The intent of this blog is to promote human equality, human progress, human peace and justice, and optimism. To accomplish this, to encourage the discussion of ideas after identifying and discovering problems, and then creating positive solutions for "we the people," in order to provide for the "general welfare" and "domestic tranquility" of America now and its "posterity" into the future. To encourage an emphasis on separation of religion and state for all, no matter if this is for those "of faith" in a Maker / Creator (Deists, God-loving people, Christians, various people of spirituality) and atheists or agnostics.

Posts tagged ‘truth’

“Now why’d you choose such a backward time … And such a strange land?”

In the 1970s, the rock musical, Jesus Christ Superstar was introduced. I purchased the original vinyl album. I have seen the on-stage productions of this rock musical.

At the time JCS was released, we had two students from Cortland State College, student teachers at our high school, boarding with us. I had purchased the album. I found these two guys interesting to speak with about the music of JCS. Many discussions ensued, in addition to discussions about history because the two of them were history history education majors.

Lyrics in JCS were a good description. But I recall the few which asked questions. For example, “Now why’d you choose such a backward time … And such a strange land?” As a junior in high school, it was difficult to answer those questions.

As my life has progressed and I have maintained my faith in God, I believe I have, with wisdom, developed a HYPOTHETICAL answer to those questions. Hypothetical means there is no certainty, but there is plenty of evidence to determine a hypothesis. So we seek wisdom about it.

My wisdom of age, created by humble learning over time, has provided me with a possible answer. Today, we have people who lie, slander, and libel other good people, based on a love of money and materialism. Love of money is evil. Money is NOT evil. Profits are NOT evil, except when done solely for the love of money. I have read about this and learned about this over time.

Guidelines for a civilized society work in creating a civilized society. It is not a perfect solution, but it helps overcome the evils of the selfishness and greed of egomaniacs with a love and worship of money.

The Roman Empire is known as being one of the most brutal and vicious group of people to control a portion of the world which has ever existed. Am I certain about this? No. But I have humbly learned, over time, about this and gained wisdom. There is plenty of evidence and facts to support what I say. Some folks may feel biased against what I say, so go ahead and shoot me down. What will you accomplish in an attempt to find the truth?

The Roman Empire was in control of Israel during the 1st Century. As a Christian all my life, I am aware of most of the teachings of Jesus Christ and consider Him to be the “word” of God made flesh. I consider that Christ came here to be the “light of the world.” Those are MY beliefs and I am not FORCING you, as vicious people do, to believe what I believe.

I feel I have to say all of this because the egomaniacs of the world just work to shoot holes, as if I want control. It’s those people who shoot holes in hypothetical theories, based on their own egotistical bias, who are likely the perverts who wish to control others.

But this brings me to answering that question in the JCS rock musical: “Now why’d you choose such a backward time
And such a strange land?” It was due to the opposition our Deity had to how a group of people are treated badly by those who seek power over others in corrupt and evil ways with a love AND WORSHIP of money.

In my belief, based on what I have learned over time, including Thomas Jefferson’s (remember him? one of the USA’s FOUNDING FATHERS?) documentation about the Gospels. This is a Deity who imparts the message that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely (not words from God, but words from human beings who recognize a Deity more powerful than humans; a Deity which imparts a love for His/Her children. (Strange words to say, right? His/Her? God has not always been proven to be a “Father,” but a “Parent”).

Again. I do not expect one to feel controlled by my beliefs. But I also do not have an inkling of desire to follow the beliefs of bashers of other human beings as they resist coexistence.

The word of God became flesh. That is my belief system. The reason was to choose a place and time when one group of people were being controlled by perverted lovers of self and money, while the crowd went along and had the word of God executed. Perverted ones to convince the crowds were lawyers and religious leaders, all with a love of money. Money first. A Deity would choose that time and place to impart the message, as people suffered and were convinced by lovers of money to find a scapegoat.

But is it not possible that scapegoat was determined in order for a Deity to impart the message about loving one another (coexistence)? Is it not possible the message was also about human beings learning to reject those who are hypocrites and lovers of money?

Jesus Christ himself is quoted as hurling accusations at hypocrites of those days; Jesus Christ himself, with actions, not words, overturned tables of the money changers, lovers and worshipers of money. Yet, why is it we relinquish control to give it back to power mongers with a love of money and then blame our government? Even Jesus said, “render unto Caesar his due.” In other words, pay your taxes and look at something else besides scapegoats and a government as the reasons for our problems, out of fear of a “mafioso” in centralized businesses created by supply-side Reaganomics, destroying small business competition in the process.

