looking back

as the end of the year approaches, it is probably normal to look back at things that have occurred and contemplate their significance, or at least the significance some have placed on them.   it would be impossible to touch on everything unless one has the intention of writing a full-fledged book, and with my propensity to go on...and on....and on....especially on topics which i feel passionately about, it may not be that far fetched. but there are far too many volumes out there written primarily by people who love to hear themselves talk, while i only wish to weigh in with my points of view.   agree with me or not, i really don't care.   i don't hold or express opinions, like some people do, to only seek approval or fall in line with one side or the other, although there are some who would think that because of who i am i already fall in line with a particular demographic's "agenda" (whatever that may be.   i still haven't gotten my copy in the mail).

anyway, there's a lot to get to, and i already know i'll have to TRY to edit myself on some topics, but i'm afraid i'm pretty sure i feel a two-parter (at least!) coming on.   now, the only problem i have at the moment, is deciding just where to start.   i could go chronologically or by matter of importance, but i'm not sure when somethings actually happened and importance is completely subjective, so i guess i'll just spin the wheel, see what comes up and start from there.   flipflipflipflflflflflip!   and the winner is......

the most recent topic of discussion (and the definition of that is also up for debate since more people want to view "rant" as a form of civilized discourse) especially for this time of year, the annual WAR ON CHRISTMAS!   this has been most evident with the meghan kelly-inspired diatribe over the ethnicity of both santa clause/st. nicholas and jesus.   as many couldn't help but declare, both are fictional characters(a separate debate that we shall not address here).   ms. kelly firmly states that both are white, because....well, they just are.   at the same time, a high school teacher chastised a black teenage who dressed as santa for a school party because it seemingly wasn't appropriate for him to do so, while elsewhere, a black man dressed as santa to give out gifts was shot in the butt with a bb gun.   and, to top it off, the wwe had a wrestling match between a "good" santa and a "bad" santa, with the "good" santa being a (express appropriate level of shock now) black man....and he (audible gasp) won!   outrage, of course, ensued, with some rather disgusting racist comments flying off of twitter like a north pole blizzard.   i mean REALLY nasty!   of course, the comments and those that came to the defense of ms. kelly, were from adults (chronologically, not mentally).   the kids could care less.   they just wanted to know they were going to get what they asked for when they sat on the fat man's lap.  as for jesus?  some people's view of him is so tied to that very aryan looking blonde man in the portrait that more than likely hung in every grandmother's dining room (even black grandmothers) that to suggest he looks any different is too far beyond their comprehension.   and what about all those lovely drawings in all those bibles?   everyone was white!   well, except for that one wise man.   apparently there was only one black man around at the time.
along with the ethnicity question, we had the erection kerfuffle (minds out of the gutter, please).  wisconsin's and florida's official seasonal displays this year included festivus poles, the symbol of a fake holiday from a sit-com about nothing, and at least one somewhere set up to honor the flying spaghetti monster, divinity of the pastafarians.   again...shock, disgust, outrage, blahblahblah, all going to prove only that freedom of religion, to some, is only valid when you agree with their religion.   all other religions null and void, need not apply, go to the back of the line...or better yet, get outta dodge.

of course, this all ties in with the overarching, all-inclusive war on christianity in general.   but until churches are being closed, people are being out-rightly told their religion is forbidden, they are being denied jobs, education, housing and other essentials for basic human survival, or being sent to live in specially designed camps, it's another war without a battlefield, but for the one they create in their own minds.

but, the season is over and it's time to pack up the indignation until next year, when it will be a rehash of the same-old-same-old on the war that never was by people who seem to relish the role of the persecuted, all the while ignoring the fact that christ was taken out of christmas the minute the first holiday display went up in that first department store and replaced by a fat man in a white beard and red suit, whatever color he is.

