Tags
Buddhism, Episcopal Church, gay rights, Iowa, Levi Johnson, Mel Gibson, Obama, pirates, Sarah Palin, Somalia, spirituality
Now that Easter is officially over (not really, but Easter Day has come and passed), it behooves us to return to some serious news again. There is just so much to talk about.
The dangerous drama that has been taking place off the coast of Somalia is now over and the captain of the American trawler was recovered unharmed from Somalian pirates.
While the wingnuts of the right and their punditry sycophants were howling that our President was not doing a thing and was caving into terrorists, of course saner heads prevailed in our leadership.
First of all the perpetrators were not terrorists but common thugs. Secondly our President was fully in command. Thirdly we have to thank the excellence of the Navy Seals who were able to remove the threat and save the captain free from any harm. It’s regrettable that lives were lost of course, but this was handled it would appear with the utmost professionalism by both the Navy and the Administration. Kudos to both, and let the wingnutteries return to grousing about the pizza party.
***
The sniping continues from Sarah Moosey Hunter Palin, and as usual, she keeps sticking that high heel into her big mouth. Levi, once the soon to be wonderful son-in-law, is now the dude who was but a mistake on her daughter’s part.
Ever since Levi appeared on Tyra Banks, the snowballs have been flying, mostly one way. Where Levi claimed he lived with the Palin’s for a few months, Mama Palin says, “over my dead body.”
What’s worse, she says Bristol is about the business of extolling the virtues of abstinence as the proper way of a all young women not yet married. Problem is, Bristol is already on record as saying that while a lovely idea in theory, it “doesn’t work.”
I guess Sarah the Enforcer has had a word or two with her daughter. Course, Bristol continues to make up her own mind on these things we are assured. Sure, sure, sure, as long as it doesn’t interfere with mom’s courting of the religious right that is.
***
The Episcopal Cafe reports that the Obama’s attended Easter Sunday services at St. John’s Episcopal church in DC. This is not to say that the Obama’s have chosen this as their church, and actually it might be a wonderful thing if the Obama’s chose no church, but attended many different ones over the next four years. It might send a much needed message that there is value in all faith traditions, even those (gasp) not Christian.
The entire family received communion. The Episcopal church welcomes all baptized to the table of God.
***
Just one of those weirdnesses you never expect. When we learned here in the Peyton household of the anti-Jewish tendencies of one Mel Gibson, we swore off his movies, much as we had OJ’s. Course Gibson’s transgressions were not in the same league as murder, but after his bloody and ultra-orthodox rendition of Christ’s crucifixion, it added up to be enough for us.
Right wing Roman Catholics have long touted Mr. Gibson for his very very orthodox views.
Well hold on to your hats, it seems that Mrs. Gibson has filed for divorce. This is a huge no-no for those of the Roman persuasion and we can but guess how Mr. Gibson is reacting.
We find that they have in fact been separated for more than two years, his drunken adventures being some part of the catalyst it seems. Also there are rumors of “adultery” floating around.
Now we take the position, that Mr. Gibson is no better nor worse than any human and subject to all the frailties of the species. Yet, when you toot your orthodoxy as loud as has the above mentioned, it often comes back to bite you in the arse.
***
I planned on getting away from religious stuff for a bit, and truthfully, this isn’t religious, but spiritual. If you don’t have time to read much here today, make this your one stop. I tend to believe in serendipity, and I find it active here. Yesterday, in our sermon, Barbara told us not to get bogged down in the issue of “did the resurrection really happen.” Rather, she advised, live the resurrection, practice it daily. That is the value of it, and the lesson. Every athlete or musician knows the value of practice–you get better and better at it.
Dean Sluyter is a Buddhist, chaplain, and teacher. His words are magical in their simplicity and sense.
Live the Resurrection, live God, and stop worrying about believing. If it’s real, if you experience it, that is enough. Alleluia!
***
The nuttery league, known as the National Organization for Marriage, tells us that marriage is under attack. The Contrarian has stood ready for several days now, shotgun cocked and ready should those crazy gays invade our meadow and try to attack ours. So far so good. A round of applause for the Rethugs who continue to tie their wagon to this dying star.
***
Just wanted you to know that during the last week, nothing has changed and the following people are still crazy:
Bill O’Reilly, Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Newt Gingrich, Michelle Bachmann, Bobby Jindal, James Inhofe, Lou Dobs, Michele Matlin, Ann Coulter, Bill Kristol, Michael Steele, Rep. Steven King (R. IA), Karl Rove, George W. Bush, John Bolton, Sarah Palin. I’m sure the list is longer, but that’s all that come to mind right now. Boy the GOP is full of nuts isn’t it? What’s the likelihood statistically speaking that this many airheads could inhabit such a tiny little party?
***
Well, I’m off to cook up some farm fresh eggs, some sausage and fresh hashbrowns for dinner. Hope you find an interesting link or two.