Saturday, February 28, 2004
FROM THE FRONT PAGE
A Lot of topics floating around the front pages of America’s newspapers lately, huh? Well, let’s take a look at a few of the stories and see what all the fuss is about, shall we?
Two John’s Don’t Make a Right
I’ll be the first to admit that politics is not my strongest suit, however, I have a few things to say about the candidacy of the two Democratic Presidential hopefuls.
First of all, it seems pretty obvious that John Kerry will be the nominee of his party. I don’t know exactly why John Edwards is sticking around. He is a great campaigner, and I’d like to see him try again in future elections, but I think it’s best if he hang it up after the coming Super Tuesday primaries. Victory seems to be a lost cause for him right now.
Not that this is to say I think John Kerry is the man for the job either. I can’t stand John Kerry. I hate President Bush, but if Mr. Kerry is the alternative, I’m just going to say “No thanks,” and cast my vote for a 3rd party candidate. Specifically, I’m looking at pulling the lever for either Ralph Nader or, more likely, Michael Badnarik, of the Libertarian Party. Either one, at the very least, is a vote for a three party system and against the typical partisan politics of Washington.
The Passion of the Christ
Can’t anyone make a movie containing religious themes without being criticized or threatened with ostracization? I understand it is a sensitive subject, what with the whole “My God is the REAL God, yours is fake” arguments that domineer these types of things, but come on already. Enough is enough.
I remember, a few years ago, when writer/director Kevin Smith was releasing his movie “Dogma,” the same general type of smear campaigns. The film was a comedy about two fallen angels trying to work their way back into Heaven, but that didn’t matter. People said that he was simply trying to cast a harsh light against the Catholic Church and against organized religion in general...all before they had seen the movie.
Mel Gibson has created a dramatization about the last hours of Christ based on his interpretation of the Bible. While still in production, the rumors were flying that Mr. Gibson was a rabid anti-Semite and the movie would be a cinematic love letter to Adolph Hitler and the forces of evil. Of course, Mel is nothing like the way the media and various Jewish groups have painted him to be, but that hasn’t stopped the criticism. The least anyone can do is wait until they’ve seen the film before they make any judgements. Personally, I have not yet gone. But from what I have heard from the people who have is that it is a powerful experience that has at its core only a message of love, mercy and forgiveness.
But, as far as the inter-faith bickering is concerned, does it really matter what way is the right way to interpret the Bible if the lessons you take from it are just? Does it truly matter what any of us believe, regardless of the God we pray to, as long as our convictions give us hope? I think not.
I’m reminded of a verse from a song by the band Screeching Weasel which sums it up better than I ever could. In part, it says: “Consider the case/Of the woman whose faith/Helped her make it through. When she was raped and cut up/Left for dead in a trunk/Her beliefs held true. It doesn’t matter if it’s real or not/Cause some things are better left without a doubt. And if it works then it gets the job done.” Ben Weasel wrote and sang those lyrics in a song called “The Science of Myth,” and, as far as I’m concerned, the lesson I took years ago from that verse is one a lot of people could use today. They paint the picture perfectly.
Should Gay Marriage Be Legal?
This should not even be an issue. Of course it should be legal.
What amazes me about some of the people in this country is that right now, somewhere in the world, a group of people are conspiring to blow us all up, and what pisses them off is that gay people want to be able to marry each other. It’s pathetic, ignorant and it’s sad.
Look, I’ve got news for you. Gay people have the ability to fall in love. That emotion is not limited to heterosexuals. Gay people also like to have sex with the other gay people with whom they have feelings for. This sex typically will consist of either one man’s penis penetrating another man’s anus, or, in the case of women, the licking and fingering of one another’s vaginas. It happens. Learn to deal with it.
Everyone has to be able to face the facts here. Knowing that there are two homosexuals married to each other does not make us gay, nor does it destroy the sanctity of marriage. You see, straight people already took care of that part. Anytime I hear about a man and a woman co-existing in an abusive marriage or one in which each partner is unhappy but they stay together “for the kids” (so the children can inherit that self-loathing and maybe even pass it on to their own kids), I begin to question the sacredness of the institution. For Christ's sake, some of us actually get married at drive-thru wedding chapels! We have to come to grips with the notion that the gay people of the world can’t screw up or toy with the idea of marriage anymore than us straight-folk already have.
Yes, Gay Marriage should be legal. Homosexuals, like the rest of us, are entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And if their pursuit of happiness entails them marrying someone that they love, so be it. It doesn’t affect me and it doesn’t effect anyone else. So why stand in their way?
The Pope and the Pedophilic Priests
It has recently been disclosed that Catholic Dioceses across the country have received 10,667 claims of sexual abuse against children since 1950. Of these, 6,700 reports have been substantiated. Another 3,300 have never been investigated because the suspected offenders are dead.
This is offensively ridiculous to me. I don't care to comment at this time as to why child molestors are so drawn to the priesthood, but they have gotten away with their atrocities for far too long. These people should be in jail, not roaming the pews across the nation looking for new victims.
And where is the Pope? Does he have anything to say about this matter? He has barely lifted a finger against these monsters. As the head of the Catholic Church, it is his responsibility to handle this problem. If his age or health prevents him from standing up against these abominations, he should step aside and allow someone to take power who will. I cannot support any religious leader who has allowed child molestation to go on nearly unabated during his time on the job. No, the Pope will not receive a free pass from me. Does he believe he'll get one from his God?
