law so they can run the one area of the country that is supposed to be outside of governmental control? It just proves my point that the right will never, ever be happy and constantly have to invent new enemies and devils to perpetuate their control over people.
What really strikes me the most about this is how many of my conservative family members and friends have told me that because I am Democrat I cannot be a Christian. I find this perplexing and would like some help on this one. Equally perplexing is that when I pray and talk to God, generally he/she doesn’t talk back to me and tell me what is right or wrong. He/She might give me a sign to help me with my particular problem but never once have I heard the Almighty say, “Go forth and stop judges from ruining this great land of ours.”
I can’t help but think that when this Sundays telecast wraps that the people watching and participating in all the fear and anger will have completely missed the true message of Jesus. This reminds me of a quote from a book I recently read by Maraget Starbird called The Woman with the Alabaster Jar. “The Jesus described in the Gospels is an anti-establishment hero, and incarnation of the spirit of wisdom, gentle and compassionate toward the poor and a champion of justice. It is this Jesus who is the role model for the life of any true Christian.”
Hmm. Sounds pretty good to me.
Thursday, April 14, 2005
Five Ways Democrats Can Grow Balls
I have spent much of the time when I rant on here criticizing the right. I think it is high time we took a hard look at how the once proud and strong Democratic Party became weak and pathetic.
In a recent interview, Gore Vidal said the Democrats biggest problem is that they want to be the party who doesn’t hurt anyone’s feelings. They want to be nice, happy and politically correct. This reminds me of a movie called “Stripes.” I have always enjoyed the montage of magazine covers at the end of the film which clue in the viewer as to the destiny of each character. Russell Zisky, played by Harold Ramis, ended up on the cover of Urban Warfare Magazine with the byline, Zisky Rates the Russians: “They’re Pussies!”
Well, ol’ Markie here is rating the Democrats and I pretty much feel the same way. So this time around I thought I would give five action items to Howard Dean, the new Chairman of the DNC, on how to return to glory. Here they are:
1. Iraq. Most people in this country are against this war. Most people, and they are right, think that the goal of this war was to pad the pockets of big business. When the midterm elections roll around, I suggest the Democrats show images of all the people we have killed over there. Let’s start with the women and children and let’s see some real gore. I don’t want to see the pantywaist bullshit they show on the news or the 3-5 second shots Michael Moore showed in Fahrenheit 911. Let’s see some dead children. And then let’s see some executives from Haliburton golfing. The American people are coddled every day with their video games and lazy boy sofas. Most folks aren’t use to seeing that kind of horror up close and they need to see it. This war is a complete waste of resources and an insult to the men and women that serve our country in the armed forces. And while we are on the subject of war….
2. Where the hell is Osama Bin Laden? You remember, him, right? He is the guy responsible for killing 3000 people on our soil in the worst attack in our country’s history. And how about Zawahari? What is going with Al Qaeda and am I the only one left who wants to find these people and kick their ass ten different ways from Cleveland? The Democrats could start getting out into the media and saying this stuff so when the next attack comes (and it will) they can be on record questioning Bush on what he has been doing. I think Bush would be pretty hard pressed to get ANOTHER free pass if there was another major attack and he was busy counting his oil money.
3. How about some tough talk on the real nutters of the world? Folks, let’s face it. Saddam Hussein looked like Jerry Garcia after a bender when they pulled him out his hole. He was no threat to anyone. Iran and North Korea, however, ARE a threat and actually have WMDs. And aren’t we, at this very moment, doing the one thing that right wingers accuse the left of doing? Negotiating? The Dems should be all over this like white on rice. We are letting Europe handle the negotiations with Iran? Huh? And China handle North Korea? What is going on here? Shouldn’t the United States handle negotiations with the second and third dangers (the first being Al Qaeda) to our National security? The Dems used to be the party of great presidents (FDR, Truman, JFK) standing tall in the face of evil. Time to start doing that again, folks!
4. I recently watched the movie Hotel Rwanda and I hate to be the one to break this to the Democrats but people of all nationalities, races, and religions are evil. White people are not the only ones responsible for the world’s ills and they need to stop giving free passes out and/or feeling sorry for people based on the color of their skin. The Democrats could go a long way with Middle America if they judged people based on their actions alone.
5. Domestically speaking, the Democrats need to be the party of Health Care for everyone. If there is one thing, in addition to video games, that Americans love, it's money. Blaming lawyers and mal practice suits for the rising cost of health care is very one dimensional and myopic. The problem is that the industry as a whole is very greedy and needs to be stopped. The words health and money should not be uttered in the same sentence. I am not saying that I have an overall solution but it seems to me that the Democrats should stick a bunch of smart people in a room somewhere and come up with a solution that makes Joe America not have to pay through the arse when he goes to the doctor and gets his pain medications.
