Seems I see sneering faces mocking all things gentle, kind, and tolerant too often today. Have the evangelinuts gone so far off into the land of hate they’re unable to see themselves as they appear to everyone else? I’ve understood for quite awhile their belief that God is a Christian only and all other people who may practice religion differently don’t (according to evangelinuts) involve God. I don’t any longer expect them to respect any other religious beliefs. But how did they get to the point of believing God could share all their prejudices? Has belittling people become so easy that they’re now able to just as easily belittle God?
I saw something the other day on Crooks and Liars about the so called war on Christmas. It said something about “Put the Christ back in Christmas? How about putting Christ back in Christianity.?”
It’s a sad time for me. A friend died a few days ago and her funeral is this afternoon. I will miss her so much and I hurt so badly for her lifelong companion who never got to be (legally) her wife. She will be remembered by so many because she shared joy, laughter, life, love — all the things that made her so special — with her friends. I get to keep all those memories and they’ll soften this difficult time … eventually.
Oh Fnord, I’m so sorry for your loss and the loss of your friend’s would be spouse. Every day hate, written into the Kansas Constitution, keeps love from speaking its name is a day of love lost.
But, during this time of loss, politics is the least of anyone’s worries. I hope your mourning can turn to joy in celebrating the life of a good woman and the good woman she loved.
They were lucky to have a friend in you. I heard in a seminar that the only way we really live on after death is in the speaking of other people. Speak of her often and she will remain alive in those memories you cherish.
On a happier note, I was so busy yesterday I forgot to blog about my favorite holiday of the season, Zappadan.
December 4 marks the anniversary of Frank Zappa‘s death, and the beginning of the Festival of Zappadan. Zappadan ends on Frank Zappa’s birthday, December 21st.
From Wiki:
The first (or 17th) day of Zappadan was originally known as Enttäuschung Nacht – German for ‘bummer night’ – but over the years it has been Americanized to the much simpler BummerNacht. This being the anniversary of Mister Zappa’s death, the original meaning is rather obvious, and we shall not delve further into it here.
Far from being a day of mourning, however, it is a day of great joy, for Zapptists know that a mere seventeen days later, on December 21st (Zero Day), Frank Zappa was born.
Traditionally, children are not allowed to participate in the celebration of BummerNacht, although teenagers are winked at if they decide to ‘run down to the library and not return until some ungodly hour of the night’. Celebrants are often seen cavorting to the exotic sound of the Mystery Horn while gorging on burnt weenie sandwiches and guzzling white port and lemon juice.”
During Zappadan, we are told to Expect Miracles, read one Zappa quote a day, and listen to Zappa music every day.
Here is my contribution for last night’s Bummer Nacht quotation.
“I’ll give you a simple formula for straightening out the problems of the United States. First, you tax the churches. You take the tax off of capital gains and the tax off of savings. You decriminalize all drugs and tax them same way as you do alcohol. You decriminalize prostitution. You make gambling legal. That will put the budget back on the road to recovery, and you’ll have plenty of tax revenue coming in for all of your social programs, and to run the army.”
Frank Zappa (1940 – 1993), Interview with this submitter, New York City, 5/08/1980
And here is my contribution for today’s Zappa quote.
“My best advice to anyone who wants to raise a happy, mentally healthy child is: Keep him or her as far away from a church as you can.”
Just goes to show that hate-filled, intolerant people can be found among any ‘label’ used to separate or group people. Bet you would find some who have brown eyes, or blonde hair, some tall… among each ‘labeled group’ too. Fred Phelps may or may not be a lot of things, but he seems to be filled with hate and intolerance. Or at least that’s what makes the news.
Then there is the idiot Rush who it seems to me tries really hard to live up to his reputation for being a low-life who spreads hate and gets paid well to do just that.
Indy, the comments attributed to Donna Quinn reminded me that you’ve always said you would be impressed once the Pope puts action behind his words.
(from the link):
In late November, when Pope Francis promised to remake the Catholic Church as a decentralized institution that would agitate against the economic injustices of capitalism, Rush Limbaugh was quick with an explanation: “Somebody has either written this for him or gotten to him.”
