To Pray or Not to Pray…
In a political homage to Texas Governor Rick Perry, Alaska Governor Sean Parnell has joined with him today, Saturday, August 6, in a day of prayer for the nation. He won’t be taking Governor Perry up on his invitation to go pray with him in Houston, but he did issue a proclamation here at home stating that Alaskans should “seek God’s face” and pray because we are at war, facing economic hardship and natural disaster. He also asks us to pray for the strength and wisdom of leaders – presumably like those who give hat tips in proclamations blurring the boundary between church and state, and saluting the likes of Rick Perry and a host of intolerant, homophobic, Islamophobic hatemongers. Just saying.
If you’re not quite sure whether praying for the people of the nation will work to get them health care, good paying jobs, top notch education for their children, sound infrastructure, a healthy planet, and… oh, yeah, our AAA bond rating back, Facebook has been kind enough to offer you an alternative to the Day of Prayer.
I present to you, the Day of Debauchery and Gluttony. Here’s part of what the organizer posted on the event page.
On August 6, Rick Perry along with the American Family Association, International House of Prayer, John Hagee Pastor of the Cornerstone Church and other evangelicals will be holding “The Response” at Reliant Stadium in Houston. According to Rick Perry’s official proclamation
“Given the trials that have beset our country and world – from the global economic downturn to natural disasters, the lingering danger of terrorism and wars that endanger our troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and theaters of conflict around the globe, and the decline of our culture in the context of the demise of families – it seems imperative that the people of our nation should once again join together for a solemn day of prayer and fasting on behalf of our troubled nation.”
Now, while I have no problem with people praying to the deities of their choice, I do have a problem with politicians using this sort of thing solely to score points agains the other side. And make no mistake, this is nothing but a political ploy.
Those names I mentioned above? The AFA, International House of Prayer? John Hagee? All of them are hate mongers of the greatest order.
The AFA and House of Prayer are actively engaged in the fight against equal rights for the LGBT community, particularly in denying the right to marry the person of their choice.
The AFA believes that Muslims should not be allowed to practice their faith, and feel that they do not deserve First Amendment protection of religion. Oh, and the first Muslim member of Congress? The AFA sent-out a “bulletin” exclaiming that for the first time in US history, the oath of office had been sworn to on a Koran. Completely false.
The AFA is one of the leading groups is the perpetuation of the “War on Christmas” myth, and I suppose it should go without saying that they oppose both abortion and “pornography”.
And John Hagee…Yes, I’ve saved the best for last. Here are some of Rev Hagee’s greatest hits:
“I believe that the Hurricane Katrina was, in fact, the judgment of God against the city of New Orleans…I believe that New Orleans had a level of sin that was offensive to God, and they are — were recipients of the judgment of God for that…There was to be a homosexual parade there on the Monday that the Katrina came. And the promise of that parade was that it was going to reach a level of sexuality never demonstrated before in any of the other Gay Pride parades…. The Bible teaches that when you violate the law of God, that God brings punishment sometimes before the day of judgment.”
“[Gay marriage] will open the door to incest, to polygamy, and every conceivable marriage arrangement demented minds can possibly conceive. If God does not then punish America, He will have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah.” (snip)
A man who cuts funding for women and children’s health, who has worked to dismantle the Texas education system, who does nothing but pump money into the pockets of his cronies, who dares to joke that he’s “homeless” because he’s living in a 10,000 a month house while the Governor’s Mansion is being remodeled while ordinary Texans are living on the streets in 100+º heat?
You’re damned right that I’m upset about this, and I’m pretty sure that Jesus Christ would stand right next to me and bow his head in shame at his name and what I always believed he was supposed to stand for being used to peddle hatred.
If you pray and fast, I hope it is that leaders like this who seek to use their religion to drive a wedge between people, rob them of their basic freedoms and equality, and wave a political flag in the name of God will cease to have a voice. If, on the other hand, you’re a debauchery and gluttony type, you can raise a glass to the same thing.
The organizer has given a site to post photos, which you can get by clicking through the link. So far, there is only one – a panload of bacon-wrapped sausage. Looks like things are off to a good start.
