Gentleman Agitator

Woman Kept Off American Airlines Plane For Offensive Shirt, Wins Stinky Sandwich Award

via www.huffingtonpost.com

"An unidentified woman claims that shemissed her American Airlines flight because staff found her choice of clothing offensive, according to the blog RH Reality Check.

That's because it bore the statement: "If I wanted the government in my womb, I'd f--k a senator." The slogan first appeared on a sign at a rally in Oklahoma in February. Oklahoma Sen. Judy McIntyre (D)famously posed with the sign, telling The Huffington Post, "I saw a sea of signs that caught my eye, but this one in particular -- I loved its offensive language, because it's just as offensive for Republicans of Oklahoma to do what they're doing as it relates to women's bodies. I don't apologize for it.""

American Airlines did the right thing. The shirt was offensive, not because of its message, but because of the way it was presented. At the Huffington Post one commentor asked, "So the next time I get on a plane and some s***kicker with a confederate flag t-shirt hanging over his gut comes strolling down the aisle, I can demand he be removed?"

I would want it removed, but it is up to the captain. I would want it removed because to many, the image of the stars and bars, while having historic significance from the Civil War, it is often used as a symbol of hate. For too many the stars and bars are a symbol that is the same as the "f" word in their message to African-Americans, Jews, Catholics, or the whole world. This woman's shirt was also an example of how low the discourse is in this society. She gets my Stinky Sandwich Award.

Simon Laham: Defending Sin with Science

In pimping, errrrr, I mean promoting his book, "The Science of Sin," in Huffington Post essay, writer Simon Laham writes, "....Are you a sinner? The simple fact is that we all sin (or rather 'sin'), and we do it all the time. But fear not: the seven deadly sins aren't as bad for you as you might think.

This is the message of my new book, The Science of Sin [Three Rivers Press, $14.00]. Over the course of seven chapters, I take each of the deadly sins and review classic as well as cutting edge psychological research that highlights the upside of these allegedly mortal vices...."

Agitating at Huffington Post I commented on the essay this way,

"“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial­. I have the right to do anything”—­but not everything is constructi­ve." 1 Corinthian­s 10:23

Please. Saying that sin has an upside is like saying taking heroin has an upside. Yes, scientific­ally we can say that the chemicals produce a euphoric feeling for the user, for a brief time. Indulged in over time, heroin will destroy a person and often the lives those around them. We are all sinners, but their is ultimately nothing good about it for our minds, bodies or souls. That is why Jesus died, to save us from sin. Even knowing that does not give me license to sin at will without consequenc­e.

Life should be about striving to not sin. We should not be celebratin­g it, or making it seem like it is not so bad. I would say that whether you believe in God or not. Believing that the big seven are some how good for you is foolish. It is like saying that Al Capone, who probably indulged notably in all seven, and yet gave lots to the poor, made him a good guy. Also, science cannot be used as a shield to hide behind for immoral behavior. That is a misuse of science. Oh, and by the way, saying you offer "cutting edge" research is a horrible cliche that makes you sound questionab­le."

via www.huffingtonpost.com

Simon Laham wins my Stinky Sandwich Award:

Bombs, Cookies And The Cross: A Christian View On Military Spending

Bombs, Cookies And The Cross: A Christian View On Military Spending

Agitating at Huffington Post: The following post is part of my activity at Huffington Post. My comments are in response to an article the news website.

 

 

 This article is a bit murky to me. As a Christian, I understand what he is saying. However, making a case against war like he does, I doubt would change the mind of a Christian who holds a conservative political stand. One frightening outgrowth of far-right politics mixing with Christianity has been the idolatry of the military. God warns in many places in the Bible against putting other gods or ideas on level or above him. Yet, we have seen the our military lauded as if supporting the troops is akin to worshipping our Lord. That is not to say that I do not respect and give thanks for the dangerous job each and every member of the armed services does in defending my freedom. I do. However, they are not to be worshipped as supermen and superwomen, demigods or superpatriots who must be constantly bumper sticker praised in order for me to be considered patriotic and a Christian. Love of warfare might be less if we stop seeing the warriors not as a holy order, but as fellow ordinary Americans called to risk their lives for the rest of us ordinary Americans. P.S.: Have you thanked a vet or active member today? They do not want your worship, but they might like a "thanks for your service."

George W. Bush Reveals His Biggest Failure Was Not Privatizing Social Security

George W. Bush Reveals His Biggest Failure Was Not Privatizing Social Security

Agitating at Huffington Post: The following post is part of my activity at Huffington Post. My comments are in response to an article at the news website. The link above will take you to the original article.

         Ironic that what he sees as his largest success was really his largest failure and vice a versa. Maybe not that ironic. The same way conservative media propagandists accuse others of being exactly what they are.

