Home > Jay Bookman > Archives > 2008 > October > 13 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USSeasons change, and so do other things
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s been a weird fall by almost any measure, with the economy in a historic plummet and a wild and woolly presidential race dominating the news.
But I confess that in some ways, the drama on Wall Street and the campaign trail have been welcome diversions from a strange, disorienting silence back on the home front.
Our two downstairs bedrooms are empty now, their occupants both gone off to college for the first time. The doors are always shut when you walk past them now, a symbolic reminder of the emptiness inside.
Even the dogs are a little off their feed, having lost their favorite playmates. The downstairs bathroom, once cluttered with makeup and curling irons and other girlish accoutrements, now stays bizarrely pristine day after day, like some roped-off exhibit in a museum.
The bedrooms have become museums as well. Last weekend, when I ventured inside to close off the heating vents, I took a moment or two to look around. It was odd —- spaces that were recently brimming with life had become little collections of history and moments frozen in time.
On the walls were movie posters from a decade ago, starring the adolescent crush of that era. Josh Hartnett, anybody? On the desk and bureaus were pictures of their friends, and of our family when they and we were younger.
It was all familiar yet somehow artificial, like those recreations of the Oval Office that you find at presidential libraries. I didn’t want to touch anything, didn’t want to disturb it from its proper place. I just closed the door.
Another thing you discover: Phone calls and e-mails and Facebook messages are poor substitutes for a hug or a smile.
But things change, right? Life cycles through, and sometimes it’s change you want; sometimes it’s not. You deal with it either way, and try to do so gracefully. And change that you once thought would come gradually can instead hit you all at once, making the world and your role in it seem suddenly diminished.
For more than 20 years, for example, you think of yourself as a parent first and foremost, never letting that responsibility out of your head. And then suddenly, that daily responsibility is lifted. You’re now a bench player, to be called upon as needed. Your role has changed.
King Solomon, as the story goes, once asked his wisest adviser for a magic ring, a ring that could sadden him whenever he was happy and cheer him whenever he was sad.
Much to Solomon’s surprise, the adviser later produced just such a ring, engraved with four words:
“This too shall pass.”
Solomon, being a wise man himself, recognized that the sentence applied even to the king.
So things change; roles change. Bottom rail on top now, as the saying goes, and a little while later the roles will be reversed yet again.
By tradition, Solomon also authored the Bible’s Book of Ecclesiastes. Most of us are probably familiar with its most famous passage, even if we don’t recall its source:
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven,” it says in part.
“A time to kill, and a time to heal… A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.”
As a nation, we are engaged for the moment in what amounts to “a time to hate, a time of war,” at least in political terms. But this too shall pass, to be followed in the nature of things by what we hope will be a season of healing and relative peace.
It’s important to remember that. Should we get too heedless in our anger or arrogance over the next few weeks, should fear of loss or change drive us too far, we may find ourselves inflicting wounds and divisions that are too deep to heal easily.
Yes, change and loss are hard. But I can tell you they are easier to accept than we sometimes think.
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Comments
By ByteMe
October 13, 2008 7:09 AM | Link to this
Parents’ weekend isn’t that far off.
By hillbilly ragger
October 13, 2008 7:21 AM | Link to this
I know I’ll be writing a column like yours (or thinking it anyway) all too soon myself.
By AJC/DNC Management
October 13, 2008 7:22 AM | Link to this
Yeah, if Oblahma wins the election the AJC will go from being a hateful, raging trashcan of doom and gloom, all of a sudden the economy will be wonderful, the war will be good and the democrats will do no wrong.
Until then, let’s get back to spewing about Sarah.
By TW
October 13, 2008 7:23 AM | Link to this
Kind words, Jay. The rightwing ought be grateful they have mercy like yours when their world crashes down around them. Don’t suppose we’d be so lucky were the shoe on the other foot.
By Mrs. Godzilla
October 13, 2008 7:25 AM | Link to this
And someday Jay, just when you are used to the empty house, one of them moves back in for a while…….EEEK!
