Unitarian here, and look forward to seeing what both grounds and inspires him.

I am going to watch for it in my library. I bet they will order in copies. Sounds interesting. Thanks for the heads up.

Glad you had a sweet sunny day~

Last edited Wed Oct 2, 2013, 04:36 PM - Edit history (3)

hard cover edition.

It is a very busy place, with a computers and lots of books, programs teaching children to read and benchs to sit on outside with laptops and talk on cellphones. They are also the place to drop off batteries to be recycled and not go in the landfill. We do a lot of recycling here!

It is a community meeting place that is beautifully landscaped as many places here, with pergolas built on the outside walls, and wisteria hanging down to make one's heart happy. It has a fair bit of parking considering how crowded this area is. where parking is at a premium now. But most people walk there or take the bus.

This is probably one of the most liberal areas in the state, and we believe in funding our library, schools, transit, parks, social service along with our many police community centers and fire department stations.

But the crazy is moving in and are more brazen. It's impossible to pass the state wide laws we need to continue being progressive, as the new boll weevils, who are no longer the reactionary Democrats, but Libertarians and Teabaggers are working to devour the seed corn of infrastructure by privatization through relentless venues of propaganda.

It's very effective, sucks in the troglodyte rightist and 'useful idiots' who end up at the same conclusions, without seeing they are cutting their own throats in the process by taking common cause with them. Now every election is razor close, every initiative or funding levy is under the attack of fears of our state's government which has done them little or NO harm in percentage to the good it has done to create prosperity.

I have neve been a lockstep supporter of assholery in office or in administration and brought to account a number of such people and it takes its toll. I have found degrees of venality and indifference to the true goals of public service which is not their careers in some adminsitrators that are sickening and terrifying. They spout shallow slogans to cover their stupidity and avarice which fool so many into their themes, tailored to privatize by corporations all under 'reform.'

But I have found people I would not have missed knowing for the world in these struggles, for they are true believers in equality and making things work with justice for all our citizens.

To them I bow, and refuse the credit their attempt to give me any credit for my work, for they are better at what they do and have devoted and staked their entire lives to the cause. They will be, if there a throne of judgment to come -- although I believe such occurs exactly at the time thoughts and feelings arise, even before the deeds are done and they create the present, but later for such musings -- that they will have many crowns thrown at their feet, for holding fast to love for others, a light that cannot be overcome or covered by anything. In other words, simply being what they are at their core of love.

I've gone dowm some scary roads with them, and blessed to find the infinite varieties of goodness within them, and the persons they evolved into, enlgihtening. They enriched my life immeasurably, and as I say, I bow to them.

Okay, let's travel back to the neighborhood after the meandering trip elsewhere...

Most car bumper stickers here support Obama and also Obamacare but we are now getting the Libertarian and 2A fanatics unable to restrain their vitriol and showing their ugly souls. There always was, and is an undercurrent of immature, selfish individuals here who listen to rightist radio and are taken in by conspiracy shills who turn out to be promoting Bircher ideology.

Things are changing for the worse with some of the population. But overall, and possibly the real reason the rightists are more hateful and extreme is we have a growing group of new emigrants from around the world. They are educated, more so than those full of hate; by comparison, their spirits are light and they are productive people.

I see so many, and their spirit is always high and positive. They exude pride and joy in their jobs, no matter what, if they are stork clerks or have higher positions. They do not depend on nepotism to get ahead, as many rightists now promote. The attitude they have must be salt in the self-inflicted wounds of those who still feel they are entitled to more simply by reason of birth and place.

These newcomers depend on America's promise of equality, fair play and opportunity. To them, these are not empty slogans to cover a festering wound. They believe in the tenets of social democracy and the American dream of hard work, living with good intent, helping others, not just their own, as they saw explained in Obama's campaign.

The area is a mixed bag that I prefer, compared to the infinite heaviness and hatred of rural areas. There are some places I simply will not visit, because the spirit literally feels wrong. I would not say that I have that discerning of a spirit, but it has kept me from getting into worse situations than maybe I would otherwise.

There are certain lines I never cross, it's hard to say why, but some of it may be from our family teaching me about the Golden Rule as it is expressed by almost every faith and humanism.

It is hard to explain, but some regions make me feel as if I am near something dead, noisome and infectious. I avoid them.

Back to the book:

Several explanations from the first pages of the book...

DuBois is a young minister who has been interviewed on television and is quoted in the NY Times. He felt Obama had grasped the spirit of Christ and a spirit filled life based on his teachings. I'd say it means Obama has grasped the true heart and not the outside of religion as the right waves around to make themselves into authority figures The writer said what drew him to Obama and gives anecdotes.

He heard him speaking in 2004, IIRC, and not making an official speech, but talking to several people about public service. He said he used the words from the hymn, 'Our God is An Awesome God' which is a joyful, triumphant song and talked about 'the God of the blue states' as being strong as shown by the love toward all of its citizens. That's what I love about living here and being a Democrat.

If you want to get that book at the library, give them ISBN 9780062265289.

The President's Devotional by Joshua DuBois, former White House Director of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.

That ought to calm down the ignoratti there, because even rightist religion pays lip service to those as alternatives.

See you later, IA!

But there's no underestimating the ignoratti.

At Sunday School last week I said something about how thrilled I was to hear about the most recent developments in mental health R&D (someone had mentioned schizophrenics). So much human suffering will be alleviated! With the straightest face in the world, the man sitting next to me wondered if scientists weren't meddling in things God meant to be left alone. This person has recently had 2 big operations, and his son who blinded himself in one eye with a bottle rocket is having a state-of-the-art glass eye made. So I guess science is fine if it helps YOUR problems but not if it helps someone else, especially all those other people 'out there' who are strangers and mean less than shit to you.

Ignoratti indeed! Best term I ever heard. Thanks - I'm gonna borrow that one.
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Oh, and the lady sitting to my left was telling about how she does routine animal operations (w/o a license, of course) for people; a neighbor had wanted a puppy's tail cropped and she made him wait "until the moon was right." Now I can see planting by the moon because of attendant weather conditions and who knows if the moon's gravitational pull might - might! - exert some influence on growing plants. But it certainly has no effect on medical procedures.

They're also convinced around here that bread literally transforms itself into worms in a dog's stomach. You don't want to hear the rest. I felt like asking if she bled patients, but I didn't.

No wonder, though, that the former OATS driver Bob took me seriously when I cheerily offered to take the pins out of his doll I made if he'd be a little nicer. He's totally convinced I'm a real witch and has nearly peed himself getting out of my way ever since I said that.

Sometimes I daydream about sneaking up behind him if the chance ever presents itself; I could touch his sleeve and mumble something that might be an incantation.

Great OP too, btw.