Wow. I have to say I wasn't a big fan of that whole forcing the religion issue down everyone's throat. I know it was meant to be all heartwarming and all, but, as someone who is not a believer per se, I just kept thinking about those three atheists they mentioned. I don't have a problem with the library of religious books, but the attempt at forcing some sort of service made me very uncomfortable for those kids with the same convictions as I. And I find it quite discouraging that none of the three were identified like all the religions were and allowed to explain their beliefs. Almost like there is something to be ashamed about or that no one should be interested. That was upsetting to me.

On another note, though, I'd just like to say that I'm madly in love with Jared. I've never wanted a kid or especially a male kid, but if I did have one, I'd like him to be exactly like Jared.

"And now the whole nation -- pulpit and all -- will take up the war-cry, and shout itself hoarse, and mob any honest man who ventures to open his mouth; and presently such mouths will cease to open. Next the statesmen will invent cheap lies, putting the blame upon the nation that is attacked, and every man will be glad of those conscience-soothing falsities, and will diligently study them, and refuse to examine any refutations of them; and thus he will by and by convince himself that the war is just, and will thank God for the better sleep he enjoys after this process of grotesque self-deception." Mark Twain

>I don't have a problem with the library of religious books, >but the attempt at forcing some sort of service made me very >uncomfortable for those kids with the same convictions as I.

I agree. I totally liked it much better how Morgan went about the town, trying to drum up a prayer meeting, how the invite went out to all and how she left the door open to whoever wanted to come could, and whoever didn't want to didn't have too, and it would not be held against him.

I especially loved watching the expressions on the other's faces as the one little boy said his prayer in "his" native religious tongue language and then followed it up with one in english.

I was shocked that they got three atheists in the mix: that's a higher percentage than you get in the general population. I'd be curious to know who the other two were beside Sophia -- I'd guess a couple of the teens.

I'd also love to know who (and what) got filed under 'Other' during Alex's survey. At another guess, we've got at least one Wiccan.

To me, one of the funniest sequences was Laurel continuing to say they'd take the Bibles -- followed up by finding out that they'd pretty much gotten one of everything. Oopsie.

And Jared is just a little bit quirky. (He'll make an interesting board member in a few years.)

And Jared is just a little bit quirky. (He'll make an interesting board member in a few years.)

ITA, Estee. Seems like one of my favorite parts of the show is the endcap with Jared. He has some of the best scenes of the show -- misquoting Shakespeare, 'it's a twister! it's a twister!', and this week making his own putt putt in the middle of the muddy street. Sweet!!!

Jared lurve!

>I was shocked that they got
>three atheists in the mix:
> that's a higher percentage
>than you get in the
>general population. I'd be
>curious to know who the
>other two were beside Sophia
>-- I'd guess a couple
>of the teens.

You're probably right, but some of these little ones are quite sophisticated in their thinking. I wouldn't be surprised at all if there was at least one of the young ones in the trio.

>To me, one of the funniest
>sequences was Laurel continuing to
>say they'd take the Bibles
>-- followed up by finding
>out that they'd pretty much
>gotten one of everything.
> Oopsie.

And I laughed my azz off every time she said it. One of the reasons I have no objection to little library. Obviously, some of these kids are unclear about the fact that the Bible is not the only only so-called holy book around. *rolls eyes*

>And Jared is just a little
>bit quirky.

Why do you think I adore him so?

(He'll make
>an interesting board member in
>a few years.)

Hey, you've been to the AI and SO forums. I think he's ready now based on that.

"And now the whole nation -- pulpit and all -- will take up the war-cry, and shout itself hoarse, and mob any honest man who ventures to open his mouth; and presently such mouths will cease to open. Next the statesmen will invent cheap lies, putting the blame upon the nation that is attacked, and every man will be glad of those conscience-soothing falsities, and will diligently study them, and refuse to examine any refutations of them; and thus he will by and by convince himself that the war is just, and will thank God for the better sleep he enjoys after this process of grotesque self-deception." Mark Twain

Hey, you've been to the AI and SO forums. I think he's ready now based on that.

Nah. For those two sections, he's way too mature.

I found the cramming of religion down the kids' throats pretty damned offensive, too. And I say that as a moderately religious person. I loved that all of the kids outside the council refused to attend the enforced service. Did my heart good. And the level of ignorance about religion from some of the kids reflected the general populace pretty well, too: the question of "Catholic, Protestant, or other?" elicited responses of "Methodist" and "Well, I know I'm some kind of Christian."

