Rev. Joe Dirt's Ramblings Archives - Page 99 of 148

2014/05/212014/05/21

Another Teddy Roosevelt quote for our times

“These men demanded for themselves an immunity from governmental control which, if granted, would have been as wicked and as foolish as immunity to the barons of the twelfth century. Many of them were evil men. Many others were just as good men as were some of these same barons; but they were as utterly unable as any medieval castle-owner to understand what the public interest really was. There have been aristocracies which have played a great and beneficent part at stages in the growth of mankind; but we had come to the stage where for our people what was needed was a real democracy; and of all forms of tyranny the least attractive and the most vulgar is the tyranny of mere wealth, the tyranny of a plutocracy.“

and bonus one… funny how little progress we have made, or perhaps have reverted back to those times of Robber Barons.

“Men who understand and practice the deep underlying philosophy of the Lincoln school of American political thought are necessarily Hamiltonian in their belief in a strong and efficient National Government Continue reading “Another Teddy Roosevelt quote for our times”

2014/05/202022/12/22

Damn it, you’re welcome

There is a lot of good advice in this short article, 19 Words That Will Make People Like You More. There is one section that struck me most vividly as it has been a pet peeve of mine for quite some time now. From the article:

“Words No. 3 and 4: “You’re welcome.”

Sometime in fairly recent history it seems people stopped saying, “You’re welcome,” and started substituting, “Yep,” or, “No problem.” At the risk of sounding older than I am, I think this is a step in the wrong direction–at least in a business or professional setting.

Why? Because ditching “you’re welcome” for these other phrases changes the message. “You’re welcome” acknowledges that you’ve done something worth someone else’s thanks, while “no problem” suggests that it wasn’t that big of a deal. Saying the former phrase conveys that you think it was a worthwhile favor. That’s an impressive message to send.”

I first started noticing this phenomenon on NPR. The interviewer would say to interviewee, Continue reading “Damn it, you’re welcome”

2014/05/192025/07/20

The Myth of the Shattering of the Vessels

I heard this Jewish traditional myth about the Hidden Light on Kristen Tippet’s NPR show On Being. So I went looking for it on da’ net as it was such a wonderful concept and a wonderful way of looking at other souls.

On the website Tikkum I found the following article How the Ari Created a Myth and Transformed Judaism

An excerpt:

“How is it that a concept rooted in medieval Jewish mysticism has so endeared itself to contemporary Jews? In order to understand this unlikely development, let us first consider the myth itself, known as “The Shattering of the Vessels” (shevirat ha-kelim).

At the beginning of time, God’s presence filled the universe. When God decided to bring this world into being, to make room for creation, He first drew in His breath, contracting Himself. From that contraction darkness was created. And when God said, “Let there be light” (Gen. 1:3), the light that came into being filled the darkness, and ten holy vessels came forth, each filled with primordial light. Continue reading “The Myth of the Shattering of the Vessels”

2014/05/192014/05/22

Dodged the bullet for one more day

I was driving to work this morning when I looked to my left in a grassy area. There appeared to be a figure in a black hooded robe with a scythe in his hand. I did a double take and looked again hoping it was not DEATH. It turned out to a maintenance worker in a black hoodie working on a weed-eater.

Dodged the bullet for one more day.

2014/05/19

My Path to Atheism by Annie Besant

A more descriptive title for this book for today might be My Path from Christianity to a New Age Religion.

Ms. Besant had a well documented intellectual journey from evangelical Christianity to Victorian Atheism to Theosophy. Quoting from Wikipedia defining theosophy:

“Theosophy refers to systems of esoteric philosophy concerning, or investigation seeking direct knowledge of, presumed mysteries of being and nature, particularly concerning the nature of divinity.

Theosophy is considered a part of the broader field of esotericism, referring to hidden knowledge or wisdom that offers the individual enlightenment and salvation. The theosophist seeks to understand the mysteries of the universe and the bonds that unite the universe, humanity, and the divine. The goal of theosophy is to explore the origin of divinity and humanity, and the world. From investigation of those topics, theosophists try to discover a coherent description of the purpose and origin of the universe.”

Reading her book I was never convinced she was an atheist in the modern sense of the word, a rejection of belief in deities. What she was rejecting was Christianity, Continue reading “My Path to Atheism by Annie Besant”

2014/05/19

Interesting Medal of Honor Factoid

Theodore Roosevelt of Rough Rider fame in the Spanish-American War was nominated for the Congressional Medal of Honor repeatedly. There were multiple letters from a wide range of people in this campaign. Probably for political reasons he was never awarded the medal during his lifetime.

103 years later, after Congress changed the law on posthumous awards of military medals, he received it. It took another campaign during which the Army turned down the request once. Bill Clinton signed the award into law during the waning days of his administration.

There are now two sets of father and son to receive this medal. Theodore Roosevelt and his son, Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. who received it actions on D-Day at Normandy, are one set. The other set is Arthur MacArthur during the Civil War and his son Douglas MacArthur (yes that one) during WWII.

Now you know.

2014/05/162022/09/19

Paul Krugman on Climate Change Deniers

A famous Carl Sagan quote definitely applies to Paul Krugman’s editorial in today’s New York Times.

“In science it often happens that scientists say, ‘You know that’s a really good argument; my position is mistaken,’ and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn’t happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion.”

Mr. Krugman’s editorial, Points of No Return, describes how if you are not a climate change denier it will get you excommunicated from the Republican Party.

From the editorial:

“Think of it this way: Once upon a time it was possible to take climate change seriously while remaining a Republican in good standing. Today, listening to climate scientists gets you excommunicated — Continue reading “Paul Krugman on Climate Change Deniers”

2014/05/152023/05/05

Southern friendly vs. Midwestern friendly

We were out with a group of folks a while back and I made a comment about southern folk being friendly. It was not meant to disparage Midwesterners, but one fellow did take slight umbrage. He replied that Midwesterners were friendly too.

All things are relative. Compared to folks in the northeast Midwesterners are extremely friendly. Having lived in all three areas I have some experience with the general friendliness of the denizens of each.

Perhaps the best example I can give would be the golf course. I have lived and played golf in the southern states of Arkansas, Oklahoma, Mississippi and Tennessee. It is not uncommon for me to go to a golf course by my lonesome. In the aforementioned states, I generally did not play by myself very often. Generally if you were a single someone would ask you to join their group. It was acceptable behavior to request to join a group that was smaller than a foursome. In a new area after going to the same course a few times, you tend to bump in the same folks. Pretty soon you have a group of golf buddies. Continue reading “Southern friendly vs. Midwestern friendly”

2014/05/152014/05/15

A quote from Theodore Roosevelt for our times

We of the great modern democracies must strive unceasingly to make our several countries lands in which a poor man who works hard can live comfortably and honestly, and in which a rich man cannot live dishonestly nor in slothful avoidance of duty; and yet we must judge rich man and poor man alike by a standard which rests on conduct and not on caste, and we must frown with the same stern severity on the mean and vicious envy which hates and would plunder a man because he is well off and on the brutal and selfish arrogance which looks down on and exploits the man with whom life has gone hard.