A friend of mine recently sent to me an article about the television documentary in Great Britain that challenged conventional wisdom on global warming. He asked me for my take.
I have long written publicly that I am a skeptic about global warming - about how much there actually is, about what the causes of it are, and, if CO2 is a cause, how much of the increase of CO2 is due to human activity. I've read over the course of time too much research that contradicts the mandatory opinion. And too many actual climatologists are unconvinced about it for me to be convinced about it.
My view is that if we 1) take serious extra measures to clean up our air (for ten other good reasons than global warming), and 2) radically reduce our use of hydrocarbon fuels, then we will have done that which is both environmentally and geopolitically sound, and will have reduced greenhouse gases as a result. I am also an advocate of building more nuclear power plants, now that that technology is so much safer and cleaner. Taking this view of course makes me anathema to some fellow environmentalists. So be it.
I think that over the next six months the tide will swing; more and more scientists will feel emboldened to buck the system and say what they really believe about global warming.
Which gets me to the hoopla about John Edward's and Al Gore's respective houses. I think buying carbon offsets is a wussy way to rationalize excessive lifestyles. We don't even know if that approach is effective for reducing CO2. And since we don't really even know that CO2 is the main culprit vis a vis global warming, it's silly at that level too. To make matters worse the energy plants used to provide power for these respective houses are not just spewing out CO2. They are also spewing out all sorts of other nasty pollutants that foul our air and impact the health of forests, animals, and people too. And all that power may well be using up nonrenewable resources such as coal or oil or natural gas.
People like to point to religious folk like me and cry "hypocrite." But there are few folks more hypocritical than globe trotting environmentalist celebrities.
Joel
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Better Off Dead?
Animal rights activists are all in a lather over the prospect of a baby polar bear being raised by humans and living in a zoo. Read about it here.
The poor creature was abandoned by his mother and the mean ole zoo keepers decided not to let it die. How terrible. As put in the CNN article:
"Animal rights activists argue that he should be given a lethal injection rather than brought up suffering the humiliation of being treated as a domestic pet."
So, I want to know something. How do they know that the bear will suffer humiliation? Have the captive bears been sending bear notes to the the animal rights folks saying that they feel humiliated? do we really know what makes a bear happy? I mean, we ourselves are genetically wired to be hunter/gatherers, but most of us, if given a choice, would rather not spend our days out in the elements. So how do we really know the polar bear will be miserable? The evidence overall is that bears bond well with human surrogate parents. No reason to think this baby polar bear will be different.
On a trip once to the Toronto zoo one time two of the polar bears were involved in a non stop wrestle and play fight. They seemed to be having a good time to me. Plus they got three squares a day (or the bear equivalent). Do we know that bears would rather have to spend all day hunting (and ripping apart other animals) than being fed. It may make them a little too sedentary and over weight (hey, like me!), but miserable and humiliated?
Animals respond differently to living in captivity. Many, if not most higher mammals seem to find some comfort and ease with having relationships with human beings along with fellow "inmates." Some seem to downright enjoy it. How do we know this bear will be miserable? We don't.
I love animals almost more than I can put into words. I am not overly sentimental or neurotic about it. But the almost universal affection I have for my fellow creatures is a deep part of my being. I am devoted to saving habitats for animals to live in in the wild. Zoos play an important function in helping human beings feel the need to save and preserve animal species and their habitats. They often play a role in staving off extinction. Yes there are some terrible zoos. But they are getting better and better. And do we REALLY know that a bear would rather be our floating on an ice sheet somewhere looking for a nice seal to eat rather then living in a zoo? I don't know if we know that.
I have run into the "life not worth living" argument all too often as regards human beings that we do understand fairly well. It is a bad way of thinking there; it is a bad way of thinking about animals.
I am glad they rescued the little bear, and are feeding it, and will raise it in captivity. It might just live a fairly happy bear life as far as we know, and it might just help a lot of human beings love bears all the more and want to help preserve their "natural" way of life.
And it might just be me, but looking at the picture I get the sense that the little bear enjoys its bottle. But what do I know about what bears enjoy.
The poor creature was abandoned by his mother and the mean ole zoo keepers decided not to let it die. How terrible. As put in the CNN article:
"Animal rights activists argue that he should be given a lethal injection rather than brought up suffering the humiliation of being treated as a domestic pet."
So, I want to know something. How do they know that the bear will suffer humiliation? Have the captive bears been sending bear notes to the the animal rights folks saying that they feel humiliated? do we really know what makes a bear happy? I mean, we ourselves are genetically wired to be hunter/gatherers, but most of us, if given a choice, would rather not spend our days out in the elements. So how do we really know the polar bear will be miserable? The evidence overall is that bears bond well with human surrogate parents. No reason to think this baby polar bear will be different.
On a trip once to the Toronto zoo one time two of the polar bears were involved in a non stop wrestle and play fight. They seemed to be having a good time to me. Plus they got three squares a day (or the bear equivalent). Do we know that bears would rather have to spend all day hunting (and ripping apart other animals) than being fed. It may make them a little too sedentary and over weight (hey, like me!), but miserable and humiliated?
Animals respond differently to living in captivity. Many, if not most higher mammals seem to find some comfort and ease with having relationships with human beings along with fellow "inmates." Some seem to downright enjoy it. How do we know this bear will be miserable? We don't.
I love animals almost more than I can put into words. I am not overly sentimental or neurotic about it. But the almost universal affection I have for my fellow creatures is a deep part of my being. I am devoted to saving habitats for animals to live in in the wild. Zoos play an important function in helping human beings feel the need to save and preserve animal species and their habitats. They often play a role in staving off extinction. Yes there are some terrible zoos. But they are getting better and better. And do we REALLY know that a bear would rather be our floating on an ice sheet somewhere looking for a nice seal to eat rather then living in a zoo? I don't know if we know that.
I have run into the "life not worth living" argument all too often as regards human beings that we do understand fairly well. It is a bad way of thinking there; it is a bad way of thinking about animals.
I am glad they rescued the little bear, and are feeding it, and will raise it in captivity. It might just live a fairly happy bear life as far as we know, and it might just help a lot of human beings love bears all the more and want to help preserve their "natural" way of life.
And it might just be me, but looking at the picture I get the sense that the little bear enjoys its bottle. But what do I know about what bears enjoy.
Friday, March 02, 2007
Top Ten Singer/Songwriters
So just what do I think makes someone a singer/songwriter?. Well, my criteria are that the person writes both the words and music to a song, sings the song, and plays an instrument in the process. These are four separate skills and they do not always come together in the same person.
1. Bob Dylan
As I sit here, with a push of a mouse, I can listen to The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan from the early 60's, to Modern Times of 2006 (including "A Hard Rain’s A’Gonna Fall” to “Thunder on the Mountain”), both albums being excellent collections of songs from the master himself, separated by over forty years. And what a wealth and richness in between! What an amazing career! So many of his songs speak to and touch me, and are so musically and lyrically interesting, that it is hard to know where to even start taking about his music. I will say this though: as much as I already liked Bob Dylan, it was buying The Times They Are a Changin’ a couple of years back that made the ultimate connection and pushed him to number one on my list. Specifically I think it was the “The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carrol” that sealed it. Odd, after so many years with Bob Dylan as part of my life, it was that song that pushed away all competitors in my heart to him having the number one position.
2. Jackson Browne
What can I say. When my brother Mike gave me Jackson Brown, better known as Saturate Before Using, for my 17th birthday, a musical love affair began that has never abated. I will admit that I favor the older stuff, but I’m learning to love some of the newer stuff too. I wish he would get David Lindley back with him on an album. But I want to say this – the guy can still sing, he can still play, and he still has that winsome humor that make his concerts so delightful. When he played here a couple of years ago and started with “Looking into You” I thought I would cry, that being my first or second favorite of his songs. It was a magical night. No musician has dogged the ups and downs of my life like JB. To him I say “thank you for filling my life with your songs." If you don’t know his music I might start with Late for the Sky.
3. Iris Dement
I first heard Iris Dement on Prairie Home Companion. I then illegally downloaded a bunch of her songs (which I don’t do anymore) and was hooked. I have all her CD’s now, so hey, I’m clean. Iris Dement sings with a high twangy voice that carries one over the other side of the other side of the hills, and yet, there is such a surreal beauty to her voice. Her songs are simple though clever, heartfelt though not indulgent, and so very real. she has struggled in her life. When I saw her at Cat’s Cradle there she was in all her, well, plainness, self deprecating, with that great slooooow drawl when she introduced her songs, almost the antithesis of charismatic, and yet the audience was absolutely transfixed. I can listen to Iris for weeks at a time without getting tired of her. For an intro to her music I might suggest My Life.
4. Bill Mallonee
Bill Mallonee is the best singer songwriter that no one has ever heard of. He used to front a band called The Vigilantes of Love, but even then he wrote all the songs, sang them, and played guitar. I have heard him with and without band. Hey, he is available for a house concert this month if anyone is interested. It would be one of the most memorable evenings of your life, I can promise you that. Bill Mallonee has written more good songs than most song writers could ever dream of writing. He speaks from a Christian worldview, but his songs are full of the realities of the fall, that is, the real world, and counts himself amongst those who need help from the outside. For a starter I might go with To the Roof of the Sky but they are all good.
5. Bruce Springsteen
With all due respect to the E-Street Band, which I think is fantastic, I still think of Bruce Springsteen as a simple singer/songwriter at heart. Again, we have a man who has had a long career, and who writes as well now as he ever did. I did not like Springsteen early on. He grated on me. That started to change with Tunnel of Love, then Nebraska, then The Ghost of Tom Joad, "Streets of Philadelphia,", and then, finally, The Rising. The Rising really got under my skin. Parts of it, like "You’re Missing," are almost too much to bear. I confess I am partial to the more mellow Springsteen, but either way, he writes as every man, and what man cannot connect to his lyrics.
6. Hank Williams
The very first LP I ever purchased was some sort of Best of Hank Williams, which I bought at a Roses store after I watched the George Hamilton movie Your Cheatin’ Heart about the life of Hank Williams on TV with my parents. Funny how he spoke to me as an older child. I have his whole collection now, and never cease to be amazed at the uncanny ability he had to put word and music together, and the pathos and humanity of his voice! "I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry" is maybe my favorite of his songs, but I’ll take him anyway I can get him! I love Norah Jones’ cover of "Cold Cold Heart."
7. Johnny Cash
From "Folsom Prison Blues" to "Like the 309" Johnny Cash is another artist who was creative and compelling over the course of decades. I am forever thankful to U2 and Rick Rubin for knowing that Johnny Cash had a lot left in him! On top of his incredible abilities as a songwriter, Johnny Cash could cover other people’s music in a way that brought new aspects of the song, not revealed in the original, and I am talking about many of the greatest songs ever written, such as "First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," my vote for the most beautiful popular song ever written in our language. Johnny Cash’s "When the Man Comes Around" gives me goose bumps, well, maybe because I believe with him, and anticipate the same terror and wonder and beauty of that day.
8. Keith Green
When I was a teenager, around the time I was first exposed to the Christian faith, I had the blessing of seeing Keith Green in concert several times. He had an “in” with a Christian music station in Columbia and they promoted him heavily. The concerts I saw were just Keith Green and his piano. His songs were not finely produced and slicked up – there was a raw power in the piano playing that matched the power of the lyrics – to convict, to draw, to delight, to terrorize. And he only got better and better until that fateful day in August 1982 when his plane went down and he died an untimely death. Of all overtly Christian artists he remains the one that “gets to me” the most. I would suggest No Compromise as a starter, if you can find it.
9. John Mayer
I hadn’t given John Mayer much notice until this year. My daughter Heather gave me Continuum for Christmas, and it took a while for me to get into it, and then, BAM, he was all under my skin. I love his lyrics – they are both accessible and multi-dimensional - and I like his little lead guitar licks. I have no idea where he is coming from personally, but, for example, “Gravity” speaks to a reality that is very real to me as a Christian. I can hear and understand the song on many different levels. Since Continuum I’ve started listening to his earlier works, and it is a great great find for me. Since he is current, and compelling, I give him the nod over a couple of great artists in the “others receiving votes” section below.
10. Norah Jones
Norah Jones is a fabulous artist. I can’t wait to see her here on April 24 with Heather. What jazzy soulfulness, and, as was shown on The Little Willies, what a capacity just to have fun with music! When I first heard her first album I was drawn in quickly. She reminded me a little of Carole King, Joni Mitchell, and Roberta Flack – which means that despite being very current and contemporary she was accessible to an old guy like me! It’s nice to have current music I can enjoy with my children. I might suggest Feels Like Home as a starter – that makes me think of “Humble Me.” I mean a great song is a great song, and that is great song.
