Adam: Created to Fry in Hell?
Only Zealots Have a Monopoly on God
The braziers on the porch were not going to be able to keep the chill off tonight, so we decided to gather in the great room, by the fireplace. The teenagers gathered in one part of the room and we stayed in the center area where the fireplace is. It's funny how some people think that when autumn arrives farm and ranch people can just kick their boots off and sit lazily by the fire until spring. Well, let us disavow you of that belief: there is always something to do on a farm or on a ranch. Some of us have farm farms, some of us have horse farms, and others cattle ranches.
The braziers on the porch were not going to be able to keep the chill off tonight, so we decided to gather in the great room, by the fireplace. The teenagers gathered in one part of the room and we stayed in the center area where the fireplace is. It's funny how some people think that when autumn arrives farm and ranch people can just kick their boots off and sit lazily by the fire until spring. Well, let us disavow you of that belief: there is always something to do on a farm or on a ranch. Some of us have farm farms, some of us have horse farms, and others cattle ranches.
Terry and Art, who have the goat farm, artisanal goat cheese business, and the acres and acres of outdoor organic produce and indoor greenhouses, probably have more to do than the rest of us, and yet, as you've seen, they still find time to be significant contributors to our conversations and culinary endeavors. Today, a typical day of hard outdoor labor, will end, or begin maybe I should say, on a good note: Schuyler, as people started arriving, began serving a great cocktail, a Ridley, made with Corazón Silver tequila, Bombay Sapphire gin and Galliano. Well, a reward for a hard day's work.
Beginning of the Holiday Season
Out here, we have luckily managed to assemble such a diverse group of people that we actually have a microcosm of the world at large. We have so many religions represented and still wish we had more; we have so many ethnic groups, and still wish we had more; we have some atheist couples, and would welcome more; we have same-sex couple neighbors and would still welcome more; we have many nationalities represented, and would welcome more. Since we will, with no doubt, gather on Thursday to celebrate a special day in many different ways, we treasure the words relayed to us by Kim and Barry, our Jewish/Israeli neighbors who moved here not that long ago.
Out here, we have luckily managed to assemble such a diverse group of people that we actually have a microcosm of the world at large. We have so many religions represented and still wish we had more; we have so many ethnic groups, and still wish we had more; we have some atheist couples, and would welcome more; we have same-sex couple neighbors and would still welcome more; we have many nationalities represented, and would welcome more. Since we will, with no doubt, gather on Thursday to celebrate a special day in many different ways, we treasure the words relayed to us by Kim and Barry, our Jewish/Israeli neighbors who moved here not that long ago.
They told us they had heard what Rabbi Eric Yoffie, president of the liberal Union for Reform Judaism had said recently, referring to the religious right, or as we call them here, evangelical christians, "They believe that unless you attend my church, accept my God and study my sacred text you cannot be a moral person." Next, Barry and Kim said, Rabbi Yoffie had asked his audience, "What could be more bigoted than to claim that you have a monopoly on God?"
Lucky Little Microcosm
This isn't a "gated community," it's just a bunch of farms and ranches of varying sizes, mostly within a 13-mile radius, and by serendipity, we've all turned out to be compatible people who enjoy each other's company, conversation and food. From our recently arrived neighbors from Iraq, Muslims Rania, Fareed and Nisreen, and our Iraqi Jewish neighbors Eli and Sagidah and their son Naim, to Israelis Barry and Kim, Mexican Art, "International" Max and Charlotte, British Beatrix and Jeremy and the rest of our "gang" of different faiths, ethnicities and gender preferences, we each and every one expect to have a gangbusters Thanksgiving celebration, wishing to the last minute of that celebration, that the "evangelical christians" could embrace the same kind of diversity.
This isn't a "gated community," it's just a bunch of farms and ranches of varying sizes, mostly within a 13-mile radius, and by serendipity, we've all turned out to be compatible people who enjoy each other's company, conversation and food. From our recently arrived neighbors from Iraq, Muslims Rania, Fareed and Nisreen, and our Iraqi Jewish neighbors Eli and Sagidah and their son Naim, to Israelis Barry and Kim, Mexican Art, "International" Max and Charlotte, British Beatrix and Jeremy and the rest of our "gang" of different faiths, ethnicities and gender preferences, we each and every one expect to have a gangbusters Thanksgiving celebration, wishing to the last minute of that celebration, that the "evangelical christians" could embrace the same kind of diversity.
Great Comfort From a Humanitarian Rabbi
Of great comfort also were the thoughts expressed by Rabbi Yoffie, which Kim and Barry recounted to us, in part because they're just loving and all-embracing people, but also for the benefit of the two ladies who have the horse farm down the road: "We cannot forget that when Hitler came to power in 1933, one of the first things that he did was ban gay organizations. Yes, we can disagree about gay marriage, but there is no excuse for hateful rhetoric that fuels the hellfires of anti-gay bigotry."
Of great comfort also were the thoughts expressed by Rabbi Yoffie, which Kim and Barry recounted to us, in part because they're just loving and all-embracing people, but also for the benefit of the two ladies who have the horse farm down the road: "We cannot forget that when Hitler came to power in 1933, one of the first things that he did was ban gay organizations. Yes, we can disagree about gay marriage, but there is no excuse for hateful rhetoric that fuels the hellfires of anti-gay bigotry."
And lastly, they reported that Rabbi Yoffie had said something that we all feel deeply in our hearts: "The conservatives too narrowly define family values, making a 'frozen embryo in a fertility clinic' more important than a child, and ignoring poverty and other social ills." Wow, sounds like the God we're going to celebrate on Thursday isn't the same God that created Adam only to condemn him to a life of hell, nor the God the evangelicals say has condemned every human being born since Adam and Eve until the birth of the "born-again christian movement." That's billions of people the evangelicals joyfully condemn to hellfire and brimstone!
