Mickey Z

Cool Observer

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Shock and Awe meets Fire and Brimstone

Posted by Mickey Z on 11/28 at 04:58 AM

...it aint the part of the Bible that I can’t understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand....
Mark Twain

Frustration takes over when i think that people still believe this crap, and choose to be led by people that refuse to denounce it.

On one side there are those who practice religious intolerance, earning praise from their fanatical followers, and scorn from those who preach tolerance.
Tolerance which afffords space for his God, her God, their faith, our faith, hopefully leading to some state of morally relativistic equilibrium which probably does not exist.
Praise is thrown at both camps on this nonsensical divide.

On the third side are Atheists, like me, who believe that both are incorrect, yet are largely scoffed at by those in power.

Why?
Why?

Posted by Tommy on from I live by the River 11/28 at 09:32 AM

That sure is a troubling Bible quote… but I’m sorry, I can’t help but be more excited about an impending Mickey Z novel. Can’t wait to hear more! sorry if I’m spoiling the news.

And the idea of me being a hero to RMJ… I don’t know. Her jailtime seemed to be a deeper exerience than mine… and I haven’t seen Redaction mentioned here, but “we” have worked on Michael Clayton, which I’ve heard some good things about. And that Golden Compass movie, which is supposed to have some sort of atheist message or other.

Posted by James on from Hell's Kitchen 11/28 at 10:20 AM

Hello Mickey, Tommy, James...Congratulations Mickey on your book. After sales pass the 5 billion dollar mark, you can adopt me. There’s nothing incorrect about having a son who is older than his parents.

Tommy...at one time, I felt the only thing necessary for social change is to expose the myths of the magical, mythical wand that gives us slavery, military weapons and Monsanto. How would the masses of people respond to the truth, the earth being flat instead of round?

Posted by joe of maine on from 11/28 at 10:34 AM

Yes, Joe, that reminds me… prosecute Deuteronomy.

Posted by James on from Hell's Kitchen 11/28 at 10:57 AM

Hello Expendables...from a chilly but sunny Astoria. Thanks for the good wishes, re: my novel. Details will appear here by the weekend.

Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 11/28 at 11:23 AM

I think that’s an M2 Bradley’s 25mm cannon the rosary’s hanging off of. Should be a frickin’ advert for Christianity: “Be there on Sunday.” Neuteronomy, I say.

I’ve come into possession of “The Portable Atheist,” edited by the booze-addled gasbag C. Hitchens. All the arguments for atheism are watertight (apologies to all the drowned “witches") but I still care little for challenging the religiously afflicted. Maybe because it’s useless to argue with crazy people. I used to work with the mentally retarded, too, though they’re not crazy and could teach manners to monotheists.

A problem with the atheist view point, however, is the arrogant, often dangerous and damaging assumptions of science. Reason is a great thing, but it has limits. Like eugenics and biowarfare labs. Scientists are 98% mum about this sorta stuff, of course. Better to praise wireless communications and the wonders of an expanding universe than the toxins and cruelty in one’s backyard. (Sorry for repeating… I think we had a post similar to this recently.)

Congrats to MZ on a new novel. Greetings to Expendables near and far.

Captcha sez ‘would.’ http://tinyurl.com/y27ou8 I’d never seen this video - some cool photography.

Posted by Zen Prole on from Urth 11/28 at 12:28 PM

James..4...Deuteronomy...what a word, just the sound gives me the creeps...I know of a great musician, named Deuter…

I’ve never read anyone’s bible and I never believed there was a santa claus...[my older sister thought she had me fooled]

I just looked at the cost of living...Holy Crap...basic necessities, such as cigars and bicycle seats have really taken a hike in price!

Posted by joe of maine on from 11/28 at 12:50 PM

Wow...great comments here today.

Mickey...you had me fooled for a minute on the front page. I thought I was reading US foreign policy on the takeover of GiegoGarcia. CONGRATULATIONS ON THE BOOK!!! I would say that I hope that it is an Oprah book club pick, but anything that you write would be way out of her level of understanding. I happened to see an old film clip of her last night criticizing a woman in the audience for saying that the government might be lying about WMDs. (Bill Moyers on the selling of the war.)

Tommy...I was going to say that there is another view but I think Zen beat me and already said that. What’s so bad about agnosticism anyway?

joe...the price of hops is up too.

In the Massachusetts legislature they are debating whether physical violence should be permissible. Should it be lawful for big people to be violent with small people. Seems like a no-brainer to me but some big people still think that spanking is a good thing. I thought that debate was settled centuries ago, or at least it should have been.

