Praying for rain
By Steve Benen Sunday Jul 01, 2007 7:18amAlabama is in the midst of an awful drought, so Gov. Bob Riley (R) has decided to, well, just take a look.
With the state’s weather forecasters not delivering much-needed rain, Gov. Bob Riley on Thursday turned to a higher power. The governor issued a proclamation calling for a week of prayer for rain, beginning Saturday.
Riley encouraged Alabamians to pray “individually and in their houses of worship.”
“Throughout our history, Alabamians have turned in prayer to God to humbly ask for his blessings and to hold us steady during times of difficulty,” Riley said. “This drought is without question a time of great difficulty.”
Roger McNeil, a hydrologist with the National Weather Service in Birmingham, was asked if he believes prayer can make it rain. McNeil declined to say.
Given Alabama’s general approach to such matters, that was probably a good idea.
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Maybe they should start throwing a few virgins into their majestic Alabama volcanos.
"I must please the Pickard!
I must please the Pickard!
I must please the Pickard!"
-TNG ;)
RAIN DANCE!
RAIN DANCE!
RAIN DANCE!
Frist!!
Maybe he will get the same treatment TX and KS are getting.
What could it hurt?
Let them pray themselves all the way back to the dark ages.
If the Confederacy had succeeded in breaking off back in the 1860s, I wonder if they'd be a third-world country by now?
This is why my wife & I have to get the hell out of the South...
Stupidity is a birthright and ignorance is rewarded with jobs for those not qualified for them...
I saw the comment about virgins above....let me tell you...down here in "God's country"...a girl that's a virgin after 13 is as rare as a Southern con-servative voting for their own best interest...(translation, as likely as Bush & Cheney are to apologize to the Iraqi people)
Its not an exaggeration...take a field trip...see the stupidity that flows down here...and then thank your lucky stars you don't have to live with it every day...
Carakav...the south is already well on its way to becoming a 3rd world country...it already is in terms of brain drains an uninformed, illiterate populace....
The answer's simpler than prayer. Legalize gay marriage. If the Robertsons and Falwells of the world are corrected, than Alabama should be immediately inundated by hurricanes and more rain than they'll know what to do with.
This is called a 911 prayer by some people I hang with. Whatever happened to the line "thy will be done?"
IMO, telling your Higher Power what needs to be done is pretty arrogant.
I'm in Alabama right now. It's raining. Go figure.
The issue isn't whether or not prayer works, but the fact that the governor is sanctioning a particular religion and promoting a specific religious tradition.
Speaking of Alabama:
"A battle in the culture wars could soon be fought in Saint Mary parish. According to published reports, the parish council Wednesday night approved a motion authorizing the posting of the Ten Commandments in the parish courthouse.
Councilman Michael Domingue introduced the motion, apparently inspired by the case of former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore, who was removed from the bench over a Ten Commandment monument."
http://www.katc.com/Global/story.asp?S=6725577
Coincidentally, American Mensa will be holding its annual convention in Birmingham, Alabama July 4-8. I won't be attending. I haven't the range of congenial irony to stomach the place.
right wing hater @ 7:
RWH
don't forget where all of our favorite nuts and fascists come from either:
rick "brought a fetus home to cuddle!" santorum- pennsylvania (my favorite)
george bush and family- connecticut
donald rumsfeld- chicago
the prince of darkness, richard perle- NY
paul wolfowitz- NY
william the bloody kristol- NY
dick cheney- nebraska/wyoming
mitt romney- massachusetts
john mccain- arizona
brownback- kansas
samuel alito- new jersey
john roberts- new york
john bolton- maryland
karl rove- colorado/nevada
Bill O'reilly- another nutjob from NY
Sean Hannity- well whaddya know? NY scores another one
Ann Coulter- born in New "can't get enough of the crazy baby" York City, raised in Connecticut
Rush Limbaugh- missouri
jeebus sed to play where people need you most, back when his disciples asked him why he hung with the tax collectors and some other evil elements...the south needs you rwh. but i guess, so does the rest of this nutball-a-plenty country.
well...if it doesn't rain, then i guess they just didn't pray hard enough.
The bible does say that the Lord stores up rain in the heavens for when it is needed.
