Of all places - in the bathroom of a major bookstore!

Ignorance Cuts Both Ways
Originally uploaded by namroff

That's O.K. 'cause I have a t-shirt that says:
So many right-wing Christians
So few lions

Religion created homophobia

Religion created homophobia
Originally uploaded by taryneast

Yes it did.

Religion also created "lepers" "heathens" "pagans" Today's religious oraganizations (not all but most) desperately need someone or something to hate. The most hateful of intolerances is religious intolerance. While they have enough hatred amongst themselves, it's not enough for them. How would you be treated by a "Christian" if you were a gay Muslim with AIDS?

Watch this blog for a seering post on the topic of homophobia - within several hours!

Evidently the Bible Doesn't Teach Anyone The Difference Between Diplomacy and Appeasement

He was not a diplomat ...* Neither is he ...* Nor is he...*

And CERTAINLY not he!

If God Didn't Bother With Diplomacy
Why Should We?

Yesterday, George Bush delivered a speech at the Knesset in Jerusalem and implied that the offer of diplomacy by Barack Obama was tantamount to appeasement - the same appeasement that allowed Nazi Germany to grow in strength before the Second World War.

For George Bush's sake, let's take a more "spiritual" look at "appeasement":

Because the blood of bulls and goats can never take away sin (Heb 10:4), the wrath of God was never appeased in the Old Testament - thus, God passed over the sins committed in the Old Testament until Christ. (http://bible.geek.nz).

So Christ was the only real appeasement to God and before Christ a lot of the animal sacrifices requested by God didn't really count for much. This is probably Bible conundrum #45,652: why would God request sacrifices that didn't please (appease) Him? And how could man bargain or be diplomatic with a god who couldn't be appeased? Of course, throughout the Bible, man does try to be diplomatic with God "You cannot bargain with God!" say the Fundamentalists, but isn't that exactly what Abraham did to save Lot, or did they skip over that part in Sunday School? More precisely, people negotiated with God throughout the Bible. People tried to be, in a sense, diplomatic with God.

So God is the only entity that can be appeased, we get it. But is appeasement the same as diplomacy? Appeasement is simply giving (in) while diplomacy is giving and taking. Probably history's greatest act of "appeasement" was committed by Sir Neville Chamberlain. It is, in fact, Chamberlain's actions that Bush alluded to (though he didn't know it - his speechwriter obviously did).

"Some seem to believe we should negotiate with terrorists and radicals, as if some ingenious argument will persuade them they have been wrong all along," Bush said. "As Nazi tanks crossed into Poland in 1939, an American senator declared: 'Lord, if only I could have talked to Hitler, all of this might have been avoided.' We have an obligation to call this what it is -- the false comfort of appeasement, which has been repeatedly discredited by history," he said.

Chamberlain (before the agreement to hand over to Germany Czechoslovakia's Sudetenland):

"How horrible, fantastic it is that we should be digging trenches and trying on gas-masks here because of a quarrel in a far away country between people of whom we know nothing. I am myself a man of peace from the depths of my soul."

Chamberlain's reasoning on this point was as faulty as Bush's: "...people of whom we know nothing." To Chamberlain, appeasement to "people of whom we know nothing" was diplomacy. Howevever, true diplomacy is based on knowing as much as possible about every party involved. Chamberlain probably knew that, but he tried to present his actions as diplomatic - not caring if those actions hurt anyone else outside of Great Britain. Granted, Bush went into war not knowing anything about Iraq, Iran, Islam or anything relating to the Middle East. His actions for seven years have been anything but diplomatic. Of course, his "legacy" now demands that he act like a diplomat, but his actions are worse than transparent, their negligible, and quite possibly damaging.

His rhetoric is certainly getting worse: he's saying to Islamists all over the world: "You're beyond reasoning with (diplomacy). You're evil. If you don't do exactly as we want you to, we'll destroy you. Our holy men have said that our country was formed to destroy you, and we will."

For a sample of overtly anti-Islamic rhetoric go to the right-wing blog, Facta Non Verba here
This is the kind of "reasoning" Bush ascribes to.

