FEAR ITSELF

MICHELANGELO Buonarroti
Last Judgment (detail)
Fresco
Cappella Sistina, Vatican

Fear Itself

Fear itself …
that is the thing explaining
why bombers bomb
why we cannot control guns
why the Pope suppresses nuns
speaking “radical” humanist words
why “real men” loathe nerds
and arm themselves against
delusions of apocalypse.
Fear is the power of coercion
trumping all notions
of civility, compassion “fittest” assumed to mean
the ruthlessness of nihilists
protecting their own small niche
at the expense of all “soft” targets
“not my problem”
“take care of our own”
dismissing the thoughtful
the adaptive, the truly strong
who mean it when they say
life itself is sacred.
Fear is the tool of men
protesting too much, claiming
to be defenders of liberty
when what they are protecting
is their consumption of advantage
their right to shoot, to profit
to procreate any way they choose
but not you, not you
you must be frightened into
compliance with their rule
their privilege, their proprietary
fist enforcing the lie of superiority
“emotion” labeled “girly” “useless”
except when it is “manly anger”
an excuse to pretend the violence
is just … but it is just their fear
their adrenaline addiction
raging, tolerated, “just the way it is”
not inevitable
just the way things will be
until the greater we
says no
passes the laws that prevent
paranoid bullies from expecting
and getting
our cooperation in their death industry
fear itself.

(Marthe G. Walsh)

Image from the Web Gallery of Art.

EARTH DAY - APRIL 22, 2013

Amen. Thanks to Ellie on Facebook.

WHO WOULD LIKE TO ADOPT SEVEN AFRICAN VIOLET PLANTS?

 

 

Confession: The two in the pictures are the prettiest, but with better tending loving care, all the plants could be as pretty.

The African violets sit on top of my sewing machine in the only suitable spot with proper exposure, which means I must move all seven plants in order to sew.  Also, in the interest of full disclosure, two of the plants need repotting, because the roots have grown above the soil.  

THE BABIES

Last week was tough all around the world, but sometimes you have to take a laugh break.  

A woman who is three months pregnant falls into a deep coma.

Six months later, she awakens and asks the doctor to see her baby.

The doctor: You had twins, a boy and a girl. Luckily, your brother named them for you.

The Woman: Oh, no! Not my brother! He's an idiot. What did he name the girl??

Doctor: Denise.

Woman: Well it isn't so bad, and what did he call the boy?

Doctor: Denephew.

CHECHEN ROCK GROUP GTOWN SING THE BLUES BROTHERS "NEW ORLEANS"

Another view of Chechens.  New Orleens (sic) is my home town. I was just reflecting that there are those who have already widened their circle of ethnic groups who must be feared to include Chechens. Alas…

Thanks to Juan Cole for sharing the video. 

A WEDDING IN THE FAMILY

 

My son and his girlfriend of several years are getting married today.  Please pray that Patrick and Marlet have many happy years together.  The wedding will take place at Patrick's house with family and a few close friends as guests.

O gracious and everlasting God, look mercifully upon Patrick and Marlet who come to you seeking your blessing, and assist them with your grace, that with true fidelity and steadfast love they may honor and keep the promises and vows they make; through Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(Book of Common Prayer)

A song for Patrick and Marlet.



Leonard Cohen's great song "Dance Me to the End of Love" by The Civil Wars, a new musical duo I've recently discovered, whom I enjoy very much.

SHAMEFUL STATISTICS

 

Click on the chart for the larger view.

We're not first, but surely the richest country in the world has the wherewithal to do better than second highest in child poverty ratings.  A quarter of our children living in poverty is unacceptable, but we accept it.

Lord, have mercy.

HERE'S BARNEY!

Former Congressman Barney Frank (D-Mass):

"In this terrible situation, let's be very grateful that we had a well-funded, functioning government. It is very fashionable in America ... to criticize government, to belittle public employees, talk about their pensions, talk about what people think is their excessive health care, here we saw government in two ways perform very well," Frank said on CNN's "Starting Point," noting the cooperation between state, local and federal authorities.

"No tax cut would have helped us deal with this or will help us recover," he said. "This is very expensive." (My emphasis)
....

"We're not asking people, look, do you have private health insurance or not, can you afford this or not? Maybe the government's going to have to pay for it," he said. "And this is an example of why we need -- if we want to be a civilized people -- to put some of our resources into a common pool so we are able to deal with this, and to deal with it, you can't simply be responsive once it happens."

Barney's right.  The resources to cope with such a tragic event have to be available before the disaster takes place.  And let's remember the first responders and volunteers risked their lives rushing in to help the wounded, not knowing whether there might be another explosion.

NEW ZEALAND PARLIAMENT PASSES GAY MARRIAGE BILL

Watch the video and listen to the love song.

H/T to Kelvin Holdsworth.

NAME AND SHAME - DEMOCRATS WHO VOTED AGAINST BACKGROUND CHECKS

Five Democrats voted against strengthening background checks for gun sales.

Sen. Mark Pryor of Arkansas
Sen. Mark Begich of Alaska
Sen. Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota
Sen. Max Baucus of Montana.
Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada, who switched his vote only to allow the measure to be called up again. 

Double shame on you, senators.

Four Republicans voted for the bill.

Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania
Sen. Susan Collins of Maine
Sen. Mark Kirk of Illinois
Sen. John McCain of Arizona

Thank you, senators.

The rest of the Republican senators, double shame on you.