Last week in my sermon on the 10 Commandments I shared that in Nicholas County, West Virginia, no member of the clergy is allowed to tell jokes or humorous stories from the pulpit during a church service. So obviously they can't share this column!
In the midst of a hard week, thank you for the moments of grace and levity.
That's tough! And it doesn't seem to come from an understanding of human nature! There are many "serious messages" that can be absorbed a whole lot more easily if there's a spoonful of sugar with the salt! I wonder what the situation was that brought about such a restriction?
Its a difficult week to be cheerful. One hopes that the harsh and horrific actual realities will penetrate enough skulls (in congress and beyond) to work together towards the common good, or if not that, at least towards resisting the uncommonly evil.
In love with Bach 4 years ago. We have fallen in love with his music too. As Glenn Gould expressed- this is the music to be stranded on a desert island for the rest of your life with. Our kiddo is glad- as are we- that young people will carry this treasure on to the next generation, whatever trials they might face! Thanks for your words.
The Gladiators were the Roman's sporting entertainment, with superstars supported by investors. There were 200 coliseums in the Roman Empire and at least 2 exists, Rome and Nimes France (which I've toured).
Dear Mr. Keillor, I have been a devoted fan of yours forever. I have purchased and listened to every show and book that to my knowledge is available. I go to bed at night listening to the News From Lake Wobegon...you have a soothing voice. In your article today you have the phrase "bleeding children in the arms of Palestinian parents". This war started with "bleeding children in the arms of Isreali parents". Please do not forget that. Pure evil started this conflict and the Jewish people have a right to defend themselves. Keep up the good work. Vernon Rowe, Pittsburg, Texas
So the way to fix the problem is to make sure more Palestinian civilians, including women and children, bleed and die? This is the "eye for an eye" mentality that an itinerant Jewish rabbi attempted to address a couple of millennia back for those who had ears to hear.
The earth is getting ready to reset humanity as it has been doing every 13,000 years for as long as geologists can measure, at least 76 times, and, instead of gathering to work together to defuse this common threat which ETs have been hoping to observe, also since time immemorial, 'nations' continue to bicker. We can blame some elite evil rich for keeping us in the dark, but perhaps this can be traced to their suppression of science for profit in recent times. How can we wake up and shift our attention and will to a higher purpose, as Dr. Stephen Greer has been working for, for the last 30 years?
I am no longer at all religious, but one of the most important things I learned in CCD classes many years ago was that one of the main tenets of Christianity was the repudiation of the idea of revenge.
No. That is not at all what I said. I simply pointed out that this situation has to be looked at in its full context...start to finish...not from a random perspective in the middle that is not reflective of all that has gone on. Hamas is evil and will kill anyone at will with no regard for life. Israel warns you in the same way the itinerant Jewish rabbi (Jesus) did and gives you a chance to be saved if you choose. There is absolutely no rational way to equate what Hamas did to what Israel is having to do to protect its people.
One can feel empathy for dead children on both sides while still condemning the terroristic tactics of Hamas along with right wing Israeli extremists. I don’t mean to create a false equivalency, the reality is that Hamas is barbaric and the only side that cheers for the death of innocent people and uses its own citizens as human shields.
Have you seen BLM’s response? Disgusting. I supposed the only good that comes out of this is that race-grifters and anti-semites from both fringes are being exposed.
Understood...I just think the letter would have been more balanced and touched all heart strings if it had said "Palestinian and Israeli"...but I am a 74 year old Southern Baptist old fart...so what do I know...perhaps a really good wall would have kept this from happening...
It is impossible to lower one's standards to Hamas'...they are the lowest of the low...the pond scum of the earth...the occupants of the deepest, hottest chamber in hell...
