Justice

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July 6, 2009

Script: While Love is Legal (a scene for three players)

Posted by Ryan McGivern under Animals, Comedy, Improvised Writing, Justice, Play, Romance, Script
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Police Officer Patty: Okay now Mr. Sherman-I know that you’ve gone through a lot but this will all be over soon.
Mr. Sherman: I can’t take anymore of this! This coffee that is. This is the worst police station coffee I’ve ever had!
POP: I’m sorry. Its just that with budget cuts and everything-
MS: I didn’t ask you for any excuses, Patty…Now, I’ve been waiting patiently for like an hour now-
POP: And I appreciate your patience. First we’ll get these handcuffs off you-
MS: Thank you! They’re on really tight. I can hardly even comb my fingers through my hair!
POP: We’ll get them off you as soon as we get the key. Officer Lou ate the key and he’s drinking Milk of Magnesia as we speak.
Police Officer Lou: (enters) hey guys-here’s that key. Sorry about that.
MS: About time, Lou!
POP: Lou, can you also get me the murder victim’s skull from the evidence locker?
POL: Uhhh…That might take a while to get the key to the evidence locker.
POP: (Looks gently accusing and shakes her head)
POL: I have an eating disorder, Patty. You KNOW that. (exits in a huff)
MS: Don’t make excuses for yourself, Lou! (Patty takes off MS’s cuffs) Ahhh. Now that’s better.
POP: And you’ll have to promise not to choke me again.
MS: No one can tell the future, Patty.
POP: I’m not asking you for a horoscope, Mr. Sherman- just that you won’t choke me again.
MS: Are you familiar with existentialism, Patty?
POP: Of course. My last murder case was committed with an extension cord. (MS looks unsure) And the murder victim was an octopus with an extra tentacle. (MS looks more unsure)…and it got me thinking about the meaning of my life. (MS finally looks appeased)
MS: Well, my point is, Patty-we can never be certain of what will be. Or WHO we’ll be at any given time. There is no essential ’self’, Patty.
POP: You…your wisdom is powerful. You’re like a philosopher king.
MS: (chokes Patty for three seconds and then sits, looking innocent)
POP: You just choked me!
MS: That was the Mr. Sherman of the past, Patty. I live in the now.
POP: You facinate me (looks romantically at MS).
Police Offficer Lou: (enters) Hey guys! (senses romantic aire) Sorry to interrupt. I got that skull for you. (holds up tiny
container)
POP: Thank you Lou…(looks at inquisitively) That’s much smaller than I had expected.
POL: Well it IS the skull of a squirrel.
POP: I know that! Of course I know that. Still-its remarkably small.
MS: That is small. Even for a squirrel.
POL: …and I cremated it…and I spilled some of it…and I ate some of it.
POP: That skull was our only evidence, Lou! Well this case has just been flushed down the toilet.
POL: Oh yeah. And I flushed some of it down the toilet too.
MS: Well then, in that case I think that I’ll be going.
POP: Lou, will you do me a favor and leave us alone for a minute?
POL: Hey, it was good to see you again Mr. Sherman! Hope to see you soon.
MS: Oh, I’m sure you will. I’m here everyday. Say ‘hi’ to the wife and kids for me.
POL: Will do. Oh, and I didn’t forget-I still have your DVDs of ‘Silence of the Lambs’ and ‘American Psycho’. I’ll bring them for you tomorrow. Seeya! (exits)
MS: Well, Patty-we’ve been doing this dance for how many years now? You bring me in on trumped up charges with
either no evidence or lots of evidence that is quickly ingested by your partner…why don’t we just stop playing these silly games and tell each other how we really feel?
POP: You’re right. Let’s stop playing charades with each other’s hearts. Let’s stop holding the sex themed playing cards of lust so close to our heaving chests. Let’s tell each other the truth.
MS: Where do I begin? (takes her in his arms) Firstly- I killed that squirrel. Secondly- I love you.
POP: And I must tell you Mr. Sherman that I plan on killing you right now. (she pulls free and points her gun at him)
MS: I wasn’t expecting that.
POP: I wouldn’t have expected you to expect this.
MS: I thought that we had a rapport together! The way that you’d tell me I looked handsome in handcuffs, the way that you let me couchsurf at your place last summer….we went to your sister’s Bat Mitzvah together for Christ’s sake.
POP: It was all an elaborate scheme to earn your trust. Seventeen years of botching your murder cases just to get in your good graces.
MS: You won’t kill me, Patty. You don’t have the balls. You wouldn’t hurt a fly.
POP: Truth be told-it was ME who killed that extra tentacled octopus I told you about earlier. And truth be told, I do have balls. And a fully functional and uncircumsized penis.
MS: But….but….Patty…you’re Jewish!
POP: And I consider killing you a mitzvah! (raises gun and pulls trigger but it is empty, nothing happens. She looks at it confused)
Police Officer Lou: (enters) Oh, sorry to interrupt. I just wanted to say goodnight to Mr. Sherman again. Goodnight, buddy. I love you. Sweet dreams. I’ll see you tomorrow. Oh and sorry Patty, I ate all the bullets that were in your gun. Sorry. (to MS in a whisper) I love you.
MS: So where do we go from here?
POP: I just wish we could start all over again. Go back to the way things were. I’ve been such a fool-been so afraid of love-
MS: I didn’t ask for any excuses, Patty. Besides, that was ‘us’ in the past. I live in the now. And right now-I want someone to spend the rest of my ‘nows’ with. I’ll tell you what…I’m going over to the wharf to club some catfish to death. And I sure would like some company.
POP: How could I say ‘no’ to someone who looks so handsome in handcuffs? (they link arms and walk for the exit)
MS: I know a nice little vegan cafe on the way. They have a great kosher menu. (they exit)