having touched on one subject of devotion, let's move along to another that attracts an almost equal level of fervor.   in fact, one could say we are moving on from the worship of one god to another, but this just happens to be a god of which the fundamental evangelical (is that redundant?) christians whole-heartedly approve, and much like the god above, apparently there is war on this one as well.   yes, you've guessed i, we have moved on to the WAR ON GUNS.   ever since the tragedy of last december, plus the numerous shootings elsewhere since then, people have tried to begin and actually hold a sane discussion concerning common sense weapons regulation, including expanded background checks.   but every time the subject is raised, the specter of squads in black, moving into peaceful neighborhoods with the intent of busting down the doors of law abiding citizens and hauling off every legally owned firearm, rises like the ghost of marley, wailing and rattling his chains of doom.   grown men (i refrain from using the word "mature") suddenly run around shrieking like pre-pubescent girls who have just been told they won't be getting the 1 dimension tickets daddy had promised, waving their camo-gloved hands and screaming "2ND AMENDMENT!  2ND AMENDMENT!!!", adamantly stressing "the right to bear" while conveniently ignoring "well regulated".

one of the latest to feel the wrath of tea-party/nra zealots, is none other than country star toby keith (yes, he of the post 9-11 patriotic surge) who, upon opening the latest in his chain of restaurants, took it upon himself to post a "no guns allowed" sign at the door.   never has a fan gotten so dirty so fast!!   you would have thought that it was just officially proven that it was he, and he alone, totally responsible for the crucifixion of jesus.   to say the comments on twitter were less than polite would be a gross understatement (go to http://aattp.org/look-as-outraged-teabillies-go-completely-nuts-over-gun-ban-in-toby-kieth-restaurant-photos/).

all the while advocating the expansion of gun possession to the mantra of "guns don't kill people, people kill people" and adding the caveat "if only someone there had had a gun...", people described as so nice and responsible are killing their family members, neighbors, strangers for such grievous offenses as running out of beer or the wrong basketball team won.   guns left loaded, unlocked and out where children can get to them, one child only two months old, who was apparently put down for a nap right where someone had left a loaded gun.   yup.  more guns is the only thing that will lessen gun violence.

since it is obvious that many of the perpetrators have (or had) mental problems, this was also something that was to blame...the need for better, more improved, more readily available mental health care.   it's these crazy people out there!   keep the guns out of their hands!   there has to be something that can be done!!   it's NOT THE GUNS!!!   it's the CRAZY PEOPLE!!!   of course, advanced background checks would help, no?   nope.   too much government interference!   vote 'em down.   more funds for adequate mental health care and evaluation, then?   nope.   gop blocks additional funding.   all of this, despite the fact that the polls show the majority of owners, even nra members, support these measures.

so much for "representing the people".

wow!   that's a downer, but we can't leave this chapter here, so let's remind ourselves that, to date, 17 STATES HAVE RATIFIED MARRIAGE EQUALITY!!   doma was partially struck down and prop 8 was shredded.   one of the most ironic is that utah, home of the mormon church (and one of the primary funders of the drive to pass prop 8) is the latest of the 17 states.   they're pressing the scotus ti make a ruling and suspend the issuance of marriage licenses, but as for now.....let the weddings proceed!!!

of course, we've had the usual declarations that same-sex marriage will lead to people marrying their pets, parents marrying their children or their furniture, the moon will fall out of the sky, and civilization, as we know it, will come to a screeching halt.   forget north korea.   forget iran.   the world will come to an end and it will all be the fault of...DADAda DUUUUUUM!!!  THE GAYS!!!!  (damn it!   i knew accessorizing would be the ruin of us all!)   one priest even went so far as to perform an exorcism in order to save the state of illinois.   the one thing that they all tend to forget is that this country is way behind on marriage equality;  several other countries have allowed it for years, and in case they haven't noticed, the moon's still there, civilization seems to be doing as well as can be expected, considering, and ....we're still here.   yet, the righteous right can't seem to keep their noses out of other people bedrooms because, after all, that's what a relationship is all about...SEXSEXSEXSEX!   it has nothing to do with an emotional connection, a sense of completeness, a feeling that you've found someone you can spend the rest of your life with...all apparently things that some feel are exclusive to being heterosexual.

