DragonFlight

I remember the great Orson Welles made a movie before he died named F Is For Fake - well everything about the GOP and "family values" ilk is fake. rabidly anti-gay except dick & lynne hold up the baby of mary & heather lol. they claim to be pro-family while trashing everything that supports family - unlimited funds for the war profiteers while more US children fall into poverty and are without healthcare, the US drops in life expectency and infant mortality rates fall below Cuba. it's all empty slogans. we can see how much compassion romney has by how quickly he turned on larry craig not just his actions - the rightwing is quick to eat it's own. "moral values" is just a slogan to win political campaigns by ghoulish hypocrites who have no moral values. the ghouls wrap themselves in "moral Values" while they torture the defenseless and seek sex in toilets.

You're so right heartfood. When will people wake up? I remember Yamamoto saying of the US just after Pearl Harbor (or was it just the movie) that I'm afraid all we've done is awakened a sleeping giant and filled him with a terrible resolve.

Where is that awakening and resolve now? Can people actually remain so stupid? Do we actually deserve the government we have? Those that see what is happening need the help of those who seem to be in zombieland. And now the Commander in Chief (cough) is banging the war drums once again (while languishing in the midst of a failed Iraq campaign), as he makes the same case for Iran as he did for Irag, and floats images of a "nu-cu-lar holocaust." God, how I hate the fact that the man with the codes can't even pronounce nuclear!!!!!!!

It reminds me of my favorite quote from "Scaramouche," a book by Rafael Sabatini. The first line is "He was born with a gift of laughter and a sense that the world was mad."

Unfortunately, this is an old story, exceptional more for the sheer number of transgressions than the nature of the acts. Except for pedophiles (those bastards should be taken out back and whipped forever and ever) and people committing crimes against the unconsenting, I think the whole issue of sexual misconduct is blown out of proportion. I have absolutely no interest in what kind of sexual practices people engage in, but when these candidates run around using virtue and morality as weapons, then they should be prepared to be skewered by their own hypocrisy. It's almost amusing to see the number of people getting nailed for indiscretions, who also pushed for Clinton's impeachment.

I've long said (and I think I mean it) that I don't have anything against Republicans, per se, except for the leaders they elect. Put aside morality issues and just look at the lies and deceit foisted upon us. Any statisticians in the house? I wonder what the probability is of this many creeps engaged in ethics cases, who also have actively campaigned on morality positions.

And the scariest thing to me is not the number of creeps who are showing up, but the people who have elected them. What's the probability of so many supposedly moral people, who are supposedly measuring candidates by their moral positions, getting it wrong so often?

We all make mistakes, but accidents are a whole lot more likely if you don't open your eyes.

Fabulous article, Stephen. I, too, hate the hypocrisy, the double
> standard, and the pompous strutting of people who declare "family
> values" and live differently while condemning those who are
> realistic about human beings. I have always felt that we in the
> United States are so puritanical about sex that we end up with
> those who seek out bathrooms and back alley encounters, especially
> those who preach "family values." Well done, Stephen!

Doug, it is indeed an old story, old and tiring. One would have thought we'd have been on the way to getting beyond such things at the start of the 21st Century, and perhaps we would have been, accept for the advent of Bush/Cheney and mob.

Shame on the voters, and sad news for the children. Good news for the hucksters and professional hypocrites.

I concur that the real crime is not sexuality or how consenting adults spend their time (though abusing children is another story). Rather, its the diabolical snakes in sheep's clothing pretendint to be righteous; those who lie, cheat and live pretend lives in order to fleece voters for their support.

And, those "creeps" are bad enough, but as you say, the most shocking are the millions of Americans cloaked in righteousness themselves, those followers of morality by rote, if not in deed, who listen to the words of the Snake Oil salesmen, without reading their hearts, and trust in them simply because the words seem familiar, and they think they have the same enemies. - namely the evil baby eating "liberals" they have been told about.

Ironic isn't it, that while they are constantly brainwashed into believing the "liberals" are evil and Godless, it is their own leaders, the name callers themselves, that almost every week now are exposed as as the very evil and Godless people they are attempting to expose in exchange for votes? It's quite a boomerang, and one ardently hopes enough of their constiuents will FINALLY see it, and JUMP with fear and ephiphany, and see the Light finally.

I once met a group of people at a restaurant and we felt a strong connection to each other, so had lunch together. We talked congenially through most of the meal. The conversation was quite animated and interesting. Mostly we spoke of "spirituality" and connected because of the acceptance of one another.