Well, Howard, these are my suggestions. The ball is in your court. It’s time to make like Andre and hit a cross court forehand with some wang on it and bury them!
In a recent interview, Gore Vidal said the Democrats biggest problem is that they want to be the party who doesn’t hurt anyone’s feelings. They want to be nice, happy and politically correct. This reminds me of a movie called “Stripes.” I have always enjoyed the montage of magazine covers at the end of the film which clue in the viewer as to the destiny of each character. Russell Zisky, played by Harold Ramis, ended up on the cover of Urban Warfare Magazine with the byline, Zisky Rates the Russians: “They’re Pussies!”
Well, ol’ Markie here is rating the Democrats and I pretty much feel the same way. So this time around I thought I would give five action items to Howard Dean, the new Chairman of the DNC, on how to return to glory. Here they are:
1. Iraq. Most people in this country are against this war. Most people, and they are right, think that the goal of this war was to pad the pockets of big business. When the midterm elections roll around, I suggest the Democrats show images of all the people we have killed over there. Let’s start with the women and children and let’s see some real gore. I don’t want to see the pantywaist bullshit they show on the news or the 3-5 second shots Michael Moore showed in Fahrenheit 911. Let’s see some dead children. And then let’s see some executives from Haliburton golfing. The American people are coddled every day with their video games and lazy boy sofas. Most folks aren’t use to seeing that kind of horror up close and they need to see it. This war is a complete waste of resources and an insult to the men and women that serve our country in the armed forces. And while we are on the subject of war….
2. Where the hell is Osama Bin Laden? You remember, him, right? He is the guy responsible for killing 3000 people on our soil in the worst attack in our country’s history. And how about Zawahari? What is going with Al Qaeda and am I the only one left who wants to find these people and kick their ass ten different ways from Cleveland? The Democrats could start getting out into the media and saying this stuff so when the next attack comes (and it will) they can be on record questioning Bush on what he has been doing. I think Bush would be pretty hard pressed to get ANOTHER free pass if there was another major attack and he was busy counting his oil money.
3. How about some tough talk on the real nutters of the world? Folks, let’s face it. Saddam Hussein looked like Jerry Garcia after a bender when they pulled him out his hole. He was no threat to anyone. Iran and North Korea, however, ARE a threat and actually have WMDs. And aren’t we, at this very moment, doing the one thing that right wingers accuse the left of doing? Negotiating? The Dems should be all over this like white on rice. We are letting Europe handle the negotiations with Iran? Huh? And China handle North Korea? What is going on here? Shouldn’t the United States handle negotiations with the second and third dangers (the first being Al Qaeda) to our National security? The Dems used to be the party of great presidents (FDR, Truman, JFK) standing tall in the face of evil. Time to start doing that again, folks!
4. I recently watched the movie Hotel Rwanda and I hate to be the one to break this to the Democrats but people of all nationalities, races, and religions are evil. White people are not the only ones responsible for the world’s ills and they need to stop giving free passes out and/or feeling sorry for people based on the color of their skin. The Democrats could go a long way with Middle America if they judged people based on their actions alone.
5. Domestically speaking, the Democrats need to be the party of Health Care for everyone. If there is one thing, in addition to video games, that Americans love, it's money. Blaming lawyers and mal practice suits for the rising cost of health care is very one dimensional and myopic. The problem is that the industry as a whole is very greedy and needs to be stopped. The words health and money should not be uttered in the same sentence. I am not saying that I have an overall solution but it seems to me that the Democrats should stick a bunch of smart people in a room somewhere and come up with a solution that makes Joe America not have to pay through the arse when he goes to the doctor and gets his pain medications.
Well, Howard, these are my suggestions. The ball is in your court. It’s time to make like Andre and hit a cross court forehand with some wang on it and bury them!
Friday, April 08, 2005
Oh Those Wacky Judges
Well, I think it’s high time I weighed in on one of the right’s favorite boogeyman of late: the evil, activist judge. Yes, that’s right folks. We all know how rotten our judges are….following the letter of the law and all. And we know that they’s a comin’ to git us!! You know the type. They actually (gasp) believe in separation of church and state and a little word called individual freedom. Remember freedom?
Tom DeLay, House Majority Leader, held a news conference yesterday entitled the Judicial War On Faith. In his news conference he called for Congress to impeach judges because they are “ignoring the legitimate will of the people” when it comes to such issues as abortion and school prayer. He also faults judges in Florida for the whole Terry Schiavo travesty.
Perhaps I am a bit confused here but isn’t Roe V Wade the law of the land? And here is a question I have never been able to understand: why does my child have to pray at school when she prays at church? School is for education of the mind. Church is for education of the soul. It is vital that the two stay separate. Too many people have a wide variety of religious beliefs. If you allowed school prayer, by the end of the day you will have worshipped in 80 different religions and not learned that 5 x 2 = 10.
