First Looks category archive

At the Kansas City Star, Baptist minister Stephen D. Jones expresses grave concerns that we are in danger of losing our freedom of (and freedom from) religion under the influence of what he refers to as “white Christian nationalists” Here’s what he has to say about their motivation (emphasis added); follow the link for the rest.

White Christian nationalists breed on fear. They want a privileged place in America because they feel sidelined in a multiracial, multifaith society. They haven’t learned how to live with diversity, let alone cherish it. They want to live in a racial silo, hanging out with their own kind. Hence, “white.” Hence, their partisan objection to diversity, equity and inclusion.

Mike and Farron try to make sense of Florida’s banning mandatory water breaks for persons who work outside in Florida’s subtropical heat, and, as someone who has visited Florida in the summer, I can attest that it’s pretty darn hot. (Mike and Farron then go on to address prescription drug price gouging.)

I grew up on the farm pictured at the top of this page–yes, that is Pine View Farm, full of pines because Daddy loved him his pine trees. When I was little, my father would send me out to pull weeds in the fields, because fields got to be weeded. When I got older, he taught me how to drive the tractor so I could plow and harrow and cultivate the fields. (And, man, I loved driving that old Farmall C! My favorite task was harrowing, because you dnn’t have to think, you just had to drive around and make sure you don’t miss a spot.) Taking care of the farm was all just part of being a farm boy

But my Daddy never told me I couldn’t have a drink of water when I needed one.

Today’s Republican Party is a vile and loathsome thing.

Whale Rider.

If you can find it. watch it.

It is an excellent movie.

Meet today’s Typhoid Mary of stupid:

Florida Man.

At NJ.com, Todd Clear, a criminologist and a Distinguished Professor at Rutgers Law School and School of Criminal Justice who also happens to be Jewish, identifies a misdirection play.

He makes a strong case that opposing Israel’s tactics in Gaza and being antisemitic are not the same thing (a case that a Rabbi of my acquaintance also recently made in my hearing). Here’s a bit of his article:

To conflate opposition to policies of the State of Israel with hatred of Jews is wrong on two counts. First, it is factually wrong. Many Jews (including Israelis) oppose what Netanyahu’s government is doing in Gaza – just look at the op-ed pages of the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.

Second, and even more troubling, is the conflation of anti-Israel sentiment with anti-Jewish sentiment – which is itself antisemitic. In truth, Jews have never been of one mind on the matter of Zionism. While many see Israel as the best hope for autonomous Jewish life, others disagree.

Methinks his article is well-deserving of your attention.

Afterthought:

I concede that the situation in Gaza is, well, complicated. What Hamas did to trigger it was detestable, and Israel certainly has a right to defend itself. It’s a messy and murky situation, which is one reason why I have posted about it so infrequently. After all, I am no maven; I’m just a third-tier blogger shooting off his mouth over the inner webs.

Nevertheless, I wonder whether, in this case, the line between “defense” and “offense” has become–er–blurred.

This week, it’s David R. Hoffman who is hearing an echo.

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*Mark Twain.

The Betty Boop cartoons. The animation is excellent for its time, and the stories are quite good fun.

I’m watching them on Tubi, but I think you can find them on Youtube and maybe other streaming services.

I remember seeing them on the telly vision back in the olden days, when I was a young ‘un.

Off to drink liberally.

Peter Gunn.

I liked it when it was new, the few times I got to see it when I was a young ‘un, and I like it now that it is old (as am I). It was easily one of the best noir series of early American television.

I’m watching it on Tubi.

Aside:

Noir has not gone away. We are living it today.

We probably all know someone who has fallen down some conspiracy theory rabbit hole, whether it’s from watching crackpot videos on Youtube or following fruitcakes on “social” media or through more traditional ways of believing stuff up because it fits what they want to be. I certainly do.

At Psychology Today Blogs, Loren Soeiro looks at why persons fall for adopt conspiracy theories and offers some suggestions as to how to break through to talk with them. A snippet:

Conspiracy theories seem to offer this certainty by presenting a clear and simple explanation for potentially confusing phenomena. Paradoxically, this information may come with a heightened sense of validity because it seems to be withheld by those in power. Pushing away doubts and feelings of ignorance with conspiracy-themed clarity can, therefore, make people feel better informed, whereas a lack of knowledge would only foster uncertainty.

Now it’s Michael Paul Williams who is hearing a rhyme of the past.

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*Mark Twain.

In my youth, I demonstrated against the Vietnamese War, the Great and Glorious Patriotic War for a lie of Lie of that time, in such small ways as I could.

Methinks the artist is onto something.

Aside:

Over at No More Mister Nice Blog, Steve M has an interesting take on this issue.

Afterthought:

The unmitigated gall of these uppity students to oppose gratuitous bloodshed!

Who’s doing the devolving here?

The stupid. It burns.

Afterthought:

The most surprising thing about this clip is that Joe Rogan is actually right about something.