Shame on Obama and Holder

Some of the officially, documented evil committed, by the busheviks, by members of the CIA has been released, and has confirmed much of what has been known, and denied.

"This is a time for reflection, not retribution. I respect the strong views and emotions that these issues evoke...But at a time of great challenges and disturbing disunity, nothing will be gained by spending our time and energy laying blame for the past." -- President Barack Obama

"It would be unfair to prosecute dedicated men and women working to protect America for conduct that was sanctioned in advance by the Justice Department."-- Attorney General Eric Holder

These statements do several things: they are protecting the guilty; Obama is not much different than bushjr on too many important matters; the rule of law in the US of A is fiction; and the Nuremberg defense will succeed for american fascists, where it did not for german fascists. Well, Obama and company are wrong, deeply and gravely wrong, they are excusing, and condoning, the evil of the busheviks, and their ultimately demented, and vicious supporters; and still it will not lessen their [that of fervent Republicans] hatred for him. Obama has shown a steadfast loyalty to the financial and imperial enterprise that this country has become.

He is a vast improvement over the last occupant, he may yet accomplish great things, he is a compromising politician, and in his compromised positions, he has done great ill. He acts in favor, and defense, of those whom vilify him, and have besmirched and corrupted the country. Does Obama suffer from Bill Clinton's need to be liked? These people will always hate him, and far more disturbing, by serving them, he does great disservice to the nation and the world, or has Obama been co-opted by the entrenched ruling class?

Religous ignorance

Terry Mattingly wrote an essay, in which he concluded, that ‘secular’ journalists are not so much anti-religious as lacking a religious vocabulary, and, therefore, understanding. This observation, I also, note regularly. To-day, I read a foto caption where someone wrote, that the eight point star symbolizes Jesus’ Resurrection eight days after His death. Now, the obvious error is, that, he rose on the third day (which was the eight day of the week, Sunday; especially, when one thinks of Holy Week which began on Palm Sunday). The week begins on a sunday, the seventh day is saturday, therefore, the eight day, must be, sunday. This is why baptistries are often eight sided, and baptism is a birth to a new life, a victory over death. The paschal vigil mass repeats baptismal vows for all, and often people are baptised at this mass. Also, the church celebrates octave days, e.g., the 1st of January is the octave of the Nativity. So, the phrase--sunday is the eight day, has a great texture and context, that many do not, and cannot be expected to comprehend. So, often it is not disbelief, but incomprehension, that is the answer. Ignorance is more prevalent than malice.

Also it is not only, so called ‘secular’ ignorance, there is also inter-denominational ignorance. I remember reading an essay, by a protestant professor of an extremely ‘conservative’ school, trying to explain Saint Francis of Asissi as an alter Christi, another Christ. There is more than one way to understand ‘another’. The catholic, and contextually correct, way is as an exemplar in apostleship and manner in the following of Christ. Saint Francis ‘Il Poverello’ was christlike in behavior, mode and thought. We should also be. An incorrect interpretation of ‘another’ is substitute, and you can imagine how ill that can be used.

Some of this is definition of terms. In arguments, dictating the definition of terms is half the contest won before it starts. Now, in western civilisation the standard is to the one that has continuity, and original usage. In religion, that would fall to catholicism. In non-specific writing and conversation, the general definition, the standard is the catholic definition; it is the non-catholic use, that needs to be specified (of course, when two of the same sectarians are talking, they are using common formulæ); after-all, catholic means universal.

A little more than a fortnight ago, Mrs. Clinton, on a state visit, went to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Mrs. Clinton is noted to be very attached to her Methodist faith, she is a highly educated person. The tilma was lowered for her to see closely, the rector was with her. She did not know what she was viewing, “who painted it?” Now, the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe on the tilma, is a relic of the class, that the orthodox, often, call ‘not made by human hands’. In the last sentence, there are several items of vocabulary that need to be understood, in order, that the sentence is to be understood as intended.

