Thursday, December 6, 2012
Monday, January 3, 2011
2011, another year passes and so what
I was asked this past years end, as are many I suppose, "What are you doing New years Eve?"
"Same thing I've done for the past several New Years " I answer, "sleeping."
Maybe it's old age maybe it's cynicism. Maybe years of frustration, disappointment and my growing atheism, but at some point I realized that the clock ticking over from 11:59 to 12:00 happens twice a day every day since we've kept time doesn't make it that special when a years change is added. Oh sure in my youth I drank my way into the new year, and even fucked my way into the new year (a great way to start a year but doesn't really set the tone for the whole year)but nothing was ever that different or that exciting.
Of course the "big one" was also the biggest let down, I would have welcomed the carnage of Y2k as even a bad change (and how is it so many still don't get that the real change in the millennium as 2001?) but nope , nadda nothing. No flying cars no jet packs no BOOM.
I guess my big change was in this past decade (2010) was putting a name to my atheism. Having been brought up lutheran and seeming to date an inordinate number of catholics (and lapsed catholics) I had a hell of a time letting go, but from teh beginning I questioned, so much didn't make sense, but I was told to believe. i guess since Santa never let me down, (his persistence in getting me what I asked for increased his credibility) and since Santa seemed so real, I mean at least he showed up on TV and in the Bon Ton, he did help gods case. Then in my early teens Superstar and Godspell had made god cool, if not more tangible., But superstar was also his down fall. I realized that something was seriously wrong..i mean I was taught as bizarre and terrible as his death was it all had to happen as it did to make it fit gods (twisted) plan...so why was Judas always the bad guy? Wasn't Jesus supposed to be betrayed? wasn't that part of the process? Superstar made it painfully clear, Judas was a patsy he was set up, and aside from the jews, he was the worst in killing christ (ok so if jesus had to die then shouldn't we laud the jews? and isn't Judas a candidate for sainthood? No judas was a vile evil man. ask any christian where Judas was you'll hear "The center-most ring of hell"
but shouldn't he be forgiven? what was his sin?
He betrayed jesus.
but didn't he have to?
well after years of searching I came up with a heretical answer. his sin was despair, not betrayal.
well that still gets you funny looks from many christians.
enter Carl Sagan, witha dose of Campbell. Now I tried to blend my belief with science in a moderate veil of myth as a metaphor, but I still believed. I just was agnostic, I wasn't sure what I didn't believe in so I read. The bible, study guides, torah, I questioned nuns, priests, rabbis, ministers and preachers not out of spite but burning curiosity, and there were never satisfactory answers.
The fault I foolishly felt must be within me.
Hawkings made more sense then Luke. Sagan trumped Matthew, and then I find out that much was written 50-150 years after by men who were never there.
The council of Nicaea just cobbled together what ever it wanted to..too much was sloppy editing. If it was so damned important why all the contradiction? the loose ends the hate and war in the big 3?
And why all the rules that in the end made no sense. Why was it wrong to be gay? It seemed the most pain my gay friends had was due to this "loving god" and his deluded followers. Why is sex so bad for fun? Then you start to really read about this benevolent loving god and he comes off more like a spoiled paris hilton with a serious ego problem.
Ok so no god how about this goddess? these pagans don't seem messed up about love and sex. I had an ex who was a witch and damn did we have fun, and no useless guilt. Besides it will really shake up those sanctimonious christians, not to mention those arrogant boy buggering priests (I dunno but at some point I really got a wild hair up my ass about catholics).
It was even better because unlike many christians i actually read that book, and studied it so i used to go verse for verse against them, but it was like talking to a wall. In and around that even more dirt gets thrown up around christianity by Dan Brown. Now sure take away the fiction he still builds off of some very interesting points that can be neither proved or disproved but do show even more holes in the holy.. the foundation weakens, and so I drift as far and fast as I can. Witha big loud "FUCK YOU" to all.
I've got a lifetimes worth of fear, rage, anger and frustration to unburden and woe betide any bible thumping hack whop darkens my path.
But, I am trying to reign in my obnoxiousness and temper my outbursts. I know that I am not going to change anyone mind..but at the least I can help remove the damage and stop any more incursions by this virus of lies into the world. And I won't cease trying to get otherwise intelligent people to at least reconsider this ineffectual waste of time and energy, and stop , through silent complacency, endorsing genocide, rape, mutilation, hindering science, reason and world advancement, stop bigotry and intrusion into out very minds by an invisible ego maniacal, spoiled space daddy with the temperament of a rich teen aged girl.
"Free your minds"
"Same thing I've done for the past several New Years " I answer, "sleeping."
Maybe it's old age maybe it's cynicism. Maybe years of frustration, disappointment and my growing atheism, but at some point I realized that the clock ticking over from 11:59 to 12:00 happens twice a day every day since we've kept time doesn't make it that special when a years change is added. Oh sure in my youth I drank my way into the new year, and even fucked my way into the new year (a great way to start a year but doesn't really set the tone for the whole year)but nothing was ever that different or that exciting.
Of course the "big one" was also the biggest let down, I would have welcomed the carnage of Y2k as even a bad change (and how is it so many still don't get that the real change in the millennium as 2001?) but nope , nadda nothing. No flying cars no jet packs no BOOM.
I guess my big change was in this past decade (2010) was putting a name to my atheism. Having been brought up lutheran and seeming to date an inordinate number of catholics (and lapsed catholics) I had a hell of a time letting go, but from teh beginning I questioned, so much didn't make sense, but I was told to believe. i guess since Santa never let me down, (his persistence in getting me what I asked for increased his credibility) and since Santa seemed so real, I mean at least he showed up on TV and in the Bon Ton, he did help gods case. Then in my early teens Superstar and Godspell had made god cool, if not more tangible., But superstar was also his down fall. I realized that something was seriously wrong..i mean I was taught as bizarre and terrible as his death was it all had to happen as it did to make it fit gods (twisted) plan...so why was Judas always the bad guy? Wasn't Jesus supposed to be betrayed? wasn't that part of the process? Superstar made it painfully clear, Judas was a patsy he was set up, and aside from the jews, he was the worst in killing christ (ok so if jesus had to die then shouldn't we laud the jews? and isn't Judas a candidate for sainthood? No judas was a vile evil man. ask any christian where Judas was you'll hear "The center-most ring of hell"
but shouldn't he be forgiven? what was his sin?
He betrayed jesus.
but didn't he have to?
well after years of searching I came up with a heretical answer. his sin was despair, not betrayal.
well that still gets you funny looks from many christians.
enter Carl Sagan, witha dose of Campbell. Now I tried to blend my belief with science in a moderate veil of myth as a metaphor, but I still believed. I just was agnostic, I wasn't sure what I didn't believe in so I read. The bible, study guides, torah, I questioned nuns, priests, rabbis, ministers and preachers not out of spite but burning curiosity, and there were never satisfactory answers.
