May 18, 2007
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CRAZY IS AS CRAZY DOES
Yesterday I saw a guy riding a bicycle in a Santa Claus suit with a sign on his back that said “will sing naked for money.”
He was getting a lot of attention and I was kind of jealous because I’ve been making the same offer for years and I haven’t had a single taker.
I saw him early in the morning riding down the middle of a busy street near my office. I saw him again on my way home riding in the middle of a pack of about 30 bicyclists all decked out in their lycra suits and helmets. The two sightings were 9 hours and 20 miles apart. You’ve got to admire that kind of commitment to being crazy.
I really don’t mind harmless crazy people. My mom was a harmless crazy person. She was convinced that a secret network of real estate agents was spying on her and she used to put my underwear in the refrigerator after she did my laundry, but those are stories for another day. The point is that mom would have never dreamed of hurting another person and I doubt the bicycling Santa would either. In fact, he seemed to be enjoying the attention and every time I picture him in that group of riders I laugh out loud.
So why are there so many crazy people in the world that do want to hurt other people? And why does it always seem to be about religion? I’m so tired of turning on the radio or the TV and hearing about people who have killed/want to kill/plan to kill/are hearing voices telling them to kill – some other person/race/sexual orientation/political party/sports team affiliation – all in the name of God.
I know it’s been this way forever. There was the inquisition, the crusades, the holocaust, and a million other horrible examples. I know the only difference today is that in a world with the internet and instantaneous world-wide communications the crazies simply get a bigger pulpit. It just gets really depressing sometimes.
I’m a total news junkie but I’m going to do myself a little favor this weekend. I’m not going to turn on CNN, MSNBC, or NPR. I’m not going to open a newpaper, or even surf the web. Instead, I’m going to watch a couple of Mel Brooks DVD’s, drink a few glasses of wine, and think about the bicycling Santa.
Anybody want to join me?
(I might even be persuaded to sing naked!)
Comments (29)
I love it. Yep, you can do without all the disinformation. We’re just animals with an opposable thumb, language and a cerebral cortex to use as a weapon. I think humans will annihilate themselves and felines will grow smarter and take over the world. They’re nearly perfect now anyway. Can you imagine the trouble humans would be in if cats were just as smart?
I get the same feeling, particularly when I hear about conflicts involving Israeli/Palestinians/Hamas/Lebanon. I’m like, “Come on already…enough!!”
*raises a glass and toasts you*
isnt’ it a bit warm to be wearing a santa suit? but it does remind me to get out my bicycle
I’ll join you!!! It sounds like a fun time! And if you want to sing naked, you can…but, I’ll probably avert my eyes! I don’t want to be incensed like Ethel. (Sorry! Dumb Ray Stevens joke! You know, The Streak?! Yah, well, never mind. You’re probably too young to remember that one)
Your posts always bring out a range of emotions in me. You have a great way of sharing something so important and sobering and thought provoking, but also making me laugh. I agree with all that you’ve said. I quit watching news channels a long time ago. They cause me too much stress and sadness.
Well, what time should I arrive for the Mel Brooks, drinking, singing, nekkid party??!!!
Oh…and can I bring the dip?
Hello..found you through “Over 40 and Loving It” – I like what I read and hope you don’t mind if I stop back by from time to time….
Love the crazy but harmless people in the world….we are what make life fun!
^^^^^ like stated above – harmless crazy people are great for a laugh!
I think cutting back on information input would be the most help. I think human behavior is exactly the same as it has alway been, only know we know about ALL of it, INSTANTLY! This has not made our lives better.
Why people go off the deep end while cloaking it as God’s will has always baffled me. Perfect excuse, I suppose. Unimpeachable alibi and that sort of thing. What I don’t do however, is hold that idiocy up as being God’s fault. People choose for themselves and are responsible thereafter.
I think all of us harmless “crazies” have to conform to an unusual way of living in order to keep the harmful crazies away from us. On that note, I will be over in about 10 minutes in my Wonder Woman costume!
Now, this is ONE invitation I can’t refuse:)
I have to take a break from the news sometimes too, it just gets so depressing hearing about all the crazy extremists out there. We have a few harmless crazies in our family too, and you’re right, they can be very entertaining. So what time is the party? I sure could use a glass of wine and a few laughs! (And BTW, thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers, I really appreciate it!)