Love the article on Perry’s tithing – NOT tithing that is. I won’t even say what I thought the hotdogs looked like. In addtion to the first Amendment to the Constitution, there is this. Article VI….”but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.”
I don’t think the Quitter will declare for the Presidency (but I’ve been wrong before) because she will need to release her tax records and her college transcripts. No, there is no legal requirement for either of them, but she’ll be hounded for them. Wonder how much she tithes to her church.
Yes, Jim at Stonekettle station nails it also. Now I might be able to say what I thought those hotdogs looked like on his blog, but I won’t here.
This is the kind of predictable, disrespectful, unfair, unequal, behavior I have learned to expect from him. I could go on and on to describe how upsetting this is. But instead of saying it hear I will take my own advice and write him a letter so he will know how disappointed I am of him. (how are caregivers suppose to explain this nonsence to children?) I sure enjoyed everyone’s thoughts on this equal rights issue.
Here here, as far as I’m concerned the thoughts of perry and palin on the ballot, eww…
Here’s an interesting article on the REAL Governor Goodhair, Saviour of Our Country and Our Souls. It appears that he may be good at talking the talk, but stumbles a bit when it comes to walking the walk. I find it extremely interesting that someone who wants to privatize or eliminate so many of the government services that help the poor is such a miser himself. Apparently, it’s up to everyone ELSE to generously contribute their money to help those who need it. He’s keeping everything he’s got, damn it!
“In 2007, the governor of Texas earned $1,092,810. According to his IRS form, he gave $90 of that total to his church. He was a tad more generous in 2008 when the governor’s adjusted gross income was $277,667 and he donated $2,850 to his church. Perry was feeling less magnanimous in 2009 when he earned $200,370 but shows all zeroes as a line item for church donations. ”
Now, keep in mind that, as governor, Perry does NOT pay for: mortgage or rent, food, health care, transportation, utilities or property taxes. I realize that the cost of his hair gel may be staggering, but to make well over a million dollars, have almost no other expenses, but donate only $90 to the church seems, well…(what’s the word for ten steps beyond miserly?)!
http://www.moorethink.com/2011/08/06/a-prayer-for-ricky-meany/
Wow, that is staggeringly pathetic for someone who professes that he is a Christian and seems intent on telling the rest of us how we should lead Christian lives. (No matter to him, of course, that not everyone shares his religious beliefs.) As a Christian, I don’t think I will follow his example of not donating to my church or to other groups that help people.
If he isn’t donating to his church, I would expect that, as a good Christian, he is donating to other organizations. Did that show up as any sort of donation, or is he just really that stingy.
Excellent comments, mudpups — e.v.e.r.y…s.i.n.g.l.e…o.n.e.
As one who has personally chosen not to follow any specific religion but who lives a life of deep Faith and great Spirituality as a matter of course, I can’t help but observe: There’s a *huge* difference between praying and preying — those who are pseudoReligionists (to include pseudoChristians) almost exclusively, completely obliviously, and unwaveringly consistently practice the latter. Sad, that. beth.
If we are at war with anyone, it is Republicans, whose actions dumped us into an unnecessary war, created this recession, and have now destroyed our nation’s credit rating. Everything the Republicans do makes our situation worse. Obama should have stood his ground and used the 14th Amendment.
There was a downside to the 14th amendment approach – the GOP reacting like insane chimps, screaming for impeachment.
So are we all convinced yet that it’s now immoral to vote Republican?
And the Supreme Court at the moment isn’t any help either. That may be the reason he decided not to go that direction. It was getting some talk and if that talk was mentioned by some of the Democrats in interviews, then it was likely that it was discussed more than we knew. I did hear someone say that lawyers who looked at the possibility weren’t convinced it would actually work. So, why waste more time on something the repubs would just use against the President. Still, it would have been a nice way to give them all a poke in the eye and be right in doing so.
i am convinced that is immoral and treasonous to vote for these folks.
A truly profound movie about religion is “Of Men and Gods.” I strongly recommend it. The story is based on fact – the ultimate abduction of a group of Cistercian monks from their abbey in the Atlas mountains of Algeria that took place in the late 1990’s. I doubt that Rick Perry or Sarah Palin or Mike Huckabee or Michelle Bachman or Mitt Romney would get much out of it – but I found it truly remarkable.