Published in the NY Times on-line along with 900 other comments related to a David Brooks column in the Dec. 12 edition which parsed political activities between Israel and Palestinians over the last years. The 900 comments were similar about equally dividing the blame. Here's my take:
Dave Miller
Princeton, NJOct. 12
I'm no expert historian, but when, if ever, in the course of human events, have politicians ever solved problems requiring the utmost in human diplomacy without destroying large numbers of other humans in the process? Constant stupidity resulting in violent and utter destruction has been the result over thousands of years. Why should we expect it to be any different today? The answer is obviously we shouldn't and the short recent period of relative peace is over. There is no solution to this problem of human nature at work. The ideas of any humanly created and organized religion have done nothing to solve the problem more likely contributing to it and is clearly a lost cause in and of itself.
Given this situation the best advice is probably to stay in moment doing our best to keep the peace within our little sphere of influence and hope it somehow spreads. No human of any stripe is going to do it for us - particularly from the realm of politics.
Yes, Garrison, as inside I've been weeping for our human condition, I realize as my life is advancing, filled with drama, trauma and tradegy, my need for a sense of humor is what gets me through. Losing hope, filling with cynicism, is sure to be the ruin of us all. And...if you ever want to know my opinion of our "amazing" House of Reps, please look up the word amazing and start a column where all censored words and phrases are allowed. Peace please!!!
Et cum spiritu tuo....sad to say the spirit may often look encompassing, the militant just kills and maims. This goes all the way back to Cain smacking Abel on the head with his shovel. Or whatever worked at the time. We've had many more ways to destroy or maim each other. And anyone who thinks that the rosary in the drawer will look like an unpinned grenade is nuts. Mankind is a misnomer if there ever was one. Here we have an Artiste and Friends who can take your distrust and shelling, whether bombing or commentary go away for awhile and their music salves the giants beasts of murder. Anyone who thinks borders will soon stop it is nuts, too. The answer we are looking for is in Garrison's greeting, "Dominus vobiscum (The Lord Is With You). And my greeting back at ya, Gary, is "Et cum spiritu tuo," (And with your spirit!"). It's the seemingly missing spirit and grace among so many. Outshouting the Shouter isn't the answer. It's the hate that goes with it, instead of the prayers. Hard to do, isn't. Just ask me, but right now I'm likely hating him too. Somewhere there's answer. I was at a Spritual Retreat many moons ago with the local Jesuits here in our fair city. The Retreat Leader told us the Jesuit's battle cry: "For the Greater Glory of God." And if that doesn't work, "Pray harder!"
"We stare at the pictures until we can't bear it and then we look again". Could be we are all a little scared that some day this horror could end up at our front door. Thoughts and prayers are fine but voting criminals and lunatics out of our government is better.
I don't want to belabor your point, but one of our most revered politicians of all time was Honest Abe - certainly no criminal or lunatic. And you know how that ended up - one of the bloodiest wars in history as lines of thousands of soldiers on both sides stood across from each other in a chosen field, took aim and on signal fired big round lead musket balls directly the few feet across the field. What stupidity caused such a situation? Fortunately in that case, massive bombing involving "civilians" hadn't yet been invented - by guess who? Humans again doing what they've always done since, as somebody said, Cain hit Abel over the head with a shovel although that probably wasn't the first time.
Bach’s music indeed lives beyond him. Some credit goes to his mother, who enabled his long hours of practice at the organ without interruptions by bring him something he could eat at the organ every noon — a sandwich, perhaps, fruit, a sweet pastry. The first Bach’s lunch.
Last week in my sermon on the 10 Commandments I shared that in Nicholas County, West Virginia, no member of the clergy is allowed to tell jokes or humorous stories from the pulpit during a church service. So obviously they can't share this column!
In the midst of a hard week, thank you for the moments of grace and levity.
That's tough! And it doesn't seem to come from an understanding of human nature! There are many "serious messages" that can be absorbed a whole lot more easily if there's a spoonful of sugar with the salt! I wonder what the situation was that brought about such a restriction?