Limbaugh’s remarks—in which he also assailed the Pope’s agenda as being “pure Marxism”—have drawn the ire of many Catholics, and one group, Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good, is already calling for the radio host to apologize.
On Wednesday, Donna Quinn, who coordinates the National Coalition of American Nuns, a liberal activist group of several thousand nuns, joined the Catholics denouncing Limbaugh’s comments.
“Men and women who are educated and those who have street smarts see right thorough those kind of statements,” she says. (Quinn, who is well-known for her support of gay marriage and reproductive rights, notes that she is a big supporter of Sandra Fluke, the women’s rights activist who gained national notoriety when Limbaugh called her a “slut” and “prostitute” on his program.)
Quinn adds that although she does not count herself among those “smitten” with Pope Francis—”enough of the words,” she says, “we want to see some action”—she is troubled by Limbaugh’s callousness toward the people about whom Pope Francis was speaking. “In these dire times…those are the people that it would behoove Rush to take a look at. To see what’s best, not for his program or for his rowdy statements, but rather for the people of God.”
fnord – I appreciate you remembering me when reading the words of others.
And , it makes me feel good to know there are others just like me when it comes to hearing enough of the ‘purty words’. – let’s see some action…..
Do I hope Pope Francis can make a real difference – Oh HELL Yes….
Do I expect Pope Francis to make a real difference – the jury is out on that one..
BTW – Rush Limbaugh is only doing what will bring him the most money and fame – selling the smuttiest, low-life garbage of intolerance and hate possible….
I’ve always said the American people are such hypocrits – we always talk about how we promote families, promote peace, promote democracy, promote equality and justice for all….
But do we really? Oh HELL NO…..Americans say all the ‘purty words’ – but then live their lives in such a way the Devil himself has to bow to their debauchery..
If you’ve listened to Palin spreading her hate you know she recently compared the national debt to slavery and went on to clarify her ignorance in subsequent interviews. Enter Martin Bashir. The link below accurately repeats exactly what both Palin and Bashir said. Lots of rumors and exaggerations going around, so here are the facts —
Be aware. It’s not just gerrymandering, it’s not just laws to restrict who votes. Republicans can’t win fairly, so there are no standards or bars they’re not willing to lower in their attempts to win. Here’s what’s happening again in Oregon:
I vote in Oregon. In 2014, for the third time, a Republican (State Chairman Art Robinson, no less) is switching parties in order to run against long time Democratic incumbent, Peter DeFazio, in a House of Representatives race. The strategy: at the least, burn up campaign funds before the runoff election; and at the most, have two Republican candidates on the final ballot. Legal? Yes. Ethical? No (IMHO). I am curious – does this kind of gaming-the-system matter to you? Is it happening in your neck of the woods?
Is it happening here? I know Jean Schodorf is running as a Dem, but she pretty much kicked the Reps out of her political life. At least as far as I know.
I think Jean’s candidacy is legit. She would be one of those moderate republicans the party left behind. I’ve known her since her days on the local school board and she’s a good woman and has always been a good public servant. I think she was a republican like me back in my days of being a member of the party that really did at one time put the Grand in the GOP. Way back before they decided to make social issues that shouldn’t ever be the business of any level of government their business, way back when they did have a bit of economic sense.
Thank you, fnord, that’s exactly what I thought. I don’t keep track of individual small races, only our county. They could be crowing people as County Kings for all I know.
Let’s not forget that while Nelson Mandela was running the ANC, Ronald Reagan’s State Department put them on the terrorist watch list, and Reagan vetoed anti-apartheid sanctions against South Africa. Moral of the story: when the revolutionaries are rich white slave owners in Virginia, they’re brave patriots fighting for liberty. When they’re poor black people in Johannesburg, they’re terrorists.
PrairiePopulistsAndProgressives.net 
Seems I see sneering faces mocking all things gentle, kind, and tolerant too often today. Have the evangelinuts gone so far off into the land of hate they’re unable to see themselves as they appear to everyone else? I’ve understood for quite awhile their belief that God is a Christian only and all other people who may practice religion differently don’t (according to evangelinuts) involve God. I don’t any longer expect them to respect any other religious beliefs. But how did they get to the point of believing God could share all their prejudices? Has belittling people become so easy that they’re now able to just as easily belittle God?