(End Scene)

 

June 8, 2009

KRXQ’s Response over Gender Dysphoria Statements

Posted by Ryan McGivern under Ethics, Justice, news
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Hello everyone!
I was among the many today to get an email response from John Geary, GM and VP of KRXQ.
Like so many others around the country and world, I’d sent Geary an email expressing my sadness and hurt over statements made by Rob and Arnie about Trans youth. Well, I was happy to get this email in my inbox today-

“Thank you for your feedback regarding the May 28th and June 3rd, 2009 broadcasts of “The Rob, Arnie and Dawn Show.” I understand the seriousness of the issue, and want to share with you a copy of a notice that has been posted on our website, www.krxq.net these shows, Rob and Arnie made what we, and they, recognize were completely unacceptable remarks concerning members of the transgender community, especially children. Accordingly, this Thursday, June 11th, 2009, the show will be dedicated to what we anticipate will be a forum to promote a better understanding among all listeners of the issues involved.

DuringJohn D. Geary
Vice President / General Manager”

 

So, all you who have been following this story, our voices have been heard. But, let’s continue with this. Let’s listen in on this Thursday June 11th to the ‘Rob, Arnie, and Dawn’ show and continue to let our voices and stories be heard.

 

June 5, 2009

KRXQ and Gender Panic: A Few Thoughts

Posted by Ryan McGivern under Beauty, Ideas, Justice, Love, Pop Culture, Religion, news
[2] Comments 

Well, just a word about the title: the entire station of KRXQ is not who I’m really talking about. Even Dawn the morning of the original transphobic broadcast did well to not jump on the Ignorant Bandwagon. So what I’m talking about is the comments Rob and Arnie made, the way the two of them handled it, and the way their station dealt with them-i.e. not firing them, suspending them, or even issuing an immediate and complete retraction and apology for their statements. But for the title’s sake, KRXQ makes for easy searching.

So, why the “Gender Panic” in the title? Aren’t we talking about ‘hate’ or ‘transphobia’? Well, maybe. I think that the more general issue at stake is gender panic in a wider sense.

I’m sure that many of you all have kept up to date about what was said, and the fallout that occurred, and I wouldn’t rehash too much here. You can check out these links for more info:
http://www.tips-q.com/982923-follow-krxq-controversy
http://glaadblog.org/2009/06/04/update-makers-of-the-best-stuff-on-earth-pull-advertising-from-krxq/

So: what’s all the fuss about? The fuss is about two white guys on the radio singling out young people with gender dysphoria (or ‘GID’) and calling them “freaks” and making flippant remarks about abusing them.
Funny? Worthwhile? Adult? Admirable?
Or, seriously troubling, sick, infantile, and abhorrent?

