Inappropriate Conversations

Some Assembly Required (A NeoSurrealist Forsaking a Habit for Lent)

Chapter 8

Editor's Note

"Darkness Sets In"

Life's an Essay Test; We're Obliged To Give Essay Answers

Making the Grade

"The false assumption most of them make is that Truth is somehow distant, elusive, and concealed. Their Truth must be tracked down, captured, and unveiled."

Different Drummer: Boethius of Rome

Some Assembly Required (A NeoSurrealist Forsaking a Habit for Lent)

Chapter 5

Twenty-something

Sexual Revolutionary Critic

On Your Way Home

Assignment: Aion

Noteworthy

The Readers' Reply (Letters over 300 words may be edited for length and clarity)

"We're going to be jumping around for the next couple of days. Let me have some undivided attention, and I'll give you a feel for what we're referencing."

Different Drummer: Nadia Bolz-Weber

My first experience at Pride48 was last week's TalkBack episode (Walk The Earth #30). It was soon followed by my first event recap show. #IC #172, Proud To Know You 2, covered my thoughts on the trip upon returning. I also mention a corresponding interview on the Ramble Redhead podcast on the same topic. Next on Pride48 is the June 2020 live streaming event, Friday the 26th through Sunday the 28th. I'll be listening, and chatting whenever possible.

http://www.inappropriateconversations.org/e/172-proud-to-know-you-2/

Seems to me, our society collectively complains about how the quality of our discourse has devolved while also avoiding even talking about potential solutions. Some seem just as legalistically obsessed with the First Amendment being a hard-stop to even common-sense standards of decency as they, or perhaps others, are about the Second Amendment. Just as you can't yell "fire" in a crowded theater where there is no fire or danger, you also cannot threaten to attack someone merely to silence their opinion or prevent them from raising their voice. Here we are, though, living in a society where harassment is accepted with a shrug and bullying is almost praised when it is an effective tactic. The situation is deplorable, but we have learned in recent years that using that particular term to denounce horrible misbehavior doesn't seem generate appropriate attention toward the problem. 

I would humbly suggest that we have the tools, the technology, to address this issue. Despite our discomfort about law enforcement overreach and spying on citizens, it is possible to identify the people chasing families off their phones and out of their homes. The time is coming when such investigations may be crucial, if it is not already too late. I recommend prison time and heavy fines for the offenders, too. Unfortunately, it's hard to find better, more nuanced answers at this time. We are, after all, at the start of a national election year in the United States. Safe to say this situation is going to get worse before it gets better.

Different Drummer: Sarah Bessey

The previous TalkBack episode included the beginning of an essay called "Should Amendment Stand a Prayer of Success?" It was written in 2000 and shared on this podcast in 2010. Inappropriate Conversations #30 is the rest of that argument. 

http://www.inappropriateconversations.org/e/30-establishment-of-religion/

Concluding a long TalkBack series to start the year, I'm giving the last word to the Sermon On The Mount. Intentionally, I've done this in the most common English translations I can find, preferring an easily understood paraphrase to any version that makes it sound like Jesus was speaking to some gathering of experts rather than a crowd. 

Next month, Walk The Earth will resume with new episodes and Inappropriate Conversations after that.

The TalkBack series in January focused on scripture, theology, and religion with slices of Inappropriate Conversations #150. February will finish this set of callbacks with episodes that function as an Appendix of sorts, supporting material consistent with Opening The Scriptures and taking the Bible seriously. Inappropriate Conversations #131 has a New Testament focus, primarily the story of Peter in the Acts of the Apostles. 
That, and a strangely controversial Different Drummer.