And this is what the idiocy of the likes of Rick Perry leads to in a place far from Texas but not that far from my home:
http://federalway.komonews.com/news/crime/658073-standoff-near-5th-ave-sw-sw-308th-ends-arrest
At least the idiot who started it all by shouting racial slurs at people who weren’t bothering him is the one that was arrested. Of course, he had a gun and fired it. I’ve no idea whether any of this has to do with his religious beliefs. It’s bad any way you look at it.
Honestly, where little Ricky and his like-minded friends are concerned, my honest prayer is that the rest of the voters will take time to really learn what he and his friends stand for. I don’t think most people will be happy with what they learn.
Jim at Stonekettle Station has a great post about what Rick Perry REALLY is praying for – it’s a scream! Can be accessed through the “Missing Links” on the page header.
Doing my bit to support the economy with all those praying and fasting (Yeah, I bet) I am going out to dinner and the diet be blowed. I shall buy bigger pants.
We have the most extremest in the world living in the USA- easily.
I see the beginnings of some very fine Sonoran hotdogs there, yes indeed. Imagine those wrapped doggies as the core, and then pile on just about every condiment known to man, add chiles and beans, and you have heaven on earth. Or a heart attack. Figuratively, good Sonorans are to die for when done right.
As for Senor Perry, well, I’m nearly speechless. I must admit to being somewhat inured to the likes of he however, since I live in Arizona. We’ve got quite a few politicians who can match him easily in stupidity. To quote the esteemed Bugs Bunny, “What a Maroon!”
Dear Governor Parnell,
what Julia Sugarbaker [brilliantly played by the late Dixie Carter] says here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnMn-ObT0r8
…snip “I’ve had it up to here with you and your phony issues and your Yankee Doodle yakee. If you like reciting the Pledge of Allegiance everyday then I think you should do it: in the car
in the shower; where ever the mood strikes you.
“But don’t try to tell me when, or where
I have to say, or do, or salute anything
because I am an American too
and that is what being an American is all about”…
…“the last time I checked God was neither a Democrat nor a Republican
FYI, I get down on my knees and pray every day
on my own turf
on my own time
one of the things I pray for, (Mr. Parnell), is
that people with power will get good sense
and people with good sense will get power
and that the rest of us will be blessed with the patience and the strength
to survive the people like you in the mean time!”
In my best Pastafarian, R’amen, sir.
one more paragraph transcribed from the video:
…“I was just thinking that you seem to have forgotten the phrase “Separation of church and state”, but the one thing I did forget was just how divisive, dishonest, and distasteful someone like you can be. I’ve sat here today and listened to you pander to these people, but you don’t actually care about them, or you wouldn’t be sitting here reinforcing their ignorance and prejudices.”…
“And another thing………I am sick and tired of being made to feel that if I am not a member of a little family with 2.4 children who goes just to Jerry Fallwell’s church and puts their hands over their hearts every morning that I am unreligious, unpatriotic, and un-American!!”
Thank you – and Julia Sugarbaker – I can just see/hear her saying this.
Great find, scout.
Thank you for sharing.
That was awesome. The sad thing is that it is even more relevant today than it was when she said it. Thanks for the link.
I am with all you good people and you speak pearls of wisdom. I guess we can all hope for better days and work for peace and the end of all these horrid wars caused by these horrid people who are so proud of being right wing idiots. They claim to be righteous while spouting venom. They pour their money into bigger and bigger cathedrals to their greed. To hell with all of them.
It’s Gov Rick Perry’s National Day Of Prayer and Fasting. Or, if u believe in separation of church and state, it’s Saturday.
Best comment I saw regarding today’s “event.”
Love it!
Benlomond & Min NJ
Thanks—–you made my Day. !!!!
I am old enought to remember the day that we dropped the “biggie” on Japan. I had just finished my Sophmore year in High School. I was sitting out on our front lawn with a boyfriend listening to the radio. How can anyone forget such an event as this.