Well, I tend to lean towards the latter. People will say (and they have): “Rob and Arnie are protected by the First Ammendment!”
and I would respond that I nor any LGBTQ or allied person has said that they should be jailed or prosecuted because of their statements. This is not about the First Ammendment. This is about the good of our communities, the safety of our children, and the benefit of our families.

Folks will also say: “If you don’t like the show don’t listen to it!”
I would respond, I am sure that George Tiller never listened to shock jock hacks. Its not me and my sensitivities I’m worried about. I won’t listen to Rob and Arnie (when Dawn gets her own show, I’ll consider it), but some folk who are are very gender panicked and bigoted already might, and they might get off on the idea of this level of bigotry, misinformation, ignorance, and violence (and yes, even if its ‘hyperbole’, it was violent) being said over the airways and do something to act out their twisted and repugnant ideas.

So this comes back to the first point about this not being about ‘rights’. Rob and Arnie should be able to freely say whatever they want. I’m just here to say that they should be saying it with the fourth grade assholes who don’t know better. Not over airways with sponsors and music breaks with My Chemical Romance.

But, this whole nasty mess is a step in the right direction. How? The lives and narratives of GenderQueer folk, Trans folk, Gender Dysphoria folk are all being told and heard in a totally new venue that is wider than it was a week ago. This is a good thing.

Also, add to your list of ‘good things’: Look at how many sponsors have pulled their advertising monies out of KRXQ! Wells Fargo, Verizon, Carl’s Jr., Sonic, Chipotle, Bank of America, Snapple, and many others!! This means there is a lot of people upset and hurt by Rob and Arnie’s hateful speech.

Rob and Arnie, like many other older folk who still don’t get it, underestimated the LGBTQ communites and their allies. They underestimated their solidarity, their numbers, their organization, and…the justice, goodness, and divine prophetic energy infusing their cause.

What is gender panic? It is the state most folk live in everyday without ever thinking about it. It is like the systemic White Privilege and racism that insidiously lurks in the machinery of America’s culture. “Boys don’t wear dresses!” Cultural marks that are arbitrary, continually shifting, and often ethically value neutral, become enshrined into idols of the mind and heart. Our coding of what ‘man’ and ‘woman’ are become to us the utmost importance: not a person’s intentions, actions, choices, and involvement in the community. Gender, like sex, is wild and fluid. Science and the best trained doctors and philosophers have yet to figure it out. Rob and Arnie also have yet to figure it out.

And I haven’t either. All I know is that I want to love people. Listen to them. Care for them and their families. I am hoping that everyone involved with this will take a moment to search their heart, meet a Trans person, go to a place of worship that celebrates all people regardless of gender, or just breath and ask: ‘what do I want my legacy to be?’

Here’s some links to more qualified folk. If you are more interested in Trans folk, gender, and the reawakening spirit of divine love and justice that’s occurring in the world, I hope you find them useful:

http://www.hrc.org/scripture/bios-season.asp
http://www.clgs.org/transgender-spirituality
http://www.genderdysphoria.org/
http://www.hrc.org/issues/transgender/1671.htm
http://www.psr.edu/category/author/justin-tanis-0

 

January 22, 2009

Please help.

Posted by j.j. under Dreams, Ethics, Justice, Love, Magic
1 Comment 

This is Henry.

This is Henry.

As you will soon read, my friend Henry is amazing in more ways than I can count. My birthday is coming up on January 25th — for presents I’d love for you to make a small donation to the orphanage described below, even just $5. Thanks ya’ll!! Love, jj.

“For those of you who don’t know; last year I decided to ride a bicycle from Boston to Guatemala and give my time to anyone who might need an extra hand. I’m always inspired by, and find that I can both learn and teach the most working with youngsters, so volunteering at an orphanage was a natural choice. Regardless of the nominal cultural differences, kids need the same things all over the world. Love, compassion, education, food, shelter, positive role models. Here in the states, it usually goes without saying these necessities will be available, but as I’m sure you all know, it’s not a given in many other places all over the world.

