Crisis in Pakistan

If you want to donate money for the current crisis occurring in Pakistan and would like to ensure your money goes to a secular organization, you can do so here.

Laura Carder Won't Go Away

I noticed Laura Carder on the ballot once again, running for Precinct Committee Officer and she won. A quick recap of Ms. Carder, she ran and lost for State Rep in 2006, State Rep again in 2008 and for District 81 school board last year. She's been kind enough to leave up her website promoting her run for the school board, hilarious read, highly recommended.

Meaningless Statements

This is aimed at anyone who has ever uttered “Support the troops”, “Every option is on the table”, “The founding fathers...” or any of the other ridiculous, nonsensical, idiotic statements to which we are relentlessly subjected.

We're all guilty of using meaningless nothings, we may even do it a few times a day. However, the problem with the above statements and countless others is that they are not just meaningless, they are wildly popular. Worse yet, to disagree with them is political blasphemy. Which shows you how far afield intelligence has fled some people, you will be shouted down for disagreeing with something that says nothing and means less.

Politicians are undoubtedly the most guilty of using this type of verbiage, but we have to share responsibility. Every time a suit stands in front of a large crowd and whispers sweet inanities into our ears we go wild with cheers. Furthermore, when is the last time you were able to drive more than a mile from your house without seeing a bumper sticker that said something like “Support the troops”, “God bless America”, or “Freedom isn't free”?

“Support the troops”

The best part about this statement is that it means nothing, accomplishes nothing, yet when uttered the utterer will feel good about himself and be looked upon with respect by the idiots within hearing distance. Just saying “Support the troops” does not in fact support the troops, only an individual completely devoid of their faculties can believe such a thing. If you would really like to “Support the troops” how about voting for someone who won't send them overseas, better yet, vote for someone who will keep us out of international conflicts thereby decreasing our need for troops and the amount of support we are expected to give. Best yet, the next time one of the countless thousands of homeless vets blocks your car at an intersection to clean your windshield with grime-streaked newspaper give him a warning honk before you run him down. Here's what a friend in the army had to say when asked about the “Support our troops” bumper stickers: “As for bumper stickers and all that cheesy meta bullshit. I don't care. It's super tacky like highlights or guys in girl pants. I guarantee that the best soldiers would rather you buy them a drink or leave them alone than have you show your support with a bumper sticker made and sold by Wal-Mart.”

“The founding fathers...”

I have so many problems with this. The founding fathers were not demigods, stop treating them as if they were. They were not perfect. Many of them were far more intelligent and brave than your average person, but not a single one of them was angelic. Most, if not all, were racist, quite a few were misogynists. For instance, it was Washington's lack of respect for women that allowed Benedict Arnold's wife to escape. The point is that they were not infallible. Anyone who thinks that the founding fathers all agreed on anything is so ignorant of history that they and the person responsible for teaching them American History should be condemned to an eternity of working at McDonald's or Wal-Mart. They vigorously and vociferously debated everything, and at times the vitriol reached levels that would make anyone (excluding Rush Limbaugh and Michael Moore) blush. The tradition of stating that the founding fathers position on a political issue that they most likely never even dreamed would one day be relevant is going strong. “Hamilton would have supported going to the moon 100%”, “the founding fathers would oppose universal health care”. Unless you can point to them having written that they would oppose or support a certain position you are only guessing, it's a waste of time and any non-simpleton should be embarrassed to use this dim, pseudo-argument.

“Every option is on the table”

The favorite phrase of the gutless politician. I wish someone would press the unilateral button and end the Iranians experiment in Zionist-ending weaponry just so that I won't have to read this malady of words a few dozen times per newspaper article. Why not be honest and use the words you really mean “Straighten up or we will kill a lot of you.” It's far more truthful, a lot less ambiguous and significantly more menacing.

That anyone would have anything to do with people who say such foolish things and vote for them on top of it, shatters any hope I had for 90% of Americans. I use to laugh when this excrement exited a person's mouth, now I just find it saddening, and notice a little more of my hope for this country die.

Allow me to end with a little wisdom from George Orwell:

“Political language -- and with variations this is true of all political parties, from Conservatives to Anarchists -- is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind. One cannot change this all in a moment, but one can at least change one's own habits, and from time to time one can even, if one jeers loudly enough, send some worn-out and useless phrase -- some jackboot, Achilles' heel, hotbed, melting pot, acid test, veritable inferno, or other lump of verbal refuse -- into the dustbin, where it belongs.”

Why Must Hollywood Ruin Everything?

I hope everyone has had a chance to read the Millenium Trilogy by Stieg Larsson. They made a movie (Swedish) based on the first book "The Girl With the Dragon Tatoo". It was fantastic, it is one of the very few instances of reading a book and then seeing the movie where I have not walked away seething in rage.
I was nervous when I heard that Hollywood was going to film American versions of the books. I expected the usual tripe you get from Hollywood, incredibly pretty actors and actresses who either can't act or in no way fit the role. Well, Hollywood disappoints (or is that fails to disappoint) once again. They tagged Daniel Craig to play Mikael. I admit not the worst choice, but not the best. The choice of Lisbeth is where they dropped the proverbial ball. They chose Rooney Mara (picture here). Don't mistake me, I'm sure she's a wonderful actress and a lovely person, but WTF? She looks like the girl next door, who happens to model in her spare time. So I ask again, why must Hollywood ruin everything?