Its a difficult week to be cheerful. One hopes that the harsh and horrific actual realities will penetrate enough skulls (in congress and beyond) to work together towards the common good, or if not that, at least towards resisting the uncommonly evil.
These are really sad times. Two major struggles going on: Ukraine & Isael and Palestine.
And those struggles somehow I feel are getting closer to us, so far away.
Our teenager pianist and baritone fell
In love with Bach 4 years ago. We have fallen in love with his music too. As Glenn Gould expressed- this is the music to be stranded on a desert island for the rest of your life with. Our kiddo is glad- as are we- that young people will carry this treasure on to the next generation, whatever trials they might face! Thanks for your words.
The Romans knew what had to be done. They had wars of conquest and the Coliseum. We have Beyonce and Taylor Swift and....
The Gladiators were the Roman's sporting entertainment, with superstars supported by investors. There were 200 coliseums in the Roman Empire and at least 2 exists, Rome and Nimes France (which I've toured).
Dear Mr. Keillor, I have been a devoted fan of yours forever. I have purchased and listened to every show and book that to my knowledge is available. I go to bed at night listening to the News From Lake Wobegon...you have a soothing voice. In your article today you have the phrase "bleeding children in the arms of Palestinian parents". This war started with "bleeding children in the arms of Isreali parents". Please do not forget that. Pure evil started this conflict and the Jewish people have a right to defend themselves. Keep up the good work. Vernon Rowe, Pittsburg, Texas
So the way to fix the problem is to make sure more Palestinian civilians, including women and children, bleed and die? This is the "eye for an eye" mentality that an itinerant Jewish rabbi attempted to address a couple of millennia back for those who had ears to hear.
The earth is getting ready to reset humanity as it has been doing every 13,000 years for as long as geologists can measure, at least 76 times, and, instead of gathering to work together to defuse this common threat which ETs have been hoping to observe, also since time immemorial, 'nations' continue to bicker. We can blame some elite evil rich for keeping us in the dark, but perhaps this can be traced to their suppression of science for profit in recent times. How can we wake up and shift our attention and will to a higher purpose, as Dr. Stephen Greer has been working for, for the last 30 years?
Well said.
I am no longer at all religious, but one of the most important things I learned in CCD classes many years ago was that one of the main tenets of Christianity was the repudiation of the idea of revenge.
The spirit of revenge has been living in both sides of this conflict for ages.
No. That is not at all what I said. I simply pointed out that this situation has to be looked at in its full context...start to finish...not from a random perspective in the middle that is not reflective of all that has gone on. Hamas is evil and will kill anyone at will with no regard for life. Israel warns you in the same way the itinerant Jewish rabbi (Jesus) did and gives you a chance to be saved if you choose. There is absolutely no rational way to equate what Hamas did to what Israel is having to do to protect its people.
I call "Bullshit for 2.2 milliom Palestinians, Alex!
The common people of both Israel and Gaza are the victims here, due to the belligerence of their leaders.
One can feel empathy for dead children on both sides while still condemning the terroristic tactics of Hamas along with right wing Israeli extremists. I don’t mean to create a false equivalency, the reality is that Hamas is barbaric and the only side that cheers for the death of innocent people and uses its own citizens as human shields.
Agreed...
Not only Hamas has been cheering, but many of our children in places of higher learning and, of course, BLM.
Not so, especially the unwarranted dig on BLM
Have you seen BLM’s response? Disgusting. I supposed the only good that comes out of this is that race-grifters and anti-semites from both fringes are being exposed.
I saw what I saw and felt what I felt.
Understood...I just think the letter would have been more balanced and touched all heart strings if it had said "Palestinian and Israeli"...but I am a 74 year old Southern Baptist old fart...so what do I know...perhaps a really good wall would have kept this from happening...
Defend, yes. But to lower themselves to Hamas' standards...I think not!
It is impossible to lower one's standards to Hamas'...they are the lowest of the low...the pond scum of the earth...the occupants of the deepest, hottest chamber in hell...
