With God On Our Side

Military Religious Freedom Foundation

Recent events have gotten the song With God On Our Side stuck in my mind.  Yes, the Bob Dylan original, but also the Neville Brothers version.

The antepenultimate verse:

But now we got weapons of chemical dust

If fire them, we’re forced to, then fire them we must

One push of the button, and a shot the world wide

And you never ask questions when God’s on your side

The final verse:

So now as I’m leavin’ – I’m weary as Hell

The confusion I’m feelin’ ain’t no tongue can tell

The words fill my head, and fall to the floor

That if God’s on our side, He’ll stop the next war

When I was in fourth grade, two things happened. I had a “born again” experience watching a Billy Graham revival. And I learned the lyrics to the fourth and final verse of the Star Spangled Banner, which I still know by heart.

O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand
Between their lov’d home and the war’s desolation!
Blest with vict’ry and peace may the heav’n rescued land
Praise the power that hath made and preserv’d us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause, it is just,
And this be our motto – “In God is our trust,”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

At 9, I was fully inculcated in the mythos of God and country. But by the time I was 16, the linkage began to fray.

Atomic Cafe

Still, I “get” it. When I saw the movie Atomic Cafe in the early 1980s, I was most taken by the songs that linked the struggle for nuclear supremacy with religiosity, none more than Jesus Hits Like The Atom Bomb by Lowell Blanchard.

Everybody’s worried ’bout the atomic bomb

But nobody’s worried about the day my Lord will come

When he hits (great God almighty) like an atom bomb

When he comes, when he comes

Here are versions by the Soul Stirrers and the Pilgrim Travelers.

O.M.G.

I found reports that “US military commanders have been invoking extremist Christian rhetoric about biblical ‘end times’ to justify involvement in the Iran war to troops” to be heretical to true Christianity.

“The Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) says it has received more than 200 complaints from service members across all branches of the armed forces, including the Marines, Air Force, and Space Force.”

One noncommissioned officer said their commander had “urged us to tell our troops that this was ‘all part of God’s divine plan’ and he specifically referenced numerous citations out of the Book of Revelation referring to Armageddon and the imminent return of Jesus Christ. He said that [FOTUS] has been anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to cause Armageddon and mark his return to Earth.”

This is disturbing but hardly surprising. “Pete Hegseth, the US defense secretary, is known for his embrace of Christian nationalism. He previously endorsed the doctrine of “sphere sovereignty”, a worldview derived from the extremist beliefs of Christian reconstructionism (CR). The philosophy calls for capital punishment for homosexuality and strictly patriarchal families and churches.”

A current meme online: “If your pastor is telling you that murdering Iranians will hasten the return of Jesus, you’re not a church member. You’re a cult member.”

Confronting Christian nationalism

I really loved what Rep. James Talarico, now the Democratic candidate for the US Senate seat in Texas, had to say on the Stephen Colbert YouTube interview.

Jesus in Matthew 25 tells us exactly how you and I and every one of our fellow believers how we’re going to be judged and how we’re going to be saved. By feeding the hungry, by healing the sick, by welcoming the stranger. Nothing about going to church, nothing about voting Republican. It was all about how you treat other people…

Two commandments

JT: My granddad was a Baptist preacher in South Texas. And when I was little, he told me that Christianity is a simple religion. Not an easy religion, he would always clarify, but a simple religion, because Jesus gave us two commandments. Love God and love neighbor. And there was no exception to that second commandment.

immigration status or religious affiliation. And it’s why I have fought so hard for the separation of church and state in the state capital in Texas

JT: That’s right.

JT: Well, because we are called to love all of our neighbors, including our Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh, agnostic, and atheist neighbors. And forcing our religion down their throats is not love.

First Amendment
It goes on from there, but you get the point: Christian nationalism is not Christianity.

