Mary Margaret ...So nice to have films of Crick! Your grandhildren will treasure them, I am sure. I wish they could have enjoyed him for all of childhood. He was a SUPER nice guy! Kathy Wintering
I needed to see some pure joy last night as two of my brothers are battling horrific illnesses....alcoholism and a 2nd round of cancer. If you need to be uplifted, you have to watch this!!!
No, Jim -- Fortunately my newspaper days of breaking news coverage are over. I stayed home and was happy to do so last night. The magazines I write for now are all lifestyle magazines, and although I will occasionally write overnight features for their web sites, as I did, for example, when the Pulse attack happened, it would be unusual for me to delve into politics unless I was doing an in depth story for a print edition.
I Just watched a documentary tonight at our local theater that moved me to tears and causes me to want to share some thougths with you all. Or, "Y'all" as we say down here.
It is a new documentary ("EMANUEL") about the 9 people murdered in Emanuel A.M.E. (African Methodist Episcopal) church in Charlseton a few years ago. The theater had to use 6 of therir 12 screens and add a later run to accomodate the crowds. I was one of a very few white viewers in the crowd. Saw some of my black friends as we were coming out.
The movie is a documentary that was only shown for two nights all over the Country - not sure why? Three of the co-producers are an interesting bunch - Steph Curry, star of the Golden State Warriors, the great Oscar-winning actess Viola Davis ("The Help" and "Fences"), and Mariska Hargitay (Law and Order, and Jane Mansfield's daughter).
The theme of the show is how the families of the victims forgave the young killer, Dylann Roof, a sick, twisted, racist 20-something man, and how the city of Charleston was united in prayer in the aftermath - in contrast to riots in many other cities.
Lately I have heard and read many complaints and examples on social media of the hypocrysy and evils of "Christianity", some even from my fellow classmates. Many examples are perfectly accurate examples of everything that is wrong with organized Christianity - some famous Christian TV evangelists (need I name who we are talking about?). You couldn't be more correct in some of your accusations. Lets also throw in the Vatican's 1000+ of years of power, control, and forced beliefs through fear and intimidation. Let us agree, this is wrong, and has done a grea deal of damage in many millions of lives - some of us to a degree.
HOWEVER - most of these are examples of Christianity gone bad - what I call "psuedo-Christians", fake Christians, or Christian posers. Everthing from threats of buying indulgences in the middle ages, to preaching the need for $26 million dollar jet airplanes. One of my least favorites is a handsome young guy in Houston who preaches the popular "prosperity theology". You all know who I mean. And out of this kind of "religion" a multi million dollar book sales buisiness is built - "money changers" in my opinion.
But strangely ommitted from these recent arguments are some of those many, many, MANY examples of genuine followers of Christ, like Damian the Leper, Father Maximilian Kolby, Correy ten Boom, or Mother Theresa. Not exactly the best examples of threatening, accusing, self-righteous, "evil" hypocrites. Why are these being left out of the argument? And I personally think we have (at least) two classmates who preach more true Christianity than these so called "Christian" big shots. But the complaints seem to be about all wrong-doers in the name of Christ, as if that is really Christian, which it is NOT, and none of the positive stories of real followers.
I think we can waste our whole lives cursing the darkness, while forgetting to light one candle. But in tonight's film, where darkness could have set a city on fire, a group of Black families chose a different way. "The Way Less Travelled" (finally read it years ago after Steve Hodges and Kevin Ryan both told me it was the "most important" book they had ever read) As members of a deeply Christian community, "Mother Emanuel" church as it is called (whre the shooting occurred), they chose to follow the example of what I believe is true Christianity. They chose to Forgive, which I beleive is the highest (and most difficult) form of love.
I posted the trailor below. Wish you all could see the entire film. It was powerful!
