2011 has been an interesting year of intense challenges. Perhaps more so than in previous years.
Depending on who you talk to -- it has been a year of pure hell on every level for a great number of people world wide. Some claim 2011 as being the year to shed off the remaining residual energies of all that no longer serve. While others see it as the beginning of the end of the world. Speaking of the end of the world -- 2011 was allegedly the year for that. According to evangelist Harold Camp anyways. Yea ... well ... so much for that ... eh?
Fanatics ... the world is full of fanatics! All kinds of fanatics! Sports and celebrities; religious and political. While it has always been around --fanaticism (political and religious most particular) appears to be gaining steam these days. I'm guessing it has alot to do with the whole myth surrounding 2012 that's making people more fanatical. And with the internet literally creating a smaller universe -- insanity is more readily available. No doubt adding to the intensity of wonkiness these days as well.
In 2011 we saw the formation of the Occupy Movement. Personally, I (as well as many others) would have taken the participants of this "movement" a little more seriously had we not seen signs of greed, selfishness and ignorance filtering throughout each grouping throughout each occupied event.
I'm still waiting on someone who can explain to me what the movement was really about. It appeared the only thing the occupiers seemed to know was ... the banks were at fault and they (the occupiers) were all paying for the establishment's greed.
While that may be true --
for the most part -- there were questions left unanswered by this movement and its participants. The number one question being ...
What about personal responsibility?
The answer to that question came by way of a sign one participant was carrying. A sign that pretty much summed up the entire movement for the rest of the population who watched with a mixture of fascination and disdain. And that infamous sign of course was ...
"Throw me a bone! Pay my student Loan!"
Really? Utterly Fascinating ... to say the least! Of course, the hard core occupiers would deny (vehemently) that was not what they were truly about! *yawn* Yea, okay! Sure!
Like it or not ...
this one sign -- is what the occupy movement will be remembered by! And it will forever overshadow any good the participants had intended. Well that and the utter filth the occupiers had left in their wake during their stint on Wall Street--as well as other places they laid siege.
Good Job People! You managed to single handedly screw yourselves over while trying to make your point!
FYI: No one with any real logic or good sense will take your actions seriously as long as you mimic the same greed, the same self-entitlement and the same no taking of responsibility for your self!
Now -- if all that weren't outrageous enough -- there are many within the occupy movement who are using Jesus as an excuse to justify their own worldly motives. This for me, in unto itself, has provided yet another reason why I cannot take them seriously.
It isn't enough that many use Jesus as a reason to kill thousands upon thousands; use his good name to torment and persecute others -- but now some of these occupiers have the audacity to twist his work to justify their own agendas!??
PLEASE!
As an example of not only of the occupier’s continued audacity -- and their ignorance as well -- was a status stating that
'Jesus was a liberal!'
Excuse me? Jesus had no political affiliations! He taught and encouraged his followers to take care of one another! He encouraged them to be generous in providing for those who could not provide for themselves. To care for the widows and orphans, the fatherless child, to assist them to stand on their own two feet. There was no mention in getting the government involved in this process.
Jesus and his followers,
unlike the liberals, did not hang off the teats of the government! He and his followers were self reliant!
There was nothing Jesus taught that created a "nanny state" -- he did not teach the people to become dependent upon
any government.
Jesus taught To give a hand UP -- not a hand OUT!
Jesus taught Self Responsibility and Self Reliance; He was an example of charity and generosity.
Nothing he said or did was politically motivated!
And then there was a status I found floating around on Face Book during Christmas:
'Today, many celebrate an underprivileged mom giving birth in a stable, to a baby who grew up to be a prominent activist for peace, love and compassion; who preferred the company of prostitutes, the poor and the disabled than that of the religious or financial elite; who at one time took radical direct action against the banking system and who, at the conclusion of his life, was executed publicly as an enemy of state. Jesus was an Activist! Merry Christmas!'
First of all, Mary
was not underprivileged! She came from a prominent family! As did Joseph -- Jesus' "foster" father. Both Mary and Joseph were of the Davidic line. Or didn't anyone know that? Apparently not.
