UPDATE: GORBACHEV NOT A CHRISTIAN?
Posted on March 29th, 2008 by joebib into the Politics, joebib writes categoryIn our continuing effort to remain as journalistically accurate as possible, we offer the following correction:
GORBACHEV DISPELS 'CLOSET CHRISTIAN' RUMORS; SAYS HE IS ATHEIST
Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev made clear this past weekend that he is an atheist after European news agencies last week claimed that he had confirmed his Christian faith during a visit to the tomb of St. Francis of Assisi in Italy.
Gorbachev, the last communist leader of the Soviet Union, confronted speculations that he had been a closeted Christian during an interview with the Russian news agency Interfax.
"Over the last few days some media have been disseminating fantasies – I can't use any other word – about my secret Catholicism, citing my visit to the Sacro Convento friary, where the remains of St. Francis of Assisi lie," Gorbachev said, according to an Interfax article posted Friday.
"To sum up and avoid any misunderstandings, let me say that I have been and remain an atheist,” he stated.
Rumors for decades had circulated that Gorbachev was a Christian after he moved to loosen restrictions on religious worship and expressed to a party congress a year before the communist state dissolved that “spiritual rebirth is as essential to society as oxygen,” according to the Chicago Tribune.
As a result, media agencies had jumped to conclusions when Gorbachev visited St. Francis’ tomb last Wednesday and was seen kneeling for half an hour in silence at the tomb.
But Gorbachev, who was baptized Russian Orthodox as a child, explained that his visit to the tomb was as a tourist and not a pilgrim. He acknowledged the important role religion plays in society and said he looks forward to visiting Orthodox churches in Russia, Catholic and Protestant churches in the United States and Europe, synagogues in Israel and mosques in the Arab world, according to Interfax.
"But all these years, it has never occurred to anyone to list me among followers of any faith on that basis," Gorbachev noted.
Back in Russia, the Russian Orthodox Church seemed unimpressed with Gorbachev’s visit to St. Francis’ tomb.
"In Italy, he spoke in emotional terms, rather than in terms of faith," a spokesman for the Russian Orthodox patriarch Alexei II told the Russian media.
"He is still on his way to Christianity. If he arrives, we will welcome him."
Sorry, Gipper. 
Will Hillary make a similar clarification in August after she loses?
Rumor has it that may not be the only thing she'll clarify. 
-joebib
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March 29th, 2008 at 9:20 am
I have no idea how a Gorby article can be twisted into an excuse for Hillary-bashing. I’m sorry Gorby is not a born-again Christian, joebib, but that’s no excuse to question another person’s faith.
March 29th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
Yeah!
there should be no questioning of some other person’s faith. i know hillary has faith……..in none other than………aaaaaah, yes…….Hillary
March 31st, 2008 at 10:55 pm
Joebib,
I just wanted you to know that the wife and I recently went to the ‘Original Taco House’ on 82ND. I tried the “El Picador Deluxe”. It was pretty good!
Do you have any other favorites there? The restaurant is kinda close to me, so I could try them all.
April 1st, 2008 at 12:20 am
wHEs– You've got me salivating over here, you lucky dog. I rejoice that my culinary preferences — if not my theological positions
— are finally becoming the topic of interest and discussion amid these lofty halls.
As far as other favorites go, I'm afraid my suggestions would be somewhat limited, as I have only ever eaten three dishes at either of the Taco Houses: 1) said El Pic, 2) the standard/classic Tostada, and 3) the Meat-and-Cheese Salad, all of which either already come with — or I smother with — "Pic Sauce." Which is, of course, the key to the unique taste of the food at TH.
They sell it on the side, you know, but it must be kept refrigerated.
It may also interest you to know I have gone to great pains over the years to find out just exactly what they put in that glorious sauce, asking practically every waiter/waitress who ever worked at either location just how they did it. Try as I might, nothing ever seemed to work, as all the "typical white persons" (H/T: BO) who worked there were pretty tight-lipped about the secret recipe.
But the last couple of times I was in there, I was finally able to successfully engage the Hispanic busboys in conversation, and after an hour or so, my innate charm led to eventual — though partial — victory.
The two main ingredients they use are (apparently) "El Pato Sauce" and white vinegar.
Based on that foundation, I have come up with a fair-to-midland imitation which I have named, aptly, "joebib's Secret Sauce," along with a hodge-podge of various spices, including a small amount of La Victoria's (mild) "Taco Sauce," and just a skosh of Taco Bell's "Mild Sauce," both of which can be bought — at least here in NorCal — OTC.
Not exactly the same, but still good enough for when the El Pic lust overwhelms me.
-joebib
April 1st, 2008 at 5:21 am
Norm, I realize that you're relatively new around here, and perhaps aren't aware of my sometimes feeble attempts at humor.
I was just trying to inject a bit of wit into this post — unsuccessfully it seems — and meant no real harm.
But, since you brought it up, I will address your accusation…
I can't help it…she makes it sooo easy.
Just watch any one of her many sound bites, where she tries — unsuccessfully — to camouflage her rabid, Nazi-like personality, and not let show one of her telling, anger-filled, facial expressions which she seems to perpetually be sporting.
FWIW, I think she manifests a huge amount of unresolved and ongoing marital-, emotional-, and gender-driven issues that have pretty much crippled her ability to behave as a normal, well-adjusted, non-angry person.
Issues that I don't want her using the office of President — nor us as her guinea pigs — to eventually channel the urges/side-effects/neuroses thereof into.
What with the myriad of accusations — fair or not — that have been leveled at our current prez in this regard, e.g. his alleged headstrong, freelance, cowboy-like agenda, etc., one would think we would all want to take a collective and long, hard look at just exactly who we want to be running this country over the next 4 (at least) years.
And for my money, it sure ain’t Ms. Rodham-Clinton.
Rant over.
-joebib
April 4th, 2008 at 6:07 pm
JB
The length of your post about the ‘Original Taco House’ made me realize I had hit a soft spot!
I’ll go back and try the Taco Salad next.
Pardon me for not biking to the feast. The weather here in Portland has been quite cold and rainy, usually with a nasty wind blowing from the gorge.
April 5th, 2008 at 6:26 am
Hey Joebib,
Again, I’m not sure what is funny about villifying another person’s faith — even a prominent, controversial politician. It certainly doesn’t seem like Christ-like behavior to me. None of us are worthy to judge another’s faith.
And be honest, you did intend harm and assumed that all readers share your irrational perspective. I’m not a defender of Hillary, but none of the issues you have against her seemed to be based in rationality. What’s Nazi-like about speaking at a rally? What makes you qualified to determine whether someone you haven’t met has marital-, emotional-, and gender-driven issues? Your criticisms and agenda just seem bizarre and irrational to me. Maybe you should listen to less right-wing media?
April 6th, 2008 at 12:29 am
Norm-
You are, of course, entitled to your opinion, and I stand by my take on Ms. Rodham-Clinton. And as to my attempt at humor, I guess mr. winky (
) was lost on you.
In regard to manifesting Christ-like behavior, you may be right. I still haven't come to any hard and fast conclusion as to how far one may criticize another, at least in the realm of politics or humor, and this blog reflects my first attempts in publicly doing so.
However, unless I miss my guess the point is moot, and will be rendered academic — at least for me — fairly soon as I don't see her being able to defeat Sen. McCain, at least not this year, and from the rumblings I daily hear in the "left-wing-media," the DNC is rapidly coming to the same conclusion.
FWIW — as is my practice with most opinions/positions differing from my own, whether political, moral or theological — I study/listen to far more from the other side, in this case, the "left," than I do the "right."
-joe