Displaying 541 To 570 Of 11,789 Comments Addendum: forgive the grammar, I’m just freewheeling it. I do, indeed know how to write and spell. I was just thinking about Mircea Eliade. If you didn’t know, I love comparative religion, and he was perhaps the modern father of it as its own intellectual discipline. Yes, he was a fascist sympathizer; but so was his contemporary, Jung. I’m not not defending everything he ever wrote. But, he had a great critique of Communism (at least Leninism) – comparing it to a religion of its own, with its own rituals, eschatology and soteriology. It stuck with me every bit as much as Freud’s Civilization and its Discontents. What I would love to do, as an avowed ‘moderate socialist’ or social democrat, is to turn that on its head and rewrite Eliade’s thesis on Communist ‘theology’ using Objectivist ‘theology’. The latter seems much more fantastical to me. At least authoritarian Communist states are grounded in reality before making up shit and being evil: you’re telling us you’re evil from the start. » Posted By Khirad On May 16, 2020 @ 4:50 am Love him, hate him, I’ve been watching a lot of Christopher Hitchens lately. Whilst I am more agnostic and Unitarian Universalist than his stringant, yet consistent atheism, it was a few random videos I recently watched from him as a Socialist writer for The Nation in the 80’s. One, was against the Objectivist Sociey with a Mr. Judis as his comrade on the Socialist panel (a name, as a Jew, he’s had fun with his whole life). The more things change, right? I’ll give Randists this: they are consistent in being insufferably obtuse over the decades. It’s not so much interested in comments on the personage of Hitchens, but the old C-Span footage I saw from 1983 regarding the Grenada invasion and him. I was indeed three at the time, but I wasn’t alive for Vietnam and know about that too. But; as someone who wasn’t aware of much anything other than throwing Gerber’s mush back at my ingrateful parental units from my high chair tray in 1983, it was great to just listen to the infamous callers of C-Span from 1983. They are the same people of FOX today. The more things change… only back then they could go right after him for being a Moscow supporter. Nevertheless, the rhetoric was largely the same (and ironic considering Hitchens’ later defense of Iraq II). The attacks on the Press, we’re not hearing it all. I know better from rural America. The only difference was when they asked Hitchens if he had a degree in Journalism but that he was a bricklayer. It reminded me of Joe the Plumber except for the fact he thought a degree had currency. Like Hitchens or not, but insert any other professional you like with expertise (aside: I was also recently watching something about the 1619 project where Nikole Hannah-Jones and the look on her face reminded me of anyone having to deal with dumb-ass questions like Hitchens has). I don’t think a degree makes you smart, but… I believe John B. Judis mentioned before wrote an autobiography on William Buckley. In the past I’ve watched Noam Chomsky debate Buckley (again, on YouTube I was barely six in 1986). I used to have a begrudging respect for some conservatives. I disagreed with 95% of what they said, but they were more or less consistent – at least civil. Or so I thought. As the callers in 1983, or the Tea Party, the full manifistation of the John Birch Society and Trickle Down and the Moral Majority had a demon spawn. Dan Quayle seems quaint after Sarah Palin – but Donald Trump would not be possible without Atwater or Rove, etc. Roger Stone may have been ‘right’ to get a tattoo of Nixon. And I would never wish Nixon or Bush II on the nation again, but even they seem quaint now. Pointless rant over, but I do like watching old documentaries and footage. I like the debates, because I can only take so much of not having my bias confirmed. I’m being sarcastic, I just shout at the screen at how wrong right wingers are whether it was forty years ago or today. Whelp, I always hope to start a discussion, but my point was not about divisive personalities, but how we’ve been arguing the same things for almost forever, and I have yet to be convinced by the “because, freedom” argument with no context as to Hegelian dialectics and the burden of History. It’s almost as if the Randists assume people to be inherently good and just, while they themselves are neither, and suggest some utopia based on magical liberty dust? » Posted By Khirad On May 16, 2020 @ 4:28 am And you sidestepped Turkey. Why? My positions on Putin I can make clear in Russian if you prefer, but I’m saying with a klieg light – blind spot! I don’t know how to say don’t give me sass in Russian or Turkish yet, but just don’t. » Posted By Khirad On May 14, 2020 @ 2:49 pm We have İncirlik Air Base and opium for morphine and CNN Türk and all the rest, but WTF is up with people forgetting about Flynn being a foreign agent for a (gasp) Muslim country? Collective amnesia?