The fault I foolishly felt must be within me.
Hawkings made more sense then Luke. Sagan trumped Matthew, and then I find out that much was written 50-150 years after by men who were never there.
The council of Nicaea just cobbled together what ever it wanted to..too much was sloppy editing. If it was so damned important why all the contradiction? the loose ends the hate and war in the big 3?
And why all the rules that in the end made no sense. Why was it wrong to be gay? It seemed the most pain my gay friends had was due to this "loving god" and his deluded followers. Why is sex so bad for fun? Then you start to really read about this benevolent loving god and he comes off more like a spoiled paris hilton with a serious ego problem.
Ok so no god how about this goddess? these pagans don't seem messed up about love and sex. I had an ex who was a witch and damn did we have fun, and no useless guilt. Besides it will really shake up those sanctimonious christians, not to mention those arrogant boy buggering priests (I dunno but at some point I really got a wild hair up my ass about catholics).
It was even better because unlike many christians i actually read that book, and studied it so i used to go verse for verse against them, but it was like talking to a wall. In and around that even more dirt gets thrown up around christianity by Dan Brown. Now sure take away the fiction he still builds off of some very interesting points that can be neither proved or disproved but do show even more holes in the holy.. the foundation weakens, and so I drift as far and fast as I can. Witha big loud "FUCK YOU" to all.
I've got a lifetimes worth of fear, rage, anger and frustration to unburden and woe betide any bible thumping hack whop darkens my path.
But, I am trying to reign in my obnoxiousness and temper my outbursts. I know that I am not going to change anyone mind..but at the least I can help remove the damage and stop any more incursions by this virus of lies into the world. And I won't cease trying to get otherwise intelligent people to at least reconsider this ineffectual waste of time and energy, and stop , through silent complacency, endorsing genocide, rape, mutilation, hindering science, reason and world advancement, stop bigotry and intrusion into out very minds by an invisible ego maniacal, spoiled space daddy with the temperament of a rich teen aged girl.
"Free your minds"
Saturday, November 13, 2010
The Power of O
I had the Story of O, the book, in the late 1970's and it was one of my first intros into kink. It didn't take quite then, possibly for reasons that I will get into here..but then also I was only in my late teens and in the 70's kink was seen more as a joke then a serious lifestyle by the vanilla population. besides in 1978-79 what did a 18 year old know about Domination and submission? (Of course while today's youth may have a more extensive technical knowledge of it due to the internet, I contend that they still don't know shit about the true depth of BDSM no matter how extensive their clinical knowledge)
Of course the snobs purists will say that since I only ever read the English translation and not the original French, so I missed the subtleties and nuances that can only come from a ..blah blah blah.
Now this rumination will come on the heels of my viewing of the 1975 film version that I saw in French with English subtitles, and I fully realize the differences and inherent pitfalls of any film derivation from any printed work, how ever I feel confident enough to say that the memories of repeated readings was sparked enough by this recent viewing and the same themes popped up in my mind so the thrust of my observation is still valid.
Also the seeming avant garde/indifferent French attitude that permeates the works of that era are also similar enough to not warrant comment to any noted difference.
So, who is the most dominating character of this story? Rene? hardy..he is seemingly helplessly in love with this woman. Yet, instead of sending her off for this training for his own selfish needs, he is somehow convinced he can only prove her devotion to him by pushing her upon others, yet pining painfully and with undue French moroseness as she is is whipped, fucked and used by who ever wanders by as she looks helplessly and confusedly at him, yet taking her "punishments" and even enjoying them, for him.So no through out this tale Rene is nothing but Sir Stephens other bitch.
So how about the trainer Pierre? surely he is a strong dominate character right? Wrong, he too helplessly falls for O and even though she craves it, he tells that he will only pretend to whip her so as to not harm this beloved creature.
Perhaps a case could be made for Anne-Marie however she has a matronly caring aspect for all her girls and does not always take an active hand but dictates her will through her charges.
A stronger case is made for Sir Stephens maid and woman Friday who seems to take the greatest pleasure in whipping O, yet is only a hand of Sir Stephens.
And what of Sir Stephen hi self the man for whose benefit all this seems to be orchestrated? He certainly has Rene on his leash even if Rene won't admit it.He is practically in love with his older step brother and willingly gives up the object of his desire in O.
Sir Stephen also seems to think the only way to prove his control is to have O submit to others, and yet at one point we see his own selfish longing hinder this "goal" when he must leave O to Ivan and can no longer watch her being fucked by this groping clod.
In the end O is sent off to a party as a bird of prey, by her own choosing this guise, the hunted no longer, but the proud, the center of attention at this party in her Owl mask..seeming to look down upon those who gawk and admire her in her nudity which now stands as a symbol of control of those about her, she knows that desire for her is the true power that she holds, and so in this we see it is her who has always held the power this entire time..O.
An interesting tidbit from the films end (I can not remember if this was in the book)O asks Sir Stephen is knowing what he knew now and knowing his love (which he proclaimed would never be given, as if love was a weakness) for O, would he go through even a fraction of her ordeal for her as she did for him?
He says he would and stoically holds still as she takes his cigar and burns his hand revealing a symbolic "O" scar aside her O ring asking the question, who really is O? the quiet beautiful slave or the seeming master?
It is said in the kink community that the slave holds the real power, in O, everything that is done to her is done to her is only done with her consent, in fact her "permission" is constantly sought and asked.
Today's equivalent is the safe word, meant to be used in distress it is also a way for the submissive to control the action. so except in Gor lifestyles there is a loving component and the slaves well being is strictly watched for. D/s is not about abuse or pain, it is about surrender and freedom.
It is about the slaves power, the Power of O
Of course the snobs purists will say that since I only ever read the English translation and not the original French, so I missed the subtleties and nuances that can only come from a ..blah blah blah.
Now this rumination will come on the heels of my viewing of the 1975 film version that I saw in French with English subtitles, and I fully realize the differences and inherent pitfalls of any film derivation from any printed work, how ever I feel confident enough to say that the memories of repeated readings was sparked enough by this recent viewing and the same themes popped up in my mind so the thrust of my observation is still valid.
Also the seeming avant garde/indifferent French attitude that permeates the works of that era are also similar enough to not warrant comment to any noted difference.
So, who is the most dominating character of this story? Rene? hardy..he is seemingly helplessly in love with this woman. Yet, instead of sending her off for this training for his own selfish needs, he is somehow convinced he can only prove her devotion to him by pushing her upon others, yet pining painfully and with undue French moroseness as she is is whipped, fucked and used by who ever wanders by as she looks helplessly and confusedly at him, yet taking her "punishments" and even enjoying them, for him.So no through out this tale Rene is nothing but Sir Stephens other bitch.
