Operator, Information, Connect Me With the Man: Sunday Songs

With Senator Kennedy's memorials and eulogies, especially the President's much has been made of his faith. He did have one even as the "Liberal Lion." His was based on fairness and giving. He is, after all, the author of the Ryan White Act to provide funds for AIDS services. He was a divorced Catholic who supported reproductive rights and rights for gay people, but a Catholic nonetheless. He was devout in that he sincerely believed in elevating the marginalized.

We have been held hostage by simplistic and ignorant religious outloooks for far too long. That doesn't mean that everyone must adhere to Mr. Kennedy's every thought. No one should be that dogmatic. We do need to abandon the narrow concept of what God is. No one has a direct line. There are some very basic tenets to Christianity if only Christians knew what they are.

Not too long ago (Spring 2008) the very religious Jimmy Carter spoke out about it in promoting a book written on that very subject/

Q; You’re a Christian, but you don’t have a problem with gay men and lesbians as many other Christians do. Why?

I’m a worshipper of Jesus Christ, who never mentioned homosexuals in any way—certainly not in a deleterious fashion. And when it has been mentioned in the New Testament, it’s been combined with things like selfishness or something like that. So I’ve never looked upon it as any sort of reason to condemn a person. I think it’s an inherent characteristic just like other things that we do with our lives.



Go here for Mr. Carter's illuminating interview in The Advocate.

Hence, the Manhattan Transfer's joyous music about getting in touch with Jesus.

Todd Rundgren is also here to answer that call with "Hello, It's Me," because if there was a Jesus, he probably looked something like Todd ... he should have been at least that intelligent.

For good measure, Brenda Holloway's version of the great Smokey Robinson song, "Operator" rounds out the trio with emphasis on the idea that if you're going to call someone make sure they're there to accept the charges.