Outstanding - thank you Ken! I was not aware of that ridiculous song. Thanks for posting the link to it and educating people about it. Also, based on the Hebrew Bible/Christian Old Testament at Deuteronomy 28:1, I think religious Jews believe God wants them to rule the world. It states in part, "...the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth." If Thomas Paine was alive today, he'd be banned from social media, with the exception of X!
Hi Bob. Thanks for your comment as always. Some of Paine's writings might even be blocked on X ... where "From the river to the sea" is banned. Elon is nothing if not erratic. My own belief is that the privatization of the internet was a "YUUGE" mistake ... a disaster. Now where do we find a free speech platform? Answer: there isn't one. Thanks again, my friend, and best to you.
Yes, the more they stay the same indeed. Ignorant people would say this is "my land" God gave this to "me" as literally themselves or their race, group, tribe - its dumb. The reality is that "me" is all beings, all humanity, not a chosen group. "We" are here to share, equally, the earth and to thrive with joy and peace, in that perfect world. But, same old shit - greed, anger and stupidity abounds. Humans are not evolved enough to grasp John Lennon's "Imagine" song which is actually a perfect lesson in what could be. My heart breaks for the suffering in Ukraine and Gaza.
Many people possess an unquestioning faith that a conscious creator exists and is directing all that occurs in the universe. I often wonder how they reconcile this with the fact that billions of years were required for this planet we inhabit evolved before any form of life at all evolved. Billions more years passed before the first animal appeared. Scientists now tell us that we humans exist because of a failure of one chromosome to replicate in our ape ancestor. I, for one, am satisfied to accept the fortunate undetermined nature of our origin. Clearly, humans created the gods in an effort to try to understand what they did not understand. Then, some humans created religion as a means of trading their "special knowledge" for the power to have others do the work of making a living for them.
"Clearly, humans created the gods." Absolutely. Humans created all the gods without exception; not the other way around. I think your summary is 100% spot on.
"Clearly, humans created the gods in an effort to try to understand what they did not understand. Then, some humans created religion as a means of trading their 'special knowledge' for the power to have others do the work of making a living for them."
As you well know, that's precisely what Paine believed with respect to established or institutional religion. But Paine certainly did believe in an all-pervading, supreme creative force. In his Last Will and Testament, penultimate line, he wrote:
"I have lived an honest and useful life to mankind; my time has been spent in doing good, and I die in perfect composure and resignation to the will of my Creator, God."
I don't think that Tom Paine ever told a lie. And a better man has never shared the company of humankind.
Thanks for another insightful and valuable comment, Ed. it's an honor to share it and I thank you for it.
Old Tom was certainly ahead in his time, and ours, calling out the progenitors of the contemporary religiobarbaric Zionazis. Anyone who has an awareness of current world conflict can perceive the religious ruse being perpetrated on the world by the Izraeli regime. His stance alongside netanyahu is costing Biden any credibility he may have earned. The Houthis are heroes spearheading a new worldwide balance of power. Under the current, and quite possibly future, leadership, we’re in deep sht.
I think I watched the Exodus film because Sal Mineo portrayed a character (Dov?). That song should be the soundtrack played as the camera pans the bloodstained empty pre-dawn wall as the first hooded penitent is marched out.
Sal, my brother: thank you for your ZINGER of a post. Yes on using the soundtrack use. I'd recommend it for a long pan of the horrific devastation in the Gaza strip ... perhaps sauced with a few photos of slaughtered children. Honestly ... I'm sick over this and the US/EU funded and instigated Ukraine atrocity as well.
I agree on the so-called "Houthis." Their official and I believe more accurate name is Ansar Allah. One suspects that the US/UK/EU cabal prefers Houthis because it sounds like something "ooga booga." SCARY. I wonder how Hootie and the Blowfish feel about this?
But on a more serious note, I agree with your analysis 100% and thank you for your remarks as always.
Outstanding - thank you Ken! I was not aware of that ridiculous song. Thanks for posting the link to it and educating people about it. Also, based on the Hebrew Bible/Christian Old Testament at Deuteronomy 28:1, I think religious Jews believe God wants them to rule the world. It states in part, "...the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth." If Thomas Paine was alive today, he'd be banned from social media, with the exception of X!
