Bible Basics Sacraments The Nature of God Political Commentary Witness Bible Studies Pet Family Seasons of the Church Free Downloads About Bible Basics
Charles Dicken’s “A Christmas Carol” is a sad commentary
of the injustices, which still continue to this day;
Oppression of the poor, the hungry, and the sick, the homeless,
children, the elderly, the unemployed and underemployed, intolerance, prejudice, and discrimination!
Bible Basics Custom Google Site Search!
Charles Dicken’s “A Christmas Carol” is a sad commentary
of the injustices, which still continue to this day;
Oppression of the poor, the hungry, and the sick, the homeless,
children, the elderly, the unemployed and underemployed,
intolerance, prejudice, and discrimination!
Charles Dicken’s “A Christmas Carol” written in 1843 is a poignant story and commentary of the injustices in the world today (as well as in Dickens’ day).
Dickens wrote in the wake of British government changes to the welfare system known as the Poor Laws, changes which required among other things, welfare applicants to "work" on treadmills. Dickens asks, in effect, for people to recognise the plight of those whom the Industrial Revolution has displaced and driven into poverty, and the obligation of society to provide for them humanely. Failure to do so, the writer implies through the personification of Ignorance and Want as ghastly children, will result in an unnamed "Doom" for those who, like Scrooge, believe their wealth and status qualifies them to sit in judgement of the poor rather than to assist them. Wikipedia:
Lessons from Mister Magoo's
"A Chritmas Carol."
Recently I watched Mister Magoo’s “A Christmas Carol.” It had been years since I had seen this 1962 cartoon classic staring Jim Backus as Mr. Magoo playing Scrooge. There are credits and a comedy introduction with bumbling Magoo but when the story begins it is captivating. Not the animation or the special effects but the story! The sad state of man’s affairs in the world; a world where the wealthy are blind to the needs of the poor. Not only are the wealthy oblivious to the needs of others but they also pride themselves in being self-righteous, judgmental, and condemning!
…like Scrooge, believe their wealth and status qualifies them to sit in judgement of the poor rather than to assist them.
Wikipedia
Scrooge the greedy miser sings about his wealth;
his gold coins “…coins when they mingle… make such a lovely sound”
while Bob Cratchett, his longtime clerk shivers in the cold singing,
“…cold, it’s frightfully cold”.
*Ebeneezer Scrooge sings Ringle, Ringle
“…coins when they mingle… make such a lovely sound.”
For me Charles Dickens “A Christmas Carol” is parallel to our times now! The same injustices are still being perpetrated on the poor and on the middle class by the RICH --- those with power, wealth, political connections, and influence, (corporate lobbyist, special interest).
For me this is much like in our times: The miser Scrooge of unpaid
Tax-Breaks for the top 2% of the wealthiest people in America which add to the deficit, counting their money and the middle class and the poor out in the cold, asking for just a measly chunk of coal for the necessities of warmth, shelter, food, and Healthcare!
Here is a YouTube clip of Mister Magoo’s A Christmas Carol Part 1:
You may want to forward the video clip to:
3:35 The Opening
4:00 Scrooge is counting his gold coins.
4:25 Two charitable solicitors Brady and James (Voice of Morey Amsterdam) ask Scrooge for a charitable donation.
5:28 Scrooges Curse on the Poor
5:40 Bob Cratchett freezing in the cold.
6:10 Scrooge sings as he counts his money.
6:58 Bob Cratchett tries to get more coal for warmth.
7:10 Scrooge threatens Cratchett.
7:35 *Ebeneezer Scrooge sings Ringle, Ringle “…coins when they mingle… make such a lovely sound.”
as Bob Cratchett sings “…cold, it’s frightfully cold”.
8:50 Scrooge shows no compassion for the poor.
9:45 Scrooge curses Christmas.
9:57 Scrooge Bah-Humbug!
Scrooge Curses Christmas
Charles Dickens Text
Scrooge: "What else can I be," returned the uncle, "when I live in such a world of fools as this? Merry Christmas! Out upon merry Christmas! What's Christmas time to you but a time for paying bills without money; a time for finding yourself a year older, but not an hour richer; a time for balancing your books and having every item in 'em through a round dozen of months presented dead against you? If I could work my will," said Scrooge indignantly, "every idiot who goes about with 'Merry Christmas' on his lips, should be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart. He should!"
Nephew’s reply: "There are many things from which I might have derived good, by which I have not profited, I dare say," returned the nephew. "Christmas among the rest. But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round -- apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from that -- as a good time: a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time: the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!"