Others Receiving Votes
Carole King
Gordon Lightfoot
Van Morrison
Joni Mitchell
Glenn Campbell
John Prine
Lucinda Williams
Roberta Flack
Janice Ian
Sarah McLachlan
Neil Young
Next Top Ten - Top Ten Rock/Pop Groups
The Beatles
The Allman Brothers
U2
Led Zeppelin
Counting Crows
CCR
CSNY
Fleetwood Mac
Savoy Brown
The Dixie Chicks
1. Bob Dylan
As I sit here, with a push of a mouse, I can listen to The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan from the early 60's, to Modern Times of 2006 (including "A Hard Rain’s A’Gonna Fall” to “Thunder on the Mountain”), both albums being excellent collections of songs from the master himself, separated by over forty years. And what a wealth and richness in between! What an amazing career! So many of his songs speak to and touch me, and are so musically and lyrically interesting, that it is hard to know where to even start taking about his music. I will say this though: as much as I already liked Bob Dylan, it was buying The Times They Are a Changin’ a couple of years back that made the ultimate connection and pushed him to number one on my list. Specifically I think it was the “The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carrol” that sealed it. Odd, after so many years with Bob Dylan as part of my life, it was that song that pushed away all competitors in my heart to him having the number one position.
2. Jackson Browne
What can I say. When my brother Mike gave me Jackson Brown, better known as Saturate Before Using, for my 17th birthday, a musical love affair began that has never abated. I will admit that I favor the older stuff, but I’m learning to love some of the newer stuff too. I wish he would get David Lindley back with him on an album. But I want to say this – the guy can still sing, he can still play, and he still has that winsome humor that make his concerts so delightful. When he played here a couple of years ago and started with “Looking into You” I thought I would cry, that being my first or second favorite of his songs. It was a magical night. No musician has dogged the ups and downs of my life like JB. To him I say “thank you for filling my life with your songs." If you don’t know his music I might start with Late for the Sky.
3. Iris Dement
I first heard Iris Dement on Prairie Home Companion. I then illegally downloaded a bunch of her songs (which I don’t do anymore) and was hooked. I have all her CD’s now, so hey, I’m clean. Iris Dement sings with a high twangy voice that carries one over the other side of the other side of the hills, and yet, there is such a surreal beauty to her voice. Her songs are simple though clever, heartfelt though not indulgent, and so very real. she has struggled in her life. When I saw her at Cat’s Cradle there she was in all her, well, plainness, self deprecating, with that great slooooow drawl when she introduced her songs, almost the antithesis of charismatic, and yet the audience was absolutely transfixed. I can listen to Iris for weeks at a time without getting tired of her. For an intro to her music I might suggest My Life.
4. Bill Mallonee
Bill Mallonee is the best singer songwriter that no one has ever heard of. He used to front a band called The Vigilantes of Love, but even then he wrote all the songs, sang them, and played guitar. I have heard him with and without band. Hey, he is available for a house concert this month if anyone is interested. It would be one of the most memorable evenings of your life, I can promise you that. Bill Mallonee has written more good songs than most song writers could ever dream of writing. He speaks from a Christian worldview, but his songs are full of the realities of the fall, that is, the real world, and counts himself amongst those who need help from the outside. For a starter I might go with To the Roof of the Sky but they are all good.
5. Bruce Springsteen
With all due respect to the E-Street Band, which I think is fantastic, I still think of Bruce Springsteen as a simple singer/songwriter at heart. Again, we have a man who has had a long career, and who writes as well now as he ever did. I did not like Springsteen early on. He grated on me. That started to change with Tunnel of Love, then Nebraska, then The Ghost of Tom Joad, "Streets of Philadelphia,", and then, finally, The Rising. The Rising really got under my skin. Parts of it, like "You’re Missing," are almost too much to bear. I confess I am partial to the more mellow Springsteen, but either way, he writes as every man, and what man cannot connect to his lyrics.
6. Hank Williams
The very first LP I ever purchased was some sort of Best of Hank Williams, which I bought at a Roses store after I watched the George Hamilton movie Your Cheatin’ Heart about the life of Hank Williams on TV with my parents. Funny how he spoke to me as an older child. I have his whole collection now, and never cease to be amazed at the uncanny ability he had to put word and music together, and the pathos and humanity of his voice! "I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry" is maybe my favorite of his songs, but I’ll take him anyway I can get him! I love Norah Jones’ cover of "Cold Cold Heart."
7. Johnny Cash
From "Folsom Prison Blues" to "Like the 309" Johnny Cash is another artist who was creative and compelling over the course of decades. I am forever thankful to U2 and Rick Rubin for knowing that Johnny Cash had a lot left in him! On top of his incredible abilities as a songwriter, Johnny Cash could cover other people’s music in a way that brought new aspects of the song, not revealed in the original, and I am talking about many of the greatest songs ever written, such as "First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," my vote for the most beautiful popular song ever written in our language. Johnny Cash’s "When the Man Comes Around" gives me goose bumps, well, maybe because I believe with him, and anticipate the same terror and wonder and beauty of that day.
8. Keith Green
When I was a teenager, around the time I was first exposed to the Christian faith, I had the blessing of seeing Keith Green in concert several times. He had an “in” with a Christian music station in Columbia and they promoted him heavily. The concerts I saw were just Keith Green and his piano. His songs were not finely produced and slicked up – there was a raw power in the piano playing that matched the power of the lyrics – to convict, to draw, to delight, to terrorize. And he only got better and better until that fateful day in August 1982 when his plane went down and he died an untimely death. Of all overtly Christian artists he remains the one that “gets to me” the most. I would suggest No Compromise as a starter, if you can find it.
9. John Mayer
I hadn’t given John Mayer much notice until this year. My daughter Heather gave me Continuum for Christmas, and it took a while for me to get into it, and then, BAM, he was all under my skin. I love his lyrics – they are both accessible and multi-dimensional - and I like his little lead guitar licks. I have no idea where he is coming from personally, but, for example, “Gravity” speaks to a reality that is very real to me as a Christian. I can hear and understand the song on many different levels. Since Continuum I’ve started listening to his earlier works, and it is a great great find for me. Since he is current, and compelling, I give him the nod over a couple of great artists in the “others receiving votes” section below.
10. Norah Jones
Norah Jones is a fabulous artist. I can’t wait to see her here on April 24 with Heather. What jazzy soulfulness, and, as was shown on The Little Willies, what a capacity just to have fun with music! When I first heard her first album I was drawn in quickly. She reminded me a little of Carole King, Joni Mitchell, and Roberta Flack – which means that despite being very current and contemporary she was accessible to an old guy like me! It’s nice to have current music I can enjoy with my children. I might suggest Feels Like Home as a starter – that makes me think of “Humble Me.” I mean a great song is a great song, and that is great song.
Others Receiving Votes
Carole King
Gordon Lightfoot
Van Morrison
Joni Mitchell
Glenn Campbell
John Prine
Lucinda Williams
Roberta Flack
Janice Ian
Sarah McLachlan
Neil Young
Next Top Ten - Top Ten Rock/Pop Groups
The Beatles
The Allman Brothers
U2
Led Zeppelin
Counting Crows
CCR
CSNY
Fleetwood Mac
Savoy Brown
The Dixie Chicks
Monday, February 26, 2007
Microsoft Code, Blogger, Iran, Gulliani, Islam, Roses, John Mayer
Last week I was asked by a reader for an opinion from the "other side" of the pulpit. I wrote out some thoughts in a text file and pasted them into Blogger. Despite pasting in from a text file, apparently there was still Microsoft code in the piece, which I think kept it from getting picked up by the aggregator. The 101 aggregator hates loose Microsoft code in Blogger. I've tried to get rid of it. If someone could tell me if they see this post it would help me.
My response to the invitation was as follows...
My pulpit opinions having to do with the kingdom of God don’t get much of an ear around here. And as a private citizen, I have no more voice or credibility or insight than anyone else. I am happy to tackle any thorny biblical/theological matter if asked, wearing my pastor hat. I am happy to opine on the state of things, with my pastor hat off.
I look forward to the Spring garden. I have lots of plans -- roses, new butterfly plants, lilies, maybe abelia. Of course the usual veggies.
I’ve spent a lot of spare time lately on my big genealogy and Flickr projects. That’s what has keep me quiet.
So, machine gun variety, some opinions:
We can’t just up and leave Iraq, no matter how or why we got there. The only reason to do so would be out of some perverse joy to see Muslim people slaughter each other. Well, maybe just being naive would be another reason.
If Iran won’t comply soon, someone will have to take her out – her weapons systems I mean. We simply cannot have Iran with the bomb. Under no circumstances can we let that happen. That would spark a nuclear race in the Middle East. That would threaten countless millions of people, and would ultimately kill thousands more Americans than would result in an attack soon and their retaliation.
We have to get unhooked on their oil. That needs to be a hugely serious effort. It has to include more than ethanol - but wind, solar, new types of batteries, new high tech hydraulics, and I think nuclear energy. Do Democrats and Republicans have the will to do this? I am not sure. Duh, we're funding the very people killing us!
I am so confused now about global warming I don't know what to believe anymore. But I do know that there are a hundred good reasons otherwise to clean up our air, and just doing that would take care of a lot of the warming problem right there (because it's not just about CO2) and solve other problems we're sure of in the process.
On immigration, particularly from Mexico, were I king, I would do two things. I would grant almost universal amnesty and fast track to citizenship to all illegal immigrants already here who are not criminals. I mean, are we going to kick them out? No. So why not just accept reality and embrace them. I would lock down the borders so tight, no matter how much money and manpower it took, that the flow would come to a trickle. I would criminalize the hiring of illegals. We cannot be Social Services for Mexico. Their leaders have squandered countless billions of dollars of oil revenues, they are corrupt, and they leave the poor people in squalor. They need to figure out their own mess.
On local stuff, I think the latest tape will prove hugely damaging to David Wray. I don’t care how nice he is. That was abuse of power.
On our local councils – what, are you kidding. They should make a comedy show out of us. Speaking of which, we have to do something about the real estate whores in our leadership so as to reduce sprawl, protect open spaces, single family neighborhoods, and everyday non affluent people.
We need to give students in terribly disfunctioning schools choice – vouchers.
Lee Street is a disgrace to the city. I hope we clean it up.
About taking to democracy to the Muslim world, I mean, is George Bush in idealistic la la land? Ok, maybe we can show that most Muslims want peace and stability and not suicide bombings. That's one thing. But a secular government is another. The very notion of a secular nation is contrary to Islam. Islam is fundamentally, at its core, theocratic. It would be like telling me I can only be a Christian on Sunday to tell a Muslim his government cannot be guided by Muslim law. It isn’t going to happen.
Turkey is an interesting experiment that may not last.
Secularization, and secular government are an affront to Islam. Nor does our secular materialistic sex drenched culture help matters. No wonder they hate us. Maybe if we hated us more things wouldn’t be so bad with us in the world! I mean by that hated our excesses, hated our gross materialism, hated the way we export so much smut. It’s no wonder...
And why do we wink at China’s oppression? Money. Money rules. It rules Democrats. It rules Republicans. But maybe we’re too far down that path to change it.
I am happy about the Honda plane deal.
On the upcoming elections. I think it will be Hillary against Rudy. It should be a dandy. If the Democrats keep looking the other way about Iran and the imminent danger she poses to Israel, us, and many others, I think Lieberman will jump to the Republican camp.
I’ve been groovin’ on John Mayer lately. I love “Continuum.” Oh, and my daughter and I are going to go see Norah Jones. I am so excited about that.
I have gotten a serious photography bug again. It is like a long lost friend come home.
I turn 50 this year. Wow.
Well, all for now.
Joel
My response to the invitation was as follows...
My pulpit opinions having to do with the kingdom of God don’t get much of an ear around here. And as a private citizen, I have no more voice or credibility or insight than anyone else. I am happy to tackle any thorny biblical/theological matter if asked, wearing my pastor hat. I am happy to opine on the state of things, with my pastor hat off.
I look forward to the Spring garden. I have lots of plans -- roses, new butterfly plants, lilies, maybe abelia. Of course the usual veggies.
I’ve spent a lot of spare time lately on my big genealogy and Flickr projects. That’s what has keep me quiet.
So, machine gun variety, some opinions:
We can’t just up and leave Iraq, no matter how or why we got there. The only reason to do so would be out of some perverse joy to see Muslim people slaughter each other. Well, maybe just being naive would be another reason.
If Iran won’t comply soon, someone will have to take her out – her weapons systems I mean. We simply cannot have Iran with the bomb. Under no circumstances can we let that happen. That would spark a nuclear race in the Middle East. That would threaten countless millions of people, and would ultimately kill thousands more Americans than would result in an attack soon and their retaliation.
We have to get unhooked on their oil. That needs to be a hugely serious effort. It has to include more than ethanol - but wind, solar, new types of batteries, new high tech hydraulics, and I think nuclear energy. Do Democrats and Republicans have the will to do this? I am not sure. Duh, we're funding the very people killing us!