The laundry piles up again, the secret stash of icy cold Yohoo’s goes missing and the cordless phone is usually dead.
By paisana
October 13, 2008 7:27 AM | Link to this
Maybe James Carville or Paul Begala will be chumming the girls’ dorms ,dragging a hundred dollar bill behind a string perhaps.
By Mrs. Godzilla
October 13, 2008 7:41 AM | Link to this
Just announced:
Paul Krugman wins Nobel Prize for Economics
By Bud Wiser
October 13, 2008 7:44 AM | Link to this
When my youngest left for college, she took with her all of the piano music I had come accustomed to hearing in the evenings. She practiced for hours on end, and it paid off well as she got a full scholarship to Berry College for piano and music studies, and now teaches voice and piano.
But, when she left initially, the house became thunderously quiet because all of her music was gone. My wife plays some, but lost interest. ‘Chopsticks’ is the limit of my piano skills, I prefer the guitar.
How I do miss the music though, still.
By GOPs got to go
October 13, 2008 7:59 AM | Link to this
Ah Jay,
I have been doing the exact same thing at my home. I ca not tell you how many times I go in to those 2 bedrooms and turn on the light to look around. Just last night I did this ritual yet again. Every time I ask myself, “do you think it will look different this time?” And yet I continue to do it, look around with a smile and a tear. I take comfort in knowing that I have done the most important job I will ever have, and come out on top, with two amazing young women as the product. I have tried to instill in them honesty, hard work, a love of learning, and a healthy dose of humility. And never forget to step back from a situation and think, what the worst that can happen? That will usually bring you back to reality in a hurry. In lieu of death, nuclear war, pandemics and the such, as you said, this too shall pass.
I mourned my oldest leaving for months prior to the event, preparing myself mentally. My husband kept telling me it was a normal part of life and I should rejoice. After we moved her in he cried like a girl all the way home. I am talking about snotty sobs here. Not a word was spoken in the car. We had her best friend and little sister with us, no noise at all except my husband trying to hide the fact that he was bawling.
Now my second child has always been fun loving and independent. She spent the better part of the last two years at home on the go. Between soccer, friends and a boyfriend we rarely saw her. I think that is natures way of getting you ready for the quiet and solitude of them both being gone. The move in was less traumatic that time.
Over the summer they got a rental house together and needed furniture. Of course they used theirs from home. So I took that time to do some redecorating. Paint is a huge thing. I wanted to make sure that if they wanted to come home awhile, there was a nice place to sleep in. So far neither has slept over, but one can always hope and the holidays are coming up.
What made the house even weirder was they wanted their dog to live with them too. Now I love my dog, a huge laid back black lab who we rescued. But I also thought he would be good protection for two beautiful young girls living downtown.
So I am back to where I was 25 years ago. Not a bad place to be really, no one to cook or clean for, not even the dog. On Saturday I am leaving for Southern Italy for 2 weeks to ride my bike. I did not have to think about who I needed to get to help with the kids and dog. I voted early since it will be close to election time when I get back. I wont have to listen to those pesky ads on television or watch my 401K die before my eyes. I have practiced my Italian and feel competent enough to ask for food and directions.
Voi partite una casa, per vivere. E noi amare loro.
Ciao.
By N-GA
October 13, 2008 8:40 AM | Link to this
Jay,
The genie is out of the bottle. There was once (relatively) civil discourse when discussing politics, but no more. For as long as the talking heads (from both sides) continue to spew such inflamatory crap about anyone with an opposing position, the polarization will continue.
For as long as the media continues to give airtime and column inches to the extremists instead of the moderates, the anger will continue.
For as long as the public continues to eat up this tabloid sensationalism and twisted reporting, the trench warfare will continue.
For as long as the collective memory of the American voter lasts as long as the last soundbite, this madness will continue.
Sorry Jay, but that’s the way it is…now.
By Bosch
October 13, 2008 8:41 AM | Link to this
Jay,
How’s this for change? My oldest went to college this year, and I have two more at home. In July, we did the “re-arrange” the bedroom thing, where the other Bosch and I moved upstairs (which had formerly been “boy world”) which we turned into our “master suite” leaving my other son and daughter downstairs. It was sweet! For about a week.
