Saturday, March 20, 2010
UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE
As we are getting down to the wire on the health care issue, I thought I'd add some thoughts about it and include actions and teachings of Jesus in the Gospels.
First, He would be in favor of it, I'm sure. Anyone who has read the Gospels will note that Jesus went all around curing and helping those that were sick or otherwise hurting. He did not only help the rich but everyone! Does this mean universal health care? I think so. After all, He said whatever you do to your neighbor you do to Me, and of course there's the "Do unto others...." statement.
Those who call themselves Christian and are opposed to helping all people obviously haven't read the Gospels. Or do they think He meant others and not them? The "I've got mine, to hell with you" attitude is anathema to the teachings and actions of Jesus. Why can't people see that?
A friend of mine who is a wealthy conservative made the comment that if someone has no health care it's his/her own fault. What an arrogant, uninformed comment! After I gave him a few examples showing him how wrong he was, he was surprised to find himself changing his mind. Where did he get such a notion to begin with? Who knows which pundit influenced him, but I was stunned to hear such a remark coming from someone I like and who has been generous with me and others.
This is one story I told him:
I have a dear friend who is a senior citizen who had breast cancer years ago and survived but found it difficult to get health insurance through her small business employers. She is a long-time widow on Social Security and Medicare, but she must continue to work to afford her home, food and health care. In Northern Virginia, where she lives, many doctors will not take Medicare payments, so she is limited in her choices and may not get the best care available to many others. Also, the secondary insurance that she has is costly, and she fears what will happen to her in the future. As someone who emigrated here form Germany 50 years ago, she is considering returning to her native country for health care so she may finally be able to retire and live out her life without the fear and worries she has now. She has worked hard all of her life, raised 3 wonderful children and has been a warm, caring, generous friend to many. I hope she is able to stay, but I cannot blame her if she goes back to Germany, where she knows she will get excellent, affordable care in her declining years.
What do Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck, among others who profess to be Christians think about helping others? They are against it. Plainly and simply, they are anti-Christ. They have lots of money and don't care about those in need, and they have the nerve to influence the ignorant and uninformed with their rhetoric. They "bear false witness" against the President and others who only want to help people and, in the long run, help the economy and the strength of our nation. They use attacks such as "they want to take over the country and send it into ruin with socialist, anti-Christian actions." PLEASE! Jesus was a socialist - no question. If you actually read the Gospels, it becomes so very apparent to anyone with half a brain. Funny how so many who call themselves Christian have no clue who Jesus was. Maybe it's because they worship money, status, power and self, rather than Him. They invoke Him to get what they want - talk about taking the lord's name in vain! And don't forget what He said about the rich man, the camel and the eye of the needle, Dr. Dobson, Pat Robertson, et.al.
Wake up! Don't believe all the crap you hear. Instead, if you really care about things that matter to us all, read and investigate to find the truth. "All ye like sheep have gone astray" is so appropriate for all those crazy birthers and tea party folks. I actually heard a TP guy say that Jesus wrote the Constitution. Funny, if it weren't so scary.
Anyway, back to health care; it's time. The fat cats in DC have government health care that we pay for! It's an embarrassment and a national tragedy that our health care system is such a mess. We are ranked way below other industrial nations. How can that make the "patriotic Christians" happy? Selfishness is against everything Jesus taught, so many should rethink their religious labels if they don't support health care reform. I, for one, have decent health care, but I think there should be "socialized" medicine. It will help all of us in the long run, and, really, who will it hurt? Those that have theirs and to hell with everyone else, that's who.
First, He would be in favor of it, I'm sure. Anyone who has read the Gospels will note that Jesus went all around curing and helping those that were sick or otherwise hurting. He did not only help the rich but everyone! Does this mean universal health care? I think so. After all, He said whatever you do to your neighbor you do to Me, and of course there's the "Do unto others...." statement.
Those who call themselves Christian and are opposed to helping all people obviously haven't read the Gospels. Or do they think He meant others and not them? The "I've got mine, to hell with you" attitude is anathema to the teachings and actions of Jesus. Why can't people see that?
A friend of mine who is a wealthy conservative made the comment that if someone has no health care it's his/her own fault. What an arrogant, uninformed comment! After I gave him a few examples showing him how wrong he was, he was surprised to find himself changing his mind. Where did he get such a notion to begin with? Who knows which pundit influenced him, but I was stunned to hear such a remark coming from someone I like and who has been generous with me and others.