Speaking about great books (Mickey’s) - Today I was in a book store and thumbed through Stephen Colbert’s book. I only read one page but got a real belly laugh out of it. Has anyone read it? If I was a therapist with depressed clients,instead of meds, I would prescribe that book.

Posted by RMJ on from Mickey Z 4 Prez Hdqts 11/28 at 03:07 PM

RMJ...8...In the Massachusetts legislature they are debating whether physical violence should be permissible.

Wow...what a unique idea...yes...we can have quartering on maine st. Public flogging and disembowelment. Torture can start at kindergarten age...all to be televised for your viewing pleasure.

I tell ya, just when I thought all politicians were asleep, they show this kind of dynamic thinking. The arrogance they exhibit, social upheaval is impossible yet the authorities Fear the possibility.

Posted by joe of maine on from 11/28 at 05:45 PM

A new book?!

I hope they send you on a tour and you get to come to San Francisco!

I would love to meet you and get an autographed copy.

Congratulations, Mickey.

Posted by Robert B. Livingston on from San Francisco, California 11/28 at 06:29 PM

joe...you do have a way with words. Too bad there are not more of you to call in to the Albany talk radio. I only heard a few minutes of radio today but the gist seemed to be “...I was spanked when I was a kid, and it didn’t hurt me...”. I think the problem is less with the politicians and more with the voters who put them in office. No need to ask if you will watch the repubs debate tonight. I will get my popcorn ready. It may go like a comedy show.

In my area, there is an e-mail going around. It looks really authentic and appears to come from the ISP. It asks for the password to your e-mail program. I phoned the ISP and did not give any information to the scammer, so I am OK. Anyone else getting e-mails that say they are from your ISP, but they are not?

Posted by RMJ on from Mickey Z 4 Prez Hdqts 11/28 at 06:33 PM

RMJ..11..Popcorn??? I am a slave to popcorn...one of the greatest inventions since the clam shell spoon?

Repubs...? I know little about plumbing…

Posted by joe of maine on from 11/28 at 07:30 PM

Consider the photo, assuming it is not a product of photoshop.
Did our intrepid tank driver hang the crucifix as a protectorate or as a symbol of his righteousness for all who lay in his path to see.
Either way, he is fatally mistaken.

I guess rather than denounce the crucifix, one could ignore it as a worthless symbol.
Sort of like the time, to appease family, I received communion at my brother’s wedding.
Did I sell out? Perhaps. It was for a good cause.

My feelings toward God and religion, specifically Christianity, remain harsh.
Also remaining is my bewilderment at those who continue to believe.
It is one of the few areas in which I feel empowered to draw a line in the sand and to alter the staus quo.

Posted by Tommy on from I live by the River 11/28 at 11:02 PM

Tommy...13...I once met up with a tank driver from the Vietnam War...the symbols he spoke of were Ears as souvenirs. So what are symbols and what is there to be learned from them?

Apparently some older cultures used symbols to conveyed huge amounts of knowledge about the interrelatedness of all things in the universe. It is said there were even dances by multiple dancers that formed the same shapes as these symbols. I read people who simply observed these dances felt something very powerful and informative happen to them???

There’s something to be said about not being able to sleep...I’m not sure what it is…

Posted by joe of maine on from 11/29 at 03:33 AM

Hello Expendables. I’m sorry to be more absent that usual. Very hectic here (I’ll explain eventually). Still, I am enjoying the conversations.

Just as an aside: The publishers who put out my books aren’t big enough to fund book tours. However, I do hope to do some talks in the NY-area.

More soon…

Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 11/29 at 06:40 AM

Still hope you’ll make it out here one day Mickey.

Best wishes for your success-- and a belated happy bithday to your wife.

Posted by Robert B. Livingston on from San Francisco, California 11/29 at 08:41 AM

Mickey..15...When you do the talk circuit in NY, don’t forget to mention I’m single and available.

Posted by joe of maine on from 11/29 at 11:52 AM

Available for what?

Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 11/29 at 11:56 AM

Mickey..18..that’s an excellent question...We must get creative…

Posted by joe of maine on from 11/29 at 12:18 PM

Thinking again about ZP’s comments about Atheism from yesterday.

I’ve received emails from a dear friend who is excited about attending an upcoming event featuring Ayann Hirsi Ali.
The woman has been through the ringer, no doubt.

I told my friend to ask her how denunciation of Islam and subsequent Atheism led to what Americans would call a Libertarian philosophy.
Also ask her about her employment at the AEI.

Interesting.

Oh yeah. ZP: thanks for the AIC link.

Posted by Tommy on from ILBTR 11/29 at 12:38 PM