This Week on Ring of Fire!
This week’s Ring of Fire, hosted by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Mike Papantonio and David Bender:
Saturdays at 3 o’clock Eastern, rebroadcasts Sunday nights at 8 pm Eastern
This week on Ring of Fire, former skinhead-turned activist Frank Meeink will be joining us to tell us about his journey from being one of most prominent voices of the racist skinheads in America to helping youth accept and understand that all races are equal.
Author James Carroll will be here to tell us why the current problems with the Catholic Church are the result of decades of suppression occurring at almost every level in the Church.
We’ll take a deeper look at the oil spill that is now threatening the Gulf of Mexico with attorney Brian Barr who is working on the case.
And as always, we’ll be looking at all the news that the corporate-controlled media refuses to cover. This week, our good friend comedian Matt Filipowicz will be here to help us run through the biggest stories of the week.
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Contact Rep. Jeff Miller and tell him to stop supporting offshore drilling! Here’s how you can do that:
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Washington, DC Office:
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28 Responses to “This Week on Ring of Fire!”
I will contact Rep Jeff Miller, even though, until right now, I never have heard of him – and I never know quite what to say in such calls, except something akin to: “it’s an atrocious idea; please STOP supporting it!” But I have no facts/figures on hand.
Still, I consider such a task as not asking much from me, and very important, as a Civics lesson.
I really look forward to hearing author James Carroll speak on the Catholic Church, as well!!!
And listening to Matt is always wonderful!!!!
The other guests also sound GREAT!!!!
I can’t wait for this show!!!! I know it’s going to be exceptionally good – as they ALL are, of course!!!
Let’s hope this recent oil spill will take off shore drilling off the table. Obama now looks like an idiot.
I’m looking forward to hearing this show in regards to James Carroll and the Catholic church. I saw Sinead O’Connor on Rachel recently and she does not accept the Pope’s apology for the abuse….she said he’s covering up the cover up.
And of course I want to hear Matt.
Please let me know about what was said about the Catholic Church regarding suppression at every level. I can’t subsribe to ROF at this time, but I will. Thanks.
I would like to know what are the current problems with the Church as well; however, I can take an educated guess:
1) Declining membership – People dropping out.
2) Availablity of men joining the priesthood.
3) Lack of spirtuality and the Church is not using its political and financial clout to solve the problems of this country.
4) People not getting any answers when reading the Bible. Don’t see how the Bible helps with today’s problems and offering solutions.
I really hope Ring of Fire isn’t going to participate in the anti-clerical, anti-Catholic pile-on that so man of the news outlets have been participating in.
G writes: “Please let me know about what was said about the Catholic Church regarding suppression at every level. I can’t subsribe to ROF at this time, but I will. Thanks.”
G, no problem! I’m sorry you can’t subscribe, at this time. I wanted to hear your views on Mike’s interview w/attorney Aaron Watson, who spoke about the terrible misuse/abuse of taser guns. Maybe they will post the video to part of this extremely important interview.
HAPPY MAY DAY, ROF!!!!!
May Day is an anniversary of the rights of workers. From Wikipedia:
“In 1884, in America, the Federation of Organised Trades and Labor Unions passed a resolution in their meeting that all legal ways for their demand to reduce the working hours from 16 to 8 had failed. Therefore they decided to go on strike. The movement gained momentum and on 1st May 1886, a strike call was given. The center of this movement was Chicago. To foil the strike additional police were hired, money for which was given by the Industrialists, For two days the strike remained peaceful. On 3rd May, near the McCormick Harvesting Machine Co. factory, police resorted to unprovoked firing upon unarmed and peaceful demonstration.”
Well, who can be surprised to learn about this? Not me. It sounds like some RoF would have covered, had they been around in the 1880s!
In the US, *Labor Day* is celebrated in Sept, but May makes more sense to me, given the history of this day.
I also learned this:
“2006: May Day Protests Return to the U.S.
In 2006, United States once again saw widespread political action on May Day this year, centering on the subject of immigration reform. Various groups and communities, under the heading of “A Day Without Immigrants,” held rallies, strikes, and consumer boycotts to support the rights of those working and living in the United States, and to protest a bill that would deport many illegal immigrants.”
(Google “infoplease” and “may day” if interested to know more).
Finally –
May Day is also important in the Catholic Church, as a celebration and honoring of Mary.
http://www.stmartinmarianist.org/images/Principal/MayCrowning_39.JPG
Jay writes that he doesn’t want “anti-clerical” views from RoF.
I’m not so sure what that means, especially given how hostile Catholics can be, when their church is “attacked”.
I think the church is sick and dying, and if people are too concerned to “play nice” and be too respectful, this sickness will go on.
What about the victims. Colleen linked to a recent story of deaf boys who were sexually abused by a monster priest – the church protected him – all the way up to the current pope, Benedict.
There can be no sacred cows, esp. when the church has so long tolerated and protected such egregious abuse from its own.
