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Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in
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| Tuesday, April 4th, 2006 | | 6:36 pm |
Lala.com?
Anyone part of that and if so can you invite me? | | Wednesday, March 1st, 2006 | | 9:12 pm |
high school reunions. DID YOU GO?
Since I was AWOL for quite some time, I don't think I told you about my high school reunion. I hated high school. Hated it. 3 of the worst 5 years of my life. The 2 worse years being junior high. But the high school reunion was awesome. I had a great day seeing total assholes from high school going bald and totally no longer being hot or even remotely attractive. The same goes for the stuck up "Heather" bitches. I am so happy that I escaped our home town and have a totally hot husband and that those fake girls who intentionally dumbed themselves down to the point that they actually became dumb are now with LOSERS. Yeah. So I am a bitch sometimes. | | Tuesday, February 21st, 2006 | | 9:50 pm |
Dentist
Tomorrow afternoon I get to go have a root canal procedure done. Woohoo. On the only tooth I've ever had a cavity in. Last year I got it filled. The dentist then said it might end up being a root canal. It hurt like hell at Xmas and then stopped. I thought maybe whatever was wrong got better. Nope. The tooth died. $700 and that is with dental insurance from work. | | Thursday, April 21st, 2005 | | 10:43 am |
an oldie but goodie forward snark
THINGS YOU'D LOVE TO SAY OUT LOUD AT WORK 1. I can see your point, but I still think you're full of shit. 2. I don't know what your problem is, but I'll bet it's hard to pronounce. 3. How about never? Is never good for you? 4. I see you've set aside this special time to humiliate yourself in public. 5. I'm really easy to get along with once you people learn to see it my way. 6. I'll try being nicer if you'll try being smarter. 7. I'm out of my mind, but feel free to leave a message. 8. I don't work here, I'm a consultant. 9. It sounds like English, but I can't understand a word you're saying. 10. Ahhh . I see the screw-up fairy has visited us again. 11. I have plenty of talent and vision; I just don't give a damn. 12. I'm already visualizing the duct tape over your mouth. 13. Thank you. We're challenged by your unique point of view. 14. Any connection between your reality and mine is purely coincidental. 15. What am I? Flypaper for freaks? 16. I'm not being rude. You're just insignificant. 17. And your crybaby whiny-assed opinion would be what...? 18. Do I look like a people person? 19. This isn't an office, it's HELL with fluorescent lighting. 20. Sarcasm is just one more service we offer. 21. If I throw a stick, will you leave? 22. Errors have been made. Others will be blamed. 23. I'm trying to imagine you with a personality. 24. My cubicle is just a padded cell without a door. 25. Can I trade this job for what's behind door #1? 26. Too many freaks, not enough circuses. 27. Nice perfume. Must you marinate in it? 28. Chaos, panic, and disorder --- my work here is done. 29. Oh I get it... like humor... but different. | | Tuesday, April 19th, 2005 | | 2:06 pm |
| | Sunday, April 17th, 2005 | | 8:22 pm |
| | 8:17 pm |
| | Thursday, April 14th, 2005 | | 10:47 pm |
Slap a Yellow Ribbon On My SUV
Because those fucking yellow magnet ribbons are one of my biggest pet peeves. Click the first link to get the tune if you aren't too familiar with it. http://hometown.aol.com/boyer9413/myhomepage/music.htm#yellow_ribbonSlap a Yellow Ribbon On My SUV a song parody by Bring more on http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/4/14/134645/291I finally got so irritated with all those damned yellow ribbons that purport to display support for our troops, that I wrote a parody about the phenomenon. Of course, I had to use a song that was as irritating as the yellow ribbons themselves, and Tony Orlando naturally came to mind: Slap a Yellow Ribbon On My SUV (Sung to the tune of "Tie A Yellow Ribbon 'Round The Ole Oak Tree," performed by Tony Orlando and Dawn) I never served, didn't have the time My priorities were elsewhere in my prime But now I've gotten older And more patriotic, too And though I'll never fight a war There's something I can do There's something I can do I'll slap a yellow ribbon On my SUV I support our troops Aren't you proud of me? 