WORDS FROM THE SLOW LANE

A MOST RADICAL PROPOSAL

Sat, 11 Nov 2006 15:22:41 GMT

A MOST RADICAL PROPOSAL

Bettejo Dux

A few years back a member of the House of Representatives suggested that congress pass a day of prayer, fasting and repentence. I've forgotten her name and I don't think the bill was passed, but, what if...

...George and Nancy, over a pleasant luncheon in the White House, decided to work together on a proposal to declare that throughout the world there would be declared one day of peace. George could go to all the heads of state, Nancy could plead with the United Nations, that on a pre-determined date in the future the first World Peace Day would be declared. Heads of state can declare war, they could argue, so why can they not do a 180 and declare peace? For one day? Is that too much to ask?

On that designated day, and it should not be a religious day or a holy day, just a plain ordinary human being day...let's say Wednesday, January 10, 2007, Wednesday being a perfectly common day...everyone in uniform in the whole world would take the day off. Toss off his uniform, throw his gun under the bed and go play. Think how happy all those mini-goose stepping North Koreans would be to get out of those hot ugly brown things. Terrorists could remove their masks and take a deep breathe of fresh air. It might help. Admirals and their shipmates and crews could romp around their battle ships and offices in the Pentagon in their skivvies and guys on surfaced subs could lap race around their boats. Generals could toss their heavy medals in a drawer and pretend to be one of the guys. Guys in tanks could climb out of the silly things and pilots could pat their jets and helicopters on the nose and put them out to graze. They deserve a rest from gas guzzling, too. Along those lines maybe it should be delared that no private vehicle be allowed on the streets and highways. Do your fun peace-thing within walking distance of your home or take a bus. Even global warming needs a rest.

Eveyone around the world could go to a public park or playground or mall or amusement park and ride rides or ponies, play tag or volley ball or just sit around and chew the fat. All troops everywhere could pal around with their buddies, visit with their families, hug their mothers and dads and kids, make love to their girl friends and wives. Shake hands with their enemy and grin. Pack up their troubles in their old kit bag and grin, grin, grin. Climb trees, fly kites, whistle at girls, blow kisses, wave flags of peace...

Clown and street performers, singers, mimes, comedians, puppeteers, dancers, could stand on street corners or pass through crowds spreading peace and love and joy. Trained animals...bears and dogs and horses and elephants...could wear peace emblems and do their thing. Parades and peace flags would abound and doves could be released from cages and fly high. No fireworks, no big bangs or anything, nothing but fun and laughter. Everybody loves to laugh. It's free and not nearly as deadly.

Okay, I understand the argument, there's no money in peace, but what if evey kid in the whole wide world...age negotiable...were granted a concession? A sort of a World Peace Day lemonade stand where they could sell t-shirts, baseball cap, sweat shirts, cookies, pop corn, peanuts and cracker jack. Whatever. They'd probably make so much money it would turn them...overnight...into committed entrepreneur/capitalists. It would be a World Peace Day hands-on lesson in free enterprise. They would have to agree that ten percent...negotiable...of their earnings would go to charitable organizations that help other kids in other parts of the world.The rest of it would be theirs to spend on Ipods, puppy dogs, baseball gloves and bats and shoes and pants and pretty dresses. They'd probably make so much money and love the day so much they'd be shrieking and screaming for more. You know kids. Especially American kids.

Of course there will always be some dimwit who won't come to the party but we'll know who he is and he'll be sorry. Good guys in the world will have every news media covering the event making sure other kids in the world see how much the rest of the world enjoyed the day and how the kiddy concession prospered. The voice of America and the Arab world would make sure clippings of this wonderful day got smuggled in to the party pooper. What an uproar that would cause.

You know, guys, this thing might work. Just might become addictive. Maybe the whole world would like it so much it will demand another WORLD PEACE DAY the following month. Maybe two. who knows.

And, whatever, everyone in uniform, everywhere in the world...Admirals, Generals, troops, pilots, tank drivers, submariners, sailors, mini-goose steppes in North Korea, terrorists...could all crawl back in their uniforms and masks, retrieve their guns, tanks, subs, battleships, helicopters, jets, and start killing each other to their heart's content. The very next day!

We can only hope they'd all be so exhausted from the festivities, hung over from peace as it were, they'd not be so enthusiastic about the killing game.

And here's a promise from me. I'd promise to call George, President George, and Nancy, Madam Speaker. It's the least I can do. I'll even go to church...well a Quaker Meeting, that's a compromise...the following Sunday. Maybe I'll even skip a letter.

Gotcha.

To my column readers, this went to our local paper yesterday. That explains the ending. It will be interesting to see if it's published. Will let you know. It seems to some idiots on Kauai I am Tokyo Rose. Now I must get back to my books. CONVERSION. It's coming along swimmingly. By the way,my column has been read ove 5500 times since inception. AOL is the most total screw up. At my address it's as slow as a slug in a jar of molasses.

let's talk peace no hold barred

Mon, 11 Sep 2006 21:04:12 GMT

If you're new here scroll around on the left and read to your heart's content. If you dip into the archives look for INTRODUCTION TO THE BLOG and I will, personally, escort you around. Good stuff here. I think you'll like this one. Remember: comments, pro and con, welcome and graciously accepted.You can find INTRODUCTION TO THE BLOG in the January file.

LET'S TALK PEACE

NO HOLDS BARRED

Bettejo

My thinking began with the idea that some very brave Democratic candidate should announce that the first thing he/she would do is make war-profiteering a crime. He/she would not be setting a precedent. Roosevelt made war-profiteering a felony in World War 11.

Now I'm sure all of you are thinking...boy oh boy, there goes Root Brown Halliburton Bechtel Cheney and Bush...hurrah hurrah. But, wait a minute, remember Eisenhower and the military industrial complex. Now there was a soldier who knew war. Who knew what he was talking about. Most of us don't stop to think of the military complex as he (sorry, I think of it as a man's thing) stands today. When you think of those who profit from this industry, the mind boggles. It sways in the wind. It trembles in the after shock. It stumbles around in the dark debris of death and dollars.