but the tide has turned.   it might not seem so with all the tumult caused by duckman's recently exposed sentiments, but the negativity towards him and his views does little to advance the cause of gay rights in general.   with his ignorance on full display, it must be remembered he has the right to express them, just as we have the right to show our disapproval    and, if we be rude?   eh!   the gay community has had to cope with much worse.  now, with robin roberts apparently disclosing her orientation, and so very matter-of-factly, most of the comments go to prove that the general consensus is "so what?"   what matters most is judging people by their character and not who they happen to love.   it will be so utterly refreshing when, across the board, such declarations will be treated with the "who cares?" they deserve.   the support shown to the many that have openly avowed their orientation recently (especially athletes like jason collins, brian boitano, tom daly and robbie rogers) gives us all strength.

moving on.  having received the dubious distinction of being anointed the MOST DO-NOTHING CONGRESS in the history of our great nation. certainly both parties need to shoulder responsibility, but, i feel the conservatives in office need to bear the brunt of the criticism.   urged, or should i say threatened, into a position they were unable to worm, cajole or weasel their way out of, those who have chose to christen themselves as the true "voices of the people", the all-holy "defenders of the truth" and the "only chance for the salvation of the state".

i believe it can be pinpointed to the very moment almost seven years ago when she said "i can see russia from my porch".   right then and there we should have known just what the talent pool would consist of.   toting a gun in one hand and a bible in the other, talking in folksy terms to appear more relatable and make you want to sit down and have a cuppa joe on the stoop, sarah was seemingly the first to take the national spotlight.   but that seemed even to dim a bit when she was "ambushed" with the devious question from katie couric, "what magazines do you read?"   why, how very DARE she?!   from thereon out, she was treated more like the joke she really was, except in the circles of the devoted.   and, of course, tina fey became the real household name.   but she didn't stop there.   in may of 2010, she decried the callousness of the liberal media, saying "the perversion over these lastb years of what the media have done to conservatives, i tjink it's appalling and it violates our freedom of the press."  in november of the same year, while discussing rising tensions between the two koreas, she told glenn beck "but, obviously, we're going to stand with our north korean allies."   in june of the next year, while on a tour and responding to a question someone shouted out, "[paul revere] did warn the british.  and in a shout-out. gotcha-type of question that was asked of me, i answered candidly, and i know my american history."   and, more recently, from her book GOING ROGUE (and one of my most favorite), she wrote, "if god had not intended for us to eat animals, how come he made them out of meat?"   god, you gotta love her!!

even as they proudly proclaim to be "the voice of the people", these so-called icons of conservatism continue to spout and do things that for many of us would serve as evidence that we should be committed, at least for evaluation and a pre-emptive fitting for a straitjacket.   some go so far as to qualify for criminal investigation and arrest, yet even those have their devotees.   this pushes it beyond stupid-crazy and into the realm of scary-crazy.   but, for now, let's concentrate on the "stupid" demographic, which, in itself is far too extensive to cover completely, so we'll just hit some highlights covering a wide range of subjects, everything from the inane to the pathetic, starting with

the ever present donald, he of the annoying demeanor and even more annoying hair, still won't let go of the birth certificate thing.   once a staple on conservative sites, he's pretty much been relegated to a degree of obscurity which will only be lifted with the approach of a new season of his insipid show, a clumsy mix of "the real life" and any of the "real wives" franchises.  is there anyone out there who doesn't want to kick him down an elevator shaft while shouting "YOU'RE FIRED!!!!"

ted cruz also seems to have fallen on hard times.   once the poster child for the new and rejuvenated republican party and a darling of the tea party, his father (a true nut job, if there ever was one!) even went so far as to gather 12 fellow clergymen to bless his son at a ceremony at a des moines marriott on july 19-20 of this year.  (with all those clergy one has to ask....no church available?   or just not one that catered.)   anyway, it was more or less determined that it was the younger cruz's role to be one of those who would be responsible for the coming of the END TIMES.  i mean, if i already wasn't going to vote for him that certainly made up my mind.   just what i think everyone wants, a president who purposely wants to bring about the end of the world.   all i need to know is who his running mate is going to be.   but, in case you are still on the fence, you can order "cruz to the future", a coloring/activity book to help indoctrinate the young ones, although it says it's appropriate for all ages.

