U R gonna love this: Sting claims Obama sent by God

[sockii]

Did someone say popcorn?



But just to put a little more fuel on the fires, I do tend to think it's quite different to say you pray someone can do their job vs. saying that you think that someone has been sent by God...

PS: Has anyone seen "This Is It" yet? I really want to go this weekend. Not sure I can find any friends to tag along with me, alas...

[njperry]

Oh my. A thread involving God AND politics AND Sting.

I think I am going to avoid this one (even though I posted the first reply in it).

I try to keep my religious and political views out of sc.net, although I do speak about Sting.

[yobculture]

[quote="TOWOS"]Oh, but I do like the comment! I just never believed in Miracles. I know Stew comes from a GOP milieu and watches Fox News. Now THAT I don't like, but nobody is perfect. (Except Sting, of course... )[/quote]

Ha! As we all know, Sting is nowhere near perfect; in fact, he makes incredibly stupid and pretentious comments all the time. And that's one of the reasons why I dumped the Stingus forum years ago. There were too many worshippers who refused to believe their idol did any wrong. Sadly, I think that happens a lot here, too.

And thank you, TOWOS, for keeping the conversation civil. I realize my comments could be taken the wrong way.

[quote="sockii"]But just to put a little more fuel on the fires, I do tend to think it's quite different to say you pray someone can do their job vs. saying that you think that someone has been sent by God...[/quote]

Um... The interviewer said Sting was JOKING. The same way Stewart's comment was "hyperbole."


I guess "hyperbole" is better than a "joke."

[smudge]

[quote="sockii"]Did someone say popcorn?

[url=http://www.forumammo.com/cpg/albums/userpics/10062/popcornic3ba6.gif][img]http://www.forumammo.com/cpg/albums/userpics/10062/popcornic3ba6.gif[/img][/url]

But just to put a little more fuel on the fires, I do tend to think it's quite different to say you pray someone can do their job vs. saying that you think that someone has been sent by God...

PS: Has anyone seen "This Is It" yet? I really want to go this weekend. Not sure I can find any friends to tag along with me, alas... [/quote]

Mmmm. Popcorn. Good call. We're going to need that salty goodness given the other ingredients here

You're right about that distinction Sockii. A fair point. However, it might be helpful to understand the british tendency to be very, very casual - sloppy even - about religious terminology in common speech. My british-english translation of Sting's remark about Obama being sent from God is "I think it is a good thing for the world at large that this person has gained the office at this time." There will be diverse opinions here on that I'm sure, but I don't think that the quote means that Mr Sting believes President Obama has been sent by a superior being. (Insha'Allah he'll make that clear at some point )

More popcorn please - hope you find a movie-buddy for "This Is It" sockii.

[nancyrose]

[quote="TOWOS"]Oh, but I do like the comment! I just never believed in Miracles. I know Stew comes from a GOP milieu and watches Fox News. Now THAT I don't like, but nobody is perfect. (Except Sting, of course... )[/quote]


In the interest of accuracy, what Stewart said was that he watches both Fox News AND MSNBC, which to my ears suggests something entirely different than that Fox is his sole news source. (Actually there's only one news source amongst those two....)

Pass the popcorn. Extra salt, hold the butter.

[yobculture]

[quote="smudge "]There will be diverse opinions here on that I'm sure, but I don't think that the quote means that Mr Sting believes President Obama has been sent by a superior being.[/quote]


Exactly!!!!

Basically, both Sting AND Stewart used religious terminology to declare their support for Obama. Sting JOKINGLY said that Obama was "sent by God." And Stewart EXAGGERATED when he said he "worships" Obama.

No need to call anyone an "idiot," right?

Not that it makes any difference, but Sting is a declared agnostic and I'm pretty certain Stewart is an agnostic, too. (One of Stewart's favorite books, The Blind Watchmaker, is one of MY favorite all time books and it was written by evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins. If you don't know who Dawkins is, look him up. It may shed some light on Stewart's beliefs.)

So I think that proves that their religious terminology was used for dramtic effect.

[TOWOS]

Thanks, Yob - We should grab coffee at Peet's some time Those who know me as a person know that I'm all for civil discussion, and those who don't think so, well, they really only think they know me from my "persona" on this forum, that is, through the cyberlens.

I agree that Sting shouldn't have been called an idiot. Idiot he certainly is not. Having way too much faith and hope in Big O is something many people are prone to do now. People need hope because things are really frickin'bad.