I am so confused now about global warming I don't know what to believe anymore. But I do know that there are a hundred good reasons otherwise to clean up our air, and just doing that would take care of a lot of the warming problem right there (because it's not just about CO2) and solve other problems we're sure of in the process.
On immigration, particularly from Mexico, were I king, I would do two things. I would grant almost universal amnesty and fast track to citizenship to all illegal immigrants already here who are not criminals. I mean, are we going to kick them out? No. So why not just accept reality and embrace them. I would lock down the borders so tight, no matter how much money and manpower it took, that the flow would come to a trickle. I would criminalize the hiring of illegals. We cannot be Social Services for Mexico. Their leaders have squandered countless billions of dollars of oil revenues, they are corrupt, and they leave the poor people in squalor. They need to figure out their own mess.
On local stuff, I think the latest tape will prove hugely damaging to David Wray. I don’t care how nice he is. That was abuse of power.
On our local councils – what, are you kidding. They should make a comedy show out of us. Speaking of which, we have to do something about the real estate whores in our leadership so as to reduce sprawl, protect open spaces, single family neighborhoods, and everyday non affluent people.
We need to give students in terribly disfunctioning schools choice – vouchers.
Lee Street is a disgrace to the city. I hope we clean it up.
About taking to democracy to the Muslim world, I mean, is George Bush in idealistic la la land? Ok, maybe we can show that most Muslims want peace and stability and not suicide bombings. That's one thing. But a secular government is another. The very notion of a secular nation is contrary to Islam. Islam is fundamentally, at its core, theocratic. It would be like telling me I can only be a Christian on Sunday to tell a Muslim his government cannot be guided by Muslim law. It isn’t going to happen.
Turkey is an interesting experiment that may not last.
Secularization, and secular government are an affront to Islam. Nor does our secular materialistic sex drenched culture help matters. No wonder they hate us. Maybe if we hated us more things wouldn’t be so bad with us in the world! I mean by that hated our excesses, hated our gross materialism, hated the way we export so much smut. It’s no wonder...
And why do we wink at China’s oppression? Money. Money rules. It rules Democrats. It rules Republicans. But maybe we’re too far down that path to change it.
I am happy about the Honda plane deal.
On the upcoming elections. I think it will be Hillary against Rudy. It should be a dandy. If the Democrats keep looking the other way about Iran and the imminent danger she poses to Israel, us, and many others, I think Lieberman will jump to the Republican camp.
I’ve been groovin’ on John Mayer lately. I love “Continuum.” Oh, and my daughter and I are going to go see Norah Jones. I am so excited about that.
I have gotten a serious photography bug again. It is like a long lost friend come home.
I turn 50 this year. Wow.
Well, all for now.
Joel
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Iran, Gulliani, Islam, Roses, John Mayer
Last week I was asked for an opinion from the "other side" of the pulpit. Despite pasting in from a text file there was still microsoft code in the piece which I think kept it off the aggregator. If someone could tell me if they see this it would help me.
My response to the invitation was as follows...
My pulpit opinions having to do with thekingdom of God
My response to the invitation was as follows...
My pulpit opinions having to do with the
I look forward to the Spring garden. I have lots of plans -- roses, new butterfly plants, lilies, maybe abelia. Of course the usual veggies.
I’ve spent a lot of spare time lately on my big genealogy and Flickr projects. That’s what has keep me quiet.
So, machine gun variety, some opinions…
If
We have to get unhooked on their oil. That needs to be a hugely serious effort. It has to include more than ethanol - but wind, solar, new types of batteries, new high tech hydraulics, and I think nuclear energy. Do Democrats and Republicans have the wil to do this? I am not sure. Duh, we're funding the very people killing us!
I am so confused now about global warming I don't know what to believe anymore. But I do know that there are a hundred good reasons otherwise to clean up our air, and just doing that would take care of a lot of the warming problem right there (because it's not just about CO2) and solve other problems we're sure of in the process.
On immigration, particularly from
On local stuff, I think the latest tape will prove hugely damaging to David Wray. I don’t care how nice he is. That was abuse of power.
On our local councils – what, are you kidding. They should make a comedy show out of us. Speaking of which, we have to do something about the real estate whores in our leadership so as to reduce sprawl, protect open spaces, single family neighborhoods, and everyday non affluent people.
We need to give students in terribly disfunctioning schools choice – vouchers.
About taking to democracy to the Muslim world, I mean, is George Bush in idealistic la la land? Ok, maybe we can show that most Muslims want peace and stability and not suicide bombings. That's one thing. But a secular government is another. The very notion of a secular nation is contrary to Islam. Islam is fundamentally, at its core, theocratic. It would be like telling me I can only be a Christian on Sunday to tell a Muslim his government cannot be guided by Muslim law. It isn’t going to happen.
Secularism, secularization, and secular government are an affront to Islam. Nor does our secular materialistic sex drenched culture help matters. No wonder they hate us. Maybe if we hated us more things wouldn’t be so bad with us in the world! I mean by that hated our excesses, hated our gross materialism, hated the way we export so much smut. It’s no wonder…
I am happy about the Honda plane deal.
On the upcoming n elections. I think it will be Hillary against Rudy. It should be a dandy. If the Democrats keep looking the other way about
I’ve been groovin’ on John Mayer lately. I love “Continuum.” Oh, and my daughter and I are going to go see Norah Jones. I am so excited about that.
I have gotten a serious photography bug again. It is like a long lost friend come home.
And why do we wink at
I turn 50 this year. Wow.
Well, all for now.
Joel
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Dixie Chicks, Taking the Long Way, Review Reprise fom June 2006
I wrote this first in June. Present comments are in brackets.
Bad news today [June 2006] about the upcoming Dixie Chicks tour. Ticket sales are sluggish, and some of the dates and venues may have to be pulled. They are scheduled to play here October 22nd. I’d like to go, so I hope this is not one of the venues pulled.
I bought their new CD, Taking the Long Way, a couple of weeks ago. The CD consists of fourteen songs all written by the Dixie Chicks with some helpers here and there.
Based on their original songs from their last CD, I am all for a CD of their own songs. I think they are terrific song writers. In fact, musically, Taking the Long Way is a superb piece of work. I have no idea what genre to call it. It’s not country, not really rock or pop, not blue grass. Maybe some sort of folk/country/pop/rock fusion. But I’ve never cared about genre types really anyway.
There are enough melodic hooks, unexpected but cool chord changes, surprises as to where you think a song is going, to cause me to expect to enjoy the CD for a long time to come.
Their single, which I heard them do on Leno or Letterman, is Not Ready to Make Nice. It is basically a middle finger to the country music powers that be, and the fans who got on their case after Natalie Maime’s comments about President Bush while they were on tour in England.
I admire their spunk. Not being a fan of the Country Music Establishment I don’t mind their rebellion against its rules and standards. Good for them.
Not Ready to Make Nice is not even in my top five favorite songs on the CD. As of today I’d go with Baby Hold On as my favorite, Easy Silence second, Everybody Knows third, Bitter End fourth, and The Long Way Around fifth. But I expect that to change as I listen to the CD more and more.
I think the Dixie Chicks are simply great musicians and songwriters.
I also think they have been really stupid, and have dug their own grave to a great extent. [well I guess Hollywood put Nasville in its place Sunday night!]
The crack about President Bush made in England before an adoring British anti-war crowd was just a cheap shot, and that it was taken out of country at the beginning of the war justifiably rubbed people the wrong way. Their upcoming concert was mentioned at the Chris Daughtry show at Grimsley Stadium and there were resounding boos. I don’t think those folks were all Republicans.
I really don’t think most people care what Natalie Maime’s personal view is of the war in Iraq or President Bush. She is hardly uniquely qualified to offer intelligent commentary. She is free to run her mouth as she sees fit. [She ran it too much at the Grammys] People are free to buy their CD’s and go to their concerts as they see fit.
The Dixie Chicks should incorporate their thoughts about life and the world – and the war – in their art, in their music. They do this to some extent in "I Hope" which I find to have a hopelessly naïve “why can’t we all just get along” message, but I still like the song. I just don’t think political commentary, even in music, is their strong suit. And I am a fan of good protest music, even when I don't agree with it. OK, so I miss the sixties. [and seventies already...War Pigs and all!]
Much of the CD is about how they have dealt with their fall from grace. There is too much of it for my taste. I think the over focus becomes self indulgence. It focuses attention too much on their own struggle with their fans and with country stations when there are simply too many other things to write about. Yet, existentially, they have been living in that struggle, so it is no surprise that they would write something about. Just too much I think.
What I worry about is that the buying of their CD’s or the attending of their concerts will be less about their music and more about whether people agree with or disagree with their political stance. I think that would be a real shame.
Having said all that, I will keep enjoying the CD for its musical excellence, and if I have the money I will go see them when they come here, if they do. And, again, I admire their grit.
Mostly I admire their music making. I admire their genre busting. I admire their musicianship, and that of their supporting cast. I just wish they would change the subject a little bit.
Bad news today [June 2006] about the upcoming Dixie Chicks tour. Ticket sales are sluggish, and some of the dates and venues may have to be pulled. They are scheduled to play here October 22nd. I’d like to go, so I hope this is not one of the venues pulled.
I bought their new CD, Taking the Long Way, a couple of weeks ago. The CD consists of fourteen songs all written by the Dixie Chicks with some helpers here and there.
Based on their original songs from their last CD, I am all for a CD of their own songs. I think they are terrific song writers. In fact, musically, Taking the Long Way is a superb piece of work. I have no idea what genre to call it. It’s not country, not really rock or pop, not blue grass. Maybe some sort of folk/country/pop/rock fusion. But I’ve never cared about genre types really anyway.
There are enough melodic hooks, unexpected but cool chord changes, surprises as to where you think a song is going, to cause me to expect to enjoy the CD for a long time to come.
Their single, which I heard them do on Leno or Letterman, is Not Ready to Make Nice. It is basically a middle finger to the country music powers that be, and the fans who got on their case after Natalie Maime’s comments about President Bush while they were on tour in England.
I admire their spunk. Not being a fan of the Country Music Establishment I don’t mind their rebellion against its rules and standards. Good for them.
Not Ready to Make Nice is not even in my top five favorite songs on the CD. As of today I’d go with Baby Hold On as my favorite, Easy Silence second, Everybody Knows third, Bitter End fourth, and The Long Way Around fifth. But I expect that to change as I listen to the CD more and more.
I think the Dixie Chicks are simply great musicians and songwriters.
I also think they have been really stupid, and have dug their own grave to a great extent. [well I guess Hollywood put Nasville in its place Sunday night!]
The crack about President Bush made in England before an adoring British anti-war crowd was just a cheap shot, and that it was taken out of country at the beginning of the war justifiably rubbed people the wrong way. Their upcoming concert was mentioned at the Chris Daughtry show at Grimsley Stadium and there were resounding boos. I don’t think those folks were all Republicans.
I really don’t think most people care what Natalie Maime’s personal view is of the war in Iraq or President Bush. She is hardly uniquely qualified to offer intelligent commentary. She is free to run her mouth as she sees fit. [She ran it too much at the Grammys] People are free to buy their CD’s and go to their concerts as they see fit.
The Dixie Chicks should incorporate their thoughts about life and the world – and the war – in their art, in their music. They do this to some extent in "I Hope" which I find to have a hopelessly naïve “why can’t we all just get along” message, but I still like the song. I just don’t think political commentary, even in music, is their strong suit. And I am a fan of good protest music, even when I don't agree with it. OK, so I miss the sixties. [and seventies already...War Pigs and all!]
Much of the CD is about how they have dealt with their fall from grace. There is too much of it for my taste. I think the over focus becomes self indulgence. It focuses attention too much on their own struggle with their fans and with country stations when there are simply too many other things to write about. Yet, existentially, they have been living in that struggle, so it is no surprise that they would write something about. Just too much I think.
What I worry about is that the buying of their CD’s or the attending of their concerts will be less about their music and more about whether people agree with or disagree with their political stance. I think that would be a real shame.
Having said all that, I will keep enjoying the CD for its musical excellence, and if I have the money I will go see them when they come here, if they do. And, again, I admire their grit.
Mostly I admire their music making. I admire their genre busting. I admire their musicianship, and that of their supporting cast. I just wish they would change the subject a little bit.
Thursday, February 08, 2007
In Memory of Rachel Elizabeth Johnson
Dear Friend,
Tomorrow, February 9, 2007, marks the twenty year anniversary of the death of two and one half year old Rachel Elizabeth Johnson. Rachel was my sister Mary’s first child.
A month or so ago. in working on my own 2007 calendar, I realized to my surprise that we were soon coming up on this 20 year anniversary. Then, shortly after that, I came upon some old photo albums my mom had put together of the first grandkids when they were young. Suddenly I had all these pictures of Rachel. Hmmmm.
