A Brief Comment by Doug Draper
Whenever I try to make sense out of some of the madness in this world we live in, or at least try to find some reason to laugh in or at it, I often find myself turning to the gospel according to George – the late, great U.S. satirist and winner of the 2008 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, George Carlin.
George Carlin
This is Carlin’s take on it, which some of us north of the Canada/U.S. border might identify with as well, at least so far as the references to lawyers, judges and politicians are concerned.
“The reasons why we can’t have the Ten Commandments in a courthouse – You cannot post ‘Thou shalt not steal,’ ‘Thou shalt not commit adultery’ and ‘Thou shalt not lie’ in a building full of lawyers, judges and politicians. It creates a hostile work environment.”
I would amend this to the point where I would give a pass to the more than 80 Canadian immigration lawyers who were recently brave enough to challenge why Canada’s federal government would let Conrad Black, a convicted felon and non-citizen who spent five years in a Florida prison, into Canada less than a week after the former media baron was allowed entry to this country. I would like to think that George would approve that amendment.
While we are on a George Carlin role, enjoy this brilliant bit that Carlin did on the Jay Leno Tonight Show in 2005, which was part of his acclaimed ‘Life is Worth Losing’ show. It is as relevant and edgy today as it was when he wrote and delivered it seven years ago. Here is the link for that bit, which Carlin called ‘Modern Man’ – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTayQhIkB58&list=FLug-4sYmva4DJYSZZwBIalw&feature=mh_lolz .
(Niagara At Large invites you to share your views on this post below, remembering that NAL only posts comments from individuals who also share their first and last names and who stay away from totally tasteless attacks against other individuals.)
Niagara At Large 
Fortunately those “split-brain” types of which Doug speaks do not speak for the majority of Christians I know. They certainly don’t speak for me and and I do not support such thinking. Nor do I support the self-righteous who would condemn, then oust an unwed pregnant woman from their congregation and yet oppose her having an abortion. You can’t push and pull at the same time, try as you might. I’ve certainly known children of unwed Moms who grew up and made greater and better contributions to society than many of us do.
I do oppose abortion, however, except in exceedingly rare circumstances; but also believe the church should support and “be there” for any woman in the dilemma of having to choose between keeping a baby or aborting it. The church should see that she and the child get off to a good start. Life is precious.
On the capital punishment side, too many people — and one is too many — on the say-so of a scandalous fellow (for example one like Dr. Smith at Sick Kids who based on his inept autopsies accused several parents of killing their children). Many of them could have at one time been executed for their “crime” which in the end simply turned out to be being a victim of Dr. Smith’s pride and arrogance to say nothing of his ineptitude.
A member of my extended family killed another and was not executed. Turned out, when he got out of prison he showed he was a new man. He lived a productive life. At the time he went to prison he was just a teenager. There was a time, too, when he could have been executed.
George Carlin, to my knowledge, was not a person of any faith. However, he sure had a lot to say to which we all should pay attention. At least we should consider what he says and consider it carefully. Certainly people of faith don’t have all the answers. If they did, they wouldn’t be so quick to judge and to condemn the “splinters” in the “eyes” of others and ignore the “beams in their own eyes.”
Next chance you get, at least give George a listen. You might just start thinking. Doug does and look how wise he is 🙂 .
Well said, Doug.
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This is wandering off topic a bit but, in response to Gary, I agree that “life is precious” but so is quality of life in an overpopulated world. Soon none of us will have much quality of life at the rate we’re spawning.
Abortion….woman’s choice and seldom made lightly. If it is made lightly the woman shouldn’t be a parent. The man often leaves skid marks and bears no responsibility. It takes two. The woman lives with the results forever no matter what her choice, abortion, motherhood or adoption. NOBODY should lay a guilt trip on the woman because of her choice. When men start having babies, then they can have a say. At least that would help with overpopulation.
Death penalty…I could inject Bernardo, Homolka, Olson and other vile, evil creatures myself with absolutely no fear of the “afterlife”. These are people who murdered WITHOUT any doubt, not “iffy” cases based on circumstantial evidence. Would someone want Olson living next door? Wastes of skin.
Just my opinion in response and obviously not shared by all.
George cut through the BS and told it like it is in all aspects of life. Nobody had to agree with him but I usually did. I feel the fact that Carlin was not a person of faith made him see things more clearly and without the constraints of dogma. Faith is fine for some but common sense, a rare commodity, is vital for all. When the two conflict therein lies the problem.
As for the lawyers who opposed Black, good for them. Recently an Afghan interpreter was allowed into Canada after two years. He saved lives of soldiers and never commited any crimes. Black renounced his citizenship and was a convicted felon but his limo just cruised across the border. I have a harder time bringing in $20 worth of groceries and I’ve never had a parking ticket.
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