My Grandson went to Japan several years ago with a college friend and visited the memorial site with thousands of names. He said it was breathe taking.
If I pray—-it will be that all wars end!
You always make my day, Lacy Lady.
Maybe we should change her name to ‘Lovely Lady’! 🙂
yes. she is lovely.
I think I will find that quiet/secret place and hope/pray for moisture to come to the dry places, food to come to the hungry, peace to come to the war torn, contentment to the unhappy, love to the lonely, and overall for some hope to those who seem to have lost it.
Maybe some of the ‘vibes’ will reach those who need it most and we can start to turn to a more positive direction in the world.
in solidarity, Vic.
thatcrowwoman
UgaVic: yes, you have voiced what needs to be done. Thank you.
In my backward way of thinking, the Bible is a big story book and the only two concepts that come out of it that mean anything to me at this point in my life is “Love One Another” and “Do Unto Others As You Would Have Them Do Unto You”….NEITHER OF THESE CONCEPTS IS PRACTICED BY THE SO CALLED ‘CHRISTIAN’ RIGHT….they are all about memememememememe and $$$$$$$$$$$$$$. They lie, cheat, steal, and hate; they are racists and bigots, and tell us what we should do while they are doing the opposite. They change their own facts in mid-stream, and try to change facts that are part of history. Why is anyone with half a brain or any kind of education paying attention to them? Because we have a society of the rich and the poor and no middle any more, and the poor think that listening to these radicals is the way to get rich. They are trampling over each other to get their hand in the money pot, for whatever misbegotten reason. In the mean time, the voices of REASON are blotted out by the yelling absurdities of these ‘baggers’ and religious right bigots. Is there a solution? Not until we love one another again. Let’s get busy.
Is it ok to call to call them a pack of fecking wankers? Delete if needs be AKM.
hahahahaha caw Caw CAW!!!
🙂 Happysummer to you and little bird and Happy, also, too.
😉 😉 😉 !!!!
works for me!
i love you Irishgirl. hee hee.
It’ll be a cold day in…..Texas when I start taking advice from the likes of Perry, Hagee, and Brownback about when, what and for whom to pray.
Hate much???
What a bunch of BS!!!! Christians my Ass——taking our country down to the bottom of the barrel. Where is separtion of church and state. ?
We have a Nut case that writes in our local paper—-that belongs in this group. My family doesn’t want me to write a letter to the editor to put this idiot in his place.. I am haveing a very hard time keeping my mouth shut!
If Rick Perry runs for Pres—–I am going to have a hay day!
write the letter… SOMEBODY has to push back, otherwise, people fold up because no one steps up and says “This is just WRONG “
Write the letter.How else will the ‘nut case” know how you feel.? What paper, I’ll buy one just to see your letter.
write the letter – your voice may give others voice to power also
Call me ‘ageist,’ but there’s nothing better than an older person telling us just what is. Love you, Lacy Lady, and have for some time. Keep on, good woman! You give me such hope in ways in ways you don’t know…..
write that letter Lady! don’t shut up. shout out loud. you are a wonderful one.
The sad thing is that people who really follow the teachings of Christianity would be helping those in need…they would be loving thy neighbor regardless of race or religion or sexual orientation…they would be working for the good of the world rather than the domination of the world…they would never use derogatory language and hate-filled rhetoric to attack their opponents…they would not put the rights of corporations and the wealthiest citizens above the common person….
In other words, the true followers of Jesus would not be republicans.
My father did that. He was a Methodist minister and a moderate Republican. My mother and I almost got him over it, but time for his life ran out.
In his last church, he started ecumenical meetings, began Holocaust services as we were a religiously diverse community and, after all, over 50 million people died in WWII, engaged the Catholic and Jewish community in dialogue, went to installments of Catholic priests and to those celebrations of Rabbis, and chose women for his Associate Minister position. He rode shot-gun with the police to protect the rioters during the 70s Newark riots, and loved and admired Marthin Luther King. He read constantly all of the current literature, and always knew what was timely as well as the works of his theological heroes, including Deitrich Bonhoeffer.
