Those who seek to win arguments in politics or religion are doomed to bang their heads against the wall until they finally get it. Those who don't get it can be found at the bottom of Mac Diva's recent entry in Eric Olsen's Passion pile.
I've only been around Blogcritics a little more than a month and here I am packing my bags already. It's either that or join the fray, and I'm feeling the fray needs my absence.
My blogs generally don't get a lot of comments, because I'm not here to provoke. I'm here to pretend I'm employed. But now my heart's beating too fast because somebody said Catholics don't read the Bible, which is a lie, an enormous, hate-filled, "total" lie — and a back-breaking straw.
Want to see how many names I can pack into a paragraph? Want me to bait you into saying something you'll regret? I refuse. It's beneath me and you too.
What Would Jesus Blog? I imagine he'd just write something in the dust with his finger and wait for us all to shut up. Or maybe he'd get up and heal somebody. Or tell a story. I really don't know. I'm Catholic.
Personally I think Christ died to give us a message that we failed to understand. I was taught by the Catholic Church that I killed Jesus Christ, not the Jews. Me. I was taught that anytime I act in hate rather than love I'm killing him again. I found that useful.
Jesus lives in my heart, not on a screen or in the pages of a book. He didn't come here to become a throwable statue. He's not impressed by anyone's outrage. Jesus Christ doesn't care what religion you are. He was no fan of "organized religion." He called the religious the greatest sinners. That's why they killed him.
The God I pray to needs no defense from me. He's really powerful, lightning bolt powerful, earthquake strong. What name can I throw that can do any more but send another reader away for good?
Is it a Christian act to invite all comers to comment while we stand just inside the door with clubs? Because, if that's how it is, Blogcritics is just another closed-loop blogring — bloggers blogging bloggers. Folly.
Note that I used the word "folly," a word on my "Words I Hate" list. That means it's time to go. It means I'm getting uppity, thinking maybe I'm better than you. When in fact I am exactly the same.
Comments?
Article comments
1 - Al Barger
For starters, I just LOVE this title.
Stick around, though. Some people are going to say crappy, hateful, annoying things. Use this as a learning tool.
What would Jesus do? Would he run away? I think not. Don't let your goat be got. Control your outrage. It's tough to do, I know. I struggle with it, perhaps not always successfully. :)
Stay, and show us your Christian love.
2 - CW Fisher
Beg me.
3 - Al Barger
OK, pretty please- with cream and sugar on top. Us infidels need someone here to tell us about the good news of Jesus Christ.
4 - CW Fisher
It was the cream that did it.
Good news.
We're free to stop hurting each other, free to start helping each other.
We don't need the approval of any church or any other human being to seek after God. And we're free to find him in whatever manner he has chosen to reveal himself.
We're molecules of the same body with the added twist of free will, which is why we look funny using chopsticks.
We are flawed by nature and God made us that way on purpose.
We had misunderstood, perhaps God miscommunicated. He took matters into his own hands.
He became a man and put himself through our worst tortures in order to make things even.
Then he opened the door wide, with very few rules beyond the commandment to love one another.
He tried to keep it simple with stories we would understand, and actions that would translate into any language, through all time or any culture.
He had to suffer because that's what we do. Earth is a very hard place to live for most of us, much of the time. He knew that before he came down here. The test drive was for our sake, because we weren't getting it.
There was too much law, not enough action.
Which brings us back to now. Here we are again. killing him all over again.
That's OK. It's Lent. Catholics are supposed to be doing that. This is the time to celebrate our incredible weakness and mock his puny strength, then throw ourselves at his feet and cry real tears because try as we might, we act in hate all the time and we know it. The prick that cut us off that we cut off, that's hate. That bastard Marvin owes me $20, is hate. You cock, yeah sure, just park your cart right in front of me, asshole.
It's not easy being a Christ killer, but here I am. I'm John Wayne Gacy and Martin Luther and Adolph Hitler and Martin Luther King all rolled into one. If they could do it, so could I.
We are capable of great good and great bad. But we can't do anything while "we" keep waiting for "them" to fix us, because they can't. "I" is the problem. "Me" is the solution.
I spend all day trying to stay on the right side of the thick line between love and hate. Some days I appear to be doing a jig. Other people's problems don't interest me much. There's nothing I can do about them. My hands are full, just as God's were when he came down here and walked around. Mean place.
You can still have a good time. I do, we do. We're not so far off. We just have to remember the one commandment and leave all this church jazz behind, because it's meaningless and irrelevant. I feel that way about anything that gets between me and my focal point.
People at my church like to say religious things to each other, like "May the Lord be with you," but it irks me no end. There it is! First words out of the mouth and it's completely backward. The issue is not whether the lord is with us; it's whether we're with him.