Lately, it truly seems like bad news, more bad news, and yet some more. If we could DO something about it, that would help. Otherwise, your idea is the only real way to refresh and get some fresh perspective. Don’t you think the enemy uses God’s name for shameful acts?… just like my neighbor… he does something naughty, then says I did it. The devil puts ideas in people’s heads and makes them think it is God. He is always going around trying to impersonate God. I don’t like him at all. He is a creep…. “Be wise as serpents, harmless as doves…” BTW – my dog got a snake two days ago in the backyard. Glad I didn’t see it.
Let me know how much money we’re talking about and I might hang a sign like that as well. ***desperation hits***
I’m not crazy either, just broke! (Darn commission sales…)
In honor of you, I had taken off my clothes and will spend the rest of the day singing showtunes. No news allowed.
I agree, the dangerous crazies get waaaaay too much media attention. So do no-talent celebrities (remind me, why is that blonde chick famous again?). A moratorium on news is a great idea.
I told Gene about your party. He’ll be over in a few.
Can we watch High Anxiety? I just love that film. A Hitchcock send up to be savored again and again. Nurse Deisel is my fav. How far wrong can you go with Cloris Leachman and triangle shaped bras? Do you have to sing naked? I mean the naked I don’t mind, but I’ve heard you sing….
Count me in. But considering your mood, you might want to avoid “History of the World.”
I myself am a harmless crazy person but I didn’t get the message that I needed to be in Broken Arrow in my santa suit this week.
This harmless crazy person will join you…but only if we can watch “Blazing Saddles” twice. And add “Airplane” to the mix.
This was a most entertaining read! It was also very well-written.
It reminded me of a day I was driving on I-10 through Tucson. On the Eastbound lane there must have been about 500 Santas on Harleys! I was to find out later that every year they do a ride as a pledge drive for children’s toys. How cool that a group typically synonymous with intimidation would instead do something so noble?
Sounds like a plan!!! Let’s go!!!
Have a wonderful Sunday!!!
Ha ha! Too bad I didn’t get to see you and visualize THAT this morning… (-:
I too did not watch any news at all this past weekend, it was great, my weekend was so much more peaceful, now if I could just break this habit of having to read the paper from cover to cover!
Hysterical! Just dropped in from prairiecowboy’s blog! I laughed so hard! I gave up the Wall Street Journal because it was beginning to depress me, but I’m hooked on NPR. Can’t help it. For a stupidity break I recommend Monty Python’s Flying Circus. Absolutely nothing politically correct about a single thing in it!
I think the difference between harmless crazy people and harmful crazy people are that harmful crazy people uphold their ideals above human life. They think that an ideal is more important than human life, so they are willing to kill and hurt others or even themselves in order to propagate their ideals. In a way these people are actually trying to advocate what they think will be best for the world, so most of the times they are able to justify the harm they are causing by thinking that this will be compensated for by a greater end. For example, if only everyone subscribes to such-and-such a religion then then the world will be a better place and if some people have to die in order to get the rest of the world to believe in that religion then it will be worth the effort. Not that I’m condoning such actions or way of thinking, I’m just trying to give my best explanation of why this occurs. People want to think that there is a bigger cause to believe in, something eternal and lasting. So if you find the right cause, then sacrificing a few mortal lives do not matter because in the end the greater cause will be more important. Does that make sense?
You know good and well you have the urge to bike nekkid aroud town! Just do it!
Since I have been absent and ma trying to “catch up”, I will comment on your lastest 3 offerings in one foul swoop…so to speak.
1. When my son did his 3rd tour somewhere “over there”, (he’s intellegence, airborne, and some other secret stuff), I stopped watching the news. I am now happier and gloriously ignorant.
2. I’d gone without TV for nearly a year…I didn’t watch much when I had one…but, after buying this new TV, I’ve turned into an Animal Planet, Spike TV, CSI, Criminal Minds, junkie. My addiction is playing in the background at this very moment. I need an intervention…someone help me!
3. I am not crazy…my perception of reality is just a bit different…but I get along really, really well with crazy people. There is a difference between crazy and evil. Killing in God’s name is evil…crazy people aren’t crazy enough to piss off the big Guy by killing other people in His name. He frowns on that sort of thing, you know!