We Should Be More Like Edith Bunker

This is a 40 year old two part episode of "All In The Family" broadcast in 1977 on CBS-TV. It addresses headlong our faith, our ability to accept people for who they are, and the devastating effects of tragedy that so often befalls our brothers and sisters. That part of society 40 years ago and so much more today, that insists on 'punishment' for sins that I believe, quite frankly, are bullshit. Since when should love ever be punished? Since when should who someone is be a subject of punishment? Questions that have been with us, our societies, for thousands of years. 40 years ago, we were given witness to something that had never been discussed before on TV, and within the confines of the typical American TV sit-com.

The character of Beverly LaSalle (played by Lori Shannon), had appeared twice before on show, starting in 1975! I must say, that this "All In The Family" TV show gave me a foundation to work from that had not really existed in my life before. These preconceived notions of race, gender, politics, draft dodgers, Viet Nam vets, inflation and yes, even Watergate, were changed in me because of this show. Maybe I was lucky in that these strong foundation bricks to my character, as it were, were laid at such a young age. I mean that, not only as a person, but also as an artist.

Perhaps some of you, who know me as a rather outspoken non-believer in monotheism, and the horrors of such beliefs, I think, have been inflicted upon the world, would be surprised by my recommending these episodes. It's all about Edith, that's why. It doesn't matter if you accept Edith's faith in God, you can understand, that throughout the entire series, Edith accepted ALL. No one was denied entry into not only her home, but, more importantly, her heart. These episodes show that to a spectacular degree.

I am not imploring you to watch these two episodes. I am not even asking you to watch them. I am demanding you to watch them. If there is to be any real progressive change in our world, a real end to our hostilities, this journey must begin in ALL of us, to strive to be more like Edith Bunker.

Peace. And I love you all.

Pastor Refuses To Do Funeral Service For Lesbian Who Shot Self While Cleaning Gun

Outrage, and rightfully so, after a Pastor refused to continue a funeral service for a Lesbian because of photos showing her kissing her wife. Nowhere in the Think Progress story is a reason for a 33 year old to have died suddenly. The answer is buried in the story at this link. Social media has taken the Pastor and the church to task for demeaning and insulting the service and the friends and family who had gathered to attend. Yet, hardly anyone has pointed out that she died while cleaning her gun.

I can think of dozens upon dozens of postings on social media about how yet another "backwards", "gun lover" idiot shot himself (it always seems to be a man) to death while cleaning their gun. The righteousness in pointing out other people's misfortune, especially when it comes to gun owners, boarders on and sometimes teeters over into morbid gleefulness. Or perhaps, perverse satisfaction is a better phrase.

(Photo by Nick M; under Fair Use)

Yet, is the idea of a left-wing, Lesbian gun owner something that cannot be reconciled? I don't think so. When reading through most of the articles about this outrage and the accompanying social media comments, however, one would be hard pressed to find mention of how she died. I think it is that it would screw up the narrative of yet another backwards church refusing services for homosexuals. Throw in that she was a gun owner and that she accidently killed herself while cleaning her gun and too many people, both on the left and right of the spectrum, would probably have a "system's overload". They couldn't reconcile two seemingly different narratives because that's not what they have been hard-wired for.

This appears to one of those "have your cake and eat it to" situations. Simple narratives would like to focus on the outrage of a Pastor refusing funeral services on the basis of sexual orientations and leave the whole gun owner cleaning a loaded gun out of it. Simple narratives would like to focus on the gun owner cleaning a loaded gun and keep the church, Pastor and sexual orientation out of it.