Spanky and Our Gang
Sunday Morning
September 2007 archive
Sep 16 2007
Pony Party: Sunday music retrospective
Sep 16 2007
The Morning News
The Morning News is an Open Thread
From Google News U. S.
1 Episcopal Church Faces Deadline on Gay Issues
By NEELA BANERJEE, The New York Times
Published: September 16, 2007
| Ever since the Episcopal Church consecrated an openly gay man as bishop of New Hampshire four years ago, forecasts of a rupture over homosexuality within the church or with the rest of the global Anglican Communion accompanied each big church meeting, only to fade.
But as the bishops of the Episcopal Church approach their semiannual meeting this week in New Orleans, the predictions are being taken very seriously. At the top of the agenda for the Sept. 20-25 gathering will be a directive issued by the leaders of the Anglican Communion to stop consecrating openly gay and lesbian bishops and to ban blessings of same-sex unions or risk a diminished status in the communion, the world’s third-largest Christian denomination. |
Sep 16 2007
Fields, Motels, and Gideon’s Bibles
Join me again tonight for the second part of a little series I’m developing. I’ll attempt to start each one with a little intro, a little refresher of the previous tale, and at the same time, develop this in such a way that each step stands on its own. Tonight’s entry is a revisit and modest revision of this previous posting…Fields, Motels, Gideon’s Bible, Marines.
There once was a girl who grew up in a really small town, really far away from much of anything. As you might assume, that girl was me. I started this little humble series with the intent to see what would happen when I walked back down the streets of my childhood – would I see how things had changed or, in reflection, how much my own perception has changed; have I taken note of what has been lost to progress and the decay of youth; who were the people and places I’ve left behind and if I remember them, does the telling shed light on who I am today. Consider, if you will, that this is an evening constitutional in the cool night air that circulates in the back of my mind.
Sep 16 2007
Iran, Armageddon, and Impeachment
Booman has written an excellent diary wrapping up the coverage on the administration’s plans for Iran. He concludes with something I couldn’t agree with more: the
Sorry for such a short diary, but it’s 3 am and time for me to crash.
Sep 16 2007
The Problem With Civility
The problem with civility is not the civility, it is the whining about civility.
This type of comment galls me no end:
Civility, to me, does *not* mean being ‘nice-nice’. No. If you see me posting something you disagree with, well… go for it! Tell me you disagree, tell me why, and I will try to justify my position.
Civility, rather, means treating one another with respect. Civility means knowing that, as LBJ said “When two people agree on everything, one of them is doing all the thinking”Civility means being polite; it does not mean being silent.
Civility means assuming that other people are of good will, even if they disagree with you.
Civility means being willing to entertain the idea that you are wrong. (well, except me, of course. I’m never wrong).
“How could you think that you ignorant baboon!” is not civil.
“F*ck you” is not civil.
“Only a Republican could think that” is, given the nature of this site, not civil.
“I disagree, because I think XXXXX” is civil.
Civility does not shut down debate, it opens it up. It allows people to venture unpopular positions, knowing that they will not be shot down. It allows people to disagree without risking friendship. It encourages those who are usually quiet to speak up.
Let’s disagree. But let’s not be disagreeable.
The problem with this is that the folks who write this type of comment will wield “civility” like a club in an attempt to stifle debate. I know it. I lived it. I came here because I felt confident we would not buy into this faux bullshit. Based on the reaction to the comment, I think I may very likely be wrong. More
Sep 16 2007
Turning of the Seasons-Autumn
I love this time of year, all the summer visitors have gone home, the kids are in school, the days are getting shorter and our congress-critters are back in action. Next week we will embark on Autumn, the days will get cooler, leaves will change color and critters of all shapes and sizes will be gathering tidbits to save for winter. The Autumn goddess, Fortuna, carries a cornucopia full of the seasons’ harvests……Ah, yes the “harvest!”
Far and wide, my favorite time of year.
