rock and roll musings by Tim Byrnes

I'm the Devil and I Approved This Message

     If the world would stop moving like a skateboard for a minute I'd like to say something. Many things, actually and as usual tangentially, but at the core of all the following blather lies a take-a-deep-breath-consider-the-source-own-what-you-own apology.

     Of sorts.

     I clearly must apologize for telling Jim Muglia to fuck off and die when I really only wanted him to fuck off.

     And while I'd like to hide behind the Bill Maher shield of 'I was only kidding', when I typed those words I was pounding the keyboard like the young Little Richard,. I'm telling you, people, I was committed. And now I am ashamed and sad.

     Wishing death on another living being goes completeley against what little I admittedly believe. (I'm guessing at least a couple of folks' 'pro-choice contradiction' lightbulbs just went off, right? Listen closely, I will say this only once: my position on abortion is that, as a man, I have no say in making a woman's decision. Does it break my heart? Of course it does, for a few different reasons, but who am I - and who are you - to order someone to reproduce against their will? My answer is, as always, education and personal responsibility.)

      But such are the passions flamed by this ridiculous argument. Especially when those involved are 2, at best, inspired amateurs who love the sound of their own voice, wrapping their slightly talented minds around issues so complex as to make them like 2 mosquitos on the hide of the universe.

     We've both, Muglia and I, been small, petty, vindictive and largely ill informed and in engaging in this endless and rancoric 'debate' that our knowledge of the patently unkowable is correct (or in my case, feasable) we play right into the hands of whatever devil there might be by losing sight of god.

     Both of us.

      Throughout the last year plus of Byrnes/Muglia bullshit has there been much humility? No. Compassion? A little maybe, but not nearly enough. Understanding? Not really. Forgiveness? Don't make me laugh. Shame on me.

     And, speaking of which.........

     My feelings on the Catholic Church have been well documented here and elsewhere and, while I still find the reprehensible reprehensible I know as well as anybody else the good work done by the Church, usually by those on the lower end of the food chain; the parish priests and nuns, the neighborhood volunteers etc. I know it's a force for good in the world despite it's shady hierarchy and for what it's worth I salute that goodness.

     My current working model for god is this: god is an elemental force of good in the universe that is constantly being created and sustained by humanity through good works. Of course this then leads to the inevitable questions of 'well, what's good?' and 'Is what's good for one bad for another?' 'and Many others?' And all that human crap that gets in the way of perfection, which likely doesn't exist in the first place apart from an idea/ideal.

     In any event, speaking for myself, I have added precious little of anything close to good here lately. My natural, dramaqueen response is to give up and delete this site, or at least change it's name to 'Jim's an Idiot' and bail but, apparently I'm not that immature, after all. At least not tonight.

     And it's not like I don't appreciate the irony in as futile a gesture as apologizing to readers I've driven away, but I must and I do. Sincerely. And like that drunken boyfriend you and yr mother both know is no damn good for you, I'm gonna try to win you back by writing from my heart like a punk rock bluesman and leave the dogma to the dogs.

(Coming soon: "We Need a Bigger Piano, Phil": How Sonny Bono Invented Feedback)

Posted by: timbyrnes at 01:17 | link | comments (5)

Comments:

#1  07 April 2008 - 04:50

 

"We've both, Muglia and I, been small, petty, vindictive and largely ill informed and in engaging in this endless and rancoric 'debate' that our knowledge of the patently unkowable is correct (or in my case, feasable) we play right into the hands of whatever devil there might be by losing sight of god.

Both of us.

Throughout the last year plus of Byrnes/Muglia bullshit has there been much humility? No. Compassion? A little maybe, but not nearly enough. Understanding? Not really. Forgiveness? Don't make me laugh. Shame on me."

Hey Tim, apology accepted, and reciprocated. The one thing that I've been learning is to cool it on the teasing. I read how people pretend to like it, but really hate it. And then I thought about how I hate it, but pretend to like it.

Well, a couple keys to keep in persepctive is we shouln't look at eachother as a means to an end:

"Hey there'a a guy I can convert, or that I can make fun of for my own pleasure." I think that can subconsciously happen.

And the other thing, to put on the ol' broken record is, since these God questions are of import to us
(becasue why shouldn't they be?), let's forget about who's right and who's wrong, and simply slice and dice ideas on the table. If humility is the backdrop and sincerity is the stage, then all parties become better people from the discussions. There should be no threat whatsoever.

I appreciate the level-headed statments about the RCC above; with that, we can discuss things objectively.

Likewsie, I know that many people in the rock culture actually do some good things, and stand for some causes that are a lot bigger than themselves.

BTW, I realize this is your blog, and I don't intend to take over, or scare any of your friends away; so don't worry about me overdoing it like before.

BTW, if you're sincere about inviting me back to drop in here once in a while, you can unblock my LDV name anytime. :-b

Jim

Anonymous

#2  10 April 2008 - 17:32

 

yr overestimating my technologogical knowledge. We shall see what we shall see ..........
tb

timbyrnes

#3  25 May 2008 - 04:20

 

i LOVE YOU.

Anonymous

#4  26 May 2008 - 03:19

 

Hey Tim, for the record, I did not post that 6:20 entry. It was probably some unchurched dope like howard trying to stir something up. The name of Jesus must have sent some demons reeling through them or something.

Jim

Anonymous

#5  29 May 2008 - 17:19

 

"Hey Tim, for the record, I did not post that 6:20 entry. It was probably some unchurched dope like howard trying to stir something up. The name of Jesus must have sent some demons reeling through them or something. "

So it had to be an 'unchurched' dope (what, as opposed to a church dope like you?) that would have the temerity to send me a message of love?

Hmmmmm, ya think that'd be, like, what? the 'Christian' thing to do.



Wouldn't you?
Yr god ain't nothing but a sop to yr own uselessness.
tb

Anonymous

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