How's this for starters: are you aware that the American military machine is probably the third largest communistic organization in the world? What! How dare you! But think: 'they' live on government bases, in government houses, shop in government stores, drink in government bars and clubs, drive government vehicles. We could go on and on. And who pays for all this? Guess who? Who profits? Well, again...surprise, surprise...maybe you! Do you work in a cannery that makes baby food? How many cans, bottles, cases of baby food are sold every day to government stores on government bases? Military wives have babies and their babies eat baby food. The mothers eat chocolate, smoke, drink coffee, buy canned stuff, too.

You work in a brewery? How much beer does your company sell to the government bars on government bases? Your company makes shoes? Toilet paper? Paper plates? Soap? Cosmetics? Condoms? I win. Hands down. No holds barred. The cat's outta the bag...

And how about this one: your company, a big company...keeps much of a comfortable little town comfortably employed...designs and makes the most powerful killing toys...er weapons...in the world. Keeps us the mightiest, happiest, safest nation on earth. Right? Wrong. The new toys grow old and obsolete...what could have a greater obsolescence factor than a bomb or a bullet? Once spent, once blown to smithereens, you gotta build a new one. Further you gotta sell the goddam things as they grow old and obsolete and begin to clutter up the landscape, and whom do you sell them to? Who cares? As long as they have the money and you got'a bigger toy to blow theirs up if you should end up enemies on the playing field of war. I must remind you: we sold Saddam the nerve gas he used to do in the Kurds. Who profited from that do you suppose? Who worked in the factory that made the stuff?

So we have this immense problem. War puts people to work. Keeps'em in houses, shoes, clothes and bottles of whiskey. Remember: Hitler came to power because the German industrialists thought he would be good for the economy. Sigh.

Well, there goes the old ball game. Or does it?

There are countries that live in peace and do very well. Switzerland was neutral during the Second World War and prospered. Today, Norway, Sweden, Denmark do quite well. And while you might argue Norway, Sweden and Denmark are socialistic, they also have rich citizens. Norway is a monarchy. I think they were recently judged the happiest peoople on earth. Or was it the Danes? Who cares? They are clean, well-managed successful countries that we might take a look at. Learn from

A slight aside: how offended were you when one of our politicians....and I am talking about John McCain...said, "What we need in Iraq is more boots on the ground." The alienation of this remark makes me spitting mad. Human feet go into those boots. Young men and womn die with their boots on so John McCain can lick Jerry Foulwell's filthy-rich boot bottoms. Don't let me get started on the religious right's roll in the madness of war. What could be more miserable, more in need of a great white father in the sky, than a poor scared kid getting shot at? Who could be more in need of a morning watching the 700 Club than a mother and a father whose kid is a boot...grunt...on the front line? How comforting to know god is on his side. Looking out for him and doing the other guy in, to say nothing of making the TV evangalists very rich. Send'em your nickles, send'em your dimes, send'em all your folding money. You must admit our religious right nuts are as loony as the Islamic crazies. Unfortunately for most of the Muslims, and a big pain in the ass for us, they don't got no fancy war toys. All they got are bombs strapped to their kid's backs and there sure ain't no money in that, baby. I guess that's why they get 72 virgins, whereas our troops get halos, wings, and harps of gold. You may want to give that one some thought. I mean if you were a red-blooded young man all fired up to go what would you prefer? Wings, halos, harps? Virgins? I tell you this is a big tough sell. Almost as big and tough as the recruitment salesmen in the public schools and television ads and, while we're at it, what do those ads cost and who pays for thm? Who profits? Do you work in the media?

(I have a hawk friend who says, "There is sex in heaven." I don't know how he knows, he probably learned it at Annapolis, but he claims he does. I asked him once if he doesn't see a problem with the wing thing. He didn't have an answer to that one. )

And so we're back to square one: Peace. How do we sell it? To whom? What's the super duper angle on the peace front? And where do we get the money, honey? It kind'a begins to look like peace ain't cheap at any price.

This is a wonderful starter for a conversation, discussion, debate and brain brawl. Particularly today, 9/11, when this poor old war torn nation is in worse shape, and less secure, than it was five years ago.

Are you ready for this?

Looking forward to your bright minds unsnarling this tangled web. Peace and Love.

What to do with Islamic radicals

Mon, 21 Aug 2006 21:43:44 GMT

THREE CHEERS FOR AMERICA

I will admit I 'transcribed' this...'translated' it..from an email sent by a hawk friend. I simply rewrote it and applied it to today's America. From one perspective it might be called scandalous, intolerant, un-American. Fom another point of view it might even be called plagiarism. Read it. Think about it and then comment. Like it or not, it responds to many of our country's problems...

I wish the leaders of our country would take a stand. Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia laws should leave the country.

Some radical clerics could be asked to leave the country if they do not accept that America is a secular state and its laws manmade. "If these are not your values, if you want a country which lives by Sharia law or a theocratic state, then....America...is not for you," Peter Costello said this. I just changed Australia to America.

I rephrased some of this: ... if you are teaching that there are two laws governing people in America, one American and another Islamic, that is simply not true. If you can't agree with our laws, independent courts, democracy, and would prefer Sharia law and you have a chance to go to another country then perhaps that is the best option

Immigrants, not Americans, must adapt. Be not against immigration, or hold a grudge against anyone who is seeking a better life by coming legally to America, however there are a few things those who recently came to this country...and, unfortunately, some born here and I am speaking to the Amerian religious right...need to understand. Yes, we are a multicultural community and proud of it but we do not allow that to dilute our sovereignity or our national identity. As Americans we have a fantastic culture, society. A tradition of tolerance for other thoughts, ideas, and beliefs worth dying for. Our own language and lifestyle and culture...be it Hollywood or TV evangalism...developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom. We speak mainly English, it is our native tongue. We think you should, too. Therefor, if you wish to become part of our society, learn the language.

Sane, intelligent, reasoning, rational Americans believe in Freedom of Religion. This is not some left wing nonsense but a fact because Americans, on principles of religious freedom, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. Please acquaint yourself with our Constitution and the First Amendment to the Bill of Rights.

It is certainly appropriate to display the bill of Rights on the walls of our schools. If these Freedoms offend you then I suggest you consider another part of the world to live in, because these Freedoms are a very important part of our culture.

