Seeing Jesus
Mother Teresa ruined my life.
Asked how she withstood decades working in Calcutta's slums with heartbreaking dregs of humanity, she answered that, no matter how bad the person or circumstances, she knew it was just Jesus in one of his many distressing disguises.
I doubted the mother. Like Diogenes with his lamp, I walked Chicago's Broadway Street. Predictably, of the destitute, panhandlers, drunks, stoned, runaways, transvestite whores, plain ol' whores, gangbangers and assorted broken humanity, I found not one person I could say was Jesus in disguise. But what I never expected, and to this day makes me profoundly uneasy, is that I encountered not one single person that night that I could say with any certainty was not Jesus.
I thought about this when I heard the Rev. Charles Worley of Providence Road Baptist Church prattling on about gays. Some are like Mother Teresa and some like Worley: some cannot help but see Jesus, and some refuse to see Jesus. Some build faith up, and some tear it down. Some dedicate their lives to serving others, and some to controlling others. Some empower, and some enslave. Some save, and some judge. Some uplift, and some crucify.
Surely Rev. Worley, by all appearances a worthless, hypocritical bigot, a whitewashed tomb with a soul as dead as Pontius Pilate's, cannot possibly be Jesus in one of his many distressing disguises?
Thanks for nothing, Mother Teresa.
ANDY G. MILLER
Kernersville
Contributions
John Railey makes a compelling and poignant case for us to consider in his moving tribute to The Greatest Generation ("Considering the gaps left by the fallen," May 27). No doubt many of our fallen soldiers would have excelled and done great things on their return home. But let us extrapolate and carry this quite logical point a bit further.
Those on the left who are so enamored with easy-access abortion never talk about what contributions that fetus may have made to humanity, what genius may have been wasted by the abortion provider. They blather on about women's rights and Roe v. Wade , but do they stop to consider: Did a woman in 1973 abort the researcher who would have cured breast cancer in 2018, or the engineer who would have made electric cars practical in 2015?
Abortion will always be the great unknown, the thing that keeps you up at night, the thing that catches in your throat when you see a child on Santa's lap. Cynics will say, sure, your baby might be the next John the Baptist, but he could just as easily be the next John Edwards.
God bless you, ladies, there is only one way to know.
HARRY R. COOKE
Winston-Salem
Inflicting theology
I'm fed up with the so-called "religious right" attempting to inflict into law Catholic theology regarding reproduction and sex. The folks who want to impose these religious values are the first to argue against Shariah for Muslim cultures. Yet they want to make the U.S. a Catholic country in regard to sexuality.
Let me be clear — I want Catholics to be able to practice their faith freely and enthusiastically. I don't object to their beliefs regarding reproduction or sexuality. I simply don't want those beliefs to be imposed on me or my grandchildren through civil law.
Since these folks are almost all Republicans and have Republican politicians carrying their water, we have no choice but to vote Republicans out of office at every level. This pains me to suggest, because I like Forsyth County Commissioner David Plyler and a few others as people and know them to be genuine in attempting to serve all people. But we must make our point that imposing specific religious dogma into law is both wrong and destructive to the nation and to Christianity.
The religious right won't discuss or listen to reason, so we must make a big statement through elections where candidates know that adherence to so called pro-life positions will mean defeat at the polls. Perhaps the Republican Party could then return to its roots of conservatism and careful reasoning.
PAUL S. KENNEDY
Winston-Salem
LTE #2 Contributions.
ReplyDeleteForced pregnancies, go get em Harry. Hmm. with your logic masturbation should be illegal. Was that the next president in that sock? Did I just flush the human that would cure all disease? Is that the leader of World Peace on the wall?
Next step is breast milk for all. This should make things very interesting as more and more people see babies being fed as God intended.
DeleteIf a women is forced to give birth, then she should be forced to suckle the living child what could be more pro-life? Who cares about choice?
Men, I wonder when we men will finally realize, that with just a few exceptions, men (heterosexual men for that matter) have ruled the world for ions and are the ones that have gotten us into this mess.
DeleteRepublican spokesman: ‘Let’s hurl some acid’ at female Democratic senators
ReplyDeleteThe Talapublicans strike again.
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/republican-spokesman-let-hurl-acid-female-democratic-senators-023145677.html
An excellent example of what I said below...the Republiban are lost in space.