RWH
don’t forget where all of our favorite nuts and fascists come from either:
rick “brought a fetus home to cuddle!” santorum- pennsylvania (my favorite)
george bush and family- connecticut
donald rumsfeld- chicago- etc...
but you see, all the level 5 mowroon god-boys and girls worship these evil ant overlords. That makes the yankee neo cno hucksters the smart ones for figuring out how to pull the strings of the good old boy hicks third world populace in training.
Whatever turns them on.
The one who operates on their own emotions while their opponent operates on advanced Nazi political science is doomed to failure.
bill t @ 18:
the only difference in the 28%ers in the south and those up north is the accent, and the only difference between their unabashed xenophobia and that on the left is that they hate those from abroad, while "we" hate those south of the mason dixon.
angry young man: Funniest thing I've read all morning!
Bill t: Sad... crazy... but oddly... true.
And the problem with this is ... what exactly? Though not religious myself, I do not see any harm in acknowledging the faiths most Americans do subscribe to. In fact, this makes good sense from several points of view. It gives people who believe a sense of engagement rather than total powerlessness. Thereby, it may forestall some trouble-making. And it's good politics in a state with many believers who will feel somewhat validated in their faith and its relevance. Unless you are speaking from the pov of what best might promote atheism, I do not see why this is worthy of criticism. In fact, I would say the snideness here reflects rather poorly on the author.
Them Alabamians are so silly. Don't they know they have to find an indian chief to do a rain dance. Come on people, it's 2007.
Been getting a fair amount of rain here in Mississippi and as far as I know our fat-head gub'ner didn't issue any proclamations. Probably because he's too busy protecting his buddies in the tobacky industry (non-wacky division).
My only experience with the SOUTH was driving through Tennessee.
It seemed that every male was dressed in a cut-off t-shirt, baseball
cap and goatee ala LARRY THE FAKE CABLE GUY (see here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VROn7ZvVoW8)
My definition of REDNECK is...Don't know nothin', don't WANNA know nothin'
and damn PROUD OF IT.
Fuck the South.
Brendan @ 23:
Yep.
If this doesn't work, try praying for brains.
There is an old Russian proverb: "Pray to God, fine; but keep rowing to shore!"
there is a thought here that the prayer is an appeal to a higher power for rain not to an organized religion that is asking for money in return for opening up the heavens. personally, i don't feel there is anything wrong with appealing to God when all else seems to have failed. i haven't given up on that belief and the false evangelicals are not a part of my belief system. so please, no more poking fun, there are still plenty of progressives who harbor a belief in a higher power and in reality that doesn't have to be explained to anyone other than self. i'm not a religious fanatic, just one who believes that a higher power exists. if that makes me a nut case, then so be it.
Scott @ 26:
if your experience with the south is that limited, perhaps then it is you who don't know nuthin and don't wanna know nuthin and damn proud of it. you sound every bit as prejudiced as a redneck wearing a white sheet.
i would say "Fuck yourself" in response to your last line, but i wouldn't want to get deleted.
Well, they prayed too hard in Kansas. Another levee broke and flooded an oil refinery and there is oil in all that water.
The corporate media is wall to wall coverage, playing the fear card in England.
Wildfires in Utah, they did not pray hard enough.
Geez.
Alabama is due for a total eclipse of the sun in August; I guess the frightened bumpkins will rend their garments and sacrifice their livestock till the shadows pass.
God, maybe this one person one vote thing isn’t the best idea after all.
Well..
I am about as athiest as you can get and I am praying for rain here in South Coastal Maine right now. It is VERY dry.
Perhaps lighteneing up might help a bit? This is not really an issue is it?
really, though, don't you think that god already knows it hasn't rained in alabama for a while? what kind of omniscient being is he, anyway? i mean, is the prayer thing kind of like spelling out SOS on the beach with rocks and yelling "look over here! OVER HERE!!!" or is it more that he knows, but is too stuck up to do anything about it until people get down on their knees and beg for water ... water ... water ...
i'd never treat my children that way. i might make them ask for christmas presents and hold them to some kind of course of behaviour before handing out the dosh, but water? that seems a little ... extreme.
Time to get out them snake handlers!
Weather forecast for Birmingham, AL
Seems to be working. Maybe you guys should try praying for a Bush impeachment.
Well, they prayed too hard in Kansas. Another levee broke and flooded an oil refinery and there is oil in all that water.
god is angry with us for discriminating against gay people and killing so many iraqis. oh, and for stinking up the planet he gave us.
