I'm tempted to put an exclamation point at the end of that title statement, but that would be wrong. You see, in northern Minnesota where I grew up, people use this expression all the time, but they do not inflect it with passion or zeal. Rather, it's delivered, like any good green bean casserole, with a combination of a simple "well, there you have it" and the hint of an invitation to respond. It's up to the recipient to interpret -- good or bad -- and to respond accordingly.
"Really quite something" can be a compliment or a criticism. When a person says this, she suggests that she has an opinion on the matter and is inviting the other to share his. Of course, if the other thinks he'll disagree and that he'd rather fix the lawnmower than debate it, he may respond with a non-committal, "Yup," thereby ending the exchange.
To say of a person that she's "really quite something" is an eyebrow raiser. It adds a crispy layer of uh-huh, suggesting that said person has a high regard for herself when the truth is that we all know she's right around average, just like the rest of us. But enough of Speaking Minnesotan 101!
Glenn Beck stirred the collective pot some weeks ago when he chastised believers for including social justice in their understanding of the Christian gospel and mission. Now he's added concern for the environment to his list of Christian no-no's and the insidious threat of socialism. God forbid that you care about others, much less the earth! Ah, but with a twist of sarcasm, I've showed my hand. So I'll come right out and say it: nonsense.
I'll say this, too: I appreciate Beck's inflammatory remarks precisely because they send people who are deeply committed to seeking out and doing what is right and good rushing to decry him like immune cells to a hangnail. As millions of Jews and Christians will attest, the Bible supports a posture of stewardship, of active care for creation, and an ethic of responsibility in our treatment of the earth, its inhabitants, and its resources. In other words, they have found that environmentalism is a facet of faith, not at odds with it. A small sampling includes the Evangelical Climate Initiative , the Catholic Conservation Center, the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life, and the Evangelical Environmental Network. Back in 1993, Lutherans put out a statement on the environment, "Caring for Creation." And recently the United Methodists appointed the Reverend Pat Watkins as the executive director of "Caretakers of God's Creation."
The truth is, I suspect that Beck doesn't really care that much about what he's saying but only that it keeps him in the public eye and making truckloads of money. But I don't know; maybe he really does think he's got a corner on the Christian message. The problem, to my way of thinking, is that there are also thousands of good people earnestly trying to live by the gospel who believe him. So, step away from the lawnmower and let's talk, 'cause that Glenn Beck is really quite something.
Follow Kristin M. Swenson, Ph.D. on Twitter: www.twitter.com/kristinswenson
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I am a retired toll booth operator from the NYS thruway Authority. I retired with full benefits at 49 and ascended to the position of a Gated Homeowners Association President in my retirement neighborhood in Simi Valley California at 50.
I am here to tell you that my life is great. Government has shown me that you can do well with government careers. All people should work for the government!
Look at me! Government really does know best for us. With the likelihood of our success in minimizing capitalistic horror, lets thank Danny Donahue http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5769746989266025916# for proving that Democratic principles espoused by Barack, Hillary, Nancy and Al Franken are right on.
As Democrats we should be proud. Look at the unionization of Detroit's big three. The managers there were supporting Nixon. We won GM, Ford and Chrysler for the workers!
I am still proud to don my Kerry/Edwards sticker on my green Legacy bumper...
Like Detroit, we need to start looking at the influential Microsoft and the emerging Google for worker inequities, and shift their strategy from greed to a green collar workforce of equal pay.
Like Bush, Glenn Beck is a puppet of Haliburton! . We really don’t need Iraq, we have corn.
My BMI is excellent. Call your congressman to prorate our health tax to fitness! That will help us all! Those Google employees work too much and they have more money than me and its unfair!
Also, anybody can live on 0.1 acre. Look at me! I also think Obama should levy a Federal luxury tax on those having more that 0.11 acres!
and he thrives on that.
And then of course is the habit of such pundits to overlord God and Jesus. The are taking
God's chair and sitting judgement, subordinating everything. Yet Got is the details,
for instance Matth. 4:8, where the devil is trying to seduce Jesus:
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.”
In other words, such silly attempts and aspriations to rise to wuthering heights
can be taken lightly, are something to have a laugh about.
Regardless, the Beck show is very interesting because it does a great job of describing real circumstances and in my view, the circumstances are frightening. Anyone with an open mind can learn something whether you believe the "motive" part of it or not.
What you say about the Bible is imbued in us all. Why people feel they have to "steal" and assume that the rich are evil is also very frightening. It is simply not honorable.
Note to fellow conservatives: it's true that liberals love telling everyone how much they love the environment. But that doesn't mean that conservatives have to hate the environment.
This is God's earth!
This is God's earth!
Flaming Liberal and I do love to love the earth it's my home and your's and you are absolutly right "This is God's earth" with no politics attached.
Just one more huge embarrassment for the LDS church, and the conservative party.