We accept your beliefs and will not question why, all we ask is that you accept ours and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us, If you cannot then I suggest you go elsewhere. We are happy with our cluture, our society, and know there is plenty of room for improvement. We don't care how you did things where you came from. By all means keep your culture but do not force it down our throats. This goes for the American religious radicals, too.

This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we are happy to share it. We have a Flag, a Pledge...say under God or don't say under God, that's your right...and the right to believe or not believe. We accept all newcomers, welcome them, we were all newcomers once upon a time, but you must get along with us, not we with you. It's all pretty easy, when you think about it. and it applies to all of us who live in this great country.

Peace and Love Bettejo

DEMOCRATIC GREATNESS

Fri, 08 Sep 2006 01:38:44 GMT

If you want to read other entires, and there's some good stuff here, please go to archives and look for INTRODUCTION TO THE BLOG. I will, personally escort you around. On the left are other columns you might enjoy. My first column THE NO EXIT STRATEGY is still worth reading. laugh at GEORGE AND THE PROPHET OF DOOM. Remember: wit, wisdom, and truth are poweful weapons. use them often, use them well.

DEMOCRATIC GREATNESS

The other morning William Rusher took off after the Democratic party. He went into some detail and great length how democrats are becoming more and more a coalition of minorities who do not always agree with each other. "Many black Democrats, for example, are no friends of the pro-abortion crowd, or the gay lobby, let alone the secularists," proclaimed Bill and that is true. But, to my way of thinking, that is the strength of the Democratic party. The preamble, if you'll forgive a repitition, states, "We the people of the United States..."

It does not say, "We the black people, we the pro-choice people, we the straights, we the gays, we the believers, we the non-believers..." It stated...simply, surely, and well...first thing: WE THE PEOPLE. The problem, as I see it, is that it's difficult to identify with 'people.' Hardly anyone wanders around saying, "I am a people." It sounds so silly. We used POWER TO THE PEOPLE, but that still did not quite say it. (Forgive me Founding Fathers. )I think what we should be wandering around saying is, "I am a human being first." I may be black, brown, yellow, red, white or anything inbetween, Fill in the blank. I may be pro-choice or anti-abortion. I may be gay. I may be straight. I may be a believer. I may have no belief. I may be young. I may be old. I may be rich, I may be poor. But, whatever, we all have one quality in common: we are all human beings and we know that we come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and description. We respect and acknowledge the difference and know that is what makes and keeps us a great nation. That is true democracy. To downplay the diversification card is to play their game: the stupid old game of divide and conquer. No one can divide or 'conquer' us if we play the most powerful card in the game, our basic human core of love and good will, kindness and compassion, peace and joy. We are decent, loving human beings first . All the excess baggage second.

A great many of us, the best of us, of all nationalities, religions, sex or race, economic or social status, are united in the quest for peace. Peace, truth, justice, freedom for all mankind are the words on the banner all of us carry and we fly that banner proudly. In our country...in many countries...many of the bravest military minds are playing the peace card. Numbers, and the numbers are growing, of our very diverse houses of faith...Christian, Muslim, Jew and a thousand others...are flashing the peace signal. Powerful national figures are joining the ranks and speaking out. Sane, rational, thinking human beings everywhere are shouting to the heaveNs, screaming to the sky.

Let those who would use their weapons of war and madness to win the hearts and minds of human beings do their damndest. The best, the brightest, the most loving, the most rational and intelligent minds of all are with us in the cause. Our powers and numbers increase with every passing day. We know that use of force is futile. It only creates a counter force. We've seen with our own eyes the most powerful military might in the world defeated by a handful of armed peasants. In a way it reminds me of our own Revolutionary War: a pitiful force of hungry, cold, poor but dedicated men, beat the most powerful nation in the world at that time: The Mighty British Empire and their mercenary bands.

The senseless death of innocent human beings, by whatever force or means, for whatever reason, intensifies hatred and retaliation. And hatered and retaliation breeds more hatred and retaliation. No one buys democracy, freedom or liberty at gun point. No sane human being worships the god of war. We, who stand for peace, stand on a very high rock, hold the moral high ground and will not budge.

I think of those religious madmen, on our side or theirs, who believe that chaos and destruction will result in right returning. and shudder at their stupidity. They who believe their all-powerful god will haul them off to a safe place while those of us 'left behind' suffer in the mess they created need the help of a good psychiatrist. Sooner, rather than later. It places one who is intelligent and sane in the position of wishing they would be off...the sooner the better...so those of us who practice peaceful pursuits can live with the fruits of our labor of love. One thing I know, I would not wish to spend ten minutes in their company wherever whoever whenever that may be. What a joke it would be if, by their disappearance and demise, those of us 'left behind' could find the peace and justice, truth, compassion and love all human beings crave.

I think of the wonders the zillions of dollars spent on death, destruction, weapons and war could create. I think of lives lost senselessly. I think how these lives and money could be spent bringing good things--life, liberty and the pursuit of happinesss--to all mankind. I think of the love and peace and good will and compassion and understanding that could be shared by reasoning human beings.

Natural catastrophes have always occured. Since the beginning of time, storms, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tidal waves and tsunamis, fire and disease have plagued mankind and, again, all those zillions spent on death and destruction, war and weapons, all those lives wasted, could be put to work helping those caught in theaftermath of these disasters. Help to forsee, respond and prevent global catastrophe. I think of those who say we secular humans don't believe in evil and I respond, "Oh yes we do. You....who feed and get rich on war, murder on command, create bedlam, chaos, madness...are the evil ones."

You, who would have all of us bellieve what you believe. Or else. Know that your god is the head honcho god. Or else. Your faith the true faith. Or else. You way of life he only way of life. Or else. You are the destructive force. A death force preaching life. Liars spouting lies as truth. Twisting and turning the truth, teaching madness and stupidity. You are alienated from the human race as surely as your concept of god is alienated from reality. War is not peace. Insanity is not sanity. Nonsense is not reason. Greed and graft are not healthy. Humans are not born in sin. Pandas were not created, full blown, four thousand years ago. The moon is not made of green cheese. The earth is not flat.