I have no problem with praying at all but I do have a problem with leaders who's only answer to a problem is to just sit on their butts and say something like "Lets all pray so God can fix it!". That will do wonders for every ones spirituality but may not put food on the table or crops for people to sell for who knows how long. God also gave everyone a brain. That Gov. should use his and come up with some solutions because they could be facing this situation again but next time it could much worse.
pinhead @ 31:
Seriously. Sure, not many people are bright in the South, but many of them are not cross burning klansmen either. Its just that those who are bigots tend to go all out with their hatred.
Blue Buddha @ 40:
Its just that those who are bigots tend to go all out with their hatred.
a rose by any other name, blue buddha...
and vote GOP!
Seriously, can we export some of our rain here to you?
Gonna be a long dry summer for Alabamy!
Prayer seems to help believing people who are ill - but purely through the "placebo effect". Don't think the weather will respond in like fashion.
To have a governor suggest this just shows how theocratic this poor country has become.
I was born and raised in the south. Good thing I don't get offended by stereotyping. :)
pinhead @ 41:
don't know how i messed that comment up, but as for "not many" being bright here in the south- well it's not our fault all the ivy league schools were built up north. ;)
Shit all you had to do was ask.
It's not just that the South is full of trailer-livin', tobacco-chewin', barefootin', UFO-seein', cousin-fuckin', god-fearin' rednecks, it's just that they're the ones who get all the time in the national news. I know, I'm part of the news media down here in the South and when we do something stupid and get on the national news (and we do stupid REAL well down here), the national types only want to interview the boneheads. Just try to point them in the direction of an intelligent person and they look at you like a dog being shown card tricks.
isn't praying just telling God what He already knows? I don't see the point!
I just moved into a new house in Auburn, AL, and found the Auburn-Opelika News on my lawn. I opened it to the front page and saw "Governor says 'Pray for Rain.'" I don't think we'll be getting a subscription.
Ironically, we had five inches of rain yesterday, so all the jesus freaks are going to be thanking dog for that right now.
Of course, this same governor probably also panders to the beliefs of most of his constituents that global warming is a lib'rul plot to destroy Our Great Way of Life. When in fact it's the most likely reason for the drought.
Quite frankly, I am appalled that the governor of Alabama would call on people to pray for relief from the dought. What's even more sad is that the governor of Georgia has done the same thing.
I guess it makes sense if your idea of "God" is that of a meddling, capricious deity who treats human beings they way that a spoiled 5-year-old treats an anthill. The assumption then is that God is withholding rain from certain places and drowning other places with too much rain so that people will stop and pay attention to him. I'd think that the Master of the Universe would have better things to do with his time, but that's just me I guess.
Why not DO SOMETHING about the drought instead of bothing God about it? (God helps those who help themselves, no?) Ever heard of cloud seeding? What about searching for more natural sources of water? Drilled any new wells?
And to those who write off the entire South because of a few rednecks they've met, let me say this: how would you like to be judged by the standard of the rudest New Yorker you've ever met? Like the rest of the country, the South is full of a variety of people. In fact, many people who live in urban areas such as Atlanta are from the North! Yes, the South has more than its full measure of mouthbreathing rednecks who run from knowledge the way most people run to avoid rain, but we're not all like that. So, put a check on the "fuck the South" meme. There are plenty of crazies all over the United States. Ever been to Idaho or Montana?
How 'bout dancing? Would that work?
Everybody dance! Come on!
"Work it to the left side, now into the right
Light up this party, lay it out tonite and
Ugga bugga, ugga bugga."
[NOTHING? DRAT!]
So true, MusicGeek. I'm from Georgia, and when I visit my family and we watch southerners on the news, they shake their heads and say, "Why do they always interview the idiots?"
The Morning "Clue"
U.S.: Iran helped in deadly Iraq strike
46 minutes ago AP
BAGHDAD - Iranian forces helped plan one of the most sophisticated militant assaults of the Iraq war — a January raid in which gunmen posed as an American security team and launched an attack that killed five U.S. soldiers, an American general said Monday.
pissed off patricia @ 44:
My entire family is all from the south. A few of my relatives even pray to God to give them a job. But, when you ask them if they have done any interviews, made any calls or even went and filled out any job applications they reply, "No.". Heck, some never even leave their house but they still pray to God to give them a job none the less. I mean, praying is fine and needed but you have to meet God halfway in my opinion. You have to at least try to better your situation. That seems to be the problem with that Governor.
