Idolatry, the F word, and an Album

So trolling through my RSS feeds (and yes, i still use RSS feeds!) I happened upon some really good blog posts.

The first is Roland Boer's spot on examination of the critique of idolatry in 2nd Isaiah. I have struggled with this bit of Isaiah, because it is both subversive in it's portrayed context and because if the critique of idolatry was meant to be taken seriously, it is laughable, as Roland points out. the former claim, that it is subversive in its portrayed context, is key for me because the text declares that YHWH is indeed incomparable deity despite the fact that everything in the present would read otherwise, Israel is still in exile, YHWH was defeated by the Babylonian deities, and so on and so forth. The text screams out for another way to define victory, another way to interpret the present, another way to see the world (see David Clines' wonderful essay I, He, We and They: A Literary Approach to Isaiah 53). To me this becomes even more interesting when we compare it to the text of Romans 2. For here Paul's critique of the Judean/or the Jew is equally as laughable, so my proposition is that Paul, like Isaiah before him, is up to something similar.

The next is a fun little post by Jonathan about language, freedom, and capitalism. I have been rereading my Jameson and Gramsci lately trying to be more consistent in my methodology, and since I am always intrigued by the way people appropriate words, I found this post rather enjoyable.

The next is not a blog post, but I wanted to draw your attention to a magical album by Christopher O'Riley. Christopher is a classical pianist that has his own NPR show, which I highlight, to show that he is a bona fide credentialed pianist. Now I am not well versed in classical music, I like it, I listen to it, but can barely tell the difference between Bruckner and Chopin (I know it's sad). Christopher though meets me where I am at, and that is the world of Indie Rock heroes like Elliott Smith and Post Rock legends like Radiohead. Yes that is right he transcribes these rock heroes into magical piano compositions that are so much more than those lame classical tribute albums that are mere musac-al attempts to capitalize upon the popular. There are times when the compositions near the avant garde but this is brilliance in and of itself, the sonic cacophony that is Radiohead, played by one instrument, and done well, is worthy of a listen. So go buy the new album its only 8.99 on amazon (MP3), and then the catalog!

Just Look in the Yellow Pages...

The following is an excerpt from Jonathan Kozol’s Amazing Grace:

In my pocket I have a card I picked up in the subway that announces what the president of the transit system has described as the new ‘gospel’ that New York will henceforth ‘preach’ in regard to subway beggars. ‘when you’re on a train,’ the card instructs the passengers, ‘don’t give money for any purpose….The best way to help end panhandling is not to give…Don’t give.’

I hand it to her and she looks at it awhile and seems reluctant to react. At last she says, ‘I’m surprised that he would dare to use a word like ‘gospel,’’

The message on the card is cleverly constructed. It does not prohibit charity but recommends an arms length version. If we feel upset, it says, ‘Look in the Yellow Pages under…Human Services.’

I ask her, ‘Do you think anyone will do that?’

‘Not really,’ she replies. ‘I don’t think that’s the purpose of it anyway. I don’t think the point is charity but self-protection. Looking into the eyes of a poor person is upsetting because normal people have a conscience. Touching the beggar’s hand, meeting the gaze, makes a connection. It locks you in. It makes it hard to sleep, or hard to pray. If that happened, you might be profoundly changed, the way that Paul was changed. Writing a check to the Red Cross or some other charity can’t do that. What this card is really telling us is, ‘Do not open up your heart. Don’t take a chance! Send a check to us and we will do the touching for you.’ That’s why I think that this is sacrilegious.

‘The message of the gospel is unalterably clear, ‘Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not away.”

Technorati tags: Jonathan Kozol, poverty, gospel