We are also the sole caregivers for three elderly relatives - one already lives with us, the other two lived a street behind us.
The weekend after I finished hanging up artwork in our new spaces (you know that’s the last thing you do) - one of the elderly relatives that lives a street over, had a stroke, and has been hospitalized since (about six weeks) - the other moved in with us - making it two elderly relatives in the house - one in nursing home.
So we had to do the “room re-arranging” thing again, plus clean out a house. And now, the space we all were envisioning for ourselves isn’t what we thought it would be.
Point is, enjoy the silence for a moment because before too long, I had a week, you’ll be taking care of elderly relatives, and it’s alot different than taking care of kids.
Changing diapers isn’t nearly as yucky as cleaning up 90-year-old pee!
In the meantime, I’m missing my college son too.
By "The Corporal"
October 13, 2008 8:46 AM | Link to this
Jay
I’m happy you are quoting scripture (although your liberal bloggers always get very upset when they see someone doing that) but you left out perhaps the most important verse in Ecclesiastes.
The heart of the wise inclines to the right but the heart of the fool to the left. Ecclesiastes 10:2 (NIV)
and while I’m at it ……….
Another very important one applicable to the Brian Nichols case:
When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, the hearts of the people are filled with schemes to do wrong. Ecclesiastes 8:11
By Mrs. Godzilla
October 13, 2008 8:49 AM | Link to this
Bosch
You are an exceptional human, what a wonderful thing you and the lovely Mrs, are doing.
By Bosch
October 13, 2008 8:52 AM | Link to this
Mrs. G.,
It’s really simple and can be described in one world - “love.”
:-)
Have you ever had a relative in a nursing home? DEPRESSING!!!!! God, I’d rather have them in my house than to have to go to that place.
By hillbilly ragger
October 13, 2008 8:54 AM | Link to this
“When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, the hearts of the people are filled with schemes to do wrong. Ecclesiastes 8:11”
And yet, we progressives have been surprisingly civil about replacing the Bush Crime Family with another administration through the conventional election process, and not through impeachment and conviction, and certainly not through violent protest.
It’s like we’d read the New Testament, too, or somethin’.
By Bosch
October 13, 2008 8:56 AM | Link to this
Mrs. G.,
Word, not world. Sorry.
Off to the dentist! Wish me luck.
By TN Gelding
October 13, 2008 8:56 AM | Link to this
Very wise words from you as well, Jay.
This win at any cost mentality has got to change. Sometimes you have to be able to admit the other side is better and give them their due, instead of trying to tear them down. You’d think the high cost we ahve paid over the last 7 years, 8 months and 24 days would help teach us that lesson, but I doubt it.
By "The Corporal"
October 13, 2008 9:05 AM | Link to this
To today’s ventor who sanctimoniously asked how the religious right felt about having a presidential candidate whose wife’s fortune is from beer distribution, it’s probably not the same feeling as the left felt about a former president whose personal fortune came from his father’s illegal rum running.
By N-GA
October 13, 2008 9:07 AM | Link to this
Huh?
By GOPs got to go
October 13, 2008 9:08 AM | Link to this
Corporal,
Let me take this time to acknowledge your vastly superior biblical quoting endeavors. Can everyone PLEASE acknowledge the Corporal? He might give it a rest if he gets a group pat on the back, Hmm, well maybe. If I never have to see the tired left/right Jesus hates liberal crap ever again, I could die happy, today.
Choke on this Corporal:
Benjamin Franklin“Lighthouses are more useful than churches
Thomas Jefferson: “Christianity is the most perverted system that ever shone on man.”
John Adams”This would be the best of all possible worlds, if there were no religion in it”
By TN Gelding
October 13, 2008 9:08 AM | Link to this
* NAY KOOKMAN 4 William Ayers-Jeremiah Wright ‘08 (Mad As Zell)*
October 13, 2008 9:01 AM
We might be losers, but at least we’re graceful ones.