» Posted By Khirad On May 14, 2020 @ 11:31 am I’m beyond caring. Like he lied to the Vice President. Whoopdie doo. Oh, it was a big deal, but let me hint hint at what I think was a bigger deal with Flynn that I have not forgotten but every other Erdoğan lover of mild authoritarian Islamism in Turkey has, and the fact Flynn was working FOR Ankara and wanted to kidnap a Sufi cleric Erdoğan blames for the failed 2016 coup to this day. https://planetpov.com/wp-admin/upload.php?item=89927 » Posted By Khirad On May 14, 2020 @ 11:27 am https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfJPZnGbde4&list=RDTyF4XXs3cuE&index=2 So basically, Dear Leader has been racist again to East Asian people and accused Joe Scarborough of murder. Say what you want about that show, but I want to be accused of murder too. » Posted By Khirad On May 12, 2020 @ 12:03 pm I’m gonna Welsh on the Scot-Free thing though if you Sassenach. Was always curious how Scots could be both penny pinchers and go free? I still think we could get him on Flynn’s Turkish thing, but what do I know? » Posted By Khirad On May 12, 2020 @ 6:53 am “Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.” – MLK Jr. My observations are that people tend to hate before they meet someone different. Yet; in the past, in the south and other places they hate because of long histories. It’s complicated. It’s sometimes just lack of empathy for the ‘other’ and not ignorance. » Posted By Khirad On May 12, 2020 @ 6:35 am I disagree. Hardly. I feel an essay coming on. » Posted By Khirad On May 12, 2020 @ 6:30 am I wouldn’t even say that, because they are ‘soft’ racists. Like, they are truly ignorant of their own ignorance – and I count some of my extended family among these white folk. I don’t think any of them mean to hate, they don’t understand. I mean, there are haters, but, a lot just comes down to sociology. » Posted By Khirad On May 12, 2020 @ 2:56 am I’m sure this has been said many times before. But you don’t have to wear a white robe to be racist. It’s obvious to me, it’s obvious to you. The variations I see on Fox News of their talent of color (I know, that makes me the racist. There are black Confederates and Neo-Nazis in Russia – I believe in therapy.) There’s a fun golf count site you can access. They will say – but all presidents golf! Yes, yes they do, but one, just one president golfing seemed to be a problem and preocupation…. Executive Orders, ruling by diktat, and czars – all good now! That other guy though… what was different? Well, at least this one wasn’t a celebrity with no experience? No, it’s different, somehow? Michelle Obama bared her arms and dared plant vegetables. She hates cookies! Meanwhile, I’ve seen Melania’s cookie. That’s not fair pointing out her modeling days or his philandering! He’s a Christian. Do I need to go on? I’m concerned for those that don’t understand the underlying racism. I just heard an MLK quote lately, can’t recall it… but I’ll say it in my own speak: Fuck you and stop being racist assholes. That’s my bitch slap to other white people. I know the code and you’re not even dog-whistling. As to people of color – I’m just saying, do what you got to do. Not murder of course, but your Ben Carsons and Dinesh D’Souzas – that ain’t my business, that’s a business card of a psychiatrist deftly slipped into their lap Bibles. » Posted By Khirad On May 9, 2020 @ 8:35 am This is a short post. I could make it longer. I’ve lived in Arizona for over a decade now. I’ve worked at night at a convenience store with people open carrying. I’m more used to it than Yosemite Sam – which should be the mascot of Arizona, sorry California. I’m just sick of it. As used to it I got (I became numb to it), they were always white rednecks, and I can’t imagine how I might of felt if I weren’t white too. Working graveyard. I mean, they’re all good boys and you nod. But you can’t keep a gun, against store policy – they can bring one in, though. Honestly, I never had a problem, you do get used to it. But it was still always a ‘fuck you’ to me. Like, when I was working graveyard, if someone is trying to rob me do not play hero unless you’re off duty or trained in the military. I’ll say this for those with guns is they would nod to me. I only had a few sketchy instances. I grew up with a friend in the hills, a Quaker. His dad hunted with a bow mainly, also used a rifle for duck hunting, made his own decoys; but taught us – or me on weekends – how to shoot, how to be safe. Granted, the most we ever shot was live .22’s at our old hot wheels. We also shot simple bows sometimes – but snuck into his hunting room once and I made the mistake of touching an actual arrow. Oops. Anyway, they had straw targets. I thought it a pain in the ass, but later in Junior High – I was pretty good at it when we did archery. I’m not saying I’m a sportsman or have done any of that in years. I never served in the military. I just hate any insinuation I’m against guns or hunting. I’m preaching to