The Year: Thumbs Up or Down?

Another year comes to an end with mixed reviews, but the majority are not very satisfying. Political posturing resulted in little progress on the home front, and crises abroad brought the world closer to collapse. The war in Iraq ended today, that is a good thing, but the war in Afghanistan continues apace. The American economy is in shambles, as is the situation in most of the rest of the world, and the “American Dream” looks remote for many.
There were some highlights: (here I pause: just what are the good news items? Hmmm. Killing Osama? Killing someone shouldn’t be a highlight, should it? The Euro not collapsing? Damn, this is tough.) So, the highlights: (here I pause again.) Ok friends, help me out here. What do YOU think are the highlights? How about Tallahassee finally getting a brewpub.(Momo’s Pizza in Market Square.) I know: The Duggars had a miscarriage. One less mouth to feed in the world. No, you say, not a highlight.
I know: The population crossed the 7 billion mark. Lots of souls to sing “Hosanna”. Too bad so many of them are starving to death.
So friends, help me out here. I am looking for world class positives.

Image: http://geekdose.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/facebook-like-stamps.jpg
Momo’s: http://momospizza.com/market-street-brew-menu/

Santa and Christmas: Dangerous Frauds?

Ok, so you will think I am being a curmudgeon. Not so. Let’s get rid of Christmas first. The day and season specifically celebrated the birth of the Christian savior, Jesus. Nobody can convince me that it is or should be considered a secular holiday. It is pure and simple a religious festival. No doubt “merry merchants” around the world, Christian or not, are quite happy for the season. Many make a large portion of the year’s profit in the run-up to Christmas. For many people and cultures it has morphed into a gigantic sales pitch. Ooops. I have just crossed my own logic. So it really is a secular holiday primarily benefiting the “merry merchants” and banks, and putting many people deeper into debt. And for what? Did Jesus command “Go Out and Buy!!” or “Give Gifts in Memory of Me!”? If you find that in the Bible let me know. It is a bastardized mishmash of events and cultures. I say “Happy Holidays” and take the time off gladly.
On to Santa Claus. Santa is in the same category as the Tooth Fairy. Pure Fiction. An old dude in a sled with flying reindeer who carries all the gifts for the whole world made by elves at the North Pole? Give me a BREAK. This teaches kids that lying is not only ok, but can be fun. Pisses me off for a kid to be thankful to “Santa” for a bike, when her parents went without to buy the damn thing. Given the cachet of a Saint locks Santa into the religious angle of the season; putting him on a can of Coke makes him a shill. Making him a white man, though. What is that all about? Well, he started out as a white man, and as more politically correctness came on the scene people started asking for black Santas, and brown Santas and yellow Santas so children could more easily “relate”. Relate to a lie. Ahh, you ask. But what is the harm?
Listen to the Santa songs and you will quickly see the harm. The below lines are from “Hear Comes Santa Claus” written by Gene Autry:

He’s got a bag that’s filled with toys
For boys and girls again
He doesn’t care if you’re rich or poor
He loves you just the same.

Yeah, but what about the millions of poor kids that hear the song and get nothing from Santa? The drumbeat for Christmas starts in September and ends with a disappointed child, again. Now what about the song “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”?

You better watch out
You better not cry
Better not pout I’m telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town - - -
He sees you when you’re sleeping
He knows when you’re awake
He knows if you’ve been bad or good
So be good for goodness sake! O! You better watch out!- - -

Clearly Santa is spying on kids (is he a voyeur?) and making a judgment about what is nice and what isn’t. Big brother is watching you and you won’t get toys if you are bad. Never mind that no one knows exactly what “Bad” is. Just don’t be it. Santa is a kind of behavior Nazi. So in a sense we are teaching kids to be wary, secretive and distrustful. Don’t tell me we are teaching them to be nice. It doesn’t take a fat old man in a funny costume with booze on his breath to teach kids to be nice.
Kids soon figure out or get told that Santa is a lie, and most aren’t traumatized for life. These “innocent” lies just piss me off, that’s all. Tooth Fairy, Santa Claus, and Sand Man. Sooner or later they all realize they have been lied to.
And what about Jews, Moslems, Wiccans, Jains and the other x-thousands of religions, major and minor? And atheists. Their kids get sucked into the Santa Scandal too. Santa, it’s time to retire and let the world alone. Oh, I forgot. To quote Tom Leher “Angels we have heard on high; Tell us to go out and - - BUY” and “God rest ye merry merchants may ye make the yuletide PAY” (1). It really is too late. We are in the black hole of Christmas and we know the “reason for the season”, don’t we. And it ain’t just a birthday any more.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas (A good history and commentary on Christmas)
1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtZR3lJobjw
Image: http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20061216104705/uncyclopedia/images/thumb/1/1d/BLACK_SANTA.JPG/250px-BLACK_SANTA.JPG

Santa Claus: Dangerous?