Nancy - I know he also watches MSCBSN (?sp ) too to get both sides - it's just that neither I, nor nobody I know would even dream of watching Fox News as "the other way of expressing political opinions". He reads Dawkins, and this author sometimes borders on the psychotic IMHO... But that's obviously his prerogative to watch/read what he wants (I suspect sometimes it can be the Cartoon Network??)

[smudge]

[quote="yobculture"][quote="smudge "]There will be diverse opinions here on that I'm sure, but I don't think that the quote means that Mr Sting believes President Obama has been sent by a superior being.[/quote]


Exactly!!!!

Basically, both Sting AND Stewart used religious terminology to declare their support for Obama. Sting JOKINGLY said that Obama was "sent by God." And Stewart EXAGGERATED when he said he "worships" Obama.

No need to call anyone an "idiot," right?

Not that it makes any difference, but Sting is a declared agnostic and I'm pretty certain Stewart is an agnostic, too. (One of Stewart's favorite books, The Blind Watchmaker, is one of MY favorite all time books and it was written by evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins. If you don't know who Dawkins is, look him up. It may shed some light on Stewart's beliefs.)

So I think that proves that their religious terminology was used for dramtic effect.[/quote]

The other thing about brits - we're pedants. Sorry yobculture, here comes the pedantry! Knowing that a person has read and enjoyed a book which puts forward the case for a non-theistic view of the planet doesn't indicate anything other than the fact that they've read and enjoyed the book. Best not to speculate on an individual's religious (or non-religious) persuasion on that basis. I think you're right about the 'dramatic effect', although I'd term it 'culturally influenced hyperbole' (and I happen to agree with the underlying sentiments of both gentlemen's statements).

ETA: This is turning into a multiple popping of popcorn discussion.

[yobculture]

[quote="smudge"]Best not to speculate on an individual's religious (or non-religious) persuasion on that basis.[/quote]

You are absolutely right, smudge. I just remember that I was shocked when I found out that "The Blind Watchmaker" was on his list of books that "mean a lot to me." (His quote.) Also on his list was atheist Isaac Asimov's "Asimov's Guide to the Bible." I have a hunch but I'll leave it at that...

(By the way, Dawkins' "Climbing Mount Improbable" is a MUCH better book than "The Blind Watchmaker.")

[quote="TOWOS"]We should grab coffee at Peet's some time[/quote]

I'm always up for Peet's coffee! Seriously, TOWOS, I always enjoy reading your posts. And I enjoy your digs at Sting, too. They're funny and (almost) always spot-on!

[TOWOS]

[quote] Seriously, TOWOS, I always enjoy reading your posts. And I enjoy your digs at Sting, too. They're funny and (almost) always spot-on!/quote]

Why, thank you, dear. Alas, I still have to perfect my art of Perfect Digging - the Bard is always offering new opportunities and a girl cannot resist....

[vespapod]

Sting needs a revelation from god with that Christmas album!!!

[smax]

have you seen on the bottom of the screen during the Jacko "This Is It" trailer it says "contains infrequent scary images"? presumerably that's everytime Jacko is on screen...

this debate kinda reminds me of the one which arose during the 80's when Sir Bob, BonoVox and Gordo, and to a lesser extent UK artists like Billy Bragg and Paw Wellah, were encouraged by the media (who were starting to focus on individuals' view and personal tragedy etc) to answer questions about the 'state of the planet'... pretty soon the debate about whether 'pop' stars should voice their views, "who do they think they are ?" etc, grew...

with gordo tho, i think it can be dangerous to read too much into the written word, he loves a wry remark, or a self-depreciating lift of the eyebrow and a sideways tilt of the head....

i'm reminded of the clip of him which was on the 'live!' DVD/Video where he says something like "message in abottle is andys and stewarts favourite song. Don't ask me how I know, I just know, It is, right?"... some bods who have watched have called him an arrogant prick on the strength of that but you can see that he's joking....

[63falcon]

If folks haven't noticed I'm conservative-Libretarian yet.......
So, the meeting of 2 Narcissists , and that's as far as I'll go on this enjoyable music Board! At least Mr. Sting is a solid musician...........

I thoroughly enjoy and love all my friends back here in OH whether we agree on much or not! Never have insisted that folks agree w/ me-just don't whack me:lol: !

[Mrs. Gradenko]

He's a little young to be going senile on us.

[policerule]

Cheesits Christ and for fuck's sake.

Put a sock in it, man.