During the time Mary was about to give birth it was also the time of census taking. By law, each man, woman and child were to return to their ancestral home for accounting. Because it was a busy time -- It was a first come -- first serve situation. There were no phones, no internet to call or email ahead for reservations. No Orbitz. No Travellocity. You arrive late -- you were s.o.o.l.!
Mary and Joseph arrived to Bethlehem during a time when the city was overflowing with people who came to be counted for the census. They arrived late apparently -- no doubt due to her condition. Travel back then was harsh even under the best of circumstances. But being very pregnant as Mary was made it even more difficult.
Despite their reasons why they arrived when they did doesn't really matter. The prophecies had stated that Jesus would be born in the City of David -- namely Bethlehem! And so it was. What room -- or in this instance lack of --
was not because Mary was underprivileged -- but because they had arrived during an extraordinarily busy time and the rooms were all taken!
And
FYI: Jesus was NOT born on December 25th! That date was chosen by "the church" at a much later date! Christmas is actually the Roman
Pagan holiday called Saturnalia!
Secondly -- Jesus took action against those merchants and money changers because they were desecrating the Temple to do their business. The Temple was not a place for such things. It was a sacred place for worship, contemplation and meditation.
Third ... The government -- the state -- at that given time of Jesus' trial and subsequent execution was Rome. Jesus was
NOT the enemy of Rome! This was publicly announced by the governor himself. The Governor of that region during this time, was a man by the name of Pilate. Remember him? Pilate found no evidence that Jesus had committed any crimes against Rome. In fact, Pilate washed his hands of the entire situation and wanted nothing more to do with the Jews and their petty disagreements. So he sent Jesus back to the Jewish religious leaders
Jesus was convicted by
greedy religious bastards who feared him because he was waking people up to their lies. Jesus was sent to his death by Jewish radicals who wanted a leader to overthrow Rome.
Because it was the year of Jubilee -- the people were given the opportunity to set free a prisoner of their choosing. They chose a convicted murderer by the name of Barabus. Why?
Because they wanted someone to lead them to overthrow the current government! Namely ... ROME!
And how did that pan out for them? Anyone? Anyone?
Oh and by the way ... you folks may want to make special note of what Jesus told these Jewish radicals when they had come to implore him to lead the way to their victory ... to join them and overthrow the Romans. You do know what Jesus said to them don't you? Obviously, by that damnable face book status ... you don't!
Each one of you who chooses to twist Jesus' work might want to do a bit more research into what he really stood for. And too, rethink your strategies in this regard -- or face the same fate as those radicals in Jesus' day. And all those charlatans that came after who adulterated his works to suit their own selfishness.
In truth, it takes a great deal to offend me. I take offense with
anyone who uses Jesus as an excuse to do whatever they want. Be they politically motivated or religiously motivated. I love Jesus dearly -- and these lies, half-truths and twisting the truth of who he was and what he stood for -- really annoys me to no end.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Yea, went off on a rant there! I know!
I make no apologies for it!
I am really sick and tired of people taking Jesus' work and twisting to suit their particular greedy needy dramas. And what really burns my beans are people who accept these twisted half-truths ... out right lies ... ill conceived notions ... as truth! Just blindly following along accepting and passing along the ignorance without so much as picking up a book, getting online to Google it ...
NOTHING. Just blind acceptance.
And before any one of you deny this ... I want you to think back a few weeks ago on another man. A famous person. A man who is respected, loved and admired for his particular works here on earth. His name? Jon Bon Jovi.
To paraphrase a quote from Mark Twain ~
The reports of his death was greatly exaggerated! And yet so many took it as truth! Face Book was flooded with condolences ... and yet --
very few even bothered to check if his death was true before posting!
Yea, I think I made my points in this regard ... don't you?
My hopes for the coming new year is simple. I hope that many of you walking around with your heads stuck up your ass will manage to pull it out -- and keep it out!