So I talked to my sister and we decided together that putting together a “set” of pictures in Rachel’s memory on my Flickr site would be good and appropriate. So I have stayed late many days at the office going through these old albums, scanning pictures, trying to fix some of them that had faded or become discolored, and hoping to reach a goal of 100 pictures by the 9th. With my sister’s help I reached that goal yesterday.
Rachel’s death was very sudden, as she was overcome by a bacterial infection that invaded her body, and which looked like the flu or a stomach bug until it was too late. Almost all the organs of her body had been laid waste by this infection. She never had a chance.
It is hard to put into words the sense of loss and devastation of that day and that week. Rachel was the first grandchild in the family, born about a month before my oldest daughter Shannon. Rachel was the apple of my parent’s eye. She was a lively and inquisitive and lovely child.
I don’t think there is anything in life so terrible as to lose one’s child. It was hard enough for the rest of us. My parents were devastated beyond words. I suppose that some of the sorrow felt by the rest of us was sorrow not just in Rachel’s death and thus our own loss, but the pain of knowing how deeply this death had cut into the hearts not only of Mary and Sandy, but of my parents, and Sandy’s parents. It was beyond articulating.
There is a kind of grief without hope that goes beyond coping. Thankfully, my sister Mary and her husband Sandy were and are solid Christians with a strong and real trust in God, and a true Christian hope. Despite Rachel’s age, and all the nagging questions that accompany such terrible things, she not only was a covenant child, but also a child who seemed even as a little girl to have a lively and real faith in her own right. Thus the devastation was accompanied and diminished somewhat by our common hope.
My daughter Shannon was born about four weeks after Rachel, and as we all lived in Columbia at the time, Shannon and Rachel were together a lot. Rachel would be just about 22 ½ were she still alive today.
Mary said to me when we were thinking about this that she wanted her friends and family who knew Rachel to remember her, and those who did not know her to have a glimpse of this dear life that had lived so briefly on this earth, and which had had such a huge impact on my family. Mary did not, and does not, want the memory of her first child forgotten.
Similarly I want to share this part of my life with those who may know me. These things never “go away.” They remain with us; they are always in the background. They impact our personalities and spirits in many ways. One cannot know my sister, nor can one know me either, without knowing this part of our lives.
So this is my tribute to my niece Rachel, and to my sister Mary and her husband Sandy, and in a way to all of us who were so much a part of the life of this little precious person.
In Memory of Rachel Elizabeth Johnson.
Joel
Thursday, February 01, 2007
My Top Ten Beatles' Songs Not On “1.”
Whoa, this is hard. There are SO many. I think the list would change from day to day. Here is today’s list.
1. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
This is my favorite George Harrison song, though I can’t say I understand it. I do like the idea of randomly picking up a word or a phrase and building a song around it. I liked the regular version enough already with the Clapton lead, but recently I heard a more acoustic version on “Love” that includes more or different verses, and it is beautiful. I think I may like that version even better!
2. Because
I can’t decide if the whole medley on side 2 of Abbey Road should be considered as one song, so I have compromised and just chosen the first part of the medley, “Because.” Again, the acappella version on “Love” underlines the beauty of the harmonies, as well as the symmetry and simplicity of the lyrics, which for me has various levels of meaning. There is an ethereal quality that shows a side of the band I wish had had more time to develop.
3. Across the Universe
This is my all time favorite song about writing songs, and one of Lennon’s most poetically beautiful songs ever. They are to me a window into his heart – or shall I say his best self.
4. Rocky Raccoon
So many people find this song funny, yet, there is a pathos in the opening notes that pervades the song to me. It is a fun and silly story, but it also is sad, and it also raises lots of profound questions, all surrounding the Gideon Bible theme.
5. I Am the Walrus
OK, it is more a less a nonsense song, a medley of unfinished songs and silly phrases with all kinds of silly word play and heavy duty tripping out behind it, but musically it just appeals to me.
6. I Saw Her Standing There
This is a quintessential early Beatles song. Somehow the inherent energy of the song, the in-you-face rocking out beginning, survived the toned down editing of the early records, though there is a bootleg version that will blow your skin off. It reminds me that the Beatles were an incredible working band for years and years, and the world had not quite seen such a show of musical force.
7. A Day in the Life
A neat concept, sort of existential and all, a slice of life, a miscellaneous day, depicted in two ways, via the news and via personal experience. Great blend of two songs with complementary themes, plus all that orchestrated tension!
8. Revolution
What can I say, I love to crank this up as loud as my speakers will play it and ears stand it. I prefer the fast version. Maybe this song contains one of the few instances where I actually agree with John Lennon! There is a lot of wisdom in this song, and what a great guitar/drum opening!
9. If I Fell
OK, I grant, this maybe the most schmaltzy sounding of all Beatle’s songs, but the harmonies are beautiful, and the sentiment realistic. One can sense John’s fear all over and around this song.
10. I Me Mine
It sounds like a total smack down of the rest of the band to me, though Harrison said not. I think it’s just a groovy song, and pretty much expresses the narcissism of our day pretty well. Let It Be was actually the first Beatles album I bought with my own money – I was only 12 when they broke up – and I have always had a deep affection for it, Phil Spector notwithstanding.
1. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
This is my favorite George Harrison song, though I can’t say I understand it. I do like the idea of randomly picking up a word or a phrase and building a song around it. I liked the regular version enough already with the Clapton lead, but recently I heard a more acoustic version on “Love” that includes more or different verses, and it is beautiful. I think I may like that version even better!
2. Because
I can’t decide if the whole medley on side 2 of Abbey Road should be considered as one song, so I have compromised and just chosen the first part of the medley, “Because.” Again, the acappella version on “Love” underlines the beauty of the harmonies, as well as the symmetry and simplicity of the lyrics, which for me has various levels of meaning. There is an ethereal quality that shows a side of the band I wish had had more time to develop.
3. Across the Universe
This is my all time favorite song about writing songs, and one of Lennon’s most poetically beautiful songs ever. They are to me a window into his heart – or shall I say his best self.
4. Rocky Raccoon
So many people find this song funny, yet, there is a pathos in the opening notes that pervades the song to me. It is a fun and silly story, but it also is sad, and it also raises lots of profound questions, all surrounding the Gideon Bible theme.
5. I Am the Walrus
OK, it is more a less a nonsense song, a medley of unfinished songs and silly phrases with all kinds of silly word play and heavy duty tripping out behind it, but musically it just appeals to me.
6. I Saw Her Standing There
This is a quintessential early Beatles song. Somehow the inherent energy of the song, the in-you-face rocking out beginning, survived the toned down editing of the early records, though there is a bootleg version that will blow your skin off. It reminds me that the Beatles were an incredible working band for years and years, and the world had not quite seen such a show of musical force.
7. A Day in the Life
A neat concept, sort of existential and all, a slice of life, a miscellaneous day, depicted in two ways, via the news and via personal experience. Great blend of two songs with complementary themes, plus all that orchestrated tension!
8. Revolution
What can I say, I love to crank this up as loud as my speakers will play it and ears stand it. I prefer the fast version. Maybe this song contains one of the few instances where I actually agree with John Lennon! There is a lot of wisdom in this song, and what a great guitar/drum opening!
9. If I Fell
OK, I grant, this maybe the most schmaltzy sounding of all Beatle’s songs, but the harmonies are beautiful, and the sentiment realistic. One can sense John’s fear all over and around this song.
10. I Me Mine
It sounds like a total smack down of the rest of the band to me, though Harrison said not. I think it’s just a groovy song, and pretty much expresses the narcissism of our day pretty well. Let It Be was actually the first Beatles album I bought with my own money – I was only 12 when they broke up – and I have always had a deep affection for it, Phil Spector notwithstanding.
I Love Snow
I am sitting in my office looking out at the beautiful snowfall. This old southern boy loves snow. And it makes sitting in an office almost bearable - just to look out at it.
Some of my best memories of childhood involve snow, sleet, and freezing rain, with the family huddled around the fireplace, my dear Irish Setter Clancey loopy with happiness, long walks, great sledding (Columbia is quite hilly), stupid games like standing under pine trees and running when we hear the limbs pop. And boy did they pop, like gun shots.
Then there was the "great" snowfall, in February, of 1972 I think, or maybe '73. That storm came up from south of Columbia. Orangeburg, SC got 22 inches. Columbia got 14-17 depending on here you were, and north in Greenville they had maybe one inch. It started snowing while we were in school. They let us out and my bus couldn't make it to y home, so we had to walk the last two miles. Got sort of lost on a golf course, but that was all part of the fun! I remember the huge enormous flakes, floating down so slowly like parachutes. There was no wind. The snow fell straight as an arrow. We had a little metal rail around our back porch. It was maybe an inch wide. So absent was any wind that an inch wide wall of snow built up on the rail over a foot high. It was incredible. The snow fell all day. When we woke up the next morning it was still snowing. We had never seen anything like it. It made us so excited we could hardly contain ourselves. I remember being out in the front yard with my dog. I would stretch my hands out to each side and just fall straight backwards - right into fluff. I would lie there, the surrounding wall of snow above my eyes to the right and left. It was so warm and so peaceful lying there, well, until Clancey pounced. He wasn't going to waste this opportunity lying around. He wanted to play.
South of us along I-95 in southern SC people were in grave danger. Helicopters flew in to rescue stranded motorists. I think the governor declared a state of emergency.
So, looking out my window, I remember how much I love snow. Maybe one's love if it is inversely proportional to how much one gets. I would guess the snow gets old week after week, month after month.
But for me it is all joy. Thank you God for the snow today!
Some of my best memories of childhood involve snow, sleet, and freezing rain, with the family huddled around the fireplace, my dear Irish Setter Clancey loopy with happiness, long walks, great sledding (Columbia is quite hilly), stupid games like standing under pine trees and running when we hear the limbs pop. And boy did they pop, like gun shots.
Then there was the "great" snowfall, in February, of 1972 I think, or maybe '73. That storm came up from south of Columbia. Orangeburg, SC got 22 inches. Columbia got 14-17 depending on here you were, and north in Greenville they had maybe one inch. It started snowing while we were in school. They let us out and my bus couldn't make it to y home, so we had to walk the last two miles. Got sort of lost on a golf course, but that was all part of the fun! I remember the huge enormous flakes, floating down so slowly like parachutes. There was no wind. The snow fell straight as an arrow. We had a little metal rail around our back porch. It was maybe an inch wide. So absent was any wind that an inch wide wall of snow built up on the rail over a foot high. It was incredible. The snow fell all day. When we woke up the next morning it was still snowing. We had never seen anything like it. It made us so excited we could hardly contain ourselves. I remember being out in the front yard with my dog. I would stretch my hands out to each side and just fall straight backwards - right into fluff. I would lie there, the surrounding wall of snow above my eyes to the right and left. It was so warm and so peaceful lying there, well, until Clancey pounced. He wasn't going to waste this opportunity lying around. He wanted to play.
South of us along I-95 in southern SC people were in grave danger. Helicopters flew in to rescue stranded motorists. I think the governor declared a state of emergency.
So, looking out my window, I remember how much I love snow. Maybe one's love if it is inversely proportional to how much one gets. I would guess the snow gets old week after week, month after month.
But for me it is all joy. Thank you God for the snow today!
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Top Ten Albums
Well, here I go, trying to be true to my resolutions. The is the second of my top tens, but the first real one really. OK, I do this for fun for me. But I’d love your feedback.
By albums I mean, 1) albums I own, 2) non “best of” albums, and 3) lifetime favorites, as of today. Of course "album" and "CD" mean the same as far as the list goes.
Choosing favorite albums is kind of like choosing between beautiful sunsets. Numbers 11-99 all come close.
OK, here goes, roughly in order….
1. The Allman Brothers Band at Fillmore East – – The Allman Brothers Band
I suppose they are my favorite band of all time, if I had to choose. The Brothers were on top of their game during the Fillmore Concerts. They are incredibly tight and together, even in the long jams. It may include the best beginning of any album ever – the intro to Statesboro Blues. I like all the songs, but Stormy Monday may be my favorite. With Duane and Dickey both cooking, and throwing in a great organ solo by Gregg - it’s hard to beat. I was recently given the re-mastered version that preserves more of the original order of the Fillmore Concert. I recommend it. By the way, I saw them in concert in Columbia on their Brothers and Sisters tour. Too bad I missed Duane, but that still ranks as my favorite concert of all time.
2. Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs – Derek and the Dominos
I bought this early in my teens, and it has followed me around all my adult life. I go through phases, listening to it for weeks in my car, and then putting it aside for a year or so. It gets better to me every year. It’s hard to know what to say about this record. It’s rough and under produced, Clapton’s voice is far from sterling, and yet the record is incredible in its emotional power, its consistency, and its mood. So, my two favorite albums both include Duane Allman. Well, I guess I like the blues, and on this record it’s hard to beat the double guitars wailing on Have You Ever Loved a Woman. And to know how true it was for Clapton!
