Dec 122018
 

TomCat dropped by  the site yesterday around noon to say that his move was a nightmare and he would likely be scarce for a few more days.  Hopefully, he’ll remember to take it easy and preserve his sanity.  Today is physio and teaching so my time is very tight.  Hopefully I’ll have an OT for Thursday.  Well all, have a great day!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 6:03 (average 7:13). To do it, click here. How did you do?

TC’s took me 5:11 (average 7:51). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes

Sojourners — Every year from Dec. 16 to 24, Las Posadas begin in many Latin American countries and immigrant communities in the U.S. Roughly translated, posadas means “inn” or “shelter.” Las Posadas recalls the events in Luke’s Gospel leading up to Jesus’ birth. It’s a Catholic Christian observance with a sung liturgy that’s performed on the streets rather than in church.

posada begins with a street procession that reenacts Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter at an inn. Those playing the protagonists of the story, Mary and Joseph, are dressed in costume and carry candles as they follow along a prescribed route, knocking on doors. At each door they ask, through special posada songs, for room at the inn. In rural areas, Mary may even ride on a donkey.

The verses of the song are sung alternately by those outside and those inside the home. This creates a sung dialogue between Joseph and an innkeeper.

Joseph:

En el nombre del cielo                In the name of heaven

os pido posada,                            I ask you for shelter,

pues no puede andar                  for my beloved wife

mi esposa amada.                       can go no farther.

Innkeeper:

Aquí no es mesón                       This is not an inn

sigan adelante,                           Get on with you,

yo no puedo abrir,                      I cannot open the door,

no sea algún tunante.                 you might be a rogue.

Many people from the community follow behind, singing along with them. The neighbors participating in the posada open their doors, and each one purposefully sings their refusal to Mary and Joseph. Only at the very end of the route is there a designated household that finally allows Mary and Joseph to come in. There, too, is a party with Bible readings, food, and piñatas for the children. Now that the holy family has found their welcome, it is time to celebrate.  …

It is also one that ministers and immigration advocates have begun to use to represent the lack of hospitality at the U.S.–Mexico border. Their version is called La Posada Sin Fronteras: Shelter without Borders.

La Posada Sin Fronteras uses the exact same songs as the traditional Posada liturgy. But rather than walking through a neighborhood and knocking on doors, immigration advocates, faith leaders, immigrants, and other supporters gather on both sides of the U.S.–Mexico border. There they are watched carefully by the Border Patrol as they begin their reenactment of the journey of Mary and Joseph. The group on the Mexican side represents Mary and Joseph asking for shelter, while those on the U.S. side play the innkeeper, who repeatedly rejects their request for shelter. It’s a reenactment that “contextualizes the bitter drama” of displaced immigrants, writes Ched Myers in Our God Is Undocumented. And it brings participants inside the sacred story of God struggling to enter an inhospitable world.

Click through for the remainder of this fine article.  Now I know that not everybody is Christian, but one does not need to be Christian to be filled with love and compassion at this time of year, indeed at any time.  In the context of the Trump Republican régime, I think everyone can relate to this story, or should be able to relate in some fashion, even if they have not experienced such treatment first hand themselves.  I know my Muslim friends can.  Men, women and babes in arms are gassed by US Border Patrol agents lobbing teargas canisters across the border.  When will the US live up to its words at the Statue of Liberty — The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus?

“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
Daily Kos — Democratic leaders Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer went to the Oval Office Tuesday to serve notice to Donald Trump that the days of doing and saying whatever he damn well pleases with zero facts to back it up are done. Trump’s factless antics had worked fine with a complicit Republican party that did everything possible to keep their Dear Leader pampered and happy, but the pamper party is over.

The two Democrats went to the White House to “negotiate in good faith,” as Pelosi put it, over funding to keep the government open. Trump wants $5 billion for the border wall he originally pledged Mexico would pay for but is now demanding the American taxpayers fund. But pouring that much money into a border wall is a nonstarter for congressional Democrats, who will happily put more money into border security, but not a wall that experts say will accomplish very little, if anything.

Pelosi clearly went into the meeting hoping for decorum and, perhaps, even some progress in the negotiations. Schumer wanted to make it clear that Democrats hoped to avoid a shutdown, but not if the price tag was $5 billion for a wall. Trump planned to ambush them with all kinds of fantastically false statistics written on flash cards about how the border wall would solve nearly all of the nation’s immigration problems (the fact checks will be fun). That’s where the fun began.  …

Trump continued, “You know what I’ll say: Yes, if we don’t get what we want, one way or the other—whether it’s through you, through military, through anything you want to call—I will shut down the government, absolutely.” Trump then added, puffing out his chest a little further, “And I’ll tell you what, I am proud to shut down the government for border security, Chuck. […] I will take the mantle, I will be the one to shut it down. I’m not going to blame you for it. […] and I’m going to shut it down for border security. Okay.”

