Archive for April 8, 2012
Exploding Myths For The Easter Weekend
I know many of you are on Alan Grayson’s email list. Grayson does such a great job articulating what many of us feel. Easter is the time of renewal of the earth – when new beginnings bring new hope. To do that we often must reflect on what needs to be changed and what needs to be cultivated. Below is a list of current American myths that need to be removed so growth can be renewed. Happy Easter all.
A month ago, I wrote a note called “The Myths That Are Killing Us” – the hard myths that no Republicans, and very few Democrats, ever challenge. Here was my list:
1) The Government can’t create jobs. (Tell that to FDR, who created four million jobs in three months.)
2) Tax cuts reduce the deficit. (Doesn’t it bother them that a man named “Laffer” came up with this one?)
3) A fetus is a baby.
4) The poor have too much money.
5) Cutting the federal deficit will end the recession.
6) The rich are incentivized by tax cuts, while the poor are incentivized by lower wages, no benefits, an end to the minimum wage, and unemployment.
7) An unwanted child is God’s will.
8) Everyone who wants health insurance has it.
9) The problem with education is the teachers.
10) The “free market” satisfies every human need.
11) There is no discrimination in America anymore.
12) The distribution of wealth and income are irrelevant.
Well, this list seems to have provoked a lot of thought among us. Since I regard what we do as a collective endeavor, I want to share with you some of the best of this crowdsourcing by our audience – 20 more destructive myths:
1) One gender is better than the other, one race is superior to all others, and there is only one true religion.
2) You can get any medical treatment that you need, for free, in any hospital emergency room.
3) Ronald Reagan won the Cold War.
4) The environment can protect itself.
5) It is better for America to be feared than loved.
6) Only the wealthy create jobs.
7) America is a Christian nation.
8) Human beings are not the cause of climate change.
9) Minority women have children in order to qualify for welfare.
10) President Obama wants to take away our guns.
11) The more we spend on the military, the safer we are.
12) Corporations use tax cuts to hire people.
13) The unemployed are lazy and stupid.
14) Rich people are smarter than everyone else.
15) We will never run out of oil.
16) Invading foreign countries wins hearts and minds.
17) Science is a matter of opinion.
18) Instigating unnecessary wars shows your support for the troops.
19) Corporations are people.
20) Money is speech.
Every one of these myths is fascinating in its own right. You could write a whole book about each of them. So to the supporters who contributed to this list, thank you. I’m listening and learning.
And if we could just get past all of these myths, then think about what a great place this would be.
Courage,
Alan Grayson
Sunday Funday – Sunday School Quiz
I keep running into these interesting quizzes online. This one is a general quiz on some of the major beliefs of the major religions of the world. Have fun and Happy Easter.
1) Which Bible figure is most closely associated with leading the exodus from Egypt?
a) Job
b) Elijah
c) Moses
d) Abraham
2) What was Mother Teresa’s religion?
a) Catholic
b) Jewish
c) Buddhist
d) Hindu
3) Which of the following is NOT one of the Ten Commandments?
a) Do not commit adultery
b) Do unto others as you would have them do unto you
c) Do not steal
d) Keep the Sabbath holy
4) When does the Jewish Sabbath begin?
a) Thursday
b) Friday
c) Saturday
d) Sunday
5) Is Ramadan…?
a) The Hindu festival of lights
b) A Jewish day of atonement
c) The Islamic holy month
d) the Christian feast of the tongues
6) Which of the following best describes the Catholic teaching about the bread and wine used for Communion?
a) The bread and wine actually become the body and blood of Jesus Christ.
b) The bread and wine are symbols of the body and blood of Jesus Christ.
c) The wine is Jesus Christ’s blood, the bread is communal bread.
d) The bread is Jesus Christ’s body, the wine is a remembrance of Canaa.
7) In which religion are Vishnu and Shiva central figures?
a) Islam
b) Hinduism
c) Taoism
d) Shintoism
8) Which Bible figure is most closely associated with remaining obedient to God despite suffering?
a) Job
b) Elijah
c) Moses
d) Abraham
9) What was Joseph Smith’s religion?
a) Catholic
b) Jewish
c) Buddhist
d) Mormon
10) According to rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court, is a public school teacher permitted to read from the Bible as an example of literature, or not?
a) Yes, permitted
b) No, not permitted
Well, go here and there are a couple more questions.
Hope that helped stretch the old mind after the morning service.
Answers? All right, you sinners.
1) c) Moses
2) a) Mother Theresa was a Catholic
3) b) no golden rule in the commandments
4) b) Friday at sundown
5) c) Islamic holy month
6) a) actually become body and blood
7) b) Hinduism
8) a) Job of course
9) d) Mormon founder
10) a) yes, the bible can be taught as an example of literature.



