Losing My Religion
Sam
As this campaign goes on I am tempted to lose more and more of my religion. Does that mean I’ll darken the door of the local church/synagogue/mosque less? Well that ship sailed for me a long time ago. I learned that I can be spiritual without being religious; that I have every right to practice my personal beliefs as long as they don’t affect others in a negative way. If you, on the other hand, choose to worship at one of these institutions, more power to you; just be sure to leave me at least one glazed doughnut at Shipleys on Sunday morning.
That brings us to today’s sermon which will be presented by the Reverend Michael Stipe of REM fame . REM’s first single, Losing My Religion, written by Stipe, came out over 20 years ago. It’s a song about unrequited love, of seeking for something that isn’t really there (not unlike Clint Eastwood having a conversation with an empty chair). Losing my religion, however, has nothing to do with belief; it’s a southern term referring to losing one’s temper or civility. Stipe refers to the song as “a classic obsession pop song.” The video is marvelous.
This last week Fox and Friends played Losing My Religion as theme music when they covered the Democratic National Convention, in particular during a report about Democrats deciding whether or not to include the word “God” in their platform. REM protested the misuse of their song with Stipe stating, “We have little or no respect for their puff adder brand of reportage. Our music does not belong there.” Gotta admit, Michael still knows how to turn a phrase. Of course “Fair and Balanced” in their usual bluster refused to honor the band’s request not wanting to pass on any chance to smear the DNC. For more about Stipe and his beliefs look here.
Yesterday REM filed a ‘cease-and-desist’ order against FOX to prevent further misuse of their music. This follows a long list of groups who have tried to keep their music from being associated with hatred and bigotry. These include: Twisted Sister, Jackson Browne, Van Halen, Heart, John Mellancamp, and Rage Against the Machine (“Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello lit into Ryan, writing that ‘the only thing [Ryan] is not raging against is the privileged elite he’s groveling in front of for campaign contributions.’”). Thankfully for the GOP they’ve still got music icons Ted Nugent and Hank Williams Lesser on their side.
So yes, I’m losing my religion. I’m tired of those who think using the word “God” over and over in their platform absolves them from acting like they actually believe in He/She/It or in any form of natural law. I’m losing my religion over lies and attempts by the looters and polluters who are trying to buy this campaign for Romney. I’m losing my religion for those who change “Blessed are the poor” into “Blessed are the job creators”
I hope you’re losing your religion too, we’ve got a lot of work to do.
Amen
1Don’t vote Republican if you value intellectual property. The GOP rips off copyrighted music like they work for the Chinese.
2Though I lost my religion long ago the ghosts of it flairs up when I have to listen to republican idiocy.
Going to volunteer tomorrow at the local Obama Headquarters. (That always makes me feel better.)
3Our religion is what we value and how we decide where to put our time, energy and money. The Good Book points out that you can’t worship God and money. Good comments.
4Hell, I not only lost my religion in the sixties, I’ve been ready to hit the barricades since 2000. Which will be a funny sight.
Sixty plus, pudgy with a ponytail. But I still can swing a mean frying pan and throw hedge apples.
aka Hippie in the hollar.
5I wish everyone who waved the Bible and claimed its authority would be made to sit down and actually read it… or at least the parts of it that directly contradict whatever they’ve said. Even just reading the “red-letter parts”, what Jesus is supposed to have said, could be a big surprise to most of them.
6I have no problem with “religion”……I had all I could take of the SBC in high school (MANY decades ago). I just wish people would give others the same consideration that THEY demand from others…and get the hell out of my government.
If the Repubs actually took the time to LISTEN to music, they’d find that the only people they might approve are AMY GRANT and PAT BOONE. Oh…and do they know that Michael Stipe is gay??? That oughta set ’em back a bit!
7I think there is a humongous difference between religion and organized religion. One is personal; the other is often just political.
8It always amazes me that conservatives only pick songs for certain themes. Sean Hammity obviously has never heard the complete song “Independence Day” by Martina McBride. He only uses the song as opening buffer music for the chorus. He really ought to at least read the rest of the song about a woman burning the house with her abusive husband in it.
9The downside of giving up religion is that you have to shelve all those satisfying speculations that the conservative meanies will eventually face divine retribution!
10Well, I do go to Sunday School and Church most every Sunday and I HAVE read the Bible, cover to cover, a couple times and I refer to it often and not once have a read in that Good Book any passage that states that, according to any of the GOPeers, that our Rights in the good ole U.S. of A. are granted by … get this … Nature and God! Whut???
Our Rights in this country are granted to every citizen, natural or otherwise, by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights!!
If I am wrong on this, please someone correct me!!
You can be religious without being a jerk or a zealot! I believe that God is exactly where you need him to be!!
11Sam – thank you for the explanation of one of my favorite Southern terms! I’m thinkin my Granny was right when she said, we all need to loose our religion every now and again. It is good for the soul, in a manner of speaking.
I was fortunate enough to get to hang with REM when they came to KC in the early 80’s, I am happy to report that, in addition to being a lot of fun, they were also bloody brilliant. I got the impression that you had to be smart to work with these guys.
Stipe by the way, was an avid historian and seriously into politics even back then and I am glad to hear that he continues to loose his religion – more people should adopt that particular Southern approach to Fox News, or as it is known in our house, Faux Noise.
121) Amen
2) Listen to “Everybody Hurts”.
3) We need to stop using Frank Luntz’s manipulated words & phrases.
“If you call it a public option, the American people are split. If you call it the government option, the public is overwhelmingly against it.”
— Frank Luntz to Sean Hannity
Job Creators used to known as corporations. AKA Greedy Corporations.
Goverment Takeover of Healthcare used to be known as the American Care Act. Although, I prefer ObamaCares About US.
Death Tax used to called the Estate Tax.
Frank Luntz was just hired by CBS. We need to keep up with his verbal manipulations & push back. I refuse to call corporations “job creators” when they’re hoarding 2 trillion dollars rather then creating jobs with decent wages. Anyone remember supply and demand?
I wonder what Frank Luntz calls wealthy folk who evade taxes by using offshore accounts during wartime? I call them greedy bastards (sorry Momma).
GOTV!
13Deb, really jealous. I’ve admired Stipe’s commentary over the years. Bet he’s fun to be around.
14Yeppers, the Repigs never seem to listen to the songs, EVAH~Pink Houses by Mellencamp, Born in the USA by Springsteen, Independence Day by Martina, against domestic violence…..the list just goes on. I’ve emailed, tweeted and railed to “The Stupid One” whom I chose to call Stupannity for years about his use of Martina’s song. Dunno why she does not stop it – she is a very charitable person who does all kinds of good for the community here in Music City – the MAJORITY of country entertainers are DEMOCRATS, contrary to Hank the Lesser….whom, btw, is actually hated by the high school kids in Dickson County cuz he shows up at their Friday Nite Lights and wrecks their fun on a regular basis.
15@Lorraine: Progressives have found that if you change “Estate Tax” to “Inheritance Tax” (which is what it actually is) then the public becomes overwhelmingly for it. We need to beat Luntz at his own game.
16“Death Tax”, “Estate Tax”, “Inheritance Tax”…what we really need is a public who, if they are to lazy to do some fact checking on their own, at least pay a little attention to non-partisan fact checkers.
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