So how about the trainer Pierre? surely he is a strong dominate character right? Wrong, he too helplessly falls for O and even though she craves it, he tells that he will only pretend to whip her so as to not harm this beloved creature.
Perhaps a case could be made for Anne-Marie however she has a matronly caring aspect for all her girls and does not always take an active hand but dictates her will through her charges.
A stronger case is made for Sir Stephens maid and woman Friday who seems to take the greatest pleasure in whipping O, yet is only a hand of Sir Stephens.
And what of Sir Stephen hi self the man for whose benefit all this seems to be orchestrated? He certainly has Rene on his leash even if Rene won't admit it.He is practically in love with his older step brother and willingly gives up the object of his desire in O.
Sir Stephen also seems to think the only way to prove his control is to have O submit to others, and yet at one point we see his own selfish longing hinder this "goal" when he must leave O to Ivan and can no longer watch her being fucked by this groping clod.
In the end O is sent off to a party as a bird of prey, by her own choosing this guise, the hunted no longer, but the proud, the center of attention at this party in her Owl mask..seeming to look down upon those who gawk and admire her in her nudity which now stands as a symbol of control of those about her, she knows that desire for her is the true power that she holds, and so in this we see it is her who has always held the power this entire time..O.
An interesting tidbit from the films end (I can not remember if this was in the book)O asks Sir Stephen is knowing what he knew now and knowing his love (which he proclaimed would never be given, as if love was a weakness) for O, would he go through even a fraction of her ordeal for her as she did for him?
He says he would and stoically holds still as she takes his cigar and burns his hand revealing a symbolic "O" scar aside her O ring asking the question, who really is O? the quiet beautiful slave or the seeming master?
It is said in the kink community that the slave holds the real power, in O, everything that is done to her is done to her is only done with her consent, in fact her "permission" is constantly sought and asked.
Today's equivalent is the safe word, meant to be used in distress it is also a way for the submissive to control the action. so except in Gor lifestyles there is a loving component and the slaves well being is strictly watched for. D/s is not about abuse or pain, it is about surrender and freedom.
It is about the slaves power, the Power of O
Thursday, September 23, 2010
REO Speedwagon "What the Hell happened to them? They were so good?"
That's right I said REO Speedwagon was good. Trouble is you don't hear that stuff anymore. You hear the whinny balled crap that Kevin pumps out like sugar coated turds.
It was just the other day. I swear to god people it was just the other day
I was in my car with my daughter 19, a hard core rocker, old school. She knows all the members of the Doors not just Jim, She gets what makes Stevie Ray Vaughn same yet different then Jimi. She likes Who songs that aren't on CSI episodes. And 9 times out of 10 she can identify Bon Scott over Brian Johnson. So yes boys and girls Jess ROCKS.
Any way it was jut the other day
we were driving when 157 Riverside Avenue came on my ipod The one from "You Get What You Play For" from the 70's. She was jamming and asked "Who is this?" I said REO Speedwagon. had she been drinking she'd have done a spit take.
She said "What!? Who!?"
I said REO Speedwagon, before they sucked. She said "no way" After the song I went and found "Riding the Storm Out, same album.
Again she was floored. "What eh hell happened to them? They used to be so good?"
I started thinking how many bands at? Not just "one hit wonders" whose names we soon forget, but established bands who ar eat then achieve commercial success and suddenly they , well jump the shark. I guess teh musical version could be they "Shoot the Terry"
I get shoot the Terry from Terry Kath, (original guitarist and founding member of the rock band Chicago. He died in 1978 at the age of 31 from an unintentional self-inflicted gunshot wound.)
It was about that time Peter Cetera moved to the forfront and things were never the same. (Yes he was around for X and XII, but when he died Chicago really dropped off)
With Rush, it was commercial success. Yes they were talented but their best work was pre American radio play. This is also an example where synthesizers killed a bands gut and soul. The last great Rush album with balls? All the Worlds a Stage. A Farewell to Kings was notable but it seemed to signal the decline. so between radio exposure and the synth not good.
not that synthesizers are bad, my god Genesis (up until Steve Hackett left) Yes, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Head East, Gentle Giant. I caould list a hundred bands who used synthesizers with great success usually from teh begining..I can name many more who jump..er shot when they added it.
Remeber the first Queen albums? Up until "World News"? the next album? The Game is reportedly the first Queen album in which a synth appears. A spot on the cover says something like "This album inculdes the first appearance of a Synthesizer (an Oberheim OBX) on a Queen album" que funeral march
I don't think the irony of Van Halen's song "Jump" as being their first use of the synth with the rocket skis firmly attached...
Seminal moments of jumpage, or shootage seem to blend for some bands. Personnel changes coupled with broader commercial success. Let's dissect the sucksess of Genesis. First change, Peter gabriel leaves and Phil Collins moves to the front. Trick of the tail still comes across with that ethereal Genesis sound, as does Wind and Wuthering. Some changes in themes but that sound still holds a decent shift. Then teh album "Then There Were Three..." ok but not the best, first radio hit, Follow You Follow me. a nice ditty but not classic Genesis..what changed? The loss of the heart of the Genesis sound.. guitarist Steve Hackett. but the public likes it and the band reaches amazing critical sucksess with their blandest musical tripe.
Now is it that the general public lacks musical taste? Well in America? I say yes, yes we do. Go to 1960-1979 ( abit beyond) look at the to 10 artist and albums. Names that ar erich with history soul and balls. Clapton, Stones, Dylan, ELP, Beatles Elvis. Doors.
Starting in 1980 till now? Tiffany?! TIFFANY!? What The Fuck!? Debbie Gibson? Liwek Bill Hicks said is there that much babysitter money being passed around?
New Kids, Boys to Men..crap crap crap..today so much worse. Mindless empty shit from the likes of Miley Cyrus (her dads forrey into music was shit what should we expect from his spawn?) lady Fucking Ga Ga? Rhiannon? Konye West? JUSTINE BEEBER!?
I can't believe Clapton hasn't shot himself yet.
So ye steh general public is too blame they have no hunger for meaning or depth or heart, they want pablum and they get it. and music suffers as do we all.
It was just the other day. I swear to god people it was just the other day
I was in my car with my daughter 19, a hard core rocker, old school. She knows all the members of the Doors not just Jim, She gets what makes Stevie Ray Vaughn same yet different then Jimi. She likes Who songs that aren't on CSI episodes. And 9 times out of 10 she can identify Bon Scott over Brian Johnson. So yes boys and girls Jess ROCKS.