My daughter loves to build fairy houses for the fairies to stay warm during winter, it gives us a reason to be outside in the cool, fresh air.
Sep 16 2007
Country Doctoring: How Everyone Got Access to Medical Care in My Community
“We’ve got a house call.”
That’s what my Dad would say…usually late at night, sometimes even waking me up. He was a country doctor, among other things. Let me tell you some stories from my childhood about making housecalls with my Dad, who treated everyone the same, and paid a price for it in the Jim Crow South of the 1950’s and 60’s.
He was dead set against “socialized medicine” but he was so close to it I guess he didn’t see that what he was doing was socialized medicine at its purest, primitive form. Everybody got basic to intermediate medical treatment, whatever race, creed, color, income level, or social status.
Please enjoy!
Sep 16 2007
I was sitting out in my lanai
today with my feet dangling in the pool, sipping one of the heavenly brews, watching the Gators demolish the Tennessee Volunteers [52-20]…. a beautiful day, about 90 degrees, bright sunshine, with not a golfer in sight…. that beautiful Florida sunshine ablaze.
Sep 16 2007
Take This Anger And Click SEND…. ACTION ESSAY
There have been a growing number of essays which address the feelings of overwhelming powerlessness to affect change by Congress in the restoration of habeas corpus, the ongoing insult and assaults on the Constitution, the failure of Congress to do the will of “We, the People,” and of course, the absolute failure to end the Iraq occupation, not to mention the onslaught of oppression and egregious domestic policies that are raping the environment, burdening the burdened, and robbing from the poor.
I’ve been guilty of writing essays that chronicle outrage after outrage with only a glancing nod to action and problem resolution.
So in atonement for that glum outlook, I’d like to put forward a plan that will bring everyone who want to take action the ability to do just that – in community – and using the resources of the will of we, the people, the oversight ability of the collective progressive community and the strength of numbers to affect change.
Sep 16 2007
Meta Meat: Hidden Comments and Flamewars
First of all let me say that I am NOT one of those people who has been on the Internet since it was born and messages were exchanged by putting stone tablets into wicker baskets and floating them down the Euphrates. I arrived on the Intertoobs in November ’05….blown in on the aftermath of Katrina. I found Daily Kos pretty much right away and made it my home. Thus, everything I know about the web and meta and flamewars etc…..I learned in Kosdergarten. It is my only reference point, thus I tend to be way overly referential to my experience there, I have no choice!
For those of you who don’t know, I was heavily involved in the Impeachwars, this allowed me to see and consider nearly every possible excess in ‘moderation’ that is able to occur there. In preparing to launch here, I also closely studied My Left Wing and the Francis Holland situation that eventually gave rise to Political Fleshfeast, a blog that was basically created in reaction to Daily Kos’s moderating policies ….and the reaction to them at MLW! I have seen the damage they can do to people. And to blogs where they occur.
But I have a confession to make….there is a part of me that REALLY likes Flamewars.
Sep 16 2007
ThreadBare: On Motion
Welcome to ThreadBare.
ThreadBare was inspired by word-association, a play on the ‘threads’ of conversation we weave into our Webland. The ‘bare’ part inspired its use as a more personal, ‘soul-baring’ type of thread. Since we spend all week regurgitating facts and linking to sources and quoting experts and verbally sparring, it might be nice on a Saturday to think and feel about things.
What kind of things?
Any kind of things. Personal issues, preferably your own. Societal issues. Site-related issues (issues, please, not ‘issues’). Things that make you happy. Or sad. Or angry. Or mad. An interjection starts the sentence right. No, wait, that’s SchoolHouse Rock. Equally awesome, but not relevant…
And did I mention the possibility of obscure references? I probably should have.
ThreadBare, the Future.
Believe it or not, ThreadBare has fans. Fans I don’t care to disappoint. I will continue to post this thread on alternate Saturday nights as a service to those fans. I thank anyone who chooses to participate, and understand anyone who doesn’t. There are plenty of threads to choose from, and we need them all to make Webland strong.