He joined me in the streets protesting the unbalance in our democracy of racism and the war at that time
How times have changed! Being a Democrat was always a step to the right for me, but I’m good with it now, and I used to respect those who were moderate Republicans and moderate Democrats.
I am horrified by mostly everything that is going on now, politicially and with regard to religious tolerance. Are we becoming the South of the 50s as a nation? What is this ‘Chirstianity’ of which they speak? It disgusts me, as it should all thoughtful people. Why was Rupert Murdock’s yacht in Alaska’s waters for a month (cite AKM) before the Quitter resigned? Hello? Draw line A to line B…
My rant will never be over, but it is for now.
Thank you – we could use a hero or two.
I have to respond to your question, “Are we becoming the South of the 50s as a nation?” because I have related several comments toward that era over the years as a blogger. I could see attitudes in the Norton Sound area(and other rural parts of our state) that I can link to “the South of the 50s” in regards to racism and discrimination against White People who are not humble enough in their interactions with the so-called Native leaders of Public Monies entities. Don’t get me wrong here now – I am an Alaskan Native, born and raised in this state. I can truthfully report what I’ve observed over the years and what trust-worthy people have shared with me on their observations.
The rudeness and unprofessional behavior is backed up by public monies and is misused until issues have to be brought to court. These people bring it on themselves and will lie right to the very end. Until more and more people start standing up for fair and equal representation in every public monies sector, this attitude of “the South of the 50s” will continue to dominate in the politics out here in rural Alaska.
I believe you have a very valid point. Unfortunately results seem to only come when lawyers and lawsuits are involved.
What is sad is that many times it is only equal rights for all, including those Natives that are disadvantaged and having rights abused too.
We also seeing the lying and demands that they are being ‘singled’ out until the very end and yet they are the ones hurting all!!
Those people who take on this fight have my respect in the highest regard!
Thanks for your understanding and support. People are afraid to stand up against these ‘rights abusers’ for fear of personal repercussions which are downright nasty and full of hatred! Cheating and lies are their norm.
It’s not right that they use Public Monies to cover up their incompetence and influence the blackballing of people they don’t like because they threaten their control. As I have stated before, they target Big White Men who are not Humble enough. That’s racism and discrimination loud and clear. And some of our white breathren support these civil rights abusers for their own gain.
During all those (painful) years in Catholic school as a kid, I don’t remember hearing about one instance when Jesus asked someone for their long form birth certificate! Hmmmm…
If prayer was so effective, it owuld be raining all over Texas today and the temperature would be about 75. Haven’t they been praying for rain for months?
Yes, I have relatives in TX and this drought is HUGE. Crops and livestock (sold sooner so they don’t die later) are dying. It’s really terrible. I heard a news story early this morning about an older woman’s central AC having been stolen. The oceans couldn’t be getting warmer because of this, could they?…..
I can’t tell you how disgusted I am. I’m hoping that many who vote feel the same way I do…
A preacher told me a good story. He said there was a small country church filled with farmers, who came every week and prayed for rain, but the rain never came. The were becoming disillusioned. They invited a guest pastor from another church to join them, and to ask him to have his congregation join in the prayer. They all prayed really, really hard. When the guest pastor showed up, he only had one question for this congregation: “I see you are all praying constantly for rain. If you truly believe that your prayers can change the situation, Why are you all leaving your umbrellas at home?”
If it was scallops wrapped in bacon, OMG.
We need to try harder to keep religion out of politics. It is very corrupting.
You know what’s really good? Bacon wrapped in bacon!
I rarely eat bacon, partly because I know it’s so bad for me but mostly because I hate cooking it. I think the last time I had bacon was over the last Christmas holidays when I was visiting family and my sister cooked it. However, every once in a while…
This afternoon I had nothing to make for lunch so I stopped on the way to the grocery store and had a bacon-tomato-cheese panini. Dang, was that puppy gooood!
“12:00 p.m.: Perry prays—After a period of worship and repentance, Gov. Rick Perry walked onto the stage, wearing a red tie and a smile.”
I wish that was ALL he wore…
I wonder how many of the faithful x-tians would have let out with a very loud, “OH MY GOD!”. That might have been worth “the price of admission” raht thar.