Until, at one point, I was asked about how I followed Jesus. I told them I was a great believer in the teachings of Jesus, believing they were the next step to enlightenment, if learned and practiced.

But they were more interested in whether or not I had literally "accepted" Jesus in my heart, prayed to him, and accepted him as my savior. I tried to explain my path was not so literal, that I did embrace his teaching, and did my best to live them. I told them it was because of that we had all met and felt so connected.

As you can surmise, that was the end of that connection. They couldn't fathom my not following the bible by rote, or the standard procedures as to worshipping Jesus, instead of the message.

For them it was all about the words and the rules and the literal process. For me it was simply about living the message of Jesus, instead of worshipping the man himself. Respect for the man and teachings is implicit in trying to emmulate him. They couldn't get that.

So, though the afternoon started off well, with a connecton of like hearts in a loving atmosphere, it came crashing down upon us once the focus switched to the intellectual analysis of belief systems. From my perspective, they did not get that the "message" was the gift, not the savior himself. From their perspective they didn't get I could focus away from the savior, and still get the message; even though if they had pondered on it, would have realized our first hour together showed that I had done just that.

This is what we are now dealing with Douglas. People more attached to the words of scripture, and the structure of the religious heirarchy itself, than in the actual necessity of transforming themselves as the divine message dictates.

What results instead of actual spiritual enlightenment, and the resultant opening of the heart, is just another intellectual puzzle to be analyzed, interpreted and talked about ad nauseum.

This is why is it SO EASY for anyone who knows all the words, knows the structure, and knows the people that attach to it, to manipulate them in almost anyway possible.

Very few as yet realize that manipulaton and control were not part of Jesus' routine or intent, that instead they are the modus operandi of those who represent the antithesis of his teachings.

Thank you Ottershar, it is always extremely satisfying to communicate to a kindred soul. I hope we will be as successful in reaching those who as yet don't really understand what we are talking about. They are essentially good hard working Americans who are being led astray by those, who with full knowingness, are using their very values against them.

Maybe my comment to Dougt hints at a way to reach them. First one must understand the mindset, and perhaps only then, is it possible to reach them on a meaningful level.

The focus must switch to the message, and not the messenger (Jesus). While the messenger gives credence to the message, that's all he does. One saves themself by applying the message (and being inspired by Jesus is a plus); it is not the messenger that saves. In other words, it takes a lot more than words, memorizing, structure and rules, in addition to putting one's salvation outside themselves, to transform oneself.

This same formula is applicable to any faith or creed, or none. The basic principle is connecting with oneself in the knowledge that the Universe works for us, not against us. It helps to believe in the power of love and forgiveness. I've found them to be very effective when in need of guidance and protection.

Once this is known and understood, it will take all the snake salesmen out of the equation. They will no longer have power to sway, manipulate and control others, with the glibness of their speech.

LOL, I hope that made sense!? :-)

As a heathen and godless liberal, I totally concur with your blog post. Interesting that you would share a story in the comments section about your relationship to the teachings of Jesus. It's religion that got us into this mess. Religion provides the 'us and them' mentality that gives license to all the hypocrites to lie, cheat, steal and kill. How convenient to cherry pick the Bible, or any 'holy book'. One is off the hook, responsibility wise, for any action as long as you belong to the 'right' club. Which club is the right one depends on who you ask, but the hypocrisy lives on in all of it. There is a lot of cognitive dissonance going on regarding what it is to be 'liberal' or what 'family values' means. Maybe it will encourage independent reason and foster more looking at the evidence and less 'magical thinking'.

Is it not interesting how those who are so enamored of the words, the rules, and the structure of religion, fail to see the similarity between their behavior and that of the Pharisees?

One of the great lessons Jesus taught was the difference between the spirit of the law and the letter of the law. Close adherence to a religious structure, seems to produce self-righteousness while following a path of spirituality results in righteousness.

Jesus was righteous, and the Pharisees, who chose the letter of the law over Jesus and his message, were self-righteous. And in their self-righteousness, they crucified him just as today the self-righteous use their beliefs to crucify people by destroying reputations, careers, and lives.

It is difficult for people not given to critical thinking, to work their way through the lessons laid down during their childhood which they took as gospel (pun intended). Some never reach a point of questioning the nuances of these lessons, and so, another belief system is not just different, it has to be wrong.

