I recognize that I hold people to difficult standards. I hold myself to high standards and assume that other people can be held to the same ones. But apparently when it comes to things like common sense, human decency and morality, I'm disappointed each and every time.
http://friendlyatheist.com/2009/01/09/rick-warrens-support-of-condom-burning/
I'm a humanist. The idea of people causing others to get HIV and AIDS simply because an imaginary fascist in the sky says to do so (or they think he says to do so) is utterly beyond my comprehension. Condoms are not immoral - ignorance leading to the suffering and death of others is immoral. These people are no better than the Phelps family of bigots.
One of the biggest mistakes people make is forgetting that humans are animals. We have language and consciousness and independent thought (well, most of us do) but we are driven by the same biological processes as chimpanzees, bumblebees and all other forms of life. It is in our nature to procreate and have as many successful offspring as we can. Some people don't want to and that's perfectly fine. But we cannot ignore the drive that is there for those of us who do want it. As soon as puberty hits we are ready and nobody with any common sense would assume that they have the right to tell us we can't. The idea of sex as something dirty is completely ludicrous; no god worth worshiping would make you need sex and then punish you for having it.
Abstinence-only education doesn't work. We know that. Since we can't tell people not to have sex (even if you did, you don't have the right) then we need to teach them to protect themselves. There is no such thing as "divine punishment" and HIV is not a condemnation by any god. It's a horrible virus that leads to a horrible disease that needs to be stopped. Condoms don't stop it but they limit the spread until we can find a cure. They're working on it but it's going to take time.
But once we have it, the fanatics and idiots will need to find some other way to make everyone else suffer. It's particularly sad that they always go after the Africans first. Haven't they suffered enough? I just want to scream for these people to keep their imaginary Fuhrer to themselves. Clearly he doesn't want us to live up to standards. He certainly doesn't live up to any of mine.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Links
Here's me explaining programming to my brother:
A couple of climate change articles:
Turns out that yes, Wikipedia actually works as intended:
Finland is the most religious of Scandinavian countries, but this is a good trend. I do think it's at least in part thanks to the consciousness raising by a some popular atheist books and blogs.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Irony
I love Al Franken, I do. But it amuses me to no end that his political race is THIS close and they're fighting over ballots.
Also, a report in the NY Post says that Ann Coulter's jaw was wired shut. I love it.
Also, a report in the NY Post says that Ann Coulter's jaw was wired shut. I love it.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Xmastime
Xmas is upon us. Now that it's celebrated by anyone that wants to, we can call it whatever we want. How about "a random day on which Jesus really was NOT born"? It's kind of catchy, but entirely too long. Xmas is fine.
So today's question is: What do you get for the ignorant bigot who has everything?
The American Family Association has plenty of ideas for your exact needs. How about the illuminated cross? With the big Obama win a few weeks ago those southern Christians are realizing that they really need to get back to their Klan roots. But in this day and age, burning real crosses is so messy, inconvenient and bad for the environment. For a "suggested donation" (I checked, it's mandatory) of $81.85 you too can display your Confederate pride for all the world to see.
For the kids, how about a copy of Ben Stein's Expelled? It's a steal at a suggested donation of $26.99 (and I mean that - they're stealing your fucking money). It's sure to be a hit with those kids who never wanted to go to school and do anything with their lives anyway.
This seems to be the season for DVD's. The AFA has an enormous selection to choose from - you can order all of them and snuggle with the family on Christmas night to revel in your hatred for homosexuals. Some are warnings about what gays can do to your community and others are how they can directly affect you when you're using your "free speech" to show that you're a prejudiced asshole. This one (not "that one") even shows you how to vote and keep those homosexuals down.
Maybe next year they'll finally have a manger scene with a gay man hanging from the rafters. You'll know he's gay from the Birkenstocks and rainbow t-shirt he'll be wearing. Devil horns and pink feather boa sold separately.
'Tis the season to show your Christian (or is that Xian?) values and spread the ignorance and hate. Being an atheist and humanist it wouldn't be right for me to do that. I'll just have to donate my money to evil organizations like this one, this one, and this one. Sorry, Santa - looks like I'll be getting coal this year.
So today's question is: What do you get for the ignorant bigot who has everything?
The American Family Association has plenty of ideas for your exact needs. How about the illuminated cross? With the big Obama win a few weeks ago those southern Christians are realizing that they really need to get back to their Klan roots. But in this day and age, burning real crosses is so messy, inconvenient and bad for the environment. For a "suggested donation" (I checked, it's mandatory) of $81.85 you too can display your Confederate pride for all the world to see.
For the kids, how about a copy of Ben Stein's Expelled? It's a steal at a suggested donation of $26.99 (and I mean that - they're stealing your fucking money). It's sure to be a hit with those kids who never wanted to go to school and do anything with their lives anyway.
This seems to be the season for DVD's. The AFA has an enormous selection to choose from - you can order all of them and snuggle with the family on Christmas night to revel in your hatred for homosexuals. Some are warnings about what gays can do to your community and others are how they can directly affect you when you're using your "free speech" to show that you're a prejudiced asshole. This one (not "that one") even shows you how to vote and keep those homosexuals down.
Maybe next year they'll finally have a manger scene with a gay man hanging from the rafters. You'll know he's gay from the Birkenstocks and rainbow t-shirt he'll be wearing. Devil horns and pink feather boa sold separately.
'Tis the season to show your Christian (or is that Xian?) values and spread the ignorance and hate. Being an atheist and humanist it wouldn't be right for me to do that. I'll just have to donate my money to evil organizations like this one, this one, and this one. Sorry, Santa - looks like I'll be getting coal this year.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Needing
Where the fuck is everyone when I need to fucking rant?
Restaurant took $30 from me and the manager scolded me when I called to complain. Maybe that should be the theme for this blog: atheism, liberalism, and rants about really shitty customer service.
Restaurant took $30 from me and the manager scolded me when I called to complain. Maybe that should be the theme for this blog: atheism, liberalism, and rants about really shitty customer service.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Smart
So here's the thing.
I'm an elitist. I'll gladly admit it. I'm a misanthropist, sure. I recognize that I am smarter than most other people. This recognition is what leads me to misanthropy. Of course, my unhappiness is my own fault but it's unavoidable. I surround myself with people of middling intelligence and yet somehow am disappointed to the point of frustration when they continue to prove how correct I am. And then, of course, it amuses me when they think (and try to prove!) that they're smarter than they really are.
My choice in mate was extremely fortunate - the pickings are very slim and no one could do better than I did. <3>
I'm an elitist. I'll gladly admit it. I'm a misanthropist, sure. I recognize that I am smarter than most other people. This recognition is what leads me to misanthropy. Of course, my unhappiness is my own fault but it's unavoidable. I surround myself with people of middling intelligence and yet somehow am disappointed to the point of frustration when they continue to prove how correct I am. And then, of course, it amuses me when they think (and try to prove!) that they're smarter than they really are.
My choice in mate was extremely fortunate - the pickings are very slim and no one could do better than I did. <3>
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Words
I've been feeling more and more confident about my writing lately. Dangerous. Maybe I will get around to writing something professionally one day.
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