Forms of diplomacy change over the years. When Marie Antoinette married the future Louis XVI, that was considered diplomacy. Back then, diplomacy was considered an art form.

It still is.

George Bush doesn't know that.

*The three men featured (left to right) are: Neville Chamberlain, "Pastor" John Hagee and ...take a guess (hint: rhymes with "arsley")

Aping Churchill

Aping Churchill
Originally uploaded by robbroccoli

I just ran across this and it seemed so apt to the post. Again, Bush and diplomacy have never even met. The pitiful thing is that he might actually start to believe his own rhetoric. What's the old saying about snake oil salesmen?

Churchill was a statesman. Bush is a politician. Who would you rather have representing your country?

Golf?!! What Will Bush Give Up Next? He Already's Given Up His Sanity!

How About Giving Up The Presidency?

Admittedly, this is an old article, but it speaks volumes on how our fearless leader thinks (or tries to)

Stars & Stripes: Bush Hasn't Attended any Iraq Soldier's Funeral

by Jonathan Singer, Thu Jul 06, 2006 at 12:41:42 AM EST

Over the past 39 1/2 months, more than 2,500 American soldiers have lost their lives in Iraq. Yet during this entire time -- well more than three years -- George W. Bush has not attended a single funeral for a soldier who perished during the Iraq conflict. Not one. Stars & Stripes' Jeff Schogol has the story (via Editor & Publisher).

President Bush has met hundreds of families of fallen soldiers, but he has yet to attend a servicemember's funeral, he said Tuesday.

"Because which funeral do you go to? In my judgment, I think if I go to one I should go to all. How do you honor one person but not another?" he said.

The appropriate way to express his appreciation to the family members of fallen troops is to meet with them in private, he said.

So...

Here's a President who has said he met hundreds of soldiers' families, gave up golf in "solidarity" and has yet to go an serviceman's funeral because he thought it might not seem fair to other soldier's families.

Today is the 191st anniversary of the first mental institution in this country.

Here's a President who did or didn't know if he collaborated in the cover-up about Pat Tillman's death in Afghanistan.

Today is the 191st anniversary of the first mental institution in this country.

Here's a President who gave an impromptu neck-rub to the Chancellor of Germany at a formal conference.

Today is the 191st anniversary of the first mental institution in this country.

Here's a President who told Pat Robertson there would be no casualties resulting from the War in Iraq.

Today is the 191st anniversary of the first mental institution in this country.

Over 212 years, 42 presidents issued signing statements objecting to a grand total of 600 provisions of new laws. George W. Bush has done that more than 800 times in just over five and a half years in office.

Today is the 191st anniversary of the first mental institution
in this country.

George Bush's war broke laws, his administration broke laws, but Bush denies any wrongdoing. His state of denial is so obvious, he seems to be the only one not to notice it.

Today is the 191st anniversary of the first mental institution
in this country.

While arguing against stem-cell research, George Bush told everyone we should "err on the side of life." This from someone who holds the nation's record for most executions carried out (158 during his time as governor of Texas).

Today is the 191st anniversary of the first mental institution in this country.

This wonderful parody of "Crazy" was put together by Zeeeemonga - if it is censored in any way, go to: http://www.youtube.com/user/zeeeemoga

Of course, when he's out of office, Bush will be handing out these
souvenir golf tees when he's out back again on the course.

What Do You Want For Your Birthday, Stephen Colbert? How About Secretary of State?

Or might that be closer to a Christmas Present?

Happy Birthday Stephen
Colbert!

Dear Stephen:

Like your grandmother, Claudette, you have a way of coaxing things out of the American public (her portrayal in It Happened One Night helped get the shirt off Clark Gable). Why, she was the ORIGINAL Cleopatra! (Well, at least according to Cecil B. deMille - who really was God!).

You've captured the true American spirit (whatever that is) and you've become a beacon.