Once I got to Guatemala, I was lucky enough to come across and spend six months at Casa Guatemala, an orphanage on the Rio Dulce near the Caribbean coast. During my time there, I worked as an orientador, which means living with one group of children in their home, helping with anything from homework to patching up flesh wounds, and basically just keeping them all organized so they could keep to their daily routines.

My particular group of kids consisted of 32 adolescent aged boys, half of whom had family to go home to on the weekends, the other half of whom did not. There are also younger boys in the boys home, and adolescent and young ladies in the girls home. For these children without anywhere else to go, the Casa is the only home they have; while the local teachers, workers, and volunteers from all over the world are the only family that they know. That’s why, when I was recently informed that several of the boys and girls who are graduating right now from the orphanage’s school still don’t have funding to go on to the next step, I felt a strong sense of responsibility to do whatever I can. With the proper funding, each child who has graduated sixth grade will go on to a nearby boarding school for four more years of education, complete with room and board. Without funding, the same children will be left without options, without a home, and certainly without any further education.

This message is not meant to be a sad story. In fact; quite the contrary. Most of these children are more resilient than any I’ve met here in the states, and I’m sure I’ve learned more from them than they ever could from me. For instance; one thing that could be seen every day that never ceased to amaze me was that regardless of how little each of these kids had, whenever one would earn enough to buy themselves a treat, like a bag of chips (about twelve cents and just as many chips) they would freely share them with whomever happened to be in the area. Most times, without the other kids even asking! If you’ve been around children before, you’ll know that this is no small feat! With this type of inspiring and selfless generosity in mind, I’m asking everyone I know to donate ten bucks, or more if you’re feeling jovial. I know that not everyone has much of a disposable income right now, but I also think that we could all switch the next few lattes to drip coffee and feel like a philanthropist for doing it. I was recently inspired by Barack Obama’s campaign that reaffirmed how a lot of people can come together, give just a little bit, and come through to make a big difference.

I know most folks are tightening their belts right now, but I also know that none of us will go hungry, and none of our children are going to have to worry about getting a high school education. Let’s think about all the consumerism we take part in in our privileged country and all the money we’ve recently spent on presents that will soon lose their luster. And then figure that education is something sustainable, and self-less, compassionate giving goes from hand to hand inspiring everyone it touches to be a better person.

If you would like to learn more about any of the kids, the orphanage, the yearly prices for school and what they go to, or anything else you can think of, feel free to send me an e-mail at this address [hthoreen at gmail dot com]. I’d love to hear from you. If you’d like to donate, you can go to www.paypal.com and give to hthoreen at gmail dot com (if you don’t have a paypal account they’ll prompt you to make one, no sweat, if you want to go old school I’ll send you a street address), which goes to an account that I set up specifically for the kids. Unlike many “charitable” organizations, no money will get lost on the way to the education of these children. The money will go into an account that I manage here in the states, and will then go directly into the education accounts of each respective child. I’m paying any expenses to myself, and of course, I will be donating as well. Thanks so much for reading this. I know that both myself and everyone at Casa Guatemala appreciates it. Take care, everybody, and happy holidays.

(The pictures, in order, are the Achivi brothers. Jesus cheesin’. Jose flexin’. And Miguel bootin’ the fut. They’re three of the boys without parents who will graduate this year. All three have a ton of potential in their own unique ways, and I passionately hope that they will be nurtured into realizing it).”

 

January 10, 2009

Giant Seafood Restaurant Creature Released

Posted by Ryan McGivern under Comedy, Food, Justice, Pop Culture, news
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NEW YORK (Mindflowers)– A giant Crestacean-like cretin named George W. Bush caught the attention of onlookers recently at a New York seafood restaurant  and will be returned this month to its Texas ranch cesspool, according to a statement from the People’s Foundation for Inhuman Assholery (PFUA) .

George has been a “sort of mascot” for the Crabs A’Plenty restaurant in New York and to fundamentalist, extremist Christians.

