So an artist has decided to make a sculpture of Jesus made completely from... chocolate.
It depicts Jesus on a cross, completely nude, and anatomically correct.Catholic groups are up in arms, but not for the reason that you might think. They are more upset with the timing of the release... right in the middle of the holiest time in the Christian calender.
And they're right.
Part of living in the United States is respecting the free speech of others. If you have forgotten about this... please click below.
The other part of living in America is when something is just in poor taste... you speak out about it.
The sad thing is that the artist in this case is doing nothing more than admitting that he has no talent. Releasing the sculpture during Holy Week says that he doesn't have any confidence that his "art" could succeed on its own merits.
Of course it couldn't.
But people realize that free publicity from the media makes anything a success. Protests outside of the exhibit will do the same thing. Let's try something else.
When I was younger, my parents told me that if I just ignored bullies, they would go away. Something tells me that the same thing would work with talentless artists.
Ignore it, and it will go away.
Pay attention to it, and it makes a bunch of money... and more people try to use the same tactics.
Jesus doesn't need us to fight for him. His Dad is bigger and stronger than anyone else's dad.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Why Headlines Are Dangerous
In the Tampa Tribune this morning, there is a very interesting article about property tax reform in Florida. That's if you actually read the article. On the front page, there is a large graphic that tells the reader all about the average savings from the three proposed plans.
One from the Republicans, one from the Democrats, and one from Governor Charlie Crist.
The GOP and Crist would save us somewhere between $422 and $586.
The Democrats would save us $1,860.
No brainer, right?
Well, you actually have to read the article. The Tribune comes out and says (about halfway through the article) that their savings projections for the GOP plan does not include... half of the GOP plan.
The half of the GOP plan where property taxes are COMPLETELY ELIMINATED.
The plan isn't the problem, because it looks like Florida homeowners will save money no matter what happens. The problem is the fact that 90% of the people in Tampa are going to look at the headline and decide that the Democratic plan is 4-5 times as good as any other plan.
When in fact, it is vastly inferior.
I guess the moral of the story is to not trust headlines... but my guess is that the people who rely on headlines probably aren't reading some meaningless blog.
One from the Republicans, one from the Democrats, and one from Governor Charlie Crist.
The GOP and Crist would save us somewhere between $422 and $586.
The Democrats would save us $1,860.
No brainer, right?
Well, you actually have to read the article. The Tribune comes out and says (about halfway through the article) that their savings projections for the GOP plan does not include... half of the GOP plan.
The half of the GOP plan where property taxes are COMPLETELY ELIMINATED.
The plan isn't the problem, because it looks like Florida homeowners will save money no matter what happens. The problem is the fact that 90% of the people in Tampa are going to look at the headline and decide that the Democratic plan is 4-5 times as good as any other plan.
When in fact, it is vastly inferior.
I guess the moral of the story is to not trust headlines... but my guess is that the people who rely on headlines probably aren't reading some meaningless blog.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Should Taxes Be Fair?
What an insane concept.
Fair taxes? People paying their fair share, regardless of how much money they make?
That almost sounds like a level playing field... and we can't have that.
Left wing Florida lawmakers are trying to make sure that socialism continues by opposing the latest proposed reforms in the property tax debate. Republicans want to abolish property taxes and raise the sales tax. That means that people who own homes would not be taxed twice (once when buying, and then again in property taxes).
Yes, the party of the working man is AGAINST this proposal.
A liberal think tank says it would hurt the poor. Wait a minute... I'm poor!
Let's examine this and find the truth.
If it passed, rich people would end up funnelling tons of money into government coffers when they buy their new BMWs, and I would put a couple extra pennies in when I buy my bottle of soda. If I am ever lucky enough to own a home, it would mean that I wouldn't have to worry about astronomical tax bills every six months. If I continue to rent, I wouldn't have to worry about my landlord gouging me because of her tax rates.
Hold on, the damage to the poor has to be here somewhere.
If this plan goes through, drug dealers and other criminals who pay no taxes at all would start helping to fund public education when they buy their guns and expensive clothes. This public education is... free to poor people.
Wait, that didn't work either.
Here are the real facts. Liberalism exists because left wing politicians don't want poor people to have to pay anything for the services that they take advantage of. They would rather steal money from hard working rich people and hand it over to the lazy poor people. As a poor person, I kind of like the idea of helping out as much as I can to fund services that I might eventually use.
Isn't that the fairest way?
Granted, I probably don't qualify for the programs that I am funding, because I haven't fathered 70 children with no way to care for them, but maybe someday I can be irresponsible enough to deserve government help.But I digress.
The sales tax initiative probably won't pass because it is far too logical. At it's base, it asks one question.
Should everyone pay for what everyone gets?
The answer is yes, unless you are a socialist, an idiot, or both.
Fair taxes? People paying their fair share, regardless of how much money they make?
That almost sounds like a level playing field... and we can't have that.
Left wing Florida lawmakers are trying to make sure that socialism continues by opposing the latest proposed reforms in the property tax debate. Republicans want to abolish property taxes and raise the sales tax. That means that people who own homes would not be taxed twice (once when buying, and then again in property taxes).
Yes, the party of the working man is AGAINST this proposal.
A liberal think tank says it would hurt the poor. Wait a minute... I'm poor!
Let's examine this and find the truth.
If it passed, rich people would end up funnelling tons of money into government coffers when they buy their new BMWs, and I would put a couple extra pennies in when I buy my bottle of soda. If I am ever lucky enough to own a home, it would mean that I wouldn't have to worry about astronomical tax bills every six months. If I continue to rent, I wouldn't have to worry about my landlord gouging me because of her tax rates.