'Cuz when I slap that ribbon On my SUV I'll take it to town, drive all around A patriot - that's me! Oh, when I slap that yellow ribbon On my SUV My son has just turned twenty-four But there's no need for him to fight this war They will not bring the draft back At least that's what Dubya said But if they did I'd hide my kid so he won't end up dead Take someone else instead I'll slap a yellow ribbon On my SUV I support our troops Aren't you proud of me? 'Cuz when I slap that ribbon On my SUV I'll show that I back our troops in Iraq It's so plain to see Oh, when I slap that yellow ribbon On my SUV Now if a ribbon seems to be Not enough, then you will see... A hundred yellow ribbons On my SUV Slap a ribbon on my SUV Slap a ribbon on my SUV Slap a ribbon on my SUV Slap a ribbon on my SUV | | Saturday, March 5th, 2005 | | 12:06 pm |
Never again, part II
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/3/4/151715/5913A Promise to My Grandfather: A Follow Up by amprather After writing my diary "A Promise to My Grandfather" yesterday, I received over 40 emails from all over the country (I am still getting some right now) from those that were also impacted by the Holocaust. I read each one of them and shed a tear for every word. Many thanked me for sharing the story of my grandfather, but I should thank all of them for their stories. It helped me see that I am not alone in my pain, but also to see that there is hope. Hope that there are those that want to fight the hate that is now forming and stop it before we repeat it. However, there was one email from BettyG in San Rafael, California that moved me that it is taking me way too long to write this diary. Here is my follow up with BettyG's email. Here is BettyG's email- amprather, After reading your email, I was moved to tears because it reminded me of my grandfather, Ivan Feduleyev. He was also a soldier in the Red Army, captured in the Ukraine. He was taken to Auschwitz as a POW. At first his unit was held in a special part of the camp, but things changed when the guards heard from one of the officers that there were Jewish soldiers in the unit. All of the soldiers were beaten for a few days as the guards demanded they identify the Jews. None of them would identify the Jewish troops. Finally, the Captain of the Guard decided that the only way to make them talk was to execute one of the soldiers. They brought the unit into a yard and lined the soldiers up for selection. They choose my grandfather. They hauled him in front of a firing squad. The Captain of the Guard again demanded that the Jews among them be identified. Then one of the soldiers came forward and identified himself as a Jew. The Captain grabbed him and hauled him away and stopped the execution. The troops never saw the soldier again. [....] My grandfather never forgot that soldier's name, he named his first son after him, Roman. The soldier's name was Roman Edemskoi. [....] Roman Edemskoi (58877241) was my grandfather. I am traveling to San Rafael next week to talk to BettyG. If you don't think the Web is a powerful, earth-shattering tool, I hope you think differently. To all that wrote me via email or posted a comment on the original diary, again thank you. Update [2005-3-5 1:41:11 by amprather]: I want to thank everyone that has read and was moved by this, since this went in to the Most Recommend Section, my email has blown up from many of you and some journalists. This is causing some concerns, though, with Betty and I. We are starting to think that this is no longer our time to talk next week. Trust me, we want to share our meeting with everyone, but first we want to be able to talk to each other face to face in peace. Also we want the two families to talk, we don't want media hounds destroying what could be a beautiful time. Because of that, we ask that you continue to support Betty and I, but do not suffocate us. Trust me, DailyKos will be the first to hear about the meeting and the eventual news stories. Again Thank You for all of the kind words, they have moved me and Betty. God Bless all of you and I look forward to writing next week. Adam (amprather) | | 12:01 pm |
Never again?
