offensive
original message: (1:30 AM)
He'd ride a bicycle. (I'm guessing a low end English 3 speed, circa 1970.) And instead of the cross there'd be a big bloody bumper.
s_____ wrote:
> Guess that helps answer the question being asked now by the Evangelical
> Environmental Network "What would Jesus drive?"
>
> Not a SubarUU.
>
>
>
> S______
>
> ps. But can both fundamentalist Christians and Unitarians be on the same
> page about emission controls? Can this be the place to build bridges? (or
> roads??)
--------------------
Mild letter claiming that I was offensive deleted.
--------------------
my response:
xyz list members:
It's been pointed out to me that I may have crossed "the line" into the offensive with my last post. If this is so, I'd like to hear about it. I didn't intend offense, but rather to emphasize that every time we drive, we hold the power of death lightly in our hands, and so should be more vigilant than the oblivious drivers who I observe almost daily on the roads. (I have been similarly oblivious while driving once or twice myself. It's been less than a month since I've seen one of these drivers draw a little blood, and maybe a day since one threatened my own life in a small way. I've required surgery once, and I can immediately think of someone I knew who died this way. There are other incidents I can think of, and if you throw in the pedestrians, it's going to be a long list.)
I meant no offense towards Christianity. Christianity certainly deserves satire, as do we, but it would be better if it was done from inside. (Not that I'm above making a little fun of it myself on occasion, and I become lower the more the USA becomes officially Christian.) Ahem... As a driver, a cyclist, and someone raised UU, I feel somehow authorized to take a few pokes at these groups. I suppose the absence of a certain aggravating adjective might have rendered the message less shocking and almost equally effective, or perhaps I should have rewritten the last sentence entirely.
I also note that my next previous post was somewhat (in a friendly way, I hope) at the expense of Ms. ABCXYZ and her message about thinking ahead. I intended no critiscism of her and actually, I appreciate her thoughtfulness in calling the Tanner Lectures to our attention. Unfortunately, in my case this would be more likely to bear fruit if she was to post the message about an hour before the event. At my request, would you all mentally append the following: "Thanks to Ms. ABCXYZ for the information on the Tanner lectures. I certainly DON'T think next fall is too far in the future to think about." As an example of forward (or maybe backward?) thinking, might we order some black armbands to wear to the first lecture, which is on Nov. 2? (There I go again, yet another self satisfied UU! Please, along with Peggy Noonan, be kind and gentle in your objections.)
These days, my main relation to xyz seems to be as an occasional impulsive (see previous 3 sentences), satirical gadfly on this list. As such, I know full well that on occasion, I am going to seem tasteless, though it's possible I might be able to tone it down a little. It's true that I sometimes make other connections on this list, giving and getting small favors and yesterday even a small odd job, but those are secondary. As someone who does almost nothing to help the church, unless you count my satire as a plus, perhaps I make too much noise for the standing I have here. Rest assured that there are other ways in which I try to help other people, but at the moment it's not through xyz, and in fact I'm not sure how effectual my attempts in this direction are. I am probably moving to (unfortunate town deleted) very soon, so if it seems appropriate, I may drift off. Whether or not I stay on this list, some of you should be sure to warn the good people of (unfortunate town deleted). It's not likely they'll believe me.
Sincerely (for the most part, and I bet you can tell which parts) yours,
Len
P.S. This just in, from Rev. SUBUU:
> If your pastor doesn't measure up, simply send this letter to six other parishes that are tired of their pastors too. Then bundle up your pastor and send him to the church at the top of the list. In one week you will receive 1,643 pastors and one of them should be perfect. Have faith in this letter. One church broke the chain and got its old pastor back in less than three months. -- You have been warned.
Works for gadflies too!
P.P.S. I wish to note that another member of this list has an email address which might be read as mine! She is merely unlucky enough to share part of a name. Not a relative of any kind that I am aware of. If you don't have (len's real address deleted), you don't have the real (Len's real name deleted). Please direct all critiscism, virii, letters of disconcernment and firebombs in MY direction, not hers, or my housemates', for that matter. Ok? (Consider CEP, blast radius, and wind direction too. It ain't far. Remember the Chinese Embassy.)
