I got accused of being self-righteous and aggressive in the thread that Michael Haz put up at Lem's place. I guess I realize that I have tendencies in that regard. You know the same way Palladian has tendencies to chase after Peruvian busboys and ricpic has tendencies to throw nickels around like they are manhole covers. We are all who we are after all. A product of both nature and nuture.
When I was a kid in the days talked about in "Joey Gallo's Lament" I used to go with my entire class to the nine o'clock Mass. 150 strong we would sit through a Latin Mass where the only thing you would understand was the homily. So you waited for that and looked forward to it.
The priests were always straightforward about sin and punishment. You did bad things and you would burn in hell. You could go to ask for forgiveness and absolution but you had to change your evil ways. There was no forgiveness and no redemption if you stood by or continued in evil practices. You had to exercise your free will to change the wrongs that you might have committed. If you didn't you would be punished in the firey pits of Hell.
Everyone has to determine what level of sins they can live with. Cheating on your taxes. Cheating on your spouse. Sexually abusing your adopted daughter in the attic. Fingering borrowed dogs in the park until they whimper in shame. What you can't do is expect to make an excuse and be forgiven like nothing happened. That there is no consequence for what you do. I think we have lost that. The theme of guilt and punishment has been leached out of modern society. Wait I take that back. You will be excoriated and destroyed if you are not sufficiently subservient to liberal shibboleths such as racism or gay rights or feminism. Then the villagers gather the torches and pitchforks. But if you speak against unfettered abortion and the murder of the unborn as a sin or that you will face consequences for supporting such you are branded as out of step. As being a soldier in the "War on Women." As being aggressive and divisive and wrong.
Revenant made a big stink a while ago that abortion critics should murder abortion doctors and raze the clinics if they were serious that it is murder. He was just being a dick but I can see his logic. I always think I am not doing enough. When I met that girl who was the product of a botched "legal" abortion I wanted to bust out crying like a big old faggot. I thought about how little I do to effect change. But what can you do? There is evil in this world. I don't understand how some people can not see it. The most I can do is pray about it and contribute to charities that help young women make a different choice.
I guess it takes all kinds to make a world. Even Catholics like Andrew Cuomo who would kill a baby that could live and breath on it's own as if it wasn't a child of Gob but just a lump of protoplasm.
I am just glad that Father Delvechio and Mother Assunta and the people that taught me are not alive to see what we have come too.
15 comments:
If it doesn't involve me I don't want to talk about it. I'm starved for attention on the internet these days.
Thankfully, I'm finding things to do to stay busy. Did a shift at the store this morning, doing some paid tutoring this afternoon. Called my mom and spending time with the family tonight.
Life is good.
Fair enough.
Time spent on the internet is time ill spent most of the time.
I am glad you are enjoying life. In the end that is all you can do.
Phil Keaggy, The Survivor. He based it on the story of Gianna Jessen, who survived a botched abortion, and on Psalm 31:12-16.
I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel. For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life. But I trusted in thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my God. My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies’ sake.
People who are unsure about God often interpret faith and confidence as self-righteousness. I'm not talking about those who are comfortable in their atheism. People who aren't sure are intimidated by those who are.
I typically don't discuss abortion beyond the question of when life begins. Everything about abortion--everything--hinges on the answer to that question.
I went for a long walk in the forest this afternoon. I came upon a child of Gob, and I asked him to tell me where he was going, this he told me - I'm going down to Yasgur's farm, going to join in a rock and roll band. Got to get back to the land, and set my soul free.
Wait, no, actually I walked with a friend and her dog and we encountered a spoiled brat who let her dogs run free - had her dog not been a sweet little Border Collie my Border Collie would have thrashed him from top to bottomamus!
Once again, I have wandered off the trail here. No lions were involved, merely the telling of mountain lion tales and discussions of dog behavior. Humans are a problematic lot, that's for sure.
Rev was right, but he is a loud mouthed bully. It cannot fall to us to right all the wrongs we encounter in life. We are not all able to avenge evil in the world. It's tempting, but it would be a short career.
Trooper, Who ever told you life was fair. I firmly believe we answer for our sins when we die. I don't think the Good Lord is a nitpicker. But, if you hurt other people, well then you got some 'splaining to do. It seems you have many laments of late. NYC going to hell in a hand basket, this one and others. All legit, w/o question. Just live a good life. Treat people right. Most of the rest is small potatoes.
I agree Nick. But I think we can talk about sin and redemption. If I can convince one person to change their views that it was a worthwhile enterprise.
Maybe this'll be of interest:
I feel I should have served up some meaty political posts, delving into... oh, who knows?... some right-winger demanding that his crowd get heated up over the income tax in New York, which is causing him to abscond to Florida...
Anyhow, I'm not sure what you said at my thread that caused anyone to object. Looked okay to me.
Everyone has to determine what level of sins they can live with.
Not exactly. It's the level of sins one dies with that matters. Unless you have foreknowledge of the exact date and time of your death, it's best to keep a clean slate. The rules aren't known for being flexible.
I just got back from seeing Last of the Unjust about a Jewish "collaborator"; you wanna talk moral difficulty?
Here's this guy who eschews multiple chances to flee Nazi controlled Europe, but instead works within the system to try to get Jews out or at least to give them a greater chance to survive, and he lives his life shunned.
So they put him in charge of a ghetto, and he sets to making it a model ghetto, a propaganda point for the Nazis, on the premise that if it's publicly known, they can't destroy it.
And the ghetto is full of corruption, with the elders exploiting their ability to decide who escapes and who stays for personal favors, and he ends that, and is reviled for it.
And he's still working within the system—the Nazi system—knowing that things are not right but not knowing about Auschwitz.
The Nazis tried to keep their extermination plans from the Jews, and they especially feared an uprising, but the Jews didn't know that.
The key thing for the Nazis was to keep their activities secret, and sow confusion everywhere.
Apropos of nothing.
That is a legitimate shot at me Michael. I did do that. I am a right wing nut. I do want to leave New York.
She's still obsessed with you. Weird.
You are a good egg Troop.
The funny thing that was weeks and weeks ago. I know I mentioned it on Lem's but it lends credence to chidkie's theory that they have eyes on us.
Not that I really care. We are not doing anything secret here. I just don't want to deal with the likes of Inga, Meade and the Crack Emcee.
Trooper, I totally agree w/ your right to evangelize. It's not my style. To each their own.
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