11 films in one day

Some animated shorts are available on YouTube

Since I had seen a total of zero films in a cinema between January 20 and February 27, I decided to see two sets of films on Saturday,  February 28, which turned out to be 11 films in one day. Unsurprisingly, it was at the Spectrum Theatre in ALB. I went alone because my wife was working. These were the Oscar-nominated short documentaries and animated films.

Perfectly A Strangeness  (15 minutes) -“In the dazzling incandescence of an unknown desert, three donkeys discover an abandoned astronomical observatory and the universe. A sensorial, cinematic exploration of what a story can be.” It was largely filmed at La Silla Observatory, a European Southern Observatory (ESO) site in Chile, with some shots filmed further north at ESO’s Paranal Observatory. The film was written and directed by Alison McAlpine. I didn’t “get” it, nor did the folks nearby.

The Devil Is Busy (31 minutes) documents a day at an abortion clinic in Atlanta. The focus is on the head of security, a compassionate and religious woman named Tracii, who prays for protection from outside forces and for the women, often from out of state, who come to the clinic.  It is impossible not to see and hear the men who protest at the edge of the property, also citing God for their behavior. The movie is directed by Christalyn Hampton and Geeta Gandbhir, whose feature-length documentary “The Perfect Neighbor” is also nominated for an Oscar. I could see it HERE as of this writing. This may win the Oscar. 

War videographer

You know what happens in Armed Only With A Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud (38 minutes). He was shot and killed near Kyiv by Russian forces on March 13, 2022; “he was the first journalist on assignment from an American news organization to be killed while reporting on the war in Ukraine.” But you know that from the title.

What the movie does is go back and forth from his death, people mourning him, and his funeral, to the various disasters and wars he documented, including the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, the political crises in northern Africa, and the refugee crisis in Central America, often with his brother Craig. The Renaud brothers are credited as its directors, cinematographers, editors, and producers. You WILL appreciate Brent Renaud’s work and humanity after this. I could see it HERE. This film could win the Oscar.

School shootings

The premise of All The Empty Rooms (33 minutes), directed by Joshua Seftel, is that journalist Steve Hartman, the usually jovial CBS On The Road journalist, also covered too many school shootings. The project he and photographer Lou Bopp worked on for seven years was to create portraits of the children’s untouched bedrooms.

Between talking to still-grieving parents of the children, Hartman speaks of trying to keep from going numb to the sheer number of tragedies. I had seen this eight-minute clip on CBS’s Sunday Morning, and it was more effective (and affecting) than the whole film. Film Yap, a Substack piece, noted, “There’s a studied way about this film, and its tendency to focus more on… Hartman… than the children themselves. I’m an old-school believer in ‘don’t report on the reporting,’ and there’s too much of that here.” I agree; if all eight children’s stories were included in a longer film, it would be stronger. You can see it on Netflix.

Children No More: “Were and Are Gone” (21 minutes) was directed by Hilla Medalia. It’s a film about peace activists in Israel holding a series of vigils, showing pictures of Palestinian children killed in the Gaza war. Silently, they stand there, bringing a human face to the conflict. After each protest, they debate among themselves, mulling over whether what they’re doing is effective or if they should try a bolder strategy. Unsurprisingly, some Israelis curse and scream at them, calling them traitors.  Available if you have Apple TV. 

Animation

The Three Sisters (13 minutes) by Konstantin Bronzit is a silent portrayal of the three dour-looking women alone on an island. As they compete for the affections of an uncouth sailor landing on their tiny island, they become more colorful and competitive. Mildly funny, and at least mildly sexist. If it’s available, I’m not finding it.

 The Girl Who Cried Pearls (17 minutes), from Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski, uses stop-motion of somewhat creepy molded figures. It shows an impoverished corner of Montreal around the early 20th century. Interesting narrative, but the payoff is weak. It’s available on Netflix and Prime Video.

Retirement Plan (7 minutes) by John Kelly is a single, piano-scored montage. The protagonist, in voice-over supplied by Domhnall Gleeson, imagines all the things he’ll do when he retires. Some of the attendees thought it was obvious, but I thought it was saying something more profound. Watch it HERE – I think it’ll come in second in the Oscar race.

