Just Me … Thinkin’
I’ve been thinking about a couple’a things over the last day or two. I haven’t seen anyone (of who I read, anyway) mention this whole Michael Jackson thing yet, so I’m just gonna jump in with both feet. I don’t know if he is guilty or not; I do feel, however, that after the previous allegations of almost a decade ago, the Santa Barbara authorities would not again bring allegations against him if they did not have some pretty powerful evidence. They’d be stupid to. I also believe that if Michael is, indeed, guilty of these acts, he truly believes he is innocent, and that everything he has done was done in a loving and tender way, and finds nothing wrong with it. After all, we’re all capable of rationalizing anything and making ourselves believe it, aren’t we. If true, it’s just so horrible …. and sad.
Secondly, I have to applaud the Massachusetts’ court which ruled “the state’s ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional”. Good for them! I saw a Mass. lawmaker on the news giving a statement after the ruling was announced, saying that he and others will fight it, citing that “marriage is between a man and a woman”. Hmmm … now where do you s’pose he got that? Maybeeee … the Bible? Religious training?? Okay, let me get this straight:
Our children can’t pray in school
They’re considering taking “under God” out of the Pledge of Allegiance
School Christmas programs cannot have religious songs in them
Nativity scenes cannot be displayed on school or government grounds
A judge has been removed from office for placing The Ten Commandments in a government building
etc., etc.
BUT … government CAN cite the Bible and its contents or things learned within the context of religious training when it suits them. Ohhhh, I see how it works now. NOT! Make up your mind boys and girls - either there’s a separation of Church and State or there’s not. You can’t have it both ways!!!
That’s all. ;)
November 20th, 2003 at 3:27 pm
You put that very well. It’s something that has always puzzled me. How is it our President can be hailed as being a ‘religious man who believes strongly in God’, but we’re not suppose to allow our children to pray in school or even at school functions. We are a nation founded on religious freedom. Apparently that only applies if your NOT of the Christian faith.
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November 20th, 2003 at 4:33 pm
/begin bitchin’
Isn’t it sad that just a few years ago (1975, 76, 77) when I was just a young pup… we would stand beside our school desk, with our hand over our heart and say the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, before we did one other cotton pickin’ thing. And we always said… “one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty & justice for all.” It was something that EVERYONE did, and you never thought twice about it!
How sad that in todays society, just because we’re afraid of stepping on someones “cultural” toes, (when obviously they are in the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, if they are attending our schools)… that children can’t be taught the same moral values and common down to earth sensible things, we were taught in school. Grrrr, grrrr, grrrrr!
As for Jocko, what a poor excuse for a man. Someone who obviously can’t distinguish between being a man & a sexual pervert. How could those parents even think about letting their children spend time with that “thang”, after all the “accusations he had against him? I mean without checking things out first or something. Geeze, it sure doesn’t say much for the parents, if you ask me, which no one did, but good golly… give me a freakin’ break!
/done bitchin’
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November 20th, 2003 at 7:33 pm
When in Rome….
I doubt sincerely if any other country would alter their religious customs and beliefs for the sake of not upsetting the Christian population.
It saddens me to think children will not grow up with the same sense of allegiance in school as I did. It’s not like society is doing so incredibly well that we can do without those things.
I agree with your thoughts about Michael, Leigh. I think his life has been so incredibly insular that he’s clueless about reality.
That’s all I’m gonna say about him. Ever.
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November 20th, 2003 at 11:15 pm
Gotcha Leslie - Religious studies have been banned from our schools since the new constitution was developed. No reference is allowed to be made to God at all.
There is now talk of removing all Christian holidays from our “holiday calendar” which includes Christmas. If this comes about, we can have Christmas day off but it will be a days leave and not a public holiday. This idea was proposed by our rather large Muslim community.
Our Constitution has allowed same sex marriages - it is UN-Constitutional for anyone to prevent people exploring their preferences and beliefs. Our Constitution Court recently set the precedent but setting this law in motion.
As for Michael Jackson - all I will say is that I hope it will reach some finality once and for all.
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November 21st, 2003 at 2:01 pm
It saddens me to think children will not grow up with the same sense of allegiance in school as I did.
Leslie, I totally hear you on this. I sometimes wonder if I’m just especially naive, or if children are more cynical nowadays? I know that I have one nephew that’s so anti-establishment, and so convinced about what an evil system the U.S. has. I want to shake him and say, “You’re barely 18! You’ve never worked, much less saw what your grandparents overcame, and what a great leap forward the U.S. was for them!” I won’t deny that the U.S. can be a screwed up place - but, it’s a helluva lot better than what a lot of other countries have.
As far as Michale Jackson, I think he’s missing a few circuits in his brain. I’ve often noticed that celebrities don’t seem to live by the same rules and realities as we regular folks. You’re right, Leigh, he might very well think that he isn’t doing anything wrong.
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November 22nd, 2003 at 1:21 am
hmmmm what to say about him…not much but I am wondering why did he butcher himself like that?????
As for the marriage and religion thing I so agree with you. Good post!
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