Cancer, Life, Death

Dan Treecraft, a local man, has decided to end his life on his terms before cancer can. I thought the article was moving.

"Sometimes he struggles with conversation. Droplets of spit, even blood, escape his mouth like wrong answers. He grimaces when swallowing.

He hates these moments, bringing a fist to his lips and looking away. He apologizes and then quickly leans close, eyes afire with a new thought, a new criticism of a medical system he sees as a greed-driven industry that is flipping off fate and getting rich doing it.

He frets over the idea of dying in a hospital, fed through a tube, dimmed by painkillers and hooked to machines. And the tests. Tests upon tests costing thousands of dollars that will confirm what he and everybody else already knows: Dan Treecraft, 61, is going to die."

You can read the rest here.

I'm tempted to write about my opinion on suicide, but don't wish to sully this story.

Here is an article of someone counseling Mr. Treecraft to rethink his position. It's the usual bullshit you see from the religiously inclined. Wait until someone is going through a rough spot in their life, or better yet, when their life is coming to an end and they possibly might be just weak enough to prey upon.

Mr. Treecraft responds in the Spokesman here. Impressive, a far more polite tone than I'm capable of achieving now, even in my healthy youth.

The one comment is well worth a read. I thought this was put forward expertly, it's an idea I've never had the ability to put into words.

"Do I suffer pain as a consequence of the loss of my brother? Of course I do. Do I have the right to elevate my suffering over his? Of course I do not. That is what my brother's chosen path to peace taught me."

Atlas Shrugged and Today

Here's a story comparing the events of Atlas Shrugged and what's going on in the government today and for the last 9 years.

"Bankers and hedge funds today, like Rearden and the other industrialists in "Atlas Shrugged," are denounced as selfish, greedy profit seekers.

And everyone knows that selfishness and profit seeking are evil, right?

Further, the justification of every new government scheme in our world, as in the world of "Atlas Shrugged," is that it places "the public interest" above private profit.

When the government created Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, authorizing them to guarantee trillions of dollars in mortgages, what was the justification? It's in "the public interest" to promote homeownership for countless Americans.

When the housing bubble collapsed, what was the justification for bailing out failing institutions? "The public interest" demands the preservation of illiquid and insolvent banks. The justification for bailing out GM? It's in "the public interest" to keep GM workers employed."


Full story here

More Reasons to NOT Vote for Obama

Wonderful:



Olbermann does a decent job:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Americans Ignorant of History and Supreme Court

Probably not a surprise to most people. Findlaw.com surveyed 1,000 (+/- 3%) Americans and asked them to name the current members of the Supreme Court. Only one percent could name all nine. A quick break down:

• Clarence Thomas – 19%
• John Roberts – 16%
• Sonia Sotomayor – 15%
• Ruth Bader Ginsburg – 13%
• Antonin Scalia – 10%
• Samuel Alito – 8%
• John Paul Stevens – 8%
• Anthony Kennedy – 6%
• Stephen Breyer – 3%

To add to this debacle we have The American Revolution Center's survey. Over 1,000 Americans were given a multiple choice test about the revolution, over 80% failed. Take a look at the quiz here to see just how sad this is.

Richard Curtis

Most of you will first ask who and then wonder why I'm posting something so after the fact. Firstly, Richard Curtis is was going to run against Patty Murray, secondly I think the article he wrote bowing out of the race is worth a read.

School

Well, I know I've barely posted over the past few months, mostly because work has really picked up and I've finally gone back to school. Not sure if it's actually possible for me to post less, but somehow I will. If there are any other local atheists out there who would like to post to this blog, shoot me an email. am91962(at)yahoo.com

Andrew

TED.com

I wanted to post this video to promote TED.com. They have hundreds of videos from their conferences. Just about anyone will find a video they'll like. Videos of science, technology, entertainment, religion, philosophy, etc., etc. I suggest you check it out.

Atheist Rapper

Not sure how I hadn’t heard about him until a few days ago, I must be slipping. I grew up in Southern California and was introduced to hip-hop at a very young age, and though my tastes have expanded somewhat hip-hop has always had a special place in my heart.

So, a few days ago I found a site where someone had created, what can best be described as skeptic baseball cards. Going down the list I noticed a young guy named Greydon Square. To say the least I was intrigued, atheist rappers don’t exactly grow on trees. After listening to a few of his songs I was absolutely hooked. If you click on his name it will take you to his myspace page where you can listen to a few of his songs.

As far as I know he doesn’t swear in his songs except for the occasional “damn” or “hell”. There are the occasional references to violence (he’s an ex-gang member and Iraq War vet) and drugs, so listen for yourself and decide if it’s okay for the younguns.

AHA Throws Prom in Mississippi

The American Humanists Association has stepped up to throw a prom for Itawamba County Agricultural High School after the school board canceled the prom to punish a lesbian student. The full story is here.