The door of Scrooge's counting-house was open that he might keep his eye upon his clerk, who in a dismal little cell beyond, a sort of tank, was copying letters. Scrooge had a very small fire, but the clerk's fire was so very much smaller that it looked like one coal. But he couldn't replenish it, for Scrooge kept the coal-box in his own room; and so surely as the clerk came in with the shovel, the master predicted that it would be necessary for them to part. Wherefore the clerk put on his white comforter, and tried to warm himself at the candle; in which effort, not being a man of a strong imagination, he failed.
"At this festive season of the year, Mr. Scrooge," said the gentleman, taking up a pen, "it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the Poor and Destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time. Many thousands are in want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts, sir."
"Are there no prisons?" asked Scrooge.
"Plenty of prisons," said the gentleman, laying down the pen again.
"And the Union workhouses?" demanded Scrooge. "Are they still in operation?"
"They are. Still," returned the gentleman, "I wish I could say they were not."
"The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigour, then?" said Scrooge.
"Both very busy, sir."
"Oh! I was afraid, from what you said at first, that something had occurred to stop them in their useful course," said Scrooge. "I'm very glad to hear it."
"Under the impression that they scarcely furnish Christian cheer of mind or body to the multitude," returned the gentleman, "a few of us are endeavouring to raise a fund to buy the Poor some meat and drink and means of warmth. We choose this time, because it is a time, of all others, when Want is keenly felt, and Abundance rejoices. What shall I put you down for?"
"Nothing!" Scrooge replied.
"You wish to be anonymous?"
"I wish to be left alone," said Scrooge. "Since you ask me what I wish, gentlemen, that is my answer. I don't make merry myself at Christmas and I can't afford to make idle people merry.
I help to support the establishments I have mentioned -- they cost enough; and those who are badly off must go there."
"Many can't go there; and many would rather die."
"If they would rather die," said Scrooge, "they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.
Besides -- excuse me -- I don't know that."
"But you might know it," observed the gentleman.
"It's not my business," Scrooge returned. "It's enough for a man to understand his own business, and not to interfere with other people's. Mine occupies me constantly. Good afternoon, gentlemen!"
Golden Idols
Winter was Warm 3:16 Golden Idols
Scrooge turns to the dark side, turns his back on love
and embraces greed!
The saddest cartoon song ever
All Alone in the World
For a very nice read here is the full text of Charles Dickens "A Christmas Carol."
...like Scrooge, believe their wealth and status qualifies them to sit in judgement of the poor rather than to assist them.
Now the “Rich” steal from the “Poor” and are proud of it,
no compassion, no benevolence, no heart,
or a heart three times too small! "...they were not ashamed of their sin,
and they were even at the point
where they were calling evil good and good evil."
Scripture Gallery Two by Bible Basics
Reflective and Meditative Scripture Devotional
My political views are controlled, directed, and inspired by my faith in God.
1. That we Love God and we Love our Neighbor! That God does not have favorites, that God loves ALL of His Creation and that God loves ALL people! This is Jesus’ Greatest Commandment:The entire law is summed up in a single command:
"...Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Galatians 5:14
2. I also believe that we are to help the poor, care for the sick, feed the hungry…. I believe that it is our moral duty and our American duty to care for the weakest, most vulnerable, most disadvantaged people in our society!
3. I do NOT believe that these Christian attributes are socialism, communism, and nazism! Angry, intolerant people worship an angry, intolerant god.
The true Nature of God
is found in Jesus Christ. God is a God of LOVE, forgiveness, grace; a God of Peace and of harmony. God is NOT a god of bigotry, intolerance, injustice, persecution, and prejudice! God loves all people of His creation.
I have been very vocal as of late fighting against the Republican HATE
far-far right out of control Tea Party! But after Glenn Beck gave his reprehensible attacks on the Christian Church I am now speaking up against HATE, lies, injustice, bigotry, prejudice, and intolerance.
GLENN BECK URGED LISTENERS TO LEAVE CHURCHES THAT PREACH SOCIAL JUSTICE – Quote: “I beg you, look for the words ‘social justice’ or ‘economic justice’ on your church Web site. If you find it, run as fast as you can! Social justice and economic justice, they are code words. Now, am I advising people to leave church? YES!” – Glenn Beck
Beck, said the word “social justice” is code for communism and Nazism. Glenn Beck’s March on Washington was a desecration of Martin Luther King Day and a desecration to Christians. The entire Bible is about loving one another, helping the poor, feeding the hungry, helping the sick, the weak…. I am now speaking out!!! I am going to fight HATE, injustice, intolerance, prejudice, religious persecution, and lies! Glenn Beck is the divisive catalyst. As Christians, as Americans we need to speak up!
