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WARNING:
This blog is filled with liberal ideas and may be unsuitable for
republicans, infants and those cute miniature horses that you can see
at the fair for $1.
The
following is a editorial by Chris Bliss the President of
MyBillOfRights.org with my comments in red. I see importance in both
his mission and his message and urge you to consider his point of view.
To give you a little background and to lure you into a sense of complacency and joy, here is a video of Chris Bliss juggling.
Text of a Guest Editorial by MyBillOfRights.org President Chris Bliss,
published in the Arizona Republic on Jan 23, 2006
Lately our national conversation in America has resembled nothing so
much as a bad marriage. People talk past each other in a shouting match
of the deaf, as common ground and mutual respect crumble, and the
nation suffers.
When your marriage is in trouble, a good
place to start is by returning to your vows. In America, those vows—the
promises we made to ourselves—are called the Bill of Rights. It’s
high time we renew them.
I’m sure this sounds quaint to
that bleak mindset which sees only worn parchment and faded words. But
to those who know anything about history, the Bill of Rights is far
more than the founders’ ultimate stroke of genius. It’s a major fault
line in human history, where the age-old world of the divine right of
kings was forced to yield to a brave new world of the inalienable
rights of citizens.
This is not small stuff, which is
one reason I get so irritated whenever I hear people mouthing that
culture war talking point about the 10 Commandments being the source of
America’s laws. The 10 Commandments is a remarkable document, which all
are free to choose as their personal moral blueprint, but it is
explicitly not the source of our laws. STOP! It is completely necessary that you reread the previous sentence. That credit rests solely with
the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Remember, even as public
officials put their hand on the Bible to be sworn in, they are swearing
to uphold the Constitution, and not the other way around. Another good point.
Equally
important to remember is that these founding documents have worked
remarkably well for most of our history. Which is why I respectfully
suggest that, if the goal is reconciliation, we’d do far better putting
up the Bill of Rights than arguing endlessly over taking down the 10
Commandments. Not just to bring us together, but also because it’s a
terrific deal. I’m presumed to be innocent, invited to speak freely,
expected to pursue happiness, and permitted to bear arms. Show me a
religion that gives me that deal!
Now I have to break at this point to explain two problems that the last two sentences bring up for me.
1. Everyone likes to read only
a part of the 2nd Amendment, the part where is says, citizens are
"permitted to bear arms." The complete Amendment reads as follows:A
well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free
State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be
infringed. Are you in a militia whose sole purpose is to protect the
security of a free state? I didn't think so.
2. He says "Show me a
religion that gives me that deal!" Doesn't Christianity? Christians are
not bound by the law, but because of their beliefs and Jesus'
teachings, their actions should then allow for such rights. Except our
weapons are more metaphorical: swords of justice, armor of
righteousness, etc. (Yes, the rumors were true: I am a Christian AND a liberal.)
More importantly, the
Bill of Rights also tells government what it shalt not do. As our
leaders claim the freedom to torture abroad, to spy at home, and even
to strip citizens, by Presidential fiat, of all constitutional
protections, the Bill of Rights tells us this cannot stand. In America,
the people have the right to watch their government, not the other way
around. Wow, that is an amazing statement that many of us don't realize and that the gov't is very aware that we don't realize.
Rights have been suspended before during time
of war. But in a forever war against a stateless, amorphous enemy, when
do we get our rights back? The answer is: only when we, like the
founding fathers, demand them.
To these ends, the Phoenix-based MyBillofRights.org
has launched a national project to place monuments celebrating the Bill
of Rights on the grounds of every state capitol. With the first in the
nation about to approved for the capitol grounds in Phoenix, we ask the
people of Arizona to join with us in helping rebuild faith in our
forefathers’ vision.
You can reach his site through the above hyperlink to read more about this project.
P.S. I don't want crap about
our forefathers and what they "really" came here to do. George
Washington was a deist and the pilgrims left England because of religious
persecution. And don't tell me this is a Christian nation, because that
is the biggest bunch of bull I've heard in a long time. Read the first
amendment suckas. This is a religiously free nation and people (read:
Christians) need to get that through their heads.
P.P.S. So am I saying that I am better than every Christian who doesn't think this way? In a word, yes. 
P.P.S.S. Haha, not really, but if you believed that, then I have some land in Florida that I want to sell you.
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| FLAVA FLAAAAAAAAV!!!
What is up with rappers wanting their teeth to be covered in jewelry (pronounced "jury")?
Talk about people with too much money and time on their hands. And
people who don't have their priorities straight. "Yeah, I've got all
this money, and could either make my smile bright or make my
smile BRIGHT.
Let me cover the teeth up with some gold. I'm sure, the ladies will
like that." It's like the kid in the movie Big Daddy who covers up the
spilt milk (or vomit, I can't remember which) with newspapers.
I think straight, white, clean teeth are much more appealing (as I
would hope most women would). But if it's that serious, then ask your
orthodontist about some platinum braces, or something. Then at least
you can look "blinged out" while you are helping your physical
appreance.
Little kids look up to these people. Now kids are going to stop
brushing their teeth and start saving their money so they can cover
that mess up.
Is this really what you guys are going for?
If that's not hot, I don't know what is. Oh baby.
Next rappers are going to come out with diamond studded nose plugs or
glasses where the lenses are replaced with solid platinum covered in
Swarovski crystals.
Although I can't hate on Nelly too bad because he is helping out the
po-po with this one: Rob a jewelry store and tell them make me a grill.