James Carroll, today’s guest, was a priest. He’s also a prolific writer who has won several awards:
“He was ordained to the priesthood in 1969. Carroll served as Catholic chaplain at Boston University from 1969 to 1974. During that time, he studied poetry with George Starbuck and published books on religious subjects and a book of poems. He was also a columnist for the National Catholic Reporter (1972-1975) and was named Best Columnist by the Catholic Press Association.”
“In a 2009 book, he denounced Pope Benedict XVI as “the chief sponsor of the new Catholic fundamentalism, enforced with no regard for the real cost to human beings”
(from Wikipedia)
James Carroll should be listened to, not attacked, for being a voice of truth.
Sorry, G, my writing got a bit jumbled. What I meant to write is: maybe they will post the video of the Aaron Watson interview to this site. I hope so! It was so interesting and informative, even if horribly upsetting, given the terrible power of tasers, and the well-known, abusive tendencies of the police.
Since today is May Day, it reminds me of this part in the movie Airplane! where Ted Striker shouts, “may day, may day!” on the radio, and Lloyd Bridges’ character asks, “what the hell is May day?” and Johnny responds, “May day? Well, that’s the Russian New Year…” LOL!
G,
I think you already have a few ideas of what the problems with the Catholic church are. Don’t worry…we will post our thoughts on the Catholic church….we always do! LOL! It’s a bummer you can’t afford the pod casts….like Mara, I wanted your opinion on the taser story.
Mara,
Thnaks for the link about May Day….the worker’s rights one.
NR,
I saw the movie “Airplane!” LMAO! I remember that part.
Mara, I hope they posted a video of police tasers as well. You think that many cops would know how devastasting a taser can be since many of them got a sample of it while they were at the academy or one of their training sessions. Maybe they forgot how it was like or many of them never got the training in the first place.
Thanks for the historical information about May Day.
Regards to being a Catholic, I have no idea of what kind of discrimination and/or hostility against Catholics there was in this country. It is one of these well kept hidden forms of discrimination that you never hear in school or in life. I read a book about Edgar J. Hoover and found out he refuse to hire Catholics as FBI personnel until the Kennedy brothers force him to do so.
Colleen – thought you’d enjoy the one May Day celebration over the other! That’s fine, in my book! I have a sentimental love of Mary that goes beyond any doctrine or dogma.
G – good points!
NR – here’s some more humor – the same people who like Palin on a game show!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bB6KFa7-6B4&feature=related
And, some Golden Oldies!!! (I hope Mike doesn’t ever make fun of this kind of music again – some of Us Like those golden oldies, Mike)!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqwN1-dJFmk
And, Now, what could be More exciting than This – a Clash of Hammy Acting, wherein Capt. James T. Kirk defeats the evil (but o-so-Strong!) wrathful, bun-wearing Khan by taking handy hold of a cheap, plastic piece of shite from the Ship!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OxIrADjiHo&feature=related
Mara, the term “Catholic fundamentalism” is an oxymoron– just so you know.
” Jay says:
May 1, 2010 at 10:55 am
I really hope Ring of Fire isn’t going to participate in the anti-clerical, anti-Catholic pile-on that so man of the news outlets have been participating in.
—–
I hope so too. Instead of only talking about the bad, they should talk about the good too. In AZ where I live our Bishop and other Bishops have spoken out against this new Law in our state. The church is on the right side here.
We do have a problem and we do need real imigration reform, but this new Law is not answer to the growing threat of drug wars from Mexico coming to AZ and Americans are killed.
Both sides pick and choose what they will follow as Catholics. The people who are conservative and pro life reject the Bishops message on this issue. It is a double standard in my eyes because they put down Catholics who on other issues reject the Bishops message, yet when the Bishops choose a position that Progressives in the church support, they refuse to follow the church and stand up against this new Law.
I am looking foward to hear from Frank and I hope he will encourage and inspire us who had the misfortune to have a White Nationalist man fall in love with us to continue to do the right thing in fighting them. Most of the women who get involved with White Nationalism get involved because a White Nationalist man falls in love with her and slowly brings them into their hell. I was in the FLDS version of White Nationalism. Others were in the skinhead or neo nazi side of it. One thing we all have in common is that in all the cases the men lied and didn’t tell us about their real views until they had gotten the woman to fall in love with him. Many of us have PTSD because we were abused. We already feel stupid and guilty enough. We need help not harsh judgement. Thank you for having this guest on your show.
God Bless
Chrisy
It is funny how Khan’s stomach couldn’t take a blow from that plastic tube that Captain Kirk use unless that tube was made of plastic was manufactured to be just as strong as steel or bamboo.
Check out the 50s on these two websites http://www.streetcornermemories.com and /http://www.firebirds.co.uk/home.htm
Jay writes: “Mara, the term “Catholic fundamentalism” is an oxymoron– just so you know.”
Just so I know? Yeah, I know Your opinion, so: thanks for sharing! Otherwise, I couldn’t disagree w/you more.
