The Lonely Goatherd Blog And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats - Matthew 25:32
Up to the minute notes on the current state of free thinking and free living: Kentucky moonshine - original analysis and reporting from MoreThings, and all round pop culture museum of sight and sound - photo galleries, mp3 and video downloads.
Al Barger and MoreThings - getting people's goats since 1998.
Live free or die!
----
I wouldn't want to ask people to just give me money cause they like my website, but do please take a quick look at Barger's Boutique. You might find yourself a little something-something for 2 or 3 bucks that you just can't resist! Any of the round images you find around MoreThings will get you to an Amazon page to buy my stuff and help ol' Al keep the lights on.
Links
To explicitly state the obvious, these external links go to interesting and provocative websites, but they speak for themselves. I don't necessarily agree with anything they say - especially that no-goodnik Richard Marcus.
*************
All original content on MoreThings.com copyright 2008 Albert Barger or the respective authors
January 09, 2003
Alright, quit whining- I'll give you some attention aka Hey! I'm a voodoo doll! Is that anything like a Voodoo Child? You may remember that back in August there was a Palestenian-American from Chicago name of Ray Hanania, among other things a fledgling stand up comic, who got about half a second of national attention for putting up a huge hissy fit after getting dumped from a scheduled 10 minute segment opening for Jackie Mason at a local show.
Many of us VRWC types here in blogland were pretty skeptical of Mr. Hanania, including me. However, I did go to the additional bother of writing to him personally, conscientiously printing his responses next to my criticism. The last time I wrote about him was September 4. [See links on the whole Mason dust-up.] I hadn't given him any thought recently.
Apparently I made a rather more lasting impression on Mr. Hanania. A Mr. Richard Fetter of Fort Lee, New Jersey wrote in to point out that he's repeatedly invoked my name out of the blue on his site as an object of hatred.
Guess I really got his goat when I detailed exactly which actions and statements of his were fulfilling the negative stereotypes of his ethnic group. However, pointing out his specific personal behavior very precisely does NOT constitute racism, but the exact opposite; it indicates individualism- being judged by your own behavior rather than presumptions based on group membership.
"Not everyone is as hateful as "al barger" who has become a great voodoo doll representing hatred and bigotry. If you can put a needle in the doll and make the hateful thoughts of all the al bargers of the world go away, this would be a better place. Israelis and Palestinians would be back at the peace table hugging rather than trying to kill each other." This was dated December 19- two and half months after last I mentioned his name. Apparently the problem is that the likes of ol' Al down on the farm in Indiana are goading the Israelis into making the Palestenians come murder them.
I am proud to merit the spot of being the "great voodoo doll" over perhaps more obvious blog figures such as Charles at Little Green Footballs, say. Indeed "al barger, al Qaeda, what's the difference except a few letters?"
Mr. Hanania is a native born American living in Chicago. Yet, his writing clearly indicates that he identifies himself much more as a a poor victimized Palestenian than as a free American- which would much better describe his existential circumstances. He could choose to think of himself whichever way he likes, yet he prefers to consider himself a victim. Criminy, Jackie Mason didn't want this unknown, non-professional comic opening his set in Chicago, and the guy's carrying on like he's been hearded into a refugee camp. Damn it man, you're a rich American with a house and a garage with two cars to put in it, so quit your whining.
Damn, but there are not very many things more disgusting than a 49 year old man pouting and complaining like a little girl over a little criticism. Show some pride- get a slight grip on your emotions, at least enough to TRY to have rational conversation.
Thank you Ray for the recognition. The only thing though is that if you're going to declare me to be "one of the biggest haters using a blog to spew inaccurate information and racist attacks" you would increase your credibility by quoting and linking to and correcting some of my specifically inaccurate and racist attacks. Please show me one factual inaccuracy in anything I've ever written about you, or Arabs and Muslims ever. Thanks.