Adam Smith wrote books about the creation of capitalism. Wealth of Nations and Theories of Moral Sentiments. Adam Smith also intently studied the words of Christ. Yet, the “sheep” in this world go along with the lovers of money who attain the power which corrupts and absolute power which corrupts absolutely. They do not even have knowledge of what Adam Smith wrote which was presented as an economic system with balance and a “moral sentiment” for a process in which humans predominate over money, as presented by Jesus Christ, and not the other way around (money over humans).

Today, we have in place, the SEC which allows the biggest stockholders to have more votes in a corporate stockholder meeting than the common folk who own the stock. It is like these people are money changers during the 1st Century when Jesus Christ walked the earth. They don’t give one damn about the common folk and cheat and lie to get their way. Same thing with those money changers of the 1st Century by not only selling in the temple, but also selling SHODDY and LOUSY animals for sacrifice on the altar.

For many of us, we have experienced the lousy way that those with the most stock have treated us. It was one of the many wars that the shoddy and corrupt people with the most stock, Republicans, pulled the rug out from beneath me and many others. They skimmed money off a cash cow of a company, so as to allow vicious other Republicans (primarily) to come in and buy out the company. The only ones to benefit were the shoddy fat pigs at the top, skimming the money off the corporation. Meanwhile, the rest of us stockholders were not even allowed in secret stockholder meetings held in Houston, Texas (for a Florida corporation) and many of us common folk then lost our stock holdings in the process.

How many times do I have to explain this to common folk, hoping to get support, rather than stupidity hurled at me, as well as hatred from common folk? How many times? And do we really need the return of Jesus Christ when we have the knowledge right here in front of us, given to us in the 1st Century? How many times do we have to pray for “Christ’s return.” A loving Deity may treat us kindly, but that Deity must wonder, “Gosh, I gave them the information when the word became flesh. Why do they not see it?” But I can’t speak for God, as so many TV evangelists and perverted proselytizers try to do – constantly.

My mother even had a problem with proselytizers in her life. But at least there were more people like my mother who understood. My generation and younger generations are apparently full of a bunch of stupid jerks who are not humble enough to learn by seeking knowledge and wisdom, but rely on the hearsay of Fox and other groups who push an end all for everything – a certainty that they have all the answers.

This is a lengthy message. I really don’t care if you don’t like it because it is. Those in the World War II generation and before would read essays of great length. They were able to demonstrate humility and learning for the sake of human beings over money.

JC, JC: “Now why’d you choose such a backward time … And such a strange land?” Because it took that type of environment to get many people to learn. W hat is the problem with those who don’t wish to learn today? Instead, they wish for an Armageddon to start all things over, when the proof is in a Deity who DID teach human beings and there is no excuse for not understanding it. Stop pushing us towards chaos with power and control from lovers and worshipers of money in the form of greedy, self-centered, egomaniac centrally-controlled dictatorial corporations run by an oligarchy. Because you are pushing us towards disaster by supporting such egomaniacs with power. Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. The foundations for these problems are not the government created by my ancestors and Founding Fathers. The problem is the oligarchy which attempts to take control of our government and take it out of the hands of the people. WE THE PEOPLE. And there are many of us who have wisdom and knowledge based on the TRUE DEITY and the TRUE Jesus Christ. Supply-side Reaganomics ultimately tosses away those of us who are followers of the true word of God made flesh because the ones who worship money are fearful of the loss of their power – a corrupt one which leads to absolute power which corrupts absolutely. And they become like the vicious Roman Empire of the past. Like the vicious rulers who come out of the hills of Russia.

“Now why’d you choose such a backward time… And such a strange land?” Is it for me to know and you to find out? Because the answer is there before us, just by studying and learning about the word of God made flesh. To learn that this happened and for a purpose.

I pity those who do not understand what I am saying. But that is okay. Because I won’t control you with my belief. I just try to teach. I am not a perfect teacher, but I sure to work towards wisdom, not certainty or purity.

