The Sit-In at the Altar: No ‘I Do’ Till Gays Can Do It, Too – New York Times
Whether it makes sense or not, some heterosexual couples, mostly in their in 20s and 30s, are protesting the inability of gay and lesbian couples to marry by putting off their own marriage. Unless wedded bliss is available to everyone, in every state, they say, they want no part of it.
Episcopal Diocese Votes to Secede From Church – New York Times
One interesting clause in their amendment supposedly erases borders so they could absorb disaffected parishes from more liberal dioceses. That cuts both ways, my brothers and sisters.
The Swamp – Chicago Tribune – Blogs.
This is the text of the Democratic Party's radio address (audio link here):
"I’m Jim Wallis, author of God’s Politics. I was surprised and grateful when Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid called to say his party wanted to set a new tone and invite, for the first time, a non-partisan religious leader to deliver their weekly radio address and speak about the values that could unite Americans at this critical time.
"So, I want to be clear that I am not speaking for the Democratic Party, but as a person of faith who feels the hunger in America for a new vision of our life together, and sees the opportunity to apply our best moral values to the urgent problems we face. I am not an elected official or political partisan, but a religious leader who believes that real solutions must transcend partisan politics. For too long, we have had a politics of blame and fear, while America is eager for a politics of solutions and hope. It is time to find common ground by moving to higher ground.
"Because we have lost a commitment to the common good, politics is failing to solve the deepest crises of our time. Real solutions will require our best thinking and dialogue, but also call us to transformation and renewal.
"Most Americans know that the important issues we confront have an essential moral character. It is the role of faith communities to remind us of that fact. But religion has no monopoly on morality. We need a new, morally-centered discourse on politics that welcomes each of us to the table.
"A government that works for the common good is central. There is a growing desire for integrity in our government across the political spectrum. Corruption in government violates our basic principles. Money and power distort our political decision-making and even our elections. We must restore trust in our government and reclaim the integrity of our democratic system.
"At this moment in history, we need new directions.
"Who is left out and left behind is always a religious and moral question. In the Hebrew Scriptures, the health of a society was measured by how it cared for its weakest and most vulnerable, and prosperity was to be shared by all. Jesus proclaimed a gospel that was “good news to the poor.”
Right on. I'm on a mailing list for Sojourners magazine, a publication of Wallis' that a former vicar of Holy Moly turned me on to. I am greatly cheered to see that people of faith on the Left side of the political divide are finally finding their voices and speaking out, after working quietly for years for the poor and for peace-and-justice issues while the folks on the Right kept blathering on about sin.
I pointed out in a comment in the Swamp blog that Jesus had a lot to say about feeding the poor and caring for the needy, but very little to say about sin, nothing at all to say about homosexuality, and accepted everyone without condemnation. Yes, He said "sin no more." But then He minds his own business, which I take to mean as an example of relying on one's own conscience.
[tags]Jim Wallis[/tags][tags]Poverty[/tags][tags]Speaking Truth to Power[/tags]
David's new toy:
Sears 5.5 hp 4-cylinder 2-stage electric-start gas snow thrower
Gas snow thrower with 5 forward, 2 reverse wheel drive speeds for varying conditions. Electric Start. 24 in. clearing path, 21 in. intake height. Remote chute rotation to throw snow where you want it. 13" X-Trac tires for increased traction during operation.
5.5 HP Tecumseh 4-Cycle Engine w/ Electric Start (<–yay!!) 24" clearing path/21" intake height 5 Forward, 2 Reverse wheel drive speeds 12" impeller/12" serrated auger Tool-less Replacement Shearbolts/Chute clearing device
And I even like the color.
We got a lot of snow the other day – wet, heavy snow, too. We currently have a small, 1 stage blower that is capable of dealing with a few inches of light, dry snow, but not capable of cutting through 2 feet of rapidly freezing, heavily salted slush that's just been plowed into your driveway and the tops of your hastily donned winter boots by the snow plow driven by a maniacally laughing public works employee.
David and I have both had this experience. The other day, he was working from home but had to dig out the driveway when he realized he'd probably have problems getting out, due to the deep, thick mound of plowed sludge left there by the village idiot employee driving the plow. We've remarked before that the little snowblower can't really handle wet slush, and yesterday he decided it was time for a little more horsepower. This will be fun to watch later.
We pick up the new toy today. I occasionally will get to use it, and the electric starter will be a distinct improvement. We've offered the old Toro to family and friends; it's adequate for small jobs, or perhaps for finessing little sidewalks too narrow or winding for the big Craftsman. And yes, my husband David did indeed measure the walkway to the front door to ensure that it's wide enough for the new machine.
Urrh! urrrh-urrrh-urrrggh!
Meanwhile, at Manolos Shoe Blog: Shoes, Fashion, Celebrity, and Manolo intrepid commenters note Karl Lagerfeld's eerie resemblance to Lee Marvin's evil silver-nosed gunslinger in that movie.