Thursday, July 30, 2015

I've got a Dream

I've got a dream
Well, Mike, what is it?

And there it is.
I cannot define it exactly.
I feel like if I quantify it, I will lose what it is- as if the dream is as substantial as a waking dream truly is. When you dream it, you swear that you are going to remember every detail but when you try to tell someone the details bleed away and all you have left over is that idea that led you to dare to dream this dream anyway.

I want to write.
I want to travel.
I want to make money doing both.
BUT
I want to enjoy it too.
And I want to do other stuff too.
videos, internet, movies, games, cons, etc.
I want to believe that I can take all that and turn it into a career, just don't ask me to condense it into a tidy one to two word title.
I will freeze up and all that I was thinking and what I was about to say comes out like a high school boy asking the cute girl to dance for the first time.

Do you have a dream?
Do you feel the need to explain it to others?

I do.
So what to do about that dream?
I am going to accept that I have one and act on the last part I remember. 
Although I suspect I won't be singing and dancing unless otherwise motivated.

well that too.
and that's life according to Mike (and Kevin).


Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Jesus was not a Socialist and Neither is Obama

“If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition and then admit that we just don't want to do it.” ― Stephen Colbert


So these MEMEs are making their rounds on the Interwebs basically targeting Republicans who are firing back with their various definitions of Socialism as defined by the Nazis (a socialist party), the Russians (also got Socialist in the Titles), the Marxists (who are actually communists -which is similar but not the same), Darth Vader (because I threw it in) and Obama (who isn't a socialist although the Republicans insist he is...and muslim- because that makes sense somewhere)!
case in point #1: Social Jesus Meme is a lie
which has been copy pasted to several other blogs because.... well hell, obviously the opposition doesn't want to improve on this obviously well researched and carefully thought out essay which actually has no actual references except to some translation of the Bible and something some guy said- I say some guy because I have never heard of him (he's a preacher who wrote some book(s)).
Where does all this stem from you might ask?
Where did it all get started?
Who knows. I do know that back before Romney had the temerity to hatch a plan that would become the infamous "Obamacare" scenario, that Americans debated socialized medicine systems like what they have in Canada or other civilized countries and came up with countless reasons why America could never allow that to happen here.
Ironically many of those arguments ended with the very possibility as a Lie and being Immoral thing to force on our society.

Here is my laugh on all of this. Jesus is not a Socialist and neither is Obama.
let the screamers start screaming.
So to start this debate (or finish it) let's define socialism by its actual root rather than the Fox News (Glenn Beck/Bill O'Reilly) definition of tanks and red flags and obnoxious dictators.


Socialism is a social and economic system characterised by social ownership of the means of production and co-operative management of the economy, as well as a political theory and movement that aims at the establishment of such a system.
Socialism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Full Definition of SOCIALISM

1
:  any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods
2
a :  a system of society or group living in which there is no private property
b :  a system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state
3
:  a stage of society in Marxist theory transitional between capitalism and communism and distinguished by unequal distribution of goods and pay according to work done


Ironically,
Much of this stems from our Founding Father, Thomas Jefferson.
Who was troubled by what he found in the translations of the Bible of his day and sought out the real Jesus as he believed him to be. In the end, he would conclude that his version of Jesus was authentic enough for himself after Jesus had been stripped of the "propaganda and aggrandizement from the Church."
Yet, even Jefferson would be misunderstood and misquoted.
Jefferson would be accused of stripping away the divinity of Jesus and reducing him to being a really good social worker.

Thomas Jefferson and his Bible

Now take a look at the definition of Social Work.

Social work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and subjective well-being of individuals, families, couples, groups, and communities through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, crisis intervention, and teaching for the benefit of those affected by social disadvantages such as poverty, mental and physical illness or disability, and social injustice, including violations of their civil liberties and human rights. The profession is dedicated to the pursuit of social justice and the well-being of oppressed and marginalized individuals and communities. The social work profession is broad.


A person who practices social work is called a social worker. In the UK, the title "Social Worker" is protected by law (under s.61 Care Standards Act 2000) and only those who have undergone approved training at university either through a bachelor's or master's degree in Social Work and are registered with the appropriate professional regulatory body (the Health and Care Professions Council in England, the Scottish Social Services Council in Scotland, the Care Council for Wales, or the Northern Ireland Social Care Council) may practice social work and be called a social worker. To do so otherwise is a criminal offence. Student social workers typically undergo a systematic set of training and qualifications that are distinct from those of social care workers or care assistants, who may undertake a social work role but not necessarily have the qualifications or professional skills of a qualified social worker. Currently, there are no formal qualifications or training to practice as a social care assistant, care worker, or carer, but mostly ancillary staff are accountable to a qualified member of staff, such as a social worker.
Jesus: The Great Social Worker

I can see a difference between Socialism and Social work and Socialized Medicine. What happens in this country is the moment the Syllable "Soc' escapes your mouth than all the rest of the US seems to hears in Socialism -the great failure because- of course, capitalism has been such a great success andis the very foundation of Democracy (which is worth writing another blog on why this is such an incredible lie) but I digress.

Jesus is Jesus and what little we have of his words and actions has been translated and interpreted so many times that it really takes a leap of faith to find enough to believe in.
However, what little has remained is golden in that regardless of translation and interpretation, what Jesus said and did and taught shines through the ages.
A good way to live striving for a perfection that we as humans can only dream to achieve.
(my definition)
Yes, some of it is socialist in concept, some of it is socially minded, if you ask me, I am going to say it's Christian to be this way and the Socialists and the rest can stuff that in the definitions and limitations they want to place on Jesus.
Why can't that be enough?

And then there is Obama.
The man's actions (those that this congress lets him own) speak for themselves. if you can take all the grime and gloss that the media and the political propaganda smear on him off, he is mostly a good man struggling to do the right thing as so many of us are. He is mortal and not Jesus. As to whether he is a good Christian (I will take him at his word on that)- that is between him and God and not anyone else.
I would still vote for him again save that I believe a third term would kill him.
This country is crazy.

and that is Life (and Socialism) according to Mike.