So much to get to, so little time

1) I saw part of a debate between Utah Republicans running for Senate on C SPAN. One of the candidates actually said that when the government does anything it does so at the expense of someone's personal freedom and liberty. He said that even when it does things to help people, the things it does takes away people's freedoms. Ummmm, ooooooo-okay. So I guess according to this guy then ending child labor was a bad thing because we took the freedom to exploit children away from big business. Making get their kids vaccinated denies their children the freedom to contract infectious diseases and making businesses have work place safety rules denies those very businesses the freedom to operate businesses that are hazardous to their employees.

Our government, theoretically, is by the people and for the people and one of it's main functions is to protect the populace so that we can all enjoy our life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Government therefore, is us and we are the government, in theory. In practice however, our government has evolved into a branch of the multi national corporations and it's run not by you and me, but by lobbyists and the people who pay them.

Still, that doesn't mean the idiot from Utah is correct. He's not, in fact, he's so incorrect that he's an idiot. He actually believes the crap Ayn Rand wrote and that Ron Paul says.

2) If the new litmus test to see if you're a 'good patriotic American' is whether or not you denounce Helen Thomas for her remarks on Israel and the Palestinians, then I'm going to be in trouble because I have no intention of denouncing her. Now, before you go crazy and call me anti Semitic and anti American, go back and re-read the previous sentence. Lots of people in this country say crazy shit every day and we don't denounce them, what they are doing is using their freedom of speech. And for those who have trouble understanding what freedom of speech is, it's the following: You can say what you like with the exception of calling for the assassination of the President and Vice President, the violent overthrow of the government, and shouting 'Fire!' in a crowded movie theatre when there is no fire. Other than that you're free to say, write, or read what you like. It doesn't mean that I have to pay attention to you, listen to you, or read the crap you write. Ms. Thomas spoke her mind and shared her opinion, her speech is protected, just like the crazy hateful shit that spews out of the fat drug addict Rush Limbo, Michelle Malkin, Ann Coulter, Pat Robertson, most Christian ministers, and bigots/zealots at Westboro Baptist. I don't agree with any of those people, but I agree that they have a right to say what they like as long as it doesn't break the law. Just like I have the right to make fun of what they say or to ignore what they say.

3) Oh Arizona, it's all about the hate for brown skinned people with you isn't it. You hate the undocumented workers who work power your state's economy, you hate the teachers who speak with an accent, you hate kids learning about their Latin heritage so you took ethnic studies out of the classroom, and now you hate it when brown skinned people see themselves in murals. My friend Spooney had a good suggestion for you hateful people, why don't you just pack up and move to the Midwest where you can be around more white folks like yourselves?

4) Dear BP, the world would like it's ocean back. The fish and waterfowl would like their lives back. The people of the Gulf coast would like their clean beaches back. The fisherman in the Gulf would like their fishing grounds back. And the families of the men killed on your oil rig would like to have their husbands, fathers, brothers, uncles, etc, back. So in closing BP, fuck you. And pony up all your assets, we're going to clean your asses out making you pay for the mess you caused.

5) Hey Elton John, fuck you. You've shown yet again that money is more important to you than principles are. I don't give a shit how much money you raise for HIV/AIDS research, playing at the fat drug addict Rush Limbo's wedding was a stab in every gay man in the USA's back. Fuck you. Fuck off and go polish all the fancy shoes that million dollars is going to buy you. You stopped being culturally relevant about 30 years ago, now go away and stop giving aid and comfort to the enemy of gay people. You bastard.

6) Yo, Obama, grow a pair and stop trying to out Republican the Republicans. You're losing support every time you try to act like them. You lost me, and you're going to lose others if you don't stop pandering and moving to the right.

7) All you Muslims looking for something riot about need to settle down. You evangelicals need to settle down as well. And you Roman Catholics and right wing Jews need to take it easy too. In fact, all of you stop squabbling amongst yourselves and get back to doing what you all do best, hating on us atheists.