OMG!!!  This would be hysterically funny if it were not so sad.  Trump is an absolute idiot and worse than a petulant toddler in the midst of a tantrum! Trump: “Yes, if we don’t get what we want, … I will shut down the government, absolutely.”  Remember those words because you are going to hear “I never said that.” And if the shut down happens, you know Trump will blame it on the Democrats as sure as it snows in January in Colorado.  He had his ass whopped by the Dynamic Duo, “Chuck and Nancy”!  Can the US population put up with this jackass for another 2 years!

YouTube — This is Part 2 of an ABC (Australian Broadcast Company) programme examining the Trump Russia relationship.  Some of this is ‘old hat’ while other parts may be new information.  Sarah Ferguson, the interviewer, talks with various people involved with Trump.  Tomorrow Part 3.

My Universe

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  14 Responses to “Squatch’s Open Thread 12 December 2018”

  1. Sojourners: Such a wonderful article. Worth reading, everyone has a story to share. imho.

    DK: dt-0 Dems 100%!! dt is an embarrassment = “We did win in North Dakota & India…”. what an id.

    Btw…why in the sam hill was Pence even there? Was he playing his part for wanting to be ‘Elf on the Shelf’ ??

    YT: W/watch later, thx!

    MU: Awwww…!
    Enjoy your day too, Lynn and Thank you for posting.

    From video: dt: “Nancy’s in a situation where it’s not easy to talk right now.”
    Ms. Pelosi: “Please don’t characterize the strength that I bring to this meeting, as the leader of the House Democrats who just won a big victory.” B O O M !!!!!!

    *This just in: “My mantra for 2019. Be the Nancy you want to be in the world.” ~ Christina R. ~

  2. Elk 6:06 [7:33]
    Snail 5:45 [7:51]

    Sojourners – La Posada is of course familiar to me, as a Southwesterner. We’ve been making this analogy in writings and protest signs throughout the two years (and more). It’s definitely time if not past time to step it up to drama.

    DKos – It was wonderful and it was mostly Nancy. They got him to ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY IN ADVANCE, ON NATIONAL TV, FOR A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. Given who he is, it couldn’t have been any better.

    ABC – will be back and may add here.

    Universe – Poor Timmie! The world is a dangerous place!

  3. Someone captured Twitler as the petulant toddler at the get together (and as he always is) perfectly …

  4. Sojourners: Interesting article.
    DK: I agree with Joanne. I watched it numerous times on CNN. He’s a flipping idiot. Acting like a preschooler.
    Making threats that he will shut down the government if he doesn’t get his way/wall. Glad he’s taking responsibility for his insane decisions.Now it all lies on his shoulders.
    MU: When the crap hits the fan….it can get bad.
    Have a nice one. Thanks 

    • Trump taking responsibility for it?  As I said in my commentary, “Remember those words because you are going to hear “I never said that.” And if the shut down happens, you know Trump will blame it on the Democrats as sure as it snows in January in Colorado. “

  5. 3:41 (average 7:13) That looks so cold when its 33 degrees Celsius out.
    4:21 (average 7:51) I’ve never seen a masochistic snail before.

    Sojourners: I’m not a believer but I can certainly relate to and feel compassion for the modern-day Maria and Josef trying to find a good refuge for their unborn child. I can understand anyone who is looking to find a safe haven. Sadly it is those who call themselves Christians the loudest, those who thump their chest and their bible are the ones who can’t relate or feel compassion for anyone.

    DK: Drumpf went ballistic again and finally people are laughing in his face. Drumpf kept the press in the room to record his terrific-making abilities and bullying tactics and Schumer used them as his sidekick to ridicule him. May many such scenes follow until Drumpf is finally expelled from them.

    ABC: Aussies have no emotional attachment to Drumpf and his ilk, but they have a very strong sense for fair play. In this case this leads to some excellent journalism. And believe me, they checked and double checked before the aired this.

    MU: Always blame the dog…

    • I’ll bet that Trump was annoyed that he allowed the press to remain in the room when his attempt to humiliate the 2 Democrats blew up in his face.  I would loved to be a fly on the wall and have a front row seat to his humiliation!

  6. Thanks all!  I go back to working on the 14th’s OT now.

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