Stupid is as stupid does. This "no water" problem was solved millennia ago. One word but maybe too many syllables. Irrigation. We've been irrigating the west since we got here and found that the "godless heathens" who've lived here forever had been irrigating long before they encountered such stupid lazy people.
Take one look at the problem and if you can't figure it out then your stupid and ain't no amount of prayer to cure that. But then again that is cracker mentality. Pray about something your too stupid and lazy to fix. Like that will work?
I saw this on [adult swim] last night and thought they were joking. ([adult swim] is the late night programming on Cartoon Network which is produced in Atlanta.) And I echo their sentiment that they are screwed.
McNiel probably didn't refuse to answer - he simply rolled his eyes, held his head in is eyes and mumbled "why are people so (bleeping) stupid?"
Tim @ 5:
Actaully, That's what McNeil Said. "I don't think it's ever hurt." says the article.
All the same, I sincerely think that today's politicians should not delude themselves into thinking that they are on par with Old Testament Leaders. That may not come to a good end.
Next year there will probably be floods in Alabama. Thats always the way it works.
don't just give up on the south. give up on all of humanity. i've just about had it with people. period. but if i'm gonna die anywhere, i wanna die on a swing on a 10 acre arpent under a bald cypress surrounded by water, snakes, and alligators eating my crawfish and sticky 98 degrees with a thunderstorm brewing over yonder. that's right. now there's a stereotype i don't mind. (we have good food and perty country!)
Maybe they need to have some human sacrifices in their nearest football arena.
Gov. Brad Henry asked Oklahomans to pray for rain.
Did it work? You make the call.
Has this goober never heard of hiring a plane for a rain seeding?
Or even a rain dancer?
Basically we are germs at best in the bigger scheme living off our host.
ysbaddaden @ 62:
Then they might have to wait until Oct. 27, when Ole Miss plays at Auburn.
So how's that working out, Bob?
Welcome back to the Dark Ages. One more Bush appointee to the Supreme Court and we will be burning women at the stake for causing global warming.
Gee, I got this wild idea... why doesn't Gov. Bob Riley ask everyone in Alabama to pray real hard that the next president of the United States takes climate change seriously and for a Congress willing to back every possible effort to claw our way back from the brink of disaster. Better yet, he might even ask them to VOTE. As in, God helps those who get off their arses (or knees) and help themselves...
Otherwise, we in the UK will continue to suffer floods in the summer while Alabama fries.
Someone PLEASE stop with the praying! He's off target!
After two weeks of rain here in Texas, his prayers are being answered but apparently God's aim is a little off. :)
I personally don't see the harm in prayer. It should not be the sole approach to any situation but asking people to pray (assuming he was general when he said in your house of worship such as a Buddhist temple or a Jewish temple, etc) doesn't harm anything. Those that are atheist could just ignore his request. Now if he mandated that everyone pray to a specific diety or that they have to pray then that would be crossing the line. Religion in and of it self is not a bad thing. All religions teach love. The problem comes in intolerance and hate.
Well it's certainly the CHEAPEST possible response he could have to the crisis.
There is nothing wrong with asking the Good Lord for rain or protection from terrorists. If our President did that , maybe we would not be facing all of our crises. For the record, I would never be considered an " evangelical" but you can call me a Christian. And for the record, yep I live in the South. But I lived all over America and met a right good many people just like me. I always thought the point to America was that we could all live here, share our views and opinions and not be penalized. I do however realize that some very visible elected people hold opposing views and also misrepresent what they say they are.
All of you have alluded to that latter fact right here in this post.
Here is what I really say after saying all of that.....
The terrorists won. It's the end of the game. George Bush told us all right after 9/11 that terrorists wanted to change our lives. Boy did they.
This could be made into a sequel of The Rainmaker which originally starred Katherine Hepburn and Burt Lancaster. Rainmaker II would feature Pamela Anderson and Seann William Scott (Stifler). Scott would play the lead preacher of one of Alabama's mega churches and Pamela Anderson as the supporting wife. The plot would center on a Week of Prayer at the mega church with Scott as the lead Preacher on Fire for rain. The church would hold a week of Rain Prayers and the when it finally did rain, Pam Anderson would run outside topless and shout, "Praise Jesus" and passionately kiss Scott as they are both drenched in rain. Praying for rain is an American tradition. I see nothing wrong with having an official week of it!