Carter, Clinton, Obama (ACORN), Frank and Raines to blame? NOT!
By N-GA
October 13, 2008 9:11 AM | Link to this
Jay,
I saw that hateful post. At least I think I saw it. He’s off his meds, right? Now he’s attacking everybody.
By N-GA
October 13, 2008 9:15 AM | Link to this
I think that he should be required to post as “Napolean XIV”.
By ByteMe
October 13, 2008 9:18 AM | Link to this
N-GA: Mad As Zell is just reminding us of what “hate” really looks like. It’s not just “your side sucks rocks” or “I disagree with everything you stand for because of your skin color or religion”; it’s “your side can go #&$&!)%!*@^%#@$(^! and let me napalm your house while you die painfully inside”.
Thankfully, that kind of hate gets quickly repudiated and banned.
By "The Corporal"
October 13, 2008 9:18 AM | Link to this
Jay
See what I told you? Your bloggers hate it when someone uses free speech to quote scripture.
I don’t think you should do that again.
It upsets your liberal, tolerant minded people too much.
By GOPs got to go
October 13, 2008 9:26 AM | Link to this
Corporal,
You wrote the book on sanctimonious blowhard
By gadem
October 13, 2008 9:28 AM | Link to this
I have seen so many clips this weekend of hate filled speech by the right…I saw a clip of a man at a McCain-Palin rally with monkey doll with an Obama sticker on it, but when they told him that he was on video, he took the sticker off of the monkey and gave the doll to an unknown child…coward. If you are going to be racist, at least have a backbone…the clip of the woman saying that she has read up on Obama, and said that he was an Arab. I am like WTF is that all about!? Fear and hate is all the right can offer right now…I will have to give McCain his credit for trying to stem the tide by being positive and saying that most or some of his supporters are out of line. I think the problem is with Faux news and these other talking heads…they start the rumor and “Joe Six-Pack” runs with it…apparently the six pack is a reference to the IQ…
By Eric1
October 13, 2008 9:29 AM | Link to this
Miss Management is obviously talking about herself…..raging, hateful, trashcan.
By "The Corporal"
October 13, 2008 9:30 AM | Link to this
To GOPs got to go
Sorry pal. Revisionist history doesn’t work on this Corporal.
1) In Benjamin Franklin’s 1749 plan of education for public schools in Pennsylvania, he insisted that schools teach “the excellency of the Christian religion above all others, ancient or modern.”
2) “God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever.” Thomas Jefferson - engraved on the Jefferson Memorial.
3) “ The general principles upon which the Fathers achieved independence were the general principals of Christianity… I will avow that I believed and now believe that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God.” • “[July 4th] ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty.” John Adams
4) “It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians, not by religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ! For this very reason peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here” (Patrick Henry.
By AJC/DNC Management
October 13, 2008 9:41 AM | Link to this
By gadem October 13, 2008 9:28 AM Fear and hate is all the right can offer right now…
gadumb:
The presidential campaign got a little too hot for two Portland men who were arrest early Saturday morning, Oct. 11, and charged with burning a John McCain campaign sign in Southeast Portland.
Portland Fire and Rescue investigators said the two men made a Molotov cocktail and threw it at the sign in the 7900 block of Southeast 17th Avenue.-The Bee
SIUYA.
By "The Corporal"
October 13, 2008 9:44 AM | Link to this
To the Friday AJC editorial letter writer who said politics from the pulpit was unconstitutional, you need to go to law school. It may cost you a tax-exempt status one day but unconstitutional it is not!
Check out this excellent editiorial letter written a few days before yours.
“I disagree with the premise of “Politics needs to stay out of the pulpit” by Rev. C. Joshua Villines (10/5/08 AJC). Liberal churches have a long history of supporting their candidates and the IRS rarely if ever took action. Conservative churches should not now be singled out. Naming candidates is one thing but that is not the issue here. Preaching Biblical principles, as each pastor, church or denomination understands them, to encourage congregations to vote their conscience is speech protected by our Constitution and should not be regulated. I pray the Supreme Court will so rule but if not, I am willing to lose a tax deduction in the interest of free speech. Those using government to stifle speech from the pulpit would have made good Tories at a time in our history when bold patriotic ministers were risking more than a tax-exempt status to enlighten their congregations regarding tyrannical excesses of the Crown.”