This is one story I told him:
I have a dear friend who is a senior citizen who had breast cancer years ago and survived but found it difficult to get health insurance through her small business employers. She is a long-time widow on Social Security and Medicare, but she must continue to work to afford her home, food and health care. In Northern Virginia, where she lives, many doctors will not take Medicare payments, so she is limited in her choices and may not get the best care available to many others. Also, the secondary insurance that she has is costly, and she fears what will happen to her in the future. As someone who emigrated here form Germany 50 years ago, she is considering returning to her native country for health care so she may finally be able to retire and live out her life without the fear and worries she has now. She has worked hard all of her life, raised 3 wonderful children and has been a warm, caring, generous friend to many. I hope she is able to stay, but I cannot blame her if she goes back to Germany, where she knows she will get excellent, affordable care in her declining years.
What do Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck, among others who profess to be Christians think about helping others? They are against it. Plainly and simply, they are anti-Christ. They have lots of money and don't care about those in need, and they have the nerve to influence the ignorant and uninformed with their rhetoric. They "bear false witness" against the President and others who only want to help people and, in the long run, help the economy and the strength of our nation. They use attacks such as "they want to take over the country and send it into ruin with socialist, anti-Christian actions." PLEASE! Jesus was a socialist - no question. If you actually read the Gospels, it becomes so very apparent to anyone with half a brain. Funny how so many who call themselves Christian have no clue who Jesus was. Maybe it's because they worship money, status, power and self, rather than Him. They invoke Him to get what they want - talk about taking the lord's name in vain! And don't forget what He said about the rich man, the camel and the eye of the needle, Dr. Dobson, Pat Robertson, et.al.
Wake up! Don't believe all the crap you hear. Instead, if you really care about things that matter to us all, read and investigate to find the truth. "All ye like sheep have gone astray" is so appropriate for all those crazy birthers and tea party folks. I actually heard a TP guy say that Jesus wrote the Constitution. Funny, if it weren't so scary.
Anyway, back to health care; it's time. The fat cats in DC have government health care that we pay for! It's an embarrassment and a national tragedy that our health care system is such a mess. We are ranked way below other industrial nations. How can that make the "patriotic Christians" happy? Selfishness is against everything Jesus taught, so many should rethink their religious labels if they don't support health care reform. I, for one, have decent health care, but I think there should be "socialized" medicine. It will help all of us in the long run, and, really, who will it hurt? Those that have theirs and to hell with everyone else, that's who.
Monday, March 8, 2010
What is the Gospel Truth?
This is my very first post, so I feel the need to delve into the title and my own belief system for those who may be interested in following me. First, the title: all my life I've heard folks refer to something being "gospel." Of course, they didn't really mean as in the Bible, and who knows if they were really telling the truth or just trying to convince themselves. I was raised in the Presbyterian Church, as my parents were very religious. They were not, however, pious, and taught me a lot of truths based on the Gospels, and their compassion and honesty were my role models. They were not perfect, but they did their best as parents and Christians, and I'll be forever greatful for their raising me to respect and care about others.
Because so many people today throw around the word "Christian" but don't seem to have a clue who Jesus was, I decided to start this blog based on His words and deeds. As for the Bible, you may take it or leave it; your faith is your business, but the man so often invoked by so many was a liberal in every sense of the word and has gotten a bad rap by the right-wingers who quote the Old Testament and The Book of Revelation. I'd like to set the record straight for once, by telling His story as it was written. Am I a believer? Ain't nobody's business but my own. Do I find the words and deeds as attributed to Jesus interesting, provocative and inspiring? ABSOLUTELY!
Will this blog be based entirely on Jesus? ABSOLUTELY NOT! It will include universal truths and quotes from great minds, such as Ghandi, John Lennon, Charles Schultz, Maya Angelou, James Baldwin, and many others whom I admire and with whom I agree. These quotes and stories will be pitted against the words and deeds of folks like Sarah Palin, Glen Beck, Dr. Dobson, Rush Linbaugh, et. al. I hope to shed a new light on their lies, distortions and right-wing propaganda.
Join me on this journey, please. I hope I won't disappoint.
Because so many people today throw around the word "Christian" but don't seem to have a clue who Jesus was, I decided to start this blog based on His words and deeds. As for the Bible, you may take it or leave it; your faith is your business, but the man so often invoked by so many was a liberal in every sense of the word and has gotten a bad rap by the right-wingers who quote the Old Testament and The Book of Revelation. I'd like to set the record straight for once, by telling His story as it was written. Am I a believer? Ain't nobody's business but my own. Do I find the words and deeds as attributed to Jesus interesting, provocative and inspiring? ABSOLUTELY!
Will this blog be based entirely on Jesus? ABSOLUTELY NOT! It will include universal truths and quotes from great minds, such as Ghandi, John Lennon, Charles Schultz, Maya Angelou, James Baldwin, and many others whom I admire and with whom I agree. These quotes and stories will be pitted against the words and deeds of folks like Sarah Palin, Glen Beck, Dr. Dobson, Rush Linbaugh, et. al. I hope to shed a new light on their lies, distortions and right-wing propaganda.
Join me on this journey, please. I hope I won't disappoint.
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