DeleteLTE #1 - Excellent letter...this guy can both think and write.
ReplyDeleteLTE #2 - Get you one of those sex change thingies, Harry...a complete replumbing...then start having as many babies as you like.
Just remember that it cuts both ways...for every genius born, there's somebody like Harry to bring the average way down.
LTE #3 - In 1964 I voted a straight Democratic ticket and ended up in Viet Nam. I'm a pretty quick learner, so I never did that again, until now.
In November I will do it again, because the Republican party has totally lost its mind and just needs to go away.
Good afternoon folks!
ReplyDeleteLTE 1: When one examines Jesus as presented through the gospels, then compares the ideals espoused by Jesus with the diatribe by Rev Worley, the views of Rev. Worley appear to be diametrically opposed to those of Jesus. How one treats others, particularly those whom society has shunned is the mark of someone who truly desires to follow Jesus' example. Excellent thoughts from Mr. Miller.
LTE 2: Irrelevant argument since there is no guarantee any of the fetuses would have survived until birth or beyond the first couple of years anyway. Furthermore, since so many who oppose abortion also oppose any public funds being used to help support the infant when it needs the funds the most to survive, why should they care if the abortion takes place if they don't care whether or not the infant survives after birth?
LTE 3: It isn't just Catholics. Actually, most Catholics I know are D's who want no part of a theocracy. It's the fundamentalist Baptists who are bent on legislating everyone into "good Christians" whether the people want to be one or not. I can't say I won't vote for any R's, because in some instances, such as the Forsyth CC race, there will be R's will be elected due to insuffient number of D's running. In such a case, it is imperative to me to vote for a sane R such as Dave Plyler to ensure some theocrat doesn't get elected. Then, there are also instances where the D's are running a nutcase such as David Moore. I do think if a new party were to emerge that combines a slightly right center of view on the economy with a slightly left center of view on social issues, it would dominate the political scene for the next generation.
Agree that if I were voting in Forsyth, I would definitely vote for Plyler.
DeletePlyler is a washed up radio announcer. If you ever watched him while he was the chairman of FCBC, he was always looking for someone else to lead. He doesn't have a clue.
DeleteI don't know why Forsyth County always seems to get second rate people in leadership positions. FC has some smart people floating around to draw from..... There's simple no reason to have these losers in positions of power.
More seepage from beneath the gutter.
DeleteTrue story about Plyler:
DeleteIt was in the Y locker room (Honest to God...and with those guys you didn't want to do any leering believe you me. I think I became more straight looking at them.)
These old rednecks were complaining about the NAACP, and I think one of them called WSSU "watermelon U". (And of course racism CAN'T exist amongst conservatives anymore.)
Anyhoo, Plyler walks in. And one of them says, "What about you Dave? What do YOU think of the NAACP?" And he sez: "I support them; they're a fine organization."
He's had my respect and admiration ever since.
Dave Plyler began his broadcasting career in 1953 as a DJ At WCOG In Greensboro. In 1955 he moved to WGBG as host of a five-hour afternoon drive program. Dave's career gained in popularity resulting in a move back to WCOG as morning and afternoon drive DJ. In 1960 Dave advanced to WSJS radio and television. In 1961 he entered the US Air Force and was honorably discharged in 1965. Dave returned to WSJS where he entered the radio and television news department as a reporter, then assignment editor, and finally news/public affairs director for both radio and television.
ReplyDeleteIn addition to his adminstrative duties, Dave hosted or was responsible for fourteen hours of weekly news and public affiars television. When WSJS was purchased by Greenville, SC-based "Multimedia", the television station changed call letters to WXII, where Dave remained until 1983. That year Dave became Vice-president and General Manager of WTOB in Winston-Salem. Dave is employed by Salem Media of NC, doing business as WTRU, WCOG, WKEW, and WPOL.
WTOB, remember them decorating their tower at Thruway each year at Christmas.
See a pic of the tower lit up here:
DeleteWTOB-TV, Channel 26, 1957
Cool, thanks O.T.
DeleteI'll have to show that to my Mom. My uncle was a soda jerk at the Dairy Bar back in the day.
DeleteI remember when there was a joint over there called Chicken in the Rough, that sold scrawny dried out fried chicken. It didn't last long. There was also a Putt Putt. One of my brothers and I got thrown out when the "pro" caught us hitting our golf balls off the lot instead putting into the 18th hole.