A new post coming soon on Santa Claus and the awfulness of the propaganda about Christmas. Not for believers in SC.
You might want to refresh your memory on some lyrics:
http://www.41051.com/xmaslyrics/herecomes.html
http://www.41051.com/xmaslyrics/isawmommy.html

http://www.tsrocks.com/t/tom_lehrer_texts/a_christmas_carol.html
Maybe you can see where this will be going?

Image: http://www.thetoque.com/images/mommy_kissing_santa.jpg

Barney Frank is Leaving Congress? So?

First, if you don’t know who Barney is, shame on you. Second, the “So?” is a very big deal. As an outspoken liberal, Barney was never timid about taking on anyone he believed were wrong-headed or wrong-thinking.
He is a clear voice for Liberal views and is a staunch supporter of women’s rights, gay rights and the welfare of everyone who isn’t rich. The 99%. Us.
I can only hope that Massachusetts voters elect another liberal. There are far too few already to counterbalance the massive shift to the Right. Not much chance of Florida Democrats doing anything to get rid of the conservative ideologues who they elected in the last election by NOT VOTING!!!
Ooops, I guess I just came out of the closet again.

http://www.fletcherarmstrongblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Liberal-vs-Conservative.jpg

Thank You

Not too hard to say, after all, is it? Thank you.
Say it when a wait person (PC again - don’t you hate it sometimes?) fills your water glass, or when the arm at McDonalds drive through hands you your bag of goodies. When you get change at a convenience store or when you get your parcel at a store, say “Thank You”. It really doesn’t take much energy or effort to be polite.
Thankfulness comes in many forms and from many directions. During these very trying days of local regional worldwide problems there are many things I am thankful for. Putting aside the angst of the past for a moment, let me just observe this: every day I wake up in my home, next to my wonderful wife, looking forward to the day I am thankful. Not to any particular source, not to any specific power that/who has granted me the day. To the farmers, truckers, sailors, merchants, construction workers, doctors of people and animals, teachers, police, fire fighters, public employees, students, engineers of all stripes, veterans, soldiers, talkers, listeners, readers and the list goes on. Each of us is beholden to these often faceless and nameless people who make our lives a bit better and safer.
I got a hug from a homeless guy in Boston for a small donation. I gave him less than the cost of a pint of good beer, and got a hug. “Thank you man”, he said. I told him “No, thank You for the hug.” As was said in Dances with Wolves, “good trade”.
So for the moment, put aside the angst and worry, and just say “Thank you” to whomever you want. Give somebody a hug. It really feels good, and it goes a long, long way in a world weary of angst.
Image: http://images.mylot.com/userImages/images/postphotos/2171375.jpg

No Guts, No Balls

This morning I heard a well presented rational discussion of the origins of the current “debt crisis”. Not surprisingly the conclusions of conservative and liberal analysts were consistent with common sense: The initiation of two wars without any revenue increase to cover the costs, and the massive tax cuts which failed to stimulate the creation of jobs to cover the reduced income to the Federal Government are the direct causes of the ballooning debt. The legacy of these two actions remains with us today. Further, they agreed that if the Bush era tax cuts are not allowed to sunset on schedule, an additional minimum of 2.5 trillion dollars in debt will be piled up in the next ten years. That is IN ADDITION to the already substantial increase projected as a result of the weak economy.
The causes and results are clear, and the action needed to correct the problem is also clear: cut spending where possible, increase taxes from the current low rate to higher rates, and let the tax cuts expire.
The problem is this: congress doesn’t have the will to act. “Why” is a more problematic question. I think the answer lies in the corrupt relationships between members of congress and the very powerful financial interests that fund their reelections in the case of people like the Koch brothers, or threaten to oppose them in the case of Grover Norquist and his ilk. In other words, many in congress have no balls, no guts and no concern for the electorate. Only themselves and their handlers.
What a sad and poor way for a wonderful country to fail.
Image: http://www.lpstuff.com/shop/images/uploads/535congressmen.JPG

Sexual Abuse of Children. Again

It has probably always happened, is happening and probably will always happen. That doesn’t make it right. It is always wrong. WRONG. Get it? Wrong.
My thoughts on what should be done to those adults who abuse children are not the point here. I have very strong views on that, and may talk about them at a later time.
No, my point here is based on the attorney interviewed the other day msnbc. This guy represents at least one victim of the Penn State scandal. And here, in a nutshell, is my issue: the victim is expressing feelings of guilt about the effect of his revelations on the football program. ON THE FOOTBALL PROGRAM!!!. This man, once a child who was abused is worried about the god damn football program when his life has been indelibly changed by a predator when he was 10 or so years old. He and many others were repeatedly raped and fondled by this predator. He is the victim. Guilt for victims of sexual abuse goes with the territory and it is hard to deal with. But come on people. Guilt for the football program?
Ahh. But I understand this, I think. I have had many friends over the years, and some now, who think the football programs of their chosen Universities, not necessarily one they attended, are somehow the most important aspect their lives. They hang on every game, every play, every utterance of the coaches and players. They don’t seem to care when massive numbers of players get arrested for felony crimes, or when coaches ignore cheating scandals while at the same time milking the academics of millions of dollars. (I know, the old “Football is a profit center” crap. Personally I don’t buy it but that too is for another time.) The coach gets millions and the President of the University gets a few hundred thousand. Bullcrap.
Football becomes so important that anything that might threaten it brings on anger and guilt. Comments like letting JoePa finish the season make me sick. How many children were abused because JoePa failed to protect them? Finish the season my ass. He should have been shot. (Ooops. Shouldn’t let my emotions out.)
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/45286628/ns/today-today_people/
Image: http://www.sexualfuturist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/child-abuse2.jpg