I saw something the other day on Crooks and Liars about the so called war on Christmas. It said something about “Put the Christ back in Christmas? How about putting Christ back in Christianity.?”
heheheh
I like
It does make one wonder exactly who (what?) it is they’re following.
I like it, too!
It’s a sad time for me. A friend died a few days ago and her funeral is this afternoon. I will miss her so much and I hurt so badly for her lifelong companion who never got to be (legally) her wife. She will be remembered by so many because she shared joy, laughter, life, love — all the things that made her so special — with her friends. I get to keep all those memories and they’ll soften this difficult time … eventually.
I’ll be thinking about you, your friend, and the partner she left behind. Keep the memories close.
Sorry to hear of your friend’s passing. Life is not fair……
This is good! A concise, well-written, fact supported answer. 🙂 I already knew hell isn’t what some tout, I just didn’t know this reason for why.
HELL EXPLAINED BY CHEMISTRY STUDENT
http://lesaucoin.org/2013/03/05/hell-explained-by-chemistry-student/
Oh Fnord, I’m so sorry for your loss and the loss of your friend’s would be spouse. Every day hate, written into the Kansas Constitution, keeps love from speaking its name is a day of love lost.
But, during this time of loss, politics is the least of anyone’s worries. I hope your mourning can turn to joy in celebrating the life of a good woman and the good woman she loved.
They were lucky to have a friend in you. I heard in a seminar that the only way we really live on after death is in the speaking of other people. Speak of her often and she will remain alive in those memories you cherish.
I believe our spiritual essence lives on through those we leave behind on this Earth….
Being a spiritual person is very different than being a churchy person – and I know everyone on the PPP blog knows exactly what I am talking about…
Love is energy…….and that energy can be seen – and felt – long after one’s death.
I still feel my Grandpa around me…..and my brother….they always seem to know when I need the most help.
I feel their presence…..and if I look carefully…..I see them through that thin veil between life and death.
But you know what? All I have to do is to reach back into my Bank of Memories and think of them – and it makes me smile.
Sometimes I even bust out laughing at some of those memories…
To me – this is what God is – the positive energy between people and how that love energy never really dies ….. does it?
On a happier note, I was so busy yesterday I forgot to blog about my favorite holiday of the season, Zappadan.
December 4 marks the anniversary of Frank Zappa‘s death, and the beginning of the Festival of Zappadan. Zappadan ends on Frank Zappa’s birthday, December 21st.
From Wiki:
The first (or 17th) day of Zappadan was originally known as Enttäuschung Nacht – German for ‘bummer night’ – but over the years it has been Americanized to the much simpler BummerNacht. This being the anniversary of Mister Zappa’s death, the original meaning is rather obvious, and we shall not delve further into it here.
Far from being a day of mourning, however, it is a day of great joy, for Zapptists know that a mere seventeen days later, on December 21st (Zero Day), Frank Zappa was born.
Traditionally, children are not allowed to participate in the celebration of BummerNacht, although teenagers are winked at if they decide to ‘run down to the library and not return until some ungodly hour of the night’. Celebrants are often seen cavorting to the exotic sound of the Mystery Horn while gorging on burnt weenie sandwiches and guzzling white port and lemon juice.”
During Zappadan, we are told to Expect Miracles, read one Zappa quote a day, and listen to Zappa music every day.
Celebrate Zappadan and Miracles will be yours.
First laugh of the day. Not because it’s funny, but because it’s uplifting. Spread the joy!
Here is my contribution for last night’s Bummer Nacht quotation.
“I’ll give you a simple formula for straightening out the problems of the United States. First, you tax the churches. You take the tax off of capital gains and the tax off of savings. You decriminalize all drugs and tax them same way as you do alcohol. You decriminalize prostitution. You make gambling legal. That will put the budget back on the road to recovery, and you’ll have plenty of tax revenue coming in for all of your social programs, and to run the army.”
Frank Zappa (1940 – 1993), Interview with this submitter, New York City, 5/08/1980
And here is my contribution for today’s Zappa quote.