The greasy stinky beast, which zoologists and presidential scholars said was 62 years old and weighed 170 pounds, had been confined to an oval tank at the Crabs A’Plenty restaurant in Manhattan since 2000 when yesterday two customers finally alerted the PFIA. “The assholery of this thing was gigantic. Like Fox suing Warner Brothers over ‘The Watchmen’ sized assholery.” Said Diana Shaw, a Crabs A’Plenty diner who alerted several watchdog groups, humanitarian services and the People’s Foundation for Inhuman Assholery.

The PFIA’s released statement did not say exactly how the immense depth of assholery was allowed to get so big, but restaurant manager Keith Walton told Mindflowers that sometimes brine-smelling muck-dwellers can grow increasingly arrogant, fear-mongering, bigoted, war-loving, and actually insane over time, if given the right conditions. “This thing must have somehow been fed the pyschic energies of millions of bigots over at least eight years. It was oozing toxic ignorance.” Said Walton. 

He said the creature had been “sitting in the restaurant’s tank and acting as a sort of mascot, you know: telling funny stories like a crazy old senile person, starting wars, lying about said wars, illegally spying on people, combatting against reason and sense through appealing to people’s base nature, lying about environmental devastation, playing with its tiny genitals while thinking about Abu Ghraib, that kind of stuff.” but when PFIA got involved and requested it be released back to its cesspool, it “seemed like the right thing to do.”

PFIA President Shayna Newkirk said in a statement, “We can’t believe the assholery present in this feeble and despicable creature. Surely this is a bottom feeder who found a wealth of homophobic, anti-science, racist, war loving Neandrathals to be a source of its soul vampirism. ”

Plans have been made for the creature to shed the tight confines of his old restaurant display tank. On January 20th, George W. Bush will be driven to Texas by PFIA members and returned to his natural habitat on the bottom of a cesspool, the organization said.

Reported by Ryan McGivern

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/01/10/maine.lobster.liberated/
http://www.bushlies.net/
http://bushcrimes.net/
http://www.rense.com/general73/warcrim.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lobster

 

 

December 29, 2008

Israel Proudly Pro-Choice

Posted by Ryan McGivern under Ethics, Justice, Love, Philosophy, Politics, Pop Culture, Religion, Violence
[4] Comments 

Israeli officials this week proudly stepped forward and declared the
nation’s unequivocal pro-choice stance.
“This is a big step forward for our nation. We can put petty quibbles aside and just move forward.” Said new Minister of Pro-Choice Parades Levi Tuvarek.

The decision of the Knesset has shocked some and disturbed many of the American Pr0-Israeli Christian Right.
“Deciding against life is totally un-Christlike.” Said Rex Overthal, Portland’s hip young pastor of Rebel Youth for Christ Church. “Pro-choice is like, totally not cool and my posse’s homeboy Jesus is totally bummed by this decision. When will the Jews start asking ‘what would Jesus do’?”

Israel’s Secretary of Pro-Life Sucks Cabinet, Saif Yosef, speaking at Monday’s press conference had this to say: “The ‘right to life’ is a red herring. Choice is a necessary part of democracy. And Israel is a democracy. So, when Palestinians choose to live in Gaza, Israel can likewise choose to take their lives away.”

This week, Condelezza Rice crawled out from her feces filled burrow under a rock and commended Israel’s pro-choice stance: “As a woman, I know how important it is to have choice and freedom over one’s body. And being able to choose to direct American made smart bombs into schools and apartments is not only a sign of a strong democratic society, its pretty fucking cool. You’ve seen those coffee mugs that read ‘Life begins at Forty’? Well I have one that says, ‘Life ends at Gaza’. I got it for my fortieth birthday from Rumsfeld.”

American Christian Extremists with strong support for Israel have distanced themselves from the country which will host their savior’s battle against the evil doers at Armageddon.
Said Elizabeth Toole, a Christian Extremist during a break of homeschooling her eleven children: “Taking life is just wrong. Me and my husband will now have to schedule a pipe bombing of the Israeli consolate along with the Planned Parenthood office this afternoon. Its gonna be a busy week. God give us strength!”

 

Reported by Ryan McGivern

 

December 20, 2008

Grace Community Church: Blackmail never felt so good.