What the Democrats have to speak is truth. W are being lead in the wrong direction. We must come together as human beings who love our planet, our country, our children. Of the three, we love the children...the childen of the world...best and insist on leaving them a healthy, happy, world. A better world. A place where living things flourish and peace reigns. We will all work togeher to make it happen and know that we, as human beings, can do it. If we know this and do the things we must everything will fall in place. We can do this. We must do this. Let us form a Coalition of Peace. Now. Peace and Love fellow humans. Peace and love....

DO GODS EVER TAKE A TIME OUT?

Tue, 25 Jul 2006 22:07:50 GMT

DO GODS EVER TAKE A TIME OUT?

Bettejo

A few days ago a news article appeared briefly on AOL asking the question: What do the Saudis want George to do? It was all a bit mysterious. The article appeared. Comments were made and the article plus the comments disappeared. At least I never saw them again. Sigh.

So, I thought, maybe I should talk a bit about Saudi Arabia. As everyone knows Saudi Arabia is the most oppressive Islamic state in the Mid East. Everybody by now knows George and the Saudi Royals are handholding buddies. Also, as everyone knows, George is also buddy buddies with the Israelis. Not much handholding here, just lots of bombs and stuff changing hands. There's money in it. And votes. Lots of Israelis in America. Lots of Muslims, too. It is a narrow line our spiritual leader walks.

Let's review the bidding. Fifteen of the nineteen 9/11 terrorists were Saudis. Most people suspect rich Saudis funded them. We do know George got as many of them as he could ..quite a few of them bin Ladens... out of the United States right after the attack. Osama bin Laden is a rich Saudi. Seems he had a hand in the attack. We supported him in Afghanistan when he was routing Russians. By the way, we also supported the Taliban up until six months before we invaded Afghanistan. It gets very complicated.

The radical fundamental Islamic clerics want us out of Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Royals want us to stay. Osama is a very radical religious Islamic, no Royal blood, just lots of money, who also wants us out. His family, I think there are some fifty siblings, claims they disowned him. Bin laden and his followers are into the more bloodcurdling Quranic stuff. Slaying pagans. Brandishing spears. You know? Kind'a like our Christian fundamentalists are into the Bible's smite'em, slay'em, show no pity stuff in Iraq.

Remember, Osama, the Saudi, hated Iraqis, because, before we liberated them, they were a secular Islamic state. At the moment, unsure of what they are, everybody in Iraq is killing everybody. Sigh. It gets so confusing. Shias. Sunnis. Wahhabists. Toss in a few Religious Right Christians and some fundamental Israelis and you really have a brew. I mean, how do you tell the good Gods from the bad Gods? Don't you sometimes wish they'd all go somewhere and sleep it off?

There's more. It comes to pass that two Israeli soldiers are captured by a radical Islamic Lebanese sect and Israel, to get its boys back, blows the hell out of Lebanon. The whole country is a shambles. George approves. Israel has a right to defend herself. He sends more bombs and stuff to Israel. Muslims around the world and in the Middle East do not look favorably on this. Neither, it seems, do the Saudi Royals. The narrow line narrows.

Unfortunately for us and the rest of the world, our spiritual leader, George, is master of the gauche. God's gauche, I guess. He has never been too swift at even the broadest of diplomatic lines. Some of us doubt he can spell the word let alone define it and why should he? The most powerful man in the world, the man to whom God speaks directly, who sits in the Oval Office, has no need to practice diplomacy. Diplomacy is for lesser mortals.

Comes the kicker: the king of Saudi Arabia has warned that war could break out in the Middle East if a peace agreement is not reached. King Abdullah said, "If the option of peace fails as a result of Israeli arrogance, then the only option remaining will be war, and God alone knows what the region would witness in a conflict that would spare no one."

The King, I assume, is talking about his God. That would be Allah.

One can only assume Allah is also the God of the Sunnis. The Shias. The Wahawhatevers. Anyway, this Guy is the God of the Quran.

The Israelis also have a God they frequently invoke. I think he's the Great God Jehovah. This Guy is the God of the Old Testament.

The Chrstians also have a God and this gets a bit confusing. Is he Jesus Christ the Prince of Peace of the New Testament? Or Jesus Christ the Son of Somebody or Other and a Holy Ghost who are/is a kind of Holy terror? I have a terrible time keeping everybody straight. Quite often I think they do, too.

Anway, we're back to square one. What King Abdullah told his handholding buddy, George, is that his God is gonna whup the Israeli God's butt if he doesn't get his boys out of Lebanon. The Israelis are buying bombs from the Christian God's weapon's brokers and staying the course...while...back in Iraq, the Shia, Sunni and Wannabe's God is giving the very Democratic Christian God a very bad time.

And the whole world waits for George's God Whoever to tell him what to do. I don't know about you, but I'm not feeling too comfortable with this.

Do Gods ever take a time out?

LET'S TALK RELIGION

Thu, 29 Jun 2006 21:52:00 GMT

LET'S TALK RELIGION

NO SMITING ALLOWED

Bettejo

This morning on the news, speaking to a Democratic audience, Barack Obama suggested that the party should have a deep conversation about religion. I agree. He did--and I was proud of him--make a distinction between the Pat Rob'emson and Jerry Foulwell faction and other Christian believers. This distinction is imperative.This full and deep coversation is overdue. I, personally, have spoken to many intelligent members of Christian churches who have made almost the same statement, "The TV evangalists--Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell and others--are an embarrassment to most of us." Some wag said, wish it had been me, "If they want to sell something, why don't they sell shoes?"

When I ask why, then, sensible Christians don't speak out, they shrug and turn their heads. I think shrugging and head-turning times are over. So, let's all of us leap head first into the fray...

Perhaps it's appropriate it start with a non-believer. I can go where angels fear to tread. That's because I don't believe in angels. First: what is a non-believer? A non-believer is one who does not engage in belief thinking. Does that make us immoral, dangerous, gay, communist subversive UnAmerican baby killing sinners? Ignorant and stupid? Carl Sagan was a non-believer and I think it might be difficult to name a more decent, and brilliant, contemporary human being.

Political scholar and former Republican Kevin Phillips, in an opinion piece in the Washington Post, wrote, "Now that the GOP has been transformed by the rise of the South, the trauma of terrorism and George Bush's conviction that God wanted him to be president, a deep conclusion can be drawn: the Republican Party has become the first religious party in U.S. History."