“My best advice to anyone who wants to raise a happy, mentally healthy child is: Keep him or her as far away from a church as you can.”
Frank Zappa (1940 – 1993)
Amen ….Halleuiah…….(did I spell that correctly?)
This is Zappa Music for Fnord’s friends in honor of BummerNacht. It’s called “You Are What You Is”
…and…my Zappa music today. The all time great Peaches En Regalia
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2013/03/14/excommunicated-westboro-baptist-church-member-suggests-fred-phelps-might-be-gay/
Just goes to show that hate-filled, intolerant people can be found among any ‘label’ used to separate or group people. Bet you would find some who have brown eyes, or blonde hair, some tall… among each ‘labeled group’ too. Fred Phelps may or may not be a lot of things, but he seems to be filled with hate and intolerance. Or at least that’s what makes the news.
Then there is the idiot Rush who it seems to me tries really hard to live up to his reputation for being a low-life who spreads hate and gets paid well to do just that.
Indy, the comments attributed to Donna Quinn reminded me that you’ve always said you would be impressed once the Pope puts action behind his words.
(from the link):
http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2013/12/liberal-nuns-respond-rush-limbaugh
fnord – I appreciate you remembering me when reading the words of others.
And , it makes me feel good to know there are others just like me when it comes to hearing enough of the ‘purty words’. – let’s see some action…..
Do I hope Pope Francis can make a real difference – Oh HELL Yes….
Do I expect Pope Francis to make a real difference – the jury is out on that one..
BTW – Rush Limbaugh is only doing what will bring him the most money and fame – selling the smuttiest, low-life garbage of intolerance and hate possible….
I’ve always said the American people are such hypocrits – we always talk about how we promote families, promote peace, promote democracy, promote equality and justice for all….
But do we really? Oh HELL NO…..Americans say all the ‘purty words’ – but then live their lives in such a way the Devil himself has to bow to their debauchery..
If you’ve listened to Palin spreading her hate you know she recently compared the national debt to slavery and went on to clarify her ignorance in subsequent interviews. Enter Martin Bashir. The link below accurately repeats exactly what both Palin and Bashir said. Lots of rumors and exaggerations going around, so here are the facts —
http://samuel-warde.com/2013/12/palins-hypocrisy-peaks/
This makes sense to me. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/12/05/sorry-democrats-youre-likely-to-lose-house-seats-in-2014/
Be aware. It’s not just gerrymandering, it’s not just laws to restrict who votes. Republicans can’t win fairly, so there are no standards or bars they’re not willing to lower in their attempts to win. Here’s what’s happening again in Oregon:
Is it happening here? I know Jean Schodorf is running as a Dem, but she pretty much kicked the Reps out of her political life. At least as far as I know.
I think Jean’s candidacy is legit. She would be one of those moderate republicans the party left behind. I’ve known her since her days on the local school board and she’s a good woman and has always been a good public servant. I think she was a republican like me back in my days of being a member of the party that really did at one time put the Grand in the GOP. Way back before they decided to make social issues that shouldn’t ever be the business of any level of government their business, way back when they did have a bit of economic sense.
Thank you, fnord, that’s exactly what I thought. I don’t keep track of individual small races, only our county. They could be crowing people as County Kings for all I know.
I like Jean Schodorf…
Remember when Pompeo’s campaign pictured Jean as a rhino being gored?
Jean did not leave the original GOP – the original GOP has been hijacked by the Mean Girls Club -= IMHO
Let’s not forget that while Nelson Mandela was running the ANC, Ronald Reagan’s State Department put them on the terrorist watch list, and Reagan vetoed anti-apartheid sanctions against South Africa. Moral of the story: when the revolutionaries are rich white slave owners in Virginia, they’re brave patriots fighting for liberty. When they’re poor black people in Johannesburg, they’re terrorists.
Dick Cheney Didn’t Regret His Vote Against Freeing Nelson Mandela, Maintained He Was A ‘Terrorist’
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/05/dick-cheney-nelson-mandela-terrorist_n_4394071.html?ncid=txtlnkushpmg00000037
Let’s not forget…..Ronald Reagan also sold weapons to Iran……and the Jews still worship Reagan?
The world has truly gone crazy…
WTF….