Robert G. Ingersoll Speech

Read this a few days ago and really liked it, so I thought I'd reprint it for anyone who hasn't heard it before.

"When I became convinced that the Universe is natural--that the ghosts and gods and myths, there entered into my brain, into my soul, into every drop of my blood, the sense, the feeling, the joy of freedom. The walls of my prison crumbled and fell, the dungeon was flooded with light, and all the bolts, and bars, and manacles became dust. I was no longer a servant, a serf, or a slave. There was for me no master in all the wide world--not even in infinite space. I was free--free to think, to express my thoughts--free to live to my own ideal--free to live for myself and those I loved--free to use all my faculties, all my senses--free to spread imagination's wings-free to investigate, to guess and dream and hope--free to judge and determine for myself--free to reject all ignorant and cruel creeds, all the "inspired" books that savages have produced, and all the barbarous legends of the past--free from popes and priests--free from all the "called" and "set apart"--free from sanctified mistakes and holy lies--free from the fear of eternal pain--free from the winged monsters of the night--free from devils, ghosts and gods. For the first time I was free. There were no prohibited places in all the realms of thought--no air, no space, where fancy could not spread her painted wings--no chains for my limbs--no lashes for my back--no fires for my flesh--no master's frown or threat--no following another's steps--no need to bow, or cringe, or crawl, or utter lying words. I was free. I stood erect and fearlessly, joyously, faced all worlds.
And then my heart was filled with gratitude, with thankfulness, and went out in love to all the heroes, the thinkers who gave their lives for the liberty of hand and brain--for the freedom of labor and thought--to those who fell in the fierce fields of war, to those who died in dungeons bound with chains--to those who proudly mounted scaffold's stairs--to those whose bones were crushed, whose flesh was scarred and torn-to those by fire consumed--to all the wise, the good, the brave of every land, whose thoughts and deeds have given freedom to the sons of men. And then I vowed to grasp the torch that they had held, and hold it high, that light might conquer darkness still."

Donald Clegg Article in the Spokesman

A while ago Donald Clegg posted an article in the Spokesman-Review titled “Atheist can hold high standard of morality without faith”. As the title suggests his argument is that atheists can be moral without faith.

There were two responses posted to Mr. Clegg’s article in the Spokesman. You can read them here and here. I may be oversimplifying their responses, but they both boil down to the same point: that we possess moral standards is proof of God. One of the articles was certainly referring to the Biblical God and we can probably assume the same is true of the other.

If God imbued us with morals you would think He would have given us all the same morals. But if you look around the world throughout history that obviously isn’t the case. The fact is that we don’t all share the same morals. Will anyone really say that pacifist Quakers and British imperialists share the same morals? If that’s the case then one of those groups is going against their moral inclinations. While we all have our moral “slip-ups” I personally can’t imagine violating my morals day in and day out.

If God dictated our morals to us wouldn’t that violate free will? I know that in the Bible He, supposedly, explains what is moral and what is not and we are given the choice of whether or not to follow it. But it seems that if He implanted a conscience in our head that forces us to want to live by His morals that would take at least some of the choice away.

To the question of where do morals and the conscience come from I think we can look to Evolutionary Psychology (EP). If evolution via natural selection shaped our bodies then maybe it also shaped our minds. For more info about EP you can check out the Evolutionary Psychology Journal.

Petition Amnesty International

First and foremost I need to credit Mark (Libertas et memoria) with this find, I read it first on his blog. So a couple links for you. First check out the article that Christopher Hitchens wrote about Amnesty International here. Then read Gita Saghal's supporters website here. And finally if you agree, you can sign a petition to Amnesty here.

Westboro Baptist Church

Got this link on Dawkin's website.

Westboro Baptist Church showed up to protest in front of Twitter’s San Francisco office on Thursday, but found themselves severely outnumbered by a crowd of absurdist pranksters, including guest blogger EDW Lynch above.

Read the rest at Laughing Squid.

Indiana Governor's Atheism Comments

Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels did an interview back in December on faith. Here's one little gem from the interview:

"And atheism leads to brutality. All the horrific crimes of the last century were committed by atheists -Stalin and Hitler and Mao and so forth- because it flows very naturally from an idea that there is no judgment and there is nothing other than the brief time we spend on this Earth."

Head over to The Legal Satyricon to read the interview and his take on it.

Great New Website

So I stumbled across this great website yesterday. It's called Opposing Views and it's a debate site. The first debate I came across was "Does Intelligent Design Have Merit?". On one side you have Michael Behe, The Discovery Institute, and The Action Institute against Ayn Rand Center for Individual Rights, National Center for Science Education and Americans United. There are a large number of subjects being discussed by experts from many different entities.

AAI 2009 Videos

Videos of the lectures from the 2009 Atheist Alliance International conference have been posted here on youtube. It was a great conference. Some of the speakers there were Richard Dawkins, Eugenie Scott, Daniel Dennett, PZ Myers and Mr. Deity and cast. Go check out the videos, these were some great lectures.