Or, at least the $10-12 parking fee everyone had to pay except the anointed ones who somehow were comped….
That would have been a mighty fine picture of a good xtian – “wearing a red tie and a smile” – conjures up a ridiculous image that makes my LOL!
http://blog.chron.com/believeitornot/2011/08/gov-rick-perry-evangelical-leaders-hold-prayer-rally-at-reliant-liveblog/
This puts you right into the play-by-play “liveblog”…. Where’s the Tums?
Ack…it get worse….I went to the Houston Chronicle’s web site and found this stuff. Take some Pepto-Bismol first, though….
http://www.chron.com/
A great comment from SamD:
“God uses good people. Bad people use God. God just got used.”
http://www.khou.com/news/Perrys-Houston-prayer-rally-puts-2012-prospect-in-spotlight-127064683.html
This link is a Houston, TX t.v. station’s coverage of the Perry nonsense today. I forgot the Westboro “Church” clowns were coming today, too. I think they are in the 4th and 5th photos. That’s about the only time I ever thought it’s kinda funny for them to turn out and heckle anyone…
Gov. Parnell didn’t do himself any favors by his proclaimation today. I don’t know if I should pray for him or feel sorry for him right now. I am damned embarrassed for myself and others that he would dip this crap in our faces. Alaska deserves better than this!
Um, didn’t Jesus actually condemn those who prayed so loudly in public?
Yup.
Matthew 6:5-6: ” And when you pray, do not imitate the hypocrites; they love to say their prayers standing up in the synagogues and at the street corners for people to see them. In truth I tell you, they have their reward, But when you pray, go to your private room, shut yourself in, and so pray to your Father who is in that secret place, and your father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.”
Looking at that picture makes me think that the kind of prayers emanating from the event in Texas have got to be as damaging to a person’s heart as an entire tray of those bacon-wrapped sausages!
hhhhhmmmmmm,,, baaaccooonnnn!!! ( in my best Homer Simpson voice)
How these people can stand up and claim to have any connection whatsoever with Jesus is just beyond me. Their hatred is so completely contradictory to everything Jesus preached that I just don’t understand how they can justify calling themselves Christians.
I left the Catholic church many years ago (as soon as I was old enough to refuse to go to church with my parents!) specifically because of the hypocrisy of what I saw around me. I don’t pray in the traditional sense, but still do find myself pausing and sending out positive thoughts to the universe whenever I hear or read a story in the news about people suffering…people in Somalia starving, people suffering from natural disasters, people (especially children) struggling to survive traumatic injuries or life threatening illnesses, etc.
I can’t help but believe that sending all that hate and vitriol out into the universe has GOT to come back and bite you in the posterior at some point.
OMG, that picture looks like barbequed fingers.
They do look like chopped off “fingers”! Probably all those caught stealing money from the poor.
That’s what I first thought they were when I saw them and had to look twice!
Oh gods…pigs in blankets. But they need melted Velveeta cheese oozing out from their centers.
So…any moves lately to remove tax-exempt status from churches?
“pigs” are dirty, stink and have no ethics!
So Hagee…what message is God sending to Texas with this drought? Probably something along the lines of ignorance and a total lack of concern for humanity. Perhaps a Gay Pride parade would bring some rain to Texas. What a bunch of fools. Too bad they are in control of so many lives. Anyone that believes their crap deserves what they get, just feel bad for the people caught in the blow back.
what ever happened to separation of church & state? You know one of the central themes of the revolutionary war & Constitution. All the Right ever talks about is god, & the amendments that give them the right to call Obamma a Fascist tar baby & and carry loaded automatic weapons to a political rally. It’s disturbing. We have got to vote Parnell out of office.
All on the extreme right need to be voted out of office because they are not separating church and state. This needs to be done across the nation, Congress and on the local levels of our communities.
Every chance we get we need to encourage friends and family members to vote this next election.
Republican Legislatures in some of the states have passed laws to make it more difficult for people to vote. That has to be paid attention to also. Help and assistance will need to be provided people in those states to obtain the proper ID in order to vote.
