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August 7, 2005
Jesus
We hear a good bit of talk about Jesus, lately. 
In fact we hear so much talk about Jesus that it’s hard – even for the vast staff of KIW – to separate the wheat from the chaff regarding this V.I.P.
There are many, many folks who feel that Jesus is in their corner, fighting their fight. One group of folks says that Jesus’ biggest concern is tax cuts for wealthy Americans, another group of folks is adamant that “Jesus hates fags.” It’s all a little confusing
So the research department at KIW went to work. We read things. Books like Matthew, Mark, John and Luke in the New Testament. These writings really inspired the vast staff of KIW. These Jesus stories describe a man who encouraged others to believe in themselves. A man who rejected organized religion. A man who rejected greed, and encouraged us to share wealth. A man who demanded that we love one another.
The books describe a fellow whose charisma was so strong, and whose message was so radical and threatening to the established culture, that the government and the religious leaders at the time had him imprisoned, tortured, and killed. And the democratic majority strongly agreed.
The Staff at KIW wonder how such a message (peace, love, and socialism) would be received by those who run this country (the USA) these days.
KIW found some other interesting writings about Jesus. Among these interesting writings, a 1923 take on the historical figure of Jesus by Science Fiction writer H.G. Wells
“And not only did Jesus strike at patriotism and the bonds of family loyalty in the name of God’s universal fatherhood and brotherhood of all mankind, but it is clear that his teaching condemned all the gradations of the economic system, all the private wealth, and personal advantages.”
H.G. Wells, A Short History of the World; Chapter XXXVII “The Teaching of Jesus”, p. 126
We also liked Mr. Bill McKibben’s essay in the August 2005 Harpers Magazine:
“Three quarters of Americans believe the Bible teaches that “God helps those who help themselves.” That is, three out of four Americans believe that this uber-American idea, a notion at the core of our current individualist politics and culture, which was in fact uttered by Ben Franklin, actually appears in Holy Scripture. The thing is, not only is Franklin’s wisdom not biblical; it’s counter-biblical. Few ideas could be further from the gospel message, with its radical summons to love of neighbor. On this essential matter, most Americans—most American Christians—are simply wrong […]”
“The Christian Paradox, How a faithful nation gets Jesus wrong” by Bill McKibben; Harpers Magazine; August 2005; p. 31
Last (or first) the mighty Woody Guthrie says it all with his 1930’s song “They Laid Jesus Christ in his Grave”
KIW's staff hopes that this clears things up, once and for all.
Download:
pdf A Short History of the World; Chapter XXXVII “The Teaching of Jesus”, p. 126
pdf "The Christian Paradox"; Harpers Magazine; August 2005; p. 31 (big file)
They Laid Jesus Christ in His Grave.mp3
Posted by williamfrick at 12:13 AM | Comments (2)
August 3, 2005
Lila Dit ça (Lila Says)
The KIW staff are big fans of movies. 
Each movie is a voyage. A two hour trip into lives, places, thoughts and adventures, that almost always leave the voyager enriched and knowledgeable.
A huge screen and a dark theatre make the blast off for each voyage almost effortless. It’s harder to take the trip on the small screen. Which is why the KIW staff often see movies in theaters 3-4 times a week. (It’s not like there’s much of anything on TV that we’re missing.)
Lila dit ça (Lila Says) is a journey to the outskirts of Marseilles, a passage into present-day European Arab ghettos, a crossing into the immigrant mind. It’s about love, sex, religion, stupid people and smart ones – and most of all about teachers. It’s a trip worth talking. Especially with popcorn.
Posted by williamfrick at 10:10 PM | Comments (0)
August 2, 2005
Judge John Coughenour
Last week in Seattle, a Federal Judge sentenced a 35 year-old man named Ahmed Ressam to 22 years in prison.
Mr. Ressam, an Algerian, attempted to enter the U.S. from Victoria, Canada in December 1999 via an ocean-going, automobile-carrying, ferry bound for Everett, Washington. An alert U.S. Customs Agent, who was acting under Clinton Administration orders to heighten border security due to intelligence reports that al-Qa'ida would attempt an attack during the millennium holiday celebration, found the explosives in the trunk of Mr. Ressam’s car.
Federal District Judge John Coughenour, a Republican appointed to the federal bench by Ronald Reagan in the 1980s, made a statement at the time of sentencing. His statement should give any American goosebumps of patriotism.
Here is the gist of it:
"[…] our system works. We did not need to use a secret military tribunal, or detain the defendant indefinitely as an enemy combatant, or deny him the right to counsel, or invoke any proceedings beyond those guaranteed by or contrary to the United States Constitution."
Read his statement in its entirety, here
Download his statement, here
Seattle Post-Intelligencer; 28 July 2005; p.A6, “TEXT OF JUDGE’S STATEMENT”
Posted by williamfrick at 6:35 PM | Comments (0)