3. Moondance – Van Morrison
Talking about a record of no bad songs! Van Morrison has been a brilliant song writer for decades, and is still going strong. But of all his records this is the smoothest, most consistent, and most emotionally powerful. I’ll tell you, it’s hard for me to listen to Into the Mystic or Brand New Day without tears. I’ve asked that Brand New Day be played at my funeral! The fusion of rock and jazz, electric instruments and horns, is brilliant. But the one word that comes to my mind when I think of this record is "smooth.”
4. Late for the Sky – Jackson Browne
I have listened to the record so many times in my life, and in so many places, and under so many circumstances, that it feels like an extension of me. I consider it his best work. Well, I think of Jackson Browne and David Lindley as a collaborative team. Can we imagine these songs without Lindley’s slide guitar or beautiful violins? My Clemson roommate and I used to play Road and the Sky at top volume and dance around the room before every Clemson home football game. What a great opening line! Over time, the more mellow works have meant more to me – For a Dancer, Fountain of Sorrow, Before the Deluge. What can I say, I love it.
5. Abbey Road – The Beatles
This only entered my top ten this year. I went through a spell when I could not stop listening to it, after I read the long Beatles bio. I don’t know if it is their best record, but it is for now my favorite of their records. I especially am drawn to the medley on side two, which I find to be an ever constant source of musical interest. It is a diverse and eclectic record, more a group of individual works, except for the brilliant medley, which is a compendium of connected short works and themes owned by all of them. “Because the world is round...” I mean, is that ethereal beauty or what?
6. My Life – Iris Dement
I know, who is Iris Dement you say? Well, she is a folk/old country/twangy singer songwriter from the other side of the other side of the hills, and her songs are piercing and haunting. Having now seen her in concert this past summer I realize that there is an aura about her plain Jane no frills persona - transcendent almost. The woman can write songs that make you cry or laugh or remember loved ones or hope for better things. You name it. The song My Life is a favorite.
7. Slow Train Coming – Bob Dylan
I remember when I first listened to Slow Train Coming on my parents' big living room stereo console. I wept. I also spent like three hours trying to write down all the words. If only we had had the internet back then! I love the hard driving bluesy feel to much of the record, yet Precious Angel, I Believe in You, When He Returns, and Man Gave Names to All the Animals are favorites. Mark Knoppler’s guitar on Precious Angel is world class. And I still consider it to contain Bob Dylan’s best singing of his entire career!
8. The Joshua Tree – U2
I didn’t like 80’s music. Big hair, big shows, big production, power ballads, all balanced by punk which I found tiresome. I had about given up when my Toronto nephews turned me on to U2. So I got involved in music again. And when Joshua Tree came out, I sensed it was simply a special, magical accomplishment. U2 is a great band, and I have liked most of their permutations. But give me Where the Streets Have No Name, I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, With or Without You, Bullet the Blue Sky, and One Tree Hill and I am just fine. And by the way, their Where the Streets have No Name at the Super Bowl after 9/11 was both sensitive and magnificent. I can’t wait.
9. Audible Sigh – Bill Mallonee and the Vigilantes of Love
Bill Mallonee, formerly of The Vigilantes of Love, has labored in the world of independent labels for most of his career, which is too bad in a way, given that he is up there with Bob Dylan and Jackson Browne as a songwriter. And his voice grows on you. Resplendent, with a little back up vocal help from Emmylou Harris, is one of the greatest songs ever written by anybody. He was and is a poet, and a bard, and a knower of the human condition. This is a great record.
10. Led Zeppelin II – Led Zeppelin
It’s hard to choose between a whole bunch of records for my top ten, including two or three Led Zeppelin ones, but I give the nod this week to II. I didn’t like Led Zeppelin so much when I was younger. Oh, yeah, me and all my friends spent hours trying to figure out the meaning of Stairway to Heaven, but the driving force of their music, and Robert Plant’s voice grated on me. Not any more for some reason, and I am appreciating more and more their musical brilliance as a band. It’s hard to pick a favorite song on this record, but I might just give the nod to Heartbreaker, due to the incredible lead guitar riff.
Well, that’s the top ten for today!
By albums I mean, 1) albums I own, 2) non “best of” albums, and 3) lifetime favorites, as of today. Of course "album" and "CD" mean the same as far as the list goes.
Choosing favorite albums is kind of like choosing between beautiful sunsets. Numbers 11-99 all come close.
OK, here goes, roughly in order….
1. The Allman Brothers Band at Fillmore East – – The Allman Brothers Band
I suppose they are my favorite band of all time, if I had to choose. The Brothers were on top of their game during the Fillmore Concerts. They are incredibly tight and together, even in the long jams. It may include the best beginning of any album ever – the intro to Statesboro Blues. I like all the songs, but Stormy Monday may be my favorite. With Duane and Dickey both cooking, and throwing in a great organ solo by Gregg - it’s hard to beat. I was recently given the re-mastered version that preserves more of the original order of the Fillmore Concert. I recommend it. By the way, I saw them in concert in Columbia on their Brothers and Sisters tour. Too bad I missed Duane, but that still ranks as my favorite concert of all time.
2. Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs – Derek and the Dominos
I bought this early in my teens, and it has followed me around all my adult life. I go through phases, listening to it for weeks in my car, and then putting it aside for a year or so. It gets better to me every year. It’s hard to know what to say about this record. It’s rough and under produced, Clapton’s voice is far from sterling, and yet the record is incredible in its emotional power, its consistency, and its mood. So, my two favorite albums both include Duane Allman. Well, I guess I like the blues, and on this record it’s hard to beat the double guitars wailing on Have You Ever Loved a Woman. And to know how true it was for Clapton!
3. Moondance – Van Morrison
Talking about a record of no bad songs! Van Morrison has been a brilliant song writer for decades, and is still going strong. But of all his records this is the smoothest, most consistent, and most emotionally powerful. I’ll tell you, it’s hard for me to listen to Into the Mystic or Brand New Day without tears. I’ve asked that Brand New Day be played at my funeral! The fusion of rock and jazz, electric instruments and horns, is brilliant. But the one word that comes to my mind when I think of this record is "smooth.”
4. Late for the Sky – Jackson Browne
I have listened to the record so many times in my life, and in so many places, and under so many circumstances, that it feels like an extension of me. I consider it his best work. Well, I think of Jackson Browne and David Lindley as a collaborative team. Can we imagine these songs without Lindley’s slide guitar or beautiful violins? My Clemson roommate and I used to play Road and the Sky at top volume and dance around the room before every Clemson home football game. What a great opening line! Over time, the more mellow works have meant more to me – For a Dancer, Fountain of Sorrow, Before the Deluge. What can I say, I love it.
5. Abbey Road – The Beatles
This only entered my top ten this year. I went through a spell when I could not stop listening to it, after I read the long Beatles bio. I don’t know if it is their best record, but it is for now my favorite of their records. I especially am drawn to the medley on side two, which I find to be an ever constant source of musical interest. It is a diverse and eclectic record, more a group of individual works, except for the brilliant medley, which is a compendium of connected short works and themes owned by all of them. “Because the world is round...” I mean, is that ethereal beauty or what?
6. My Life – Iris Dement
I know, who is Iris Dement you say? Well, she is a folk/old country/twangy singer songwriter from the other side of the other side of the hills, and her songs are piercing and haunting. Having now seen her in concert this past summer I realize that there is an aura about her plain Jane no frills persona - transcendent almost. The woman can write songs that make you cry or laugh or remember loved ones or hope for better things. You name it. The song My Life is a favorite.
7. Slow Train Coming – Bob Dylan
I remember when I first listened to Slow Train Coming on my parents' big living room stereo console. I wept. I also spent like three hours trying to write down all the words. If only we had had the internet back then! I love the hard driving bluesy feel to much of the record, yet Precious Angel, I Believe in You, When He Returns, and Man Gave Names to All the Animals are favorites. Mark Knoppler’s guitar on Precious Angel is world class. And I still consider it to contain Bob Dylan’s best singing of his entire career!
8. The Joshua Tree – U2
I didn’t like 80’s music. Big hair, big shows, big production, power ballads, all balanced by punk which I found tiresome. I had about given up when my Toronto nephews turned me on to U2. So I got involved in music again. And when Joshua Tree came out, I sensed it was simply a special, magical accomplishment. U2 is a great band, and I have liked most of their permutations. But give me Where the Streets Have No Name, I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, With or Without You, Bullet the Blue Sky, and One Tree Hill and I am just fine. And by the way, their Where the Streets have No Name at the Super Bowl after 9/11 was both sensitive and magnificent. I can’t wait.
9. Audible Sigh – Bill Mallonee and the Vigilantes of Love
Bill Mallonee, formerly of The Vigilantes of Love, has labored in the world of independent labels for most of his career, which is too bad in a way, given that he is up there with Bob Dylan and Jackson Browne as a songwriter. And his voice grows on you. Resplendent, with a little back up vocal help from Emmylou Harris, is one of the greatest songs ever written by anybody. He was and is a poet, and a bard, and a knower of the human condition. This is a great record.
10. Led Zeppelin II – Led Zeppelin
It’s hard to choose between a whole bunch of records for my top ten, including two or three Led Zeppelin ones, but I give the nod this week to II. I didn’t like Led Zeppelin so much when I was younger. Oh, yeah, me and all my friends spent hours trying to figure out the meaning of Stairway to Heaven, but the driving force of their music, and Robert Plant’s voice grated on me. Not any more for some reason, and I am appreciating more and more their musical brilliance as a band. It’s hard to pick a favorite song on this record, but I might just give the nod to Heartbreaker, due to the incredible lead guitar riff.
Well, that’s the top ten for today!
Going the Extra Mile in Iraq
So, Bush is going to call for a temporary increase in troops in Iraq tonight, and there will be many voices of opposition. Should be interesting.
This is my take. We the United States are not responsible to settle every squabble and fight and solve every problem in the world. We cannot do that. And many places are not well able to accept parliamentary or representative democracy. This may be due to long standing ill will between groups of people, or it may be due to conflict between secularism and theocracy, as in many Muslim countries. I am sure it’s very complicated. It took us a long time to figure it out and we’re still working on it.
We may or may not succeed in bringing true order to Iraq. Adding to the internecine fighting is unhelpful input from surrounding countries, and frankly, our own decision to disband their army and much of their police infrastructure.
Rightly or wrongly we invaded and we got rid of Saddam Hussein. We have done many good things there which go under the media radar for the most part.
But it is a big mess. Will the potential leaders of Iraq be able to pull their country together with increased help from us? I don’t know. We may at the end of the day have to leave the place a total wreck.
However, since we invaded, destroyed much of their infrastructure, exposed their citizens, men women and children, to months and years of fighting and unrest, I believe that we have a moral responsibility to go the extra mile to try to bring as much stability as we possibly can, even at the risk of more casualties and more pressure on our already stretched armed forces.
For me it would be unconscionable to leave the place in a worse state than we found it. We simply cannot and must not do that to the normal everyday people of Iraq. It would, to me, be profoundly unjust, indeed, morally cruel to do so, and we would share with the intractable Iraqi clerics and leaders the blood guilt for what followed.
I don’t think we have yet gone the extra mile. So I think it is right to try to secure more stability, buy time to train more Iraqi troops and police and leaders, and help the fledgling Iraqi government as much as we can.
It is easy for us to criticize them and say they are not carrying their weight, but that is asking a lot in just a few short years following the brutal dictatorship they had.
So, I for one am glad for the troop increase. I cannot say that I know it will work or achieve its objective. But I think we owe it in a profound way to the Iraqi people to try, no matter if we should have gone in in the first place.
And that’s my two cents.
Joel
This is my take. We the United States are not responsible to settle every squabble and fight and solve every problem in the world. We cannot do that. And many places are not well able to accept parliamentary or representative democracy. This may be due to long standing ill will between groups of people, or it may be due to conflict between secularism and theocracy, as in many Muslim countries. I am sure it’s very complicated. It took us a long time to figure it out and we’re still working on it.
We may or may not succeed in bringing true order to Iraq. Adding to the internecine fighting is unhelpful input from surrounding countries, and frankly, our own decision to disband their army and much of their police infrastructure.
Rightly or wrongly we invaded and we got rid of Saddam Hussein. We have done many good things there which go under the media radar for the most part.
But it is a big mess. Will the potential leaders of Iraq be able to pull their country together with increased help from us? I don’t know. We may at the end of the day have to leave the place a total wreck.