Olympics

But I believe the Oscar will go to Florence Miailhe’s Papillon/Butterfly (15 minutes).” It is an affecting impressionistic biopic of the French swimmer Alfred Nakache (1915-83).  And by impressionistic, think  Monet or Matisse.  Nakache was an Algerian-born Jew who competed for France in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin and then again in 1948 in London, after surviving Auschwitz. “The closing text reveals that Miailhe was taught to swim by Nakache’s brother.” Watch it HERE.

Forevergreen (13 minutes) from Nathan Engelhardt and Jeremy Spears is the story of a bear cub and the coniferous giving tree that raises him. Then the bear discovers potato chips! Smokey the Bear would be pleased by the lesson.  Watch it  HERE.

The program was too short, as is often the case with the animated shorts, so they added Giovanna Ferrari’s Éiru (13 minutes). Imade the list of 15 shortlisted titles but didn’t secure a nomination. “Éiru is a young girl and aspiring warrior who restores water to her parched clan and makes peace with its neighbors.” Watch it HERE.

Sunday Stealing: Cookie Day

hamantaschen

Welcome to Sunday Stealing. Here we will steal all types of questions from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent questions. Cheers to all of us thieves!

March 6 was National Oreo Cookie Day. So said Mary when she completed this meme, which she credited to Terri D (Your Friend from Florida), who used to host Wednesday Medley. So let’s take on these tasty questions!

National Oreo Cookie Day

1. Are you able to pass by a plate of cookies and not take one, or are you a bit of a “Cookie Monster”

Depends on the cookie. It would have to be “worth” the calories; an inferior cookie simply won’t do. For instance, I’ve had great black-and-white cookies, while others were quite inadequate.

I don’t like peanut butter, so I can always pass on those cookies. My daughter is allergic to peanut butter; I can usually smell and certainly taste peanut butter, so I became her tester.

2. Tell us about your favorite cookie. Have your tastes changed since you were a kid?

My favorite cookie is Grandma’s Oatmeal Raisin. I’m also fond of the Golden Oreo cookie. When I was a kid, I was a traditional Oreo cookie guy, but I also liked the Archway oatmeal, molasses, and sugar cookies.   Are bar cookies, such as brownies, cookies? If so, then yes for them both then and now.  

Tradition

I have an emotional attachment to hamentaschen. I was in a church play at my previous church, and I played the evil Haman. Purim just took place this past week. 

3. Enquiring minds want to know if you are a dunker and, if so, do you dunk in milk, coffee, or tea?

Not a dunker. I do like to drink milk, or occasionally hot tea with cream,  with my cookies. 

4. It is that time of year, and they are selling them on every corner and in front of every store!  Do you buy Girl Scout cookies, and if you do, which is your favorite?

I know a dad who is hawking his daughter’s GS cookies. I hadn’t purchased them in about a decade, but I’m likely to buy boxes of Thin Mints and  Samoas.

5. Raw cookie dough.  Yay or Nay?

Nay. 

I will remember being 73

Dennis Rodman?

Last year, I noted that I would remember being 72, because 72 is cool. 2 cubed times 3 squared.

But I worried. Would I remember being 73? It’s a prime number. But I forgot that in the civilized world, one notes a date by day/month. And my natal day is 7-3. 

I always felt that if I were a baseball player, I would want 73. Players traditionally like the lower numbers. The New York Times did an article in 2020 about the best players to wear every jersey number in baseball history. Tony Phillips, IF/OF, who only wore the number in 1997, played for both the  Anaheim Angels and Chicago White Sox. “Phillips played for 18 seasons and exasperated pitchers during most of them. His eye at the plate was keen.” I barely remember him.

Here are the pro football players who wore 73.  I recognize the names Larry Little, John Hannah, and Ralph Neely. They were offensive linemen, those large protectors of quarterbacks tasked with making holes in the defense so the running backs could run through.