8) That skinny chick from the Twi-Lite movies said on the MTV Movie Awards that the Twi-Lite films she's in were 'awesome.' So I can only assume she never learned what the word 'awesome' means.

More Thoughts On The Blogswarm Against Theocracy

For once being early paid off. My first post to the Blog Against Theocracy got up on the BAT blog, but now it looks like others are having troubles, of one sort or another. And I wanted to toss my two cents in on those troubles.

One person, Infidel753, has raised a few hackles with the content and tone of his posts. It seems that some did not take kindly to Infidel753's views on religion in general and many have taken exception with the fact the Infidel753 is a rather zealous atheist. People are getting pissed because Infidel753 is attacking something they hold so dear. Samurai Frog has come to his defense and so shall I.

Many many people are pissed off that someone like Infidel753 even exists. And for him to speak out about his beliefs and to attack religion is the cherry on top of the sundae of their indignation. They say that by attacking their faith that he is attacking them personally, that of course is nonsense. I am smart enough to know that if someone disagrees with one or two or even all of my beliefs, then they are not attacking me personally. Using the logic that says that to attack someones religion is to attack them personally would mean that if you had a different religion than someone else then you are attacking them by not believing the same thing they do. That's nonsense and rational sane people know it.

Sure some atheists are more rabid than others, just like some of your Jeebus followers are more rabid than others. And some Jews are more rabid than others, and some Muslims are more rabid than others.

For the record I have been a Roman Catholic and a United Methodist. I went to a small conservative religious four year liberal arts college where we had to take 12 hours of classes in bible and religion and all the professors in the other classes were required to weave in Jeebus lessons in their classes as well. So it's not like I do not know what your bible says. I do. I know more about it than most followers of Jeebus do. I am quite aware of what Roman Catholics and mainstream Methodists, and since I live in the buckle of the bible belt, what some far right evangelical sects of christianity believe. I've been to all three of those types of churches. And you know what? I have matured enough, thought about it enough, and yes Dorothy, I have evolved enough to know that that shit is not for me. None of it. I reject all stone age religions. I do not need their metaphors in my life. And I reject all religion in general, I do not need it, and I think it is dangerous.

The bible says that if I am not with Jeebus then I am against him. Okay, I can live with that. I have no problem being against this guy
and this guy

although I am in no way against his hat!

But since I am against all religions and their ever more insidious worming into our lives and government, then I regret to say that I am also against this guy even though among all the major religions he seems to me to be the one leader who walks the walk and who is the living embodiment of his religion.

And I too am against this religion, although it's one of the best out there in my opinion.

One of my frequent commenter's left a comment within her main comment that summarises the way you Jeebus people think about us atheists, she said, and I paraphrase, that we would all be such good friends if we could only get together on "this pesky religion issue." I know she meant it as a joke, and she's probably going to be pissed at me now, but it offended me. See, you Jeebus people, and the same is true of your Muslim cousins and others, will never leave us alone. To you people "getting together" on the issue of religion means to you that I accept your faith, whatever kind it may be, and that we will never truly be equals until I do. I am somehow less than you because I do not swallow your beliefs hook line and sinker.

I am perfectly willing to let you be and to look at you and to treat you as my equal, just as you should be with me and my lack of faith in whatever your faith is. I'm not out knocking on doors trying to convert you, so I expect the same thing from you. Your faith is all around me and it's hard for me to escape or get my voice heard on these matters so how about you Jeebus people let voices be heard that disagree with yours and stop trying to stifle anyone who disagrees with you.

And now lets end on a funny note: Years ago when I lived in Knoxville, TN I was at home one afternoon and two middle aged bible toting women came to my door. They knocked and when I opened the door they asked me, "If you died today do you know where you would spend eternity?" Without missing a beat I said, "Hell yes, I'll be spending it in Nutley, New Jersey." They were not amused, I closed the door in their faces anyway.

Seperation of church and state is not only the American way, it's the only sane way we can all get along and move forward.