We were all witness to this when level-headed U.S. Senator John McCain publicly apologized to Foulwell. The truth is: politicians must kowtow to these folks if they want to run on the Republican ticket.

Does that sit well with you? Do you want to live in an American theocracy?

A document issued by the Coalition on Revival, a group aligned with Christian Reconstructionism, stated, "We deny that anyone, Jew or Gentile, believer unbeliever, private person or public official, is exempt from the moral and judicial obligation before God to submit to Christ's Leadership over every aspect of his life in thought, words and deed."

Think about that for a minute. As a non-believer, who pals around with the Friends, I am quite taken with the teachings of Christ. I am quite taken with the teachings of the Bhuddha. Of Ghandhi. Of Lao Tsu. Of Carl Sagan. There are many teachers I admire and whose teaching I submit to in thought, words and deed. I belong to a great secular organization whose four-way test is one of the best assessments one could follow: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build good will and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned? The wonderful members of this organization do great humaniarian deeds worldwide. They are international. They have no religious or political affiliations. And, when they go out into the world to do good deeds, they go out as human beings helping other human beings. I am a human being first. A non-believer second.

How about the moral obligation to their God? As a non-believer I can question that there is such a being and, the truth is: no one knows. You, as a thoughtful devout believer, might ask: "Which God?" The truth is: in a free country there are many Gods. I hope we are all aware of the horror created in a country when one group decides its God is the mightiest and all other Gods and believers of such Gods better get in line. I am reminded of the First of the Ten Commandments: THOU SHALT HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME. I find that interesting. First of all believers must accept that Moses' God, the God of the Jews, admitted there were other Gods. He (why always a he?) is the monotheistic, paternalistic God of the Old Testament, who becomes oddly--historically--entangled with Jesus Christ and the New Testament, Mohammed and the Quran.

As a non-believer, I could tell you some Biblical stories about this nebulous entity that I find immoral and unjust. Stories which I, as a human being, find offensive. I could never submit in thought, word or deed to such a God. How's this one? "Every one that is found shall be thrust though; and every one that is joined unto them shall fall by the sword. Their children shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be spoiled and their wives ravished." (Isaiah 13:15-16)

What I--and many other like me--see are innocents lured in by the teaching of a great teacher only to discover a vicious, treacherous, murderous entity lurking beneath the surface to be resurrected when and as needed. The Muslims have not cornered this wretched market. Let me quote Ezekial 9:5-6, "And to others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: Slay utterly old and young, both maid, and little children, and women..." All that had to happen was simple-minded young American troopers dicovering this passage in a book they'd been taught was the word of God. Today, all of us bear witness to the consequences.

I stand firmly disgusted.

That's strong language on my part;but not quite so strong as whoevers.

I'll leave you with this. "One day, I hope in the next ten years, I trust that we will have more Christian day schools than there are public schools. I hope I will live to see the day when, as in the early days of our country, we won't have any public schools. The churches will have taken them over and Christians will be running them. What a happy day that will be." That's a direct Jerry Foulwell quote. Jerry Foulwell also believes in Armageddon and Armageddon thinking is no joke when the most powerful man in the world, George Bush, is not only this man's dearest friend but a born again Christian who found religion as a way to solve his alcohal addiction problem.

We hope.

Understand: I have no respect for Foulwell. I tolerate him. I dislike him, but I am tolerant of him. Quite frankly, he disgusts me. He has a right to believe and preach whatever enters what passes for his mind, but I do not want him, or any of his ilk, running my country.

I may have gone too far in my first leap into religion, but I hope I have started a lively discussion. No smiting allowed.

PRINCE OF PEACE

Mon, 10 Jul 2006 01:14:32 GMT

THE PRINCE OF PEACE

Bettejo

I don't know how it is in your neck of the woods, but on Kauai in our local paper two columnists quite frequently take up precious space. One is Diana West and the other is William Rusher. They are about as far right a pair of George lovers as you can imagine. I am always locking horns with one or the other of them. In one letter I observed, "These two could rationalize the crucifixion if their boy George had a hand in it."

In a recent column, William Rusher bashed the Democrats and challenged them to stop their bitching about the war and come up with a solution. He also dwelled at length on word bites. You know: IF YOU'RE NOT PART OF THE SOLUTION YOU'RE PART OF THE PROBLEM. Republicans love word bites. The CUT AND RUN thingees. It almost makes you believe most Republicans can't understand words of more than two syllables.

He had a point though. Not about the word bite thingees but coming up with a plan for peace. I accepted the challenge. My letter was published. Holy macaroni! Here goes...

As a dyed in the wool Democrat, I take up Mr. Rusher's challenge as to how to restore peace in Iraq. Perhaps, even in the Mid East. Hopefully some Democrats will take heed.

Mr. Rusher claims that we went to Iraq to find weapons of mass destruction.Didn't find any. If Saddam had'em, he didn't use'em. Nice of him, don't you think? Then we set out to capture Saddam. Been there, done that. Then we decided we had really gone there to introduce Democracy to the Iraqis. Well...sigh...we are sure giving it our best shot, but it appears many Iraqis and others in the neighborhood don't want any part of our munificent gift. It's kind of understandable...from their perspective...when you realize that 70%of the Iraqi work force is unemployed as a consequence of our leader's great Crusade. One hundred and twenty nine thousand Iraqi civilians have died, several thousand are homeless, tens of thousands have no power, water, safe/clean streets, shops, mosques, what have you. All that amounts to, I guess, is that, ignorant heathens that they are, they just don't seem to get the message. Well, I have a plan to enlighten them. Maybe even convert a few.

My suggestion: our spiritual leader, President George W. Bush would fly into Iraq, in broad daylight, his visit open and announced, on Christmas Day 2006. With thousands of our troops lined up smartly awaiting his arrival, in the heart of Baghdad, he would present to the Iraqi people as a great and generous gift from the American people, especially the Christian Right, his multi-million dollar Palace in the Green Zone. Maybe he could have it wrapped in red ribbon, tied with a big red bow, and PEACE ON EARTH splashed all over it in every language on earth. He's got several months to plan this Christmas photo op. To do the Christmas thingee big time.