On Sports Illustrated list of Best NBA Players by Jersey Number for #73 is  the quirky Dennis Rodman, who famously also wore #91. “He became the only player in NBA history to wear No. 73 when he suited up for the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1998-99 season. He’s a five-time NBA champion, winning two as a ‘Bad Boy’ Piston and three with Jordan’s Bulls, and set an NBA record by leading the league in rebounding for seven straight seasons (1991-98).”

 

The Rest of ’66

Songs when I was 13

About 15 years ago, I went to a friend’s house and made a mixed CD of songs I dubbed The Rest of ’66. It was a homage to two LPs I own, The Best of ’66, put out by Columbia Records way back then.

Unfortunately, the CD tracking has deteriorated, so I decided to replicate it here. But there are 24 tracks, and I’m too old and lazy to do that. So I’m not linking to the songs that hit #1 on any Billboard chart, since I will link to them in July.

But before that, WHY 1966? Back in my FantaCo days in the 1980s, we would occasionally listen to WTRY radio. They would play oldies from 1955 to 1972, roughly. I realized they seemed to play about 30% of the songs I loved from that year, when I turned 13.

Don’t Mess With Bill – the Marvelettes. #3 for four weeks RB, #7 pop. I LOVE the bassline.

What’s Become Of The Brokenhearted – Jimmy Ruffin, #6 RB, #7 pop. I wrote about the Ruffin brothers, Jimmy, and the Temptations’ David.

Function at the Junction – Shorty Long, #43 RB, #97 pop

I’m skipping You Can’t Hurry Love – the Supremes

I See The Light – the Five Americans, #26 pop. I’d like to suggest I intentionally picked the group’s track fifth, but that would be a lie.

Little Girl – Syndicate of Sound, #8 pop

I’m skipping Wild Thing – the Troggs

Psychotic Reaction – The Count Five, #5 pop

Pushing Too Hard – the Seeds, #36 pop

STAX

You Don’t Know Like I Know – Sam and Dave, #7 RB, #90 pop

Time – Pozo-Seco Singers, #3 AC, #47 pop

I’m skipping Satisfaction – The Rolling Stones

Daydream– The Lovin’ Spoonful, #2 pop for two weeks. I got the LP from the Capitol Record Club; I still have it.

I’m skipping When a Man Loves a Woman – Percy Sledge

Nothing’s Too Good For My Baby – Stevie Wonder, #4 RB, #20 pop

Red Rubber Ball – the Cyrkle, #2 pop; song written by Paul Simon

River Deep, Mountain High – Ike and Tina Turner, #88 pop.  This was a particularly disastrous commercial record produced by Phil Spector

You Better Run – the Rascals, #20 pop. This came out before the release of their second album, Collections, but doesn’t appear on an LP until their third album, Groovin’.

Background

I Saw Her Again – the Mamas and the Papas, #5 pop.  I always had a great affection for this song. On the greatest-hits album, Farewell to the First Golden Era, the separation of this song was very weird. The Denny Doherty lead vocal was very muted, so you got to hear a lot of the background vocals, and I always hear that song that way in my mind. Also, the song’s intrigue predates the Fleetwood Mac drama surrounding Rumours.

Yellow Submarine – The Beatles. The single was #2 pop. This is a version from the Real Love EP (at 6:59), which answered a burning question. On the YS/Eleanor Rigby single, the last verse lyric is: “As we live a life of ease.” On the single, the line is echoed: “a life of ease.” But on my Revolver LP, the echoing didn’t start until the next line: “Every one of us (every one of us).” I learned that the mono version had the earlier echo and the stereo had the later one.

B-A-B-Y – Carla Thomas, #3 RB, #14 pop.

I’m skipping Knock On Wood – Eddie Floyd

Standing In The Shadows of Love – The Four Tops. #3 RB for two weeks, #6 pop

If I Were A Carpenter – Bobby Darin, #8 pop

Ramblin' with Roger
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