That's the only kind of God I can live with. I don't need somebody who blows in when I'm lucky. I want a live-in. On the other hand I also want a God I'm free to run away from, free to call names -- horrible, unprintable names, oh yeah -- and free to come crawling back again.
Thank God. And thanks, Al, for challenging me to write this. Don't do it again.
5 - Al Barger
You're welcome, CW. However, I for one will need some reminding here from time to time.
6 - Shark
Fisher King, Great stuff as usual. Do you get tired of me saying that?
Are you really 'leaving'?
Was it something I said? My breath? Katie Couric? Hitler's paintings? Watchin' me wrestle Big Al to a bloody draw? (I know that's not a pretty site.)
Was it having to witness the recent Twelve Stations of the Blog? (It's rated "R", but it has some redeeming qualities!)
Please don't go! Please please please. You're my favorite writer on BC! You're the only one who makes me think. I've actually changed my mind on an issue or two thanks to your articulate essays. (okay, you've made me see another side, how's that?)
You've also made me laugh. A lot. I've read just about every one of your entries to my lovely wife ---OUT LOUD. You're immortal in my house! (okay, you're as immortal as leftover milk, but you taste good while you last!)
I'll try to be nice. I promise. Really I will. I'm just funnin'--- most of the time.
(Okay, so I'm cruel. But it hurts me more than it hurts them.)
(Okay, so it hurts them more than it hurts me. Life is tough. What doesn't kill me makes me... yada yada...)
But hey, I have high standards! Every talent show needs a Simon. Every doorway needs a gargoyle--- just as every religion needs a concept of darkness to which light can shine in contrast. (Helloooo, Shark!)
And like you, I have a god that I worship; His name is Integrity. A rare and dangerous ideal in today's corrupt world. Difficult to mention in a crowd without offending someone. Hard to hold others to without sounding self-righteous.
Just like God. And Jesus. (And I tend to wear it on a little imaginary chain around my neck.)
Sometimes, the 'faithful' remind other 'believers' that they don't practice what they profess to believe---and when one's God is Integrity, that opportunity arises, oh, about a million times a day in contemporary America.
I try to do it with humor, but sometimes I fail. Laugh, ignore, negate, dispute, slap me up 'side the head --- or just forgive me.
But don't leave; your writing is always a breath of fresh air.
So what if you're riffing in a digital dumpster in some back alley in cyberspace. You could be giving CPR to a rat that you'll never meet. Ya never know.
PS: Nobody comments on my 'best' entries. (See "Stress Is Killing Me") It's only when I lob an "Al Barger Memorial Verbal Grenade" into the room that anybody decides to pick up my handiwork and respond to it. Try a provocative title like "Racist Pigs Eat Babies for Breakfast" or something like that. Heck, ask Al for some lessons?
7 - Al Barger
Mmm, babies...[insert Homer Simpson drooling noise]
8 - BB
CW, are you serious? Leaving us all alone to deal with the... uh, well... you know?
The end is nigh, the moon is falling, the sun won't rise and now mornings without orange juice.
My God man think of what you're saying! Where else can you get abused and not even be paid for it?
CW, most of us (quasi) normal folk have been there more than once, and believe me when I say that I understand.
So come on, stick around. Things just started to lighten up around here since you and the Shark showed up.
Say it ain't so Joe.
Please SAY IT AIN'T SO!!!
9 - Mac Diva
Methinks Curt just wants some attention. So. . .
Hi, Curt. How's it hangin'? (One day I want to get up the nerve to say that to a man in person.) Why the Hell are you still a Catholic, pray tell? (Now that should give him plenty to write about.)
10 - BB
Overdosed on our nasty pills again have we???
11 - BB
Instead of shooting the messenger we should be focussing on the perpetrators of the crime. If Eric won't do anything then it is up to we Blogcritics to police ourselves and we should not be surprised with posts like this.
Let's be honest, there are mean spirited bloggers around here that intentionally instigate verbal altercations. Until the matter is fixed I predict there will be even more similar posts and good blogcritics will be leaving.
If y'all are so concerned with professionalism, then pray tell what is more professional - posts that bring to the fore these problems or comments such as this? If anybody finds this sort of stuff entertaining then I suggest there is something very (very) wrong.
As much as anybody I want to see this group succeed but in order to do that there has to be some guidelines that will put a stop to degenerate commentators.
12 - BB
Sorry. The above comment should have been posted here.
13 - Phillip Winn
CW, please stay! We have worked to create an environment in which all people are allowed to say pretty much anything, and I know that can be tough to handle. I've wanted a quit a few times over certain people's comment myself, but rest assured that you can always respond and get your own word in, and most of us can read for ourselves.
