I’m writing for tomorrow, day 179. I’m still feeling quite tired from Tuesday’s volunteer work. Next week will be very hectic with a Urologist appointment on Monday (routine semi-annual) and a volunteer day in prison on Thursday. I have to prepare a presentation to give to over 100 prisoners and a dozen crime victims, so I’ll have lots to do between now and then, so I may be intermittent.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 3:14 (average 4:59). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From sojo.net (Hat-Tip Joanne Dixon): Thousands of people from around the country came to Ferguson, Mo., for a “weekend of resistance.” But for faith leaders it was a weekend of repentance. Twenty of us were arrested in Ferguson yesterday for an act of repentance.
I went to Ferguson as a faith leader but, in particular, as a white faith leader. Because the great disparity between how differently young black lives are treated in our criminal justice system than young white lives is a fundamental injustice that must not only be left to black faith leaders to raise up. Repentance must begin in the white Christian community for tolerating this offense to our black brothers and sisters and, ultimately, this offense to God. Let me be as honest as I can be. If white Christians in America were more Christian than white, black parents could feel safer about their children. It’s time for us white Christians to repent — turn around and go in a new direction.
Repentance is a powerful theme throughout the Bible. But its meaning is often not well understood. Repentance is not about being sorry or just feeling guilty. It is about turning in a new direction. The biblical word for repentance in the original Greek is metanoia, which means you are going in the wrong direction, and it’s time to turn right around.
Most frequently, the only thing we see from the white faith community is the false gospel of division, hate and greed from Republican Supply-side pseudo-Christians (the opposite of authentic Christians). An expression of authentic repentance is a breath of fresh air.
From Daily Kos: Georgia Republican David Perdue’s pride in his outsourcing career was screaming out for a campaign ad, and Democratic opponent Michelle Nunn has obliged. The ad is composed almost entirely of news coverage laying out the situation—and it’s damning enough on its own.
So do we want Perdue to take his vulture capitalism to the US Senate? Do we want any of it at all? No! We want Nunn! Get out the VOTE!!!
From The New Yorker: The president of CNN Worldwide, Jeff Zucker, attempted on Wednesday to defuse the brewing controversy over his decision to change the network’s official slogan from “The Most Trusted Name in News” to “Holy Crap, We’re All Gonna Die.”
“This exciting new slogan is just one piece of our over-all rebranding strategy,” Zucker said. “Going forward, we want CNN to be synonymous with the threat of imminent death.”
He added that the network expected to see strong ratings growth as a result of having the words “Holy Crap, We’re All Gonna Die” on-screen twenty-four hours a day.
More straight News from Andy, as he exposes Faux Noise Lite.
Cartoon:
7 Responses to “Open Thread–10/17/2014”
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4:53 average up to 5:13
Sojourners – A truly Christian group and made up of Christians from many denominations, including a lot of faith leaders. If you click through, you will appreciate where he says that had they been black they likely would not have been treated as well while under arrest. Vision. Thanks TC.
Daily Kos – I understaznd she's leading in polls now but it's not a time to take that for granted. I am rooting for both her and Jimmy Carter III. GET OUT THE VOTE!
New Yorker – Too bad they didn't have this bright idea years ago about climate change (of which the way Ebola is spreading is an offshoot, BTW). We mught have … oh, who am I kidding, we still wouldn't have done anything while under the thumb of Big Oil (including all fossil fuels).
Cartoon – THAT Jesus probably spoke to them and said exactly that.
Good for you for all the work you do for the prisoners TC, it is wonderful.
Thanks Joanne and TC for the Sojourners info – it is good to hear of white Christians in America who actually behave like Christians (apart from TC et al) and are happy to contradict the hideous Reich Wingers (who appear never to have read the New Testament, and especially not the Gospels) – the Sojourners are putting their faith into practice on the ground – God bless them for it! (Is it legal for people peacefully asking to speak to the Police Chief to be arrested in America? Strewth!).
From the article " Repentance means more than lamenting the loss of another young black man or being sympathetic to his grieving mother. True repentance means changing the direction of the practices and policies that led to his death and so many others. But thus far, there is little evidence that public officials in Ferguson and St. Louis County have the courage to alter their behavior and their systematic responses to young men and women of color in their communities. So faith leaders came to help begin the process of repentance."
Daily Kos – excellent ad, they should do more like that!
New Yorker – methinks Andy is straying into reality, not satire – sadly!
4:17 The power of suggestion has me smelling cookies. ARRRGH! I'll have a piece of chocolate instead.
3:33 I just had a spaghetti dinner so there is no chance for the power of suggestion . . . I'm full!
sojo.net ~ Pseudo-Christians don't understand the meaning of repentance. Jesus didn't tell sinners to repent. He told them to "Go and sin no more." I believe this means "repent".
Daily Kos ~ I love the ad. More Democrats need to call out their opponents like this. They all have something they have said or done to hurt the people.
New Yorker ~ Yup!
Cartoon ~ Voter Fraud? That's the only way they know to win elections.
I clicked through the article from sojonet. Jim Wallis sounds like the kind of preacher that I could follow. He is so right. If white Christians in America were more Christians than white, black parents would not have to worry so much about their children.
Daily Kos: I hope enough voters in Georgia see these ads. He is exactly what we don't need in the Senate.
The New Yorker: Andy gave such an accurate description of CNN with the new motto.
Cartoon: Since they are so sure Jesus is on their side, they feel that their thefts will be forgiven.
You are a very busy man. Take care of yourself while you are doing so much..
Puzzle — 3:33 I just had a spaghetti dinner so there is no chance for the power of suggestion . . . I'm full!
Sojo.net — Excellent piece and so very true. As I read "Repentance must begin in the white Christian community for tolerating this offense to our black brothers and sisters …" near the beginning of the article, I thought fat chance that will happen with the pseudo Christians and the Republicanus/Teabaggers in such numbers in the south. But then I remembered that if people don't try, it will NEVER happen.
Daily Kos — Interesting last name for Nunn's opponent . . . Perdue is French for LOST as in unable to find one's way; not knowing one's whereabouts. Perfect for the Republicanus/Teabaggers who are so totally lost . . . no direction, no morals, no ethics, bereft of humanity.
GET OUT THE VOTE! GET OUT THE VOTE! GET OUT THE VOTE! GET OUT THE VOTE! GET OUT THE VOTE! GET OUT THE VOTE! GET OUT THE VOTE! GET OUT THE VOTE! GET OUT THE VOTE! GET OUT THE VOTE! GET OUT THE VOTE! GET OUT THE VOTE! GET OUT THE VOTE! GET OUT THE VOTE! GET OUT THE VOTE! GET OUT THE VOTE! GET OUT THE VOTE! GET OUT THE VOTE!
The New Yorker — Andy, Andy, Andy! Dear boy we must have a chat sometime about the differences between, real news and satire!
Cartoon — Crap! It's the guy with the messianic complex dictating strategy to the Republicanus/Teabaggers again!