SecondJon @SecondJon@qoto.org

Various political sides in the US want to ban certain things in #books. Dr Seuss took a hit not long ago, now Roald Dahl is being edited to remove references to Rudyard Kipling among other things.

https://notthebee.com/article/why-do-you-need-to-own-so-many-books-they-ask-heres-why

An ad plays during the superbowl featuring the division in our society, ends with a message of love, that Jesus loves everyone, including those we hate.

Response from some news outlets and politicians: Talk about loving your enemies? You must be a fascist. Like Hitler. You evil evil thing. Actually, people should be even MORE divided and against each other...let me dig up things that'll really get you mad about someone who contributed funds the to ad and you you hate them better. Hate them, hate Jesus, hate the idea of loving your enemy.

Gotta say, I find a message of love more appealing than that of hate which followed.

It's a commentary about our culture that a non political message of love and unity and the messiah can be so easily mocked, used as a tool to remind people why they really ought to keep their enemies list full, and then it's filed away as a brief distraction.

The Avacado ad that mocked the biblical story was also a commentary, that the biblical narrative and the curse of sin is a small thing... just a joke to be mocked and derided.

I don't know that "post-Christian" society is the right term. I don't think it's progress to hear Love Your Enemies and respond with rallying cries to hate your enemies. It seems less like a progression and more like a regression.

"During the civil war, the Union counterfeited Confederate currency and deliberately gave it away in the South to cause massive inflation. "

https://www.kickassfacts.com/fact-of-the-day/2/

Huh. Glad the government doesn't just give money away anymore.

Wondering if the primary goal of taxes is to get the government as much money as possible OR to reward and punish targets with tax benefits and penalties.

It certainly doesn't seem to provide the government with the amount of money to cover the necessary and only the necessary expenses of government with clear limits.

Headed with the kids to the art museum. The list of supplies is longer than it used to be. We now have to take canned soup and super glue, right? Is it one can and one give per kid, or per family?

For the record, I too have not accepted a $50 million 4 year contract to do a podcast.

Tonight's reading from Jeremiah 19 seems like it should be shocking. Even elders among the priests were called out because "the people have forsaken me....they have filled this place with the blood of innocents... to burn their sons in the fire as burnt offerings...which I did not command or decree, nor did it come into my mind"

Even the religious leaders seem complicit in the death of the youngest children as sacrifice in exchange for... What? The hope of a better life for the adults?

It's framed here as totally foreign and opposite of the ideas of the God of Israel they claimed to represent.

Despite being called out on this by Jeremiah, they don't change and subsequently face divine punishment they evidently thought would never come.

Thinking about how this might apply today...