Angry in the Great White North

From the gothamist, an interview with poet/activist Rick Burnley:

Age, occupation, where are you from, where are you now?

I’m 66. I was a graphic designer in New Mexico, but I haven’t been back there in quite a while, and I’m not planning to go back, because I’m on the road, doing what I’m doing. About two months ago I headed to Crawford, Texas, to support Cindy Sheehan and the people who are trying to stop this insanity. By the time I left 12,000 people had gone through. I came to New York, up from the Washington movement on the 24th and I’ve been here since, right here in Union Square.

He explains how he strikes fear into the forces of evil:

And what’s the point of poetry? What is that accomplishing?

What was the point of Bob Dylan’s songs? Of the people in the streets? It’s inspirational. It’s something they fear more than anything else. They always try to decapitate someone who voices a message, whether it’s Malcolm X or anyone who has something to say.

Let me see -- is this guy on my "decapitation" list? Nope. Darn.

Funny how these people always think that they are the subject to elaborate assasination plots, literal or metaphorical, and yet manage to give interviews and walk to the corner store for smokes without being snatched and loaded into a windowless van, never to be seen again.

This New York magazine has a final question:

Any advice for mayor Bloomberg?

Go spend some time with the Dalai Lama, and open up your heart as much as you can, and realize that we’re all one. It’s what Jesus said in the Bible: “Whatsoever you do to the least of my creatures, you do unto me.”

Do you see where my problem is?

It's not "creatures", it's "brothers".

The entire passage from Matthew 25 reads like this:

When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

People will be judge on how they treated their human brothers and sisters, alleviating their suffering.

Not creatures. This is not about PETA and lost doggies. This is about doing what you have in your power to helps those who are in pain or in danger.

Like those who suffer under the yoke of a vicious dictator.

Can't even read the Bible right. Idiot.