Resurrection Sunday

Albrecht Altdorfer. The Resurrection of Christ. c. prior 1518. Vienna.
Painted, concurrently, with the onset of the german heresy, to which the painter later succumbed to, this was a portion of an altarpiece from, the Augustine monastery, Sankt Florian, Upper Austria. Christ is risen before many, in what appears to be a large, mountain, forest grotto, in expressively vivid colors. We are not in 1st century, roman, occupied Judea (Palestine). On the left stands an armored halberdier, one of the, then, newly, formed landsknecht, that would be prominent in supporting the protestant princes against the peasantry, and the catholic emperor, and would also be employed by the same Habsburg emperor, against the rebellious princes, and in other wars. Jesus was victorious over death; the halberdier became emblematic of renaissance germany.

Paschal Triduum observances

Good Friday Procession, Cleveland, Ohio, from La Sagrada Familia to Saint Patrick to Saint Michael.

To-day is Holy Saturday, amongst slavonic christians, it is custom and tradition to have baskets of food blessed in church. Yesterday, was Good Friday. Theologically, they are part of one day, the Paschal Triduum. The mass, that began Thursday evening, did not end yet, the dismissal comes at the end of the vigil mass on what some slavs call ‘Great Night’*.

Friday, the day of the crucifixion and burial, has its traditions. The Via Dolorosa is the walk of sorrows in Jerusalem, but throughout the world, similar sojourns can occur. Now, on the west side of Cleveland, a procession left after the noon, angelus bell at La Sagrada Familia and went eastwards, first, on Franklin Boulevard. A hundred years ago, it was a fashionable street; it had lost its cache, but a renewal is sporadically underway. A few lots were under construction or being remodeled that day. This procession interrupted the lunch time of some, and was not expected by some. Non religiously observant residents would recall the procession from past years, but temporary interlopers might have had a novel experience.

For catholics the day has the highest solemnity. Generations of children had been taught that the hours from noon to three were to be reserved. The unaffected world goes by, often, unconscious of the singularity of the time. Perhaps, for some it might be a spur for investigation; for others a mere recognition; and for the uncharitable ― an occasion to complain. We live in a world, where, we exist in different cultures occupying the same society.

Gandhi had an attraction and respect for the devotion of the Way of the Cross, but as much as he loved Jesus, he did not become a christian. Some are not affected by such devotions. Some are sorely vexed, and will propagandise vigorously against. A painted egg will give them fits, a rabbit makes them livid. The definition of terms do not co-incide. Self appointed censors create their own universal banns, for others, by fickle fiat. While some celebrations foster a deep religious glow, and communal cohesion, that deepens the faith in some; others can not share in that. Some are of great good will, and do welcome all.
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*Velika noč, Veľká noc, Velikonoce, Velja noć

Frances Perkins

Frances Perkins was born on this date 1880. She was the first female cabinet secretary. If one person in government was responsible for Social Security or a minimum wage, it was she.

She witnessed the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire, of 25 March 1911, in New York City. 146 people died, 129 of them female. Immigrant girls worked 60 and 72 hour weeks for six or seven dollars. Two years earlier there had been a strike. The owners hired goons to beat the girls, they hired street whores as scabs to further humiliate the girls.

From 1918 she worked in government for justice for labor, for women, for children, and for America, first under Al Smith, and then his successor, Franklin Roosevelt. She is sadly neglected. The Washington National Airport could be renamed in her honor.

pre-Paschal events, tenebræ

For the byzantines, and others using the gregorian calendar, to-day is Lazarus Saturday. To-morrow is Palm Sunday, some german churches wheel in a palmesel figure, a statue of Christ on an ass. The poles have a lamentation service, Gorzkie zale, throughout lent, similar to the way of the cross and to tenebræ. The spaniards have parades.

I have been busy with latin, tenebræ, singing practice. It will, probably, be the first time since 1955, that, at Saint Stephen, Cleveland*, tenebræ in the original form will be done. I would like to know, how many times it has been done in the entire diocese in this form since.

In this format, it is the combined matins and lauds for Holy Thursday. Matins chant the psalms 68 to 76, the beginning of Jeremias’ Lamentations, responses and antiphons; in addition: Augustine on part of psalm 54, and a selection of Paul to the Corinthians is read. Lauds has four psalms, and the canticles of Moses and Zacharias (the Benedictus), and antiphons. In other forms, it is truncated, and other readings may be used, but the Miserere (ps.50) of David, and Jeremias’ cry over Jerusalem are generally retained.