Keep representing the RCC as you wish, and don't worry too much about the haters. :-)
14 - Debbie
CW,
Please don't leave, I have enjoyed your writing style. I also like Sharks, I find them very easy to read, entertaining and not 'usually' condenscending.
I really hope that you stay.
BTW, just to clear up an misconceptions....I really don't know who Benjamin is and my real name is Debbie.... :)
15 - Debbie
Change 'clear up an misconceptions' to clear up some misconceptions....
Sorry about that I forgot to review before I post.
Also, I don't have a blog... I'm not a writer and I know it, but I do like a good debate (as long as it stays above 'vicious' name calling, I'm not above some humorus name calling)
In case Shark reads this, I meant to put a smiley face after my last post in your Bush has no Shame blog...
I don't want anybody to leave blogcritics because I really enjoy getting to read a wide variety of opinions and debating our positions. If there is a post that is offensive or comment that is offensive, IGNORE it. Don't answer it, ignore it and future posts or comments by that person - there is nothing worse than be left to feel ignored when you are trying to stir up trouble. That usually gets their goats worse than anything else.....the person that stirs up the 'hate pot' is the person that wants to be the center of attention.
16 - sheri
I found this site by looking up info on weird recurring dreams...all I do is enjoy the reading and comment, and I must say, CW, that I would miss your writing if you left. I enjoy and read what you have to say. :0)
17 - Shark
Debbie,
aw shucks, I knew you was kiddin'--- cause I do it all the time myself.
As I've told a (select) few before, (almost) ALWAYS picture me smiling while I type.
That's the sugar that helps choke down the turpentine.
xxoo
S
PS: CWFisher, you asshole. Had enough heavy petting yet? Jeez. I hope nobody washed their hands.
18 - CW Fisher
Dear Debbie and Sheri,
Please accept my most humble apologies for my poor dramatization of a writer stomping off.
It was only writing.
I enjoyed it so much I plan to make my death a weekly thing.
What you have been reading in the comments section of this post are the backstage dramatizations of other writers playing along.
They'll have their turns later.
The two of you -- Sheri and Debbie -- are the whole entire reason we are here, and you just saw the kitchen!
Pots, pans, marinara splatters on the wall, cooks sneezing in the soup, sous chefs cussing into the cous cous, eff words flying all over.
Well, come on in and stand over here. There's room. This is Blogcritics, America's kitchen.
When people ask where's the outrage? I say Blogcritics.
Please feel free to speak up, and excuse us if we mistreat you -- that can happen here if we mistake you for one of us. It would be nice if we had a button for readers so we'd know when to be nice.
Writers are like waiters after the restaurant is closed. Jerks. Oh, sure, we're real polite when we're putting down your plate. Wouldn't you be? Usually there's nothing on it but parsley and drizzled raspberry juice, but the service has snap and panache and is worthy of the penultimate reader tip, which is lol :) It's really all we want.
Did you know where all this colon-parenthesis facial glyphing started? Prince!
So please come back, Debbie and Sheri. You are the reason we're here. We love you, all of us. You are the ones to whom we wish to massage and give sponge baths. It is to you we devote these nouns and verbs. If we could smear you in similes and roll you in semi-colons and bake you in metaphors and eat you like cookies, we wouldn't. Because that would kill you.
And now this. To Debbie and Benj. C., my humblemost apologies for an item that is heavy on my shelf. I wagered that Debbie was a different Debbie in cognito, a fellow BC, and it is absolutely none of my business to mess with the anonymity of anyone on these pages who wishes to be. This apology extends to all BC. And AD. Some of us choose pen names to keep our jobs, others to escape the pressures of fame. Shark, for example, is actually Mel Gibson. And only last week he was Willie Nelson.
Please cut and paste this into your next comment: DON'T SHOOT! I'M A READER! Maybe that'll help.
CW
19 - Eric Olsen
Never have I seen someone switch vantage points in the theater with such alacrity. You're a nut, and you have certainly raised the stakes (which I am not exactly sure how I feel about: more pressure)
If I have caused any discomfort regarding the Church, I do not mean to question any one's faith, which is a precious and fragile thing worth preserving. It is the betrayal of that faith by some that I rail against.
And all of my best post, especially reviews, are roundly ignored. I have come to see it as tacit approval.
20 - CW Fisher
How close can we get the review to the reader at the point of sale? If BC has a searchable base, why shouldn't it be leased to retailers or libraries, on line or off. BC at Border's. Sort of an eBay for quickie reviews. The key being access. My blog, The Apologist, comes up my daughter's phone, and it's quite readable. It's an app.
21 - brea and luke
Dad,
Man, we sure picked a good day to read you. Flame.
-brea and luke.
p.s. Luke says, "Yeah, but really man, you should quit."
22 - Shark
Lay off, kids, or you're outta the will!