I walk to and/or from work often. And, when the weather gets better, will be almost everyday I work. I enjoy the time walking. It gives me exercise, helps me to get energized for the day and gives me time to reflect.
I love walking. Problem is, my place of employment is on one of the busiest streets in town and I have to cross the 3 busiest to get there.
I follow the pedestrian rules of the road. I cross at crosswalks and only on walk signs. At one intersection, I have actually have to cross both streets, so I wait for the walk sign.
When it comes on, I walk. However, drivers don't pay attention to pedestrians. You may have a green arrow to turn right (as what happens at one of the intersections), but I also have a walk sign. That means, I HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY!
That's right. I have the right of way. It takes me 20 minutes to walk to work. I leave 40 minutes before work to make sure I have a few moments before clocking in and to make sure I have time to deal with drivers who don't understand the rules of the road.
I have been nearly hit in a crosswalk with the walk sign by everyone from cops to kids. And, that's sad. I leave earlier to make sure I get there in time, but it seems that people who drive leave at the last possible moment and then expect those who who it actually takes longer to get there to wait for them.
Not only that, I have had people stop inside the cross walk, making it impossible for me to cross with the light because I have to walk out into traffic which means I have to wait for another whole light cycle. I can't walk as fast as a car can drive, so it can put me a whole 5 or more minutes behind.
Also, I recently had surgery on my knee, so I don't walk as fast as I normally would, so crossing the street is slower than usual, but still in enough time for cars to get where they are going. I have been called dirty names, honked at and even flipped off because I use the crosswalk in the fashion it was designed, but because I am slower and people are impatient.
My point is this: Yes cars are bigger, therefore, they have more responsibility to watch out for the pedestrian, because, really, if you were to hit someone, whether it was your fault or not, the guilt it would leave with is unimaginable.
Monday, December 28, 2015
Thursday, December 10, 2015
WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?
Recently, President Obama approved the settlement of 50.000 Syrian refugees, to the dismay of hundreds of thousands Americans. Most of these people who disapprove, but not all, are right wing Christians.
These naysayers disapprove because "all Muslims are looking to kill us". "Islam is a religion of violence". "We can't take care of our own, so why should we take care of others?" "They hate us and only want to see us dead". And the list of reasons go on.
These people need a serious history and religion/belief lesson. So, here I will attempt to give these intolerant people not only a history lesson, but a lesson on religion and tolerance.
First, most people will say that the US is a Christian country, founded on the teachings of Jesus, following the morality and lessons that he taught in an attempt to be "saved" and go to heaven upon their death.
I was a "Fundamentalist Christian" at one time. Today, I am Wiccan, a type of Paganism. While not all Wiccans believe as me, the basic tenants of Wicca is "Do No Harm". I do believe that Jesus lived and he was a great teacher, a great leader, a great profit. I believe in the lessons he taught on how to live our lives. Many right wing "Christians" obviously need a reminder of his lessons.
Jesus did not preach hate. He preached love, tolerance, understanding and acceptance. Notice that not one of his disciples were not hte most respectable people at all. They weren't the cream of the crop, the most righteous. No. they were mostly the dregs. He had a murderer, a tax collector, a thief, a doubter, a fisherman.
Yet, in these people, Jesus saw their potential. He saw who they truly were inside. He accepted them, welcomed them, called to them. In some religions, these disciples have become saints. Yet, today, we do nothing but pass judgment, refuse to accept and love.
Jesus taught "if a man smite you on your right cheek, turn to him also your left" (Matthew 5:39). He taught "What ever you do for least of you so have you done for me (Matthew 25:40). "Judge not lest ye be judged by the very measure by which you judge (Matthew 7:1). "For all fall short of the Glory of God (Romans 3:23). " Do unto others and you would have done unto you" (Luke 6:31)And, my personal favorite, Love one another as I have loved you. (John 13:34)
Jesus was a radical for his time. He taught about love, he taught about acceptance and he taught that there was more than just this life. He also said that the road to hell was paved with good intentions. Remember, the followers of Jesus were generally of the Jewish faith. He also called the Gentiles (Non-Jewish). He was the fulfillment of the law. His teachings take the place of the violence of the Old Testament.