By Ray
October 13, 2008 9:48 AM | Link to this
Quite frankly, I was not too sorry to see my two daughters leave for college. When they left, I was not required to stay up until curfew time to make sure they got home OK. I no longer have to go into their rooms for the umpteenth time to wake them up when it gets past 10:00AM and now they are free to make their own decisions and see how what their father has been preaching to them all of these years rings true. I love them both dearly, they are the light of my life but it’s time they flew the nest. A tear or two when they left, yeah, right at first but life is bliss in my empty nest. Just think of all the trips to Italy you can take.
By gadem
October 13, 2008 9:53 AM | Link to this
Increasingly angry, supporters of McCain and running mate Sarah Palin have responded at rallies with loud cries of “terrorist” and “traitor.” At one such rally earlier this week in New Mexico, McCain visibly winced when his mention of Obama’s name was greeted by the shout of “terrorist,” but the candidate said nothing about it and went on with his speech…
Raggedy andi, we all know that you like to suck, so suck on this and have a GREAT DAY!!!
By gadem
October 13, 2008 9:54 AM | Link to this
Increasingly angry, supporters of McCain and running mate Sarah Palin have responded at rallies with loud cries of “terrorist” and* “traitor.”* At one such rally earlier this week in New Mexico, McCain visibly winced when his mention of Obama’s name was greeted by the shout of “terrorist,” but the candidate said nothing about it and went on with his speech…
Raggedy andi, we all know that you like to suck, so suck on this and have a GREAT DAY!!!
By AmVet
October 13, 2008 10:02 AM | Link to this
Wow, that quote from Ecclesiastes 10:2 is enough to convince me to join the “right” and become a “conservative”!!!
Seriously, anyone who would make that inference is the epitome of inanely twisting scripture to fit their own biases.
Kinda funny, but a the same time, kinda shameful, Corporal.
BTW, argue the role of religion vs. politics in this country all you will, but this is irrefutably a secular nation. If you want a theocracy, there are a couple of other places that come to mind, sandy in nature, (if you get my drift!) that fit the bill.
Mr. Bookman, good stuff today.
By AJC/DNC Management
October 13, 2008 10:05 AM | Link to this
Palin’s bland ferocity lends itself easily to vitriol of the type that inflames half-wits.-Les Payne, “News” Weak
Written by an inflamed half wit.
No truer words have been spoken.
By AJC/DNC Management
October 13, 2008 10:15 AM | Link to this
Oh, the “horror:”
Linking Sen. Obama to a reformed radical of the ’60s, Palin shrieked her signature smut line, “he’s palling around with terrorists who would target their own country.”
A “reformed radical,” eh?
Isn’t it amazing that in an article that attributes all of the worse human characteristics to people shouting at a political rally, the liberals, in the same breathe, excuse the crimes of a person who bombed people and buildings in the cause of his political beliefs?
Are you liberals really this stupid?
And who’s next on our pardoned bomber’s list, will some day we hear that Osama Bin Laden is a “reformed radical?”
How much penance will Eric Rudolph endure?
By AJC/DNC Management
October 13, 2008 10:25 AM | Link to this
Hey Jay, is nick jacking now an acceptable practice on your blog?
In case you haven’t noticed you have some puny little minded coward liberals wetting their diapers.
Which is probably all they are capable of doing.
~~~~~
Terrific:
More than one-third of recent Atlanta Police Academy graduates have been arrested or cited for a crime, according to a review of their job applications. The arrests ranged from minor offenses such as shoplifting to violent charges including assault. More than one-third of the officers had been rejected by other law enforcement agencies, and more than half of the recruits admitted using marijuana.-Urinal
They probably won’t be tempted to corruption, I’m sure.
