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Manhattan Diary by Cahir O'Doherty

Bird deaths linked to repeal of DADT

Posted on Wednesday, January 12, 2011 at 08:15 AM

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You know all those birds that have been falling out of the sky around the world? Do you know what's causing it to happen?

If you replied that it was freak weather conditions, or fireworks, or over eating, or any number of the recent explanations put forth by scientists you'd be wrong - dead wrong.

It was actually the Senate's repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell that caused it.

That's right, according to a homegrown televangelist, God's angry. In fact, He's pissed. And if the bible teaches us one thing it's this: when God's angry things get smited.

I'm not sure why He'd choose to illustrate His wrath on innocent little birds, but if there's one thing we know about the biblical God it's that He's a symbolist, not a literalist.

But how do we know that it was the DADT repeal that set Him off?

Meet Cindy Jacobs of Generals International ministry. Famous for her fashion forward get-ups (purple leopard print jackets accented by wide polyester lapels and purple pearls?) she's not afraid to offer outlandish opinions whilst wearing equally outlandish get-ups.

But I have learned to mistrust prophets who play to our worst instincts, rather than our best ones. I have learned to mistrust prophets who appeal to our suspicions rather than our hopes.

And perhaps worst of all, I mistrust prophets who encourage us to believe that other people are really much more sinful than we are ourselves - because, when you think about it, what reason do actually we have to believe that?

If you want to know why gay kids are bullied, and why gay teenagers despair, and why gay adults are treated like second class citizens in their own country, then you don't need to look further than Cindy Jacobs. She answers a modern dilemma (dying birds) with the scientific principals of the fourth century B.C.

Whatever is killing these poor birds, I'm pretty sure its not the angry words of an angry deity. I'm also pretty sure that Jacob's ridiculous prophecies stigmatize young gay people across this nation.

And if there's one thing we've learned this week it's this: there is a dangerous connection between intolerant words and intolerant deeds.

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KAnderson | Jan 29, 2011, 09:14 AM EST

Make no mistake, these television evangelists take the donations that their legions of elderly followers send in from their social security checks (which is why old people result to eating cat food, and get the heat turned off in the winter when they should have been able to pay for it) and the oh so holy religious 'leaders' buy big flashy cars and grand suburban mansions rather than using those funds for the charity their followers expected them to. So you see its not just the catholics who have a pope in a golden palace with tons of paintings and antiquities. Protestant religious leaders also manage to fleece their sheep and wallow in the profits without guilt, while their 'flock' grows steadily worse off while sending them money. Think about it, why does she need a leopard coat on a Christian show? Shouldn't she be more spare to show humility? She's been made rich by these donations (free money!) for so long from panhandling the TV "christian" money gathering scam that it doesn't even bother her anymore. The expensive tastes are now her norm. Most of the people who watch these shows are lower middle class to poor. As for the baloney about DADT and birds and hurricanes, its what their followers already believe. A lot of the elderly and ignorant still hold these bigoted views.

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seanomelbourne | Jan 15, 2011, 09:08 PM EST

Moron ey I would rather play with the girls than read your childish scribblings.Who's alter ego are you Homer Simpson?

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maloney | Jan 14, 2011, 06:56 PM EST

Hitting a little to close ta home for ya seano, the girls game starts in 15 minutes.

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seanomelbourne | Jan 14, 2011, 05:38 PM EST

Maloney your inability partake in common sense discourse is disappointing.

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seanomelbourne | Jan 13, 2011, 07:37 PM EST

Talking about marginal people Maloney you've got to some new talking points,you're repeating yourself. Well I suppose you live a "groundhog day" existence.

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olovely | Jan 13, 2011, 08:27 AM EST

I see you're reduced to making things up, Pittsburghkid - now that the truth contradicts your conservative filter.

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Pittsburghkid | Jan 12, 2011, 09:14 PM EST

One thing Conservatives learned this week is tha Obama will use a tragedy for political purposes. The shooter was a nut case. The nut case asked a stupid question. The Question was "Words have meanings don't they?" to the Congresswoman. She replied in Spanish. He took this as an insult. Three years later, the nut job took his revenge. Now the Nut job Lib/Progressive Media is blaming Sarah.

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maloney | Jan 12, 2011, 08:59 PM EST

Keep praying & kick your heals together 3 times & you too seano may become an American someday.

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cillowen | Jan 12, 2011, 08:08 PM EST

cindy jacob is a bird brain flocker - needs shrink. methinks the cause of birds and fishes going belly-up is due to sonar tests that can target life based on chemical makeup. Some years ago I recall reading about the work being done in Israel whereby jew and palestinian could be genetically identifiede and targeted. A scientific center in Israel was said to have come thru with amazing discoveries.

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seanomelbourne | Jan 12, 2011, 06:02 PM EST

The problem is the quantity of "marginal Figures" you have.

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McNabb1966 | Jan 12, 2011, 05:28 PM EST

For his next column, Cahir O'Doherty bravely exposes the madness of Charles Manson and the wetness of water. Thanks Captain Obvious! It's the old "let's select a person who is clearly extreme and a marginal figure and pretend that the person is really a mainstream figure and then attempt to generate some outrageously outrageous outrage" tactic. Brilliant!

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seanomelbourne | Jan 12, 2011, 05:04 PM EST

Just another sanctimonious christian hypocrite spitting her ridiculous venom You sure can breed them over there.

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McNabb1966 | Jan 12, 2011, 04:56 PM EST

@olovely...Mark Halperin just called. He wants you to turn the other cheek and tone down that hate-filled rhetoric. Thanks! lol

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olovely | Jan 12, 2011, 04:27 PM EST

Fred Phelps and his fanatical God Hates Fags family are extreme right wing Christian conservatives. They supported republican Sam Brownback for president. He's a graduate of Bob Jones University (which no liberal has ever seen from more that a mile). Phelps – unwittingly – takes the heat for equally-vicious right-wingers who have cultivated a smoother TV persona but espouse the same ideology.

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hancock | Jan 12, 2011, 03:05 PM EST

Useless moron.

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