If not now? When?
“Watch out for false prophets.
They come to you in sheep’s clothing,
but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.”
Matthew 7:15 NIV
...They claim to know God,
but their actions, they deny them.
Titus 1:16 NIV
Anyone who maligns and distorts the Word of God is a false prophet!
Can America be so arrogant, selfish, full of greed, self-centered, intolerant, judgmental, and full of pride that we think we are impervious to the Will of God? Do we actually think that God is not watching, or that God doesn't care, or do we think that helping others is not important; the responsibility of others? Do we feel that we can ignore the plight of the poor, the sick, the hungry? Why would we even want to? Do YOU think America is going in the right direction? What are YOU doing to help?
This is what the Lord says:
“Let not the wise boast of their wisdom
or the strong boast of their strength
or the rich boast of their riches,
24 but let the one who boasts boast about this:
that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness,
justice and righteousness on earth,
for in these I delight,”
declares the LORD.
Jeremiah 9:23-24
Consequences and Warnings from the Book of Jeremiah
5 Then the word of the LORD came to me. 6 He said, “Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?” declares the LORD. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel. 7 If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, 8 and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned.
9 And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted, 10 and if it does evil in my sight and does not obey me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended to do for it.
11 “Now therefore say to the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem, ‘This is what the LORD says: Look! I am preparing a disaster for you and devising a plan against you. So turn from your evil ways, each one of you, and reform your ways and your actions.’ 12 But they will reply, ‘It’s no use. We will continue with our own plans; we will all follow the stubbornness of our evil hearts.’”
Jeremiah 18:5-12
Full Text of Jeremiah 18: At the Potter's House
The Sin of Sodom and Gomorrah
"...they were not ashamed of their sin, and they were even at the point where they were calling evil good and good evil." Now we call "Torture" good - and helping the poor, feeding the hungry, caring for the sick (Healthcare) bad, socialism, communism, and nazism! The "sin" of the United States at this time is its callous heart towards the poor. Now the “Rich” steal from the “Poor” and are proud of it, no compassion, no benevolence, no heart!
Injustice is the way of the world; not the Way of Christ.
Injustice is where the strong and the powerful devour
the weak and the helpless.
Injustice is the mother of selfishness and greed.
Selfishness and greed gives birth to corrupt ambitions and power.
Corrupted ambitions and power lead to war, violence, crime and cruelty – Man’s inhuman treatment of man.
Injustice breeds poverty, the homeless, and poverty to where the most vulnerable in our society are at grave risk.
Injustice is in a rich world where children die from hunger.
Injustice is where children die from curable diseases.
Injustice is a world of haves' and of have nots’.
Injustice is when the rich get richer; and the poor....
Injustice is when children are starving for an education and social opportunities.
Injustice is when children do not receive pre-natal care, medical care, medical insurance, childcare, good schools, or enough to eat.
Injustice is when children come home from school and no one is home; both parents are working, a single parent raising their children, and grandparents raising their children’s children.
Injustice is when we do not see the value in each man, woman, and child.
Injustice is when we look at others, those different from us with distain.
Injustice is when we don’t tell other people about God’s love for them.
The laws, the courts do not often help those that are the most at risk! The child, the orphan, the widow, the single parent, the homeless, the poor, the impoverished, the hungry, the sick, the ailing, the hurting, the lonely, those in prison, those in hospital, the addicted, the mentally challenged, the weak, the lame, those who suffer from depression, family estrangements and separation, those who have loss their health, their security, their home, those who suffered the loss of someone close to them, the loss of someone they love… .
The way of the world is the way of fear.
The Way of the Lord is the Way of God’s Grace.
The Lord’s Way is the Way of Hope, and of Faith; and the Greatest of these is LOVE, these Gifts from God which are freely given to us from God, even though we did nothing to deserve, merit, or earn such Grace.
All of these are an injustice. All of these are the way of the world;
not the Way of the Lord.
The Way of the Lord, Jesus Christ is the Way; the only Way.
We have a choice on which way, which road, which path, - which Way we go – Choose!
Modern Day Pharisees
Every time we stick our nose up in the air in arrogance at other people; we may look righteous, like we are looking up to heaven,
but God is not fooled. God knows our hearts.
Modern Day Pharisees
