Raoul’s Two Cents: April 29, 2022
Twitter-pated in Springtime
WARNING: Political Thought. Skip to the jokes if you aren’t into this.
The big news nowadays is Elon Musk’s purchase of Twitter. The gregarious billionaire claimed he needed to do it to advance freedom of speech which he believes has been suppressed by big media for years. He encourages a free discourse among people from all sectors of the political landscape including people who disagree with him. Sounds fair, doesn’t it? That should be a good thing, right? So why are there so many upset beyond words? What’s really going on here?
NICODEMUS
Nicodemus was a Pharisee who had been witnessing the many miracles of Jesus. Under the cover of night he visits Jesus to question him about teachings that did not jive with his world view. That was very mature of Nicodemus — to be open to the possibility that his beliefs were faulty. Technically, this passage describes Jesus as the light in a world of darkness but there seems to be a parallel application with TRUTH in a world of lies.
“… Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.” — John 3:19-20
WHO ARE YOU?
Where you stand with this issue about Twitter reveals a lot about you. If you think it isn’t fair for everyone to share their opinion, then you don’t really believe in fairness and equality. If you disrupt speeches or prevent further discussions just because you don’t agree with the direction of the conversation, then you’re not very mature are you? Are you afraid of the truth?
Scripture doesn’t say that Nicodemus changed his mind that fateful evening. Eventually however, I believe he was mature enough to move over to “the other side.” in Chapter 7:50 we see the egotistical Pharisees cursing Jesus because His teachings did not carry their seal of approval. Then in comes old Nick to the rescue who defends Jesus. Ata boy Nick! Then in John 19:39 we see Nick again. This time he is helping the women prepare Jesus’ broken body for burial. In both instances this Pharisee was showing his allegiance to Jesus in broad daylight. What a beautiful progression from dark to light.
HOPE
I hope Elon Musk indeed opens the floodgate of free ideas … good or bad. I hope we all have meaningful discussions. I hope the great divide between political parties start to narrow and begin to heal our country. I hope we learn to give grace to each other’s opinion. I hope for TRUTH and common sense to be obvious in the light of day for only then will truth set us free.
But this is just me.
TGIF people!
Raoul
Joke of the Week
Thanks to Peter Paul of S Pasadena, CA
Videos of the week
FUNNY: A cute video of 2 naughty brothers caught red handed by their Dad.
FUNNY: Tom of Pasadena, shared this classic video about 2 very strange cops.
Parting Shots
Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA
Thanks to Rodney of Manitoba, B.C.
Thanks to Diego of Mexico City
Heather
May 2, 2022 at 12:10 pm
Yep, Hope springs eternal. But we need more than hope. We need people who can look at the horrible situation created by people who actually want to destroy the American way. Without one shot, we are letting people enter the USA and bankrupt our economy, healthcare providers and under cut wages to take jobs away from our citizens who own property who may lose their homes, cars etc. and become homeless. Who doesn’t understand that? A child can figure this out!
Did I hear chicken little say, “the skys failing”?
Tom
May 2, 2022 at 12:11 pm
Thanks Raoul. Intro was brilliant as usual with Wisdom and Understanding. I hope Musk succeeds in making us more cooperative and willing to listen to each other without jumping to conclusions. I listen to all views right ,left and center and as my Dad once told me.
“Car batteries need a right and left post to operate.” Society sometimes works the same way. Let’s get together and work towards a solution. Tom of Pasadena.
Hilda
May 2, 2022 at 12:11 pm
Amen to your political thought!
Vanessa
May 2, 2022 at 12:12 pm
I rarely have time to reach your wonderful columns but spent a few minutes reading today’s article and it is brilliantly written. God has given you such a gift of communication. Well done! Someday I will have the time to sit down and read all the TGIF additions I have not been able to read yet. This was an especially good one!
Vanessa
Karl
May 2, 2022 at 12:12 pm
I find it hard to understand the criticism of a guy who created the most revolutionary electric car company in history (good for the environment, right), along with some of the most revolutionary and eco-friendly battery technology (also good for the environment right?), a space exploration company (Few can complain that space exploration and the development of science is a bad thing), and now he wants Twitter to give free speech to all (Free speech just might be the single most important element of a functioning democratic society).
I do think I understand it, those opposed to Elon Musk purchase of Twitter are likely either against free speech because it goes against criminally corrupt agendas, or people who don’t realize that they are backing such agendas.
To your health and wealth,
Karl
Oscar
May 2, 2022 at 12:20 pm
Hello Raoul, TGIF Musk 🙏👍👍👍 hopefully America will soon start rewarding good behavior again by just allowing us to live free under the Law. Hopefully they stop punishing good people and hold bad people accountable for their intentional bad actions. The America I grew up in always made it easier to follow God’s Laws. Now the Far left Government wants to make it easier to follow the Devils desires without fear of the consequences from not only our Government but also God.
God will not let the Devil succeed or will he let us self destruct without him taking his church first. God decides our future not the Government. We’re still a nation under God and the nation is bigger than the Government and God is bigger of the biggest of anything.
That’s what I believe. 🙏🌎🇺🇸🙏👍😊