DeleteThe pro had to put up with a lot of that sort of stuff.
DeleteThe Putt Putt at Thruway was the second in the world. The first was in Fayetteville, opened by a guy named Don Clayton in 1954. The next year he sold his first franchise to a guy named Bill Kitchen in W-S.
Some of us started hanging out there, doing odd jobs for free games. A few years later, Clayton started the Professional Putters Association. One of the 1st tournaments was in W-S. A left-handed Gray High School student named Don Posey won the pro division and got $1,000, an amount unimaginable to us.
One of my best friends won about $20. He choked in the 1st round, then settled down. If he had shot his usual score in the 1st round, he would have won. I played in the amateur division and won a bunch of free passes and a putter, which is still in a closet somewhere.
Almost forgot...on Friday nights WTOB-TV would rope off part of the Thruway parking lot and have a Teen Dance party, broadcast live. Mostly shagging to beach music.
DeleteThe two best dancers were Pete Hondros and Ken Carter, RJRHS students. Man, the things we old farts remember.
Just across Stratford Road was a notorious drive-in called the Castle. You could slip over there and if you looked old enough (18 back then) or knew somebody, you could get an ice cold Schlitz for 25₵.
Years later, that same brother and I got the boot from the Arnold Palmer driving range when my brother started hitting his drives into the woods after he got bored. The pro heard the balls going thru the branches, spotted Steve angled to the left, and laughing. He came over, cussed us out, took our buckets away, and told us not to come back. We offered him a beer but he declined impolitely, so we left cheerfully. Good times.
DeleteHa, ha. Having worked occasionally gathering balls from the driving range for a great man, Bill Jones, at the now lamented Hillcrest Golf Course, I can understand the pro's outrage. Sounds as if the Walker boys were as bad as my friends and I.
DeleteMy last round of golf: Tanglewood Championship Course, ca 1965. This would be the original course, before they switched the nines. At the time I was about a 2 handicap.
#1, par 4. Drive the green, 20' putt for eagle.
#2, par 5. 6 iron to green, 6' putt, eagle.
#3, par 3. Par.
#4, par 4. 25' putt for birdie.
#5, par 4. Risky drive across lake to green. Eagle.
#6 - 8. Two pars, one birdie.
Standing on the tee at #9. Need only a par to set the course record. Somehow, word has gotten back, because there are people standing on the clubhouse patio watching.
Drive #1. Hooked out of bounds.
Drive #2. Hooked out of bounds.
Decided to take the penalties and hit from the fairway.
Next shot hooked out of bounds...hit the little Methodist church.
Dumped all remaining balls on the fairway and hit them all deep into the woods on purpose.
Then threw bag and clubs into the woods as well.
They are probably still there.
Last round of golf.
Not mature enough to handle this game, and never will be.
Oh my, Gee Zee got his bail revoked. It's not nice misleading the judge, George.
ReplyDeleteI award Wes Patterson pompous twat prize of the year.
ReplyDelete(Language isn't as heavily censored here.)
I was thinking of posting the lyrics to Sodomy from Hair. :)
DeleteI gave him a thumbs up for calling me juvenile. I haven't had my license checked in years.
Deletelol, I was just telling Stab the other day. I would sure like to see Stonewall get hold of him.
DeleteJHLion called me juvenile all the time. Welcome to the club!
DeleteI did call him the Imam of Ad Hominem but I don't think he appreciates my humor.
DeleteA salaam alaikum brother.
DeleteKul 'am wa enta bi-khair!
DeleteI must find time to attend the Journal comments. Seems like there is mischief to be made, with gits like Wes there.
DeleteWes is Deb on steroids.
DeleteStonewall...an interesting fellow, but an Israel-firster. Don't get him started on that.
ReplyDeleteI got into a plumbing jam a couple of years ago, emailed Stonewall for a referral on a weekend. He offered to come over, but then my regular service found time, I declined his kind offer. Nice guy, I wish he'd post here.
DeleteI hope we get some more privacy laws on the books soon. With gay and lesbian marriage coming eventually, the hormones are going to be flowing in that segment of society.
ReplyDeleteWe need as much protection as we can get.
I wonder if Barney Frank will help us out before he leaves?
Oh my, Jeb Bush has broken with Romney and says he would support a tax increase to reduce the deficit. Boy is Grover pissed.