Posted by Ryan McGivern under Justice, Love, Pop Culture, Religion
[2] Comments 

Did you ever have a relationship that you regretted?
You know, the clingy ex, the heartache, the weird TXT messages late at night, the cold sores, they all pile up and leave you wishing that you never
met the pyscho-let alone tell them your Peter Pan fantasies.

Well, being a wacked out dickhead and abusive piece of shit isn’t reserved for just your most recent ex who thought they’d get you back if they used coercive tactics. No, seems churches got in on the fun too.

Take Grace Community Church in Jacksonville Florida for example.
This cult of Hester Prynne stoning slackjaws is blackmailing an ex congregant by threatening to disclose “her sins” to anyone who wishes to stop by their cult compound on Sunday January 4th.

Rebecca Hancock trusted a mentor (vampire) with her most intimate feelings and experiences only to have that mentor break her trust and blab it around to the other Pharisees in the Borg Hive.

So Rebecca distanced herself from the church, resigned from it, and walked away-like anyone who finds themselves in an abusive relationship should.
Was that the end? You’d think so. But not if you’re trapped in “Lethal Attraction II: The Christ’s Revenge”.

Nope. They sent her a letter blackmailing her into coming back to the church or else they’ll publically humiliate her.

Her crime by the way? She’s unmarried and has sex.

I’ve checked out their website’s church calendar and it doesn’t have
Rebecca Hancock’s “public humiliation punishment” listed on their events schedule for Sunday January 4th. Why not? Is blackmail something they wouldn’t want the Internet to find out about? Well, oops.

Grace Community Church’s telephone number is: 904  268  8854.
Their email is: office@gracejax.org

Fox’s Coverage and the Blackmail Letter
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,469928,00.html
http://www.foxnews.com/projects/pdf/Church_Extortion.pdf

Grace Community Church
http://www.gracejax.org/index.php

 

December 19, 2008

Rick Warren: His feces smells terrific. Just ask him.

Posted by Ryan McGivern under Ethics, Justice, Love, Politics, Pop Culture, Religion
[3] Comments 

Some folks can do no wrong, it seems. 
Even when their upper lip is smeared with the santorum of an emu.

Rick Warren, by saying that 2% of the population should not be protected by law because…….well, because they’re ONLY 2% of the population- sides with the tyranny of the masses, denies the constitution, and denies the “self evident truth” of god creating everyone equal. Or maybe he doesn’t believe in the god that’s mentioned in the constitution. Either way, it seems he’s either a bully, someone who misunderstands the precepts America was founded on, or a religious bigot who worships a god who gives some over to be punished by dictatorial asswipes.

(Let’s not even get into how Rick Warren came to the ‘2%’ number. We’ll leave discussions of queer identities and the freedom and fluidity of sexual expression to the comments.)

Rick Warren and the rest of his ilk are ahistorical (or White European historical redactionists-whatever’s worse) and culturally ignorant. When someone says: “Marriage has been about ‘one man and one woman for life’ for five thousand years” has flunked Sociology 101 in their uncredentialed Bible college.

Rule #1: If you want to strip people of their inherent human rights, dignity, and freedom and base that on arguments from Historical Tradition, take the five minutes to peruse Wikipedia or any other middle school level reading difficulty text and get your bigoted ducks in a row.

Rule #2: Anytime your religious leaders get fired up about what “2%” of a nation want in regards to their rights, your religious leader is a bankrupted, vacuous imbecile. Is Rick Warren’s god so terrified and weak, that “2%” of America can threaten it? The answer is “yes” when, as in Rick Warren’s case, your god is an idol of racist and sexist hegemony whose only power resides in ignorance and non-love.

Rule #3: If you have to continually answer to charges that you’re a bigot, take a second to introspect.

Rule #4: If you think that by giving someone who is peaceably protesting you and your church some donuts and coffee, you are patronizing and arrogant.

 

You’d think that someone with as much influence as Rick Warren does would take ten minutes to consider what he’s doing. Pastors are held to a higher accountability-and he’s failing. Instead of handing out donuts to people that’s he’s rallying to punish, judge, and outcast, he might have stopped to pray with, listen to, and worship with them.

But then again, who’d want to accept, love, include, and fight for the outcast and ‘least of these’? That’s crazy talk.