I read recently (can’t remember where) that there are now over a million groups world wide working for the good of humanity - some very small local groups, others large organizations. That means that people of different races, different (or no) religious beliefs, and different ages, share a common concern for our universe and those who people it. That is the hope for our world and though the ignorant and the evil doers may slow them down they will never defeat them.

is it religion that got us into this mess? well remember that the "mastermind" of using the religious right - bush's "brain" the "genius" who took bush from almost 90% approval to 26% - the ghostly ghoul also named turdblossom - karl rove is an atheist lol. as Chavez is fond of saying: "Jesus was the first socialist and Judas the first capitalist". from jimmy swaggart to jim baker to ted haggard to paul crouch these guys are all fakes.

Trish, doesn’t it always seem those most enamored of the rules and structure of a thing, are quite often the same ones most dependent on same -- basically, those most often caught up on the surface.

Yes, many of today’s followers appear to be yesterday’s Pharisees. I’ve often pondered Jesus walking into any church, unannounced and unaccredited, appearing in simple dress and sitting quietly, listening. How many would recognize him, or even care for his ways? Imagine him not agreeing with the “we are right, and they are wrong” thinking, or the many other judgments and criticisms of others so often echoed by a pious group mentality.

I recall once being thrown out of a church in Las Vegas because I was improperly dressed, even though I was the only person there. I had gone there to have a quiet moment away from the outside world, and had innocently dressed in shorts, sneakers and a t-shirt. Silly me!

I place my hopes for humanity and the future, as do you, in those many truly good (not perfect, but perhaps intellectually honest and intuitive) people around the world who truly understand that we are One People on a small planet racing through the frigid vastness of Space. Wakefulness will be achieved because of every single individual who listens to their own true heart, that “still small voice within,” instead of all the noise outside themselves seeking safety in numbers. Ignorance and evil are the same thing. When each person begins to perceive the beauty insides themselves, they will also recognize it in everyone else, and vice versa, thus encouraging everyone to do the same. Then, ignorance will disappear, along with evil.

Just my opinion of course.

Beanie, it is interesting that although I deplore the harm religion can create -- the prejudice, the separation, the anger, hatred and fear, the need to believe one is a sinner rather than a saint waiting to be born (here and now), the wars, and mostly the mindless tendency to attach to a follower mentality; there have been positive aspects as well. Along with all the manipulation, control, and mindless hypocrisy between message and practice, too often prevalent in religion, there is also that idealistic core which touches upon certain truths.

We just might be more than animals, survival of the fitess doesn't mean brute force over love and compassion, sensitivity is a strength not a weakness, kindness goes a lot further than selfishness, judgment creates separation, and so many other principles that prove to be true when actually applied. The Golden Rule does run through most religions, and still seems to me, to be the real lesson to be followed.

Perhaps many confuse religion with spirituality? In my experience they are not mutually inclusive. I believe religion is just a road map, not the destination, a distinction which is too often missed.

I do believe Jesus stated the only thing anyone really needs to know, about God or spirituality, namely "Love one another."

It's ashame that all the intellectual blather and hoopla is what is so much more appealing to so many. It's not always easy to take responsibility for oneself, when it's so easy lay it on God and the Devil. Perhaps Yoda was right, "the dark side is more seductive."

Seems to me that the people yelling loudest FAMILY VALUES FAMILY VALUES FAMILY VALUES are doing so because they have so little of them. And thus, because they have so little of them, and because they are so brainless that they have bought the "heathen liberals" mantra, they apparently have come to some kind of conclusion that liberals have even worse values than they do. Which, of course, they do not.

What really creeps me out and makes me wonder about the lack of intelligence running amok is the complete inability to understand that if they are going to live in glass houses, they should quit throwing stones.

Or whatever.

What is laughable Renee, is Senator Craig still maintaining he is on the high ground, still maintaing that he did nothing wrong.

I can't even imagine resigning as a United States Senator if you are innocent of any wrongdoing. Let the party yell and scream as much as they want, so what!?! Stepping down, and so quickly, is every bit an admission of guilt as I see it, and shows a real lack of integrity.

It's not as if this recent onslaught has played out for months. It's only been about a week since this all became national headlines. One day Craig goes on TV claiming he did nothing wrong, and 3-4 days later he resigns because of party pressure. Excuse me, but that stinks to high hell.

hahaha

Of course Senator Craig did something wrong. He is too stupid to be a Senator in the first place.

Good point! LOL

What seems to be lacking here is the fact that when you point a finger at someone else there are three fingers pointing at yourself.

R. Hoeppner I couldn't agree more. I was taught a long time ago that one has to be careful about what kind of rules a person sets or agrees to. Inevitably they will apply to oneself as well.