Blame the drought/floods on Hollywood. After God saw His flood remade into god-awful “Evan Almighty” and then the previews of “License to Wed” with that most annoying over-the-top actor Robin Williams playing a clergyman, He has decided it’s time to wipe the slate clean and try again.
Personally I think all this very strange weather is punishment by the Lord God for American Empire killing in Iraq, neglect of Darfur, 9/11 and many other things that have pissed Him off.
I just don't get it. What is with all the disdain for Christianity here? It pisses me off that because the right high jacked Christianity kinda like Bin Laden and others hijacked Islam you think that's an actual representation of it. As a Christian and a Dem and perhaps even a quote, unquote "Liberal" I can say that's a bunch of crap.
I'm beyond tired of Republicans, more specifically lying, cheating, thieving, murdering neocons claiming they have a patent on Christ and do his will despite spitting in the face of the most important things he ever said such as "As much as it is within you, live in peace with your neighbors" and "You've heard many commandments, but of these this is the most important... Love each other as I have loved the church for love covers a multitude of sins". You know, little stuff like that. Moreover I'm kinda pissed at most people on these forums others being so gullible as to think that because of the way the right uses Christianity that it's actually a true representation of what it's all about. You don't believe crap else they have to say, but you believe that... Unbelievable.
Bottom line? "The effectual, fervent prayers of the righteous availeth much." In other words perhaps if enough pray God will indeed breath the drought. Then again, as God created a natural order in the world, perhaps, though he could, he won't because he chooses to let us deal with the consequences of polluting and otherwise damaging the creation he gave to us to be stewards over. Either way he's still God and prayer still does no harm.
So, not for God's sake (as he's fine all on his own), but for the sakes of everyone who gets Christianity isn't a bat to beat people over the head with to manipulate emotions (and there are plenty of us) shut up with all the pissy comments.
When you live in the South as I do, you tend to put up and even live with that sort of thing. As long as the governor is not forcing me to pray, let them pray. Just as long as they respect my religion. Hail Satan! Hail Satan!
There's a crazy Christian cult in my neighborhood. My "spongebob" kids can't hang out with their "veggie tale" kids. they complained because I mow my lawn on Sunday or "God's day of rest". The irony of it is that they're all techies from the midwest and up north. And there's another twist, one of my best neighbor friends is Iranian, we drink Tecate n lime and play darts. I guess to them , I hate America. So I can tolerate "fuck the south" attitude as well.
Is assh*le Governor Riley going to be praying to a different 'god' than the one who caused the drought?
What will Gov. Bob do if Allah ignores his prayers?
Obviously, Ol' Gov Bob don't know dick about rain.
You want rain, Bob, you gotta get nekkid and paste feathers all over your ass, and do the 'rain dance mambo' on the front lawn of the Governor's mansion, 24/7.
If rain don't come at the end of the week, try moving to Oregon, if you can get a visa.
Well, my disdain is that the flock has not exactly marched in the streets protesting what the cons did, did not protest when BushCo stole an election or two because he was so faith-based and all, and has for all intents and purposes remained silent over the sex scandals (remember Jeff Gannon and nearly a hundred visits to the WH? Remember the whats-his-name pedophile in Congress? Remember...oh, nevermind...you all forgot anyway).
In other words, the flock has turned a blind eye to just about everything this administration has done.
That is why I have had enough of this religion.
They are missing the point. If we follow with the cow dried up because of a sin, then the fact that it is raining elsewhere means that the good people are getting rain and they are the sinners. I guess you will need to pray a lot to get forgiveness for your sins. Can't stand gay people? Maybe they are paying for their incest finally.
someone explain why the schools in alabama are accredited? if the governor is a moron, what kind of standards do they have? do they really have schools? do they know about science?
But i'm sure some people were praying for rain BEFORE it became a drought situation... why didn't "god" listen to them? And why did "god" allow the Holocaust to happen? Why did "god" allow the tsunami, earthquakes, floods that kill MILLIONS?
Why did "god" allow George W. Bush to be president? Grow up people. Sorry, but there's NO "god". Well, i'm gonna let you in on a little secret, Alabama: I'm very religious, and I've been PRAYING for a DROUGHT to hit ALABAMA, so it looks like MY GOD WON.
Scarecrow @ 82:
Mighty big fat brush you paint with there.
Besides, what's the harm in letting them pray? Unless you hate all that equal protection silliness in the Constitution. I know, you just don't want the ignorant Christians to present their views. How icky it must be to have to put up with an opposing viewpoint. It must be terrible to have to try to fight ideas with ideas, and let people think for themselves.
