It says “"blog"” on here
I'd better blog then.
The following was triggered by a series of emails from a musician
in Canada I used to know slightly years ago, in which he sent
me: first a series of lovely pictures of some steel sculptures
in Arizona which depict the crucifixion, unfortunately accompanied
by an extremist Christian text of the "accept Jesus or
burn in hell" variety. Secondly an article by Bill Cosby,
dripping with contempt and superiority about black kids and
how they talk and dress. and thirdly, the final straw, a transcript
of a CBS broadcast by Andy Rooney, vitriolic, violent and racist.
I'd like folks to get some things straight about me before
they send me any more material by mini-minded fascist bigots
like Andy Rooney, pompous elitists like Bill Cosby or "my
way is the only way" christian fanactics.
Americans seem to forget the repression, misey and genocide
they inflicted on the local inhabitants when they came to North
America from Europe only a few centuries ago. Canadians have
a slightly better record, but they treated their French brothers
and sisters with humiliation and contempt until recently. They
have two official languages. The Swiss have four. The Belgians
two. A large percentage of Americans are Spanish-speaking and
were there long before the Anglos showed up. But the only true
native Americans are the so-called Indians. All the other people
in North America came from somewhere else, mostly out of desperation
(poverty and deprivation) or compulsioin (slavery).
As for religion, I was raised a Christian, but as I became
more mature and read more widely I came to understand the inner
sense of awe and wonder that gave rise to all religions, which
are based on the universal cosciousness that we all share.
On to Dr. Cosby. He seems to have forgotten that language develops
from ordinary people's talk and slang and that "incorrect"
English has produced some of the greates writing, songs and
poetry of our time. English be alive, it don't be dead like
Latin, dude.
Folks who believe their "god" is the only god, and
their beliefs are the only ones that entitle them to a place
in "heaven" have been reponsible for more murder,
torure, repression and genocide than all the agnostics, atheists,
humanists and free thinkers on the planet.
Keep in mind the country song that says "you go to your
church and I'll go to mine, but we'll both walk along together"
(Earl Scruggs , I think).
And take a moment to think about all this. Perhaps you'll see
that you too admire the follwing traits in eople: tolerance,
open-heartedness, open-mindedness and above all, love.
Pass this on if you want to. Start with Andy fucking Rooney.
Noel
pet peeve list:
George W Bush and his trashing of the US constitution, the UN charter, the Geneva conventions and the countries of Iraq and Afghanistan. Long may he be remembered with shame and disgust. And that goes for his crew of so-called neo-cons too especially sneering Dick, the vice president.
Gordon Brown for raising taxes on the worst off, his moralistic attitude to recreational drugs and his pathetic attempts to appear jolly.
Religious extremism in all forms, whether Muslim, Jewish, Christian,
Hindu, or any other dangerous narrow-minded bigoted “"our
way is the only way"” belief of members of the human
race.
Overpriced and inefficient public transport.
Professional incompetence of all kinds.
Dysfunctional websites.
Misplaced apostrophe's.
Drivers who don't know the width of their cars, especially
on our Devon lanes.
The Daily Mail and it's jingoistic natioinalism and stirring
up of paranoia about any and all subjects of it's judgementalist
editorial policies.
Conspiracy theorists.
English weather.
Complaining about the above.
COMING SHORTLY:
a few of my favorite things |