Amen! I hope you take this in the spirit given – and I am NOT a religious person 🙂
I saw a copy of ol’ Ricky boy’s college transcript from Texas A&M Had a bunch of D’s, and F or two, some C’s, and I believe an A in a remedial class of some kind. What could people be thinking in considering a kind of dumb guy as a candidate? Bush wasn’t a standout either in college–but he was a cheerleader. Perry had to be on a grade probation thing in order to run for a student body office.
If Palin decides to announce her candidacy, won’t it be fun to have her college grades disclosed too? Or, proof that she actually obtained a degree in journalism?
HA! It would ‘make my day, punk.’ I’ll be waiting for that…
Perry was a cheerleader also and too
hey now ! no slamming cheerleaders ! I was one of four guys on our HS squad ( first ones ever in our small Fl town) one of the best times of my life… cheerleading camp.. 200 Southern Belles, and four guys… with a lake, ski boat and a pool for after hour activities !! They don’t pick ’em in the South just because they can do the moves ! ( Ben runs to hills from female activists !) oh, and I went on to play soccer at FSU 2 years (undefeated ), just in case there’s any questions from Slip about physical prowess ! 🙂
We also had male cheerleaders at our high school. They were the most popular guys in school.
My Aggie BIL, however, thinks Perry was a nerd at A & M
First, if we need or want to pray, i believe we ALL know how and where to go to connect to our own brand of spirituality. I think Governor Parnell has crossed the line between the separation of Church and State and should be “rebuked” for his actions by the state legislature.
Second if Alaskans are going to pray, they should be praying for a real Democrat to be governor of the state.
From Daily Kos : it seems that nobody wants to go to Rick Perry’s campaign kickoff “Day of Prayer” religious revival rally scheduled for Saturday in Houston. The stadium event organizers are using seats just north of 70,000 … but only 8,000 people have said they will come. Perry invited every governor of every state to attend his political cynical rally, but just one accepted his invitation: Sam Brownback of Kansas. And now Brownback is backing away:
Perry invited all his fellow governors. The only one to accept was Sam Brownback of Kansas, but he is now backing away. His office says Brownback is “on vacation,” and if he goes, “it’s at his discretion and on his dime.”
Maybe Brownback will show up “on his own,” but Perry is taking a ton of heat for his event anyway:
Earlier this week, 50 Houston religious leaders, led by the Anti-Defamation League, signed a letter expressing their concern that the Texas governor, and possible presidential candidate, is “sending an official message of religious exclusion” to non-Christian Texans.
Why are people objecting to Perry’s stunt? In part because it’s a cynical use of faith to achieve political goals—have you ever heard of someone launching a serious presidential campaign during a religious service? But it’s not just his lack of respect for the idea behind the First Amendment, it’s also that he’s invited some genuinely crazy people to participate in his event. People like:
— John Hagee, a San Antonio evangelist whose endorsement was rejected by John McCain in 2008 because of Hagee’s anti-Catholic statements.
— Mike Bickle, a founder of the International House of Prayer in Kansas City, Mo., who has called Oprah Winfrey a “pastor of the harlot of Babylon.”
— Alice Patterson, founder of Justice at the Gate, in San Antonio, who has written that there is “a demonic structure behind the Democratic Party.”
— And then there’s John Benefiel, head of the Oklahoma-based Heartland Apostolic Prayer Network, who once said this about the Statue of Liberty: “You know where we got it from? French Freemasons. Listen, folks, that is an idol, a demonic idol right there in the middle of New York Harbor.”
With a roster of loons like that, is there any wonder why Perry is suddenly becoming the flavor of the month among GOP primary voters looking for an alternative to Mitt Romney?
As of this moment (the number is probably climbing even as I post) there are 58,593 participants on FB. Perhaps a high of 15,000 at “The Response” (and I’m betting a large number of those are children who would much rather be doing something fun, like playing Wii or getting their heads shaved). Aren’t numbers fun?
Facebook: still not an adult forum as far as I’m concerned.
31 American soldiers died today in Afghanistan.
The real point. Those poor people.
just went to the FB page and RSVP’d and shared both MF’s and the FB pages.