SO, WHAT WOULD JESUS DO? Well, he wouldn't be refusing to help those who were in dire need of help just because a terrorist maybe int he midst. He would accept them with open and loving arms.
When it comes to radicals, the US is not above everyone else. Recently we've had a bunch of abortion clinic bombings and shootings. So, if you believe in Jesus, if you are a Christian, where does it say "Thou shall not kill, unless it means that someone who isn't born would be saved?"
I really want to address this point right here. Many Christians don't believe in abortion, but they don't kill to force people to believe as they do. They protest, they talk/counsel those who are considering it, they pray, but they don't KILL others. Period. They concede that there might be reasons that a woman might need one.
Here are a few examples, only the cruelest of people would force a woman who has been brutally raped that became pregnant because of that rape to carry a child that not only reminds her of the brutalization she received, but also possible other effects. This woman will have PTSD, have no doubts about that. The hormonal changes, the depression, the PTSD may cause that woman to have serious mental health issues that could lead to things such as drug or alcohol use, neglect of herself and her unborn child and even suicide.
How about a woman who already has children and is barely able to support them. She is in the middle of a divorce and knows she can't support this new child. Should she bring another child she knows she can't support just to ease your conscience, your beliefs? She is the one who will have to face the consequences, not you.
You say "There are other options, such as adoption available". Well, right now we have over 100,000 children that are available for adoption right now and you're asking for more to be added. You complain about the homeless and starving children, yet you want to add more to those numbers. You want a child to be born, but you don't want to guarantee that child a decent chance of success. How cruel is that.
For those that bomb and shoot abortion clinics and personnel in the name of Christianity, what will you say to Jesus when you see him during the judgement? Do you honestly think he's going to say "Well, because you did it in my name, this murder is okay"?
A COUNTRY FOUNDED
For those who don't know, this country was founded on the premise of separation of church and state and the right to religious freedom. But do you know why?
In Europe, the Catholic Church reigned supreme. They ran almost all of Europe and wanted to rule the world. Their tenants were forced on people who did not believe, often it was a confess, believe as we do or die. And, these were not nice deaths. These were deaths by boiling in oil, burning at the stake, drawing and quartering. Yes, those things are in our history.
Using violence and death was commonplace and many of the Monarchy (almost the whole of Europe was ran by some sort of monarchy system) passed laws made by the church. Even today, the Bible that you read is based on the selections made by the Pope of the time. During the reformation in the 1500's, those that preached that what the Church was teaching was not what Jesus taught. These protestants were often hunted down and made to recant, or even worse, put to death after a sham of a trial.
Our, founding fathers saw this, experienced this and sought to escape this religious persecution. When writing the very basis of all of our laws and rights, they didn't want the Church (any church) to have the power that was so evident in the Monarchy ran Europe. They didn't want the interference, the restrictions that they often saw. They also didn't want someone to be persecuted based on their religion.
How would you Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Lutherans or any of the hundreds of other protestant religions feel if you didn't have the right to worship as you chose? What if you were forced to believe that something you went against your very nature because if you didn't, you would be put to death? Our constitution keeps that from happening.
But, now, many Americans are wanting to deny others the very freedom which they enjoy. They want to deny Muslims the right to worship as they choose. Yes, they call God Allah, but it is the very same God that you worship, the Jews worship. How many names has God been given. How about I am (read the first five books of the Bible), Yeweh, Jehovah.
And, so many of the Right Wing Christian conservatives, especially those in office are rich. Remember what Jesus said about the rich? "It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle then for a rich man to enter heaven". (Matthew 19:24).
Our founding fathers must be turning in their graves right now. They didn't base our system of government on ANY type of religion. They wanted religion taken out of Politics. How they would be so disappointed with what we have done with their ideals.
The first settlers here were Puritans, Shakers, Quakers. Our first political powerhouses varied in their manner of beliefs. Yet, one of the most embarrassing moments in our history was the Salem Witch Trials. It was put to an end by the Governor of Massachusetts. People were put to death because of a simple accusation. The trials were not fair (another one of our rights). How would that play out today?