Seriously. Save your hate for something that matters.
The success of prayer, much like the success of a rain dance has a lot to do with timing.
Er, gee, sorry for answering the question.
Talk about hate-monger, look in a mirror.
baby jesus will relieve this drought
or baby jesus will relieve on this drought
As a recent high school graduate from a school in Alabama, I'd like to say something.
A lot of the people who have left comments on here need to get their shit together. Condemning all schools in an entire state is the same hypocritical bullshit that makes Bob Riley an asshole. And seriously, making jokes at the expense of Alabama? You can do better.
Also.. ironically enough, in North Alabama (the area hit worst by the drought) we're expecting rain all week.
Independent_Hack @ 86:
You've hit the nail on the head, Hack. I admit I was only pissed because Bob Riley has interrupted his continuous streak of proclaiming every week a "Week of Respect for Secularism and Reason" with this nonsense.
I guess we secularists are just spoiled by having our viewpoint always be the most politically dominant and socially privileged one, especially here in the uber-secular South.
Sorry for the offense.
And seriously, making jokes at the expense of Alabama? You can do better.
the thing that's tough about driving from atlanta to birmingham is the time difference - when it's 6:00 in atlanta, in birmingham its 1824. :)
state school performance is a matter of record. not that georgia has much to be proud of.
Hey thin skins, if you can't take a joke you don't have to play. Go pray.
So, not for God’s sake (as he’s fine all on his own), but for the sakes of everyone who gets Christianity isn’t a bat to beat people over the head with to manipulate emotions (and there are plenty of us) shut up with all the pissy comments.
good for you! telling non-believers to shut up!
i have nothing against people who quietly believe, or even those willing to politely share their faith (until asked to shut up with their pissy testifying). but i won't stand for the government having even the slightest taint of a theocracy - it's just too damn close these days. and don't tell me that the gov of alabama was thinking of muslims, wiccans, buddhists, or any other heathens when he made this plea. it reminds me of the letter to the editor (wish i still had the link) calling for all of us atheists to be run out of the country, because we had freedom of RELIGION, and that doesn't mean freedom of NO religion; why, you can be baptist, methodist, episcople - whatever you want!
LA Confidential @60
Not to worry...their sister State(Kentucky) has built a replica of Noah's Ark at the Creation
Museum, so should floods occur, ALL will be afforded safety(along w/the dinasours we
co-existed with only 6,000 years ago) and ALL will be spared and/or be "saved"..
oldtree @ 84:
Schools in alabama are accredited because they meet American standards. The governor is not a moron, he's merely exploiting the popular religious trends that rob so many of an intellectual life. Remember, the same logic applied to Bush and Americans doesn't bode well for the national IQ.
And since the first successful Isles of Langerhans transplant was done here at the University of Alabama at Birmingham on a girl with diabetes, I'd say, yeah, they know about science.
Harper Lee lives here in Alabama. Helen Keller (from Tuscumbia) helped found the ACLU. Child peace prodigy, Ava, from peacetakescourage.com is from Alabama. People around the world surrender their power to reason a thousand different ways, many times a day. Don't surrender yours by suggesting all things ignorant fall on Alabama.
Asking people to pray during a calamity isn't really such a bad thing. Anyone on the left who refuses to acknowledge that probably about 95% of the world believes in God(s) is truly out of touch with most people. I'm not saying we all need to believe in God and pray, but to mock others for doing so is disrespectful, rude, and actually very ignorant. I'm not religious myself, but many of the people that people on the left need to reach out to are religious. Besides, prayer may make some people feel better, and there's nothing else that they can do about.
I'm basically just amused by the xians unless I stop to think about it.
As a Wiccaethey would deny me my rights to just about everything.
That's why I don't stop to think about it.
Praise Bob.
As a Wiccae they...
ysbaddaden @ 98:
or is it "Praise boB?" they bring bobbles to their bobbian meetings and bobble school.
Some of the Wiccae think we're similiar to those who practice Tae O.
"Tae O....tae o...daylight come and me wan' go home ..."
pinhead @ 100:
Better to bring bobbles than bobbies, because those limey cops don't mess around.