Darn that bacon is making me hungry!! LOL
***speechless*** shaking my head
Capt. Zero strikes again. When is he going to learn to keep his focus on Alaska, umm you know the state that he is governor of??? Sigh…
What do you expect? $P was his role model. Maybe he’ll leave in another year, which is about the attention span of these dolts…
I agree that Sean Parnell has no “focus on Alaska”. After today I’m not going to refer to him as our Governor.
Will not be answering to elected officials or taking suggestions concerning my prayer life. And really – one day of prayer? – what happened to ‘pray without ceasing’? Go co opt some other cultural icon for your campaign rhetoric.
If we’re going to pray for anything today, let’s pray for the future of the Japanese people. Yes, this is the Hiroshima anniversary, and today Fukushima is, to use current vernacular, a “hot mess” in more ways than we can count.
I look forward to a world without both nuclear energy and nuclear weapons. No, I probably won’t live to see it, and I am not a parent, so “my” children won’t see it either. However, I have other things to contribute to the future of humanity apart from DNA. A nuclear-free future is the one I envision for humanity (nuclear imaging, known as MRI, is okay by me, as is CERN).
Find out more at http://www.wagingpeace.org/ and may all our days be blessed by health and peace. Tikkun olam shalom.
Zyxomma, thank you for caring for all people, not just your progeny. I, too, am not happy with the idea of nuclear energy as I believe it to be dangerous, too easily changed into a horror. However, harnessed for medical use in small doses may be helpful. I hope that continues to be a good use.
No group left out of AFa, et al nasty lil radar :
“Similarly, “native (sic) American” tribes at the time of European settlement were steeped in the basest forms of superstition, had been guilty of savagery in warfare for hundreds of years, and practiced the most debased forms of sexuality,” Fischer says. Furthermore, Fischer says, American Indians resisted “the appeal” of European Christianity and “resisted every attempt” at conversion, a claim that is belied by the presence of many historic churches on Indian lands and the large numbers of Christians among the Indigenous Peoples today. He draws further parallels between “missionaries murdered in cold blood” by the Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island and “abominations of the indigenous Canaanites tribes” as the implicit reason why “God” gave the land of the Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island to European Christians and land of the Canaanites – Palestine – to European Jews.
ICTMN columnist Steve Newcomb was among the first to point out, in an article called Radio Evangelist Preaches An Ugly Message, that Fischer’s “thinly veiled race-purity arguments” form the foundation of American Indian law and continue to justify colonization and dispossession in the 21st century.”
http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2011/08/%E2%80%9Cthe-response%E2%80%9D-promises-toxic-mix-of-racism-and-bigotry/
praying we get rid of this gov pdq …
and that AFA, Perry, et al not only lose their voice but their phony soapboxes too,
Pfffftttt!
These extreme right Republicans make me want to puke!!! Sean Parnell made a huge gaff w/his support of Perry’s christian (and I use that term loosely) gathering in TX. They are truly dividing the country…no wonder citizens of the U.S. are moving away from ‘faith’.
Perry is not a Christian. He’s a DOMINIONIST. He can take those Seven Mountains and shove them up Hagee’s @$$. This is not a prayer meeting, it’s a (much) longer version of Orwell’s Two-Minute Hate.
I hadn’t heard the term Dominionist before. I’m so going to start using it. Thanks, Zyxomma!
http://godsownparty.com/blog/2011/06/what-is-dominionism/
is worth a read jenjay
but drink some calming chamomile tea or something first
I said I used the term ‘loosely’. Have seen the term ‘dominionist’ – pulled my Webster which defines it as: supreme authority’. Then pulled my Random House/Unabridged and found ‘the power or right of governing and controlling’.
Read Alaska Pi’s link for the definition I’m using. We all must be vigilant, and call these RWNJ so-called evangelical Xtians what they truly are. And yes, drink some calming chamomile/spearmint tea (very good on ice, if you’re in the hot zone of the country) first. Health and peace.
It makes me sick, too, MIllie. Very pissed off and sick.
Go to hell, Sean Parnell.
And take little Ricky with ya!
amen!
and hallelujah.
times two.
Don’t worry…he will