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Holy bleeding fuck, people.
Humility, Fasting, and Prayer, Oh My!
[not to be confused, one presumes, with Lions, Tigers, or Ursine Mammals (which may or may not defecate in federally-protected woodland areas)]
Jumping the gun is a fine and aerobic tradition, much like the faked orgasm. I've gotten pretty good at the former and am not at all adept at the latter. (*Fweet!* Ten yards, roughing the listener! Repeat second down." Sorry about that.)
But some seriously double-clutched gun jumping was in order as I perused this Salon niblet.
The process goes something like this:
* Rev up to napalm the idea of national prayer, citing idealized secularization of government, separation of church and state, and the whole "My Ghod can beat up your Ghod" flavor that casts on the war.
* Ease back when the cited Democrats express similar concerns.
* Resume annoyance and bafflement at the 7-to-1 ratio the resolution was passed by yesterday
The resolution, passed 346-49, says Americans should use the day of prayer "to seek guidance from God to achieve a greater understanding of our own failings and to learn how we can do better in our everyday activities, and to gain resolve in meeting the challenges that confront our nation."
First and foremost, I'm prone to stubborn refusal when anyone, especially the government, tells me I "should" do anything. When that particular something is an activity I find baffling at best and offensive at worst, well. . . I think we can all see how likely my participation is going to be. Ain't freedom grand?
I'm wondering, in my own particular fashion, which God Congress recommends praying to? I'd be far more likely to cast some warm, supplicating thoughts towards Bacchus or Aphrodite than the Judeo-Christian deity I suspect they've got in mind. What about Allah? He's a God, right?
I have my doubts that Cthulhu or Nyarlathotep are on the "approved" list. [Remember, kids - Cthulhu Saves! (He might be hungry later.)]
I mean, it's not like we have an RDA for devotion or anything. Are we talking a good, hard, fifteen minutes (an hour after eating - don't want to cramp up!)? Should we take a serene, all-afternoon introspective spiritual jaunt?
My more cynical side wants to take a practical view of things - isn't someone weakened by fasting, distracted by hunger, and penitent in supplication easier to do away with? Perhaps we should suggest our foes in Iraq engage in a national day of prayer, humility, and fasting . . . the better to eat them with.
Humility, Fasting, and Prayer, Oh My!
[not to be confused, one presumes, with Lions, Tigers, or Ursine Mammals (which may or may not defecate in federally-protected woodland areas)]
Jumping the gun is a fine and aerobic tradition, much like the faked orgasm. I've gotten pretty good at the former and am not at all adept at the latter. (*Fweet!* Ten yards, roughing the listener! Repeat second down." Sorry about that.)
But some seriously double-clutched gun jumping was in order as I perused this Salon niblet.
The process goes something like this:
* Rev up to napalm the idea of national prayer, citing idealized secularization of government, separation of church and state, and the whole "My Ghod can beat up your Ghod" flavor that casts on the war.
* Ease back when the cited Democrats express similar concerns.
* Resume annoyance and bafflement at the 7-to-1 ratio the resolution was passed by yesterday
The resolution, passed 346-49, says Americans should use the day of prayer "to seek guidance from God to achieve a greater understanding of our own failings and to learn how we can do better in our everyday activities, and to gain resolve in meeting the challenges that confront our nation."
First and foremost, I'm prone to stubborn refusal when anyone, especially the government, tells me I "should" do anything. When that particular something is an activity I find baffling at best and offensive at worst, well. . . I think we can all see how likely my participation is going to be. Ain't freedom grand?
I'm wondering, in my own particular fashion, which God Congress recommends praying to? I'd be far more likely to cast some warm, supplicating thoughts towards Bacchus or Aphrodite than the Judeo-Christian deity I suspect they've got in mind. What about Allah? He's a God, right?
I have my doubts that Cthulhu or Nyarlathotep are on the "approved" list. [Remember, kids - Cthulhu Saves! (He might be hungry later.)]
I mean, it's not like we have an RDA for devotion or anything. Are we talking a good, hard, fifteen minutes (an hour after eating - don't want to cramp up!)? Should we take a serene, all-afternoon introspective spiritual jaunt?
My more cynical side wants to take a practical view of things - isn't someone weakened by fasting, distracted by hunger, and penitent in supplication easier to do away with? Perhaps we should suggest our foes in Iraq engage in a national day of prayer, humility, and fasting . . . the better to eat them with.
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