By gadem
October 13, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this
Ayers and Obama have not been paling around…but disinformation is a strong attribute of the right…bait and switch…I guess if you can’t run on the issues, throw crap at the wall and see what sticks…if this was an issue, it would have been exposed long ago…however, take it as truth andi gurl, because Obama is an Arab, and he is going to change all churches to mosques, and he is going to make it legal for adults to have sex with kids…yep that sounds like a liberal to me. Andi gurl, please save us from the big bad liberals…
By AJC/DNC Management
October 13, 2008 10:41 AM | Link to this
Well, well, Oblahma’s poll numbers drop, the DOW rebounds 450 points.
Hmmmmm.
By AmVet
October 13, 2008 10:45 AM | Link to this
Well, well, the DOW rebounds 450 points and it’s unusually hot today.
Hmmmmm.
By RealityKing
October 13, 2008 10:48 AM | Link to this
Fear not King Solomon.., after completing today’s progressively dumb down education, most children have no choice but to move back into the Kingdom.
By Mrs. Godzilla
October 13, 2008 10:49 AM | Link to this
Obama Poll Numbers continue to rise! Opens up double digit lead!
Internal polls are even better! Obama wins all age groups! Women! Only one point behind with men!
Dow up!
People are feeling the Audacity of Hope!
By Mrs. Godzilla
October 13, 2008 10:57 AM | Link to this
Read ‘em and weep
Peek at that Senate number….59…..
By AJC/DNC Management
October 13, 2008 11:08 AM | Link to this
And he can point out that there’s going to be a Democratic Congress. He can suggest that surely we’d prefer a president who would check that Congress where necessary and work with it where possible, instead of having an inexperienced Democratic president joined at the hip with an all-too-experienced Democratic Congress, leading us, unfettered and unchecked, back to 1970s-style liberalism.-Kristol, NY Treason Times
Now that is scary.
By PM
October 13, 2008 11:18 AM | Link to this
I am a Christian and am in a category all by myself.
I am voting for Barack Obama because he appears to me to align much more than the other candidate with the attributes of Jesus — one candidate compared to the other.
Bill Ayers — it is unfortunate that “so called Christians” cannot seem any longer to think — they take what they think they’re supposed to believe and do that…. don’t study up and think about what has happened….
I do not think I agree with the violence of Bill Ayers, but Bill Ayers was against the killing of other human beings without a just cause. Anyway, if something horrible is happening, like the vietnam war, sometimes it may be that a person with courage (?? Bill Ayers) will act.
Oh, Americans were killed!!! People, Christians, GOd does not prefer Americans. We are a part of the world, and we are responsible for what we do and what we support.
Any “Christians” reading this should open their eyes and see that Obama’s policies and hopes are so much closer to ‘what Jesus would do’ than McCain, a man interested in the rich and his cronies and his pride!! PM
By "The Corporal"
October 13, 2008 11:37 AM | Link to this
To AmVet
Good grief. It’s a play on words I was trying to make. If you can’t see that you’re pretty naive. It has nothing to do with politcal parties or right vs. left (although “right and left” are used in the original Hebrew text). However, I think it does mean left (wrong motives) and right (correct motives). Let the chips fall where they may!
To PM
1) If you think it was o.k. for Ayers to do what he did during the V.N. war do you think it’s o.k. to bomb abortion clinics? I guess you are from the school of one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter? PATHETIC !
2) Jesus also said, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits.”
The fruit of abortion alone (including killing those born alive) disqualifies Obama as practicing the attributes of Jesus. Whether or not he is a “true” Christian is between Him and God who knows his heart.
not everyone who calls me Lord, Lord will enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
By gadem
October 13, 2008 11:42 AM | Link to this
PM I agree. The GOD that I serve, has compassion for the weak and afflicted. For the poor and the sinners…I think it is sad that conservatives wrap themselves in the BIBLE and then their actions totally go against what JESUS taught. For instance, they are against abortion, however they DO NOT want social programs to help those mothers that have the kids. So I would rather the mother get an abortion than to have a kid that i raised in foster home after foster home, increasing the likelihood that they will end up in prison. Not all kids that are in foster homes end up that way, but in my opinion the chances are greater….personal responsibility is key, however sometimes things happen. I am not in favor of paying taxes to support a lazy so and so that is a baby making factory either…
By "The Corporal"
October 13, 2008 11:45 AM | Link to this
A lot of new stuff out there today. Just Google it in the news section.