Any way it was jut the other day
we were driving when 157 Riverside Avenue came on my ipod The one from "You Get What You Play For" from the 70's. She was jamming and asked "Who is this?" I said REO Speedwagon. had she been drinking she'd have done a spit take.
She said "What!? Who!?"
I said REO Speedwagon, before they sucked. She said "no way" After the song I went and found "Riding the Storm Out, same album.
Again she was floored. "What eh hell happened to them? They used to be so good?"
I started thinking how many bands at? Not just "one hit wonders" whose names we soon forget, but established bands who ar eat then achieve commercial success and suddenly they , well jump the shark. I guess teh musical version could be they "Shoot the Terry"
I get shoot the Terry from Terry Kath, (original guitarist and founding member of the rock band Chicago. He died in 1978 at the age of 31 from an unintentional self-inflicted gunshot wound.)
It was about that time Peter Cetera moved to the forfront and things were never the same. (Yes he was around for X and XII, but when he died Chicago really dropped off)
With Rush, it was commercial success. Yes they were talented but their best work was pre American radio play. This is also an example where synthesizers killed a bands gut and soul. The last great Rush album with balls? All the Worlds a Stage. A Farewell to Kings was notable but it seemed to signal the decline. so between radio exposure and the synth not good.
not that synthesizers are bad, my god Genesis (up until Steve Hackett left) Yes, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Head East, Gentle Giant. I caould list a hundred bands who used synthesizers with great success usually from teh begining..I can name many more who jump..er shot when they added it.
Remeber the first Queen albums? Up until "World News"? the next album? The Game is reportedly the first Queen album in which a synth appears. A spot on the cover says something like "This album inculdes the first appearance of a Synthesizer (an Oberheim OBX) on a Queen album" que funeral march
I don't think the irony of Van Halen's song "Jump" as being their first use of the synth with the rocket skis firmly attached...
Seminal moments of jumpage, or shootage seem to blend for some bands. Personnel changes coupled with broader commercial success. Let's dissect the sucksess of Genesis. First change, Peter gabriel leaves and Phil Collins moves to the front. Trick of the tail still comes across with that ethereal Genesis sound, as does Wind and Wuthering. Some changes in themes but that sound still holds a decent shift. Then teh album "Then There Were Three..." ok but not the best, first radio hit, Follow You Follow me. a nice ditty but not classic Genesis..what changed? The loss of the heart of the Genesis sound.. guitarist Steve Hackett. but the public likes it and the band reaches amazing critical sucksess with their blandest musical tripe.
Now is it that the general public lacks musical taste? Well in America? I say yes, yes we do. Go to 1960-1979 ( abit beyond) look at the to 10 artist and albums. Names that ar erich with history soul and balls. Clapton, Stones, Dylan, ELP, Beatles Elvis. Doors.
Starting in 1980 till now? Tiffany?! TIFFANY!? What The Fuck!? Debbie Gibson? Liwek Bill Hicks said is there that much babysitter money being passed around?
New Kids, Boys to Men..crap crap crap..today so much worse. Mindless empty shit from the likes of Miley Cyrus (her dads forrey into music was shit what should we expect from his spawn?) lady Fucking Ga Ga? Rhiannon? Konye West? JUSTINE BEEBER!?
I can't believe Clapton hasn't shot himself yet.
So ye steh general public is too blame they have no hunger for meaning or depth or heart, they want pablum and they get it. and music suffers as do we all.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
White Liberal Guilt. Racist?
Not to long long ago I saw rather touching film that wasn't at all what I expected. Clint Eastwood's "Gran Torino", in a nut shell a crotchety old Korean war veteran is settling into his new life as a widower. As the movie progresses from his wife funeral, it is clear he is a man without compassion. Disgusted by his adult kids, grand kids and the ever increasing ghetto of Vietnamese growing about him.
He is a proud line employee from the Ford plant who put the steering column into the Gran Torino he keeps in perfect condition.
In one seance he is a local pub with his buddies sharing racial jokes (His contribution is: A Mexican a Jew and a Coloured guy walk into a bar. the bartender looks up and says "get the fuck outta here")
A shocker in this day and age but even that joke is cleaned up from what we can imagine was it's original form. (You'll have to see the film to see this characters redemption, but it is not what you'd entirely expect from Clint)
I remember thinking , it's been ages since I heard a joke like that. A blatant show of racism, worthy of Archie Bunker.
Now we are less likely to hear such jokes but we swing far to the other side.
The old version of this extreme is "But some of my best friends are...."
A subtler form of racism, where we go to extremes to garner Black (any one remember this Bloom County gem?:
Mrs. Dallas: "Look at the colored children playing outside..."
Steve: "People of color, Mom."
Mrs. Dallas: "That's what I said. Colored children."), Asian, Latino, Gay...etc.
I've seen so many liberals go out of their way to be accepting it's almost as blatant as the far right (I'll pick on my own people) "Mic" jokes.
At some point we have to let go. Yes in the 1960's 70's blacks were still second class citizens. A lot has changed, we have a Black president, several women have made a run at the office, and now the new minority is homosexuals.
I guess we spin one plate at a time. Sure there are still strides to made in the black community, but the majority of hate crimes seem leveled at who and how we love. This scares me. Now the government is still looking into our bedrooms. Sodomy laws, adultery laws and yes oral sex laws are still on the books and in some cases being enforced.
Now we are so scared of sex crimes a 12 year old boys life was ruined for a text message (4-15-2009 Indiana:Boy could face pornography charges INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Police are investigating another case of sexual text messages being sent between children. This time, a 12-year-old Perry Township boy could be facing felony pornography charges. Or this gem: Sexting Tweens Arrested in Chicago
Posted by Dan Savage on Fri, Jan 29, 2010 at 12:55 PM
Chicago Tribune:
The students were caught when the 13-year-old girl's cell phone rang in class, and her teacher confiscated it, according to a police report. The girl cried that she would get in trouble because a 12-year-old boy sent her a "dirty picture."
The girl and the boy are guilty of playing you-show-me-yours-i'll-show-you-mine—a game we all played as children—but with a tech assist. For that they were both arrested and charged with "child exploitation and possession of child pornography," both felonies." Which is ridiculous. Even more ridiculous: both will have to register as sex offenders if insanity prevails and they are tried and convicted for their "crime." Laws against child pornography are supposed to protect children from the trauma of being exploited by adult predators, not from themselves, and certainly not from games of you-show-me-yours-I'll-show-you-mine. These two children may wind up traumatized for life by the overzealous enforcement of laws designed to protect them. And it that wasn't enough to make your head explode, check out this quote:
Louis Kraus [is] head of child and adolescent psychiatry at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.... Boys sext because they're proud of their new, more mature bodies, while girls sext because a boy asks them to, he said. Girls want to develop the relationship and think sexting will help, Kraus said. But he warns that's no different than a girl who might be pressured into sex before she's ready.