The moment that saved it for me was when Zach (I think) and one of the Christian kids were taking turns reading from Genesis from each of their holy books and realizing that there's a lot of common ground between the religions.

And I was totally NOT surprised to see that some of my favorite kids were Members of the Tribe: Jared, Sophia (albeit Atheist now, raised Jewish), and Zach. (And there's another kid, but he hasn't really registered much with me so far.)

Some of these kids show a lot of maturity. I liked Olivia, Morgan (good choice for gold star), Zach and especially Alex with his survey saying that there is good in every religion and he didn't want Bonanza to turn into the tower of Babel.

Finally we got some insight into Anjay and for the first time I saw why they chose him for the council. Showing his religious celebration of Hinduism was nice.

I don't know who it was but one line that made me laugh was this kid saying something like: "Putting all religions in the same room is a bad idea. It's like putting Democrats and Republicans in the same room. It never works."
What about Congress! Actually, I hope some Congressmen heard that!

Jared is fun. Not only his mini putt: "I got bogey 4" but his: "I'm not the cheering type. I meditate!" Seeing him in an unsteady yoga pose cracked me up.

>Jared is fun. Not only his
>mini putt: "I got bogey
>4" but his: "I'm not
>the cheering type. I meditate!"
>Seeing him in an unsteady
>yoga pose cracked me up.

That was the exact moment that I fell completely head over heels in love with him. I'd really, really liked him before, but that? Best moment, best line, best shot of the whole series for me.

I *heart* Jared. I want to bring him home with me. Think his parents would be willing to give him up for a few years?

"And now the whole nation -- pulpit and all -- will take up the war-cry, and shout itself hoarse, and mob any honest man who ventures to open his mouth; and presently such mouths will cease to open. Next the statesmen will invent cheap lies, putting the blame upon the nation that is attacked, and every man will be glad of those conscience-soothing falsities, and will diligently study them, and refuse to examine any refutations of them; and thus he will by and by convince himself that the war is just, and will thank God for the better sleep he enjoys after this process of grotesque self-deception." Mark Twain

OK, the quote that tickled me the most was the kid (didn't catch the name, the kid who went home) saying that he had to go to the saloon and drink root beer to get his girlfriend off his mind.

Even though that seem to be coached, I burst out laughing.

He (a 9 year old) also said he had loved her since the third grade. OK, now 9 years old usually IS the third grade, right?

The show is more amusing than I thought it would be.

It's hilarious, this show!

My sister called me right after the show last night (we have a mutual love affair with Jared). She watches it every week with my 6-year-old ridiculously precocious niece. She was cracking up because, during the section where they were emphasizing Taylor's laziness and snotty mouth, Caitlin (who has mentioned how much she dislikes Taylor's attitude in the past) got so angry with her that she stood up in the middle of floor in front of the TV and yelled at her at the top of her lungs, "Shut up, you lazy little brat, or I'll send my Aunt Geg out there to teach you some manners! And she will, too!" And she's right. I would. It would include but not be limited to taking her behind the outhouse and pounding the crap out of her when no one was looking.

"And now the whole nation -- pulpit and all -- will take up the war-cry, and shout itself hoarse, and mob any honest man who ventures to open his mouth; and presently such mouths will cease to open. Next the statesmen will invent cheap lies, putting the blame upon the nation that is attacked, and every man will be glad of those conscience-soothing falsities, and will diligently study them, and refuse to examine any refutations of them; and thus he will by and by convince himself that the war is just, and will thank God for the better sleep he enjoys after this process of grotesque self-deception." Mark Twain

Jared - yes he's cute in a geeky sort of way, and precocious as hell...living with a kid like that is a testament to survival trust me LOL My 12yr old is the female version of Jared and I love her to death but she drives me nuts =D

Taylor - the 12yr old was in full comment mode last night, as usual. She stated that she thinks Taylor should come live with us for awhile cause it's "obvious her parents didn't teach her any manners" LOL then she looked at me and said that she knows the stuff Taylor pulls would never be allowed to happen in THIS house hehehe

gotta love kids

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Karma doesn't come back on people because some universal controller-god pushes buttons. It comes back on people because they dig holes for themselves to fall into.