I keep thinking I should stop posting things posted on Dailykos as I'm sure my friends could read there if they wanted to. But somethings are important. And somethings I want to keep track of for myself. This is both. -Sedge http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/3/3/152440/0776A Promise To My Grandfather Thu Mar 3rd, 2005 at 12:24:40 PST Last year at my grandfather's funeral, I made a promise to both him and myself that I would fight to the very end to prevent the evil that he had to endure in his life from happening again. Everyday when I look into the blue eyes of my daughter, the same blue eyes my grandfather had, I am reminded of that promise and know that it is not only a promise to him, but to her as well. In the fall of 1943, after being captured by the Nazis in the Ukraine, my grandfather was sent to Auschwitz. At first, he was just one of many Soviet POWs held at the camp, but it was later discovered that he was Jewish, so he was removed from the Soviet soldiers and placed with the other European Jews. My grandfather never knew why he survived while others parished, but there was never a day that passed after liberation in 1945 that he thanked God for that gift of life. My grandfather was able to get to England and then on to America to restart his life. He raised 5 children and later cherished his 22 grandchildren. He loved to work in his garden, even on the hottest of days. As a child, I always wondered why he wore long shirts even on those August days when it would easily be 100 degrees (even in the shade). When I was 9, I caught my grandfather shaving in the bathroom and that is when I saw it: His Camp Number - 58877241. Not knowing any better, I asked him why he got such a "stupid tattoo". He told me that he really didn't want to get it and quickly tried to cover it with a towel. I followed him asking him, "Why don't you get it removed then?" He stop dead in the hallway and without turning around said "So I don't forget." We never discussed it again. When he died last summer, I told myself that he was finally at peace. As I stood over his coffin with my wife, I reached down and took his arm in mine. I unbuttoned his sleeve and rolled it up. I looked at the number again - 58877241. My wife looked at me and asked "Why are you doing that?" All I could say was "So I don't forget." Right then I made my promise to him - Never again. Now when I see the hate and bigotry that comes out of those that call them "Christians" or "Moral People", I know that this is how it began seven decades ago in Europe. It was too late, when people finally woke up, millions had been carted away in cattle cars to their deaths. I don't want to see that here or anywhere else. I do not want there to be cattle cars filled with people that these hate mongers scream out against. I do not want to see gays, liberals, Mexicans, hippies, Hollywood Actors, or anyone else have to be tattooed with a number. No more 58877241s. This summer, my family and I will be traveling to Auschwitz, so my children understand what there grandfather went through. I want my daughter to know why I see him in her eyes. And then everytime I look in her eyes I will see hope and love and not 58877241. So to the Phelps and Coulters of the world, you are on notice, we will fight your hate because we will not have this happen again. | | Saturday, February 12th, 2005 | | 6:27 pm |
Can you spare $10?
Send Barbara Boxer 3 roses for just $10 on Valentine's day to show your support for her standing up to the powers that be. As of Feb. 8, ~800 orders had been placed. I would love to see 3 or 4 thousand roses delivered to show our love of one that disputed the Ohio 2004 disenfranchisement of black and poor voters. I was there and it was appalling. -Sedge http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/2/11/23025/3291Send Barbara Boxer a Rose on Valentine's Day! Senator Barbara Boxer has recently emerged as the leading voice in the Willfight against the Bush mandate of imperialism abroad and destruction of civil liberties at home. She has disputed the Ohio 2004 election vote, elegantly denied Condoleezza Rice a confirmation vote, and almost singlehandedly stood up for the principles of freedom, truth, and accountability that we all hold so dear. She has started what some are calling "The New Boxer Rebellion" - and other Senators are starting to follow her lead. Now is the time to let her know she has our full support, admiration and thanks. I have arranged for a national online florist, Coast to Coast Florist, to take $10 pledges from callers up until Feb. 12th for three red roses, which, in a mass delivery, will be taken on Feb 14th to the Hart Senate Building office of Barbara Boxer in Washington DC. This message will be included with the flowers: ****** Dear Senator Boxer: We the people have sent these flowers to you this day in thanks for your unwavering courage and determination to stand up for the principles of freedom and truth in the United States Senate. You are a shining example of what a civil servant can, and should, be, and we, your constituents and supporters, deeply