The medieval kings kept court fools and one of their duties supposedly was to tell the king truths that no one else dared say. Perhaps we have our modern day fools.
Erp, did you ever see Colbert's roast at the White House Correspondents in 2006? He lost the audience of correspondents, and I'm sure Bush was steaming. Still, he carried on in one of the bravest performances I've ever seen.
On TA there was this guy last week who insisted that all aid to poor people should purely rely on charity and not on structured, government organised support that cannot just be removed at a whim. He challenged everyone to show just where Jesus said that governments should have the right to "force" us to pay taxes.
Our wonderful JFC replied with "Render unto Caesar...."
I'm going to guess that the above mentioned comment on TA came from John Bowles, whose views on everything are a little to the right of King Louis XIV.
Stephen Colbert in that same monologue beautifully slew the pervasive American canard that "God helps those who help themselves" is in the Bible As Colbert pointed out, Ben Franklin said that line between "mouthfuls of French whore."
Counterlight, it came from someone calling himself "Christian". John Bowles is so sure of himself that he usually posts under his own name. I'm not sure about John Bowles' ecclesiastical pedigree but I first came across him on a Forward in Faith blog that is now an Ordinariate Blog. He is either one of those wo converted or he was Roman Catholic before.
But I think JB's problems are all of a sexuality and sexual nature. "Christian" seems to me to be more American - the argument that charity should take the place of government coordinated welfare is not one that is generally heard in Britain, and although JB might well advocate reduced welfare payments, it would be very un-British if he supported the idea that government has no place in social security at all.
JCF, how about, 'This administration is soaring...like the Hindenburg.'
Erika, we have our share over here who believe all support for the poor should come from charity and not from government aid.
Counterlight, the line about Ben Franklin was hilarious. When Colbert skewered the press so accurately, he lost them, and yet he carried on. I watched his speech live, and I could not believe what I was hearing.
I have a sneaking suspicion that those who argue for private charity over public (government) charity do so because they want to decide who deserves their aid and who does not. They want to stand as the judge.
Peter, I agree with your sneaking suspicion. Those folks wish to weed out the undeserving poor from the deserving poor. 'Judge not...' doesn't enter into their calculations of exactly who is deserving.
I so love his logic! I have a copy of this on my office door at home.
ReplyDeleteCiss, I suppose I don't get around enough, because I just saw it for the first time. It's very good.
ReplyDeleteThe medieval kings kept court fools and one of their duties supposedly was to tell the king truths that no one else dared say. Perhaps we have our modern day fools.
ReplyDeleteErp, did you ever see Colbert's roast at the White House Correspondents in 2006? He lost the audience of correspondents, and I'm sure Bush was steaming. Still, he carried on in one of the bravest performances I've ever seen.
ReplyDeleteI'll never forget this line:
ReplyDelete"President Bush doesn't just stand FOR things, he stands ON things: like aircraft carriers! And rubble! And recently flooded city plazas!"
Colbert's a treasure. And the smartest man on TV.
This is excellent!
ReplyDeleteOn TA there was this guy last week who insisted that all aid to poor people should purely rely on charity and not on structured, government organised support that cannot just be removed at a whim. He challenged everyone to show just where Jesus said that governments should have the right to "force" us to pay taxes.
Our wonderful JFC replied with "Render unto Caesar...."
Why do so few get it when it's all so obvious?
I'm going to guess that the above mentioned comment on TA came from John Bowles, whose views on everything are a little to the right of King Louis XIV.
ReplyDeleteStephen Colbert in that same monologue beautifully slew the pervasive American canard that "God helps those who help themselves" is in the Bible As Colbert pointed out, Ben Franklin said that line between "mouthfuls of French whore."
Counterlight, it came from someone calling himself "Christian". John Bowles is so sure of himself that he usually posts under his own name.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure about John Bowles' ecclesiastical pedigree but I first came across him on a Forward in Faith blog that is now an Ordinariate Blog. He is either one of those wo converted or he was Roman Catholic before.
But I think JB's problems are all of a sexuality and sexual nature.
"Christian" seems to me to be more American - the argument that charity should take the place of government coordinated welfare is not one that is generally heard in Britain, and although JB might well advocate reduced welfare payments, it would be very un-British if he supported the idea that government has no place in social security at all.
JCF, how about, 'This administration is soaring...like the Hindenburg.'
ReplyDeleteErika, we have our share over here who believe all support for the poor should come from charity and not from government aid.
Counterlight, the line about Ben Franklin was hilarious. When Colbert skewered the press so accurately, he lost them, and yet he carried on. I watched his speech live, and I could not believe what I was hearing.
I have a sneaking suspicion that those who argue for private charity over public (government) charity do so because they want to decide who deserves their aid and who does not. They want to stand as the judge.
ReplyDeletePeter, I agree with your sneaking suspicion. Those folks wish to weed out the undeserving poor from the deserving poor. 'Judge not...' doesn't enter into their calculations of exactly who is deserving.
ReplyDelete