 

November 13, 2008

How Some Christians Jumped The Shark: Prop 8 Winners and Losers

Posted by Ryan McGivern under Ethics, Future, Ideas, Justice, Love, Politics, Pop Culture, Religion, Semantics, Thoughts
[2] Comments 

Hello dear friends. I just got done eating an entire box of Kraft Mac and Cheese so before the carb-atonic
coma kicks in, I thought I’d write about the recent resignation slip handed in by Establishment Faith groups and the new day for Progressive Faith models.

As a Californian, I of course have been watching the Prop 8 develop like a “too much peppers” poop:
Something was afoot-a rumbling in some folks’ tummies. Out they pooped upon the landscape and now we’re dealing with the fallout. However-like any home clearing bowel movement, its acted as a clarion call to open a window.

Out of the shadows steps people of faith that are relevant, American ideal adhering, and on the side of history.

Firstly: When we’ve got people killing themselves in their foreclosed homes and nearly 10% unemployment and faith groups spending millions of dollars and millions of hours of effort to create an environment of inequality for a minority population, those faith groups have jumped the shark into abysmal irrelevance. This is essentially an act of handing over any right to speak “prophetically to the nation(s).” Arguably, the ‘prophetic’ is about misplaced values (idolatry) and injustice. I think that while people go hungry and there’s two wars going on, an argument over sematics and “definitions” is one way for any faith movement to sign up for the “misplaced concern” hall of fame.
Winner: Emerging progressive faith communities. Loser: Old Time Religion

Secondly: I’m confused about people who haven’t got the whole “Under God With Liberty And Justice For All” thing. Look-we’re in a racist and unfair country. We’ve got to get our shit together and start looking into systematic racism and the war on poor people we’re waging. We’ve got to find a way to educate our urban children, protect our workers migrant or not with the dignity due to human beings. This is the work of justice. And when a buncha “faithful” people rally around taking away the fully inclusive rights of some and neglect the basic tenets of the Constitution, its hard to gain momentum on the other justice issues too. America’s greatest ideals are about creating a safehaven in the world where everyone gets a fair shake. It has not always lived up to that promise. We have moved towards that goal-and we have been opposed in this goal by some faith groups every step of the way. (I say some. Progressive faiths have always been a part of the solution too. I know this.) The American constitution always historically wins out. I hate to say it, but for those folks who voted for Proposition 8 in California: Your faith’s cultural and spiritual vigor has been depleted and you just haven’t got what America is about yet. Look-people’s inherent constitutionally (and “god given” meaning essential and irrevocable) granted rights are not up for a vote. That’s why there’s a constitution to protect us all from a tyranny of the majority. Regardless of whatever your faith tells you about society being built upon the foundation of hetero-only families, what our society is founded upon is equal rights under law (and that whole life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness stuff too).

Lastly, our nation’s and our world’s young people are on to you. You see, there’s this thing called the Internet SupernetInfo Byway Overpass Web and it’s made the world a San Francisco. No, not in that all the world has really beautiful weather, environmentally friendly and forward thinking business, great coffee, and super mass transit: all the world is a major global port. Only Duluth Minnesota is now a global port of information. And the fear tactics of Old Time Religion is based on a lack of information. Kids are told about Leviticus and they go click on “Hermeneutics” and “Biblical Scholarship” and can figure out pretty quick the same thing that Progressive faiths have been saying for the last 300 years. Information is fluid and relationships are expanding. Guess what happens when one is related to others and isn’t misinformed about them? They begin to foster compassion, understanding, love, intimacy, vulnerability, mutual goals, community, etc. etc.

Prop 8 had its winners and its losers and Old Time Religion is on the ropes.
We can see how the voting has changed in this country over the years.
I’ve spoken with elementary school kids in the Valley who proudly share that their
beloved teacher is a lesbian.
We’ve got kids who know that global warming is real and that we can decide to make the environment for poor people in LA, Asia, Africa, Richmond, Detroit better or worse depending on our ethics and actions.
We know that we can achieve peace through non-violent means and that through solidarity and unity we can do anything as a nation or as a people.