The tenebræ hearse is a triangular candelabrum used for this service since, at least, the seventh century. It is triangular with fifteen prickets. This hearse was also used during the funeral mass, and placed by the casket, and now the wagon, that carries the casket, is called the hearse. At the end of each psalm a candle (unbleached wax taper, preferably) is snuffed, until the last candle, remaining lit, is taken away; this candle represents Christ and returns after the strepitus. There are six candles on the altar, that are snuffed, consecutively, at the last six verses of the Benedictus. The antiphon, that begins Christus Factus est, has the last candle leave.

The strepitus, latin for din, or loud noise, or crash, is the theatrical climax. The church is in darkness total and silent, and then an unexpected, isolated sound terrifies those, whom, do not know about it. This can be the most, memorable moment of any tenebræ service. I vaguely remember a rain storm, occurring one night, to help the dramatics. The theatre for the strepitus has possibilities. The simplest is to drop a phonebook from the choir loft. There is a musical instrument sheet of bronze or brass, a tonitruone, that can be used; a thunder sheet, or piece of sheet metal used for ventilation ducts could be shook, one can strike wood with a heavy, hand hammer, or lay both forearms across an organ keyboard. Sixteen foot pipes would make a great sound.

There is much symbolism, and much interpretation. The strepitus is the tomb closing, the tomb opening, the destruction of the first temple, the third temple, the earthquake of the crucifixion. The Christ candle is joined by the eleven apostles and the three Maries.

While going over the practice singing, I was hit with the eloquence of Saint Jerome’s latin. He was a ciceronian. The joy of the hebrews over the destruction of faro’s army is also evident.

―Tu confregísti cápita dracónis ; dedísti eum escam pópulis Æthíopum. (Ps. 73. v.14)
Thou hast smashed the heads of the dragon [faro’s army]; and given it as meal to the ethiopians.
―vox tonítrui tui in rota. Illuxérunt coruscatió nes tuæ orbi terræ ; commóta est, et contrémuit terra. (Ps. 76. v.19)
the voice of thy thunder in a wheel. Thy lightnings enlightened the world: the earth shook and trembled.―DRC
―equum et ascensórem dejécit in mare. (Exodus xv. 1b)
horse and his ascendant [usually trans. rider] He has thrown [poured, deposed] into the sea.
―currus Pharaónis et exércitum ejus projécit in mare : elécti príncipes ejus submérsi sunt in mari Rubro. (Exodus xv. 4)
Pharao's chariots and his army he hath cast into the sea: his chosen captains are drowned in the Red Sea. ―DRC

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*6.30 p.m. Wednesday, 8 April 2009.
postscriptum: in this tenebræ, there was a very muted strepitus, it consisted of rapping the missals, but there was an addition, the throwing of thirty silver coins onto the marble steps.

Working class fools wanted

Unemployment is noticeable enough now, that, local news and other media are running stories. They offer solutions. There are job fairs sprouting. Training, interviewing, resume writing are promoted. None of this creates jobs, except for the hawkers. Those, who offer these "services", make out.

People are trained, and pay for the training, for non existent jobs. Employers who do hire make out, training is paid for by the new employees or government. Business is subsidised and receives welfare. Rubbish schools are created. People are pushed to be competitive, the dog eat dog philosophy of social darwinism and american business. Paid apprenticeships and union membership are not suggested. The proposed Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), wherein when a majority of workers sign up for the union, making it difficult for the employer to impede, stall or retaliate, as was the intent, and part, of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) 1935 is not being advanced.

In Roosevelt's solution for vast unemployment, this was not the course of the New Deal. This is the bait and switch bullshit of con artists, the typical american management programmes. Men need jobs. These offered paths make men hungrier, more pliable, less organised, politically and financially weaker. The moneyed interests, who, created the disasters are being protected. The media, and much of the government, are puppets and catpaws of the moneyed interests