We are Family

[curt]

We don't need another / a new discussion to prove it.

It is as it is.

Let this "fred" (discussion thread) live under the theme .......

long live this family

brothers, sisters, brethern, dogs, cats and birds, ants and flees, water and air and gas and Clare and Jim and him and the window Simm (??) and you and me and he and she and we and them and us and puss (???) and fish and the dish (it's on) and paper and pen.

Yip.

[pan]

Went on a rant in my ballet class while the Starbucks red cup "controversy" was the big Facebook outrage. Pointed out that the previous "Christian" symbols of snowflakes and trees and wreaths had nothing to do with the baby Jesus myth and that these "Christians" were getting upset about pagan symbology not being presented.  One of my students, "I'm a Christian and I am offended by what you said". Me: "I didn't.." Her: "I know what you said".  I knew I was fucked then because she knew what I said even though I hadn't said it.  So I apologized profusely and accepted the blame for saying things without thinking and how I never intend to offend. Yadda, yadda, yadda.

After class another student came up and said that I hadn't said anything offensive and what I was saying was accurate.  Glad to get that reality check.

[pan]

Recently came across the myth of Krampus.  Now there is a seasonal myth I can get behind!

[BO]

Yep. We stop evolving after the pagons were silenced by christianity.

Pagons knew how to recognize and exorcise their demons by inviting them to the party. 

[waldopaper]

HAW!!  Gruss vom Krampus!  Elephantur!!  man..need ed that.  sure glad you guys are still around.  wish Curt were... but hell...look at the heading.  He still is.  In a way.  a very important way.  "on the other hand,..."  fuck it.  you know what i mean. 

The problem i am having now is:  (like p's student) most people confuse "argument" with "fight"... zero-sum game.  and of course, nobody wins an argument.  now even "debate" is poisoned.  duh- who "won" the debate.  and here's the most valuable lesson i learned in academia:  when teaching, you must never "argue" with your students- poor wee spiders.  

However, what killed me (same as p.) was... i wasn't trying to "argue."  or say anything "offensive.'" but they took offense anyway. fuck.  if i wanted to "offend" (and with most "adults" i DO) i'm pretty good at it.  it's a trap.  trying to lure them into a "fight" ... which is even better.  cos they "fight" like a little girl.  no offense to little girls.  used to live with one.  

and you may remember my (true) story about "Johnny's Bad Dreams."  part of the things that (always-so far) haunt me at this (most depressing) time of year.  even little girls can kill you.  but that's no excuse for round-housing a little girl.  my old friend found out the hard way... and it eventually killed him.  so i guess the little girl "won."  and that's why i drink/weep   

BO- sure hear what you're saying about fuck drugs/religion.  long story about my oldest friend and the "dope-and-pussy lecture."  you got about a 2 day envelope.  Yer right about drugs/religion.  But my (drugs/religion) help me make it thru the Night (of this most depressing time of the year).  Your comments (today) help me make it thru the Night with less of each. Gaia bless you all (most of whom i have yet to meet personally),  Wonderful thing about our cyber-age.  

Keep the faith (or whatever) Brothers (Sisters and Neutrals).  I love you.  

 

[BO]

Thanks for saying you like having us around -- and including me. I often worry about my misanthropy/iconoclastiness is just a big ass turn off (shut up Pan). I'm actually a people-lover -- so, can't help but be disapointed at all the crazy shit in the world. It's an inverse relationship.

Anyway, we all know that drugs and religion are the same thing. 'So as to escape from reality.' said, whatshisname in 'Platoon.'

But hey, just like in a Halmark movie, our son is finally coming home after his latest freakout. Haven't seen him for a few days. So, glory be, let the herald angels sing, the Krampus is returning our son for Christmas.

See whatcha did, Waldo? You aligned the stars with your sentimental vibe. And every time you shed a tear, a child returns home.

Love y'all too.

[Cal]

Love y'all too.  Funny to "not meet" in this group.

I'm supposed to start looking for a job here, but too exhausted ... and I manage to offend by just opening my mouth.  People are biologically 'xenophobic' - urge to kill off those that exude something elusively 'different'.  I've seen chickens do it - peck the non-conformist chicken to death - I rescued many of them when I was a kid but they always died .... from loneliness I think.

Good grief ... I hope I have a chirpier New Year season frame of mind to greet you all in.

Mythology is interesting - apart from poetry I'm reading the old stories where the demons were not sanitized out of the stories but there is their full power for good as well as destruction.  Little Red Riding Hood & the Big Bad Wolf in the old tales were certainly not as portrayed by the Grimms brothers.

Hang in there troops .... The Force be with you.

[pan]

I often worry about my misanthropy/iconoclastiness is just a big ass turn off (shut up Pan).

What did I say?  I've always thought you (like the rest of us) are a hopeless romantic protected by hard shell.  You have high hopes for humanity which always disappoints you.

[BO]

Been a couple of times when you've mentioned Waldo and I had a pretty dark view of the world, as we do enjoy a good rant from time to time. No doubt I deserved the comment. But the 'shut-up' was meant to be a joke and I knew I shouldn't have said it at the time. All in good fun, but I do apologize.

[Cal]

Great big softies, the lot of us ... needing to wear hot, heavy, misanthropic armour which is irritatingly immobilizing enough & still has non-barb proof chinks in it ... Great big toughies too that we've survived so far as real live sensitive human beings who can laugh & cry instead of joining the numbed ranks of the walking dead.

[pan]

Why apologize? I knew it was a joke. Don't make me post emoticons!

[pan]

And I appreciate you having a darker side than me....makes me feel like an optimist!

[Mouse]

the last time but one I went to a pub I was asked not to return because "you repel other customers, it's costing me a lot of money." Truly I am chortling as I write. ( That was the first and last time I went there. ) It's a gift.
Perhaps it's the silent tears coursing down my cheeks, or the long cloak. It may be the scroll I carry of three golden towers.

Not to worry. This doorstep is so enticing, I could stand here all day smoking my pipe, drinking tea and listening to the birds and the sound of children playing.

This solstice may not be so bad. my brother was a chorister at the King's School, Peterborough. He boarded there and sang at every service in the cathedral in term time for seven years. I was very pleased to find the sweetest voice I ever did hear singing the opening of the first carol, which solo part he sang once. I'll just go to find it for you...
http://youtu.be/ofGxXwA8i7c
it starts slowly, this is 1954...