However, since we invaded, destroyed much of their infrastructure, exposed their citizens, men women and children, to months and years of fighting and unrest, I believe that we have a moral responsibility to go the extra mile to try to bring as much stability as we possibly can, even at the risk of more casualties and more pressure on our already stretched armed forces.
For me it would be unconscionable to leave the place in a worse state than we found it. We simply cannot and must not do that to the normal everyday people of Iraq. It would, to me, be profoundly unjust, indeed, morally cruel to do so, and we would share with the intractable Iraqi clerics and leaders the blood guilt for what followed.
I don’t think we have yet gone the extra mile. So I think it is right to try to secure more stability, buy time to train more Iraqi troops and police and leaders, and help the fledgling Iraqi government as much as we can.
It is easy for us to criticize them and say they are not carrying their weight, but that is asking a lot in just a few short years following the brutal dictatorship they had.
So, I for one am glad for the troop increase. I cannot say that I know it will work or achieve its objective. But I think we owe it in a profound way to the Iraqi people to try, no matter if we should have gone in in the first place.
And that’s my two cents.
Joel
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
A New Year a Week Late
Ahhh, how has the blogosphere been without me? Probably not noticing my absence! But just as Arnold said, "I'll be back" and he came back, so I'm back, for better or for worse.
My wife had to go help with her mother in Toronto for ten days over the holidays so everything in my life sort of got postponed for a week or so. Thus my New Years resolutions are a week or so late.
I've thought about several things I want to do every day, or most every day, and one of those is publishing a top ten list. So, in the spirit of that resolution I thought I'd post my list of the top ten things I want to do every day (or most every day).
1. Read my bible and pray
2. Love my wife and kids
3. Post a top ten list on Blogger. I have already thought of about 150 possible top tens.
4. Post a "thought of the day" on current events, movies, music, nature, Christian discipleship, etc., either on my Blogger or my Word Press site, the latter set aside for more explicitly Christian stuff.
5. Take a picture of something Guilford County or Greensboro related and post it within a day or two on my Flickr site.
6. Post at least 5 older photo's on my Flickr site. I have become an extended family archivist and this is proving to be a great blessing. Check it out - http://www.flickr.com/photos/joelgillespie/.
7. Walk around the block. Any block. Or footpath. Or trail. Take camera. Pray, take pictures, keep walking, or not, or run even.
8. Comment on one other person's blog or Flickr site - everyday. Just do it.
9. Write a card or letter - a physical hand written note - every day, to someone - family, friends, church, Greensboro community - someone. Got to get those cards and stamps.
10. Beat myself up for not getting all ten things done I want to do every day - or nine I guess minus this. Since I'm very good at beating myself up this will be the easiest.
PS - Good game Florida, but I vote for Boise State for # 1.
PSS - Who is the only undefeated division I basketball team today, umm, tell me? I can't hear you! (That could well end tonight!)
PSSS - John Kerry isn't really going to run again is he? Don't know if I can bear it.
PSSSS - Would some good candidate PLEASE come forward from one party or another?
PSSSSS - I can't believe I am saying this, given my dislike of country music, but Pickler did it - it is a really good CD! Go Kellie! (for a different view go to http://www.votefortheworst.com/pickler.html)
PSSSSSS - I'm on a Led Zeppelin kick these days. Been enjoying IV and Houses of the Holy this week. Last night I was jammin' to Misty Mountain Top coming home from the game. Great opening groove.
PSSSSSSS - New York has smelled every time I have been there.
All for now!
My wife had to go help with her mother in Toronto for ten days over the holidays so everything in my life sort of got postponed for a week or so. Thus my New Years resolutions are a week or so late.
I've thought about several things I want to do every day, or most every day, and one of those is publishing a top ten list. So, in the spirit of that resolution I thought I'd post my list of the top ten things I want to do every day (or most every day).
1. Read my bible and pray
2. Love my wife and kids
3. Post a top ten list on Blogger. I have already thought of about 150 possible top tens.
4. Post a "thought of the day" on current events, movies, music, nature, Christian discipleship, etc., either on my Blogger or my Word Press site, the latter set aside for more explicitly Christian stuff.
5. Take a picture of something Guilford County or Greensboro related and post it within a day or two on my Flickr site.
6. Post at least 5 older photo's on my Flickr site. I have become an extended family archivist and this is proving to be a great blessing. Check it out - http://www.flickr.com/photos/joelgillespie/.
7. Walk around the block. Any block. Or footpath. Or trail. Take camera. Pray, take pictures, keep walking, or not, or run even.
8. Comment on one other person's blog or Flickr site - everyday. Just do it.
9. Write a card or letter - a physical hand written note - every day, to someone - family, friends, church, Greensboro community - someone. Got to get those cards and stamps.
10. Beat myself up for not getting all ten things done I want to do every day - or nine I guess minus this. Since I'm very good at beating myself up this will be the easiest.
PS - Good game Florida, but I vote for Boise State for # 1.
PSS - Who is the only undefeated division I basketball team today, umm, tell me? I can't hear you! (That could well end tonight!)
PSSS - John Kerry isn't really going to run again is he? Don't know if I can bear it.
PSSSS - Would some good candidate PLEASE come forward from one party or another?
PSSSSS - I can't believe I am saying this, given my dislike of country music, but Pickler did it - it is a really good CD! Go Kellie! (for a different view go to http://www.votefortheworst.com/pickler.html)
PSSSSSS - I'm on a Led Zeppelin kick these days. Been enjoying IV and Houses of the Holy this week. Last night I was jammin' to Misty Mountain Top coming home from the game. Great opening groove.
PSSSSSSS - New York has smelled every time I have been there.
All for now!
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Come and See
I was talking to a fellow blogger yesterday and explaining why I had been a little less visible in the blogging world of late, not that it’s any great loss. But I shared with him that I had been involved the last couple of months in a picture and slide scanning/organizing/posting project that had taken up most of the extra time I had.
I invite you to take a look - http://www.flickr.com/photos/joelgillespie/. It won’t hurt you, and you may enjoy it.
If you want any of the pictures I can have prints sent to you – my privilege and pleasure.
When you go to the site you will see that there are many “sets.” Some of these would be more and some less interesting. It’s a big multi faceted project.
Well, how this came about…my grandmother “Nanny,” my father’s mother, lived in
Nanny’s Husband, Curtis Sr. had a niece named Ettamae, who lived with Nanny the last 10 years or so of her life. Nanny and Ettamae were both born the same year. Well, to make a long story short. Ettamae died in 1979, and Nanny in 1985. My brother Mike bought Nanny’s house, but then he sold it in the late 90’s. When he was clearing it out he found in the back corner of the attic an old WWII footlocker of Nanny’s containing thousands of pictures and newspaper cutouts and small personal effects, as well as an old suitcase of Ettamae’s containing the same. It was all such a mess, pictures piled willy nilly upon pictures, but so fascinating. I ended up taking them with me to organize. When my mother died in 2001 I also took some boxes of hers for the same reason.
The problem was, I didn’t know who 75% of the people were. This led me on a long journey to track down all remaining relatives of Nanny and Ettamae. Nanny is from a family, the Andrews, from LaGrange Georgia, and Ettamae, from the Gillespie line originally fromSo, I am posting these pictures partly so that these remaining relatives can see them and help me figure out who is who. I am posting old pictures of my parents and us as kids for my siblings and for my children. You know, I kind of want the pictures to tell a story for my kids, a story I wish my parents had told for me. I don’t want them to have to piece it together after I’m gone.
I am posting pictures of our family here, as well as our church family, for those who are inclined to “follow along.” And I am posting pictures I took along the way that are just pretty decent pictures just to have record of some of the beautiful places I have the privilege to go and see in my life.
I have only gotten started, though I am in the mood to start taking pictures again like I used to. I am getting my old Fujica manual SLR camera repaired. I have a Nikon N-80 but just don’t like all the automation. I also am in the mood to start backpacking again. I miss the deep woods. And yes, if truth be told, I am itching to get back into writing, into blogging, so I may give my new expensive Epson Scanner a rest for a while.
Well, if you make it over to the Flickr site I hope something there will make you smile.
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Trees in Winter by Edward Waters
Edward Waters has a wonderful poem entitled Trees in Winter. With his permission I tried to post it here, but Blogger makes it impossible to preserve the proper indents and spacing, so rather than ruin the visual aesthetic of the poem I'll just send you to the source -Trees in Winter. While there look around at some of Edward's other splendid poetry.
Joel
Joel
Friday, November 17, 2006
Trees in Winter
There was a time in my life during this season between the end of daylight savings time and the winters solstice, when I think I was prone to a mild case of seasonal affective disorder, or, in my case, maybe just the sundown blues. Thankfully that is long past. I’m too busy now for one thing. And the other thing is that I have fallen in love with the woods in winter. I look forward to winter woods like some people look forward to spring flowers. Moore than anything, it is the trees. I love trees in winter.
For the sake of modesty and warmth people need to put on clothes. Yes, it hides what they “really” look like, but I’ll just take the clothed look thank you. But as for trees, all the leaves, as beautiful and green as they are, hide the unique and often magnificent personality of the tree beneath. The uniqueness of each and every tree is more evident in nakedness.
There is a White Oak out my side window. It is almost completely leafless now, with only a few red hanger-on leaves dangling here and there. I see its twisted and gnarly branches more clearly than ever. They reveal its story. This White Oak grew up in its early years with some good competition, but then, that competition diminished. About thirty feet up some very stout limbs grow straight out from the trunk. I am guessing, by the size and age of the tree, that the “competition” was cleared for the building of the houses around, and the builders decided to spare that White Oak. It’s a grand old tree, though it’s a little sick, and I worry for it.
It’s easy to notice tree bark in winter. I am one of those odd fellows who thinks that tree bark is very beautiful and quite cool. The sun likes to highlight the bark of a leafless tree, especially the higher-up bark. Winter is time for the bark to shine. Some bark literally does shine. Sycamore trees peels off huge plates revealing a bright chalky white under bark. Take a walk through Latham Park and you will see plenty of that.
Lots of stuff hangs from trees in winter letting you know about the tree. Tulip Poplar balls like to hang around for a while bouncing in the wind. Plus the last Spring flower cups are very visible reaching to the sky at the end of the high stems. Locust Tree bean pods like to flutter in the breeze throughout the winter rattling like old bones. There’s always the stubborn Sweet Gum balls that won’t let go, just waiting to drop in early Spring when your are just first walking out in your bare feet! Gotcha!
Many trees keep their berries throughout the winter. You’d think for example that the birds would eat up all the dogwood berries right away, but the berries often dry out a little and provide food for the birds all winter long. Same for Red Cedar berries, those lovely little gray-blue balls that often cover a Cedar tree. Same for Black Gum. Same for American Holly. I know our Holly bush is not a Holly tree, but it brings joy all winter watching the mockingbirds eat berries from our Holly bush. It’s like they know how to ration the supply. Interesting.
You may need to be a bit of a tree geek for this one, but tree buds and tree stems are fascinating in the winter. By looking at a bare tree stem you can tell how much it grew the last growing season. It’s really easy. You can also tell a lot about the leaves, even when there aren’t any. You can tell if they come off the stem opposite to each other or whether they come of the stem in whorls. You can also tell how many main tree “veins” feed each leaf. From this, more or less, you can often guess if the leaves are compound or not. You can know a lot about what kind of tree it is by how the buds are arranged. Is there one big bud at the end of the stem? Is there a cluster of buds at the end of the stem? Is the bud really at the end or sort of off to the side toward the end? In fact, you can key a tree, that is determine what it is, in winter, without the leaves at all.
The future fate of life on earth is nestled in those little buds. That is just barely an exaggeration. What is it that protects the life inside that bud (and hence next year's growth, and next year's ability to feed flower and seed) from the cold of winter? It is those scales around the bud. Different trees have different kinds of scales. Some bud scales are like two plates meeting in the middle. Some are like fish scales. You can tell a lot about a tree from those scales.
Winter is the time for Pine trees to make their presence known. They kind of pop out and say "We're here" in winter. Hey, I am a South Carolina boy. I was raised on climbing Pine trees to the top, looking up to the deep blue sky through the black branches and green needles of Pine trees, spending half an afternoon trying to get Pine sap off my favorite jeans, engaged for hours in Pine cone wars with the enemy across the wall next door, and nursing skinned up legs from shimmying up and down Pine trunks. In Greensboro there are a few places where I like to go just to breathe in the Pine tree air, peel off some plates of Pine tree bark, fiddle with Pine tree cones, and just generally feel at home.
It’s nice to walk the woods in winter. You can see farther for one thing. You can tell more easily what has been the history of the land you're walking for another. I like trying to figure that out by the ages of the trees, the kinds of trees, the ways that the terrain has been changed by man, how or where a fire may have swept through fifty or so years ago. It’s a kind of sleuthing that I enjoy.