appreciate your heroic charge to bring accountability, responsibility and honesty back into our government. ******** Here is the order/delivery information: Call Coast to Coast Florist at 1-888-501-ROSE(7673). This is a dedicated phone line, created only for this order, a representative will answer "Barbara Boxer Rose Campaign." Press #1 to order and #2 for more information. Give the representative your credit card number--you will only be charged $10.00 for your roses. I am picking up the delivery fee. That's it. The cut-off date for orders is Saturday, Feb. 12th. That only gives us TWO weeks! Also included in this delivery will be a rose dipped in 22k gold for her to keep. This fee I am also paying for. (You may check out coasttocoastflorist.com online for your own verification purposes -- they have an informational link on their customer service page, in the middle of the page on the drop down menu about this - but please make orders only on the toll-free number to ensure your order is included in the mass delivery.) Sen. Boxer is an emerging hero to liberals everywhere and a grand public thank you is in order. This action will also send a message to other Democratic senators and representatives that we, the people, are watching - and we will support, thank, and reelect those who stand up for our democratic principles. Think of what a million roses could mean! (And, once the roses lose their luster, we would respectfully ask the Senator to donate the deceased to a local manure manufacturer to be made into mulch - we're green, too!) Feel free to verify all of the above information with this florist - who has taken a chance on this incredible idea and showed tremendous enthusiasm and support. Please email me directly if you need more verification of this movement. This is not spam! We can only do it with your help! Make it happen! Thanks, Stacy Davies Citizen Claremont, California stacydavies@aol.com | | 3:42 pm |
Do you think their management gives a crap?
To the Restaurant manager and CCed to the CEO or Ruth's Chris Steak House, From Sedge and her husband. Last night, February 11, 2005, my wife and I visited the Threel Rd. Ruth’s Chris Steak House for an early Valentine’s Day dinner. I am writing to tell you that my spouse and I will never be dining at your Indianapolis restaurant or any of your other locations again after the atrocious service that we received last night. I will also not be visiting your establishments with clients or suppliers and will be encouraging our friends and colleagues to avoid it as well. In addition to the dangerous bay leaf found in my wife’s soup and the fatty, mediocre steak that I was served, I discovered the level of service that one should expect at Ruth’s Chris Steak House when I went to pay for our $54 dinner with a $100 gift certificate. When the waiter, Jake, told us that we would not be receiving anything back for the difference we talked to a thin, blonde assistant manager. In this moment of truth, she told us the gift certificate was for “up to $100” (even though it clearly said it was for $100), that essentially it was a use it or lose it gift certificate, and that there was “no cash value”. With quick thinking, my wife suggested that we at least get dessert which raised our dinner total to $70. Thus we were only swindled $30 due to the lack of service recovery at your establishment. At any normal restaurant with even a basic level of service (even McDonalds), when a gift certificate is only partially used it gives the bearer another gift certificate back with the difference so that they can return to the restaurant and finish using the value. It is really too bad. With the prices that you charge, I had expected that your establishment would be focused both on quality food and service to customers. I am sure the lifetime value of a satisfied customer must generate a revenue stream in the neighborhood of $5000 per person. It is good to know that your restaurant thinks it is better to keep $46 and have irate customers than focus on customer satisfaction. | | 3:41 pm |
Dean is chair of the DNC
I believe in rewarding good behavior when it comes to political donations. If you agree you may wish to make a donation below. | | Wednesday, February 9th, 2005 | | 2:03 pm |
$15 plus shipping and handling
I heard about this film yesterday on Air America and it is being used to tell kids thinking of joining the military the truth about what's going on. http://www.arlingtonwestfilm.com/synopsis.htmlAn ocean of over 1500 crosses swells across the sand at the Santa Monica Pier every Sunday, erected by Veterans For Peace. It is a tribute not only to the fallen U.S. soldiers in Iraq, but also to the countless innocent Iraqi citizens. A flag draped coffin rests forefront, beside a 20 foot long board that names the dead servicemen and women. Visitors are invited to write the name of a soldier, any personal comment, and with a fresh flower, place an identity to each lonely cross. An electric guitar gently weeps taps while we hear the voice of Jane Bright who lost her son in Iraq. We see the newspaper dceclaring that the Pentagon banned all photos of flag draped coffins returning from conflict. Then, visit Steve Sherrill's shop, a carpenter in Santa Barbara, who sought a way to acknowledge our American dead. Friends and families drive for hours to place photos of their loved ones at this temporary cemetery. The film, Arlington West, allows all to witness the poignant conversations, dramatic revelations, silences, personal experience, and share the tears with those who are paying the highest prices for war. A full array of opinions and sentiments are presented: Active Duty Soldiers and Marines, Military Families, Veterans, and Children are featured in this revealing 56 minute Documentary. | | 2:01 pm |