Sorry, Tommy, but the way I see it you are just trying to distract folks once again from your own financial wrongdoings. Trying to appear as if you are on the moral high ground when in reality you are actually stealing money (see: Commandments, Ten, number 7.), is not going to work, bud.
The way I see it is that you have two types of judges: elected and appointed. If you don’t like the elected ones, too bad. Vote against them in the next election. If you don’t like the appointed ones, blame Congress and vote against them in the next election. They are the ones who confirm judges.
I think it is hilarious that the right is griping about judges. Most folks, if they met an actual federal judge, would probably be so intimidated by how intelligent and thoughtful these people are, they would need to change their shorts. Federal judges know the law backwards and forwards. These are not people who look like Rob Zombie and are handing out gay porn indoctrination videos. These are people who have studied for years (that’s reading books, folks) and make decisions based on precedent.
I am not gay. I have no interest myself in gay marriage. But why do I care whether or not other people do? I am not an evangelical Christian. I have no interest in becoming one. If other people want to, that’s fine by me. It’s called freedom, folks, to live your life the way you see fit as long as you don’t harm anyone. How does gay people getting married harm anyone? It might offend people but, hey, I get offended by people who move their mouths when they read. There isn’t anything I can do about that.
Evangelicals like Tom DeLay need to wake up and realize that not everyone is going to want to live their lives like he (supposedly) does. Since when do the “less-government” Republicans care so much about what I do with my life?
Funny, if I started a ban for gay marriage and then one for evangelism, which one do you think I would get the most death threats from? Ironic, huh?
Tom DeLay, House Majority Leader, held a news conference yesterday entitled the Judicial War On Faith. In his news conference he called for Congress to impeach judges because they are “ignoring the legitimate will of the people” when it comes to such issues as abortion and school prayer. He also faults judges in Florida for the whole Terry Schiavo travesty.
Perhaps I am a bit confused here but isn’t Roe V Wade the law of the land? And here is a question I have never been able to understand: why does my child have to pray at school when she prays at church? School is for education of the mind. Church is for education of the soul. It is vital that the two stay separate. Too many people have a wide variety of religious beliefs. If you allowed school prayer, by the end of the day you will have worshipped in 80 different religions and not learned that 5 x 2 = 10.
Sorry, Tommy, but the way I see it you are just trying to distract folks once again from your own financial wrongdoings. Trying to appear as if you are on the moral high ground when in reality you are actually stealing money (see: Commandments, Ten, number 7.), is not going to work, bud.
The way I see it is that you have two types of judges: elected and appointed. If you don’t like the elected ones, too bad. Vote against them in the next election. If you don’t like the appointed ones, blame Congress and vote against them in the next election. They are the ones who confirm judges.
I think it is hilarious that the right is griping about judges. Most folks, if they met an actual federal judge, would probably be so intimidated by how intelligent and thoughtful these people are, they would need to change their shorts. Federal judges know the law backwards and forwards. These are not people who look like Rob Zombie and are handing out gay porn indoctrination videos. These are people who have studied for years (that’s reading books, folks) and make decisions based on precedent.
I am not gay. I have no interest myself in gay marriage. But why do I care whether or not other people do? I am not an evangelical Christian. I have no interest in becoming one. If other people want to, that’s fine by me. It’s called freedom, folks, to live your life the way you see fit as long as you don’t harm anyone. How does gay people getting married harm anyone? It might offend people but, hey, I get offended by people who move their mouths when they read. There isn’t anything I can do about that.
Evangelicals like Tom DeLay need to wake up and realize that not everyone is going to want to live their lives like he (supposedly) does. Since when do the “less-government” Republicans care so much about what I do with my life?
Funny, if I started a ban for gay marriage and then one for evangelism, which one do you think I would get the most death threats from? Ironic, huh?
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
NOTES FROM THE FRONT: PUNK'D EDITION
Welcome to the Notes From the Front Blog Volume One. This is the new locale for my Notes rants and I will no longer be clogging up your email with my views on life, liberty, and fun the USA. Check in from time to time and see what's on my mind.....mainly it's the gentle swish of a women's hips....but occastionaly I talk about socio-political issues and the direction, or lack thereof, that our country is heading.
It's high time I wrote one of these again. Too much has happened in the last few months for me to be silent. After sitting around and stewing about it, I have decided that the United States is one giant reality show with W as the perfect star. The show is an offshoot of MTV Punk'd....or maybe DC Punk'd !! And who may you ask is being punk'd? Well, it's those people who voted for Bush thinking he represents their interests.