This Pseudo-Christian Holiday Could Learn a Thing or Two
After hearing the thoughts expressed by Rabbi Yoffie and conveyed to us by Kim and Barry, we decided our little United Nations out here in the country could rally embark on a journey of understanding and acceptance, which really, are the most beautiful ideal behind the Democratic, Liberal and Progressive movement. Not for us the condemnation to eternal hell all those who are not "born-again christians/evangelicals."
After hearing the thoughts expressed by Rabbi Yoffie and conveyed to us by Kim and Barry, we decided our little United Nations out here in the country could rally embark on a journey of understanding and acceptance, which really, are the most beautiful ideal behind the Democratic, Liberal and Progressive movement. Not for us the condemnation to eternal hell all those who are not "born-again christians/evangelicals."
On To Dinner and Sumptuous Dishes
Something we promised our new neighbors is that next year we would make a concerted effort to learn more about their cuisine and try to prepare dishes they like more often, although they are always very gracious and appreciate the dishes we do prepare for them and share right now. In any case, it would be a thrill to learn how to fix that many more dinners, and a challenge, I imagine.
Something we promised our new neighbors is that next year we would make a concerted effort to learn more about their cuisine and try to prepare dishes they like more often, although they are always very gracious and appreciate the dishes we do prepare for them and share right now. In any case, it would be a thrill to learn how to fix that many more dinners, and a challenge, I imagine.
Charlotte and Beatrix Cook
Charlotte, when asked her background or nationality, always smiles sweetly and says she's just international and because she's a true polyglot, she's a perfect wife for Max, another rather international neighbor we have. They both, I think, live to cook, and we, well, we live to eat what they cook for us. But tonight, Charlotte and Beatrix are the chefs du jour, and the first course was delicious, unctuous Chèvre on Warm Melba Toast Rounds they served with a Spanish sparkling wine, a Segura Viudas Reserva Heredad Cava, but if you prefer you could just as easily serve them with a good Italian Pinot Grigio.
Soup.
Charlotte, when asked her background or nationality, always smiles sweetly and says she's just international and because she's a true polyglot, she's a perfect wife for Max, another rather international neighbor we have. They both, I think, live to cook, and we, well, we live to eat what they cook for us. But tonight, Charlotte and Beatrix are the chefs du jour, and the first course was delicious, unctuous Chèvre on Warm Melba Toast Rounds they served with a Spanish sparkling wine, a Segura Viudas Reserva Heredad Cava, but if you prefer you could just as easily serve them with a good Italian Pinot Grigio.
Soup.
Oh, do these two know how to make us feel nice and warm. They teemed up on their Roasted Tomato and Garlic Soup. They spiced the soup up with leeks and basil, and used that wonderful Braun immersion blender to get everything mixed. It certainly beats carrying hot pots to the food processor. Charlotte and Beatrix surprised us with a change in the order of wine service. We almost always begin with sherry or a sparkling wine, and progress to fuller-bodied white wines and then on to the red wines, but here, they decided to follow Italian tradition, and served their soup with a Castello di Gabbiano Chianti Classico.
Their next delight was Boned Whole Fish Baked in a Crust. They used bass for our dinner, which because of the baking in a crust reminded us of Beef Wellington. On the plates, they served String Beans with Tomatoes and Basil, as well as Spinach Florentine. The wine they chose was one with a funny name in the Piedmontese dialect: "little rascal," a delightful white wine, a 2004 Ceretto Arneis Langhe Blangè.
A small serving of melon sorbet served to prepare us for the meat course. Breaded Milanese Beef Cutlets of extraordinary thinness. Charlotte sautéed fennel in butter, and also served petits pois with Prosciutto in little casseroles. She and Beatrix thought one more Chianti would be good with the beef, and poured a Villa Antinori Chianti Classico.
Using a bit of the same wine, Charlotte and Beatrix poached some fresh fruit, and served it to us with another Italian wine, a Vin Santo.
Close to a Fine Day
With the teenagers around us, and enjoying Max's after-dinner coffee with them, we enjoyed briefly recounting to them what we had been talking about earlier. Hopefully, these young adults and children will grow up with good hearts, regardless of their faiths.
With the teenagers around us, and enjoying Max's after-dinner coffee with them, we enjoyed briefly recounting to them what we had been talking about earlier. Hopefully, these young adults and children will grow up with good hearts, regardless of their faiths.
Summary:
When a respected Rabbi, Rabbi Eric Yoffie reminds the country that the "religious right" is so bigoted that they claim a monopoly on God, we all need to listen, and be better. When he compares some factions within the "religious right" to the Nazis, we'd best snap to attention and become better Democrats, Liberals and Progressives. The born-again christians, this Thanksgiving, will once again proclaim that only they are saved. Tch-tch.
When a respected Rabbi, Rabbi Eric Yoffie reminds the country that the "religious right" is so bigoted that they claim a monopoly on God, we all need to listen, and be better. When he compares some factions within the "religious right" to the Nazis, we'd best snap to attention and become better Democrats, Liberals and Progressives. The born-again christians, this Thanksgiving, will once again proclaim that only they are saved. Tch-tch.
©Copyright 2005 Grindstaff Chronicles. All Rights Reserved.
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Reprinted from The Grindstaff Chronicles Newsletter which is published in the USA by farmers, ranchers, and neighbors.
It is intended to share the thoughts and lifestyle of people who work hard, like to relax and enjoy life, and are often dismayed by news, politics, and the events of the day that defy common sense.
http://www.GrindstaffChronicles.com
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posted by (hris | 6:55 AM
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