The Thoughts We Do Not Speak
With the Pope and Jerry Falwell's failing health in the news these days, I think to my self, so what? The media report with concern the dire news about ventilators and feeding tubes while a nation and world prepare for the worst. But from my perspective, these two preachers are no saints. At best they are puritanical scolds and at worst they are homophobic agitators tacitly giving their approval for the world to gay bash.
Falwell, I have nothing in common with, other than being white and male. Not being Protestant, I find conservative Protestantism truly alien. I shudder when I hear him pronouncing Jesus as if it were a three syllable word. But those are just superficial rants on Falwell. When I think of the true Christians I know - devout, charitable and compassionate people - I realize that Falwell has absolutely nothing in common with them. With him, it was always about money and politics and scapegoating. I always wonder what the most vocal homophobes are hiding.
With the Pope, though never a fan, I have a tiny bit of conflict, being raised Catholic and all. About a dozen years ago, one Sunday I was in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, his summer home, as he appeared in the window at the anointed time and gave out his blessing to the crowd. So I've actually been in his presence. But his conservative, firebrand preaching has always turned me off. He spent his best papal years doing everything he possibly could to erase any modernization the Catholic Church has achieved and turn it back a century. With his homophobic preaching, I viewed him as the Catholic Church's version of Jesse Helms.
So to be as kind as possible, if I hear about either of their passing, I will shed no tears. I can only hope their obituaries will be fair and balanced, because unlike the true Christians I know, the words and deeds of these two men were not all good.
Sentenced to Eight in RepubliWorld
Is it me or does RepubliWorld get scarier and more surreal by the day? I really don't want to scan the news anymore because I can't imagine what the RepubliWorld Halls of Power are going to pull next. This is a world where nothing but double-speak and approved company language emanates from the White House. Never a straight answer out of the Stepford White House Press Secretary. They take their Social Security policy "debate" road show out to an audience of pre-screened Stepford supporters, and it's all on the taxpayers dime. They produce their own fake "news" programs spewing their propaganda as if they were objective news stories. I am an avid reader of the Washington Post's online chats; this is where the public asks legitimate questions about the hypocrisy of RepubliWorld. Here is an excerpt from Paul Farhi's "Station Break" online chat transcript ( http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A27868-2005Mar11.html). The chatter's statement, though, tongue and cheek, is eerily chilling:
"Mokba, USSR: Comrades! I see you finally have come around to our OLD way of government-generated TV News. Your president's "video news releases" (with that foxy American woman "reporter" Karen Ryan!) are a brilliant way of keeping the proletariat in line. I especially admire your leader's firm "resolution" to have his agencies keep putting out the propaganda despite the GAO finding that they are illegal. The fact that you have all accepted it so quietly and passively bodes well for harmony in your new totalitarian society.
Thank you for validating our old model, which worked so well for so long! Das Vedanya from Moscow, circa 1960.
Paul Farhi: Hahahaha! Frankly, I've been surprised by the lack of traction this story has gotten. Yes, it's been in all the papers, but the people who seem most exercised by it (perhaps rightly so, but still...) are journalists. Where is the outrage from John and Jane Q. Public? A little mass moral indignation, please... "
Not that outrageous, ha?
And down the street, we have the RepubliWorld Congress legislating for one. The gall of RepubliWorld Congress interfering in the Florida Schiavo case. Have you ever seen anything more absurd? I mean, forget the medical stuff for a moment, can RepubliWorld's usually gung-ho, marriage-defending House Majority Leader tell me if marriage is fucking sacred or not?
And while I'm making requests, can the Senate Majority Leader take a look at a video of my hemorrhoid and make a diagnosis? It certainly won't be an unfamiliar site for him to see with all of the pandering to the Religious Right going on.
If only the RepubliWorld years can turn out like the old TV show Dallas in the episode when Pam woke up and the previous year's episodes turned out to be a bad dream. I'd like waking up on January 21, 2009, to be like that. And this time, because of all the lies, scandal, and deception thrust upon the American people during the intervening years, there is no way in hell I'd be waking up to a President Frist or Bush III. They'd all be relegated to persona non grata status because of their roles in the "dream" years.
Please, 15 Minutes End Already!
Sometimes when people hit the big time and become part of our consciousness, you hope that their 15 minutes are over with in a flash. I know the moment Britney Spears first appeared in my consciousness six or so years ago, I was praying for a quick 15. I mean, there was already a precedent for it. I'm talking about the 1989 template, when Debbie Gibson and Tiffany first hit it big. Their 15 was over with in a flash. And they had some talent and could carry a tune live.
And ten years later, when Britney and Christina hit it, I assumed it would be 1989 deja vu. But, Nooo! Six years later, Southern, trailer-queen Britney is still around. We are still treated to news of her quickie marriages, pampered pets, and exhaustion episodes. I try to avoid any news of Britney - I never watch MTV, listen to candy-ass radio stations, or subscribe to teeny-bopper mags, so I'm pretty much immune to her. But when the latest Details magazine appeared in my mailbox, there is Mr. Britney Spears on the cover. He's a train-wreck, how could I avoid reading the article. During the interview, wifey-poo commandeers the interview, as if not wanting hubby to be the only trash-talking, potty-mouth in the family. Well, they sounded like soulmates...fresh out of the Louisiana trailer. My favorite line was the one where she revealed her contempt for her fans: "When I have kids - I think Celine Dion, the way she does it, with her show in Vegas, is the way to go. Everybody comes to her. When I have kids I am so there. That's what I'm doing: Come to me, motherfuckers."
Well let's hope 15 minutes and 0 seconds beats her to Vegas!
