Tag: Culture

America, Children, Citizenship, Culture, Ethics, Family, Grace, Hope, hope, humanity, Leadership, spirituality, Story1 Comment

Glimmers of Hope

Gary Furr

Glimmers of Hope Sometimes. I stand back and think of how strange this moment is. We had a car sale on the lawn of the White House. People are screaming at their representatives at town hall meetings. A man who said he could make the government run better got on a stage with a chainsaw to encourage us somehow. I have abandoned arguing on Facebook with anyone. Well occasionally I get sucked in like we all do, but it seems as though we cannot decide who the real adults are. Adults are not acquitting themselves too well at the present … Continue reading Glimmers of Hope

Story

The Kennedy Center and Lara Trump’s Big Break*

Gary Furr

Amid the intense battles in this political moment,  a most exciting development for the MAGA  faithful is that the President has appointed himself Chair of the Kennedy Center. MAGA world is positively abuzz with excitement as the venue promises a pro-America makeover. Kentucky Fried Chicken, Carl’s Junior, and McDonalds are planning concession booths as the the stars of the far, far, far right jockey for seats and luxury boxes. According to the New York Times, “Stephen K. Bannon, the longtime Trump adviser, thinks there should be an opening night performance of the J6 Prison Choir, made up of men once … Continue reading The Kennedy Center and Lara Trump’s Big Break*

America, Citizenship, Culture, Ethics, history, Hope, Leadership, mass murder, Race, Story, Theology, war6 Comments

Not Everything is a Deal

Gary Furr

A conviction, my late friend Jim McClendon used to say, is that which, should you cease to believe it would mean you were no longer you. The sacrifice of Ukraine and appeasement of Vladimir Putin is appalling. Who are we? I’ve watched our new Vice President scold Germany and Europe for not holding hands with the far right. In a press conference, the President essentially turned the three year war into a giant misunderstanding that should never have happened at all. There is plenty of blame to go around, going back to failure to oppose the annexation of Crimea enough … Continue reading Not Everything is a Deal

America, Bible, Christianity, Citizenship, Constitution, Culture, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Ethics, Evangelicalism, Jesus, Leadership, Politics, spirituality, Story4 Comments

On Stupidity

Gary Furr

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German theologian and pastor, wrote shortly before his death at the hand of the Nazis,  “Upon closer observation, it becomes apparent that every strong upsurge of power in the public sphere, be it of a political or of a religious nature, infects a large part of humankind with stupidity. It would even seem that this is virtually a sociological-psychological law. The power of the one needs the stupidity of the other. The process at work here is not that particular human capacities, for instance, the intellect, suddenly atrophy or fail. Instead, it seems that under the overwhelming impact … Continue reading On Stupidity

America, Citizenship, Culture, Ethics, Leadership, Politics, Story

Poor, Poor, Pitiful Me

Gary Furr

Jackie Gleason used to play a character called the Poor Soul. He walked with a slump and every step he took said, “I don’t deserve to be here.” I’ve been trying to figure out how a man who has the office of President and a cowering party that never calls him out can walk around like everyone is so mean to him. We’re running out of teacups for President Trump’s tempests. He does love them. The poor man. People seem to be so mean to him. Most recently, of course, it was a gentle admonition at the National Cathedral, when … Continue reading Poor, Poor, Pitiful Me