Did Ayers ghost write Obama’s book?
Something smells fishy here.
By gadem
October 13, 2008 11:51 AM | Link to this
So Corporal, you agree that those that fight and kill in wars are not Christians, and that they don’t practice the teachings of JESUS? I agree too, wars are senseless and GOD will judge those accordingly.
By "The Corporal"
October 13, 2008 11:57 AM | Link to this
Fair is Fair
1) Obama said today he thinks women should have to register for selective service but he is against the draft. Does he not know the Supreme Court has already ruled that women cannot be drafted? Plus, his statement reveals the same old wishy-washy Obama. Knucklehead.
2) McCain said today he is against the draft and thinks a volunteer force is preferrable to a conscripted force. I assume he means they make better soldiers. I guess he forgot the Vietnam War had a draft rate of 25% and in World War II it was 66% percent. Knucklehead.
By Hastings
October 13, 2008 11:59 AM | Link to this
Dear Jay, Thank you so much for your excellent and timely article in the Oct. 13 AJC.
Your comments about your disorienting, empty nest hit home with me and my husband. We also have two daughters who left us all to suddenly for college and into the world. But that phase passed and one of them and her family are now close. There is a good chance that the other one will also be close soon.
We all have to reach deep down for strength to sustain us during these difficult times in our country. Your article helped to remind us all of this. Thanks.
By TN Gelding
October 13, 2008 12:11 PM | Link to this
gadem
October 13, 2008 9:28 AM
Fox is fanning the flames on the ACORN red herring, too.
By "The Corporal"
October 13, 2008 12:16 PM | Link to this
To gadem
Nice try.
Luke 22:36 “He (Jesus) said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.”
By citizen
October 13, 2008 12:27 PM | Link to this
Jay, follow the ‘wealth-distribution’ model and trade with a larger family that could use those two empty bedrooms.
By Hillbilly Deluxe
October 13, 2008 12:32 PM | Link to this
The only constant in this world is change. Sometimes it’s good and sometimes it’s bad but we are powerless to stop it. Enjoy the good times while you can and know that bad times will pass. The toughest thing I’ve been through is when the roles reverse and your parents look to you to take care of them. It’s quite an eye opener. It’s a duty though, as all we are we owe to those who came before us. The key is to keep putting one foot in front of the other and do the best you can.
By Goldie
October 13, 2008 12:41 PM | Link to this
I’m guessing that The Corporal is one of those religious fruitcakes who may have been interviewed in the new movie “Religulous” — you know, the ones who still believe that the sun revolves around the earth, that dinosaurs and humans walked the earth at the same time, and that there were talking serpents in the Garden of Eden — believing still in those myths that were thousands of years old and written about in the Old Testament… some of those nuts could quote scripture, too, but it certainly doesn’t make them seem too smart.
By Goldie
October 13, 2008 12:45 PM | Link to this
Corporal — just Google “John McCain+Annenberg Foundation” and you’ll learn that Ayers served on the Board of that foundation started by Leonore Annenberg— and she has endorsed McCain.
Looks like your guy McSame is “palling around” with terrorist appeasers these days.
By Goldie
October 13, 2008 12:52 PM | Link to this
BTW, Jay— I really enjoyed your column today. I’m sure you’ll get adjusted to this “new season” before too long and will learn to appreciate the additional quiet time in your and your wife’s lives.
By Goldie
October 13, 2008 1:02 PM | Link to this
I certainly remember “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God” from my Sunday school days many years ago. Seems like the 30% Club-ers who love W’s war in Iraq would be called something else by Jesus…
Oh, and Corporal — I don’t remember EVER reading about what Jesus had to say regarding abortion, nor the premise that whoever supports a woman’s decision to make regarding abortion would be “disqualified” from being called a Christian… please provide the chapter and verse where Jesus spoke about your own attributed “qualification” of who reaches your threshold regarding abortion. Thank you.
