Speak the truth in justice

Because "speaking the truth in love" is usually neither truth nor love.

Dan Savage responds to a christianist who concluded, in a letter to Dan, "Please consider your viewpoint and please be more careful with your words in the future."

I'm sorry your feelings were hurt by my comments.

No, wait. I'm not. Gay kids are dying. So let's try to keep things in perspective: fuck your feelings.

Preach it, Dan! When people shame and condemn others for who they are, should I give a shit about their feelings? We really need to stop playing nice.

Go read Dan's comments.

--the BB

Just sayin'

Mary Landrieu is a corporate douchenozzle.

Godde knows I sent money to her primary opponent. I want every last Blue Dog OUT of Congress.

--the BB

It gets better

As we hear heartbreaking stories about bullying and teen suicide, we wonder what we can do about it. I'm sharing this video.



I was not bullied and count my blessings, though I cannot think of a single place or moment in my childhood or youth where it was safe to be myself. I am now 100% out and continuously marvel at how well almost everyone deals with it. I enjoy life. I have known and still know love. So if you are a youth wondering if it ever gets better, if there is any hope, if life is worth living, I want to assure you....

It can get better and even be wonderful if you stick around for it. Please do. You can know so much joy and fulfillment.

Never believe the lies the bullies and bigots feed you. They are ignorant, hateful, and just plain wrong.

Folks, The Trevor Project has resources.

--the BB

Stop being afraid

Thanks to Al via Eileen.

--the BB

My message to the Vice President

At a fundraiser in Manchester, NH, today, Vice President Biden urged Democrats to "remind our base constituency to stop whining and get out there and look at the alternatives. This President has done an incredible job. He’s kept his promises." [Source]

Joe, I've got a message for you and I'm going to keep it really simple: Fuck you!

What you just did was whine at people who worked their butts of to put you and Obama in office. We expect better of you. We demand better of you.

We're not whining. We're trying to hold your feet to the fire and get you to stand up for the principles of the Democratic Party, to stop playing nicey nice with bad-faith Republicans and conservative Democrats so that we give away most of the game before play even begins.

And you have not listened.

You have brushed off both us and our concerns repeatedly.

By the way, not all promises have been kept.

If that's the best you have to fire up the base before elections, you had better be thankful you are not running this November.

I support progressive Democrats from around the country, with encouragement, spreading the word about them in this little corner, and sending them money. But unless I see a real turn-around in the behavior of the White House you can bet I will not send a red cent to the 2012 presidential campaign, just as I will not now send any money to the national Democratic congressional or senate campaign committees. I do not want my hard-earned money going to Blue Dogs, compromisers, party traitors, and spineless wimps.

I will work hard for more and better Democrats in the House and Senate. The White House has accomplished a lot but absolutely may not assume my respect or support.

In short, Joe: Fuck you!

--the BB

Some grown ups respond

One of the "haves" responds to Ben Stein's whining.



h/t to Nicole Belle at Crooks and Liars

Garrett Gruener, a venture capitalist, chimes in with an op-ed at the LA Times:

Instead, Congress should let the Bush tax cuts expire for the wealthiest Americans and use the additional tax revenues that are generated to invest in infrastructure and research. "Invest" is the right word. Putting money into infrastructure — such as roads, bridges, broadband, the smart grid and public transit — as well as carefully chosen research initiatives provides a foundation for future growth. As important, it puts funds in the hands of those who will spend them, generating demand that will pull us out of our economic crisis and toward a new cycle of growth.

No one particularly enjoys paying taxes, but one lesson we should have learned by now is that for the good of the country, we need to tax people like me more. At a minimum, we need to return to the tax rates of the Clinton era, when the economy performed far better. Simply taxing the wealthiest 2% of Americans at the same rates they were taxed before the Bush tax cuts could reduce the national deficit by $700 billion over the next 10 years. Remember, paying slightly more in personal income taxes won't change my investment choices at all, and I don't think a higher tax rate will change the investment decisions of most other high earners.

What will change my investment decisions is if I see an economy doing better, one in which there is demand for the goods and services my investments produce. I am far more likely to invest if I see a country laying the foundation for future growth. In order to get there, we first need to let the Bush-era tax cuts for the upper 2% lapse. It is time to tax me more.

Nice to see folks step up to the plate.

--the BB

We don't need no stinking corporate toadies in my district

Barela wants to snatch NM-01 from Martin Heinrich, our terrific Congressman. Barela's people were the ones who called me last week with the most obnoxious push poll designed to link Martin with big spending and Nancy Pelosi. They got an earful from me. Vile creatures.



If you live in Albuquerque, vote Martin Heinrich for Congress on November 2.

He's a solid progressive working for New Mexico families.

UPDATE:
Susankay noted in the comments that "Martin does not distance himself from HealthCare Reform or other courageous stands." Very true. I just got a notice today that "he signed [a letter] with 45 other House members to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi urging that the Congress vote on permanent tax cuts for the middle-class before adjournment in October. "

I had written, asking him to do so. While I doubt that I made the difference, I am very pleased to see him take a stand for working folk, refusing to let the Goopers or waffling Senate Dems brush this off.

--the BB

Heart thread - 09/27/2010

My friend Janine writes:

Could you please pray for my mother-in-law, Angelica Economides (nicknamed "Dolly" since childhood)? She is in hospital in intensive care with heart-related problems and we are not sure what is going to happen. Nick or both of us may have to travel to Athens.
much gratitude from Janine.

My own (ex) father-in-law, Jack, continues to decline. Please keep him and the family in your prayers as the number of his days rapidly diminishes.

For my sister Shirley who needs medical action that does not seem likely to happen.

For Kirstin who is about to head home after another round of chemo.

For Mark (Mapko) from whom we rarely hear but who remains in our hearts.

For Lisa, who said farewell to her beloved cat Scotty this past week.

For those endangered by the Wisconsin River flooding.

--the BB

The end of the world

All I could do was weep and wail for the longest time, certain my heart had been ripped from me and I would never know anything but pain again. My life was torn away through a small scar on my chest and I would never get it back.

This afternoon some of the details for one of the last scenes of the entire Chronicles came to me, so I wrote it. My alter ego, the fictive redactor of all the tales, realizes the parallel world just ended and the one love of his life perished with it.

Yes, I wept writing it and wept reading it to my best friend. But I have always known this was how the story ends.

It is good to be writing.

--the BB

San Gabriel Árcangel Episcopal Church

When I announced that we had moved once again there were comments about photos. Today I finally remembered to take my camera (and especially as we celebrated the feast of San Gabriel today).


Here is the church viewed from the front. We are right on Corrales Road, the main street in the Village of Corrales.


Today we received and blessed two new works of sacred art. This is our new parochial banner, appliqued, bejeweled, quilted. The feathers feature feather stitches (the sort of wit appreciated by those of us who sew). The banner combines Orthodox imagery with the simple lines of New Mexican retablos of the saints.


And this is a new icon of The Virgin of the Sign.

The Gifts of God for the People of God. Mother Rhonda, our Vicar, presiding.


Go in peace to love and serve the Lord!

I hope y'all can see what a lovely space this is. We also had music as Ed Francis played the euphonium for us.

If you're in the neighborhood, come worship with us Sundays at 10 AM. Next Sunday we will have the blessing of the animals.

--the BB

Would you buy a used car from Jonn Boehner?

Make a pledge and break it the same day. Sounds like the GOP I know and loathe.

--the BB