then we have sweet michelle, only possible contender to fill the shoes of silly sarah. she of the ever crazy eyes.   seriously, looking at her is enough to give you nightmares if what she says doesn't kill you first.   virulently anti-gay, she and her husband ran a conversion clinic until it was shut down this year, and she can always be relied upon to say something that will make your eyes roll, and possibly never come back.   once again, the list of lines she's dropped are numerous, so i'll pick two:
when discussing the affordable care act she said "...let's repeal this failure before i literally kills women, kills children, kills senior citizens...let's care about people....let's repeal it now..."
on the infamous government shutdown in september, 2013, "we're very excited.   it's exactly like we wanted. and we got."  on this one, you have to admit she was at least being honest.
the only good thing i can honestly say about michelle is...she's not running again.   and some say there is no god.

as i've already said, this is a very long list, so i'll do us all a favor (my fingers are starting to hurt and i know i'm going to have to take a potty break soon) so i'll start giving you some thoughts and quotes from other distinguished conservative notables.
glenn beck, once described by stephen king as "satan's mentally challenged younger brother", has said he believes obama, while not actually hating white people, has a problem....he's racist.   and that the president's support of stem cell research will lead to a new eugenics holocaust.
rush limbaugh, he of the four marriages, claimed in 2009 that it was exercise freaks who were putting stress on the healthcare system and that obamacare would result in an increase in the divorce rate.
larry pratt (how i love that name), executive director of gun owners of america, when commenting on the newtown shooting, "this...underscores the urgency of getting rid of gun bans in school zones."   gee, not even an "i'm so sorry"?
in the on-going battle over women's health issues, who could forget todd akins "if it's a legitimate rape, the female body has ways of just shutting the whole thing down."   or the wisconsin congressman who simply put it, "some girls just rape easy."
tennessee state senator, stacey campfield had to weigh in on the gay issue by referencing aids, saying it began in africa when a man (obviously insinuating the man was gay) had sex with a monkey and that it is "virtually impossible to contract aids through heterosexual sex."
another perennial bigot's favorite, anne coulter, has two entries:  "we should invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them to christianity."  that's certainly one foreign policy tactic that hasn't really been tried since...hitler?   and in an even more bible-centric offering, "god gave us the earth.  we have dominion over the plants, the animals, the trees.   god said, "the earth is yours.   take it.  rape it.   it's yours."   i have to find out which translation she's using.
and, lest we forget, one of the leading theological experts of the past, well, forever, we have the right reverend pat robertson, who recently told a woman who called in to find out what she should do about a straying husband that it was probably her fault, that she wasn't trying hard enough to please him.   from july of this year comes something that seems more appropriate to something that may have been said back in the heyday of gloria steinem.  "the feminist agenda is not about equal rights for women.   it is about a socialist, anti-family, political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians.".   well, he warned parents not to have lesbian nanny's because it's contagious.   must be something in the plaid flannel.

what's most disturbing is that with all of this, i have barely scratched the surface.   i know, i know, some are going to say "well, the democrats are just as bad!", but if someone can show me examples that rise (lower?) to the examples of those presented here, be my guest.   no.   i don't mean let me know, i mean write your own list.   as for me, i haven't even touched on the olympics, the new pope, who i think should be in the running for the oscars, twerking (no, that's right.  i already did that one.   oh, alright....stupid.   big deal! don't like it?  don't do it.), the kardashians (briefly?  stupid.  big deal.  don't like it.  don't watch it.)   that's about all i really remember about 2013, although there is more to be sure and right after i finish it'll be "DAMN!   I SHOULD'VE....), but like they say about eating, everything in moderation.   i can always come back.

don't say you haven't been warned.


p.s.   i never say happy new year, because the new year hasn't even begun so how can you be calling it happy already.   i much prefer to let the little old jewish man living inside of me to answer, when someone wishes me a happy new year, "we should only hope (and don't forget that little lift at the end which makes it sound almost more like a question)."   or just a "yep.   it's new!"   but, for now...we can only hope.