Essentially what has happened is that our current government has become like
one giant PR firm....spinning any kind of event ANY way they want to. Only in
our current state of fear could we elect a man who essentially skipped out on his
military service to his country and yet still call him strong and brave. And NOT elect
man who did serve his country with distinction and honor while calling him a coward
and glory seeker.
I am convinced now more than ever that Bush and pals could spin anything anyway
they wanted to. I am waiting for the day when someone in the White House
murders someone and everyone from Laura to Rush will hop on the radio and say,
"Well, he deserved it." Mark my words: IT WILL HAPPEN.
Too often I have heard people say that it is the "liberals" who are out to ruin this country. They are the ones who feel and don't think. They complicate issues and make things worse for everyone. Actually, the exact opposite is true. Let's first take a look at what the word "liberal" means.According to Webster's Dictionary, 2005 Online edition, the word liberal means:
1.. Not limited to or by established, traditional, orthodox, orauthoritarian attitudes, views, or dogmas; free from bigotry. 2.. Favoring proposals for reform, open to new ideas for progress, andtolerant of the ideas and behavior of others; broad-minded. 3.. Tending to give freely; generous
Wow. That doesn't sound all that bad to me. Free from bigotry? Open to new ideas? Isn't this exactly what America is supposed to be about?
When are we going to have a real leader again like FDR, Truman, Kennedy or even
Reagan? These were strong, intelligent people who were respected throughout the world.
Now, we have no respect at all in the rest of the world. And quite frankly, it's embarassing.
But the right will have you believe that it is the fault of the Europeans...especially the French...and the fear and loathing machine gets cranked up all over again while we completely ignore our own responsibilty.
And the left, what's their deal? Grow some balls for crying out loud! And speaking of balls.... Message to Howard Dean: find someone who has the nuts NOT to pucker up and kiss the ass of the religous right. They have essentially hijacked a decent, albeit somehwhat misguided, political party. I would like to see both parties put candidates who are intelligent, strong, wise, educated, and thoughtful leaders who will keep their religious and spiritual beliefs to themselves. I consider myself to be a deeply spiritual man and I believe that my beliefs have no place whatsoever in the United States government.
Folks, really, do you think that things are going well? Seriously, I'd like to hear from you...
solidbond@mn.rr.com
It's high time I wrote one of these again. Too much has happened in the last few months for me to be silent. After sitting around and stewing about it, I have decided that the United States is one giant reality show with W as the perfect star. The show is an offshoot of MTV Punk'd....or maybe DC Punk'd !! And who may you ask is being punk'd? Well, it's those people who voted for Bush thinking he represents their interests.
Essentially what has happened is that our current government has become like
one giant PR firm....spinning any kind of event ANY way they want to. Only in
our current state of fear could we elect a man who essentially skipped out on his
military service to his country and yet still call him strong and brave. And NOT elect
man who did serve his country with distinction and honor while calling him a coward
and glory seeker.
I am convinced now more than ever that Bush and pals could spin anything anyway
they wanted to. I am waiting for the day when someone in the White House
murders someone and everyone from Laura to Rush will hop on the radio and say,
"Well, he deserved it." Mark my words: IT WILL HAPPEN.
Too often I have heard people say that it is the "liberals" who are out to ruin this country. They are the ones who feel and don't think. They complicate issues and make things worse for everyone. Actually, the exact opposite is true. Let's first take a look at what the word "liberal" means.According to Webster's Dictionary, 2005 Online edition, the word liberal means:
1.. Not limited to or by established, traditional, orthodox, orauthoritarian attitudes, views, or dogmas; free from bigotry. 2.. Favoring proposals for reform, open to new ideas for progress, andtolerant of the ideas and behavior of others; broad-minded. 3.. Tending to give freely; generous
Wow. That doesn't sound all that bad to me. Free from bigotry? Open to new ideas? Isn't this exactly what America is supposed to be about?
When are we going to have a real leader again like FDR, Truman, Kennedy or even
Reagan? These were strong, intelligent people who were respected throughout the world.
Now, we have no respect at all in the rest of the world. And quite frankly, it's embarassing.
But the right will have you believe that it is the fault of the Europeans...especially the French...and the fear and loathing machine gets cranked up all over again while we completely ignore our own responsibilty.
And the left, what's their deal? Grow some balls for crying out loud! And speaking of balls.... Message to Howard Dean: find someone who has the nuts NOT to pucker up and kiss the ass of the religous right. They have essentially hijacked a decent, albeit somehwhat misguided, political party. I would like to see both parties put candidates who are intelligent, strong, wise, educated, and thoughtful leaders who will keep their religious and spiritual beliefs to themselves. I consider myself to be a deeply spiritual man and I believe that my beliefs have no place whatsoever in the United States government.
Folks, really, do you think that things are going well? Seriously, I'd like to hear from you...
solidbond@mn.rr.com
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