Don't forget the casualties aren't just numbers
My Last Day In Afghanistan by DrainBamaged Wed Feb 9th, 2005 at 08:18:00 PST Thank you all for being patient with me. This flu season has taken a serious toll on my health,... what health I have left anyway. My lungs, thanks to tubes and drugs, are finally cleared,... for the most part. I'm still pretty weak, but I was able to sit up about half of the day yesterday. I figured I'd burn a little energy this morning, while sneaking a big cup of that forbidden stuff known as coffee. :) I've talked at great length with Bexley Lane about this, and have decided that in my first diary entry I wanted to answer THE QUESTION. Diaries :: DrainBamaged's diary :: This is an extremely powerful and very personal issue. I hope you bear that in mind as you read. What you are about to read will be graphic as I plan to pull no punches about the day I became paralyzed. Some of the things that I plan to put in here I've not discussed with the "counselors" assigned to my case. Hell, not even all of it is in the AAR (After Action Report) that was done on the incident. I've also left everyones name out of this,... for obvious reasons. It's been two years now, but as I remember the events they unfold, almost in slow motion, exactly as they happened. I can still smell burning diesel fuel and tires. I can still feel the wind peppering my sunburnt face with sand. I can still hear every word that was spoken and remember the body language of my partners on the things that were not said. I remember that it was warm. My face and hands were sun and wind burnt. http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/2/9/11180/48480 | | Monday, January 31st, 2005 | | 2:18 pm |
in case you haven't been keeping up with developments in Vietnam from 40 years
You should note that the Tet Offensive was just 4 months after this article. And we all know that things turned out just swimmingly in Vietnam. -Sarah http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/1/31/2335/87390U.S. Encouraged by Vietnam Vote : Officials Cite 83% Turnout Despite Vietcong Terror by Peter Grose, Special to the New York Times (9/4/1967: p. 2) WASHINGTON, Sept. 3-- United States officials were surprised and heartened today at the size of turnout in South Vietnam's presidential election despite a Vietcong terrorist campaign to disrupt the voting. According to reports from Saigon, 83 per cent of the 5.85 million registered voters cast their ballots yesterday. Many of them risked reprisals threatened by the Vietcong. The size of the popular vote and the inability of the Vietcong to destroy the election machinery were the two salient facts in a preliminary assessment of the nation election based on the incomplete returns reaching here. Pending more detailed reports, neither the State Department nor the White House would comment on the balloting or the victory of the military candidates, Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Van Thieu, who was running for president, and Premier Nguyen Cao Ky, the candidate for vice president. A successful election has long been seen as the keystone in President Johnson's policy of encouraging the growth of constitutional processes in South Vietnam. The election was the culmination of a constitutional development that began in January, 1966, to which President Johnson gave his personal commitment when he met Premier Ky and General Thieu, the chief of state, in Honolulu in February. The purpose of the voting was to give legitimacy to the Saigon Government, which has been founded only on coups and power plays since November, 1963, when President Ngo Dinh Deim was overthrown by a military junta. ( Read more... ) | | Wednesday, January 26th, 2005 | | 11:54 am |
| | Wednesday, January 19th, 2005 | | 9:26 am |
The bad old days