Beat them, Train them: God wants you to do This.

I just watched the video of Hillary Adams getting the beating she “deserved”, to quote her father, JUDGE Adams.
No Child deserves this level of punishment. This isn’t punishment in the sense of a spanking: this is torture. Time and again he hits her HARD in the legs, arms back and butt. Hard. Over and over.
Michael Pearl and his wife wrote the book “To Train Up a Child” which advocates hard punishment from the beginning to “train up a child” as God intended. Switching a 6 month old for discipline. Don’t spare the rod. Is there a connection between Adams and Pearl? I don’t know, but they obviously believe in the same way of “training up” a child.
I suggest all these monsters get picked up for child abuse and that we “train them up” using the same methods they advocate and practice. Who will give the first lick?
BTW, you can order “To Train Up a Child” on Amazon.com for only $7.95. Here is one of many similar reviews:

"My mother was given this book while I was a child. Wanting to raise a well-behaved child, she would spank me with a belt. She is proud of me. I am a senior at Princeton University and practicing Catholic. However, today my mother would tell you that I am these things in spite of the teachings of "To Train Up a Child," in spite of the self-loathing and insecurity caused by whippings which would not end until I could pretend to be content. Pretend to embrace the necessity for my own torture. I was abused. Please do not look to this book for guidance."

What the hell is this country coming to when this 'how to torture your child' crap is sold on Amazon? It is all about the money. Period.

Read this for fun: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/pastor-corporal-punishment-advice-scrutinized-child-deaths-160004793.html
Image: http://thedamnedoldeman.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/300px-Sexually_Abused_boy.jpg

Just another brick in the wall?

Years ago a revolution was upon us. We were out in the streets. We were arrested, gassed, beaten, spit on and worse. We were killed by our own brothers. We won. We were no more than more bricks in the wall. But we won.
Another wall, more bricks in the wall, and another revolution. We are out in the streets. We are arrested, gassed, beaten, spit on and worse. We may be killed by our brothers. We are no more that more bricks in the wall. But we can win. We will win. We are the bricks that the wall is made of, and without us, no wall at all. We are everywhere. We will win.
Pink Floyd: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZbM_MIz4RM
Roger Waters: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqtNvgzWsis&feature=player_detailpage
Image: http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lt2zlkhZ0c1r0wenlo1_500.png

Word Creep: Lame, Gay and Asshole

I got my tail good and yanked by a friend the other day. I used the term “lame” as in “that was a lame excuse”. She pointed out in no uncertain terms that lame means “unable to walk normally”. So of course I looked it up (1) and found the above definition. I also found another definition, this from the Urban Dictionary: just plain stupid, un-original, or lifeless (2). This is the way I had used the word.
Now I didn’t and don’t want to get into a pissing contest with her for a couple of reasons. She is a published author and knows more about using words than I ever will. She has MS and is lame in the first sense and crippled in the same sense. Not handicapped, mind, just crippled by MS. Another reason is I respect her opinion and agree that the creep of meaning can lead to ugly connotations for words. “Gay” once meant happy, then crept to meaning “homosexual” and then became pejorative, so now when you say you had a gay time, what exactly do you mean?
You see, being Gay (also a girl’s name) is OK to be as in “He is a Gay”. But saying something is “Gay” can be an insult depending on what you mean and even who said it. Confused yet?
My point is this: over time, the meaning of many words has changed. Some end up keeping one, two, three or more meanings while others simply lose one and gain another. During the transition from one to another there is sometimes some dangerous language to navigate. And not all of us are that good at navigating. I apologized for the inappropriate use of the word “lame” and promised to be good. My other point is this: words change meaning all the time and not everyone is aware of the prejudice that sometimes comes with the changes.
So here is my recommendation: Don’t use words that have double meanings, especially those that might hurt someone inadvertently. Many words have multiple meanings, and that is the problem. Selecting the word and using it correctly may be impossible, since meaning remains firmly in the brain of the beholder. After all, we all need an asshole, and most of us have an asshole, but none of us want to be an asshole. See?

1. Google definitions
2. http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=lame
Image: http://www.archiedunlop.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/uranus1.jpg