      The article says, "Former President George W. Bush signaled on Thursday that he sees not reforming Social Security as his greatest failure from the eight years he served in the White House, the Chicago Tribune reports. In 2005, the presidentunsuccessfully tried to partially privatize Social Security...."In terms of accomplishments, my biggest accomplishment is that I kept the country safe amidst a real danger.""

Job-Creation Idea No. 11: Buy American -- If You Can

Job-Creation Idea No. 11: Buy American -- If You Can

         Agitating at Huffington Post: The following post is part of my activity at Huffington Post. My comments are in response to an article at the news website. The link above will take you to the original article.

This is what globalization hath wrought. So many right wingers live in fear of one world government when they should really fear one world corporation. Economic globalization has done more to degrade the individual cultures of nations and peoples than any social or governmental movement. I will buy American where and when I possibly can, but America's lust for the cheapest possible price in just about everything makes that very hard. It would have been nice if the author had given us some websites to point to find America products listed.

Juan Williams FIRED: NPR Sacks Analyst Over Fox News Muslim Comments

Juan Williams FIRED: NPR Sacks Analyst Over Fox News Muslim Comments

         Agitating at Huffington Post: The following post is part of my activity at Huffington Post. My comments are in response to an article at the news website.

         “NPR has had conservative commentators in the past. I think they have tried to present both sides of an issue in the past. Now, they lurch to political correctness. Since their listener and donor base leans politically left, they could see this as a financial decision as well as a journalistic one. If true, that is really sad. We need news institutions that provide both sides of an issue. Let the viewer/listener/reader decide for themselves. We need news institutions more based on reporting the news rather than commentators of the news that use the label "reporter" as if that shows that they are objective.

         I also reel at this comment since black people deal with this every day. Juan exposed himself to be human. Everyone has prejudices, even those who have been persecuted by them. Everyone has prejudices whether they are based in reality, conjecture, fantasy, or in hate. You are being prejudice in saying that because he works at Fox, he thinks just like their institutionalized slant. Fox viewers might see him as a liberal radical because he has been on NPR. I think he is there to give the appearance of being "fair and balanced." We know that is a farce. Everyone has prejudices. That does not excuse them. It only speaks to human nature.”

Crystal Cathedral Bankruptcy: Megachurch Files For Chapter 11

Agitating at Huffington Post: The following post is part of my activity at Huffington Post. My comments are in response to an article the news website.

 

"Nightmares are a lot more popular these days." This trend started twenty years ago and has just become worse in our popular culture. Though there are bright spots every now and then that give me hope for the future. America today is just a petulant child politically, socially and morally. Always hungry, but never satisfied, banging its rattle against the high chair. See it always railing against real or imaginary pains. See it content not to get out of the high chair and work for positive change or take a moral stand. Dr. Schuller's "positive Christianity" message was for an older generation I guess, the Depression/WWII generation and the early baby boomers. I consider myself a borderline tweener. Though I was not always for the excess of the pageants and pomp, I found his message of positivism and of a loving God who does not give up on His children, one that resonated with me. I find it sad that things have gone so far out of control with his son deserting him and his ministry failing as he nears the end of his life. I will always remember this great message of Dr. Schuller in face of trouble: "When faced with a mountain, I will not quit I'll keep on striving until I climb over, Find a path through, tunnel underneath, Or simply stay and turn my mountain into a gold mine. I will not quit."

Two Wrongs Do Not Make the First Right, or Ok, or Acceptable.

Agitating at Huffington Post: The following post is part of my activity at Huffington Post. My comments are in response to an article the news website. Click on images below to read my comments. Read below comment for and excerpt and a link to the story.

Michael Takiff

Author, A Complicated Man: The Life of Bill Clinton as Told by Those Who Know Him

Posted: October 18, 2010 02:17 PM

Bill Clinton, Still the Biggest Dog in Town

It's all Bill, all the time.

There's Bill Clinton on television talking about President Obama. There's Bill Clinton talking about the Tea Party. There he is talking about the midterm elections, the Clinton Global Initiative, his healthy, not-quite-vegandiet. There he is talking about Ireland. There he is talking about Tony Blair. (There's Tony Blair talking about him.) He's receiving invitations to campaign from politicians around the country who wouldn't be caught dead standing next to Barack Obama. Chris Matthews is making a documentary about him. All this just weeks after the celebrity media couldn't get enough of his daughter's wedding.....

.... We know people who overeat when they know they shouldn't, people who give in to sexual urges they know they should resist. We know these things about our friends and families and coworkers; we know these things about ourselves. Bill Clinton's virtues and his flaws are so exaggerated and so public that we see ourselves in him....

....We can't help loving Bill Clinton -- and hating him and admiring him and laughing at him and listening to him -- because there are so few people so visibly, so extremely, so outrageously human. He is who we are. And we are fascinating, aren't we?

We have met the ex-president, and he is us.

 

Follow Michael Takiff on Twitter: www.twitter.com/MichaelTakiff

 

Father And Son Send iPhone Into Space And Record Incredible Video (VIDEO)

Finally, a decent use for a cell phone.