ReplyDeleteHere's an idea I just heard floated by Robert Reich that sounds very stimulative. Make the first $20,000 in wages exempt from payroll taxes. I'd take it a bit further. Make the first $20,000 exempt and raise the upper level to $130,000.
ReplyDeleteBob, what happens at 130k?
DeleteYou're screwed.
DeleteDoesn't the payroll tax stop at $106,000 Now? Just raise that to 130.
Deleteinstead of paying the tax on income from 0-106K make it from 20-130K
DeleteYou mean the FICA and Medicare taxes? Why cap 'em at all? Not a bad idea re exempting the first 20K, though.
DeleteI would agree on not capping FICA and Medicare at all.
DeleteAll of our tax problems are at the top and at the bottom. The bottom pays way more than their fair share through FICA/Medicare and sales tax, while the top pays nowhere near their fair share of anything.
And guess who makes up for that. As always, we of the middle class.
I actually agree with you on that stab, and yes, that is what I meant FICA and Medicare, but come to think of it, it might not be a bad idea to exempt all taxes on the first 20k.
DeleteZimmerman's bond is revoked? What? That guy isn't going anywhere. That kid knew that $120,000 wasn't his money, it all going to his lawyer.
ReplyDeleteFor those who are eternally ignorant, here is what happens at a bond hearing.
DeleteThe judge or magistrate wants to know 3 things:
1. How serious is the crime
2. How likely is the perp to flee
3. How much can the perp afford to pay in bond money
For instance, in #3, if the perp is a street person, $100 bond might be all that is needed. This is one of the reasons that our luxury high rise local jail is full, at any time, of people who have never been convicted of any crime.
On the other hand, if the perp is John Edwards, a significant bond might be necessary.
So the judge or magistrate asks questions, under oath.
In GZ's case, he wanted to know how much money that GZ might have at hand. GZ and his wife both lied to the judge, concealing the fact that they had raised $135,000 on their website from KKK folks.
GZ himself also lied to the judge about his passport.
Lying to judges under oath is a bad idea, and down the road can lead to even worse matters.
Since GZ's only hope of his bullshit claim of self defense rides upon the jury's perception of his truthfulness, he has now in addition to shooting another human being to death also shot himself in the foot. Bye, bye, GZ.
Target sells shirts to help pro-gay marriage group
ReplyDeleteJCPenney’s Father’s Day ad features two gay ‘dads’
Apple, new CEO, Tim Cook, gay. And the list goes on.
So long sad times
Go long bad times
We are rid of you at last
Howdy gay times
Cloudy gray times
You are now a thing of the past
Happy days are here again
The skies above are clear again
So let's sing a song of cheer again
Happy days are here again
and the beat goes on: The White House on Friday issued this proclamation by President Barack Obama, declaring June as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month
ReplyDeleteComic Books Have Always Been Gay
ReplyDeleteBy Noah Berlatsky | Posted Friday, June 1, 2012, at 2:48 PM ET
http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2012/06/01/gay_comic_books_have_been_around_since_the_birth_of_wonder_woman.html
The latest Gallup Poll on gay marriage:
DeleteThe poll showed a strong partisan split, with 65 percent of Democrats and 57 percent of Independents supporting the measure. Only 22 percent of Republicans, however, support legalizing gay marriage, and 74 percent oppose it.
So the Dinosaur Party continues to march resolutely backward into the past.
I might point out that as of 2011, 40% of Americans identify as independent voters, 31% as Democrats and only 27% as Republicans.
Leftover from yesterday:
ReplyDeleteSnake Heaven: OT, perhaps Heaven for rattlers is colocated with a rodent Hell.
Love it...a great piece of theological thinking!
DeleteI have been fascinated by rattlers since childhood...who else gives you fair warning before killing you?
Used to be if you wanted to see a rattler in the wild, you could go to Hanging Rock State Park. If you kept your eyes open on certain trails you were sure to see at least one, sometimes three or four.
But fools have long been poaching them for the rattles, so now there are only two small dens left up there, their location carefully guarded by the rangers.
The last wild rattler that I have seen was several years ago on the Horsepasture River near Rainbow Falls. I was hiking alone and sitting very quietly up above the falls when a big old girl, easily four feet, maybe more, came out onto a rock just below me for a morning sunbath. Awesome!