Opus 2016-7: Middle Class Morality: Real Tolerance

Americans are an incredibly tolerant people.  I refer to the real meaning of tolerance.  Tolerance is the willingness to put up with people you do not like or agree with.  It is extending them the courtesy that is due because they are also human beings.  It does not mean approving or supporting in any way.  It does not mean condoning criminal behavior because it is politically correct.  Well mannered endurance is a better way of describing it.

This is a Christian value that actually comes from the Old Testament law of the Jews.

(Leviticus 19:18 KJV)  Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.

It is the bedrock of how a Christian relates to people of different beliefs,

(1 Peter 3:15 NAS77)  but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;

This is why the original thirteen colonies were able to unite into a single republic.  Each one thought of themselves as an independent, sovereign nation and yet they were able to give that up and work together in spite of their differences.  Tolerance is the heart of the federal system which is being suborned by the elitists of today.

We are a tolerant people because we are founded on the teachings of the Bible.  Tolerance became a middle class value because of that.  It still remains dominant but the attempt to remove the Christian influence is slowly eroding it.

If we reject this middle class morality we will soon be like Iraq, Syria, Spain, Rwanda and any other of the countries split by tribal hatred and racially centric thinking. 

Viva la middle class morality.

To be continued...

homo unius libri

Opus 2016-6: Middle Class Morality

We live in a culture that is taking perfectly good words and perverting them into some twisted parody of their true meaning.  Being called a prude is an insult when it should be the highest praise.  Gay no longer means happy, carefree and lighthearted.  Love has become lust.  Respect has become courtesy and tolerance is anything but.  One of the pejorative terms of our day is calling something “middle class”. 

Middle class was originally a term for people who have worked their way out of poverty and illiteracy and made something of themselves.  It was a dream, a goal.  It spoke of achievement, stability and responsibility.  Of course, those are also character traits that are mocked today.  It seems to be a package deal.

We would all agree that life is not about a house in the suburbs, 2.1 children, two cars and a family orthodontist.  Life is not about material possessions.  What has happened is that materialism, which is part of the human condition, has been labeled as a middle class value.  It isn’t.  Materialism is a rejection of trust in God and putting your trust in things found on earth.  It is the default setting of the rich and poor as well as the middle class.

Much of middle class America is to be found based on Biblical principles.  I want to look at some of those values and principles.

Viva la middle class morality.

To be continued...

homo unius libri

Opus 2016-5: Election 2016: Third Party Fantasies

As I walked through the room the TV was on.  The topic under discussion seemed to be third party elections.  It is a recurring theme in the day of Trump.  I have even heard Democrats talking about a third party run.  Wouldn’t it be fun if we had a third party from the right and one from the left in the same election.  That could produce some interesting results in the Electoral College.

The talking heads need to get a grip.  So do those of the masses who think a third party is the magic bullet of politics.  Historically third parties are usually just spoilers by spoiled politicians who want their way.  There have been a few exceptions but they follow a different pattern than we are seeing today.

How does a viable third party emerge? 

First of all, start small.  A successful third party needs to start on the local level and build to the presidency.  Everything else is a spoiler.  If you cannot elect a city council member, mayor or member of the state assembly, how do you think you will ever elect a president?  If by some miracle you did win an election, how would he be able to work with congress?  By the time the wet-behind-the-ears Republicans ran a presidential candidate they already had a few governors and other elected officials.  Obviously they eventually replaced the fading Whigs.  It could be done again

Second, be patient.  It takes time, commitment and effort.  People who might join you need to see that you are in for the long haul.

Third, be for something.  The emerging Republicans had three themes:  Free men, free silver, free land.  There are lots of important issues that need to be addressed today. 

Fourth, be satisfied if all you do is reform the party you want to replace.  Many of the standard expectations of today came from third parties.  Free public education and 40 hours weeks would be good examples.  They were considered wild and crazy in their day, now they are sacred.  If the Republican party would begin to demonstrate that it believed in the standards of the party platform, I would be able to lift my head and be proud again.  When they give the socialist in charge everything he wants I wonder why I have not re-registered as an independent.

The time comes for change.  The Federalists and Whigs found that out the hard way.  I hope the same happens for the Republicans.

homo unius libri

Opus 2016-4: In Which I Scare Off Three Ninjas

I was sound asleep.  It was my last morning before I returning to work.  All was well with the world until once again I was rousted out of bed because my wife heard a noise.

This has happened hundreds of times over the last 40 years.  In that time there has been a genuine source of the “noise” once.  It turned out to be an animal in the trash can who could not get out.  Okay, I will give her that one.  The rest of the time, who knows?