Girls have no naturally occurring interest in sex, girls are never proud of their new, more mature bodies, girls have no sexual agency or desire or urges or impulses of their own. Girls only want relationships and boys—sex-crazed boys!—know it and use it against girls to get pictures of their bodies because there just aren't enough pictures of boobs available to boys with access to the Internet.
Has this Kraus guy ever met an actual teenage girl?)
Now this is a tricky area to delegate for sure but 12 and 13 year olds as registered sex offenders?
And what about those who lovingly practice S&M?
Here is a more personal case, a 19 year old girl I know was with her boy friend. They were playing soccer. Now she is a fair skinned girl who burns at a picture of the sun. A small knock she has a bruise on her arm. Next day at her school a woman hands her a n Abuse Hotline card, when the girl insisted it was an accident, the reply was "that's what they all say dear, just call that number"
Really? Does anyone else see the dangerous slope we are on? Is abuse a serious crime? Of course it is. Is child sexual molestation an abomination? Hell yes it is.
But when do we put our minds on hold and let slip insanity, and lose all common sense?
What defense is there if there is just an accident? It's like the Life of Brian:
ARTHUR: Hail Messiah!
BRIAN: I'm not the Messiah!
ARTHUR: I say You are, Lord, and I should know. I've followed a few.
FOLLOWERS: Hail Messiah!
BRIAN: I'm not the Messiah! Will you please listen? I am not the Messiah, do you understand?! Honestly!
GIRL: Only the true Messiah denies His divinity.
BRIAN: What?! Well, what sort of chance does that give me? All right! I am the Messiah!
FOLLOWERS: He is! He is the Messiah!
I'm not anti liberal, hell some of my best friends are liberals... I'm not sure what I am, I think the closest is Libertarian, but that makes people cringe so I dunno.
But I am pro use your head. Apply common sense.
I have no idea why this is relevant but I'll close with a quote from Bill Hicks:
"Your denial is beneath you, and thanks to the use of hallucinogenic drugs, I see through you"
He is a proud line employee from the Ford plant who put the steering column into the Gran Torino he keeps in perfect condition.
In one seance he is a local pub with his buddies sharing racial jokes (His contribution is: A Mexican a Jew and a Coloured guy walk into a bar. the bartender looks up and says "get the fuck outta here")
A shocker in this day and age but even that joke is cleaned up from what we can imagine was it's original form. (You'll have to see the film to see this characters redemption, but it is not what you'd entirely expect from Clint)
I remember thinking , it's been ages since I heard a joke like that. A blatant show of racism, worthy of Archie Bunker.
Now we are less likely to hear such jokes but we swing far to the other side.
The old version of this extreme is "But some of my best friends are...."
A subtler form of racism, where we go to extremes to garner Black (any one remember this Bloom County gem?:
Mrs. Dallas: "Look at the colored children playing outside..."
Steve: "People of color, Mom."
Mrs. Dallas: "That's what I said. Colored children."), Asian, Latino, Gay...etc.
I've seen so many liberals go out of their way to be accepting it's almost as blatant as the far right (I'll pick on my own people) "Mic" jokes.
At some point we have to let go. Yes in the 1960's 70's blacks were still second class citizens. A lot has changed, we have a Black president, several women have made a run at the office, and now the new minority is homosexuals.
I guess we spin one plate at a time. Sure there are still strides to made in the black community, but the majority of hate crimes seem leveled at who and how we love. This scares me. Now the government is still looking into our bedrooms. Sodomy laws, adultery laws and yes oral sex laws are still on the books and in some cases being enforced.
Now we are so scared of sex crimes a 12 year old boys life was ruined for a text message (4-15-2009 Indiana:Boy could face pornography charges INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Police are investigating another case of sexual text messages being sent between children. This time, a 12-year-old Perry Township boy could be facing felony pornography charges. Or this gem: Sexting Tweens Arrested in Chicago
Posted by Dan Savage on Fri, Jan 29, 2010 at 12:55 PM
Chicago Tribune:
The students were caught when the 13-year-old girl's cell phone rang in class, and her teacher confiscated it, according to a police report. The girl cried that she would get in trouble because a 12-year-old boy sent her a "dirty picture."
The girl and the boy are guilty of playing you-show-me-yours-i'll-show-you-mine—a game we all played as children—but with a tech assist. For that they were both arrested and charged with "child exploitation and possession of child pornography," both felonies." Which is ridiculous. Even more ridiculous: both will have to register as sex offenders if insanity prevails and they are tried and convicted for their "crime." Laws against child pornography are supposed to protect children from the trauma of being exploited by adult predators, not from themselves, and certainly not from games of you-show-me-yours-I'll-show-you-mine. These two children may wind up traumatized for life by the overzealous enforcement of laws designed to protect them. And it that wasn't enough to make your head explode, check out this quote:
Louis Kraus [is] head of child and adolescent psychiatry at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.... Boys sext because they're proud of their new, more mature bodies, while girls sext because a boy asks them to, he said. Girls want to develop the relationship and think sexting will help, Kraus said. But he warns that's no different than a girl who might be pressured into sex before she's ready.
Girls have no naturally occurring interest in sex, girls are never proud of their new, more mature bodies, girls have no sexual agency or desire or urges or impulses of their own. Girls only want relationships and boys—sex-crazed boys!—know it and use it against girls to get pictures of their bodies because there just aren't enough pictures of boobs available to boys with access to the Internet.
Has this Kraus guy ever met an actual teenage girl?)
Now this is a tricky area to delegate for sure but 12 and 13 year olds as registered sex offenders?
And what about those who lovingly practice S&M?
Here is a more personal case, a 19 year old girl I know was with her boy friend. They were playing soccer. Now she is a fair skinned girl who burns at a picture of the sun. A small knock she has a bruise on her arm. Next day at her school a woman hands her a n Abuse Hotline card, when the girl insisted it was an accident, the reply was "that's what they all say dear, just call that number"
Really? Does anyone else see the dangerous slope we are on? Is abuse a serious crime? Of course it is. Is child sexual molestation an abomination? Hell yes it is.
But when do we put our minds on hold and let slip insanity, and lose all common sense?
What defense is there if there is just an accident? It's like the Life of Brian:
ARTHUR: Hail Messiah!
BRIAN: I'm not the Messiah!
ARTHUR: I say You are, Lord, and I should know. I've followed a few.
FOLLOWERS: Hail Messiah!
BRIAN: I'm not the Messiah! Will you please listen? I am not the Messiah, do you understand?! Honestly!
