Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Who Is The Real Victim Here?


Yesterday the Captain was sick at home.

Raking leaves on Saturday was not a good idea for someone with my vast assortment of allergies.

As I was channel-surfing I came across a re-run of “Nash Bridges”.


Shut up!

In that episode, Nash was in conversation with a television station, asking them to not report on a particular crime until the police had a chance to investigate.

The news reporter spoke up indignantly, “You’re trying to abridge our First Amendment rights!”

Actually, no, that’s not how it works.

Perhaps you should try reading the Constitution.


As our denomination moves toward another global gathering at which many are hoping/expecting the delegates to finally resolve the church’s issue with gays and lesbians, the rhetoric is heating up.

The Captain has tried to ignore all the uproar, for the most part. I don’t get to vote (yet), and despite the general consensus right now, what happens in May is anybody’s guess.

And I am not going to lose sleep over what “might” happen.

But I have engaged a couple people in conversations on Facebook and I realize that there is no longer a middle ground in this debate.

The more conservative side claims to have the Bible on their side.


End of discussion.

But then, the more liberal side also claims to have the Bible on their side.

 
Ironically, the more conservative side – they call themselves “Traditionalists” now – are painting themselves as the victims here.

One person the Captain engaged on Facebook is actually married to an ordained female pastor.

Captain’s Note: He apparently is not aware that it has been only recently that women were allowed to be ordained.

Because the Bible said.

And he is apparently not aware that many of those same “evil” Progressives (previously labeled "Liberals" or "Damned Liberals") fought for the rights of women in general – and for his wife in specific – to be ordained despite those who insisted, “But the Bible says…”

Nonetheless, he cried that he has been treated unfairly at church because he takes the Traditionalist side.

Yes, the church at which his wife is pastor.

And she supports him in his views.

When I suggested that he had experienced nothing like what my gay friends have experienced, he replied, “You don’t know.”



No, I think I do... 

Call me when Westboro Baptist shows up at your house.
 
He later said he didn’t feel “safe” going back to that church...

...where his wife is pastor.

"Safe"? 

When I asked him if someone had physically threatened him – the Captain was gearing up for battle! – he admitted he may have misspoke; he should have said he felt “unwelcomed” there because of his views.

Ah…

Apparently someone, either at church or on social media, had called him a homophobe and other names because of his extreme right-wing views.


I wanted to press on and ask how he thought gays and lesbians felt when they were denied the privilege of getting married or being ordained - in the church many of them grew up in -  but I thought it wiser to sign off instead.

Then yesterday I read a blog posted by a Traditionalist. After spouting the usual talking points, he got around to crying because the Progressives wanted everything their way.

That is, the Progressives want to fully welcome all people into the life of the Church.

Marriage. Ordination. Everything that any other baptized, member in good standing is entitled to.

The blogger cried that it is not fair that he can’t freely practice his beliefs.

Image result for I'm being repressed

Oppressive though they are…

He insisted that after the denomination splits (which seems inevitable), the Wesleyan Covenant Association (WCA) will fully welcome gays and lesbians.

“We love all people!”

They just can’t be ordained or married there.

Because the Bible says they are worse sinners than everyone else and need to give up their abhorrent lifestyle and live and believe like the rest of us…..

So, because I disagree with you – actively oppose you, in fact – that makes you the victim?

Despite the fact that what you believe and practice actually victimizes others?

Captain’s Note: This same tactic is being used by White Supremacists, Neo-Nazis and other supporters of President Trumpf.


There are just too many people claiming to be victims in our world today.

If someone throws a rock through your window, you might be a victim. But if someone tells you you can’t throw a rock through someone’s window, you are not the victim!

It really is that simple. Figure it out!


Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Don't Lie to Me


When your Captain was but a lowly powder monkey in high school, one of the junior highers came to church youth group one night singing, “Duke-Duke-Duke-Duke of Earl / Duke-Duke-Duke of Earl”…

That’s pretty much all he knew of the song.

I asked him where he had heard it. He replied, “I made it up.”

Now mates, as I explained to a friend recently, the Captain’s musical knowledge is a mile wide…

But only about an inch deep!

I knew this song.

It was first released in 1962, written by the Duke of Earl himself, Mr. Gene Chandler.


But the young man insisted, “I made it up.”

This was before Google, so I couldn't prove it. 

But I called him out on it nonetheless, which didn’t make him very happy.

Now, perhaps it is a bit harsh to say he was lying to me. Perhaps he heard it once and forgot, later thinking the catchy tune bouncing around in his head was his original work.

But know this mates, if you lie to the Captain, I will call you out. There are few things I hate worse than lying.


Which brings us to Sunday.


The POTUS decided to rally his base by showing up at Daytona for the opening race of the NASCAR season, the Daytona 500.




Air Force One arrived in style… A military jet fly-over thrilled the crowd… The National Anthem was performed while the POTUS and Mrs. POTUS stood quietly (this time!) with hand over heart… The POTUS got to say the magic words: “Gentlemen, start your engines!”… And riding in the presidential limousine, the POTUS got to lead the pace lap…

The POTUS bragged about how he loves NASCAR… how he wished someone would loan him a car so he could enter the race himself… blah blah blah…


And yes, his base ate it up! Every last word of it!

Captain's Note: Stay in school, children!


And then Air Force One loaded up and took everyone home… even before the race was delayed due to rain…

After 20 laps.

It ended on Monday like this.


Captain’s Note: Prayers extended to driver Ryan Newman and his family as he remains in serious condition in a Florida hospital.

But the POTUS got his photo-op and everyone is excited that the POTUS showed up!

Few mentioned that President Bush once showed up in 2004.

Until the White House released this photo of Air Force One arriving at Daytona.


Yes, this photo was from the Bush visit.

Now, why would the White House release a 16-year-old photo?

Here’s a photo from Sunday – Trumpf’s visit.


Look at the empty seats in the stands…

"A picture is worth a thousand words." -somebody famous

Numbers matter to the POTUS. He has this inexplicable need to inflate crowd size at every stop he makes.

You may remember the dust-up regarding the crowd size at the 2017 Inauguration…


His flunkies are enabling him.

And lying to us in the process.

And if you are willing to lie to me about petty stuff like this, how can I trust anything else you say?