She heard a noise.  Okay.  Where did she hear it?  First location was in the back yard.  We have spot lights and windows so I do an internal check of the house.  All windows and doors are secure.  I peer out the windows and see nothing.  I turn on the lights and see nothing.  Then when I was returning from my adventure I am informed that it sounded like someone breaking into the garage.  Understand something for clarity.  The garage is in the opposite direction from the back yard.  Then I was told that she and the cat heard it coming from above the TV, which was turned on at the time.  At this point I am doubting the sanity of one person in the room and the cat doesn’t qualify.  How can a sound of breaking into the garage in the front of the house, made by someone in the back yard come from the attic over the TV?  Maybe it was a ninja.  If so, we are already dead and don’t know it.  Maybe it was three ninjas.  If so we are dead three times and don’t know it.

By now it is 6:00 A.M. and I might as well make a pot of coffee.

The difficult point is that even a broken clock is right twice a day.  The next time she hears a sound it might be something to get concerned about, so I can’t afford to get complacent.  I would rather be up and alert for no reason than sleeping when tragedy gets past the locks.  When you listen to people who deal in personal security the number one lesson has to do with situational awareness.  You can’t be aware if you are asleep.

homo unius libri

Opus 2016-3: Why Your Wife Doesn't Understand You

Male humor gets you in trouble in a female world.

Face it.  Most women have no sense of humor, at least the women in my life.

I am not talking about locker room humor that focuses on sex.  I am talking about the kind of thing that Don Rickles was famous for and the comments the you would hear on “Celebrity Roast”.  Men who are friends can throw out all kinds of insulting remarks and understand that it is among friends.  It is often funny.

The label has morphed over the years.  We have knocked, chopped, ragged, pounded, and of course roasted.  The current term that is being used is “bagging”. 

The kids I work with don’t understand when I make disparaging remarks about myself.  They get this strange look on their face and say in wonder, “You’re bagging on yourself!”  Yes, I am.  Funny is funny and is often based on the unexpected or divergent viewpoint.  Often what I say about myself isn’t that funny.  It is a simple statement of the obvious, but it catches them off guard because I am saying it about myself.

Women will never understand.  Neither will the modern feminized version of men. 

So how many old, bald, male bloggers does it take to put down a toilet seat?  We don’t know because it has never been done.  The ladies may understand the point but might not think it is funny.

homo unius libri

Opus 2016-2: Peace, Brother

There is only one religion of peace in the world.  It is not Christianity.  It is not Judaism. 

Christianity is defined by agape or love.

Judaism is limited by torah or the Law.

Only Islam is called a religion of peace.

The problem, as usual, is in our definitions.

What would a real religion of peace teach?  Christianity has nothing in the New Testament that gives Christians authorization to kill people who disagree with them.  Islam does.

In the Old Testament there are some specific, one time commands to destroy a city or people.  True, but keep in mind that they were limited not open ended.  They were one time events.  The Old Testament has a bigger principle of compassion and care.  Let me give you a few examples.

(Leviticus 19:18 KJV)  Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.

(Proverbs 25:21 KJV)  If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:

You thought that was only in the New Testament, right?

When Islam speaks of peace it is the peace of a happy slave.  It is joyful submission.  If you refuse to submit, it is the peace of the grave.

You have heard the expression, “Pick your poison.”  In this case it is a matter of picking your peace.

homo unius libri

Opus 2016-1: Bah, Auld Lang Syne

I am not going to celebrate New Years Day any more.  It is just another pagan holiday full of superstitious nonsense and ritual.  Think of the ancient cultures that used to sacrifice virgins in order to convince the sun that it should not go away, to invite it to stay another year.  Think of the gluttonous feasts and licentious escapades that were common.  January 1 was chosen by Julius Caesar in 45 BC.  The name comes from Janus a god with two faces looking forward and backward.  I cannot be a part of that heritage.

Also, it is totally arbitrary.  Down through history it has been different for different cultures.  In the 12th century England celebrated the beginning of the new year on March 12.  Cultures that use a lunar calendar are constantly in flux.  Since we don’t know the actual date that Bible declares as the beginning of the year we had best avoid it.

And think of the commercialization of the day.  Greedy businessmen are manipulating us just to make money.  Labor unions are looking for another day off.  What do babies in diapers and old men with scythes have to do with anything?

We can’t even call it “Creation Day” like some call Christmas “Incarnation Day”.  That would open the door to pagans who celebrate the earth being renewed every year. 

So, Bah Humbug on Auld Lang Syne.  Go to bed on time and go to work as usual.

homo unius libri