He'd ride a bicycle. (I'm guessing a low end English 3 speed, circa 1970.) And instead of the cross there'd be a big bloody bumper.
s_____ wrote:
> Guess that helps answer the question being asked now by the Evangelical
> Environmental Network "What would Jesus drive?"
>
> Not a SubarUU.
>
>
>
> S______
>
> ps. But can both fundamentalist Christians and Unitarians be on the same
> page about emission controls? Can this be the place to build bridges? (or
> roads??)
--------------------
Mild letter claiming that I was offensive deleted.
--------------------
my response:
xyz list members:
It's been pointed out to me that I may have crossed "the line" into the offensive with my last post. If this is so, I'd like to hear about it. I didn't intend offense, but rather to emphasize that every time we drive, we hold the power of death lightly in our hands, and so should be more vigilant than the oblivious drivers who I observe almost daily on the roads. (I have been similarly oblivious while driving once or twice myself. It's been less than a month since I've seen one of these drivers draw a little blood, and maybe a day since one threatened my own life in a small way. I've required surgery once, and I can immediately think of someone I knew who died this way. There are other incidents I can think of, and if you throw in the pedestrians, it's going to be a long list.)
I meant no offense towards Christianity. Christianity certainly deserves satire, as do we, but it would be better if it was done from inside. (Not that I'm above making a little fun of it myself on occasion, and I become lower the more the USA becomes officially Christian.) Ahem... As a driver, a cyclist, and someone raised UU, I feel somehow authorized to take a few pokes at these groups. I suppose the absence of a certain aggravating adjective might have rendered the message less shocking and almost equally effective, or perhaps I should have rewritten the last sentence entirely.
I also note that my next previous post was somewhat (in a friendly way, I hope) at the expense of Ms. ABCXYZ and her message about thinking ahead. I intended no critiscism of her and actually, I appreciate her thoughtfulness in calling the Tanner Lectures to our attention. Unfortunately, in my case this would be more likely to bear fruit if she was to post the message about an hour before the event. At my request, would you all mentally append the following: "Thanks to Ms. ABCXYZ for the information on the Tanner lectures. I certainly DON'T think next fall is too far in the future to think about." As an example of forward (or maybe backward?) thinking, might we order some black armbands to wear to the first lecture, which is on Nov. 2? (There I go again, yet another self satisfied UU! Please, along with Peggy Noonan, be kind and gentle in your objections.)
These days, my main relation to xyz seems to be as an occasional impulsive (see previous 3 sentences), satirical gadfly on this list. As such, I know full well that on occasion, I am going to seem tasteless, though it's possible I might be able to tone it down a little. It's true that I sometimes make other connections on this list, giving and getting small favors and yesterday even a small odd job, but those are secondary. As someone who does almost nothing to help the church, unless you count my satire as a plus, perhaps I make too much noise for the standing I have here. Rest assured that there are other ways in which I try to help other people, but at the moment it's not through xyz, and in fact I'm not sure how effectual my attempts in this direction are. I am probably moving to (unfortunate town deleted) very soon, so if it seems appropriate, I may drift off. Whether or not I stay on this list, some of you should be sure to warn the good people of (unfortunate town deleted). It's not likely they'll believe me.
Sincerely (for the most part, and I bet you can tell which parts) yours,
Len
P.S. This just in, from Rev. SUBUU:
> If your pastor doesn't measure up, simply send this letter to six other parishes that are tired of their pastors too. Then bundle up your pastor and send him to the church at the top of the list. In one week you will receive 1,643 pastors and one of them should be perfect. Have faith in this letter. One church broke the chain and got its old pastor back in less than three months. -- You have been warned.
Works for gadflies too!
P.P.S. I wish to note that another member of this list has an email address which might be read as mine! She is merely unlucky enough to share part of a name. Not a relative of any kind that I am aware of. If you don't have (len's real address deleted), you don't have the real (Len's real name deleted). Please direct all critiscism, virii, letters of disconcernment and firebombs in MY direction, not hers, or my housemates', for that matter. Ok? (Consider CEP, blast radius, and wind direction too. It ain't far. Remember the Chinese Embassy.)
posted by LR at 6:59 PM
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