The Christian Civil Liberties Union (CCLU) has selected a curious place to put together an old-fashioned book burning: a court. In West Bend, Wisconsin, Christians are upset over a book called Baby Be-Bop and other books contained in the “Young Adult” material that they say are sexually explicit and inappropriate. In a 9-0 vote, the library trustees refused their demands to remove or restrict the material at the West Bend Community Memorial Library.
Irate Christian activists Ginny and Jim Maziarka have been fighting for four months to cleanse the library and Robert C. Braun of the Christian Civil Liberties Union (CCLU) has distributed copies of a claim for damages he and three other plaintiffs filed April 28 with the city. They are demanding $120,000 in compensatory damages for each plaintiff for being exposed to the book in a library display, and the resignation of West Bend Mayor Kristine Deiss for “allow[ing] this book to be viewed by the public.”
They insist that the book by Francesca Lia Block is “explicitly vulgar, racial, and anti-Christian” and that “the plaintiffs, all of whom are elderly, claim their mental and emotional well-being was damaged by this book at the library.” They are reportedly seeking the right to publicly burn or destroy by another means the library’s copy of Baby Be-Bop.
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Shoot. Anything that’s truly anti-christian, can’t be all that bad. May have to pick me up a copy – before they literally become hot off the press.
Mike S writes: GWLSM,
The only time I liked rum was in the “Samoan Fog Cutters” served at Trader Vic’s in the Plaza Hotel in NYC. Five shots of white rum, 1 shot of 150proof rum and a mixture of pineapple and orange juice, with lime. Heaven, but paralyzing.
That was in my pre-hippie days in the early and mid 60’s. After that I had rum and coke a few times and it made me sick. Every time I think of rum today the rum and coke sickness comes to mind, rather than the “Fog Cutter.”
I adore Trader Vic’s. And I don’t remember pre-hippie days. The beatnik days sort of melted into hippie days. My only bad experiences with rum are as follows: a pre-party at this bar, a real shady polynesian inspired dive, that made a drink called Tropical Storm. It cost $5 back then, a real investment, was made with I don’t know how many kinds of rum and they’d only sell you one. we went on to two other parties, one thrown by my then dentist who seriously had the dreamiest green eyes and always wanted to talk while he had the gas turned up full blast with his fingers in my mouth (in a professional way) and the only guys there were former classmates — a realllllly dullllll bunch. we then went on to a party at a gallery. all the men were gay. more rum was consumed and I was driven home barfing out of the window of my friend’s car.
the second was my very first night in new orleans 2 decades ago and a take out hurricane and then another and another while we crawled jazz places on Bourbon Street. never felt a thing until the next morning when I could not lift my head from the pillow.
GWLSM,
The only time I liked rum was in the “Samoan Fog Cutters” served at Trader Vic’s in the Plaza Hotel in NYC. Five shots of white rum, 1 shot of 150proof rum and a mixture of pineapple and orange juice, with lime. Heaven, but paralyzing.
That was in my pre-hippie days in the early and mid 60’s. After that I had rum and coke a few times and it made me sick. Every time I think of rum today the rum and coke sickness comes to mind, rather than the “Fog Cutter.”
As for tequila being vile, I admit it is an acquired taste, but then aren’t all liquors. Thank you in advance for the toast.
Mike S writes: GWLSM,
I love good tequila, especially Patron Gold. To me tequila tastes best and is easiest on my stomach. I never liked beer, first tried bourbon then went to single malt scotch, but found my love in Cuervo 1890. However, health concerns have now stopped my drinking of anything alcoholic or smoking anything herbal. Ah but I remember those times well and relish those memories. So as you celebrate your cocktail hour raise your glass to me, for the days gone by and the lack of a good buzz in my life.
me: Mike, you know I love ya, but Tequile is probably the most vile substance ever to be distilled. my squeeze drinks it — he likes to pour silver patron neat and add fresh squeezed lime juice with a dash of simple syrup.
sorry you can’t participate any longer… but did you ever like rum? I mean the really good ones? There is this rum that comes from Orinoco that has floral top notes and has a delicate smooth vanilla finish. I like to sip this neat. slowly.
as for single malts, i prefer the islay and skye malts. oban, talisker, caol islay, lagavulan, bunahaban. if I have misspelled any of these it is because I only know their names phonetically and can’t check the labels in the bar, because whiskey is not a necessity and we have not restocked lately.
this is what I will do: next cocktail, I will lift my glass to you.
Mike S writes: GWLSM,
I should have known due to much of the comments you’ve made on this thread and elsewhere. The good thing though is that I haven’t read or come across Nicholls and I’m always looking for a good book to read on these subjects.
Me: what I like best about Nicholls is that he is not a Jew. Gives him a certain credibility. There is another author on the subject Amy-Jill Levine who wrote a book called “reassessing jewish christian relations” she is a professor of divinity at vanderbilt, is jewish and feminist and one of the most articulate and level headed speakers on the subject of the new christian philo-semitism, which is not based in love but in the end-times hoo ha that seeks to co-opt jewish symbols, liturgy and traditions for the purpose of evangelism.