RFK Jr. has also mentioned how fundamentalism is taking over the Catholic church, more than once on this show.
So: Agree to Disagree. I have Zero interest debating this w/you, but I certainly respect your right to your opinion on the matter.
Mara,
Perhaps your posts wouldn’t seem so idiotic if you possessed a dictionary of the English language. A Catholic by definition cannot be a fundamentalist. See:
Main Entry: fun·da·men·tal·ism
Pronunciation: \-t?-?li-z?m\
Function: noun
Date: 1922
1 a often capitalized : a movement in 20th century Protestantism emphasizing the literally interpreted Bible as fundamental to Christian life and teaching b : the beliefs of this movement c : adherence to such beliefs
2 : a movement or attitude stressing strict and literal adherence to a set of basic principles .
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fundamentalist
Catholicism does not fit into either of those categories. In the first case, it should be obvious why not. In the second, it doesn’t because the religion is too complicated, relying upon both Scripture and tradition over a vast timespan, to say that there is a “basic set of principles” that can or has really been expressed in a movement or attitude expressed of a person or group of people.
Bobby Kennedy Jr can misuse words all he wants. His doing so doesn’t officially change their meaning. The fact is that it is impossible to be at once a Catholic and a fundamentalist. In the world of Christian theology, the term “fundamentalism” refers to a literal interpretation of Scripture–which the Catholic Church does not adhere to.
I like Bobby Kennedy, Jr. but he seems to be confused. Being well-connected socially and within the Church hierarchy is not the same as being a religious scholar. He really should qualify his remarks with a little disclosure along those lines before he starts offering his insights.
Jay,
Yadda Yadda.
Strict literalism concerning the term: fundamentalism does NOT, an effective point make, and you employ the very Same simplistic reasoning for the church, itself (ie: they are Way too complicated to be like those nasty fundamentalists, blah blah blah)…..
Well, that’s how it Might have been, as RFK Jr. pointed out, but there’s troubling new trends afoot in the church, that, imo, were Always there, but are now becoming more dominant.
Face it: we will NEVER agree on this, and if you think that makes you the correct one, be my friggin guest. You bore me w/your defense of catholicism. You’re just like any other religious person – always defending the faith even to the point of absurdity.
You sound like Deborah, too. She annoyed me, and so do you. Why don’t you debate Her (perhaps it would mean you have to face the mirror, though –
)….
Jay, Chrisy, other Catholics,
Let’s leave off fighting, for a while, and consider what this writer says about the Catholic Church, in the current Sunday Times Magazine:
“It’s because of brave souls like these that I honor the Catholic Church. I understand why many Americans disdain a church whose leaders are linked to cover-ups and antediluvian stances on women, gays and condoms — but the Catholic Church is far larger than the Vatican.”
“And unless we’re willing to endure beatings alongside Father Michael, unless we’re willing to stand up to warlords with Sister Cathy, we have no right to disparage them or their true church.”
Read this article, first, Jay, before you decide to fight me some more:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/02/opinion/02kristof.html?src=me&ref=general
The “true church” that the author writes of – I have no problem w/that, nor do I even disdain the wealth of the church, since so much of it seems to be devoted to beauty, such as the art of the Vatican.
But the sickness must go. Catholics should be honest w/themselves about this, and stop nattering on about feeling victimized.
The ones who were victimized were and are those children.
From what I can tell, the Kennedys, who are staunch Catholics, many of them, Do understand what that writer is getting at. They understand it very well.
Look at Kerry Kennedy and all the fine and awesome work she does. Her book, Being Catholic Now, speaks of a form of Catholicism I can deeply respect.
Plus, she even interviewed Bill Maher in it – and Even Bill O’Reilly!
Don’t presume to lecture Me, because I am against the Catholic Church. I am not. But any form of abuse needs to be called out, and not just once. Again and Again until it REALLY stops.
The author writes of “two churches” and that is so. The one at the top, which is greedy and sick and the one at the bottom, which is, even if flawed, deeply inspirational.
Priests and followers who identify w/the one at the top do not get my respect.
James Carroll’s amazing comments on the Catholic Church made me weep. Thank you for just letting him pour out his hear, Mr. Kennedy. If his comments are available in text form, I would appreciate having a copy.
Mara said:
“Priests and followers who identify w/the one at the top do not get my respect.”
I’m sure they will find that to be a crushing blow from which they will never recover, Mara.
I dare say they will just go on raping children, regardless of how I, or countless others feel about them. Even the less sick ones still have so much arrogance. Such arrogance could use a crushing blow of Some sort, but I don’t expect pricks and psychopaths to be much concerned w/the fact that they are not respected by human beings.
“Daresay” is one word, not two, Mara.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/daresay
So true, it’s one word. Thanks for a stunningly inane “conversation”, Jay. Now: buh-bye. Try to see if you can get a life, hon.
At least I can spell the words I try to use and know what they mean, Mara. That’s a lot more than you can say of yourself, after all.