He could even give them back their oil. Well, mabe that's going a little too far.

However, he could definitely give them the military bases our contractors are building all over the country. That would be a nice touch. Then he could mount his white horse and ride, triumphantly, out of Iraq with all his troops behind him. I'll bet there would be kisses blown, and flowers thrown and trumpets sounding all over the place. There would probably be a red carpet strewn halfway to Paris. It might be judicious of him to wear mail instead of a white toga and cowboy boots...there will always be a few who don't get it...but that would be up to him

At that time, appropriate to Christmas Day, the Iraqi people could open their gifts. They could send home the imported labor George W. Bush, our spiritual leader, hired to build these magnificent edifices and put themselves to work finishing them. Maybe they could even move on the bases, giving the homeless homes, water, power, safe streets, shops, mosques, the works. George's Palace would make a marvelous tourist destination, and, with everyone back at work and relatively safe, our spiritual leader's great heartedness might put an end to the slaughter.

I'll help him fInd the horse and roll out the carpet.

Oh, yes, don't forget Mr. Rusher word bites. How's this one: THE PRINCE OF PEACE RIDES AGAIN. We could do T-shirts, baseball caps and Christmas cards with George's picture and message of peace splashed everywhere. He'd like that. I will generously give the Christian Right first dibs on the franchise booths. They'll like that.

THE LOONY SUNNIS

Wed, 28 Jun 2006 01:01:31 GMT

THE LOONY SUNNIS

Bettejo

I would like to expand on a letter I wrote today to the Garden Island.

It began this way:

...."I do not mean to harp," she said harpingly...

I would like to respond to Rich Lowry's column in the Garden Island Tuesday, June 27. Most assuredly I agree that it was a wonderous feat when we killed Zarqawi, the loony Sunni. Rich is correct in claiming that Zarqawi's goal was to provoke the stupid Shias into responding in a like manner and he did, indeed, succeed. However, I would like to remind Rich that another of Zarqawi's goals was to get us to respond in a similar manner and, again, he did, indeed, succeed. I will not list the horrible acts that our troops allegedly committed, but I will remind you that no matter how YOU view these acts, every crazed Muslim in the world will be incensed and respond to them. We've given them cause.

By remaining in Iraq...the Mid East...as occupiers, we are only creating more Zarqawis in every other nation with a Muslim population. From beyond the grave Zarqawi can only wish George, the hawks, the oiligarchs and our own religious fanatics stay the course.

We cannot kill or convert all lunatic Muslims. They cannot convert or kill all our religious nuts or our poor young troops caught up in the mess Dick and Rummy created.

This is a war, in truth, that neither side can win....

The harpy part? Well, any of you who have read my letters or columns know how I love to harp about our radical religious right and their boy, George, the born again drunk. I think, sincerely now, it's time we called a loon a loon. I think one would have to be certifiably insane to be a Muslim; but then, I think ,one would have to be insane to belong to any religious group. Fortunately, we live in a free country...so far, and in some ways...where one can believe anything one wishes: again, I would remind believers...harp harp harp...that if everyone in the world, except thee and me, believed the moon was made of green cheese, the moon would still not be made of green cheese. All organized believers seem to believe that the more believers believe their nuttiness, the more likely their nuttiness is the truth and, more often than not, reach the boiling point where they are willing to kill someone who will not believe what they believe. Non-believers are a threat to believers. No one group of believers has a corner on this ridiculous madness. Harp. Harp. Harp.

As for George, the hawks, the oiligarchs and the religious fanatics, what can I say? They exist. They are a threat to America and to the world. Spend a moment learning how Cheney and Rummy deliberately fabricated the ties betwen Iraq and 9/11 in order to involve us in this tragic war. Let me remind you: Zarqawi hated Saddam's Iraq because it was a secular state. Saddam did not much like Zarqawi either, because Zaeqawi was a loon. Saddam, for all his wretchedness, did manage to conrol his religious loons. Most of us, who know what's going on, can only hope someone in our country has the courage, and can find a way, to control our religious loons. They are a most powerful group and if you wish to live in an American theocracy run by Pat Rob'emson, Jerry Foulwell, Doderson, the creepy Dominionists or Creative Design phonys please leave a nasty comment where indicated at the bottom of this column and go to church...or somewhere. Preferably that somewhere hot and far away that your silly minds have invented to frighten little children and gullible adults.

It seems obvious tome that George, the hawks, the oiligarchs and the religious fanatics do not want this war to end. Wars, to George and the oiligarchs, are very profitable ventures. To the hawks they're stars and bars. To the religious fanatics this war is a direct route to Armageddon. Soon will come the great battle in the sky: our Honcho? Their Honcho? Actually you-know-who will not be coming in for a landing until the world is in ruin and this batch of wierdos are doing their da**est to make that happen. Their Honcho is a pretty war-like critter when riled ( you don't often hear about that in Sunday school) and, anyway, according to George, "War is Peace." (That should read "War is $$$$s." ) We are involved, ladies and gentlemen of reason, in a religious war...harp harp harp...and, if war is man's disgrace a religious war is the most disgraceful.

Only a couple more harps and I promise to call it quits. George, the hawks and the oiligarchs are doing their da**dest to turn America into a Third World country. 1% own it all. 10% keep them there. 89% are nothing but cheap labor and cannon fodder controlled by the religious right. No public schools. No middle class. No social benefits. More fuel to the fire of their sick plan for the future (?).

Wonder why the R & R'ers choose to disbelieve in Global Warming? Come on now THIMK! The effects of Global Warming is part of the great 'let us all depart in Rapture mitout our underpants' religious bunk.

This entire loony business is like trying to put dozens of scrambled mixed-up jigsaw puzzle pieces...that can't fit, wont fit, don't fit...together. It's like being the only sane person in an insane asylum. I'll admit it gets harder and harder and harder to know there are voices of reason out there. But, all we have to do is find each other and harp....

Every country must fight its own terrorists on its own turf. That includes us. Our presence in Iraq does not exclude Islamic lunatics from committing acts of terrorism here. In fact, it exacerbates them. Bring our troops home now.

Hear me now: harp harp harp and keep on harping. Repeat after me: harp harp harp and keep on harping.