GIRL: Only the true Messiah denies His divinity.
BRIAN: What?! Well, what sort of chance does that give me? All right! I am the Messiah!
FOLLOWERS: He is! He is the Messiah!
I'm not anti liberal, hell some of my best friends are liberals... I'm not sure what I am, I think the closest is Libertarian, but that makes people cringe so I dunno.
But I am pro use your head. Apply common sense.
I have no idea why this is relevant but I'll close with a quote from Bill Hicks:
"Your denial is beneath you, and thanks to the use of hallucinogenic drugs, I see through you"
Monday, July 5, 2010
A one sided argument
Recently I stumbled across this video and posted a reply. I was not surprised to see that comments were approved by the poster, before set out. I am sure he gets inundated with obscene and hateful diatribes regularly. But I posted what I thought was a somewhat intelligent response (if not a bit sarcastic) here was my post:
eahazell
13 hours ago
you get out of any symbolism what you put into it. You can make a symbol mean what ever you want it to. But then you probably thing Carl Jung was a Satanist, in fact any great thinker who asks us to question seems to be a satanist, don't they? I bet in his day that rapscallion Edison an d his evil light bulbs was a Satanist. And who was that free thinker who though fire was a good idea? Or that vile wheel? And those wicked airplanes.
God save me, from your "good" people
surprisingly he let it through and responded, however when I went to reply I found I was blocked. here was his reply:
#
david1057
7 hours ago
@eahazell So you're saying that everyone of us created these signs & symbols, when in fact they have been established by people in power & authority?
Keep on sleeping if you like!
david1057 7 hours ago
of course any attempt to respond is now halted and it will appear that he "shut me up"
Now don't get me wrong people are free to their ideas, what they believe, and free to share (not impose ) them. It is a dangerous consideration this internet we've woven. How free do we allow ourselves to be? At some points it is easy to say there is a line we shall not cross. Posting kiddie porn for example. I doubt anyone will agree that's a good thing to allow. But as we move closer to more aspects of what we allow were do we get to a line that impinges on personal freedoms? When does the Nanny state begin? Big Brother.
It is no trite comment Stan Lee made when he put these words into Uncle Ben's mouth:
"With Great Power there must also always be great responsibility."
We hold great power in our hands with this web of information. But who should control it? And how much. Sure david1057 was well within his rights for his personal site to block me. No matter how fearful and weak it makes him appear, no matter what it does to my credibility on his site.
And he is free to post his propaganda as is every well thinking and even not so well thinking mindless zealots are free to express their views. But one must open their mind when regarding any information. Because when you come down to it, almost all history is hearsay, subject to the presenters biases either purposefully or unconsciously.
But freedom comes at a cost a cost most of us are so far removed from, we don't value it as we should. Our lives have not been threatened, our way of life is not in immediate danger, instead it slips away subtly bite by bite. The Patriot act, new laws to regulate information on the net across the globe.
Soon, Maybe Alan Moore's "V" was not so far from the mark during this rather prophetic speech. Maybe we need our caged rattled.
V: Good evening, London. Allow me first to apologize for this interruption. I do, like many of you, appreciate the comforts of the everyday routine, the security of the familiar, the tranquility of repetition. I enjoy them as much as any bloke. But in the spirit of commemoration - whereby those important events of the past, usually associated with someone's death or the end of some awful bloody struggle, are celebrated with a nice holiday - I thought we could mark this November the fifth, a day that is sadly no longer remembered, by taking some time out of our daily lives to sit down and have a little chat.
There are, of course, those who do not want us to speak. I suspect even now orders are being shouted into telephones and men with guns will soon be on their way. Why? Because while the truncheon may be used in lieu of conversation, words will always retain their power. Words offer the means to meaning and for those who will listen, the enunciation of truth. And the truth is, there is something terribly wrong with this country, isn't there?
Cruelty and injustice...intolerance and oppression. And where once you had the freedom to object, to think and speak as you saw fit, you now have censors and systems of surveillance, coercing your conformity and soliciting your submission. How did this happen? Who's to blame? Well certainly there are those who are more responsible than others, and they will be held accountable. But again, truth be told...if you're looking for the guilty, you need only look into a mirror.
I know why you did it. I know you were afraid. Who wouldn't be? War. Terror. Disease. There were a myriad of problems which conspired to corrupt your reason and rob you of your common sense. Fear got the best of you and in your panic, you turned to the now High Chancellor Adam Sutler. He promised you order. He promised you peace. And all he demanded in return was your silent, obedient consent.
Last night, I sought to end that silence. Last night, I destroyed the Old Bailey to remind this country of what it has forgotten. More than four hundred years ago, a great citizen wished to embed the fifth of November forever in our memory. His hope was to remind the world that fairness, justice and freedom are more than words - they are perspectives. So if you've seen nothing, if the crimes of this government remain unknown to you, then I would suggest that you allow the fifth of November to pass unmarked. But if you see what I see, if you feel as I feel, and if you would seek as I seek...then I ask you to stand beside me, one year from tonight, outside the gates of Parliament. And together, we shall give them a fifth of November that shall never, ever, be forgot!"
or as Thomas Jefferson so aptly put it even more succinctly:
"When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty."
eahazell
13 hours ago
you get out of any symbolism what you put into it. You can make a symbol mean what ever you want it to. But then you probably thing Carl Jung was a Satanist, in fact any great thinker who asks us to question seems to be a satanist, don't they? I bet in his day that rapscallion Edison an d his evil light bulbs was a Satanist. And who was that free thinker who though fire was a good idea? Or that vile wheel? And those wicked airplanes.
God save me, from your "good" people
surprisingly he let it through and responded, however when I went to reply I found I was blocked. here was his reply:
#
david1057
7 hours ago
@eahazell So you're saying that everyone of us created these signs & symbols, when in fact they have been established by people in power & authority?
Keep on sleeping if you like!
david1057 7 hours ago
of course any attempt to respond is now halted and it will appear that he "shut me up"
Now don't get me wrong people are free to their ideas, what they believe, and free to share (not impose ) them. It is a dangerous consideration this internet we've woven. How free do we allow ourselves to be? At some points it is easy to say there is a line we shall not cross. Posting kiddie porn for example. I doubt anyone will agree that's a good thing to allow. But as we move closer to more aspects of what we allow were do we get to a line that impinges on personal freedoms? When does the Nanny state begin? Big Brother.
It is no trite comment Stan Lee made when he put these words into Uncle Ben's mouth:
"With Great Power there must also always be great responsibility."
We hold great power in our hands with this web of information. But who should control it? And how much. Sure david1057 was well within his rights for his personal site to block me. No matter how fearful and weak it makes him appear, no matter what it does to my credibility on his site.