Maybe my favorite thing to do, especially on a cold winter day, is to find a nice stout tree that I can sit against, one with the sun shining full force right on the bottom of the trunk, and just take a seat. Oh how I love the sun on my face in winter. And there I sit. No bugs. Quiet. As quiet as I can be. If the winds are right, and if you’re still enough, the animals will soon not notice you, and you will get lucky. Many times right here in Greensboro deer have walked near, hawks have flown and perched close by, even squirrels have nervously scampered quite close to my feet. I cannot measure the joy of such times.
Such joy gives me strength to go back and re-enter the world of people. Trees are not fickle and moody and complicated and proud like people, like me. How I love them so.
For the sake of modesty and warmth people need to put on clothes. Yes, it hides what they “really” look like, but I’ll just take the clothed look thank you. But as for trees, all the leaves, as beautiful and green as they are, hide the unique and often magnificent personality of the tree beneath. The uniqueness of each and every tree is more evident in nakedness.
There is a White Oak out my side window. It is almost completely leafless now, with only a few red hanger-on leaves dangling here and there. I see its twisted and gnarly branches more clearly than ever. They reveal its story. This White Oak grew up in its early years with some good competition, but then, that competition diminished. About thirty feet up some very stout limbs grow straight out from the trunk. I am guessing, by the size and age of the tree, that the “competition” was cleared for the building of the houses around, and the builders decided to spare that White Oak. It’s a grand old tree, though it’s a little sick, and I worry for it.
It’s easy to notice tree bark in winter. I am one of those odd fellows who thinks that tree bark is very beautiful and quite cool. The sun likes to highlight the bark of a leafless tree, especially the higher-up bark. Winter is time for the bark to shine. Some bark literally does shine. Sycamore trees peels off huge plates revealing a bright chalky white under bark. Take a walk through Latham Park and you will see plenty of that.
Lots of stuff hangs from trees in winter letting you know about the tree. Tulip Poplar balls like to hang around for a while bouncing in the wind. Plus the last Spring flower cups are very visible reaching to the sky at the end of the high stems. Locust Tree bean pods like to flutter in the breeze throughout the winter rattling like old bones. There’s always the stubborn Sweet Gum balls that won’t let go, just waiting to drop in early Spring when your are just first walking out in your bare feet! Gotcha!
Many trees keep their berries throughout the winter. You’d think for example that the birds would eat up all the dogwood berries right away, but the berries often dry out a little and provide food for the birds all winter long. Same for Red Cedar berries, those lovely little gray-blue balls that often cover a Cedar tree. Same for Black Gum. Same for American Holly. I know our Holly bush is not a Holly tree, but it brings joy all winter watching the mockingbirds eat berries from our Holly bush. It’s like they know how to ration the supply. Interesting.
You may need to be a bit of a tree geek for this one, but tree buds and tree stems are fascinating in the winter. By looking at a bare tree stem you can tell how much it grew the last growing season. It’s really easy. You can also tell a lot about the leaves, even when there aren’t any. You can tell if they come off the stem opposite to each other or whether they come of the stem in whorls. You can also tell how many main tree “veins” feed each leaf. From this, more or less, you can often guess if the leaves are compound or not. You can know a lot about what kind of tree it is by how the buds are arranged. Is there one big bud at the end of the stem? Is there a cluster of buds at the end of the stem? Is the bud really at the end or sort of off to the side toward the end? In fact, you can key a tree, that is determine what it is, in winter, without the leaves at all.
The future fate of life on earth is nestled in those little buds. That is just barely an exaggeration. What is it that protects the life inside that bud (and hence next year's growth, and next year's ability to feed flower and seed) from the cold of winter? It is those scales around the bud. Different trees have different kinds of scales. Some bud scales are like two plates meeting in the middle. Some are like fish scales. You can tell a lot about a tree from those scales.
Winter is the time for Pine trees to make their presence known. They kind of pop out and say "We're here" in winter. Hey, I am a South Carolina boy. I was raised on climbing Pine trees to the top, looking up to the deep blue sky through the black branches and green needles of Pine trees, spending half an afternoon trying to get Pine sap off my favorite jeans, engaged for hours in Pine cone wars with the enemy across the wall next door, and nursing skinned up legs from shimmying up and down Pine trunks. In Greensboro there are a few places where I like to go just to breathe in the Pine tree air, peel off some plates of Pine tree bark, fiddle with Pine tree cones, and just generally feel at home.
It’s nice to walk the woods in winter. You can see farther for one thing. You can tell more easily what has been the history of the land you're walking for another. I like trying to figure that out by the ages of the trees, the kinds of trees, the ways that the terrain has been changed by man, how or where a fire may have swept through fifty or so years ago. It’s a kind of sleuthing that I enjoy.
Maybe my favorite thing to do, especially on a cold winter day, is to find a nice stout tree that I can sit against, one with the sun shining full force right on the bottom of the trunk, and just take a seat. Oh how I love the sun on my face in winter. And there I sit. No bugs. Quiet. As quiet as I can be. If the winds are right, and if you’re still enough, the animals will soon not notice you, and you will get lucky. Many times right here in Greensboro deer have walked near, hawks have flown and perched close by, even squirrels have nervously scampered quite close to my feet. I cannot measure the joy of such times.
Such joy gives me strength to go back and re-enter the world of people. Trees are not fickle and moody and complicated and proud like people, like me. How I love them so.
Friday, November 10, 2006
Jesus Ain't No Democrat or Republican
I really appreciate Ben-from-Greensboro’s thoughts as quoted by Beth over at The Daily Greensboring in her piece Is Jesus a Democrat? Check it out. It's a good read. Ben raises some very interesting and worthwhile philosophical and social policy questions, especially as relates to the intersection of religion, morality, and public policy.
As a Christian I deeply regret the association of Christian faith with a particular political party. To the extent that a part of the Christian church has allowed itself to be co-opted and used by the Republicans (or Democrats in other cases) it has erred profoundly.
Ben also raises an interesting point as to the issue of “free will,” and the extent to which that is to be honored, especially in a diverse and secular culture. It is no easy task to figure out what Jesus and the Apostles would have had us do when it comes to various public policy matters. On many issues I think there are many possible "Jesus-acceptable" approaches as regards public policy. On other issues I don’t think so. I don’t think there exists a specifically “Jesus-sanctioned” approach to health insurance for example, or a specifically “Jesus-sanctioned” approach to many other issues. But governments are put in place to seek after the public good, to encourage good and discourage bad, and to keep evil (stealing, murder, invasion, fraud, poverty, etc) at bay. It is just truly hard to know how best to seek the public good sometimes, much less if there is a “Christian” policy on many issues, and because of that it frustrates me that many of my brethren speak as if they know just what such a policy would be. I guess they’re just a lot smarter than me.
In his own day Jesus chose to avoid the very real political parties and factions that swirled all around him. He had a different mission. Christians who live in various societies today have a responsibility as citizens to seek the public good and participate in civic life. But their ultimate mission is also different. It is not the mission of the Democratic or Republican party. Jesus cannot be corralled by one of our puny political parties any more than a wild lion can be corralled by a couple of little kids. Jesus, as in the Living version, cannot be tamed, co-opted, used, or pre-empted. We may think we’re doing that but we’re just fooling ourselves.
Democrats come and go. Republicans come and go. Jesus is Lord.
As a Christian I deeply regret the association of Christian faith with a particular political party. To the extent that a part of the Christian church has allowed itself to be co-opted and used by the Republicans (or Democrats in other cases) it has erred profoundly.
Ben also raises an interesting point as to the issue of “free will,” and the extent to which that is to be honored, especially in a diverse and secular culture. It is no easy task to figure out what Jesus and the Apostles would have had us do when it comes to various public policy matters. On many issues I think there are many possible "Jesus-acceptable" approaches as regards public policy. On other issues I don’t think so. I don’t think there exists a specifically “Jesus-sanctioned” approach to health insurance for example, or a specifically “Jesus-sanctioned” approach to many other issues. But governments are put in place to seek after the public good, to encourage good and discourage bad, and to keep evil (stealing, murder, invasion, fraud, poverty, etc) at bay. It is just truly hard to know how best to seek the public good sometimes, much less if there is a “Christian” policy on many issues, and because of that it frustrates me that many of my brethren speak as if they know just what such a policy would be. I guess they’re just a lot smarter than me.
In his own day Jesus chose to avoid the very real political parties and factions that swirled all around him. He had a different mission. Christians who live in various societies today have a responsibility as citizens to seek the public good and participate in civic life. But their ultimate mission is also different. It is not the mission of the Democratic or Republican party. Jesus cannot be corralled by one of our puny political parties any more than a wild lion can be corralled by a couple of little kids. Jesus, as in the Living version, cannot be tamed, co-opted, used, or pre-empted. We may think we’re doing that but we’re just fooling ourselves.
Democrats come and go. Republicans come and go. Jesus is Lord.
An Open Letter to Matt Hill Comer
Dear Matt,
I read with interest your piece entitled “All My Fault...I’m Bringin’ Down Society” in which you respond to Charles Davenport's references to you in his article in the News and Record.
Your awe-shucks, “small, poor little gay boy” thing reminds me a little of Sam Ervin at the Watergate hearings!
But Matt, Charles Davenport is right about you. You are a force to be reckoned with and your awe-shucks humility will not change that fact.
You are dogged, persistent, relentless, focused, and determined to do what you believe to be right. I’d like to see a day or two go by without some new LGBT cause on the front page of greensboro101, but no, there you go again. Do you sleep?
And many small poor little boys like you, gay or not, have changed the world. Charles Davenport knows that.
In the culture war that is upon us you, my friend, are a formidable adversary, a worthy enemy, and a determined foe. You cannot be ignored or forgotten. You do not and will not go away. You will press the issue and press it again until you cause those who oppose your agenda to rise up and exert the same energy back that you are exerting, or else lose the war.
Matt, you remind me a bit of, well, me, thirty years ago, minus the gay part. When I was an older teen I was also dogged and determined and focused on issues that mattered much to me. I wonder sometimes where the fire, the passion went. I once was going to save the world from.....well, let me just leave it at that.
And I wonder...will you keep it up? Will you retain the passion? Will you stay on fire? I don’t know. I guess I hope not ;). But I think you will.
In the current culture war you are my enemy. Jesus says that I am to love my enemies, which means that I am to love you. I already respect you. And I already admire you. We will in the months ahead do battle in word and phrase as we find ourselves on opposing sides of one aspect of this present battle. But if we meet on the street, or in a coffee house, I hope we can meet as friends.
And as to this young skinny white gay boy awe-shucks thing, well, we both know that’s just a set up for a really good sucker punch.
Joel
I read with interest your piece entitled “All My Fault...I’m Bringin’ Down Society” in which you respond to Charles Davenport's references to you in his article in the News and Record.
Your awe-shucks, “small, poor little gay boy” thing reminds me a little of Sam Ervin at the Watergate hearings!
But Matt, Charles Davenport is right about you. You are a force to be reckoned with and your awe-shucks humility will not change that fact.
You are dogged, persistent, relentless, focused, and determined to do what you believe to be right. I’d like to see a day or two go by without some new LGBT cause on the front page of greensboro101, but no, there you go again. Do you sleep?
And many small poor little boys like you, gay or not, have changed the world. Charles Davenport knows that.
In the culture war that is upon us you, my friend, are a formidable adversary, a worthy enemy, and a determined foe. You cannot be ignored or forgotten. You do not and will not go away. You will press the issue and press it again until you cause those who oppose your agenda to rise up and exert the same energy back that you are exerting, or else lose the war.
Matt, you remind me a bit of, well, me, thirty years ago, minus the gay part. When I was an older teen I was also dogged and determined and focused on issues that mattered much to me. I wonder sometimes where the fire, the passion went. I once was going to save the world from.....well, let me just leave it at that.
And I wonder...will you keep it up? Will you retain the passion? Will you stay on fire? I don’t know. I guess I hope not ;). But I think you will.
In the current culture war you are my enemy. Jesus says that I am to love my enemies, which means that I am to love you. I already respect you. And I already admire you. We will in the months ahead do battle in word and phrase as we find ourselves on opposing sides of one aspect of this present battle. But if we meet on the street, or in a coffee house, I hope we can meet as friends.
And as to this young skinny white gay boy awe-shucks thing, well, we both know that’s just a set up for a really good sucker punch.
Joel
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
A Few Thoughts on the Election Results
Locally...
I am bummed out about several of the bonds not passing.
Nationally...
I am not a registered Republican or Democrat. I would probably identify myself, if I absolutely had to, as a conservative Democrat, but there are so few of them left I just don’t try to identify myself anymore. I am pro life, anti gay marriage, and pro environment. I have as much suspicion of big government as I have of big corporations, and vice versa, and I believe in the legitimacy of the war against Islamic fundamentalism. I believe power corrupts. Everyone. I don’t believe in the inherent goodness of human beings, though I believe that goodness is part of the mix. Thus I believe in lots of checks and balances and am not freaked out by divided government. I don’t like Pat Robertson or Nancy Pelosi. I worry about China, and Iran, and a splintered Iraq. Blah Blah Blah, so what.
