So Amusin' and So Confusin'

by Commie Chris 16 Replies latest jw friends

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  Commie Chris

  Am I really a communist? I was a communist in my teens (See my movie, “I was a Teenage Communist”). I’ll explain my conversion from Catholic to communist if anyone really wants to hear. Between 1977 and 1983, I was still a commie, but I was also the singer in a punk rock band. My band name was Commie Chris, and it stuck. My friends have called me Commie Chris ever since.

  By the late 80’s I was more of a libertarian socialist (anarchist if you like) than a Marxist (By this time I had also become a lawyer). My flirtation with the JW’s between 1992 and ‘94 was not entirely unrelated to my travels through left politics. I was particularly attracted by the JW’s positions on neutrality and the essentially anarchist belief that all forms of human government are inherently corrupt and oppressive in varying degrees. For me, Dubdom was as much an ideology as a religion. It seemed for a while like it might answer the eternal question of how to create a society of freedom, equality and justice. (It always seemed to me that if only everyone would submit to the simple law of “love your neighbour”, humanity could dispense with human government and build a society based on free association). Anyway, it didn’t take - I was always still essentially an agnostic trying to convince myself that god exists and that the JW’s have the “truth” which would eventually transform this messed up world.

  I have been out since ‘95 and I am once again (or still) an agnostic with vaguely anarchist tendencies. I say “vaguely anarchist” because I find it much easier to say what I am against (multi-national capitalism, imperialism, militarism, dis-empowerment of people and communities etc…) than to define what I am for. Having said all of this, I would not want people on this Board to label me or think that I am nothing but a dull political lawyer / activist. The struggle against evil does not consume all of my time. I’m a fun guy. Really. I love reggae music, dancing, gourmet cooking, sports, and lots of other stuff.

  I am still known as Commie Chris to many of my friends, and even to many of my colleagues in the legal profession (at least the fun ones).

  - Commie Chris
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  TR

  Hey commie,

  why would I not be surprised by your mentioning a negative response to "America Bashing". Where's Joe McCarthy when you need him?

  TR

  The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.
  —Edmund Burke
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  circe

  Commie Chris,

  I didn't see your initial post, so I'd like to take the time now to say "Welcome, hope you stick around."

  I, for one, don't give a flying fuck what your political beliefs are. Everyone is entitled to their beliefs and opinions. The more here, the merrier!!

  Circe
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  Commie Chris

  Thanks Circe. I don't give a flying fuck whether anyone gives a flying fuck what my political beliefs are. And I'm sure no one gives a flying fuck whether I give a flying fuck whether they give a flying fuck …

  TR: I’m not sure what you meant by your reference to McCarthy, but whenever I hear REM’s “Exhuming McCarthy” (“…have you no shame … have you no sense of decency?…") I am reminded of authoritarian organizations which fraudulently claim to promote freedom and a free exchange of ideas, including the WTS. Red baiting still exists, even in Canada - my work as a lawyer often involves high-profile, controversial causes, and my opponents (usually governments and large corporations) often try to label me or attack my character, rather than respond to factual arguments. Sound familiar?

  BTW, has anyone ever told you that you look a little like Trotsky?

  - Commie Chris
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  circe

  Hmmmmm. I'm assuming that my attempt at a hardy welcome was misinterpreted? Guess I don't do the vulgarity thing too well. Let me try this:

  Chris, welcome to the board. I find your views on religion and politics to be refreshing and honest. Much of what you listed as being amusing to you, I find amusing as well. My favorite was:

  - earnest debates about esoteric and trivial Bible doctrines, and debates about the “correct” translation of Greek and Hebrew words found in the Bible; (short of having everyone on earth learn ancient languages, how does our Grand Creator expect simple modern humans to figure out which religion has the correct version of his Word?)

  Anyway, welcome.
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  MuzicmanCa

  CommieChris:

  Good to hear from you again...I totally agree with what you were saying, particularly about the rediculous racist debates...

  I find that oftentimes there is so much energy spent on presenting the "correctness" of one's <------(hee hee) beliefs that we forget about the lesson. Good case in point is the the whole cross/stake debate. I think it is good to be clear on certain ideas where the principle of the situation is changed by a certain detail. However, in cases like the cross/stake debate, either way doesn't change the fact that subscribers to Christianity still hold that Jesus died and why he did so. I think people would learn so much more, if they could just try out OTHER points of view instead of remaining stagnant in a state of idealogical defense and debate.

  And one more thing, yes, You Know can be a big rigid phallus in the bum. He's a prick, but I can learn from him too, even if it's a confirmation of why I left the JWs....

  Muzicman
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  Commie Chris

  Circe: I did not misunderstand you and my “thank you” for your greeting was genuine. Again, thank you. My “I don’t give a flying fuck…” rant was facetious. I simply meant that I could not agree more with you that debates and discussions about important principles and ideas are interesting and worthwhile, whereas name-calling and personal attacks are as boring and irrelevant as earnest debates about whether Jesus died on a stake or a cross. Nor do I care whether anyone cares that I don’t care … Blah, blah, blah.

  Muzicman: I agree with you, even pricks should have a right to speak. In some cultures the greatest insult is to ignore an offensive person. I'm suprised at how many people engage in debates with nitwits instead of ignoring them.

  - Commie Chris