In the comments of my last post I touched on the fact that part of the reason I've been online less is because some things going on in society really piss me off and when I see it, I get a little militant.
These are a couple of examples... don't listen to the first one if you're offended by f-bombs and the like.
Wait.
Actually, you SHOULD watch and listen even if it offends your sensibilities because too many people are plugging their ears and closing their eyes and letting this crap slide.
This would be the Inaugural Rap by Jay Z and Young Jezzy. Think this doesn't have an impact? Jay Z is HUGELY popular, and happens to be married to Beyonce and they are both at the top of their game, in the celebrity world (aren't they cool??). If he's talking this trash, you can believe that it will have an impact on his audience - you ok with that? Thought they were all about "unity" - if that's what they consider "celebrating" and "coming together" we have NOTHING in common.
Start around the :56 second mark where Young Jezzy thanks the guy in Iraq for throwing shoes at President Bush... it just gets "better" from there:
Charming, no? President Obama should be so proud to have supporters like this.
Our second video is found on the home page of Mom Logic. Seriously. Is this not frighteningly disturbing? And the comments on that site are all about "how cute the girl is" and "how she's got it right!".
First, how much of a moron are you as a parent to set your kid up to do this? What kind of loving parent manipulates their child like this?
Second, where does this ANGER and rage come from? Why can't people simply disagree with someone else? Why does it have to turn mean spirited? I've never seen such bitterness - I can't imagine how miserable these people must be in their lives.
Adorable, right? Please.
So, this is the kind of stuff that makes me a little nutty. I don't give a rat's ass who you voted for but show some respect to a man who spent seven years of his presidency PROTECTING OUR COUNTRY FROM ANOTHER TERRORIST ATTACK. Oh yeah. Remember that little thing called September 11, 2001? That thing we all swore "we'd never forget"?
For whatever reason, there's an awful lot of people out there who think it's perfectly acceptable to sing "na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na, hey hey, goodbye" at an inauguration to the man who had your back so you could sleep at night without worrying that you'd be blown to bits on your next trip to the store. Shame on you. Not only for having bad manners, but for being so ungrateful. Like him or not, there's a possibility that you''re still alive today because he lived up to his oath to protect this country.
We have mayors who seduce (near) minors and refuse to step down from their elected position - and people seem to be ok with that too... So what if he lied? So what if a 42 year old man in a position of influence and power takes an ALMOST 18 year old to lunch (and ultimately has sex with him)? What business is it of ours?
If you're ok with this kind of world, then please, keep your mouth shut the next time you witness or read something that is morally wrong.
Wouldn't want to offend anyone.
Thank you, thank you for posting this! I whole heartedly agree with you...for some reason I couldn't hear the video on my computer and I'm too lazy to figure out why...but I have an idea of what they were. You're right..there is no such thing as peace and unity and 'let's all just get along and work together' with the other side...somehow it bypasses the 'I don't agree with you' stage and jumps straight into crazy hatred for anyone doesn't share the same values. It's crazy how screwed up we are. I will admit it, I love George Bush and it breaks my heart to see him be treated the way that he has. I wish I could just hug him. Do you mind if I link my blog to yours?
Posted by: Kristi | January 22, 2009 at 07:31 AM
jos... you ROCK! i could not have said it better myself! i hope MANY people read it! i will always be grateful to gw.. it is SO sad how he is being treated. i wonder if it would be different if mccain had won (*sigh)!
in reading your other post, i, too, have been thinking about how much twitter/facebook can take over my day... not sure what i am going to do about it, tho. (with the reunion coming up and me on the committee, we use FB alot). i kinda think i might just go back to blogging only (remember when we just did that?):)
take care, friend!
Posted by: Stephanie Morris | January 22, 2009 at 07:47 AM
Thanks girls! I'm so glad I'm not alone in thinking this way - feel free to link it :)
Posted by: Jos | January 22, 2009 at 08:57 AM
You are awesome and I wish that there was a way to get this blog out to the masses.
You said everything that I have been feeling and said it so well.
I love you!
Posted by: Heather | January 22, 2009 at 09:21 AM
HOW do I link this to FB????
Posted by: Heather | January 22, 2009 at 09:22 AM
Yes. Yes. Yes. A thousand times. Stop the madness. KS
Posted by: Karen Sjoblom | January 22, 2009 at 11:02 AM
Yeah the lack of respect for BUSH has really bothered me. Our country is great because we have the freedom to dis-agree NOT dis-respect.
Now with Obama in office we have a good opportunity to led the way and support/respect someone who WE dont agree with...most of the time.
Posted by: Kurt Brandemihl | January 22, 2009 at 12:02 PM
You're right ... it's disgusting. Our family talked about all this last night when FOX news showed these clips. Our kids need to hear the other side of it all - like what it took to get that little girl to say all those things, and what would possess a responsible parent to make sure their child does it. And if those rappers feel so comfortable talking like that in public, you can only imagine what gets said in their homes. Teaching moments galore here ... teaching moments.
Posted by: Joyce | January 23, 2009 at 04:57 PM
I can totally relate. Thanks for saying it out loud. It's part of why I don't blog. I don't think I'd be able to keep my mouth shut ... and it would hurt my ministries, my business, my friendships, etc. But if you ever want to go militant together ... maybe over lemon drops... just let me know. I didn't watch a single minute of the inauguration because I knew I wouldn't be able to handle it. Didn't even know about the booing and the singing. I will believe there is a new tone when I see it.
Posted by: Amy E | January 23, 2009 at 10:29 PM
I'm with you Jos, and like Amy, I didn't watch the inauguration either. None of us know all that has taken place in the last 8 years...we only see what the media wants us to see. And lest we forget 9-11, which incidentally was dropped in the lap of a new President from the President before him, I'd say we owe President Bush a great deal of respect. But alas and alack, my soap box on that issue has a hole in it now. I will pray for our new leader because it's what God tells us to do. And I cling to the promise that all authority is set in place by Him and for His purpose. Thank you for your brave insights my friend. Can't wait to see you next week.
Posted by: April Curtright | January 25, 2009 at 07:03 PM