Boy, has this month been interesting. Dio dies of stomach cancer. Gary Coleman dies. Bassist from Slipknot dies. Dio's death was tragic, Gary's was just crappy but #12 from Slipknot? I didn't feel as bad. There are plenty of bassists out there and it's not like that bassist was the cream of the crop. If your name doesn't resemble Victor Wooten, Billy Sheehan, Stu Hamm, Geddy Lee, Flea or that guy that plays with a 10 string bass and kicks real butal butt, then most likely, you're just another dead bassist.
On to Dio. When his death kicked in and his funeral was announced, a force almost as grim as his death rose from the ashes of Topeka, Kansas. The Phelps family and Westboro Baptist Church. If Lewis Black thought he never stood next to so much evil (Dick Cheney), he's in for a surprise. They are the people that invented the picket signs that say:
God hates USA
God hates Fags
signs that depict anal sex with Navy, Marine Corp, Coast Guard or Army written on top
God = United States' #1 Terrorist
I can go on. For a bunch of self-righteous Christians, while they talk a lot about sin, judgment, abomination and death, uh, when does the message of redemption, love and salvation in Jesus come in? Apparently, never. Apparently, they didn't read 1 Corinthians 5.13 where it says, "God judges those outside". My point here is that they are passing a judgment among non-Christians when in fact they are crossing their jurisdiction. If God is to be the judge, what makes you think you have the right to do part of God's job description? If that doesn't put the icing on the cake, there are two more layers my friends.
The first one is that they were to picket Ronnie James Dio's funeral! That's right, we're talkin', "Dio's in Hell", "God hates Dio", "Dio's a Satan worshiper" picket signs everywhere. First off, whereas Michael Jackson's fan base were peaceful and silent, the legion of fans Dio has, along with the gigantic metal community that were in that funeral, pretty much would be a lot more aggressive. If it were up to them, the Phelps family would be in body bags and the Westboro Baptist Church would be drenched in fire and blood. However, Dio's wife asked that the metal community turn the other cheek. Apparently, it seems that is the case since there has not been a single report made about what went down in the funeral.
The second icing, well, enjoy these videos. They speak for their madness in bold terms.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKyxTg3K3Jk
http://youtube.com/watch?v=7yQQ1IWa_Ro
http://youtube.com/watch?v=yVjnuKGQUic
http://youtube.com/watch?v=KU9-WCQJ1Dw
http://youtube.com/watch?v=kikAIvm4PyU
Blogs by Ron Gunz
5.30.2010
5.04.2010
Restructure and hollow christianity
The past four weeks have been, for better word, the start of restructuring a lot of who I am. Prior to these, I found myself lowering important standards, at a disconnect with my faith (even though I didn't stop believing) and even dwelling into a sea of disbelief in my own fellow believers.
These four weeks have awakened a re-energized capacity, a revitalized faith and a restructure of morality. I know, some may believe that the second the word moral kicks in, it's red state/right-wing/gun toting/bible thumping republican. Believe me, there's nothing moral about them or democrats. The two party system, as Lewis Black says, "is a bowl of s*** looking itself in the mirror". Matter of fact, here are some definitions of the word:
These four weeks have awakened a re-energized capacity, a revitalized faith and a restructure of morality. I know, some may believe that the second the word moral kicks in, it's red state/right-wing/gun toting/bible thumping republican. Believe me, there's nothing moral about them or democrats. The two party system, as Lewis Black says, "is a bowl of s*** looking itself in the mirror". Matter of fact, here are some definitions of the word:
–adjective
1. of, pertaining to, or concerned with the principles or rules of right conduct or the distinction between right and wrong; ethical: moral attitudes.
2. expressing or conveying truths or counsel as to right conduct, as a speaker or a literary work; moralizing: a moral novel.
3. founded on the fundamental principles of right conduct rather than on legalities, enactment, or custom: moral obligations.
4. capable of conforming to the rules of right conduct: a moral being.
5. conforming to the rules of right conduct (opposed to immoral): a moral man.
6. virtuous in sexual matters; chaste.
7. of, pertaining to, or acting on the mind, feelings, will, or character: moral support.
8. resting upon convincing grounds of probability; virtual: a moral certainty.
The problem we face today is that with things like "mores" and how we ourselves define what's right or wrong, there's no conviction. We talk about fighting for what we believe in yet we knock on the first person that chooses to be firm in believing in something. So, in a world where there is no absolute truth, we're all a human race living with question marks on our heads. Not saying I know anything new, it's just something that always swam in my head.