Hi Bob. Thanks for your comment as always. Some of Paine's writings might even be blocked on X ... where "From the river to the sea" is banned. Elon is nothing if not erratic. My own belief is that the privatization of the internet was a "YUUGE" mistake ... a disaster. Now where do we find a free speech platform? Answer: there isn't one. Thanks again, my friend, and best to you.
Yes, the more they stay the same indeed. Ignorant people would say this is "my land" God gave this to "me" as literally themselves or their race, group, tribe - its dumb. The reality is that "me" is all beings, all humanity, not a chosen group. "We" are here to share, equally, the earth and to thrive with joy and peace, in that perfect world. But, same old shit - greed, anger and stupidity abounds. Humans are not evolved enough to grasp John Lennon's "Imagine" song which is actually a perfect lesson in what could be. My heart breaks for the suffering in Ukraine and Gaza.
Beautiful comment and I thank you for doing so.
Woodie Guthrie "This land is your land, and this land is my land" Much better than Pat Boon!
Thanks for your comment, Bro. Bill. Woody Guthrie was a lot finer human than Pat Boone ever was ...
It's to our shame that human's don't share and protect the land which is, after all, our common heritage.
From THE TRUE LEVELLERS STANDARD ADVANCED (1649): "The Earth ... was made to be a Common Treasury of relief for all, both Beasts and Men."
Many people possess an unquestioning faith that a conscious creator exists and is directing all that occurs in the universe. I often wonder how they reconcile this with the fact that billions of years were required for this planet we inhabit evolved before any form of life at all evolved. Billions more years passed before the first animal appeared. Scientists now tell us that we humans exist because of a failure of one chromosome to replicate in our ape ancestor. I, for one, am satisfied to accept the fortunate undetermined nature of our origin. Clearly, humans created the gods in an effort to try to understand what they did not understand. Then, some humans created religion as a means of trading their "special knowledge" for the power to have others do the work of making a living for them.
"Clearly, humans created the gods." Absolutely. Humans created all the gods without exception; not the other way around. I think your summary is 100% spot on.
"Clearly, humans created the gods in an effort to try to understand what they did not understand. Then, some humans created religion as a means of trading their 'special knowledge' for the power to have others do the work of making a living for them."
As you well know, that's precisely what Paine believed with respect to established or institutional religion. But Paine certainly did believe in an all-pervading, supreme creative force. In his Last Will and Testament, penultimate line, he wrote:
"I have lived an honest and useful life to mankind; my time has been spent in doing good, and I die in perfect composure and resignation to the will of my Creator, God."
I don't think that Tom Paine ever told a lie. And a better man has never shared the company of humankind.
Thanks for another insightful and valuable comment, Ed. it's an honor to share it and I thank you for it.
Unabashed anger!
Old Tom was certainly ahead in his time, and ours, calling out the progenitors of the contemporary religiobarbaric Zionazis. Anyone who has an awareness of current world conflict can perceive the religious ruse being perpetrated on the world by the Izraeli regime. His stance alongside netanyahu is costing Biden any credibility he may have earned. The Houthis are heroes spearheading a new worldwide balance of power. Under the current, and quite possibly future, leadership, we’re in deep sht.
I think I watched the Exodus film because Sal Mineo portrayed a character (Dov?). That song should be the soundtrack played as the camera pans the bloodstained empty pre-dawn wall as the first hooded penitent is marched out.
No apologies…
Sal, my brother: thank you for your ZINGER of a post. Yes on using the soundtrack use. I'd recommend it for a long pan of the horrific devastation in the Gaza strip ... perhaps sauced with a few photos of slaughtered children. Honestly ... I'm sick over this and the US/EU funded and instigated Ukraine atrocity as well.
I agree on the so-called "Houthis." Their official and I believe more accurate name is Ansar Allah. One suspects that the US/UK/EU cabal prefers Houthis because it sounds like something "ooga booga." SCARY. I wonder how Hootie and the Blowfish feel about this?
But on a more serious note, I agree with your analysis 100% and thank you for your remarks as always.