I think the Republican leadership in Congress has been inept, and that they deserve what has come, though some good men and women got caught in the mess who should not have. I believe that the post invasion handling of the war by the US civilian leadership stateside has been also inept, and if Donald Rumsfeld does not fall on his sword he is a coward. He should have done it a month, a year, or two years ago.
I am more conservative than liberal when it comes to national politics, except for the environment, but I am not an ideologue. Ideologues of the left and right scare me. Politics to me is all about being pragmatic and practical and getting what you can and, yes, cutting deals, and working with the other side, and compromising and being willing to subject your agenda, even your district's agenda, to the greater good. Not all the time. Sometimes you have to vote your conscience no matter what. But usually you need to be pretty pragmatic.
Despite what most people around here think, I think George Bush is a good egg. In fact, his good egg-ness is one of his political faults. He is loyal. That is a good thing. He is too loyal. That is a bad thing.
I actually think George Bush would have been a better president from the get-go if he had NOT had a Republican congress. I think he himself works better as a pragmatist than an ideologue, and being surrounded by the neo-cons and the Republican congress did not bring out the best in him.
I hope the country won’t be saddled with two years of hearings about this or that because it won't do much good, but I expect it’s coming.
I think the price of oil is too low, so I don’t like the idea of hearings about that.
I think a Democratic-controlled House and Senate will be good for whatever Republican runs for President in 2008.
I worry most for pro life issues, gay marriage issues, federal judgeship issues, the prosecution of the war on Islamic jihadism, and the economy.
I am hopeful for the environment, for progress weaning ourselves off foreign oil, for a changed policy in Iraq (since the Republicans seemed incapable of doing that), and for the minimum wage.
I am also hopeful that these two years could bring out the side of George Bush that was effective in Texas. We’ll see. It’s possible.
As a Christian I believe in a sovereign God who is in control, whoever wins. To me the good news of the universe is not who is president or who controls congress, but that Jesus is Lord. I believe that He has His purposes in these things, even when I don’t know what they are, and despite how I do or don’t feel about them.
Deep down I wish for the end of the Clinton-Bush era, and for a new generation to take the reigns, my generation. I think it’s our time now. I look to see what leadership will rise to the top now, in both parties. I’m tired of the same ole same ole. I look ahead, ahead of this year, ahead of next, in hope, and anticipation, not having a clue who it will be, but believing that there are smart and good people of different faiths, genders, and colors waiting to rise up and lead us into a new era.
I am bummed out about several of the bonds not passing.
Nationally...
I am not a registered Republican or Democrat. I would probably identify myself, if I absolutely had to, as a conservative Democrat, but there are so few of them left I just don’t try to identify myself anymore. I am pro life, anti gay marriage, and pro environment. I have as much suspicion of big government as I have of big corporations, and vice versa, and I believe in the legitimacy of the war against Islamic fundamentalism. I believe power corrupts. Everyone. I don’t believe in the inherent goodness of human beings, though I believe that goodness is part of the mix. Thus I believe in lots of checks and balances and am not freaked out by divided government. I don’t like Pat Robertson or Nancy Pelosi. I worry about China, and Iran, and a splintered Iraq. Blah Blah Blah, so what.
I think the Republican leadership in Congress has been inept, and that they deserve what has come, though some good men and women got caught in the mess who should not have. I believe that the post invasion handling of the war by the US civilian leadership stateside has been also inept, and if Donald Rumsfeld does not fall on his sword he is a coward. He should have done it a month, a year, or two years ago.
I am more conservative than liberal when it comes to national politics, except for the environment, but I am not an ideologue. Ideologues of the left and right scare me. Politics to me is all about being pragmatic and practical and getting what you can and, yes, cutting deals, and working with the other side, and compromising and being willing to subject your agenda, even your district's agenda, to the greater good. Not all the time. Sometimes you have to vote your conscience no matter what. But usually you need to be pretty pragmatic.
Despite what most people around here think, I think George Bush is a good egg. In fact, his good egg-ness is one of his political faults. He is loyal. That is a good thing. He is too loyal. That is a bad thing.
I actually think George Bush would have been a better president from the get-go if he had NOT had a Republican congress. I think he himself works better as a pragmatist than an ideologue, and being surrounded by the neo-cons and the Republican congress did not bring out the best in him.
I hope the country won’t be saddled with two years of hearings about this or that because it won't do much good, but I expect it’s coming.
I think the price of oil is too low, so I don’t like the idea of hearings about that.
I think a Democratic-controlled House and Senate will be good for whatever Republican runs for President in 2008.
I worry most for pro life issues, gay marriage issues, federal judgeship issues, the prosecution of the war on Islamic jihadism, and the economy.
I am hopeful for the environment, for progress weaning ourselves off foreign oil, for a changed policy in Iraq (since the Republicans seemed incapable of doing that), and for the minimum wage.
I am also hopeful that these two years could bring out the side of George Bush that was effective in Texas. We’ll see. It’s possible.
As a Christian I believe in a sovereign God who is in control, whoever wins. To me the good news of the universe is not who is president or who controls congress, but that Jesus is Lord. I believe that He has His purposes in these things, even when I don’t know what they are, and despite how I do or don’t feel about them.
Deep down I wish for the end of the Clinton-Bush era, and for a new generation to take the reigns, my generation. I think it’s our time now. I look to see what leadership will rise to the top now, in both parties. I’m tired of the same ole same ole. I look ahead, ahead of this year, ahead of next, in hope, and anticipation, not having a clue who it will be, but believing that there are smart and good people of different faiths, genders, and colors waiting to rise up and lead us into a new era.
Friday, November 03, 2006
Nanny's Garden
My grandmother and grandfather, whom we all called Nanny and Pop, moved to Columbia SC in 1943 from Tampa. They bought a house a block off Trenholm Road near Trenholm and Beltline (for those who know Columbia), a small house by today's standards, but with a deep back yard that sloped down to a creek bed. For some reason this suburban bottomland grew the largest Loblolly Pine Trees I have ever seen outside of Congaree Swamp National Park. I loved just lying on her grass and staring up into those huge pine trees. Along with the pines were the natural under story Dogwoods and a few hardwoods here and there, including one giant Water Oak down by the creek. It was a perfect natural setting for their gardening plans.Nanny and Pop along with their two neighbors got busy developing what would in time be one of the premier stops on the Columbia garden tour. The three yards were planned and planted as a unit. The primary focus would in time be Azaleas, Camellias, Dogwoods, Hydrangeas, Tea Olives, and various Lilies. Of course there were another dozen types of horticultural favorites here and there as well. I always loved the Elaeagnus hedge in her front yard. My keenest memory may be the smell of her gigantic Tea Olives. Oh how I love that smell. I have tried to grow them here, but they just don't emit the pungent aroma like in her yard.
Well, this was a garden twenty plus years in the making. By the time I was old enough to help out in was more of a matter of maintenance. Just keeping the English Ivy and Pachysandra at bay, digging up the brick walks and taking out the roots and resetting the bricks, and cleaning the pine straw off her very high roof kept me pretty busy. I loved her Charleston grass. For years I cut it with a manual mower!
My grandfather Pop died when I was eight, so I just sort of came to think of it as Nanny's yard. From Nanny I learned how to graft Camellias, prune and root Azaleas, cross fertilize Lilies, play with the color of Hydrangeas, and generally love the soil. I also learned to love white painted brick houses with Charleston-Green shutters from Nanny. Know any for sale?
A couple of weeks ago I found a little box of slides full of pictures taken of Nanny's yard in the mid 1950's, before I was born. What a treasure! As a garden it is not yet mature, but it is still beautiful. I scanned them with my new Epson scanner and posted them on my Flickr site - http://www.flickr.com/photos/joelgillespie/ - they are in the "Nanny’s Garden" set right at the top. I have several copies of postcards the city of Columbia made of the three yards to sell in local stores. I'll scan them in sometime along with other pictures from the garden and add them to the set. While you are at the Flickr site you can see lots of pictures of Nanny. She was a classy lady, a great grandmother, a good business woman, and a dear sweet friend to me. She died in 1985. Twenty one years later and I still miss her very much.
Another One Bites the Dust
So another Evangelical Leader is in the headlines - this time the Reverend Ted Hoggard (editorial correction - that's Haggard, thanks Sue and sorry David!), the President of the National Association of Evengelicals. And the news could not be good enough or timely enough for the gay lobby.
I don't know if he did it or not. An aid is purported to have said that Hoggard said that some of it is true. I have a few comments.
First, if it is true, then this is the worst form of hypocrisy, the kind I pointed out at the end of my piece Gay Republicans. It is the kind where a person publicly and professedly comes off as one thing, and yet is another, plus, on top of it, is unfaithful to a vow.
Second, it has nothing to do at all with the validity or non validity of gay marriage as public policy, but it will add momentum to that cause. A man or woman's private pecadillos do not good public policy make. Again, we can ask JFK or Martin Luther King Jr. about that.
Third, it is a further reminder of how all Christian folk, particularly those in positions of leadership, such as myself, must live in a glass house, must be surrounded by many eyes, many alibis, many levels of accountability. In our own community men have been given too long a rope and many have hung themselves with it. The flesh is too weak, particularly when there is a mystique and power associated with one's title and position, which, oddly and strangely enough, there is with a minister. One must build a kind of day to day pattern where these things are not possible. One must build a day to day pattern where false accusations carry no weight because of immediate falsifiability. One's day, one's time, one's life is not one's own. That's the deal. If a man does not like that he should do something else. There should have been no possibility for Ted Hoggard to have hookups with anybody, if that is what happened.
Fourth, and most sadly, this reveals yet again the premier heresy of the modern American Evangelical church. I will name the heresy here and, Lord willing, discuss it later. It comes in many forms and guises. It is all over Greensboro like a rotten grotesque cancer. It is all over the National Assosiation of Evangelicals. It crosses denominational lines, though it is worse in some than in others. It is a beast with many heads. It is called antinomianism. Look it up. Study it. It is probably worming its ugly way into your church. If the allegations against Mr. Hoggartd are true, it was probably worming its way into his head as well.
Peggy Noonan wrote recently that the potential loss of the congress may remind conservatives of what conservatives were supposed to be. It may be good for them.
One hopes with all these scandals about, that the Evangelical Church will wake up one day and realize it has been running down a path leading to a pit, or to a Shelob, or to a wall of laughing finger pointing vindicated naysayers, so that maybe, it will turn around, and seek the right way again.
I hope so. May God be merciful upon us all.
I don't know if he did it or not. An aid is purported to have said that Hoggard said that some of it is true. I have a few comments.
First, if it is true, then this is the worst form of hypocrisy, the kind I pointed out at the end of my piece Gay Republicans. It is the kind where a person publicly and professedly comes off as one thing, and yet is another, plus, on top of it, is unfaithful to a vow.
Second, it has nothing to do at all with the validity or non validity of gay marriage as public policy, but it will add momentum to that cause. A man or woman's private pecadillos do not good public policy make. Again, we can ask JFK or Martin Luther King Jr. about that.
Third, it is a further reminder of how all Christian folk, particularly those in positions of leadership, such as myself, must live in a glass house, must be surrounded by many eyes, many alibis, many levels of accountability. In our own community men have been given too long a rope and many have hung themselves with it. The flesh is too weak, particularly when there is a mystique and power associated with one's title and position, which, oddly and strangely enough, there is with a minister. One must build a kind of day to day pattern where these things are not possible. One must build a day to day pattern where false accusations carry no weight because of immediate falsifiability. One's day, one's time, one's life is not one's own. That's the deal. If a man does not like that he should do something else. There should have been no possibility for Ted Hoggard to have hookups with anybody, if that is what happened.
Fourth, and most sadly, this reveals yet again the premier heresy of the modern American Evangelical church. I will name the heresy here and, Lord willing, discuss it later. It comes in many forms and guises. It is all over Greensboro like a rotten grotesque cancer. It is all over the National Assosiation of Evangelicals. It crosses denominational lines, though it is worse in some than in others. It is a beast with many heads. It is called antinomianism. Look it up. Study it. It is probably worming its ugly way into your church. If the allegations against Mr. Hoggartd are true, it was probably worming its way into his head as well.
Peggy Noonan wrote recently that the potential loss of the congress may remind conservatives of what conservatives were supposed to be. It may be good for them.
One hopes with all these scandals about, that the Evangelical Church will wake up one day and realize it has been running down a path leading to a pit, or to a Shelob, or to a wall of laughing finger pointing vindicated naysayers, so that maybe, it will turn around, and seek the right way again.
I hope so. May God be merciful upon us all.
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