Greed
On My Faith and this Election
Goldie Taylor’s latest article for the Daily Beast, Donald Trump Is Exposed, And So Are the Republicans Who Are Sticking With Him, demonstrates the hypocrisy inherent in the extreme right-wing of the GOP, and their “do as I say, not as I do” holier than thou cavalier attitude towards their Christianity.
“But no principled, Christian conservative can justify backing a thrice married, serial philander who essentially confessed to sex crimes. However, this race was never about principle. It was never about Republican themes like small government, personal responsibility or family values. From the start, Trump’s campaign has been predicated on sexism (and ethno-nationalistic racism). It is and always has been about white male resentment and anguish. Trump bottled that antipathy—for women and minorities— and put it on a chartered flight to Iowa.”
There IS a choice for voters of Faith who believe that we ARE our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers. A candidate who has raised an intelligent, poised, confident, loving daughter; who remained faithfully married to an adulterous husband for 40 years; who has championed the rights and protection of children her entire life; and who has been an outspoken advocate for women, People of Color, LGBTQIAP people, military personnel, Veterans and their families; and people of all Faiths and beliefs.
HER name is Hillary Clinton and we KNOW what her credentials are.
You can vote for the GOP nominee, who is the very personification of the “ugly American” – undisciplined, greed-driven, arrogant, ill-prepared, unhinged, deranged, impetuous, irritable, pathologically unfit, and fundamentally dangerous.
Or you can vote for Hillary Clinton. Third-party candidates are simply not an option.
We know Mrs. Clinton’s record. We know that ALL of her Democratic primary opponents have not only supported her candidacy for President of the United States, but are campaigning on her behalf. That says more about her character and their respect for her, than the slickest political advertising.
So, my fellow voters of Faith, it is time to search your hearts and spend time meditating on the teachings of Jesus. Then, take a close, long look at His actions, the people he surrounded Himself with and those He ministered to.
Then, ask yourselves which candidate more closely embodies those ideals. She needs our votes in November. She has EARNED our votes.
Thank God, and may our Blessed Mother guide and keep Hillary Clinton safe from now, through Election Day and her Inauguration. Use your voice and vote for Hillary Clinton to be President of the United States. She is the RIGHT choice. She is the ONLY choice.
As a Roman Catholic Latina, #ImWithHer and you should be too, because we Americans are #StrongerTogether.
The GOP Platform Goes Completely off the Rails
Each time the GOP lowered the bar for itself, during John McCain’s presidential campaign, I hoped someone would step up and say, “Enough! We are better than this.” But, once Sarah Palin became a “leader” of the party, I knew the only hope for the party of Lincoln was destruction from the inside. Then, deep and careful introspection and a return to actual conservatism.
Sadly, I was wrong. Not only was Michael Steele fired as RNC Chair, but his suggested reforms, based on actual data, were summarily dismissed. Mitt Romney, who had been a successful, but moderate governor, transformed himself into a bitter, angry man, in order to curry favor from the Koch brothers and others of that ilk.
This year, one of the most bigoted, homophobic, misogynistic and crazy platforms in the GOP’S history was unveiled. As Esquire Magazine detailed, Republican Party Platform: Porn Is A Public Health Threat; Guns Are Not. Wait. WHAT?!!
Yesterday, Secretary Clinton said, “the party of Lincoln has become the party of trump.” Lynsey G. was a little less delicate in her blog post, GOP Platform Names Porn a “Public Health” Crisis. Yes, folks, pornography is a bigger health risk to our Country than poverty, the Flint Michigan water supply or even the Zika virus. Bigger than gun violence.
The clown car of chaos has officially been taken over by Toonces, the Driving Cat, with the GOP leadership’s tacit blessing. By doing nothing, they allowed themselves to sink into a hole of excrement they can no longer escape.
Trump’s GOP is little more than an episode of reality television, complete with undereducated surrogates, carelessly thrown out sensational lies, tabloid-worthy headlines and dangerous rhetoric that appeals to the very worst part of our society.
It is like a Maury Povich audience, on crack, with live ammunition, overdosed on Viagra, gone completely off the rails. Only much much worse.
I am terrified for our country. Terrified. We must vote as if our lives depend on it. Not voting is no longer an option.
Pray for Venezula, and Demand World Action
As someone who saw her childhood irrevocably changed by a military, totalitarian government, what has been occurring in Venezuela worries and angers me. For years, the country has suffered an economic crisis and violence against civilians has escalated. Now that the people, especially young people, have taken to the streets to bring awareness to these issues, the military has retaliated in a bloody, and unnecessarily violent ways.
