Thursday's open thread

    What's on your minds?

Comments

[countyshmounty]

That God-awful Shields "fresco fiasco" at the Jacked up Courthouse is what's on my noggin. Try as I might, I can't get that image out of my head. But it's not the image of bad art that sticks with me. That would be kind of ordinary. I think it's more the "being taken for a ride" part, and then being talked down to by a way-past-prime, self-serving politician.

But every time I start to forget the $100,000 price tag, my wallet starts feeling strangely lighter and I begin to wonder what's next. Laugh if you want, but it's a kind of Spidey sense I have learned to trust. (Those of you not in Jackson County don't have to worry about that... yet.)

county, let this little videoclip take the Shields horror story off your mind:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tB6EWF3vulc

"no one could have imagined...."

[Global Citizen]

What is on my mind you ask? Well let me tell you. Legalized torture. The hijacking of Americas core values and principles by a craven coward sitting in the Oval. The aquiescence to fear by a sheeple electorate. And those horrid "Progress for America" ads. Talk about playing the politics of fear! Just off the top of my head. Aren't you glad you asked?

[Steve]

Normally I would not be negative toward other Democratic organizations but I found
this on http://ky3.blogspot.com/ and I
am bothered by the lack of integrity that
is being shown on the behalf of HDA.
Heartland Democrats as an organization
touts themselves as working on the
values debate for Democrats and yet
they didn't get permission from Pastor
Roger Ray to feature him in an ad they
would like to put on the air? I am sorry
but this is an irresponsible opportunity
that HDA has taken advantage of and
goes against the Values that they list for
themselves. I have followed HDA and
attended a couple of their events in the
past, but they have faded as an
organization into obscurity and have
seemed to loose their rudder.
Roger Ray Responds
National Avenue Christian Church
pastor Roger Ray has just responded to
a previous post about his appearance in
a political ad by a group called
Heartland Democrats of America.
I posted it in the comment section of the
post, but thought it was relevant enough
to print his response at the top of our
page.
Here's what he had to say:
This blog was brought to my attention
recently. It contained two surprises for
me. The first was that an interview I
had given to a Kansas City resident
about minimum wage issues was being
used in a Democratic ad. I never have
and never will endorse, contribute to or
otherwise appear to take a partisan side
in any political campaign for one party
or the other or on behalf of any
candidate.
I always speak only about issues which
are of a religious and ethical nature. I'm
sorry that the interviewer has taken the
liberty of featuring me in a partisan ad.
That was unethical and iladvised on his
part. But possibly of more concern to
me is that a "journalist" has taken this
an opportunity to invite personal attacks
against me. Even if you watch the ad
you see that I did not endorse any
candidate or party. I was speaking about
poverty issues, as did the prophets, the
apostles, Jesus and centuries of pastors
and priests right up to such modern day
notables as Dorothy Day, Martin Luther
King and Gandhi. Somehow, rather
than taking a journalist's interests in the
issues which impact hundreds of
millions of people.... the issues I was
addressing, a KY3 reporter took a
tabloid view of the world and said
"economics, poverty, civil rights, social
justice are all too complicated for our
viewers, let's just see if we can gather
up and slander a local pastor."
And that, I humbly submit, is not
journalism. Rev. Dr. Roger L. Ray
Below is our previous post on Ray. Not
sure what he means when he accuses
me of a "tabloid view," and says I
committed "slander." I simply reported
what he said in an ad that a source
pointed me to. In fact, most of the post
is information taken directly from the
group. But let me know what you think.
THURSDAY, SEPT. 14th POST
Roger Ray, the senior pastor at National
Avenue Christian Church, is appearing
in a new political ad by a group called
Heartland Democrats of America. Ray
has been a political figure in the area for
years, delving into a variety of issues
like gay marriage and the minimum
wage.This group -- Heartland
Democrats of America -- describes
itself as a group of Democrats
ultimately trying to win, "the values
debate.""HDA champions strong
Democratic values in Missouri and
throughout America's Heartland. The
era of the apologetic Democrat in
middle America is being laid to rest
forever - replaced by a unifying values
message worthy of the hard-working
people of middle America," according
to the website. This is a group based out
of Kansas City, Mo. Roger Ray is the
featured speaker in the group's new ad
campaign called "Vote your Values."
Ray says the growing disparity between
the rich and poor is the top political
issue from a spiritual vantage point.
Watch the entire ad at
http://www.heartlanddemocrats.com/mu

[cmarshalldavis]

Don't be fooled.