In today's views, Jesus would be considered a liberal. He believed in helping all, accepting all, do the best for each other. Yet, the religious right forgets this, or rewrites it so that they can feel like they are "Good people".
All religions have radicals. That is the very essence of being human. Even here, in the US, we have our radicals. The KKK is a "Christian" organisation that preaches hate, has resorted to all sorts of violence and yes, still exists today. I have been to a KKK rally (as an agitator against them, I must profess). When they started spouting about whites are in charge and Jesus would take care of everyone and how the Jews are ruining things, and mongrels are depleting the race and on and on, I made the simple observation that Jesus was a Jew and was Middle Eastern. That did not set to well, but in truth, that is exactly what Jesus was. Born of the House of David, who was a prominent King of the Jews.
As a matter of fact, do you remember what it said on his cross? "King Of Jews". So, yes, Jesus was a Jew. And, do you honestly believe, being born in the land of Israel, Jesus was blue eyed and white? The nice thing is, though, we each see Jesus/God in our own way. We were made in his image, so how can one race say they are better than the others?
Other radicals. Mormons, how quickly did you distance yourself from Warren Jefferies when he was convicted not only of Polygamy, but also of child molestation? David Koresch was not non violent. He was a child molesting psychopath who had several heavy duty weapons to bring about Armageddon.
Yes, the US has just as many religious radicals as other countries. As a matter of fact, when it comes to the radicalization of the Middle East and Muslims, who do you think is at fault? The US is. That's right, the US and it's allies are directly responsible not only for the Taliban, but for ISIS also.
How can that be, you say? Well, in the 1980's when the Soviet Union was invading Afghanistan, we helped the Afghanis repel them. But, we didn't help them set up a new political system. We didn't help them build schools, educate them or even help with medical needs. Nope, we helped them kick out the "Commies", then we left ourselves, leaving the region in a very destabilized situation. Enter the Taliban.
Pop a head 20 - 30 years. We remove the dictators and bomb their cities and then, do we stay to help set up a new government? NO! we leave them to their own devices, allowing those who use violence as a means of control to take over.....and we end up with ISIS.
Yes, Jesus was a liberal. You could say that he lived in different times and that is true. But, remember, he lived in a country under Roman rule, which was harsh to say the least. He believed in helping his fellow man. Even in the Garden of Gethsemane, as he was being arrested, going to his certain death, Peter cut off the ear of the servant of the high priest.
Did Jesus say good? No, he rebuked him and told him to put away his sword and healed the servant's ear. (Luke 22 47-53). In that one act, one where violence could be warranted, he denigrated the violence and healed what had been done. Jesus does not want violence committed in his name, and in this one final act, he showed us that he meant to live by peace and love.
So, if you call yourself a Christian, follow the teachings of Jesus, shouldn't you be using non-violence, love, peace and helping others?
WHAT WOULD JESUS DO? He would accept those people, even those who hate him (remember, Paul accepted, love and taught his Roman captors as he was awaiting crucifixion), and try to use these methods to bring them to his way. If this is what Jesus would do, how can you do less?
These naysayers disapprove because "all Muslims are looking to kill us". "Islam is a religion of violence". "We can't take care of our own, so why should we take care of others?" "They hate us and only want to see us dead". And the list of reasons go on.
These people need a serious history and religion/belief lesson. So, here I will attempt to give these intolerant people not only a history lesson, but a lesson on religion and tolerance.
First, most people will say that the US is a Christian country, founded on the teachings of Jesus, following the morality and lessons that he taught in an attempt to be "saved" and go to heaven upon their death.
I was a "Fundamentalist Christian" at one time. Today, I am Wiccan, a type of Paganism. While not all Wiccans believe as me, the basic tenants of Wicca is "Do No Harm". I do believe that Jesus lived and he was a great teacher, a great leader, a great profit. I believe in the lessons he taught on how to live our lives. Many right wing "Christians" obviously need a reminder of his lessons.
Jesus did not preach hate. He preached love, tolerance, understanding and acceptance. Notice that not one of his disciples were not hte most respectable people at all. They weren't the cream of the crop, the most righteous. No. they were mostly the dregs. He had a murderer, a tax collector, a thief, a doubter, a fisherman.