GEORGE, THE OILIGARCHS,THE HAWKS AND THE RELIGIOUS FANATICS

Tue, 20 Jun 2006 17:38:50 GMT

GEORGE, THE OILIGARCHS, THE HAWKS

AND THE RELIGIOUS FANATICS

Bettejo

George, the oiligarchs, the hawks and the religious right are lying to you. They claim our mission in Iraq is accomplished. We captured Saddam and killed Abu Musab al Zarqawi...yes, we did...and destroyed Saddam's weapons of mass destruction program. What weapons of mass destruction programs, George, oiligarchs, hawks and religious fanatics? The truth is we invaded a defenseless country which had nothing to with the 9/11 terrorist attacks (fifteen Saudis were involved) and which posed no threat to us or the rest of the world. Saddam was a miserable little dictator, but Iraq was a secular Muslim State, hated by its repressive Islamic neighbors (especially Saudi Arabia) struggling with sanctions, but living in relative peace.

Zarqawi, a Jordanian-born murderous thug cum-Sunni terrorist, despised Saddam and his secular state.

For almost a year a Civil War between the Shias and the Sunnis...crippling, repressive Islamic sects...have been tearing the country to pieces.

It's deja vu all over again. Just as in Vietnam, our poor deluded troops can't tell the good guys from the bad guys, if there are any good guys in this miserable mess created by George, the oiligarchs, the hawks and the Christian fanatics. Our wonderful heroic kids are under stress the likes of which none of us, who support and love them and our country, can even imagine. We are in control of nothing in Iraq. Not even the Green Fortress Zone where our puppet government hides out and which George, the prize coward, visits occasionally in great secrecy. No place in Iraq is safe. Baghdad is the most violent city on earth. And violence, terrorist acts, shooting, killings, murders and madness pop up all over the country like a plague. We are killing innocent people, blowing up their towns and homes, killing their kids, our kids, for what, George, oiligarchs, hawks and religious fanatics? Iraqis are worse off now than they were under Saddam. Most of them do not have water, power, homes or jobs. And that's the truth. They do not feel safe in their homes or on the streets. That's the truth. We have given the Shias weapons and, in masks, they terrorize the country. The loony Sunnis fight back. We kill Sunnis and Shias cheer. We kill Shias and Sunnis cheer. There are no non-sectarians in Iraq today, you are either one or the other of this religion gone mad and the Iraqi people...and our poor troops...suffer every minute of every hour of every day while the world watches the chaos George, the oiligarchs, the hawks and religious American fanatics have created in this poor country.

No sane leader of this country would have attacked, invaded, occupied Iraq after 9/11. No sane leader of our country would have sent our gallent young men and women to suffer and die there. To commit the insane acts of madness that are part and parcel of an insane war. Just think, George, oiligarchs, hawks and religious fanatics, of all the little countries in the world waiting breathlessly for you to liberate them, hand them democracy on a platter of bombs and Bibles. If any of you think you can kill or convert all Muslims you are truly certifiable.

You can lie to yourselves, George oiligarchs, hawks, religious nuts, and the gullible, mislead and misinformed American people, but you cannot lie to the world and those of us who love our country more than you can imagine. We dare to speak out as George, the oiligarchs, hawks and religious fanatics...greedy, corrupt, maniacs...destroy the beauty, pride and honor for which this country once stood. Truth, good sense and sanity seep slowly up from the people. Insanity, stupidity and lies cascade from the top like filthy water from a bursting dam. The oiligarchs, hawks and religious fanatics in our country would rationalize the Crucifixation if their boy George had a hand in it.

One cannot delcare a war on nebulous 'terrorists'. That would be equivelent to declaring war on every country in the world. Every country has its terrorist. Let every country deal with its terrorists in its own way. Believe it or not, Spain is doing a great job. Dare to find out what they are doing. Let our great country, too, return to sanity in spite of George, the oiligarchs, the hawks and the religious fanatics.

Bring our troops home now!

THEATER OF THE ABSURD

Mon, 13 Feb 2006 01:15:04 GMT

THEATER OF THE ABSURD

Bettejo

If you got here through the ad and don't know your way around, I suggest you read INTRODUCTION TO THE BLOG first. Otherwise, keep on reading. All the way to the end.

The clean well-lighted room accomodated the crowd. It smelled of Ivory soap and chlorox. Folding chairs, neatly arranged, filled the empty space. Along the long axis a dais had been raised upon which an altar...real marble, fake marble, didn't get that close....adorned by a skimpy tropical floral arrangement brightened center stage. My athiest friend and I sat in the back row close to the exit. The building had once been a clinic but now harbored what was touted as the -----'s Cathedral and Chapels. At another time it would have been called a storefront church. My grandmother dragged me to one every Sunday during the summer when, as a child, I stayed with her. There they passed out religious comic books and, I must confess, I thought them absurd. During the school year I attended an excellent Catholic school. The French nuns were wonderful teachers, and, as a boarder, I had forty loving, caring mothers. My grandmother felt her son, my father, had turned me over to the idol worshippers. I loved the nuns and considered my grandmother's church ridiculous. I'd got hooked...but didn't stay hooked...on religious theater: incense, little bells, drama, Holy Water, bread and wine and altar boys.

The other night, in a little theater in my neighorhood, a bevy of talented local kids made up what might, in another setting, be called a choir. When they began to play, the words were religious but the beat was not. I love to dance and before long I was dancing in the aisle much to my friend's bewilderment. Most of the hundred or so members of the enraptured audience were swinging along, too. They smiled at me and tossed me thumbs up signals. A friendly, happy bunch, hands clapping, feet stomping, body moving, heads bobbing, arms flailing, they could have been dancers in a lit up conservative disco with chairs. Almost all of them were sweetly smiling local folks with a flock of well-behaved little kids tossed in for good measure. The kids seemed to enjoy the romp and rhythm and the grown up fun as much as the grownups. No screaming or squalling or squibbles spoiled the scene.

'We' did three long, athletic songs, I never did catch the words, and by the end all of us were ready to collapse. One very large fellow, front row, really got into it. When he sank into a folding chair I thought the thing was going to collapse under his weight.