Having a renewed sense of morality, for me, has meant being firm about my sense of what's right and wrong, a stronger sense of justice and not settling for scraps (the latter's a work in progress, believe me).
As far as faith is concerned, I'm becoming more willing to express it but still refuse to ever stand alongside those whom parade themselves in my faith all the while not only oppressing others but also giving Jesus one hell of a bad name. Part of renewing a sense of my faith has been burying the hatchet with those whom have offended me. Forgiveness is very powerful. Time, by itself, doesn't heal wounds. People have the power to heal each other. As we mature, the way we view past events change, especially when learning the very things that make us mature and view things in a new light.
I'm learning about who I'm not, who I'm just not meant to be around. Everyone wants to be loved by everyone, be Mr./Mrs. Popular and be the person no one can possibly hate. Truth is, you are who you are and no matter what you do, someone out there will hate your guts. Religious leaders hated Jesus because he was bringing about the reforming of the spiritual perception the Pharisees and Sadducees held. He spoke of worshiping God outside temples and synagogues, cutting off the middlemen and coming to grips with the fact that God just isn't so far off as the leaders made Him to be. John the Baptist had no fear in calling a leader among the Jews an adulterer (which he had right to do as the Jews in that time were theocratic unlike the U.S.) for stealing his brother's wife. Elijah had little qualm to call out King Ahab and Queen Jezebel as leaders that drew Israel from their Deliverer (God). The disciples, as well as Paul, didn't fear death threats from the Sanhedrin for preaching Jesus.
Suddenly this brings to my attention how Jesus said that Christians would be hated for His name's sake. A lot of today's Christians aren't hated for loving Jesus at all. In fact, people love Jesus' persona and what He stood for. Christians today are hated for being self-righteous, passing judgment upon others as though we were God, for being hypocritical, for trying (at times) to blend in and for using church invites as a means to just fill up more seats at the institutionalized congregations for bragging rights. Christians have gotten sucked into the political game. The only people that people should fear are telling them crap are politicians not Christians. Once upon a time, we were expected to be model citizens of all that is fair and good but thanks to bogus preachers, money grubbing televangelists and the "prosperity gospel", we're viewed as despicable, phony and full of crap equivalent or almost worse than politicians. The hatred isn't due to the distaste of what Christ stands for but rather the hatred we face is self-inflicted.
With that said, I want to say, on behalf of my real brothers and sister in Christ, we're sorry. For all the hypocrites, the child-abusing priests, the false prophets, the Crusades, you name it. Anything that doesn't really reflect what Jesus, his disciples and Paul represent, we're sorry. Well, that concludes my thoughts post-Jesus rehab.
5.02.2010
Immigration II, Obama.
Apparently, I woke up this morning to discover that little by little, the media's trying to draw attention away from the economy and towards immigration. Arizona's Governor is to blame. Then I overheard something on Univision about the issue reaching New Jersey. Oh boy, looks like they're making this issue take a big precedent. Then I read on the NY Times about people telling Obama to not deport their families and protests in Washington, Chicago and other places in the country. The situation is reaching a bigger pitch than expected.
The first thing I will address is how people drag Obama into everything. First of all, the economy being in the crapper has nothing to do with him--we all know this has been the result of the United States' failure to remain separate from England's tax system. Recall that the whole point of Pilgrims moving to America and Colonial America revolting from England was for the lack of freedom of religious expression and an unfair tax system that brought people's financial situations to their knees. America, since the 1920's, re-bound themselves with taxes. Our Constitution says the right to "free tax" not "free to tax". On top of that, the credit system and federal reserve got us into this mess by lending us our money with interest! Look at the effing credit system! It's like using a loan you have to pay back with interest. If you can't pay back, you either go to a company that helps resolve credit debt issues or file bankruptcy, in which one credit company after another start buying each other off, taking money out of their pockets and a whole circle of debt in motion! Wall Street's blunder is the symptom of a deep underlying issue.
To accuse Obama of deporting illegals is very immature. Our government's accused of not enforcing immigration laws. I'll repeat that in english-- the federal government is not enforcing (not putting to full effect) the unfair laws they themselves set up. Fourty Nine other states aren't really doing anything about illegal immigrants. I'll bet my entire gut that the bulk of illegals are in California, Texas, New York and Florida. The one they need to beat the snot out of is the Governor of Arizona. She signed off on a policy that overrides that of the federal government. Obama spend God knows how much time on health care reform, currently dealing with financial reform and suddenly, "Obama, don't deport our families". Deporting illegal immigrants, in my view, is the least of his worries. Heck, in his silence, he's basically saying, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". Translation, "This isn't Auschwitz. I'm not Hitler. I'm in no rush to deport anybody because apparently the federal government isn't either."