A Lot of topics floating around the front pages of America’s newspapers lately, huh? Well, let’s take a look at a few of the stories and see what all the fuss is about, shall we?
Two John’s Don’t Make a Right
I’ll be the first to admit that politics is not my strongest suit, however, I have a few things to say about the candidacy of the two Democratic Presidential hopefuls.
First of all, it seems pretty obvious that John Kerry will be the nominee of his party. I don’t know exactly why John Edwards is sticking around. He is a great campaigner, and I’d like to see him try again in future elections, but I think it’s best if he hang it up after the coming Super Tuesday primaries. Victory seems to be a lost cause for him right now.
Not that this is to say I think John Kerry is the man for the job either. I can’t stand John Kerry. I hate President Bush, but if Mr. Kerry is the alternative, I’m just going to say “No thanks,” and cast my vote for a 3rd party candidate. Specifically, I’m looking at pulling the lever for either Ralph Nader or, more likely, Michael Badnarik, of the Libertarian Party. Either one, at the very least, is a vote for a three party system and against the typical partisan politics of Washington.
The Passion of the Christ
Can’t anyone make a movie containing religious themes without being criticized or threatened with ostracization? I understand it is a sensitive subject, what with the whole “My God is the REAL God, yours is fake” arguments that domineer these types of things, but come on already. Enough is enough.
I remember, a few years ago, when writer/director Kevin Smith was releasing his movie “Dogma,” the same general type of smear campaigns. The film was a comedy about two fallen angels trying to work their way back into Heaven, but that didn’t matter. People said that he was simply trying to cast a harsh light against the Catholic Church and against organized religion in general...all before they had seen the movie.
Mel Gibson has created a dramatization about the last hours of Christ based on his interpretation of the Bible. While still in production, the rumors were flying that Mr. Gibson was a rabid anti-Semite and the movie would be a cinematic love letter to Adolph Hitler and the forces of evil. Of course, Mel is nothing like the way the media and various Jewish groups have painted him to be, but that hasn’t stopped the criticism. The least anyone can do is wait until they’ve seen the film before they make any judgements. Personally, I have not yet gone. But from what I have heard from the people who have is that it is a powerful experience that has at its core only a message of love, mercy and forgiveness.
But, as far as the inter-faith bickering is concerned, does it really matter what way is the right way to interpret the Bible if the lessons you take from it are just? Does it truly matter what any of us believe, regardless of the God we pray to, as long as our convictions give us hope? I think not.
I’m reminded of a verse from a song by the band Screeching Weasel which sums it up better than I ever could. In part, it says: “Consider the case/Of the woman whose faith/Helped her make it through. When she was raped and cut up/Left for dead in a trunk/Her beliefs held true. It doesn’t matter if it’s real or not/Cause some things are better left without a doubt. And if it works then it gets the job done.” Ben Weasel wrote and sang those lyrics in a song called “The Science of Myth,” and, as far as I’m concerned, the lesson I took years ago from that verse is one a lot of people could use today. They paint the picture perfectly.
Should Gay Marriage Be Legal?
This should not even be an issue. Of course it should be legal.
What amazes me about some of the people in this country is that right now, somewhere in the world, a group of people are conspiring to blow us all up, and what pisses them off is that gay people want to be able to marry each other. It’s pathetic, ignorant and it’s sad.
Look, I’ve got news for you. Gay people have the ability to fall in love. That emotion is not limited to heterosexuals. Gay people also like to have sex with the other gay people with whom they have feelings for. This sex typically will consist of either one man’s penis penetrating another man’s anus, or, in the case of women, the licking and fingering of one another’s vaginas. It happens. Learn to deal with it.
Everyone has to be able to face the facts here. Knowing that there are two homosexuals married to each other does not make us gay, nor does it destroy the sanctity of marriage. You see, straight people already took care of that part. Anytime I hear about a man and a woman co-existing in an abusive marriage or one in which each partner is unhappy but they stay together “for the kids” (so the children can inherit that self-loathing and maybe even pass it on to their own kids), I begin to question the sacredness of the institution. For Christ's sake, some of us actually get married at drive-thru wedding chapels! We have to come to grips with the notion that the gay people of the world can’t screw up or toy with the idea of marriage anymore than us straight-folk already have.
Yes, Gay Marriage should be legal. Homosexuals, like the rest of us, are entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And if their pursuit of happiness entails them marrying someone that they love, so be it. It doesn’t affect me and it doesn’t effect anyone else. So why stand in their way?
The Pope and the Pedophilic Priests
It has recently been disclosed that Catholic Dioceses across the country have received 10,667 claims of sexual abuse against children since 1950. Of these, 6,700 reports have been substantiated. Another 3,300 have never been investigated because the suspected offenders are dead.
This is offensively ridiculous to me. I don't care to comment at this time as to why child molestors are so drawn to the priesthood, but they have gotten away with their atrocities for far too long. These people should be in jail, not roaming the pews across the nation looking for new victims.
And where is the Pope? Does he have anything to say about this matter? He has barely lifted a finger against these monsters. As the head of the Catholic Church, it is his responsibility to handle this problem. If his age or health prevents him from standing up against these abominations, he should step aside and allow someone to take power who will. I cannot support any religious leader who has allowed child molestation to go on nearly unabated during his time on the job. No, the Pope will not receive a free pass from me. Does he believe he'll get one from his God?
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