Rumsfeld And The Reverend: Pretty Poor Stuff
I remarked in the last post about comments made to a preacher who was satisfied with his orations. Here's another one: A preacher was glowing with pride as the church members made their way out of the sanctuary, and he asked an honest old farmer what he thought of the sermon. The farmer, who just had to be truthful, shifted his Sunday allotment of chewing tobacco from one cheek to the other as he gave his verdict. "I was in the back pew, Reverend, and the people up front were swallowing up all the best parts, so what got back to me was pretty poor stuff, pretty poor stuff."
Often this is the case. Right now in U.S. politics we have seen the departure of Donald Rumsfeld and the startling power shift in the Congress. This is, of course, the fallout from the voters in the world's most powerful country telling their Chief what they think of him. His performance does not fit his statements, and what the people really heard was not honest confidence but desperate bombast, or to quote our church-going farmer, "pretty poor stuff". Another familiar quotation that comes to mind is Abraham Lincoln's "You can fool some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time".
Those responsible for misleading us don't always intend to mislead, as they often sincerely believe what they say. Some simply want to be followed, to be important, and they adopt causes and speak accordingly. But eventually "the truth will out", and what gets to "the back of the church" is "pretty poor stuff" indeed. So what's the message for us in all this? To warp a couple of well-known sayings: Listen before you leap, and listen with your eyes open.
33 Comments:
Hi,
glad to see this pic and the link to my photo website. If you need some others, just ask :)
Best regards,
Rémy Salaün
It's beyond poor stuff, even the folks in the front had little to swallow. All we had was a snake oil salesman who was his own shill. Disgraceful.
Its far to often conveniant for us to look at our lot and look elsewhere for responsabitly when we don't like the way our world is treating us.When the government we voted makes mistakes,particlarly of the Bush variety, Write letters,emails,phone calls, conversations with freinds.Please, look inside yourself and act in whatever way you are able to help create a world you want to live in. Democracy is not a vote, it,s an action.
Never trust a man with no upper lip!
It's worth taking a step back and look at the achievement that is democracy in America. That the store worker and the chief executive have the opportunity every four years to make their voice heard and that the people in power do have to abide by the majority decision is a great thing. The majority of the world's population have little say in their leadership far less the direction it is leading them.
Well, blaming the politicians constitutes one view. However, I think it takes a lot of willing citizens to fight a war, not to mention young volunteers and their families.
Speaking as a liberal patriot--something considered "neither fish nor fowl" in my country today--Iraq was the most popular war effort by the U.S. I've witnessed in my 5 decades.
People were down right enthusiastic, almost as if Afghanistan had been too easy after 9/11.
Despite a sizable ant-war movement and a lengthy precipitating debate, most folks were eager to get it done by the time we rolled. And the war continued to receive majority support, albeit eroding, until this past year.
Is Bush something of a scape goat now that the fight stubbornly continues to get bigger and more real than anticipated?
He had the public behind him going in. How much is labeling Bush a liar worth? How convenient were it to let everyone else off the hook!
Maybe now we will be able to gage the popularity of a pull out from the circumstances we've created. I would find that very telling.
I dislike fights intensely. I find loss of life almost intolerable.
More intolerable yet, because one has to live with it longer, not finishing the fights one starts. Even more intolerable, because one has to live with it a lifetime, not learning to.
Little typo... if memory serves, Lincoln's quote is:
"You can fool some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time".
Just a minor typo, but I really like the quote, so like to see it in it's original form :)
You're right about the typo, of course. Thanks for pointing it out.
sometimes, I wonder if democracy would work in a vacuum.
G.W. certainly had a vocal cadre of supporters when he decided to invade Iraq. Those who supported him did not come close to being a majority of Americans.
The sad truth is, the vast majority of Americans felt that there was absolutely nothing they could do to prevent the action initiated by his administration.
I think those who mislead the American people started believing in their own lies.
XzB9tG Your blog is great. Articles is interesting!
sxaN83 Wonderful blog.
Please write anything else!
Good job!
Hello all!
Please write anything else!
Hello all!
actually, that's brilliant. Thank you. I'm going to pass that on to a couple of people.
Magnific!
Nice Article.
n3Ibjk Nice Article.