the choir here, but a Quaker never needed an AR-15 to hunt ducks. » Posted By Khirad On May 9, 2020 @ 6:05 am Anything I say will be damning, but I know medieval and dark ages. Invite them to a feast [MAGA rally], and … What I say is horrible but commensurate to what they are doing. They are endagering everyone else’s freedom and health because they are selfish and I’ll gather the kindling. » Posted By Khirad On May 8, 2020 @ 11:35 pm Well that’s your view. I have a view on religion I am always refining somewhere between fundamentalism of all sorts, and yet saying no to fad religions, as well. » Posted By Khirad On May 8, 2020 @ 6:28 pm Um, I’m rarely lost for words – in that exactly! » Posted By Khirad On May 8, 2020 @ 6:23 pm I don’t feel nostalgic for Bush II, but at least he is painting, and I don’t think he’s evil. I hated everything he did, but there is just something so sociopathic about Trump I wish him dead. » Posted By Khirad On May 7, 2020 @ 6:02 pm This is our problem. You’re overthinking it. Of course you are right, but we’re in our own feedback loop. Citing law or philosophy doesn’t win the working class. Bill Clinton had a lot of problems, but he was a great communicator, even though he was mad intelligent. I also see your point about the oath to the Constitution rather than to a cult of personality. I’m just depressed because I think Trump will win again. And even if he doesn’t Ruth Bader Ginsburg needs to hold on. » Posted By Khirad On May 7, 2020 @ 5:14 pm I’m just at the point of… and? I’m outraged out. I just wish he would die. » Posted By Khirad On May 7, 2020 @ 5:02 pm Pretty much it. Great relationship with India, as well. People put too much emphasis on the Islamic fundamentalist aspect, when they are realists. » Posted By Khirad On May 5, 2020 @ 3:35 am
» Posted By Khirad On May 5, 2020 @ 2:36 am I was kidding about Hanford – it being the largest nuclear waste site in the US, but you are not incorrect, east of the Cascade mountains are like different states. Spokane is cool, but, yeah. Any case nobody is holding anything at Hanford. You’re welcome though, America, for your nuclear weapons. » Posted By Khirad On May 5, 2020 @ 2:33 am » Posted By Khirad On May 3, 2020 @ 5:29 pm They would have also been more masons than carpenters. A lot is lost in translation, indeed. In any case, even when selling our house, my parents bought a St. Joseph packet. I long ago stopped trying to argue the historicity of Jesus. A common name Yeshua, with a common theme of messiahs, and even a common theme of ressurection in the Gospels themselves – nevermind the dying god reborn motif of many religions. If it is your tradition and gives your life meaning and gives you solace, believe. I hold St. Dymphna close to me. Her historicity is highly doubtful, but it gives me comfort. My only complaint with St. Joseph is that it’s so cliché. The more obscure saints are more fun. » Posted By Khirad On May 3, 2020 @ 1:25 pm So, this is like my secret girlfriend who doesn’t know she’s my girlfriend it’s that secret. Shh. [I hate to say this, but yes kidding – as if I had to make death creepier – which it’s not]
» Posted By Khirad On May 2, 2020 @ 8:31 am
» Posted By Khirad On May 2, 2020 @ 8:19 am If that fails, there’s a major MAGA rally here in Hanford, Washington [THE STATE, THE STATE, Washington THE STATE – or as Woody Guthrie would have said, roll on District of Columbia the District, roll on District] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanford,_Washington » Posted By Khirad On May 2, 2020 @ 7:33 am You might have thought that was a long way to go for a B-52’s reference, when I’m serious, Idaho is easy to close off and other than Boise and the Blackfeet and such, an altogether beautiful place to die whether near Ruby Ridge, Hayden’s Lake, you name it. It’s beautiful and the Bitterroots cannot wait for your human compost! It’s like Mississippi with all the racism and none of the blacks! [But Khirad, what do you really think of Idaho?] » Posted By Khirad On May 2, 2020 @ 7:27 am All I am saying is (I’ve been there) if you want a love shack you can all rock in
» Posted By Khirad On May 2, 2020 @ 7:20 am I still want to know this good Republican sirs, what is boofing or a Devil’s Triangle? Now if only Biden would just say he was lifting weights with the American Pie bunch this could all be settled. » Posted By Khirad On May 2, 2020 @ 7:15 am They just redid a few things outside the nest of spies as well. I should check back in. We always see it as in the top ten, and without checking I’m gonna guess, uh, Chinese trade? If it’s the same as it always was China has a sucker in Iran – or so the joke was that Iran would export their tea to China to have it imported back or something like that. I dunno, maybe I write something on this since I don’t know who else would know and I’m ashamed I haven’t even checked really? » Posted By Khirad On May 1, 2020 @ 6:46 pmComments Posted By Khirad
«« Back To Stats Page
Home Stats