Terrell Owens may look like an idiot.

Terrell Owens may talk like an idiot.

Terrell Owens may act like an idiot.

But don't be fooled.

Terrell Owens IS an idiot!!!

The saddest part of the entire fiasco is that he didn't succeed in killing himself. He, like Mike Tyson who is "returning" to the ring, are two of the most worthless, valueless, classless and unnecessary people ever to walk the planet.

Would that they both could take their "depression" and remove themselves from the human experience. The world would be a better place with both of them gone. As for Owens' publicist; she appears to be a female version of Step 'n Fetchit. Wonder if sleeping with Owens is part of her employment contract?

On the other hand, I wonder when Lewis Diuguid will come down on you for your "gross insensitivity" to a member of your own ethnic group? I wonder when Lewis Diuguid will have the balls to address such an issue of anti-social behavior in his column? My guess would be....never.

Christ certainly appears to abide within Pastor Roger Ray. I believe that God requires all to behave as Pastor Ray in the area of politics, which most did before this current divisive environment. If my church were to allow any politician to speak to our body, I would leave my church and find another one to worship in.

cmarshalldavis,

Could it be you are a racist.

You have made the most ignorant evil statements without even bothering to explain why you feel that this man (Terrell Owens) does not deserve life on our earth, not that it matters one speck of a bit.

We certainly know that you do not think he deserve to be making all that money, Right? But, all of it should go to the owners right? Everyone the players and the owners is making a finanical windfall, so these players are not getting over on anyone. They are entertainers, like movie stars, do their salaries disgust you?

Why does anyone's money concern you anyhow? Maybe it doesn't unless they are Black (African Americans), Huh? Ever ask yourself why is that?

Are you the true God here, that you can judge anyone worthless and undeserving of life on our green earth?

Just remember you will be judged as harshly as you judge another, and that judgment will come in your present life, and if you happen die with your same wicked heart then you will experience a second death.

Also, since you are too foolish to realize this, but, you do not decide, nor is it your place to concern yourself with who shall have life or death in such matters, and placing yourself in such high standing is characteristic of Satan. Remember, why he was kicked out of Heaven?

He equated himself as equal to God, much like you have done here.

By the way,cmarshalldavis,

As we all know, Terrell Owens did not die. So it is very obvious God found him worthy of life. But you don't?

[cmarshalldavis]

blabbermouths like "pastor" ray are the reason we should strip churches of their tax exempt status and tax the hell out of them. when loudmouths like ray spout off their political opinions in an attempt to sway their flock of mindless lemmings, then the separation of church and state has disappeared. similar to other bloviating nincompoops, i.e., jerry falwell, james dobson, jerry johnston, and that ilk, these subterranean bottom feeders should stand up like men (which they are not, preferring to hide behind the skirts of their "religion") and pay for the priviledge of speaking out. fakers, phonies, liars, cheats, child molesters....all of them.

[BeProudAmerica]

Interesting take on removing tax exempt status for churches that give their political opinions.

Wouldn't that also need to be true for any non-profit tax-exempt organization that states their political views whether it be religious or non-religious?

(I want to make it clear that I have only been to Church (besides weddings and funerals) once over the past 24 years.)

[John Evans]

Jesus Was A Liberal.

[Democrat]

I went to the HDA event (and have been to just about every event actually) where they revealed that ad.

Rev. Ray never contacted HDA, he just made that blog comment. Someone from HDA came across it and contacted him immediately. They found that there had been a misunderstanding that had caused his response (above), but it was worked out amicably and a disclaimer was placed at the beginning of the ad before it ever went on the air, and the Reverend had no issue with the final product.

So your assertion that they compromised the values they represent is ill-informed, because they took action to correct a mistake that no one even knew about at the time. They demonstrated very sound professionalism and integrity in my opinion.