I do this because my grandmother was always saying, “judge not lest you be judged.” But she always encouraged me to be a teacher. Praise the LORD for my grandmother and many others who have encouraged me in my life and offered me opportunities, not always handouts. The ones who provided a temporary safety net which may have been in the form of some handouts, but the word “temporary” is important to note here. Then I would encounter the “jubilee year.” Don’t know what “jubilee year” is? Then humble thyself and learn what it is. Would be good for those money lovers to consider when discussing student loan debt.

On and on I go. But I now understand what was meant in the questions found in lyrics of JC Superstar. “Now why’d you choose such a backward time … And such a strange land?” 🙏 🖖

Elephant Ass Pox

Saw another example of conspiracy theory lies which are designed to blame Democrats and with no evidence they did something wrong.  Only conspiracy theories likely dreamed up by Fox commentary and their comrades in the Trump Republifascists.  Donkey Pox.  Really?  Donkey Pox created by Biden and the Democrats? Really? And where is the evidence that Donkey Pox is created so the Democrats can lock down America?  More like coming from the mentally and emotionally DISTURBED (pronounced like Nurse Diesel in High Anxiety) and passed on by the mentally and emotionally disturbed groupthink among this group of people whose elevators don’t go to the top as they simply repeat what they here and are a bunch of idiots.  Such mentally and emotionally disturbed should not be blamed because they pick it up from the false conspiracy theorists who blow it out their rears, their brains are in their dicks and cunts, and just follow like lemmings be lead over a cliff.  Shame on such people for not listening and learning the truth – rejecting the truth.

Shall I create a bumper sticker and name it Elephant Ass Pox.  Apparently, learning from what Florida does with “stand your ground” laws, such people are like elephants afraid of the mouse or little people when they decent (without guns and violence) in the name of we the people and humanitarian rights.  So Elephant Ass Pox would apply, would it not? Sickos are responsible for Elephant Ass Pox and they are usually not Democrats.  As I told someone in an Owego restaurant who never let up with the repetition of the lies of conspiracy theory, shut your damn mouths.  They thought I had a gun. But my entire life and I have never carried nor shot a gun and don’t intend to do so now.  I should have been afraid that the ones with the conspiracy theory lies were the ones with the guns.  I was trained by an excellent grandmother and mother, here in Tioga County, not to carry guns or rifles and I still follow their ways.  They were Lincoln / Teddy Roosevelt Republicans, not Republifascists who shamefully control the political party associated with an elephant today.

Stupidity without the Truth

Dear Editors:

People like Murphy, who wrote “My Turn” on Sunday, March 13, 2022, and a nearby photo of bloviating Trump, get their ideas for support of “strong and independent” America because they are mesmerized by too much false crap out there which hides the truth.

In reality, Trump, McConnell, DeSantis, Santorum, Rick Scott, Scott Walker, among others, are allied with Putin and other dictators in the world. They hide their affiliation. But they say the same things, particularly about bigotry towards the LGBTQ+, all the time. 

They also are all in support of control and power, with the Koch brothers, of oil as a fuel. They don’t want alternative fuels to be developed. They want to drill off-shore in the USA and build projects like the Keystone pipeline (and others). What better way for Putin and these dictators to divide and conquer, but to have Putin start a war in Ukraine and force gasoline prices sky-high? After all, they have worked to sabotage the development of alternative fuels and green technologies. They accomplished this with four years of Trump in power, after LOOSING the popular vote to Hillary in 2016. 

Being upset at losing in 2020, what better way but to lie about fraud in elections which, even many Republicans are saying, does not exist, especially to the extent claimed.

It’s about time Murphy and others learn the truth, rather than dwelling on the lies and fake news.

Humble Pie or Truth be Hiding – by Deceptive People?

Humility is tough when eating crow.  But do I eat crow and acknowledge a mistake?  Or is there another answer?

Andrew Carnegie.  In my brief look at Andrew Carnegie’s life, I am impressed.  His Scottish-Presbyterian background places him in a better position than the Koch brothers or other super-wealthy today because, at the very least, he believed in Christian principles.  Yes, he was against unions during the time of the robber barons and formation of trade unions in the USA.  But did he actually state his opposition to unions or go along with “management ID” and “management groupthink” of his day?  Unions were perhaps untested in his day, so did this influence Carnegie’s thinking.

The problem with the web today – and I am just as guilty – is the Vannevar Bush syndrome of “hypertext.”  When I read something on the web, I place it in my brain and often forget to document it.  This is a problem for which perhaps causes me to eat humble pie.  Or does it?