(note: one of the victims was Reverend Clementa Pinckney, their pastor. He was a giant of a man and a giant at heart - a pastor at 18 and also a state legislator at 23 - and well loved by members of both parties. He had been the pastor at my nearby "Cambell Chapel A.M.E." here in Bluffton. I have attened services a number of times at Cambell {and been the only white person in the place - Ha - they treat me like a king!} I regret having never attended while Reverend Pinkney was there (only one year) so I never got to meet him. But I was there for a memorial to him and those murdered 9 that was held here at Cambell and the entire church was full - moslty of local white community members. I still have a number of frends at that church. My young assitant pastor, and good buddy, took his oldest son to Charleston for the ceremony at "Mother" Emanuel Church - briefly pictured in the movie. He said it was the most, joyfull expeience he had ever been a part of. I have been to two funerals here at Cambell and let me tell you, they know how to celebrate a gratitude for life - and they Rock!)
Forgive me, I just had to stick this on here. The film really got to me.
It's short - there is a longer one you can click on after this plays. It's a conversation beween two of the co-procuders Viola Davis and Mariska Hartigay. Some of you will recall the acceptance speech Viola gave a few years ago when she won he Oscar for "Fences" (which Denzell Washington should also have won, but somehow for the baffling stupidity of the "acadamy", did not).
Her speech was a mind-blowing beautiful speech - probably one of the best ever at the Oscars. The audience was stunned - as was I.
Here she shines a bit of her grace on the film's message.
(I had an aquaintance, a nurse in Charleston at the big main VA hospital who I spoke to shortly after this shooting. I asked her if she knew anyone in the 9 victims. She told me she knew two very well. I told her I thought hell was full of haters. She agreed.)
To try to put some closure on these heavy posts - which for many of you, may have been a bit over the top with the seriousness of the message.
First of all, the film was incredibly moving for me - about a topic that won't go away in this country anytime soon. Growing up in my lilly-white neighborhood in Columbus and watching the Civil Rights evening news reels is different than living here in a small town in Beaufort County, South Carolina. Although Bluffton is a very peaceful town, with fairly good racial relations, racism and the history of slavery is still right in your face most of the time down here. There's really no getting around it. And it hit even closer to us since Reverend Pinckney served here for a while. And now and then, I catch it even from poeple I know as friends - some at my own church. And it still catches me off guard.
Charleston is a city I do love and enjoy visiting - 2 hours away, but my frequent destination for the main regional VA hospital. A city full of historic charm, and great restaurants (and horrible traffic). Charleston is nicknamed the "Holy City" because of so many churches - most of them very old and historic - especailly "Mother" Emanuel Church, which I believe is the oldest A.M.E. church in America. But Charleston will always be the historic epicenter of our slavery history and perhaps one might say, the historic seat of racism in America. And still full of reminders of that period.
As for my remarks on Christianity - I can almost feel your discomfort - you needent feel that way. But for the fact that we were raised in a culture of so much fear of punishment, and the guilt and shame - to a completely unhealthy degree for small children. That hasn't ccompletely gone away for a lot of us. Much of your criticism is spot on.
It annoys the hell out of me that so much of organized religion today is sick with self-righteous, judgemental threats, and finger pointing. Finger pointing seems to have become our new national pastime. Yikes!
Understand, I am not anyone's judge. And I do NOT "worship" a religion, a church, a philosophy, a traditon, a liturgy, a Pope, Bishop or Priest, or even a set of rules (not even a pretty old building). Nor do I believe in a story of the drudgery and sadness, built on guilt and shame (Father Foley's stock and trade). Instead I am attempting to follow one who, out of pure love, laid down his life for me - who wants to offer me complete forgiveness - period! My hope is that there could to be a whole lot less of this "holier-than-thou" smugness and a whole lot more welcome, and gratitude, and joy.
And finally - yes, I am a huge Viola Davis fan. Deal with it!
Today is the first day of summer and this morning I was greeted with the first fawn of the year along with it's mother. I'll include a couple of photos here but I promise I will not bore you with multiple posts on this Forum as another cycle of fawns grow over the summer and finally lose their spots in September. This little deer is about 5 days old, from my best estimate, based on other sightings in the past week.
Thanks, Mike, the one of the doe nuzzling her fawn was my favorite also. In doing wildlife photography patience is the word - if one waits and observes long enough something interesting usually happens.
The study, published Wednesday in the journal Science Advances, concluded that the glaciers have lost a foot and a half of ice every year since 2000, melting at a far faster pace than in the previous 25-year period. In recent years, the glaciers have lost about eight billion tons of water a year. The study’s authors described it as equivalent to the amount of water held by 3.2 million Olympic-size swimming pools.