Yet, in these people, Jesus saw their potential. He saw who they truly were inside. He accepted them, welcomed them, called to them. In some religions, these disciples have become saints. Yet, today, we do nothing but pass judgment, refuse to accept and love.
Jesus taught "if a man smite you on your right cheek, turn to him also your left" (Matthew 5:39). He taught "What ever you do for least of you so have you done for me (Matthew 25:40). "Judge not lest ye be judged by the very measure by which you judge (Matthew 7:1). "For all fall short of the Glory of God (Romans 3:23). " Do unto others and you would have done unto you" (Luke 6:31)And, my personal favorite, Love one another as I have loved you. (John 13:34)
Jesus was a radical for his time. He taught about love, he taught about acceptance and he taught that there was more than just this life. He also said that the road to hell was paved with good intentions. Remember, the followers of Jesus were generally of the Jewish faith. He also called the Gentiles (Non-Jewish). He was the fulfillment of the law. His teachings take the place of the violence of the Old Testament.
SO, WHAT WOULD JESUS DO? Well, he wouldn't be refusing to help those who were in dire need of help just because a terrorist maybe int he midst. He would accept them with open and loving arms.
When it comes to radicals, the US is not above everyone else. Recently we've had a bunch of abortion clinic bombings and shootings. So, if you believe in Jesus, if you are a Christian, where does it say "Thou shall not kill, unless it means that someone who isn't born would be saved?"
I really want to address this point right here. Many Christians don't believe in abortion, but they don't kill to force people to believe as they do. They protest, they talk/counsel those who are considering it, they pray, but they don't KILL others. Period. They concede that there might be reasons that a woman might need one.
Here are a few examples, only the cruelest of people would force a woman who has been brutally raped that became pregnant because of that rape to carry a child that not only reminds her of the brutalization she received, but also possible other effects. This woman will have PTSD, have no doubts about that. The hormonal changes, the depression, the PTSD may cause that woman to have serious mental health issues that could lead to things such as drug or alcohol use, neglect of herself and her unborn child and even suicide.
How about a woman who already has children and is barely able to support them. She is in the middle of a divorce and knows she can't support this new child. Should she bring another child she knows she can't support just to ease your conscience, your beliefs? She is the one who will have to face the consequences, not you.
You say "There are other options, such as adoption available". Well, right now we have over 100,000 children that are available for adoption right now and you're asking for more to be added. You complain about the homeless and starving children, yet you want to add more to those numbers. You want a child to be born, but you don't want to guarantee that child a decent chance of success. How cruel is that.
For those that bomb and shoot abortion clinics and personnel in the name of Christianity, what will you say to Jesus when you see him during the judgement? Do you honestly think he's going to say "Well, because you did it in my name, this murder is okay"?
A COUNTRY FOUNDED
For those who don't know, this country was founded on the premise of separation of church and state and the right to religious freedom. But do you know why?
In Europe, the Catholic Church reigned supreme. They ran almost all of Europe and wanted to rule the world. Their tenants were forced on people who did not believe, often it was a confess, believe as we do or die. And, these were not nice deaths. These were deaths by boiling in oil, burning at the stake, drawing and quartering. Yes, those things are in our history.
Using violence and death was commonplace and many of the Monarchy (almost the whole of Europe was ran by some sort of monarchy system) passed laws made by the church. Even today, the Bible that you read is based on the selections made by the Pope of the time. During the reformation in the 1500's, those that preached that what the Church was teaching was not what Jesus taught. These protestants were often hunted down and made to recant, or even worse, put to death after a sham of a trial.
Our, founding fathers saw this, experienced this and sought to escape this religious persecution. When writing the very basis of all of our laws and rights, they didn't want the Church (any church) to have the power that was so evident in the Monarchy ran Europe. They didn't want the interference, the restrictions that they often saw. They also didn't want someone to be persecuted based on their religion.
How would you Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Lutherans or any of the hundreds of other protestant religions feel if you didn't have the right to worship as you chose? What if you were forced to believe that something you went against your very nature because if you didn't, you would be put to death? Our constitution keeps that from happening.
