Mike’s Rumblings – 11-18-22

This is an audio version of Mike Murphy‘s Friday rumblings. This is a regular post on Facebook that I’ve turned into a podcast. I decided Mike’s words needed a wider audience. You may agree or disagree with what he says, but there is certainly much food for thought contained here. You can friend Mike on Facebook for the printed version or read it below Rumblings 11.18.22   1. “Here’s my vote for the values that Americans endorsed in the 2022 elections: reasonableness, democracy, governing, progress and freedom. Here’s what they voted against: extremism, Trumpism, culture wars and intolerance… every gushing story about DeSantis should be balanced by pieces about Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan and Gov.-elect Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania.” ~ E.J. Dionne, WAPO I agree. I’m ready to move on to new faces and fresh ideas. Whitmer and Shapiro are the real deal. There’s a ‘value added’ vitality and groundedness to what they say and do.  As for DeSantis, what can I say? I’m not a fan. His ego is supersized and his penchant for going for the jugular on hot button cultural issues, demonizing any and all who stand in his way makes him a dangerous man. Ruth Ben-Ghiat writing in MSNBC Daily quotes an anonymous Florida legislator who said this of the Governor “If you cross him once, you’re dead.”  We just got done playing this putrid game. Let’s move on.  2. “A seminarian saw this guy on a bridge about to jump. He said, “Don’t do it!”  The man on the bridge replied, “Nobody loves me.” The Seminarian said, “God loves you. Do you believe in God?” The distraught man said, “Yes.”  The Seminarian then said, “Are you a Christian?”  The man said, “A Christian.”  The seminarian said, “Me, too! Protestant or Catholic?”  The man said, “Protestant.”  The Seminarian said, “Me, too! What denomination?”  The man said, “Baptist.” The seminarian said, “Me, too! Northern Baptist or Southern Baptist?” The man said, “Northern Baptist.” The Seminarian said, “Me, too! Northern Conservative Baptist or Northern Liberal Baptist?” The man said, “Northern Conservative Baptist.”  The Seminarian said, “Me, too! Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region, or Northern Conservative Baptist Eastern Region?” The man said, “Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region.”  The Seminarian said, “Me, too! Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1879, or Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1912?”  The man said, “Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1912.”  The Seminarian screamed, “Die, you heretic!” And then pushed him over the railing.”  There’s a lesson in this. Many actually. See #7. 3. I’m riffing off of something shared by a member of my interracial book club. “I am a privileged white man. To use my white privilege in ways that expose injustices in our world and maximizes opportunities for others is not a bad way to live with a privilege I did not earn.”  4. “If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they’ll kill you.” ~ Oscar Wilde Long live laughter. Long live the laugh makers. Long live the satirists. They are truth tell