In all seriousness, you can find something good to say about any state. You can't disagree with where you were born. No one asked you. I agree that you can do what you want quietly as long as it does not impact my rights. That seems to be the key point these days. It is like law. You get enough jerk offs to agree with your point of view and put it on the books. Doesn't mean it is right or fare. Overall perceptions are there for a reason. They did not make the Dukes of Hazard because only one person living there acted like that. When you here about people jumping up and down and rolling on the floor and screaming for Jesus, you don't think all people act that way. Obviously a lot do act that way or we wouldn't know about it.
These people who always call for prayer first always remind me of that one religious guy in movies that tries to trust in gawd's power right before the dragon or the alien critter incinerates him.
I pray to no god that Alabama receives no rain in this century.
I think we should stop worrying about the weather, and put our spirituality together...think about George W. Bush...and pray for BRAIN.
If one believes in prayer, then how about praying for an end to the drought
in Dafur and "ask the guy upstairs" to end the genocide there; something I
know many, many have done and are doing; yet HE seems to ignore those
more meaningful prayers....
Gay people are paying for their "incest". Hmmmm OK. And how would you characterize sex with your wife? Sinners are getting rain? I think you should drink 32 oz. of Powerade slowly and rehydrate!!
mark @ 83:
[Pick one name and stick with it, Marc, David, UKBob, Greg, DavidR-whatever. You have many to choose from-Sitemonitor]
Yeah, maybe the governor shouldn't have asked people to pray under any kind of official capacity, but it makes me sad to think that many of the commentors here would laugh in my face (or behind my back) if I asked them to pray for me or a loved one in need. You can be an Atheist and still be respectful of people who believe in a higher power. My best friend is one.
I wish people would stop calling evangelicals and fundamentalist "Christians" because you actually have to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ to be a Christian. Don't be fooled by the hijackers. I grew up Catholic, and while I'm not very happy with the Catholic Church anymore, I do consider myself Christian because I follow the commandment, "Love your neighbor as yourself." I grew up in Texas, I vote for progressive candidates, I vote pro-gay rights, I'm getting my Ph.D., and all some of you would have to say about me is that I'm probably some stupid, gullible, bigoted Southerner. Of all the people in the world, the people who post here (whom I usually agree with) should know better.
If I were in Alabama I would pray for a new, effective governor.
David @ 108:
No that was two different sentences. These are the people against gay marriage or any kind of relationship that does not fit their narrow minds.
would y'all be attacking this harmless request by the governor if he was Muslim?
My best friend, an L.A. chick, moved South. She lives on Confederate Avenue and can't get a bikini wax because it's illegal. In the next county over, it's against the law not to own a gun. Her cardiologist asked her if she was saaaaved...which scared the hell out of her because, if she gave a wrong answer, maybe his medicine would not have been the best he could do. There are valid cultural criticisms.
In my opinion, the problem with cultish christianity is it morphs its followers into the polar opposite of the Christian message...you know, pure religion undefiled...feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, parenting the orphan, caring for the sick. Fundamentalists, "mental" being the operative syllable, are offensive.
CD @ 112:
Absolutely and most certainly...Just being the Governor of Alabama would justify..
Doggiebobo @ 114:
:lol:
CD @ 112:
Yep. Of course, he'd already be dead because of all the tolerance for non-Christians down here.
Jess @ 109:
amen to that. im right with you.
Bic @ 12:
So - when it doesn't work how will he explain it? My religion is a failure? That would work . . . .
Well almost anything has got to be better than FEMA, right?
*
Couldn't he have called for some Hooters girls to do a raindance?
Preferably, they would have wet t-shirts.
Oh wait, the governor is a Republican.
Make it alter boys and pages.
Good idea. And while they're at it they can use the same approach to solving the state's fiscal problems, etc. Then if they don't go away, then it must be God's will that the state have the problems, so it's not the politico's fault.
ayup! Yucka-Ducka-Dacka-Doo! If we all join hands using the Magical Mystical Handclasp, spit over our left shoulders, recite the Bhagavad-Gita backwards and singe our big left toes with a Sacred Flame from the Holy Candle, it will surely rain in Alabama. What? It didn't rain? Obviously y'all are doing it wrong. The Heavenly Surrogate-parent-substitute ALWAYS answers our pathetic supplications. Welllll, ne'mind...jes' gimme all yer money an' a'll pray fer y'all.
Religion is SUCH a hoax!