Thank God for the Progressive Faith witness to lead the charge in justive, love, relevance, and real results for a better world. To all you Pagans, Muslims, Sikhs, Sufis, Hindis, Witches, Christians, Atheists, Jews, and other people of faith who are going the good work of justice for all-keep it up. You’ve got one Catholic in L.A. who’s just ate 2,800 calories of Mac and Cheese behind you.

And now its time for a nap.

 

October 26, 2008

A Repentance On Hell

Posted by Ryan McGivern under Ethics, Ideas, Justice, Love, Religion
1 Comment 

I woke up today from a horrible nightmare.
Its a recurring genre of nightmare I have where Christians are making me feel horrible.
This happens quite a bit, actually. The one this morning was of an old Protestant pastor I
knew who in this particular dream was telling me to stay away from the youth of his church for fear that I would corrupt them and called me “an assassin of Christ”.
It made me feel horrible.
Its not just dreams like this that can ruin my mornings. All I have to do is recall Christian friends who have begun to feel that I was “too Christian”, “too legalistic”, “too liberal”,”not Christian”, “not the right kind of Christian”, or “under the influence of demons” (this is a personal favorite).

That dream made me realize I needed to clarify a bit a statement I made back in a comment dialogue attached to my movie review of “Religulous” where I stated that “I didn’t mind people telling me that I was going to hell but was more interested in how the belief that others are going to hell affects the potential for community.”

I take it back. To a certain degree. I know that I will always be in the wrong to someone and as the saying goes, “You can’t please everyone’s God 100% of the time.” So, I’m ready for whatever horrible dungeon any number of devotees might threaten me with.
BUT
not everyone is.
And I think that I’ve got to start holding these ‘eternal torture’ asswipes accountable.

You see, kids don’t know that hell is bullshit. Kids believe whatever you tell them. I tell my friend Jared’s niece Tiffanie that she’s cool and she is TOTALLY NOT cool. She still plays with Barbies. I mean c’mon. Bratz  are soooo much cooler. Tiffanie pretty much sucks.

And let’s face it: Telling Irish Catholics that they’re going to hell is old fucking hat.
I tell my entire family that they’re nothing but a bunch of Babylonian Sluts or Whores of Babylon or whatever. Slutty Persians.
They’re a big ol’ idolatrous heathonistic pile of pagans as far as I’m concerned. We’re an easy target and for as much ribbing as we get from the “Real Jesus Lovers” nothing too bad ever happens to us.
For instance, we recently haven’t had to fend for our Constitutional rights by a majority vote.

I’m a white guy who’s pretty hetero-normative (I’m not so much bi-curious as I am thigh-curious. Have you seen the legs on Shia LaBouff?) so I’m under the radar of the Hounds of Hell.
But it seems to me that its no coincidence that those who are more easily ‘essentialized’ get more of the
shitty end of the hell stick.
That’s the way it usually has been right? Women, people whose skin doesn’t quite match the en vogue pigment, people who love people with unapproved genital sets….

Hell, if God’s gonna torture ‘em for eternity, why not get ‘em warmed up?
Give ‘em a razzin’ or two? Drag some folks behind trucks? Keep them folks on THAT side of the fence.

Just as I have white privilege, I have “hell privilege”.
I can praise Jesus loudly and fool the Hell Hounds.
Some people can’t hide there “hell-boundedness” as well as I can.
The real life results of Hellish thinking make it easier to beat, diminish, oppress, and throw away as ‘Other’ “unsaved and hellbound” folks and its for those reasons that I’m repenting on hell….
I do care who you’re saying is going to burn in hell forever.
Because they’re my friends and family.
And you spoutin’ off that they’re maggot fodder to their very core-their very essence
gets played out in all kinds of real, tangible violence.
I’m sick of Napolean Complex Gods in the tiny minds of Hell Hounds going unchecked.

Unfortunately, I don’t believe that peoples minds will ever be changed theologically aside from loving, listening, caring dialogue. So all you Hell Hounds better be ready for a considerate and patient response from me next time I hear you say “hell”.
That’s right. I’m gonna listen carefully and show you how much I value you.
And then I’ll gently offer you another way.
Because life is hell enough as it is without turning religion into an argument.

Ryan “Flames Are Presently Licking My Taint” McGivern

 

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