In my depression in the days after the most recent election, I decided that the New Deal was dead. That social security was a goner. That they will soon be gunning for the minimum wage and workers comp and unemployment. Hell why not go after the child labor laws. No good reason not to send our 8 and 10 year olds into the mines and sweatshopes, is there? Soon there will be no safety net at all and we really will be a banana republic like Krugman says. A very cynical part of me after the election said "well screw the old folks" since a majority of them voted for Shrub. Let them eat cat food. But then that sort of misanthrope attitude wouldn't make me any difference than the Republicans. And I'd sooner become a serial killer than a Republican. So I am gearing up for a fight to save social security. Are you ready to save social security? If you're in your twenties and thirties you may figure that you have no dog in this fight. I mean you may have bought into the Republican spin that social security is a not going to be there for you. Of course that is only true if we let the Republicans gut social security. But to the the Rethugs kill social security because of a self fulfilling prophecy is utter bullshit. Another thing to consider: do you have kids? A lot of people aren't aware that social security is also a life insurance policy. If you have kids it will pay your family a certain amount until they are grown. Not everyone can afford life insurance or for that matter plans ahead. social security forces all of us to bear the risk and provide security to kids whose parents die. Two of my cousins benefited from social security when their father died in his late thirties from skin cancer. And what about disability? There are no guarantees in life and even if you are perfectly able today that doesn't mean that (knock on wood) you will be tomorrow. social security forces all of us to bear the risk and provide security to people who become disabled. For a while my mom received social security because she couldn't work due to mental illness. Now admittedly the $550 a month wasn't much to live on since women get screwed for taking time out of working to care for their kids and elderly parents and since they get paid so much less than men, but it was still something. My uncle who has schizophrenia and whose medicine makes him sleep ~20 hours a day also gets social security. social security isn't just about retirement, but it is about that too. My grandfather, my great aunts and uncles, and my mother/father in law get social security. My folks will start social security in about 10 years if we stop the rich bastards from killing it. From a purely selfish standpoint I want to save social security because I want the insurance to be there if I die, get disabled, or live long enough to retire. More immediately I want social security so that my grandfather, inlaws, and parents, and any other relative who gets old or has something happened doesn't have to come live with *ME*. Join the fight to save social security. It affects us all. http://www.thereisnocrisis.com/ | | Friday, January 7th, 2005 | | 12:09 am |
tsunami
Stalin once said, "A single death is a tragedy, a million deaths is a statistic". I think that is is hard to comprehend the hundreds of thousands dead or probably going to die from the tsunami. But then I think that DH was in Chennai India (aka Madras) in July. He says that is a modern city just like one here. There over a thousand died and 60,000 homes were damaged or destroyed. I try to imagine something like that happening here. The following is from a letter from Charlie Clements of UUSC to UU ministers on how to help their parishioners respond to the disaster and I thought some of you might find it useful. I in particular like the final quote from the Talmud as I think it sums up a lot of the social justice ideas of UUs. The UUSC (UU service committee) and UUA are one of many organizations collecting donations for helping with this disaster. http://www.uusc.org/info/article123004.htmlResponding to the Tsunami http://www.uusc.org/info/article123004_2.htmEach of you will respond pastorally with skill and caring, I know. I offer these thoughts based on some years of work in the humanitarian sector with the hope that they may be of some help: 1. It is important to affirm our common humanity, and to help one another know that each of us can make a difference. History is seldom made by individuals but rather by the sum of their responses in any situation. A contribution no matter how small in the face of the massive needs can make a difference. The median annual income of Americans is $37,810, compared to $930 in Sri Lanka, $530 in India. So $100 can be either a fifth or a tenth of a family's annual income. The local, regional, national, and international responses that are being made are complex and involve many organizations. Choose several that you trust now; analyze and evaluate the details of their work later. 2. Don't let the dignity and worth of the survivors be denied by their portrayal as voiceless victims. The media has largely sought out English speaking survivors, whose stories are moving and dramatic. Most of the stories of others are not being told. The realization of how fragile life can be also requires of us imaginative compassion and solidarity. Our solidarity with the survivors is far more valuable to them than our pity. Indeed, if we perceive the survivors only as a `they,' then our responses may be charitable, but if we see them as part of a larger, human `us', then our responses will be more deeply empathic and longer-lasting. 3. If this is a difficult time to be as generous as one would like, resolving now to help when it is more possible is preferable to feeling badly. The danger begins again for survivors when the media's attention and the international response diminishes. A larger tragedy can ensue when survivors are stalked by disease because aid agencies leave before public health infrastructure has been sufficiently rebuilt. Your support in a few weeks or a few months will be as important as immediate contributions. In a time such as this I find it helpful to keep in mind some words from the Talmud. "Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world's grief. Do justly, now. Love mercy, now. Walk humbly, now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it." | | Wednesday, December 22nd, 2004 | | 2:45 pm |