Now THAT is a smooooth criminal.
Yea, go into a jewelry store and yell:
"This is a stick up. Make me a grill."
"Ok, sir. We are going to need to take a mold of your teeth. It will
only take an hour to set, and then we can start designing your teeth
plate."
"Ok, I'll be back in four hours. But don't call the police or anything."
Later that day (if the fool hasn't already gotten arrested)...
"Well officer, he did manage to get away, but luckily we have a complete set of dental records."
Priceless stuff, people.
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| Now I am not guessing that a high proportion of those who read my blog
watch football, so clutch your teddy bears and read at your own risk.
Kyle watches football, so I, from time to time, watch it also. But I
can't stand it. It makes me so angry. No, not because they are
throwing caution to the wind and disregard their own health and
wellbeing. Not because many of them are felons and get away with it.
Not because many of them abuse drugs and womanize. And I'm not even
going to get started on the players.
Yes, I am talking about the crowd: the raucous masses of (we hope)
otherwise pleasant and respectful human beings. Something happens when
the attendant rips their ticket and says "Enjoy the game." Deep down in
the primal regions of their souls, a beast is let free. They are rude,
disrespectful, and down right uncooth. That's right, I said it,
UNCOOTH! "But why," you ask innocently,"Why, would you say such
things?"
BECAUSE THEY ARE LOUD!!!!
Now, I am not saying that people shouldn't get excited at sporting
events. It's good to get excited. You should be encouraging your team.
What you should not be doing is trying to sabotage the other team by
being so loud that they rack up 11 false starts!!
Why is it that this is allowed? Why can't these people let these men do
their job? Would you want someone yelling and screaming while you are
sitting behind your computer so that you can't hear the assignment your
boss is giving you? Why are people so mean? And why is it that society
finds it acceptable to act in such a manner?
Part of the game, my left foot.
And I am even more disappointed in the Christians who behave this way.
Doesn't it say in the Bible that we are supposed to build people up and
not tear them down? Unbelievable.
People are always saying "We can't control the crowd. How can we dictate to them how they are supposed to act?"
What about golf?
And secondly, we shouldn't have to manage the crowd, they should be
able to do it themselves. This is ridiculous and reprehensible that we
cannot control ourselves long enough for someone to shout "Blue 32.
Hut. Hut."
And others may whine that "Well, the crowd just really wants to feel
that they are a part of the game." Oh, yeah? Well then get some skills
and join a team.
This is not your job. This is not your time to shine. Get over
yourself, shut your mouth for 30 seconds, and let the guys lose on
their own merit.
The article in the link below is written by a
genius, a man before and above his time. He is a man of great
sophistication and class...but this description of him has nothing to
do with the fact that he supports my highly controversial and just
about universally unaccepted sentiments.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/dr_z/11/30/crowd.noise/index.html
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| So y'all keep talking about how much you dislike particular worships
songs. My question is Have you done anything about it? You have three
options and I am going to list them in the most logical order (although
one and two may be reversed depending on your place in life right now).
1. Bring it up with the leadership, whether it be in IV or in church.
Let them know you are feeling this way and that probably others are too
and try and figure out what to do about it.
You could
a. change the songs
b. bring it up to the fellowship and see how they are feeling.
2. When these songs come up, ask yourself why you are really so against
them. Of course they may not be the truth, but why aren't they the
truth to you? They could be perfectly true to others. Why not make it
the truth by making a concious effort to evoke that feeling or action
in your life for the next week?
3. Do nothing but please continue to complain about it on your blogs,
so that people can read your whining mess, agree with you and add to
the number of people who whine about it on their blogs.
No one is forcing you to participate in these songs. Why not, instead
of singing, take the time to pray to God asking him to let you feel the
emotions the song is evoking. Or maybe just pray for someone in the
room or something.
As for being able to replace Jesus with anyone's name in the song and
having it work just as well. Of course you could do that, but you
don't. The point isn't that this may be true for others; the point is
that it is true for Jesus.
Why don't y'all just research and suggest songs to sing or even write songs of your own, if you are that hard pressed about it.
My work here is done.
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| Here are a few priceless gems from John Legend:
"Maybe, it's me, maybe I bore you. No no, it's my fault, cuz I can't afford you."
Now this I don't have a problem with. So far, as Kanye says "I aint
saying she's a gold digger, but she aint messing with no
broke...people."
"... I realized that I just don't love you. Not like I used to."
OH! I get it now. I see how it is. You are just trying to get out
of this relationship looking like the victim. "Oh, waa waa, she takes
all my money and doesn't appreciate me." When the truth is you just
don't love her. What a cop out! He needs to stop frontin' and just tell
her that she doesn't butter your buscuit anymore. Triflin'.
"Maybe I should rob somebody, so we could live like Whitney and Bobby"
You mean like criminals? Because, yes, it is my dream for me to keep
coming back to you even though you beat me so that I can get some good
crack. Oh, my Prince Charming.
...John Legend must have some really low standards.
"You can't tell me I don't love you, just because I cheated on you."
Yes, actually that is exactly what I can tell you. What do you mean you
cheated on me but you still love me? I am so stupid, I thought that
when you loved somebody you were faithful to them. My bad. (I think he
and Usher must have the same shady crackdealer, Whitney too, for
that matter.)
Hmmm, maybe you mean that your love for me is more like a your love for
a fine cuban cigar or a second cousin that comes to visit a lot, except
we have sex. (Hopefully there is an "except" in there.) Well, I suppose
I can live with that...
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