December 31, 2001
From the desk of Mindles H. Dreck:Advantage MTZ, and the Scots
Glenn Reynolds Picks up on my Falwell Award a few days ago, given to the Bishop of Winchester for his immortal words:
Would we be in this situation, if western - north American and European - electorates, all with deep Christian pedigrees, had not encouraged, supported or at least allowed our governments, over so many decades, to develop our standard of living at the expense of millions in the southern hemisphere? And if we had not sold their rulers armaments on such favourable terms, and with so little forethought? Cruelly evil though they were, I find that I have to understand the events of September 11 as a judgment upon us; and so, to understand these weeks, this Christmas, as a critical moment, an opportunity for a fresh beginning, its character caught in those words we have read: "Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus."
I never miss an opportunity to quote Flanders & Swann:
The Scotsman is mean, as we're all well aware
And bony and blotchy and covered with hair
He eats salty porridge, he works all the day
And he hasn't got bishops to show him the way!The English, the English, the English are best
I wouldn't give tuppence for all of the rest.
I must say, the idea that having bishops and using the tired Book of Common Prayer somehow gave us Anglicans some principles was always absurd. Isn't the Book of Common Prayer just an excuse not to put together a service yourself? Just a crutch to allow more time for "tea and cake with the vicar?" Another blow to my wobbling faith. Posted by Mindles H. Dreck at December 31, 2001 10:13 AM | Technorati inbound links