If our nation can't have you to lead the nation, then you should do us the honor of at least taking up the rear as Secretary of State. You could repair 8 years of undiplomacy by reminding the world that we stopped killing injuns years ago and that tourists can no longer see the actual Salem witchcraft burnings. (Truthfully, though, they did draw a big crowd. Could we transfer them to Crawford, Texas?). You could really make our homeland inviting to dignitaries by insisting they wear protective masks and mobile GPSs to help them stay away from Dick Cheney or Halliburton (which is which?).

We know how swiftly and determinatedly you would act on today's current crises: you would swiftly quiet the rumors about quieting the rumors surrounding Iraq's current administration of corruption. And you would FORCE Myanmar or Burma or whatever to take the U.S.'s generous offer of 12,000 tons of nutritious Hostess Twinkies (some even deep-fried!). You might even come up with a brilliant idea like, well, "If they provide the land, we'll provide the McDonalds." Generous, yet so, so American! And your "campaign master" efforts (shown below) on behalf of Barack Obama to keep him and Rev. Jeremiah Wright in the news 24/7.

Yes, we wish you could bring the U.S. out of its diplomatic malaise. Please do it for the country, if not for yourself!

On this your day of days, we would also like to congratulate your being well hung...in the National Gallery, that is. We just found out about it (after we found out about the discontinuation of the witchcraft trials). So here, for your birthday, is a photo of that esteemed painting and a photo of the throng of people taking a picture of the picture (notice that Washington's portrait in the background has no one taking its picture!)
.
Happy Birthday, Stephen Colbert!
Rev. Wright and ....GRANNY!

Who's Your Mommy?

Happy Mother's Day!

There are mothers and then there are...MOTHERS!

From Medea and Hetty Green to St. Ludmila and Boudicca, there have been mothers to be adored, shunned, admired, feared, sainted, loathed and simply... loved.

I won't write any mushmouthed words to make you sigh, because I'd just like to take you through a panoply of rather distinctive mothers on this day. No rhyme or reason, just ones that come to mind.

Boudicca

She was Queen of the Iceni in an ancient Britain occupied by Romans. They killed her husband, flogged her and raped her daughters. So she fought back: she gathered tribes to drive out the Romans and attacked every Roman stronghold she could find. Her harassment was so thorough that Emperor Nero almost thought of abandoning the territory of Britain. She was defeated, but she made such an impression that today, Britans taut her as their first ruler.

Medea

What can be said about filicide? Truth is, the tale of Medea had many variations in Greek drama and legend. Euripdes' play was the one that lasted the longest. (From Wikipedia):

The tragic situation of Medea, abandoned in Corinth by Jason, was the subject matter transformed by Euripides in his tragedy Medea, first performed in 431 BCE. In this telling, Medea resorted to filicide before her flight to Athens. Euripides was revolutionary in his retelling of Medea's myth because he was the first one to show that she hadn't killed her children because she was mad or a barbarian, but because she was extremely distressed and furious at Jason for leaving her to marry a princess. Fueled by a need for revenge, she sent Glauce a poisoned dress and crown that burned her to death. Creon found her corpse and clutched it in mourning, crying, "Let me die as well." The dress was poisoned so as to kill anyone who touched the girl. It killed him as well. After some hesitation and self-debate, Medea then killed her two sons, Mermeros and Pheres, to hurt Jason.

Hetty Green

Hetty was known as the "Witch of Wall Street". In the Gilded Age (1880-1900), when having a cool million could get you invited to Mrs. Astor's house, Hetty was worth $40 million. Men swore that all her money was on her person, under her (always) black cloak. She was not only the country's wealthiest (independent) woman, but considered the meanest (from wikipedia):

Her frugality extended to family life. Her son Ned broke his leg as a child, but Hetty took him away from the hospital when she was recognized. She tried to treat him at home, but the leg contracted gangrene and had to be amputated – he ended up with a cork prosthesis. When he moved away from his mother to manage the family's properties in Chicago and, later, Texas, he became an ardent philatelist, who assembled one of the finest stamp collections ever in private hands. In middle age, he returned to New York; his mother would pass her final months with him. Ned ultimately married his long time "housekeeper", Mabel, of whom Hetty wholeheartedly disapproved.