GWLSM,
I love good tequila, especially Patron Gold. To me tequila tastes best and is easiest on my stomach. I never liked beer, first tried bourbon then went to single malt scotch, but found my love in Cuervo 1890. However, health concerns have now stopped my drinking of anything alcoholic or smoking anything herbal. Ah but I remember those times well and relish those memories. So as you celebrate your cocktail hour raise your glass to me, for the days gone by and the lack of a good buzz in my life.
gyges writes: Oh good it’s cocktail hour.
Somewhere is in the world it is 5 PM and it’s cocktail hour, my one strict observance.
Mojo writes: Ha, just having a bit of fun with you and your last word obsession. No Manhattan here, but could I interest you in a Cadillac Margarita?
Tequila (preferably top-shelf, but whatever is handy is fine)
1 oz. Grand Marnier
Finish with some lime juice
But only if you’re in for the night. It’s definitely an “I’m not going anywhere tonight” libation …
me: of course you were having fun. me too. sorry, but tequila just is not my beverage of choice. Cadillac margaritas, or any other type are for beer drinkers who want to pretend that they are sophisticated and can really drink with the big boys. margaritas are not a cocktail for grown ups, they are a way to make nasty, cheap tequila taste better, go down faster so as to insure a massive hangover the next day. I vomited up enough tequila in college and learned my lesson.
why not try a Manhattan. Get a hold of the best boutique bourbon you can find and some really really fine sweet vermouth. The cherry isn’t bad either.
“I’ve read them and I’ve read widely on the subject of Christian anti-semitism. One of the best books out there, Christian Anti-Semitism, A History of Hate by William Nicholls, an Anglican priest.”
GWLSM,
I should have known due to much of the comments you’ve made on this thread and elsewhere. The good thing though is that I haven’t read or come across Nicholls and I’m always looking for a good book to read on these subjects.
By the way (since we’ve drifted so far from the topic) Baby Be-Bop (and the others in tis series by Ms. Block) are really good books.
Mojo,
Oh good it’s cocktail hour.
Shortly before prohibition was enacted the great composer Charles Ives was so worried that he wouldn’t be able to find vermouth for his nightly Manhattan, that he bought something like 10 cases worth.
GWLSM –
Ha, just having a bit of fun with you and your last word obsession. No Manhattan here, but could I interest you in a Cadillac Margarita?
Tequila (preferably top-shelf, but whatever is handy is fine)
1 oz. Grand Marnier
Finish with some lime juice
But only if you’re in for the night. It’s definitely an “I’m not going anywhere tonight” libation …
**************
Mike S:
““The Christian Civil Liberties Union”
Oxymoron.”
Nice …
yitzak, psst. I’ll let you in on a secret. No one cares whether you like Prof. Turley or Al Gore.
Mike S writes: GWLSM,
Try reading Hyam Maccoby, Michael Baigent and others listed in their bibliographies. While you are correct that the evidence of Jesus existence is tenuous given that the Councils of Nicaea (325CE) and Hippo (370CE) set up the religion and canon about 300 years after Jesus death, there is good speculative evidence that if he existed he lived as a Jew and might have even been married. The Christian Bible (I dislike New Testament also)was edited and redacted, with words probably put into Jesus mouth, as other words were censored. The other problem with it was that it had to make Christianity acceptable to Romans, who hated the Jews because they were the most troublesome of conquered states. This is how Pilate became a good guy and Jesus said “render unto Caesar.”
I’ve read them and I’ve read widely on the subject of Christian anti-semitism. One of the best books out there, Christian Anti-Semitism, A History of Hate by William Nicholls, an Anglican priest who quotes from Maccoby as well as other very well respected historians. My problem is not whether jesus lived or if he lived as a jew but the central core thought that a man could be divine as opposed to just being a decent guy with some original ideas. if he lived, and if he lived as a jew, his story in the christian bible would be a very very different one.
I like how they complain about the book being “racial” -not “racist,” but “racial.” It sounds like the old farts get irritated whenever someone mentions ethnicity.
Patty writes: moi: Is that my friend Kathy Griffins’s hand basket you’re carrying?
no patty it’s not. I wouldn’t be seen dead carrying anything that Kathy Griffin would. I would not be seen standing in the same room with her. I don’t care what list she is on.
mojo writes: Well, now it appears that I’ve had the last word. (At least until the next post).
;p
(Sticking tongue out)
Neiner-neiner-neiner!
me: okay then. the gauntlet has been thrown down.
neiner neiner is the best you can do? sorry kidlet. go back to class but before you do, bring me a Manhattan.
“The Christian Civil Liberties Union”
Oxymoron.
GWLSM,
Try reading Hyam Maccoby, Michael Baigent and others listed in their bibliographies. While you are correct that the evidence of Jesus existence is tenuous given that the Councils of Nicaea (325CE) and Hippo (370CE) set up the religion and canon about 300 years after Jesus death, there is good speculative evidence that if he existed he lived as a Jew and might have even been married. The Christian Bible (I dislike New Testament also)was edited and redacted, with words probably put into Jesus mouth, as other words were censored. The other problem with it was that it had to make Christianity acceptable to Romans, who hated the Jews because they were the most troublesome of conquered states. This is how Pilate became a good guy and Jesus said “render unto Caesar.”