Religion and the Human Race

Libyan deputy envoy Ibrahim Dabbashi has told the UN's Human Rights Council that gays threaten humanity, UN Watch reports:

Protesting the council’s first panel discussion on discrimination and violence based on sexual orientation, scheduled for March 7th, Libya’s representative told the gathering of ambassadors today that LGBT topics “affect religion and the continuation and reproduction of the human race.” He added that, were it not for their suspension, Libya would have opposed the council’s June 2011 resolution on the topic.
In response, council president Laura Dupuy Lasserre said that “the Human Rights Council is here to defend human rights and prevent discrimination.”

Actually, any rational person (I know, a stretch where religion is involved) would realize that it is heterosexuals that are endangering the human race. Why? Because of their unfettered and selfish creation of more and more human beings which burden an already overpopulated world and super-stressed ecology. What we need is more gays to save the human race from itself.

Religion and Sexuality

Shorter University has established an official policy banning gay employees:

Shorter University, a Christian Baptist school in Rome, Ga., is forcing its 200 employees to sign a statement declaring that they reject homosexuality. Anyone who doesn't sign the pledge risks losing their jobs.

They also demand their employees several other behaviors they deem "against biblical teachings." Of course, they are a private school and can do as they please. But this illustrates the problem I examined in my post below: modern fundamentalist religion in a panic to keep modernity at bay with a selective interpretation of their holy book and religion. Mind-control, persecution, threats, the abandonment of reason, cruelty - all in the name of preserving something that cannot be preserved. And, of course, gays get it in the neck as usual with the christianist agenda. Of course, why would any self-respecting gay
person want to have anything to do with such pernicious nonsense anyway?

Shorter President Don Dowless told WSBTV that the goal wasn’t to offend people, and that lots of Christian schools have similar pledges. "These are biblical positions," he said.

Interesting how selective the reading of the Bible can be. Here, biblical positions mean exclusion and persecution. Yet, it can also be read, selectively, to mean inclusion and the defense of the persecuted. Why bother with it at all? The beneficial values can be had without all the ignorant crap, after all. 

Cartoon of the Day

Cartoon of the Day

For the life of me, I don't see how any decent person can vote Republican anymore.

Palin

So the wicked witch of the north finally gave in to reality and declared her non-candidacy of prez. I think we really dodged a bullet here. What could have been worse than months of her narcissistic, extremist, whiny, bullshit? I can't recall anyone who was less qualified to be president (well, maybe Pat Robertson). Good riddance!

Cartoon of the Day

Rick Perry (again)

The Shoot-From-the-Lip jackass from Texas has struck again:

...he was asked: "To what extent do you view America's continued protection of Israel as a theological priority?" He answered:

"Well, obviously, Israel is our oldest and most stable democratic ally in that region. That is what this is about. I also as a Christian have a clear directive to support Israel. So from my perspective, it's pretty easy. Both as an American and as a Christian, I am going to stand with Israel."

Great! What a gift to Islamic extremists: connect America with Israel in a holy crusade against Islam, just what bin Laden was attempting and what Bush (to his credit) resisted throughout his presidency. This guy, and his christianist extremism, is a real danger to the country and the world. I hope he doesn't shut his mouth, though: the more he talks, the more he reveals about himself, the less likely he will be elected.

God & Religion

Carlin is simply amazing...

Rick Perry (again)

Why am I so obsessed by this Texas turkey? I guess because he represents in the most effective and scary way what is so bad about present-day Republicanism. Anyway, here's something a bit lighter: not good for the gay rumors.

Kids vs. Dogs in Restaurants

Over at Andrew Sullivan's blog, there's a mini-controversy going on about dogs in restaurants or cafes. Now a few shrewd readers have started comparing the behavior of dogs vs. that of kids in these establishments, often to amusing effect. Having worked in restaurants all my life, I can honestly say that I'd take dogs over kids any day. Now, let me preface by saying that most kids I encounter are cool and I enjoy dealing with them. But the ones who aren't are hell on earth - and there are a lot of them. Do you like the sound of a 747 taking off in your back yard? Then you'll love the little monsters who vent their little narcissistic screeches non-stop. Then there's the ones who run around, throw stuff, and perform songs or whatever at the top of their voices (not to mention the rude little twerps). Of course, most of this is the parents' fault. Either they think their little darlings are the greatest things in the universe (and you better agree or else), or they're just assholes, I can't decide. Recently, we had an incident with a little kid who screeched so loud I could hear it in the kitchen, ran around, and threw peanuts at a neighboring table. When they objected, the "mother" told them to mind their own business. It escalated from there, with her dumping water on the neighbor's head and trying to storm out without paying. Douchebag!

And don't get me started on kids in movie theaters...

Rick Perry (again)

"Witnessing Tools"

Apparently, Evangelicals use symbols, know as "witnessing tools", to start conversations with the people around them with the goal of conversion. The famous fish symbol, seen on so many bumpers, is one, as are a myriad others. I've noticed this stuff, but I only thought it was the expression of the individual; I didn't know these had a name and an organized function. However, there is another analysis of them which makes sense by Fred Clark, wherein he sees them as instruments of contempt by their users:

   "The Jesus-fish on a car is not an invitation, but a declaration of tribal allegiance. It’s a signal that the driver of this car is an “Us” rather than a “Them.” And that Us-Them symbolism has far more to do with conflict than with any attempt at conversion. This is true as well of many of the other things we tell ourselves are “witnessing tools.” One one level, they may be intended as conversation-starters, but on another level they’re also intended as conversation-stoppers — as attempts to win some implied argument. They’re not really designed for evangelism. They’re just the graffiti and propaganda of the culture wars."

I have to say, I agree, considering the following as one example on a site selling t-shirts Clark lists. Yuck!

Rick Perry (again)

Couldn't resist posting this photo...

Rick Perry (again)

This guy is really something. I thought he might be a formidable opponent to Obama as well as the other repubs, but he's showing that he's really too extreme to last. This has been all over the news today:

 

Not only does he disparage the work of Fed chairman Bernanke and the Fed, but he intimates that the man is guilty of treason and even threatens him with Texas-style justice (ie, lynching). This guy is running for president?! And this is just the first week of his campaign. Give him a few weeks (if he lasts that long). 

 Also, note the reaction of the people listening: no exclamations of horror or disgust, just a few chuckles and general approval. It makes my blood run cold that there are actually Americans who could approve of this Klan-lite man and his nasty views. Idiocracy is really too kind a word for what's on display here.

Cartoon of the Day

Rick Perry

So, we now have yet another Texas governor contending for the presidency. Great, as if Bush and Johnson didn't do enough damage to the country!  Iglesias extracts Perry's nuttier designs on the country here, with a ten point countdown. Among his nuttier ideas is declaring that Social Security, banking regulation, and consumer protection are all unconstitutional. Add to this, his flirtation with neo-confederacy ideas and his extreme, xian fundamentalism, and I really wonder if he has much of a chance beyond the Tea Party and evangelical fringe. Still, in this economic climate, it seems that the electorate is capable of anything, and the worst are full of passionate intensity.

And, as to his position on gay rights...well, I guess only Attila the Hun is further afield. Check this piece out where Perry defends criminalizing gay sex and the Texas law struck down by the Supreme Court. It's interesting what Perry sees as unconstitutional.