Leftist Christian

Methods—First of all, there’s nothing I don’t like on this list, all the way down to Los Lobos. As people who make such lists often say, things could be placed differently on different days. As I was typing AIR at number 49, I thought that perhaps it could be higher. But if I were to be honest, I didn’t listen to it that much throughout the year. For me, that urge to listen to it figures in, and an album propelling an interest in an artist’s entire back catalog says something. I sort of group things by tens then weigh them against the things immediately around them. That way, I feel comfortable making an ordered list as opposed to the orderless ones I see here and there. Lists are subjective, but mine is best. 1. Modest Mouse—Good News for People Who Love Bad News This would be one of those aforementioned ones that made me buy everything else by the artist. And everything else shows that this is the breakthrough album. They’ve always had a bit of a Pixies vibe but have added a Tom Wa...

Somewhere in Florida, a Seinfeld appreciation society has placed a sign celebrating a “Festivus for the rest of us.” They had a responsibility to find a good aluminum pole to observe the holiday properly, though. I am amused, not offended. But I always hear a lot of people this time of year bemoaning the fact that the meaning of Christmas is being lost in the increasing use of “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.” “They’re taking Christ out of Christmas,” goes the complaint. Many religions and cultures seem to have some important holiday around this time, though—Hanukkah and Kwanza being the foremost. There is, of course, also New Year’s Day on the horizon and Thanksgiving not long gone. So “Happy Holidays” seems quite appropriate. At root, this is probably a longing for somewhere we can never go again—and I strongly contend we shouldn’t want to. We are not in a majority culture any more; we shouldn’t stand for these attempts to impose a majority agenda on those outside of i...

We have few thrills these days. There was nothing but despair for us immediately following the depressing election. Woe is us. I wrote before about how at least the rest of the world seems to hold Bush responsible for his actions. We can work ourselves into a tizzy over a blow job, but can’t seem to trouble ourselves too much over corporate empire-building and the untold deaths that it costs. So I find it funny, one, that many have hopped off the Bush train. A soldier may be facing trial for wearing a shirt claiming “Like a cabinet member, I resign.” God bless the soldiers who resist when their consciences so convict. The hawks (or chicken hawks) would shame them for not following orders. But it’s about time someone stopped to question—and it almost looks like more soldiers are doing so than those who magnetize their support of the soldiers on their bumpers. Maybe those signs instead should read, “Support the status quo.” Rudolph Guiliani might have thought that by touting Bernard Ke...

George Bush is sort of the opposite of Christ (anti-Christ?), who remarked that a prophet is never respected in his own land. 51% of people like George Bush fine here, but when he goes to other countries he seems to run into problems. Mean-spirited Canadians held up signs that said, “Please leave.” The sensational story from South America was that he received a death threat, but the more substantial story was the massive number of protesters. I hope George has a demanding itinerary over the next four years. Shield him as his people might, I hope George gets a real sense of the resounding distaste for his administration that I suspect well over half the rest of the world shares. On the “Who’ll Jump Ship?” watch, add Tom Ridge to the list of Colin Powell, John Ashcroft, and others. Is it too much to hope that Rumsfeld will join this group? Unfortunately, I’m sure Condi’s not going anywhere. I’m torn, though. Do I want a slightly improved Bush administration, or do I want them to bury t...