In which she indulges in a little rant about politics and such

I don't talk much about politics and all that. I've "been there and done that" and long ago decided to let others be on the front lines. Instead hubby and I do our little bit in the background now (and he was once featured on the front page of a major newspaper during the 1980s for his political work).

It's just a different season of life. These days my passion is sharing how we (and friends) have learned to live on less with a little beauty thrown in. As a recovering yuppie, it took me a long time to learn there is a better life than long hours at work and being able to afford anything I want at the Mall. I didn't want to make that change... it was all God arranged through unwelcome circumstances (at the time). Of course, now I am quite thankful.

If I were blogging twenty years ago, this would be a political blog... or a foodie blog... probably a mixture of both (although how that could be accomplished would have been interesting to see). Now it's about tea time, beauty, frugality, lots about books... and an occasional cuppa at Starbucks or Panera when I can. My recipe blog is all about... food (go figure). So the foodie part is still there.

I hesitate to say much that would detract from my message now as I know there are differences even among fellow Christians about such things as the Tea Parties and how involved Christians should get in politics. I do share now and then when it is part of my life, like last week's Tea Party at the county seat.

I've also chosen to laugh more at the lunacy of some people rather than getting upset. I was watching a video clip this morning of a famous actress and comedian (of course, acting and doing stand up comedy makes one an expert) calling the people who took part in these Tea Parties rednecks, uneducated, and the other usual suspects of put downs by those who think people who value their faith and are conservative politically must be brainless.

What makes me truly giggle about such rantings and ravings is thinking of the people in my in my own church. That is, if you judge who is stupid by the rantings of this type of person. For the per capita number of PhDs in my conservative congregation would boggle any statistician. Obviously they purchased their degrees online from The University of What's Happening Now.

Isn't it interesting how we can formulate opinions about people who think differently from us? Sometimes when these people are actually very good friends? Many years ago I was having a chat with liberal friends who are very close to my family. They started talking about the "religious right" as if such people had two heads and were from another planet. I reminded them by every definition, I was a member of the "religious right".

They looked at me with the proverbial "deer in the headlight" stare as if they had forgotten my religious and political leanings. Why? Because it is far easier to formulate wrong ideas about people we don't know as opposed to say... a friend and neighbor. We still like each other many years later. I saw a sign at the Tea Party against the gathering so I slipped away from where I was standing to see if it was one of our friends. :)

I recently watched a few minutes of a PBS show which was originally broadcast in Great Britain. The show was produced by and about atheists and how education and becoming generally more informed about the world makes a far better person than those who (stupidly) follow a religious belief. Anyone who has been educated would not follow such nonsense.

Uh, huh... let's see... in my own immediate family there are Bachelor's degrees, a Master's Degree, and one PhD. That's not to count all those who married young and didn't finish their degree but who are well read (like moi').

For the amusement of those of a Judeo-Christian and/or Conservative persuasion, I will leave you with a few quotes from said actress... (while the author of this blog rolls her eyes and, as her dear friend in New Mexico often says, "Get your giggle" for today).

Wisdom according to Miss Garofalo:

“Let’s be very honest about what this is about,” she said. “It’s not about bashing Democrats, it’s not about taxes, they have no idea what the Boston tea party was about, they don’t know their history at all. This is about hating a black man in the White House. This is racism straight up. That is nothing but a bunch of teabagging rednecks.” (This past week)

"The reason a person is a conservative Republican is because something is wrong with them. That's science — that's neuroscience. You cannot be well adjusted, open-minded, pluralistic, enlightened and be a Republican. It's counterintuitive."

Garofalo also discussed former Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin saying, "She's small-minded and mean-spirited...There's definitely something wrong with her." "I don’t know if you heard me talking to Jenny a while ago, but I was saying that first you have to be an #@*^# and then comes the conservatism. You gotta be a #@*! to cleave onto their ideology." (During an interview in 2009).

Yes, really... lots of people believe this. Amazing.