But, now, many Americans are wanting to deny others the very freedom which they enjoy. They want to deny Muslims the right to worship as they choose. Yes, they call God Allah, but it is the very same God that you worship, the Jews worship. How many names has God been given. How about I am (read the first five books of the Bible), Yeweh, Jehovah.
And, so many of the Right Wing Christian conservatives, especially those in office are rich. Remember what Jesus said about the rich? "It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle then for a rich man to enter heaven". (Matthew 19:24).
Our founding fathers must be turning in their graves right now. They didn't base our system of government on ANY type of religion. They wanted religion taken out of Politics. How they would be so disappointed with what we have done with their ideals.
The first settlers here were Puritans, Shakers, Quakers. Our first political powerhouses varied in their manner of beliefs. Yet, one of the most embarrassing moments in our history was the Salem Witch Trials. It was put to an end by the Governor of Massachusetts. People were put to death because of a simple accusation. The trials were not fair (another one of our rights). How would that play out today?
In today's views, Jesus would be considered a liberal. He believed in helping all, accepting all, do the best for each other. Yet, the religious right forgets this, or rewrites it so that they can feel like they are "Good people".
All religions have radicals. That is the very essence of being human. Even here, in the US, we have our radicals. The KKK is a "Christian" organisation that preaches hate, has resorted to all sorts of violence and yes, still exists today. I have been to a KKK rally (as an agitator against them, I must profess). When they started spouting about whites are in charge and Jesus would take care of everyone and how the Jews are ruining things, and mongrels are depleting the race and on and on, I made the simple observation that Jesus was a Jew and was Middle Eastern. That did not set to well, but in truth, that is exactly what Jesus was. Born of the House of David, who was a prominent King of the Jews.
As a matter of fact, do you remember what it said on his cross? "King Of Jews". So, yes, Jesus was a Jew. And, do you honestly believe, being born in the land of Israel, Jesus was blue eyed and white? The nice thing is, though, we each see Jesus/God in our own way. We were made in his image, so how can one race say they are better than the others?
Other radicals. Mormons, how quickly did you distance yourself from Warren Jefferies when he was convicted not only of Polygamy, but also of child molestation? David Koresch was not non violent. He was a child molesting psychopath who had several heavy duty weapons to bring about Armageddon.
Yes, the US has just as many religious radicals as other countries. As a matter of fact, when it comes to the radicalization of the Middle East and Muslims, who do you think is at fault? The US is. That's right, the US and it's allies are directly responsible not only for the Taliban, but for ISIS also.
How can that be, you say? Well, in the 1980's when the Soviet Union was invading Afghanistan, we helped the Afghanis repel them. But, we didn't help them set up a new political system. We didn't help them build schools, educate them or even help with medical needs. Nope, we helped them kick out the "Commies", then we left ourselves, leaving the region in a very destabilized situation. Enter the Taliban.
Pop a head 20 - 30 years. We remove the dictators and bomb their cities and then, do we stay to help set up a new government? NO! we leave them to their own devices, allowing those who use violence as a means of control to take over.....and we end up with ISIS.
Yes, Jesus was a liberal. You could say that he lived in different times and that is true. But, remember, he lived in a country under Roman rule, which was harsh to say the least. He believed in helping his fellow man. Even in the Garden of Gethsemane, as he was being arrested, going to his certain death, Peter cut off the ear of the servant of the high priest.
Did Jesus say good? No, he rebuked him and told him to put away his sword and healed the servant's ear. (Luke 22 47-53). In that one act, one where violence could be warranted, he denigrated the violence and healed what had been done. Jesus does not want violence committed in his name, and in this one final act, he showed us that he meant to live by peace and love.
So, if you call yourself a Christian, follow the teachings of Jesus, shouldn't you be using non-violence, love, peace and helping others?
WHAT WOULD JESUS DO? He would accept those people, even those who hate him (remember, Paul accepted, love and taught his Roman captors as he was awaiting crucifixion), and try to use these methods to bring them to his way. If this is what Jesus would do, how can you do less?
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