Love your neighbor as yourself does not have to be a religious thing. I have a right versus wrong part of my brain that tells me to feed the hungry, be polite to others, do not steel, do not kill,etc. I find it deflating that some people have to read it in a book to do these things. Even cave men learned to cooperate with each other. Man and animals learned to live together. I was a farmer when I was a kid and it was a good life. Our family was asked not to come back to church because we were the only dairy farmers and no matter how hard you try there are always things that get crazy when you have animals. So we were late a few times. Wasn't that the house of forgiveness? Religion as it self is not a bad thing. It is a guide. It is when people become involved that things change. When we had ice storms we even fed the deer. Wild turkeys just moved in and proclaimed it home. This is one planet with one ecosystem people. We are all a part of the same thing no matter how some may want to be different. Be human.
So in Alabama instead of doing surgery, do their doctors do a laying on of hands?
That'll cause a lot of sexual harrassment suits.
Scarecrow @ 82:
Scott @ 26:
...tsk,tsk...bigotry is a terrible thing...
angry young man @ 9:
Amazingly obvious - thank you ~~
Are you listening down there?
Of course - in truth I feel sorry for them and don't wish them fire, or hurricane, or FEMA, or irretrievable stupidity.
Steve @ 125:
That's what a Southerner says while driving through Redwood Forest National Park.
Especially if he's a logger.
The false-based(opps, I mean "faith based") religious beliefs are not restricted to
Alabama...it is a deep rooted puesdo/faux following by most in the Deep South
Insane ignorant cult savages!
Doggiebobo @ 128:
I always called them country-fried christians.
A cross doesn't belong in urine, just for setting on fire.
Ysbaddaden @ 127: Thanks, that is some humor we all needed...
Praying could not hurt at all. This is much ado about nothing
ysbaddaden @ 127:
I'm not sure I understand...
CD @ 112:
According to the article the governor calls for people to Pray "individually and in their houses of worship" - I would think that includes muslims.
He also says "prayer never hurt" and I agree with that too, (though as an atheist I have to also note my perspective that prayer never helped either.)
I do hope it's not his only strategy though - as it is unlikely to help him in a reelection campaign down the road.
Steve @ 133:
Bigotry "or as the Southern's say...."BIG O TREE"..
Patco13 @ 132:
Precisely...."praying is much ado about nada"
Doggiebobo @ 135:
I don't think a Southern logger would say that a"BIG O TREE"is a terrible thing...
Steve @ 137:
Do not disagree...it was intended in # 133 as humor and a play on the specific word
"bigotry"...as expressed by Ysbaddend; NOT me...
Doggiebobo @ 138:
...sorry...must be some o'that superior Yankee humor...
Big O'Tree is what an Irish tourist would call them.
pinhead @ 31:
You disingenuous pinhead, your nom de guerre is appropriate.
Your offhanded way of saying fuck yourself is lame, just come right out and say it.
As for the south, I spent 2 years doing Y2K remediation down there.
What a bunch of uneducated, don't know nothin and don't wanna know nothin rubes!
It's not that their stupid or inbred (though there IS plenty of that), it's just that they seem to lack the basic curiosity that makes us human. In other words, if someone of "authority" like a Governor, rich guy, or preacher says it it must be true. No need to give it a second thought or verify that it even meets with any standards of sanity.
Hell, in Oklahoma City, according to the commercial, at Bob's (I think that was his name) Garage Jesus himself looks over and GUARANTEES your brake job! I kid you not. Can't even make that crap up.
And it seems to work too, Bob had a nice garage at his disposal.
Pinhead, if you like the south and feel the need to defend it go right ahead.
But do not try to convince us that pigs ear has any silk attached to it.
As for praying for rain, AAAAHBOOGA!!
Clownshoes.
Just to relieve a little confustion, I ain't no Yanquis, but a Tejas.
Other than that ya'll can relieve yourselves.
For what it is worth...it rained like hell yesterday in Huntsville Alabama.
ysbaddaden @ 142:
As a fellow Tex-a-can, and as I said in item # 131, I found your comment
humorous..
Steve @ 137:
Well - a southern logger's wife wouldn't.
*
PopeTodd @ 141:
You might want to look at a map,Chief...Oklahoma City ain't in the South...
Wet in Alabama @ 143:
Then, if such is accurate, there is no need to continue praying for
the entire week..
Wet in Alabama @ 143:
Odin is merciful.
Doggiebobo @ 147:
I wonder if it's raining in Oklahoma City...
Steve @ 149:
I don't know, but it is raining in Mexia, Texas..
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