I recall reading a quote attributed to Andrew Carnegie.  It went in one of two ways:  “Wealth is created by society, not individuals.”  The other way:  “Wealth is not created by individuals, but by society.”  This quote was either in an op-ed in a newspaper like The Palm Beach Post or it was on the Internet.  It was most likely in the newspaper.  Nevertheless, the Internet has become so pervasive that one can typically find the quote again later.

What has happened is this.  I have quoted this from the piece of paper where I wrote the UNDOCUMENTED quote down.  In other words, I wrote the quote attributed to Andrew Carnegie, but not the source of the quote.  I have quoted this piece of information several times on my blog.  Now I attempt to locate this quote as associated with Andrew Carnegie and the only place this is to be found on Google is the three times I have included it in my blog.

What gives here?

In doing research of this question, I have reviewed numerous writings by Andrew Carnegie himself (http://www.swarthmore.edu/SocSci/rbannis1/AIH19th/Carnegie.html, June 1889) and others:  (1) well-referenced article by Nicole Notario (http://learningtogive.org/papers/paper80.html) for a graduate research paper; (2) a Fordham U. essay (http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1889carnegie.asp); and various others.  One might conclude from this material (and others) that Carnegie might have made such a statement.  But an actual attribution would take further research.

I am puzzled who wrote this quote and claimed attribution to Andrew Carnegie.  I did not dream this up on my own.  I did not just write this down out of thin air because, at the time, I barely knew diddley squat about this man, except to recall a library at my alma mater, Syracuse University, named after Carnegie and an entire university in Pittsburgh bearing his name.  QUite frankly, having a library named after this man placed him in high regard.  So when I read a supposed quote attributed to him, I took it very seriously.

I am not an idealogue, so I would have had no presumptions or biases.  I found it fascinating that a wealthy tycoon of the late 1800s would make such a statement.

I have also read (and again, perhaps I need to document this) that Carnegie sold his steel companies to a ruthless man named J.P. Morgan in order to devote his time to philanthropic measures.  It was J.P. Morgan (now part of the name of one of the largest banks – one which has screwed consumers with regard to mortgage loans) who gave Franklin D. Roosevelt a hard time, as the Koch Brothers do today to Barack Obama.  It was J.P. Morgan who purportedly (unproven, just word of mouth to me) had his servants cut out pictures and stories of FDR from the morning newspaper each day – before Morgan sat down to read it.  Sounds like the fans of Fox Noise – “don’t tell me anything else but what Fox Noise says.”

Nevertheless, perhaps it was Morgan who was more anti-union than Carnegie?   A hypothetical question.

Ayn Rand has ruined this nation by creating a strong groupthink of selfishness and greed via a fantasy tale.  The visual Media, in particular, has grabbed this extreme fascination with greed and selfishness which causes materialism among the people.  Madison Avenue is a shameful group of hyenas who lack any human qualities whatsoever, as they endorse the principles of greed and selfishness, clouding the picture of what true capitalism, as defined by men like Adam Smith, Andrew Carnegie, Teddy Roosevelt, and others had to say about it.  Jeff Jacoby’s op-ed this past May in the Boston Globe is a tribute to the stupidity of people who view the world only in black and white.  These people say, “either President Obama is a socialist or capitalist, but never can anyone be in the gray areas between and call themselves problem-solvers.”  Like narrow-focused religions – Roman Catholic and Mormons, for instance, there can be no consideration of “gray” areas.

Nevertheless, if I am wrong in attributing this quote about individuals, society, and wealth, then I stand corrected.  However, my admission that I am wrong is more than what egomaniacs in the wealthy class would be willing to do as they hide their money overseas and refuse to divulge their tax information.

BTW.  My scathing remarks about specific religious denominations should not be taken personally, except perhaps those who are hypocrites within those churches.  Perhaps they feel guilty, so therefore take it personally.  But then, imagine the berating my own denomination took in 2008, at the brief glimpse of statements made by ONE of the myriad pastors and clerics within my church.  Double standards in America which remove my liberty and freedom – and the separation of church and state.  Are we afraid to speak about the Christian beliefs of Adam Smith and Andrew Carnegie because such Presbyterian beliefs go against the grain of the dogma and doctrines of huge hierarchically-based churches with strong dictatorial leadership?

Is it humble pie for me or the truth being hidden – by deceptive people … no… deceptive egomaniacs – who seek power and control first,  before reasoning and rationality?  I would like to know.