By "The Corporal"
October 13, 2008 1:03 PM | Link to this
To Goldie
1) I always try to be fair to both and that’s why I called them both knuckleheads for their recent statments on the draft. You liberals never identify anything wrong with your candidates due to your blind biases.
2) McCain’s third party association through Annenberg pales in comparison to Obama’s direct relationship to the terrorist Ayers. If you can’t see that you are really blind.
3) McCain was never my choice as the Republican nominee but he is certainly now the best candidate compared to Lord Obama.
4) The Bible was not written primarily as a book of science but when it does speak of science it is correct. A correct interpretation thereof indicates the earth/universe is millions/billions of years old and exactly how everything developed is not specified. I see no conflict there.
However, at a time in history when the greatest scientific minds in the world thought the earth was flat and sat on the back of an elephant, or was held up by Atlas, or four pillars, etc., etc., the Old Testament you denigrate NEVER said that. In fact it says:
A) “He that sitteth upon the circle of the earth” ………..
B) and in the book of Job it says “He hangeth the earth upon nothing ……… and
C) again in the book of Job He created the heavens and continues to stretch them out…………. (the current modern theory of the continued expansion of the universe)!!!
5) TRY AGAIN
P.S. On the talking serpent thing. Have you ever heard a parrot talk?
Amazing isn’t it?
By Goldie
October 13, 2008 1:14 PM | Link to this
P.S. On the talking serpent thing. Have you ever heard a parrot talk?
My goodness, Corporal — now you’re even admitting that the writers of the Bible made a mistake and really meant to say that it was a talking parrot in the Garden of Eden??? Oh dear, and King James spent all that time and money on getting the “Word of God” printed up and who knows whatever else may have been misprinted or misinterpreted!
Good grief, Dude.
By GOPs got to go
October 13, 2008 1:35 PM | Link to this
Goldie,
Please do not eggith on the Greatith and powerful Corporal. He is relentless in his wrath. Thou know not what thou doist.
By "The Corporal"
October 13, 2008 2:17 PM | Link to this
To Goldie and GOPs got to go
1) It’s really quite amusing to me when you choose not to debate my points item by item. I did yours. That really does show a weakness on your part.
2) Why is it you guys are always so vitriolic with name calling and personal attacks?
3) I assume you’re dodging the issue and trying to be coy/cute regarding the serpent/parrot thing.
Obviously, if God can make a parrot talk ……… he can make a liberal talk.
4) May I ask why you weren’t upset at Bookman’s use of scripture this morning ? It is you like Bookman but not the Corporal or is it you like his selection of verses but not mine.?
Ooops! Reminds me of another one aimed right at you !
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.”
5) Finally, do you think it was harder for God to make the known cosmos (minus plant and animal life) in 7 days or 7 milliseconds (as I think He did)? Just asking ………
By E
October 13, 2008 3:34 PM | Link to this
I know how you feel, Jay. It’s been 11 years for me, and I still can’t read “Oh The Places You’ll Go” without tearing up.
Cheer up, Obama’s going to win and happy days will be here again!
Obama/Biden ‘08
By GOPs got to go
October 13, 2008 5:54 PM | Link to this
Corporal,
I do not think you have a clue how you come across. I think you surround yourself with this persona of “hero” and “God-fearing” while you state the same damn thing over and over. I called you out on that right/left crap because I was very tired of reading the same post.
This country has separation of church and state, it is not secular. Being an Atheist, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist or whatever you want to be is OK. You are not a better person than anyone else, and neither is Palin, because you call yourself a Christian. People should be judged for their actions, not their dogma.
My problem with Palin is her ability to further polarize this country. I do not want her to use her personal beliefs about religion to try to influence this country’s policies. And I do not care to read any more of your biblical quotes trying to build yourself up in your own eyes