Published in the NY Times on-line along with 900 other comments related to a David Brooks column in the Dec. 12 edition which parsed political activities between Israel and Palestinians over the last years. The 900 comments were similar about equally dividing the blame. Here's my take:
Dave Miller
Princeton, NJOct. 12
I'm no expert historian, but when, if ever, in the course of human events, have politicians ever solved problems requiring the utmost in human diplomacy without destroying large numbers of other humans in the process? Constant stupidity resulting in violent and utter destruction has been the result over thousands of years. Why should we expect it to be any different today? The answer is obviously we shouldn't and the short recent period of relative peace is over. There is no solution to this problem of human nature at work. The ideas of any humanly created and organized religion have done nothing to solve the problem more likely contributing to it and is clearly a lost cause in and of itself.
Given this situation the best advice is probably to stay in moment doing our best to keep the peace within our little sphere of influence and hope it somehow spreads. No human of any stripe is going to do it for us - particularly from the realm of politics.
Spiritu Tuo.
Yes, Garrison, as inside I've been weeping for our human condition, I realize as my life is advancing, filled with drama, trauma and tradegy, my need for a sense of humor is what gets me through. Losing hope, filling with cynicism, is sure to be the ruin of us all. And...if you ever want to know my opinion of our "amazing" House of Reps, please look up the word amazing and start a column where all censored words and phrases are allowed. Peace please!!!
Sadly, the spirit of Cain is alive and flourishing. What can we Christians do, but repent and bear witness to the radical love of God?
Et cum spiritu tuo....sad to say the spirit may often look encompassing, the militant just kills and maims. This goes all the way back to Cain smacking Abel on the head with his shovel. Or whatever worked at the time. We've had many more ways to destroy or maim each other. And anyone who thinks that the rosary in the drawer will look like an unpinned grenade is nuts. Mankind is a misnomer if there ever was one. Here we have an Artiste and Friends who can take your distrust and shelling, whether bombing or commentary go away for awhile and their music salves the giants beasts of murder. Anyone who thinks borders will soon stop it is nuts, too. The answer we are looking for is in Garrison's greeting, "Dominus vobiscum (The Lord Is With You). And my greeting back at ya, Gary, is "Et cum spiritu tuo," (And with your spirit!"). It's the seemingly missing spirit and grace among so many. Outshouting the Shouter isn't the answer. It's the hate that goes with it, instead of the prayers. Hard to do, isn't. Just ask me, but right now I'm likely hating him too. Somewhere there's answer. I was at a Spritual Retreat many moons ago with the local Jesuits here in our fair city. The Retreat Leader told us the Jesuit's battle cry: "For the Greater Glory of God." And if that doesn't work, "Pray harder!"
No need to like a nut-case, but you sure can pray. Just move those strings in your drawer Use the Rorschach. Shake harder.
Et cum spiri tu tu oh!
Thank ypu.
I meant thank you.
"We stare at the pictures until we can't bear it and then we look again". Could be we are all a little scared that some day this horror could end up at our front door. Thoughts and prayers are fine but voting criminals and lunatics out of our government is better.
I don't want to belabor your point, but one of our most revered politicians of all time was Honest Abe - certainly no criminal or lunatic. And you know how that ended up - one of the bloodiest wars in history as lines of thousands of soldiers on both sides stood across from each other in a chosen field, took aim and on signal fired big round lead musket balls directly the few feet across the field. What stupidity caused such a situation? Fortunately in that case, massive bombing involving "civilians" hadn't yet been invented - by guess who? Humans again doing what they've always done since, as somebody said, Cain hit Abel over the head with a shovel although that probably wasn't the first time.
Bach’s music indeed lives beyond him. Some credit goes to his mother, who enabled his long hours of practice at the organ without interruptions by bring him something he could eat at the organ every noon — a sandwich, perhaps, fruit, a sweet pastry. The first Bach’s lunch.
Good one, Floyd!