And he is free to post his propaganda as is every well thinking and even not so well thinking mindless zealots are free to express their views. But one must open their mind when regarding any information. Because when you come down to it, almost all history is hearsay, subject to the presenters biases either purposefully or unconsciously.
But freedom comes at a cost a cost most of us are so far removed from, we don't value it as we should. Our lives have not been threatened, our way of life is not in immediate danger, instead it slips away subtly bite by bite. The Patriot act, new laws to regulate information on the net across the globe.
Soon, Maybe Alan Moore's "V" was not so far from the mark during this rather prophetic speech. Maybe we need our caged rattled.
V: Good evening, London. Allow me first to apologize for this interruption. I do, like many of you, appreciate the comforts of the everyday routine, the security of the familiar, the tranquility of repetition. I enjoy them as much as any bloke. But in the spirit of commemoration - whereby those important events of the past, usually associated with someone's death or the end of some awful bloody struggle, are celebrated with a nice holiday - I thought we could mark this November the fifth, a day that is sadly no longer remembered, by taking some time out of our daily lives to sit down and have a little chat.
There are, of course, those who do not want us to speak. I suspect even now orders are being shouted into telephones and men with guns will soon be on their way. Why? Because while the truncheon may be used in lieu of conversation, words will always retain their power. Words offer the means to meaning and for those who will listen, the enunciation of truth. And the truth is, there is something terribly wrong with this country, isn't there?
Cruelty and injustice...intolerance and oppression. And where once you had the freedom to object, to think and speak as you saw fit, you now have censors and systems of surveillance, coercing your conformity and soliciting your submission. How did this happen? Who's to blame? Well certainly there are those who are more responsible than others, and they will be held accountable. But again, truth be told...if you're looking for the guilty, you need only look into a mirror.
I know why you did it. I know you were afraid. Who wouldn't be? War. Terror. Disease. There were a myriad of problems which conspired to corrupt your reason and rob you of your common sense. Fear got the best of you and in your panic, you turned to the now High Chancellor Adam Sutler. He promised you order. He promised you peace. And all he demanded in return was your silent, obedient consent.
Last night, I sought to end that silence. Last night, I destroyed the Old Bailey to remind this country of what it has forgotten. More than four hundred years ago, a great citizen wished to embed the fifth of November forever in our memory. His hope was to remind the world that fairness, justice and freedom are more than words - they are perspectives. So if you've seen nothing, if the crimes of this government remain unknown to you, then I would suggest that you allow the fifth of November to pass unmarked. But if you see what I see, if you feel as I feel, and if you would seek as I seek...then I ask you to stand beside me, one year from tonight, outside the gates of Parliament. And together, we shall give them a fifth of November that shall never, ever, be forgot!"
or as Thomas Jefferson so aptly put it even more succinctly:
"When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty."
Sunday, July 4, 2010
A few years ago aletter to Dr Schlessinger was making the rounds...It's worth keeping fresh
For those of you that are not following the recent controversy that has to do with Laura Schlessinger: she is a radio personality who dispenses advice to people who call in to her radio show. Paramount Television Group is currently producing a "Dr. Laura" television show. Recently she has become a convert to Judaism, and now she is Ba'al T'shuvah. Recently, she has made some statements about homosexuals that has caused the Canadian anti-hate laws to censure her... The following is an open letter to Dr. Laura which was posted on the internet...
J. Kent Ashcraft
May 2000
Dear Dr. Laura,
Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and I try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind him that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate.
I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the specific laws and how to best follow them.
a) When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord (Lev 1:9). The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
b) I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
c) I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness (Lev 15:19-24). The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.
d) Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?
e) I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?
f) A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an Abomination (Lev 11:10), it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this?
g) Lev 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?
h) Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev 19:27. How should they die?
i) I know from Lev 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
j) My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? (Lev 24:10-16) Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)
I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help.
Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.
Your devoted disciple and adoring fan.
These are the Biblical verses refered to above, in two different translations: the King James Version [KJV], and New International Version [NIV]
Lev 18:22 [KJV] Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. [NIV] Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable.
Lev 1:9 [KJV] But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD. [NIV] He is to wash the inner parts and the legs with water, and the priest is to burn all of it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the LORD.
Exodus 21:7 [KJV] And if a man sell his daughter to be a maidservant, she shall not go out as the menservants do. [NIV] If a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is not to go free as menservants do.
Lev 15:19-24 [KJV] And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even. 20 And every thing that she lieth upon in her separation shall be unclean: every thing also that she sitteth upon shall be unclean. 21 And whosoever toucheth her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. 22 And whosoever toucheth any thing that she sat upon shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. 23 And if it be on her bed, or on any thing whereon she sitteth, when he toucheth it, he shall be unclean until the even. 24 And if any man lie with her at all, and her flowers be upon him, he shall be unclean seven days; and all the bed whereon he lieth shall be unclean.
[NIV] When a woman has her regular flow of blood, the impurity of her monthly period will last seven days, and anyone who touches her will be unclean till evening. 20 Anything she lies on during her period will be unclean, and anything she sits on will be unclean. 21 Whoever touches her bed must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean till evening. 22 Whoever touches anything she sits on must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean till evening. 23 Whether it is the bed or anything she was sitting on, when anyone touches it, he will be unclean till evening. 24 If a man lies with her and her monthly flow touches him, he will be unclean for seven days; any bed he lies on will be unclean.
Lev 25:44 [KJV] Both thy bondmen, and thy bondmaids, which thou shalt have, shall be of the heathen that are round about you; of them shall ye buy bondmen and bondmaids. [NIV] Your male and female slaves are to come from the nations around you; from them you may buy slaves.
Exodus 35:2 [KJV] Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the LORD: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death. [NIV] For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day shall be your holy day, a Sabbath of rest to the LORD. Whoever does any work on it must be put to death.
Lev 11:10 [KJV] And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you [NIV] But all creatures in the seas or streams that do not have fins and scales --- whether among all the swarming things or among all the other living creatures in the water --- you are to detest.
Lev 21:20 [KJV] Or crookbackt, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken [NIV] or who is hunchbacked or dwarfed, or who has any eye defect, or who has festering or running sores or damaged testicles.
Lev 19:27 [KJV] Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard. [NIV] Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.
Lev 11:6-8 [KJV] And the hare, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. 7 And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you. 8 Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you.
[NIV] The rabbit, though it chews the cud, does not have a split hoof; it is unclean for you. 7 And the pig, though it has a split hoof completely divied, does not chew the cud; it is unclean for you. 8 You must not eat their meat or touch their carcases; they are unclean for you.