Put the Christ back in Christianity
a christmas message by kid oakland I've been reading some of the noxious media tripe about attempts all over, I guess, to put the "Christ" back in "Christmas".... I'm sorry, but I'm still waiting for them to put the Christ back into Christianity. Let me tell you something about the Jesus that I know. He was a real man. Born in a poor region to working poor parents. He loved learning, he loved his mother and his father. But he left them and spent his life with the poor, the outcast, the rejected, the defiled, the sick, the sinners, the bedraggled, the bereft, the self-hating, the lonely, the banished, the foul, the miserable, the desperate and finally, those sick with their own power. He did this, not because of his ideology or his creed. He did this not because of his doctrine. He did this, quite simply, because he loved them. He preferred them. Their company, their stories, their lives, their environs, their plight and their faith. And they loved him. Because he touched them. He looked them in the eye and believed in them. Because, at the end of the day, when they looked to him they saw that his commitment to them was a commitment unsullied by qualifier or clause. It was a commitment to love them, even upon pain of death. And they saw in him, a love that promised to love them as they were, who they were...fully, without judgement or flinching glance, or hypocritical accomodation. This man, Jesus, was surrounded by friends and disciples whom he mentored....not by carping or enforcing rules...but by example and teaching. By the force of his actions. By his resolute commitment to the least, the smallest, the most in need. For me, the most potent aspect of the gospels is not the love of Jesus. Which at times, as written by the evangelists, seems to be an inhuman love. It is the love of those little people who in turn loved Jesus, who ran to him. It is the the hope they had in him. What rose in them when they saw him: Hope for healing, for change, for acknowlegment, for a chance to be made whole, a chance to overcome their shame and claim personhood again. Whenever the gospels tell of Jesus healing someone...he tells them it is their faith that has healed them and set them free. And when the gospels tell of Jesus and his parables...the hidden story, that no one ever talks about...is that those parables...those words...would not live today without the work of the people who heard them..who kept those words alive by absorbing them and remembering them and repeating them each to each. Jesus, aside from writing with his finger in the sand, never wrote a thing. At the end of the day...when folks want to put Christ back into Christmas...it is clear to me they mean a creche....or a plastic glow in the dark Jesus with a beard. They want to be able to say "Merry Christmas" on TV. The Jesus I know is bent over washing the feet of a prostitute. He is visiting a widow. He is feeding the hungry. He has laid his hands on a leper. There are people today who, inspired by that man, will do such things this Christmas day. At the end of the day...scholars tell us...the Jesus hidden inside the gospels...the real man...the enigma behind the man heralded as the "founder of Christianity"...is actually the source of those words and actions that most grass roots Christians cherish to this day: The Lord's prayer. The beatitudes. The parables. A number of sayings about poverty and wealth and faith and trust. And numerous accounts of healings and encounters with the poor and the outcast. That, at the end of the day, is all we know of the historical Jesus. That, and the fact that he was killed by the Roman authorities sometime a little less than 2000 years ago. When that man will return to the forefront of the religion that claims him...is something we are still waiting for. In some ways, he has been there all along in the faith of all those little people who love him to this day and cherish his words and life...but with so much that has been added and accumulated over the years, that it is hard to say what Jesus would make of the religion and churches built in his name. When folks say they want to put Christ back into Christmas....I wonder what they really mean. Do they mean Jesus? Jesus from Nazareth? http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/12/22/05236/361 |
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sedge's journal