The only way this can get bad is if the protests cease. This line of fire I commend, just don't direct it to Obama. He didn't make that law, that crazy, racist b*** did it. Get your a$$e$ out of elsewhere, take a plane to Arizona and protest what she did until her skin color changes!
I've really gotten tired of the new president getting the blame for stuff that's hovering on us, all of which was built up just in time for when he was to step in the White House. Heck, only two years and we're talking about his legacy! We're more worried about a freaking cartoon pissing someone off & blaming a black president for decades worth of plight than worrying about getting things done with the economy. I think there was more worry about immigration when Clinton was in charge. We were in a surplus when they were talking about immigration. Bush, eh, not so much. Bush only gave bad speeches and focused too much on oil, Iraq and gay marriage. I lived through three presidencies, I would know. Everything seemed normal with the first Bush, Clinton seemed fine and W didn't seem all that bad until 2003. I was too young to remember Reagan but times were tough in his final years.
In other news, Bullet For My Valentine pulled off their third album terribly. I liked Scream, Aim, Fire and I felt The Poison can kiss my butt but Fever left me in a state of stroke. I thought Metallica's Reload was bad but ::Lewis Black laugh:: I was wrong.
The first thing I will address is how people drag Obama into everything. First of all, the economy being in the crapper has nothing to do with him--we all know this has been the result of the United States' failure to remain separate from England's tax system. Recall that the whole point of Pilgrims moving to America and Colonial America revolting from England was for the lack of freedom of religious expression and an unfair tax system that brought people's financial situations to their knees. America, since the 1920's, re-bound themselves with taxes. Our Constitution says the right to "free tax" not "free to tax". On top of that, the credit system and federal reserve got us into this mess by lending us our money with interest! Look at the effing credit system! It's like using a loan you have to pay back with interest. If you can't pay back, you either go to a company that helps resolve credit debt issues or file bankruptcy, in which one credit company after another start buying each other off, taking money out of their pockets and a whole circle of debt in motion! Wall Street's blunder is the symptom of a deep underlying issue.
To accuse Obama of deporting illegals is very immature. Our government's accused of not enforcing immigration laws. I'll repeat that in english-- the federal government is not enforcing (not putting to full effect) the unfair laws they themselves set up. Fourty Nine other states aren't really doing anything about illegal immigrants. I'll bet my entire gut that the bulk of illegals are in California, Texas, New York and Florida. The one they need to beat the snot out of is the Governor of Arizona. She signed off on a policy that overrides that of the federal government. Obama spend God knows how much time on health care reform, currently dealing with financial reform and suddenly, "Obama, don't deport our families". Deporting illegal immigrants, in my view, is the least of his worries. Heck, in his silence, he's basically saying, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". Translation, "This isn't Auschwitz. I'm not Hitler. I'm in no rush to deport anybody because apparently the federal government isn't either."
The only way this can get bad is if the protests cease. This line of fire I commend, just don't direct it to Obama. He didn't make that law, that crazy, racist b*** did it. Get your a$$e$ out of elsewhere, take a plane to Arizona and protest what she did until her skin color changes!
I've really gotten tired of the new president getting the blame for stuff that's hovering on us, all of which was built up just in time for when he was to step in the White House. Heck, only two years and we're talking about his legacy! We're more worried about a freaking cartoon pissing someone off & blaming a black president for decades worth of plight than worrying about getting things done with the economy. I think there was more worry about immigration when Clinton was in charge. We were in a surplus when they were talking about immigration. Bush, eh, not so much. Bush only gave bad speeches and focused too much on oil, Iraq and gay marriage. I lived through three presidencies, I would know. Everything seemed normal with the first Bush, Clinton seemed fine and W didn't seem all that bad until 2003. I was too young to remember Reagan but times were tough in his final years.
In other news, Bullet For My Valentine pulled off their third album terribly. I liked Scream, Aim, Fire and I felt The Poison can kiss my butt but Fever left me in a state of stroke. I thought Metallica's Reload was bad but ::Lewis Black laugh:: I was wrong.
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