Swine Flu...brings out the worst in people!

Over the past couple of weeks I have been so busy with film festivals and red carpet events, that I haven't had much opportunity to follow the swine flu epidemic (?) causing fear and anxiety around the country in recent days.

But, the issue reared its ugly head yesterday afternoon, and subsequently, prompted me to pause and reflect on the subject.

I was standing in line at the cashier (at my favorite discount store!) when I felt a little tingle in my throat coming on, so I quickly turned my head away from the other customers pressed up on either side of me, snatched the neckline of my T-shirt up as quickly as possible, then coughed into the fabric well out-of-harm's way.

Immediately, a middle-aged male shopper slightly ahead of me turned - and angrily tossed a mean-spirited retort - in my direction.

"You should cover your mouth when you cough."

Normally, when I cross paths with people throughout the course of the day, I endeavour to be as civil as possible, but the reaction from this lame bozo warranted a short sweet reprimand from the get-go.

"Sir, your back was turned towards me, so how would you know whether I covered my mouth or not? The truth of the matter is that I did."

Then, early this morning at a fast-food take-out, I witnessed another incident in which a patron was ostracized by virtue of the selfish insensitive conduct of a uppity classless woman who was also quick to rush to "judgment".

Just as the morning commuter was about to cough, he buried his mouth behind a napkin to suppress the untimely outburst as much as possible without offending (or upsetting, I gather) other guests in the establishment.

The woman (firmly ensconced at the table in front of him with her back to his little perch) half-turned in her seat, glared at the embarrassed man, then proceeded to issue an almost hysterical directive to her friend to get up and move to a table on the other side of the popular eatery to get as far away as possible from the offending individual.

What revolting conduct!

I was always taught that when an individual was down-on-their-luck - or physically ill - a little compassion was in order

Or, in the alternative, a bit of empathy.

Am I to assume by her reprehensible conduct that she's never been "under the weather" - or even experienced a sniffle or cough - in her entire life?

I suppose her sh** doesn't smell either?

When a crisis or epidemic breaks out in the community - shouldn't the citizenry make a concerted effort to tackle the potential threat with kid gloves - instead of pointing nasty accusing fingers?

The Dalai Lama once opined:

"Where ignorance is our master, there is no possibililty of real peace."

http://www.julianayrs.com

Barack Obama...condemns controversial Rev. Jeremiah Wright. No Lamb of God!

Rev. Jeremiah Wright...no prophet!

In response to a loud outcry from voters around the nation, Presidential hopeful - Barack Obama - has distanced himself from his Church Pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright for uttering outrageous hateful remarks in recent days.

"I vehemently disagree and strongly condemn the statements that have been the subject matter of this controversy," the Senator wrote in a column published online at Huffington Post.

On occasion the mouthy voice piece has focused attacks on Hillary Clinton direct from the pulpit.

For instance, Wright stridently remarked in a Christmas sermon,

"Hillary Clinton was not a black boy raised in a single-parent home - but Barack Obama was."

He raged on, much to the dismay of a startled congregation,

"Barack knows what it means to be a black man living in a country and a culture that is controlled by rich white people. Hillary! Hillary can never know that. Hillary ain't ever been called a nigger! Hillary has never had her people defined as a non-person."

In another sermon he referred to the United States as,

"The U.S. of K.K.K.A."

Some jump to the pastor's defense by alleging that although Wright's sermons may appear to be too provocative for Sunday morning service, they actually reflect a proud history of what Walter Earl Fluker of Morehouse College in Atlanta would call "prophetic preaching - which is the trademark of the Black Church tradition - in which Jeremiah Wright is one of the most illustrious exemplars."

Peter Paris, Professor Emeritus of Christian Social ethics at Princeton Theological Society, added that prophets are basically reformers and not revolutionaries.

"There's a fine line beyond which one is no longer prophetic but revolutionary. He's not there, but the language may appear from time to time to be there."

Hogwash!

There's nothing prophetic about his inflammatory remarks. Without doubt, Wright crossed the line for a man of God.

In the House of the Lord sermons should focus on the "word" and the salient points of their spiritual essence wisely set forth in the Holy Bible for all to peruse in a moment of reflection.

Moreover, whenever an orator stands before a congregation, he should endeavour to couch the language of the sermon in a manner that engenders widespread universal appeal.

For example, instead of name-calling or pointing an accusing finger at this great country or labelling the nation the - "U.S. of KKK" - the Reverend should find a way to address the issues of racism, discrimination, and prejudice in a more eloquent far-reaching capacity so that the sermon is inspiring, not denigrating.

But, to be fair, Rev. Wright is not alone in his efforts to manipulate the faithful.

For example, during a service at the "Good Shepherd" last fall, one of the Priests took it upon himself to suggest that when Peter referred to a personal dilemma that "upset" him, he may have been referring to the fact he was "gay".

It was so preposterous a notion that I laughed out loud in Church!

Needless to say, the priest retreated. Then, went off on another tangent.

On another occasion I was also hopping mad when a female rector (taking up residence at "All Saint's Church" in Beverly Hills) chose - on the occasion of her first sermon - to address the issue of women and their function in the Church.

In a bold-faced effort to validate her right to "preach" the word of God - which remains in conflict with the dictates of the scriptures - she proceeded to twist and distort the verses to suit her agenda.

Maybe now Rev. Wright can fathom what the "whore" of Babylon truly represents.

No wonder people are turning away from Sunday morning service.

As the Easter season approaches, I urge our men of the cloth to just focus on the Holy Bible, please.

Unless, they want to be crucified, of course!