Bess of Hardwick

In an age when the daughter of an insignificant country squire could only pray for a good husband, Elizabeth of Hardwick did more than pray. Some might even say that she "preyed": she married four times. Her first husband was a teenager (Bess was only thirteen at the time) who never even consumated the marriage, but left her with a small widow's pence. Her cousin at court obtained for her a position as lady in waiting to a countess. Her second husband was a man much older than she was who already had eight children. He was William Cavendish, a talented courtier who became Henry VIII's "Clerk of the Works" - a position he took great advantage of when Henry's dissolution of the monasteries meant that land and buildings would be given to the right people. He and Bess lived well enough for them to build Chatsworth (now known as "the Palace of the Peak" in Derbyshire, England). When William died and left one half of the estate (by law) to Bess, she wasted no time and went right back to court for another husband. He was William St. Lowe, Elizabeth I's Grand Steward of England. By the time Bess was widowed again and only 40 years old, she was considered the richest woman in England (besides Elizabeth I). Her fourth and final husband was the Earl of Shrewsbury - and the richest man in England. Bess was a considerate (if not overly loving) mother. The conditions of the marriage contract which she herself drew up: ALL of her marriageable children had to marry all of his marriageable children. Bess not only managed to keep all of the money in the family, but at the age of 70, built Hardwick Hall (shown here). You'll note that on the very top of the house (which she also designed) instead of plain railings, she had carved all around the top: "ES" - Elizabeth of Shrewsbury. Her children and grandchildren were rather intimidated by her, but were forced to admire her nonetheless.

Auntie Mame

Alright, she wasn't a mother, but so many people wish she were THEIR mother! Underneath all of the craziness, she thought first and foremost of her nephew Patrick. Rich or poor, Mame exhibited a joy of living that could only be contagious. When escorting Patrick's young son, Michael, up her Beekman Place staircase, Mame waxes poetic on India where she will be taking him..."...and the monks of the monastery atop the mountain are very good friends of your Auntie Mame's and maybe they'll let you ring the temple bells to call them to evening prayer..." Michael's mother sighs and says, "I give up, she's the Pied Piper!."

Saint Ludmila

O.K., what if your mother wasn't the best, but your grandmother was a bonefied saint? Such was the case with "Good King (also Saint) Wenceslaus" of Bohemia (and the Christmas carol):

Wenceslaus' mother Drahomíra became jealous of Ludmila's influence over Wenceslaus. She had two noblemen murder Ludmila at Tetín, and part of Ludmila's story says that she was strangled with her veil. Initially Saint Ludmila was buried at St. Michael's at Tetín. Then buried in the Royal Chapel of St. Vitus Cathedral.

Jenny Jerome Churchill

Victorian women in England were definitely to be seen but not heard and certainly not to be considered "vivacious". But Jenny Jerome was an American and she was so beautiful that most men forgot that she was Randolph Churchill's wife, heiress to an American fortune, and the sister-in-law of Consuelo Vanderbilt, the Duchess of Marlboro. And she was just as scandalous as her political husband (both of them had extramarital affairs), but she was more of a stern friend than a Victorian mother to her son Winston. Churchill always credited his mother for his tenacity and will power. And he always knew what it was like to be considered just slightly outside society's upper class.

Evelyn Sylvia Vojir (nee Mrazek)

Yes, I'm putting my own mother amongst these notables. Hey, it's my blog, after all! She was as vivacious as Jenny Jerome, as practical as Bess of Hardwick, as loving as Saint Ludmila and (when needed) as headstrong as Queen Boudicca. While she taught me some valuable lessons about the Great Depression, she didn't let it define her. She told me about the times she had to cadge coal from behind the railroad trains so her family could have heat that day. She also told me how she maneuvered guys into taking her home from the Aragon Ballroom (Chicago), primarily because she didn't have the trolley fare home (a nickel). She trained my pet parakeet to talk, dance and play dead (don't ask) and she loved to get her fortune told - by her own mother (goods times in the north woods of Wisconsin).

She wasn't a paragon of motherhood, but she always did the best she could. Who couldn't love a mother like that?