Lev 19:19 [KJV] Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee. [NIV] Keep my decrees. Do not mate different kinds of animals. Do not plant your field with two kinds of seed. Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material.
Lev 24:10-16 [KJV] And the son of an Israelitish woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the children of Israel: and this son of the Israelitish woman and a man of Israel strove together in the camp; 11 And the Israelitish woman's son blasphemed the name of the Lord, and cursed. And they brought him unto Moses: (and his mother's name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan:) 12 And they put him in ward, that the mind of the LORD might be shewed them. 13 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 14 Bring forth him that hath cursed without the camp; and let all that heard him lay their hands upon his head, and let all the congregation stone him. 15 And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Whosoever curseth his God shall bear his sin. 16 And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the Lord, shall be put to death.
[NIV] Now the son of an Israelite mother and an Egyptian father went out among the Israelites, and a fight broke out in the camp between him and an Israelite. 11 The son of the Israelite woman blasphemed the name of the LORD with a curse; so they brough him to Moses. (His mother's name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri the Danite.) 12 They put him in custody until the will of the LORD should be made clear to them. 13 Then the LORD said to Moses: 14 Take the blasphemer outside the camp. All those who heard him are to lay their hands on his head, and the entire assembly is to stone him. 15 Say to the Israelites: If anyone curses his God, he will be held responsible; 16 anyone who blasphemes the name of the LORD must be put to death. The entire assembly must stone him. Whether an alien or native-born, when he blasphemes the Name, he must be put to death.
Lev 20:14 [KJV] And if a man take a wife and her mother, it is wickedness: they shall be burnt with fire, both he and they; that there be no wickedness among you. [NIV] If a man marries both a woman and her mother, it is wicked. Both he and they must be burned in the fire, so that no wickedness will be among you.
J. Kent Ashcraft
May 2000
Dear Dr. Laura,
Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and I try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind him that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate.
I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the specific laws and how to best follow them.
a) When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord (Lev 1:9). The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
b) I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
c) I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness (Lev 15:19-24). The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.
d) Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?
e) I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?
f) A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an Abomination (Lev 11:10), it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this?
g) Lev 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?
h) Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev 19:27. How should they die?
i) I know from Lev 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
j) My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? (Lev 24:10-16) Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)
I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help.
Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.
Your devoted disciple and adoring fan.
These are the Biblical verses refered to above, in two different translations: the King James Version [KJV], and New International Version [NIV]
Lev 18:22 [KJV] Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. [NIV] Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable.
Lev 1:9 [KJV] But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD. [NIV] He is to wash the inner parts and the legs with water, and the priest is to burn all of it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the LORD.
Exodus 21:7 [KJV] And if a man sell his daughter to be a maidservant, she shall not go out as the menservants do. [NIV] If a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is not to go free as menservants do.
Lev 15:19-24 [KJV] And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even. 20 And every thing that she lieth upon in her separation shall be unclean: every thing also that she sitteth upon shall be unclean. 21 And whosoever toucheth her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. 22 And whosoever toucheth any thing that she sat upon shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. 23 And if it be on her bed, or on any thing whereon she sitteth, when he toucheth it, he shall be unclean until the even. 24 And if any man lie with her at all, and her flowers be upon him, he shall be unclean seven days; and all the bed whereon he lieth shall be unclean.
[NIV] When a woman has her regular flow of blood, the impurity of her monthly period will last seven days, and anyone who touches her will be unclean till evening. 20 Anything she lies on during her period will be unclean, and anything she sits on will be unclean. 21 Whoever touches her bed must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean till evening. 22 Whoever touches anything she sits on must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean till evening. 23 Whether it is the bed or anything she was sitting on, when anyone touches it, he will be unclean till evening. 24 If a man lies with her and her monthly flow touches him, he will be unclean for seven days; any bed he lies on will be unclean.
Lev 25:44 [KJV] Both thy bondmen, and thy bondmaids, which thou shalt have, shall be of the heathen that are round about you; of them shall ye buy bondmen and bondmaids. [NIV] Your male and female slaves are to come from the nations around you; from them you may buy slaves.
Exodus 35:2 [KJV] Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the LORD: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death. [NIV] For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day shall be your holy day, a Sabbath of rest to the LORD. Whoever does any work on it must be put to death.
Lev 11:10 [KJV] And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you [NIV] But all creatures in the seas or streams that do not have fins and scales --- whether among all the swarming things or among all the other living creatures in the water --- you are to detest.
Lev 21:20 [KJV] Or crookbackt, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken [NIV] or who is hunchbacked or dwarfed, or who has any eye defect, or who has festering or running sores or damaged testicles.
Lev 19:27 [KJV] Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard. [NIV] Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.
Lev 11:6-8 [KJV] And the hare, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. 7 And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you. 8 Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you.
[NIV] The rabbit, though it chews the cud, does not have a split hoof; it is unclean for you. 7 And the pig, though it has a split hoof completely divied, does not chew the cud; it is unclean for you. 8 You must not eat their meat or touch their carcases; they are unclean for you.
Lev 19:19 [KJV] Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee. [NIV] Keep my decrees. Do not mate different kinds of animals. Do not plant your field with two kinds of seed. Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material.
Lev 24:10-16 [KJV] And the son of an Israelitish woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the children of Israel: and this son of the Israelitish woman and a man of Israel strove together in the camp; 11 And the Israelitish woman's son blasphemed the name of the Lord, and cursed. And they brought him unto Moses: (and his mother's name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan:) 12 And they put him in ward, that the mind of the LORD might be shewed them. 13 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 14 Bring forth him that hath cursed without the camp; and let all that heard him lay their hands upon his head, and let all the congregation stone him. 15 And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Whosoever curseth his God shall bear his sin. 16 And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the Lord, shall be put to death.
[NIV] Now the son of an Israelite mother and an Egyptian father went out among the Israelites, and a fight broke out in the camp between him and an Israelite. 11 The son of the Israelite woman blasphemed the name of the LORD with a curse; so they brough him to Moses. (His mother's name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri the Danite.) 12 They put him in custody until the will of the LORD should be made clear to them. 13 Then the LORD said to Moses: 14 Take the blasphemer outside the camp. All those who heard him are to lay their hands on his head, and the entire assembly is to stone him. 15 Say to the Israelites: If anyone curses his God, he will be held responsible; 16 anyone who blasphemes the name of the LORD must be put to death. The entire assembly must stone him. Whether an alien or native-born, when he blasphemes the Name, he must be put to death.
Lev 20:14 [KJV] And if a man take a wife and her mother, it is wickedness: they shall be burnt with fire, both he and they; that there be no wickedness among you. [NIV] If a man marries both a woman and her mother, it is wicked. Both he and they must be burned in the fire, so that no wickedness will be among you.
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