Art Archives - Where Is The Outrage?

Texas Governor Rick Perry Says He Is A Prophet

Republican Texas Governor Rick Perry has referred to himself as a prophet in an interview with Fox News.

(Above—The Prophet Elijah Receives Bread and Water from an Angel by Peter Paul Reubens (1577-1640). I suppose it is possible that Governor Perry lives on bread and water in the $10,000 a month Governor’s Mansion he lives in at taxpayer expense.)

Here is what Governor Perry said—

CAVUTO: You have kind of like the Chris Christie phenomenon: very popular outside your state, still popular but not nearly as popular within your state. There are even Tea Party groups within your state who like you but don’t love you. […] What do you say?

PERRY: I say that a prophet is generally not loved in their hometown. That’s both Biblical and practical.

Here is a link to the full interview.

Governor Perry is considering running for President.

Governor Perry was referencing Luke 4:24 or, maybe, Matthew 13:57.

Does Governor Perry see himself as like Jesus?

Did Jesus afflict the poor and the sick as Governor Perry has done with the recently approved Texas budget?

Here is what it says in Matthew 7:15— “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”

Governor Perry likes to talk about religion, but he does not appear to enjoy giving his personal money to his church.

Governor Perry will be leading a day of prayer in Houston on August 6 that is being organized by a far-right wing group with a record of anti-gay and other extreme views called the “American Family Association.”

From the Texas Tribune-—

” Sparking the controversy are the group’s views on Christianity, its staunchly anti-gay platform and the inflammatory statements of one its executives, Bryan Fischer. In an interview with The Texas Tribune on Tuesday, AFA president Tim Wildmon said Jews, Muslims, atheists or any other non-Christian would “go to hell” unless they accepted Jesus Christ as their savior. Wildmon’s father, Don, who famously took on iconic television programs like Three’s Company for promoting what he saw as an immoral lifestyle, is listed as one of the event’s chief organizers….. Over the years, Fischer has blamed gays for the Holocaust and has called on Muslims to convert to Christianity or face the wrath of U.S. military power. He also once blogged that social welfare programs made black women want to “rut like rabbits.”….”

I’m to the left in my politics. You may or may not agree with many of my views.

All I can say is that if Rick Perry is the Republican nominee for President, independents and people in the middle are going to have to decide if this is what they want.

By admin|2011-06-17T15:38:16-04:00June 17th, 2011|Other Political Thoughts|Comments Off

Rick Perry Calls For Prayer To End Texas Drought

Texas Governor Rick Perry has declared three days of prayer in response to the drought that is impacting Texas and helping to cause severe wildfires.

( Above–It is hot and dry in Texas)

These three days run from April 22 to April 24.

Here is the link to the official proclamation.

From the proclamation—

WHEREAS, these dire conditions have caused agricultural crops to fail, lake and reservoir levels to fall and cattle and livestock to struggle under intense stress, imposing a tremendous financial and emotional toll on our land and our people; and

WHEREAS, throughout our history, both as a state and as individuals, Texans have been strengthened, assured and lifted up; it seems right and fitting that the people of Texas should join together in prayer to humbly seek an end to this devastating drought and these dangerous wildfires;

This is good. Texans of all kinds pray and find solace and hope in prayer. Governor Perry is right to call upon Texans to consider the hard times that many in our state are dealing with at the moment.

However, if prayer is a possible solution to the drought impacting all Texans, it could also be so that the drought is a plague being visited upon Texas from God for how hard our hearts our towards the poor and most vulnerable in our state.

Governor Perry and our Texas legislature are currently considering brutal cuts to our state budget. These cuts would hurt some of the most needy and most hard-working Texans.

Texans have the option to pray for Governor Perry to be a more decent human being. Texans have the option to pray that we consider climate science as we deal with droughts and hurricanes in the Lone Star State.

Here is a 1953 Life Magazine article reporting how Texans at that time also dealt with a drought and prayed for rain. Maybe at that time Texans were being punished for Jim Crow laws. Maybe Texas has been on the wrong side of God for a long time.

Prayer and concern for others is of great value. At the same time, we must recall John Kennedy‘s words” that here on Earth God’s work must truly be our own.”

(Below–The Seventh Plague as painted in 1823 by John Martin. The seventh plague visited upon Egypt by God was as follows–“And Moses stretcheth out his rod towards the heavens, and Jehovah hath given voices and hail, and fire goeth towards the earth, and Jehovah raineth hail on the land of Egypt’

By admin|2011-04-23T11:59:37-04:00April 23rd, 2011|Environment, Religion|Comments Off

The Fighting Temeraire

The painting above is called The Fighting Temeraire. It was painted in 1839 by J.W.Turner.

Please click here to learn more about Mr. Turner.

The Fighting Temeraire is the sailing ship being pulled into port by the steam ship at the front of the picture.

Here are some facts about the ship The Fighting Temeraire .

Here are some facts about the painting.

The idea of the painting is that the age of sail is over. The steam ship is hauling in the Temeraire to be broken up at the ship yard.

While it turns out that this is a well-known painting, I’d not seen it until I recently read a book called Ship–The Epic Story Of Martime Adventure by Brian Lavery.

The story of a newer technology replacing an older technology is as old as the hills.

Progress has value.

At the same time, government has an obligation to help hard-working people who have been displaced with education relevant to finding a new job, access to health care, and unemployment benefits.

Machines are machines and people are people..

Ships go to scrap yards. People merit better.

In our modern idolatry of technology and markets, we cannot lose sight of the fact that the object of public policy is to improve the lives of human beings.

We cannot lose sight of the fact that we are here on Earth to help others.

By admin|2011-03-23T23:17:23-04:00March 23rd, 2011|Books, General|Comments Off