Many non-profit organizations like Un Mundo Sin Mordaza (A World without a (Mouth) Gag) and Amnesty International have called for scrutiny and worldwide attention on the latest violence against peaceful demonstrators, in Venezuela.
The following video is one of the most unbiased, citizen accounts of the actions against the Venezuelan people, by their own government. It is not suitable for young children. unless they watch it under the guidance of a trusted adult who can explain its historical context. The images are disturbing, but keep in mind that these actions have been escalating over the years. They did not begin in a bubble. They were allowed to happen under our watch, by good people who turned a blind eye.
Pray for peace, but be prepared to wage it.
“Battle Flag” by Lo Fidelity Allstars featuring Pigeonhed is the Song of the Day
Video Posted on Updated on
I first heard “Battle Flag” in the late 1990s as a club mix. It was originally written as an homage to Prince by Pigeonhed and remixed and recorded by Lo Fidelity Allstars. The beat and a few of the lyrics stuck with me. However, it was not until I heard it on the episode of “ER” where Dr. Carter (Noah Wylie) meets, and is stabbed by, a Schizophrenic patient that it grabbed me.
Then, I heard it on an episode of The Sopranos and was thrilled when they included on one of their show soundtracks. It has become one of my get-up-and-MOVE jams.
The song starts off with a bang and just keeps going. Here are the first few lines:
Your construction
Smells of corruption
I manipulate to recreate
This air to ground saga
Gotta launder my karma
Gotta launder my karma, indeed. Great advice for all of us. Wave your own battle flag!
Duck and Cover
I am not, nor ever will be, a fan of “Duck Dynasty.” However, the brouhaha over the suspension of a public figure who made ugly, unthinkable, regrettable homophobic and racist comments made me long for the days when “A&E” signified ARTS and entertainment, only. The duck person’s right to free speech was not infringed upon, as he spoke honesty and freely, in the GQ Interview. As a result, he was suspended from the show (I suspect due to violating terms in his contract with the network). People face these types of consequences every day, as corporations may create whatever policies they want for their employees. That is all that occurred, in this case.
Reality TV show “celebrities” opened themselves up for a greater degree of scrutiny when they signed their contracts and agreed to be filmed. They had the opportunity NOT to participate. Many who have been interviewed after their shows aired, stated their lives were forever changed and lamented the loss of privacy, relationships and sense of themselves. Notably, the Osbornes, who were no strangers to the public eye, ultimately regretted opening the doors of their private lives and homes to a television audience.
Unfortunately, the duck person was being touted as a “champion for Christian values,” and the angry mob of his “fans” began calling for boycotts of the network, petitions to be signed and have spewed more hate-filled speech towards A&E and organizations that promote LGBT equality and rights. This non-controversy will result in more sales for the duck people’s products as their “fans” rush to “support” them, enriching their coffers even more. Their “fans” will continue to vilify and marginalize people whom they believe are “beneath” them and continue their scorched earth campaign against “others.” Just as Jesus would do, I’m sure.
“Christians” could follow Pope Francis’ example…but they have already labeled The Pope as “anti-Christian.” Oops.
The aftermath will be must-see TV, although my sincerest wish is that the duck people, the baby pageants, and the Kardashians are canceled and replaced with educational programming. Or all shows of that ilk are grouped into a new network entitled “Dumb Me Down.”
Pass. The. Popcorn.
30 Days of Thanks – Day 29
“Experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you wanted.” ~ Randy Pausch
I am thankful to have worked in retail while in college. I enjoyed my jobs and have pleasant memories of flexible hours, great customers and fun co-workers. With one glaring exception – Black Friday. I was left so traumatized by the experience, over 25 years ago, that I never shop on Black Friday, and only patronize small, locally-owned or socially-conscious, green businesses.
Black Friday traditionally marked the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. It was the period of the year where retailers would operate “in the black,” or at a profit, versus than “in the red,” or at a loss. For folks employed by retail establishments, it simply meant earning more money in a shorter amount of time.
Sadly, Black Friday has become synonymous with greed. And violence.
I urge you to consider whether or not those items are dire necessities worth dying for today. Or ever.
In the meantime, enjoy the dulcet, acapella tones of Sweet Honey in the Rock’s “Greed.”
Reading, Drinking and Dancing with a Chaser of Snark 