Tobin's ExCommunioNation

Advent.
"If they do not appreciate my talents, they appreciate me not."

Communion. I watched the 'cleric' pass around the crackers, tiny wafers, "Body of Christ," a statement, not necessarily a question. Cough. Cough. Sneeze. The priest, a monsignor to be certain (informal definition), had clearly identified the reason, gathering the children, pointing-out the reason of the offering, an ancient ceremony, honoring life, and all the sacrifices WeThePeople make on behalf of others.

Cough. Cough. Sneeze.

I thought about Yulia Tymoshenko, and her instant REAL Leadership skills.

Cough. Cough. Sneeze.

Communion.

Yulia Tymoshenko.

And the spread of H1N1 through coughs and sneezes and the passing-out of symbolic sacrifices ...

-- and we see more and more instances of Catholics being blamed for spreading disease, historically a 'gaping-wound' against the Church's attempt at furthering humanity's quest to build PeaceOneEarth/HeavenOnEarth.

Perhaps if the 'cleric' were wearing surgical gloves and mask? Perhaps if each wafer were individually wrapped? How 'bout Fortune Cookies, instead?

Small rural communities in 3rd-world nations, and the spread of H1N1 and variants, precursors and mutations, historically, have been passed from one person to another in that manner, repeatedly. Communion.

After the ceremony, the 'cleric' brushed the crumbs from the 'golden chalice' which held the wafers, with his fingers, back into the original container where the wafers were stored before the ceremony. Along with all the prions? Viri?

It's about RISK.

And suddenly Yulia Tymoshenko became a greater hero to me. Hero to every one. Hero to the people. Just a reaffirmation of the obvious.

Which brings-up Tobin's admonishment of Kennedy. Perhaps it was a public excuse for 'sparing his life' from disease? And the 'peasants' aren't 'worthy'?

Funny, what fleeting thoughts are brought-up in church.

I held-up my hand, "no thanks," and the 'cleric' once gain, repeated, "Body of Christ?" -- a statement and a question, as if uncertain who, what, where, when, why anybody would ever, for any reason, refuse communion.

Call it RESPECT. I refused TWICE. That would be 'respect' in every conceivable 'direction.'

Later, a quick discussion about the topic, about communion itself, and I have a very thoroughly theological background in that, so it's difficult to discuss, as there are many aspects to it, the words oftentimes worshiped, memorized, repeated, the concepts ignored during the ceremony by those partaking in it -- taking it all for-granted. One of the drawbacks to Catholicism, and an issue the church has been addressing, quietly for centuries, is that women are taught the ceremonial participant's words, while the 'wisdoms' were reserved for the 'man's roles.' Institutionalized sexisms. Most 'christian' versions are participating in that to some degree or another. I'm all about equality, the root of Christianity itself, no excuses, so I dissent against established-religions in this regard, in this area, rather vociferously. Few have the background to engage in meaningful dialogue about it, unfortunately. The memorization of words, knowing when to repeat 'soundbites,' isn't the same as discourse/communication about the topic, exploring concepts. Like, "WMD," for example.

HOMOtheist cults worship words, first and foremost, a cartoon-image of imagination, floating-around off-planet in some undisclosed location, a super-duper power-ranger UppetMaster SUGAR DADDY one begs more more more from, making and watching it's little 'puppets' rape, rob, murder, lie, cheat, steal, fight, starve, suffer, for it's sadistic amusement, fornicate for it's erotic pleasure, meagerly rewarding in it's inequitable tyranny. They even prememorize soundbites denying it. Pavlovian-response style, spewing denials 'at the sound of the bell.'

See, 'christ' isn't the name of an individual. It's the name of a concept. "Body" is that which all people endure equally in order to offer compassion to the children, to make it better for them. It's through your blood, sweat and tears that you sacrifice on behalf of others, every breath a treasure, and every breath counts. Every effort. Every endeavor, and the survivability of humanity unto eternity is everlasting, as we cooperatively uplift the economy and wellbeing of the children, through our sacrifices, big and small.

The 'other-side' of the coin, is the taken-advantage-of individual, the one whose blood, sweat and tears is taken for-granted, expected, zero rewards, zero acknowledgement, zero recognition. It's not that their sacrifice was for the photo-op, self-aggrandizement, fame and fortune, but recognition in the sense of acknowledging the contribution to the overall continuance of survivability and prosperity of the species, the entire HumanityFamily -- even if that contribution is just an 'eye-blink' step, to convenience others, so that they prosper, make it 'through the day,' to share more later, furthering the overall goal of survivability.

Just discussing 'survivability of the species' isn't considered 'pertinent' to most people, now. But it's the primary focus of religions, and always has been, the struggle of the human species to survive, having been nearly made extinct, and making each other go extinct, repeatedly -- always 'on the cusp' of another near-extinction event.

Communion could be adding to that -- if you get my 'drift.' It sure looks that way, once gain, unfortunately, in 3rd-world communities, and very possibly in '2nd' and '1st' countries also.

Of course, our Higher-Ed 'genius-experts' ridicule and scorn everybody and each other, as brainwashed. Reminds me of one of the most outstanding OpEd's I've ever read, written by Leonard Pitts Jr., "The Color of Self-Hatred."

I urge an immediate re-eval when it comes to the handling of FOOD AND BEVERAGE items, distributed publicly, even in private homes, for that exact reasons stated or alluded towards above.

I truly enjoyed the Monsignor's conductorship. Outstanding. And I have to say, the only Catholic that ever welcomed me to church, with a smile and warm handshake -- without the usual 'who are you, what are you doing, how much money do you make, are you 'worthy' of knowing me/we/us' attitude which is typical in most churches. I'm very thakful to that. For that. I've attended many times. In many places. I usually don't sign 'the book.' I think the last time I signed was in Alaska. Father Gooley, it think it was. A kind person and outstanding leader.

Yulia Tymoshenko -- different type of leadership there. Both can make just as significantly equal contributions.

I longed to share a Chopin Nocturne, a kindness returned. Perhaps some day.

Kind Regards, as always --
Clayton Leon Winton