When the pastor took over, some kind of ritual happened that neither my friend nor I understood. A kind of close encounter thing...in quiet whispers...in which the person to whom the pastor was speaking would suddenly fall to his/her knees, be covered with a blanket, and left to roost, bottom up, head resting on the stage. Perhaps it was a healing or a baptism of some sort. Some of the participants staggered, others wept, but all rose, after several moments of whatever, and returned to their seats.

Soon 'real preaching' took place, open Book, but it was low key, except when a young kid was admonished not to be lazy. Work hard was the cry and bring in the harvest. Other members of the audience participated. "Amen brother." "Work hard.""Don't be lazy." "Harvest. Harvest." It was definitely participatory theater.

After a short intermission...where adults wandered and childen went potty...everyone returned to his seat and the main attraction began: a Creationist, Intellient Designer from the mainland, a kind of a milk toast guy, took center stage. Almost the first words out of his mouth focused on a man, many years ago, who drank and chased women and would not--or could not-- believe, who then got on a boat. Nasty old Darwin was definitely in the script. There was some quiet religious horsing around, miracles and such and then...and I think my friend and I played a role in this, we stood out...Satan got in the act. And athiests. And evil scientists. They, along with Darwin, got tossed in the same pot. 'We' were told about trees and birds of some sort or other and frogs that suddenly became more important than human beings. And abortion clinics. (You may want to look for my column THE PERFECT SOLUTION if the subject is of interest to you.) And public schools. And public prayer. And Satan again. And athiests. And evil scientists. The Ten Commandments and poor maligned Charles Darwin.

By this time the 'plate'...actually they were envelopes...had been passed two times. Milk toast told us he'd been flown in from the mainland, and then sent to Oahu, then to Maui, then back here...his itinerary got complicated...and dollar signs danced in my head. A nice young working man seated next to me, his palms coarse and thick with calluses, pulled out rumpled bills and stuffed envelopes twice as I watched.

The milk toast's harangue from the stage about Darwin, athiests, scientists and such got fiercer. These terrible types got a real tongue-lashing. I think, by this time, the audience was seat-twitchingly aware that an athiest and perhaps an evil scientist were seated among them. Darwin, of course, who had long gone to hell, was probably not in attendance...but one never knew...and if Satan was around, I didn't see him. People to the left of us and people to the right of us moved away and the audience was told that anyone who did not find God at the end of this session was surely a spawn of Satan. Several downcast eyes focused surrepticiously on me and my infiltrating partner.

Neither of us found God that night.

No one questioned the sermon. What was the point? The case had been made. Believers believed. And who there could argue with Michael Behe's convoluted scientific fiction. As for us? It's an old trick, we'd been judged guilty before we spoke. We left quietly.

The point is the entire flock, according to their tenets, were sinners. Only God kept them from running amok. Without God, Satan, athiests and evil doctors and scientists would devour them whole. God wants working people to work hard. Somebody must earn the money to pay for all those airline tickets. 'They' were also told that bad things were going to happen soon, but not to those who worshipped God. A Profit...sorry...a Prophet would speak to them about this in the coming weeks. (You might like to check out GEORGE AND THE PROPHET OF DOOM. Its good for a laugh and goodness knows we all need a laugh.) the only other path to follow was the one that lead straight to hell and Charles Darwin.

I couldn't help but think how quickly good energy turns bad. I'd just witnessed first hand, the transition. I would not care to see the big guy's happy dance turn mean and nasty--and their God plays mean and nasty well. Wars and non-believers do come along and evil must be smitten. On the home front, you've always got doctors who perform abortions and evil scientist who teach evolution, on whom, when God is on your side, you can vent all that pent up wickedness. The turmoil at the end of this persistant rave was palatable and vocal. This happy audience--transformed--was hooked. They would leave the theater filled with fear and fervor.

A question: were the pastor and the Intelligently Designed milk toast in on the joke or were they innocents playing leading roles? I buy the later. They seemed sincere. Not sophisticated men. But the leaders of our country, church and state, in their great hypocritical cynicism, are definitely in on it. How easy to keep the flock ignorant. To brainwash the young. To rouse their passion and their wrath. How easy to keep them fearfull and guilt ridden. Fertile breeders. Cannon fodder. Cheap labor and envelope stuffers are the order of the day. The little boys play in the outback. The big boys prey in the big theaters, the political arenas, the television screen and radio rants. That's how it's done.

"Millions of innocent men, women, and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured fined, imprisoned; yet we have not advanced one inch toward uniformity. What has been the effect of coercion? To make one half of the world fools and the other half hypocrites. To support roguery and error all over the earth."--Thomas Jefferson Notes on the State of virginia, 1787

Evil and absurdity do go hand in hand, but don't look for Satan, or athiests, or scientists, or Darwin. Listen to George the Idiot and his loony tune fundamentalist cohorts. Or visit the Theater of the Absurd nearest you and see for yourself.

updates and comments:

A funny thing happened on the way to the Forum this morning. For four weeks I have been trying to place an ad...paid for, requesting space in the Sunday paper adjacent to the Forum...where I could invite YOU to READ my column WORDS FROM THE SLOW LANE. What to my wondering eyes did appear but my paid-for ad...mit picture, nice smile, I am, in person, a kind'a cute little old lady...on the Obituary Page. Received several calls of condolence and a few calls of delight. Thank all of you for coming in. Peace and Love ME

The island was gladdened...er saddened by the news of the death of Bettejo Dux. I had only met Bettejo once. She was a fiesty old broad, dancing in the asiles of the local church...obviously on fire for the Lord. The Lord, however, saw through her charade and struck her down. Her frail body was found under a pile of horse manure at her local ersatz farm. Foul play is suspected as there were several large black limousines seen in the South shore. One annonymous early morning riser, binoculars in hand, said, "I'm not sure but it looked like the Presidential Seal on the side of the helicoper."

Not all residents are grieving the loss. A party will be held at the Community Center on Friday evening at 7:00 PM. The theme is: "Ding dong! The witch is dead!"

There are no formal services as there is no church willing to hold them. It has been suggested that friends and acquaintances will meet at Salt Pond Beach Park to cremate Bettejo on one of the barbecue grills. BYOB. CHRIS