17 February 2014

The Origin of "Left" and "Right"

I have often wondered why it is that Conservatives are called the "right" and Liberals are called the "left".  But then I read this verse in the Bible:

"The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left." Ecclesiastes 10:2 (NIV)

Thus sayeth the Lord. Amen.
Can't get any simpler than that.


Spelling Lesson:

The last four letters in American..........I Can
The last four letters in Republican........I Can
The last four letters in Democrats.........Rats

End of lesson.

Test to follow on November 6, 2014.


Let's agree to set November as "rodent removal month."


h/t Mom

13 comments:

bornfreev said...

Regarding your comments about "Right" and "Left" ...

Literally, I don't think the Lord meant his statement to be taken in a political sense. In fact, wasn't Jesus sort of like a pacifist? Turn the other cheek and all...?

In France, where the terms originated, the Left has been called "the party of movement" and the Right "the party of order."

There is general consensus that the Left includes progressives, communists, social-liberals, greens, social-democrats, socialists, democratic-socialists, left-libertarians, secularists, feminists, autonomists, anti-imperialists, anti-capitalists, and anarchists,and that the Right includes conservatives, reactionaries, neoconservatives, traditionalists, capitalists, neoliberals, right-libertarians, social-authoritarians, monarchists, theocrats, nationalists, Nazis (including neo-Nazis) and fascists.

Rev. Paul said...

Well, aside from the fact that this was entirely intended to be humorous ... the "turn the other cheek" instruction is for when Christians are persecuted for being Christians. He never intended for us to be door-mats for others' political beliefs - or for any other reason.

Again, it was intended as a joke.

PioneerPreppy said...

Hmm yet Christian teachings are almost always what we would call Conservative anyway. Teach em to fish kinda stuff. Pacifistic yes in many ways but not wealth redistributive theft.

Rev. Paul said...

I'm not going to spend too much time arguing with a suspiciously troll-like comment, Preppy. Anyone who thinks the National Socialist Party of Germany (Nazi) is somehow conservative is obviously either parroting or cut-and-pasting their way into a lengthy comment. I have better things to do.

But Christianity is radical in that it teaches that people cannot make themselves better without divine help. :) It's conservative in teaching that people must be responsible, peaceable, and respectful.

And your final observation is correct, too. Thanks!

PioneerPreppy said...

You're right RP I didn't read her entire comment.

Monarchist? Really? There are many things out there that cannot be placed left or right because they were conceived long before our current left/right philosophy was. People who cannot figure that out are just using them to muddy the waters typically.

Rev. Paul said...

Agreed, Preppy. Thanks, again!

Cathy said...

Rev. Paul. I know The Bible as the Good Book and have always loved the wisdom . . the admonitions to be and do good . . . but I had to google that Ecclesiastes quote to make sure you weren't pulling our legs. Amazing.

Old NFO said...

Heh... That joke went off the rails in a hurry didn't it... :-)

Cathy said...

P.S. even if it was meant to be humorous :)

Rev. Paul said...

Old NFO - indeed. But that's how humorless trolls respond to pointed humor. I'll not lose sleep over it. :)

Cathy, I understand. I'm glad it made you look up the verse, too. (wink, wink, smile)

Rob said...

Bravo

Sandy Livesay said...

Rev. Paul,

Love the lesson, and bible verse :-)

Rev. Paul said...

Thanks, Rob. :)

Thank you, Sandy. It seems ... appropriate.