Hold on, the damage to the poor has to be here somewhere.
If this plan goes through, drug dealers and other criminals who pay no taxes at all would start helping to fund public education when they buy their guns and expensive clothes. This public education is... free to poor people.
Wait, that didn't work either.
Here are the real facts. Liberalism exists because left wing politicians don't want poor people to have to pay anything for the services that they take advantage of. They would rather steal money from hard working rich people and hand it over to the lazy poor people. As a poor person, I kind of like the idea of helping out as much as I can to fund services that I might eventually use.
Isn't that the fairest way?
Granted, I probably don't qualify for the programs that I am funding, because I haven't fathered 70 children with no way to care for them, but maybe someday I can be irresponsible enough to deserve government help.But I digress.
The sales tax initiative probably won't pass because it is far too logical. At it's base, it asks one question.
Should everyone pay for what everyone gets?
The answer is yes, unless you are a socialist, an idiot, or both.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
The Toughest Forgiveness
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)
John Couey is a murderer.
He kidnapped nine year old Jessica Lunsford.
He beat her and raped her.
He put her in a plastic bag and buried her while she was still breathing.
John Couey is a monster.
And I want to forgive him.
Of course, this is only in the sense of forgiveness that is greater than we are, and greater than we are often able. It wasn't my daughter, so who am I to judge, right?
Actually, I... and you... SHOULD be the ones judging. Our perspectives can be colored less by emotion, and more by reason. Decisions like this should be made by people who are uninvolved.
My question is easy.
If you believe that John Couey should be murdered by the State of Florida for his actions, then shouldn't every single person who takes a life in cold blood be killed as well?
Are some murders "easier to stomach" than others? Of course they are.
But they shouldn't be.
Murder is murder. It is the taking of a life without threat of violence to yourself. Murder destroys families, and murder is wrong.
Everyone agree with that?
Then you cannot put John Couey to death.
He is not a threat to the state, we can keep him locked up by himself for the next 200 years. He will never kill again, because we wouldn't give him the opportunity.
To go back to the bible verse at the top... I have one more question.
Can anyone who considers themselves to be a Christian really look at this case, where a man has confessed to his sins, and think that he does not deserve out Christian mercy?
Let's not be like normal angry, vengeful, humans on this one.
Let's try and act a little more like God.
It's what He would want.
John Couey is a murderer.
He kidnapped nine year old Jessica Lunsford.
He beat her and raped her.
He put her in a plastic bag and buried her while she was still breathing.
John Couey is a monster.
And I want to forgive him.
Of course, this is only in the sense of forgiveness that is greater than we are, and greater than we are often able. It wasn't my daughter, so who am I to judge, right?
Actually, I... and you... SHOULD be the ones judging. Our perspectives can be colored less by emotion, and more by reason. Decisions like this should be made by people who are uninvolved.
My question is easy.
If you believe that John Couey should be murdered by the State of Florida for his actions, then shouldn't every single person who takes a life in cold blood be killed as well?
Are some murders "easier to stomach" than others? Of course they are.
But they shouldn't be.
Murder is murder. It is the taking of a life without threat of violence to yourself. Murder destroys families, and murder is wrong.
Everyone agree with that?
Then you cannot put John Couey to death.
He is not a threat to the state, we can keep him locked up by himself for the next 200 years. He will never kill again, because we wouldn't give him the opportunity.
To go back to the bible verse at the top... I have one more question.
Can anyone who considers themselves to be a Christian really look at this case, where a man has confessed to his sins, and think that he does not deserve out Christian mercy?
Let's not be like normal angry, vengeful, humans on this one.
Let's try and act a little more like God.
It's what He would want.
Monday, March 19, 2007
So I Moved
Yes indeed. I moved to a new radio station, a new house, a new city... and a new blog site. I guess I need to make these websites less location specific.
gmaninflorida@blogspot.com
Okay, so I am a moron. Maybe I will just have to stay here for a very long time. For those of you who still remember me, drop me a comment and say hello. For those who do not know me... believe me... you soon will.
I am what is known as a libertarian. That pretty much means that I don't like democrat or republican politicians, and I tend to annoy the heck out of my mother.
Really, it just means that I am really big on freedom, which will extend itself to this site. Everyone will feel free to say what they want. But don't curse, please, or use vulgar language. It is a real pain in the neck to go back and remove comments, and then I feel like a communist.
It is great to be back in the blogging game... for those of you who are interested, perhaps I will fill you in later on why I had to stop blogging in the first place.
Welcome friends, mingle and get to know each other... have a piece of cake.
Cake tastes mighty fine!
gmaninflorida@blogspot.com
Okay, so I am a moron. Maybe I will just have to stay here for a very long time. For those of you who still remember me, drop me a comment and say hello. For those who do not know me... believe me... you soon will.
I am what is known as a libertarian. That pretty much means that I don't like democrat or republican politicians, and I tend to annoy the heck out of my mother.
Really, it just means that I am really big on freedom, which will extend itself to this site. Everyone will feel free to say what they want. But don't curse, please, or use vulgar language. It is a real pain in the neck to go back and remove comments, and then I feel like a communist.
It is great to be back in the blogging game... for those of you who are interested, perhaps I will fill you in later on why I had to stop blogging in the first place.
Welcome friends, mingle and get to know each other... have a piece of cake.
Cake tastes mighty fine!
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