Magnific!
check [URL=http://jacket-dresses.net/]moncler sale[/URL] for gift IKISBTGW [URL=http://jacket-dresses.net/ ] http://jacket-dresses.net/ [/URL]
get cheap [URL=http://jacket-dresses.net/]moncler[/URL] , for special offer KSkEzzrZ [URL=http://jacket-dresses.net/ ] http://jacket-dresses.net/ [/URL]
get cheap zLqUWmDp [URL=http://www.louis--vuitton--online--shop.org/]buy louis vuitton online[/URL] suprisely aDBgyVgP [URL=http://www.louis--vuitton--online--shop.org/ ] http://www.louis--vuitton--online--shop.org/ [/URL]
top [url=http://www.c-online-casino.co.uk/]c-online-casino.co.uk[/url] coincide the latest [url=http://www.realcazinoz.com/]realcazinoz[/url] unshackled no store hand-out at the leading [url=http://www.baywatchcasino.com/]loose largesse casino
[/url].
for OvfmwcnN [URL=http://www.spyder-jackets2013.com/]spyder ski jackets[/URL] for gift hoygfFrQ [URL=http://www.spyder-jackets2013.com/ ] http://www.spyder-jackets2013.com/ [/URL]
Knowledge is a treasure, but practice is the key to it.
http://www.coachfactoryoutletsef.com/ 2c0f2v9c8n3b8d1m
http://www.burberryoutletusaxa.com/ 3c6h7w9q4c3z4z3z
http://store.ghdaustraliashopz.com/ 8d3y6u8g2p1m5i5r
http://www.casquemonsterbeatsers.com/ 6q0v6u1r3e0q1l4x
http://www.ghdnewzealandshops.com/ 0r6u9u9q4s6u2x7d
http://www.nflnikejerseysshopse.com/ 1h8f5n6u3e4m2t5i
http://www.bottesuggpascheri.com/ 0s8c4v8g0v4b7p3v
What is learned in the cradle is carried to the grave.
http://store.ghdaustraliashopz.com/ 0x5d0i3t1g0a4c9b
http://www.casquemonsterbeatsers.com/ 0b9t9g5k9l6d1y8m
http://www.ghdnewzealandshops.com/ 6u6m1h7e2b2n3s5r
http://www.burberryoutletusaxa.com/ 8k0r1b1b2z1v6b4d
http://www.coachfactoryoutletsef.com/ 1e3j2r3n4e3e8d5b
http://www.nflnikejerseysshopse.com/ 9w5p5h5q6t2a4y6f
http://www.bottesuggpascheri.com/ 2q1n1y0h5i4u5f0k
best meet their needs," Ms O’Neill said. generic viagra available in us pharmacies generic viagra forum,viagra 100mg online what do viagra pills do to women, buy cheap cialis in canada generic viagra best price,cialis for cheap what does viagra pills do
http://genericviagrapillstzj.com#viagra 100mg dose http://viagraonline100mgxhy.com#viagra online australia paypal http://cialispricecheapsfc.com#price for 5mg cialis http://cialispillscheapwr.com#cialis c20 pills
polo ralph lauren outlet, ugg boots, gucci outlet, nike air max, nike roshe run, sac longchamp, ralph lauren pas cher, burberry, air jordan pas cher, oakley sunglasses, ray ban sunglasses, nike outlet, longchamp, christian louboutin outlet, louboutin, chanel handbags, tory burch outlet, ray ban sunglasses, louis vuitton outlet, cheap oakley sunglasses, ray ban sunglasses, oakley sunglasses, oakley sunglasses, kate spade outlet, nike free, louboutin outlet, longchamp outlet, tiffany and co, jordan shoes, michael kors, louis vuitton, louis vuitton, longchamp pas cher, nike air max, tiffany jewelry, oakley sunglasses, prada outlet, louis vuitton outlet, replica watches, prada handbags, uggs on sale, louboutin shoes, louboutin pas cher, air max, ugg boots, polo ralph lauren outlet, louis vuitton, longchamp outlet, replica watches, nike free
If you are looking for the law assignment help then in this case you can opt for our Law Assignments help .we provide the best Online law assignment help.We also provide Civil Law Assignment Help for students across the globe. for more information contact us +16692714848.
Post a Comment
<< Home