The study adds to a growing and grim body of work that points to the dangers of global warming for the Himalayas, which are considered the water towers of Asia and an insurance policy against drought.
NASA is going to try and find an answer to the question so many of us have asked:
Who farted?
Or should we say: what?
The answer will emerge not from the earth but from another planet on our solar system.
And yes, of course, you don't even have to say it for me to know that your first guess would be: "Uranus."
But you'd be wrong, smartass. So very, very wrong.
Mars, it appears, is belching a large amount of a gas that could be a sign of microbes living on the planet today.
In a measurement taken on Wednesday, NASA’s Curiosity rover discovered startlingly high amounts of methane in the Martian air, a gas that on Earth is usually produced by living things. The data arrived back on Earth on Thursday, and by Friday, scientists working on the mission were excitedly discussing the news, which has not yet been announced by NASA.
“Given this surprising result, we’ve reorganized the weekend to run a follow-up experiment,” Ashwin R. Vasavada, the project scientist for the mission, wrote to the science team in an email that was obtained by The Times.
The mission’s controllers on Earth sent new instructions to the rover on Friday to follow up on the readings, bumping previously planned science work. The results of these observations are expected back on the ground on Monday.
One wonders if the International Court in the Hague might consider looking into this. Seems to me to border on crimes against humanity.
As for you global climate article - we can all rest easy now that a small group of Republican "so called" legislators in Oregon are vying for jackass of the year award, (possibly stealing that honor from Mr. King of Iowa) by fleeing the capital city (Salem) so as to avoid a quorum on a "climate" bill vote, and when the Governor Kate Brown threatened to have state police round them up and bring them back to the capitol, one "enlightned" legislator, Republican Rep Brian Boquist responced with, "They better send bachelors and come heavily armed." (wow that WAS a long sentence)
Now that's what I call a real intelligent approach to the problem.
Looks like Ive remembered my password. I dont know that Ive posted on here forever! Thanks everyone for the Birthday Greetings last week; and, ackowledgment and accolades for my being recognized by the Ohio State Fair. I was recognized partly because Ive worked there fulltime going into my 46th year, I like working and being in the marketplace, and, Ive come to care about the place!.
Reinforcing Dave's suggestion a few days ago that we get on to more fun topics, I've posted a belated reponse on the User Forum to Janie's post 5551 on health care and also a response to Mike's recent post on the deplorable conditions we're holding immigrant children in detention centers at the Southern border.
Good job, David D. Retrieving a forgotten password is an accomplishment worth a high five on its own. But a 40-something dedication to your job definitely is Hall of Fame material. To “care about the place” makes such a great statement about your work and commitment!!
PS Maybe we should organize a visit to the Fair for another outing. Speaking of outings, Janie, how are things shaping up for September in Detroit??
I've been e-mailing with Bob Berkemer. He is trying, against all odds, to teach me some ways to take pictures of night-time sights. Look at the talent this cat has. Jeesh!
I am getting realy tired of these people taking my title for long windedness on the Forum. The trouble with people like John and Mary Margaret is that they read too damn much. Back in those years from about 3rd grade to 8th, I did my very best to get it across to John that all this book learnin' was for the birds. I would call him time after time and pretend to be askng for the homework assignment - when all I really wanted was to know if he had seen that hook shot by Lucas the night before - or did he know that Donn Clendennon had hit another home run in the Jets game on Sunday? But all he ever did was give me that same old bit about "We have to read pages 16 through 34 in Religion, work all the problems on the back of chapter 6 in math, and write a paragraph about the "Stamp Act." Jeesh!
What a bunch of hooey!
And worse yet with these two people, (okay, sure, throw in a Yarborough, and an Eilers, a Hodges, Hamilton, Roach a Susanne Webber and a Threresa Zeyen or two) they tried to slither around pretending to be "students" - acting like they were "learning" - when in fact the crazy fools already knew everything! Somebody shoulda said somethin'!
And I bet you all bought into that whole charade. Makes me wanna turn in my Spin & Marty fan club badge
