What does it take to make you disbelieve?

So in a random convo we were having about atheism, Danz mentions he's basically three steps from atheism (which is weird because we've called him everything from pentecostal to jewish). He also warned me that he'd never join the dark side so I can put the cookies away *sad*

I'm not sure what he is but it seems at the very least he's in the humanist realm, probably agnostic like fecking everyone. I'm sure he'll figure it out eventually if he chooses. When I asked why I couldn't convince him to join the Sith--I mean atheist legions, he said something along the lines of he didn't want to disbelieve.

Me, lacking that "belief gene", am all too willing to disbelieve but I cannot nor have I ever been able to believe. In fact, I think everyone should join the Sith and destroy the republic, and perhaps it'll happen some day, maybe it won't. I hate people who want to play Pascal's Wager, like a lot dude.

But, that's always been the curious thing, to me, about agnostics and people who are generally non-believers but aren't quite atheist (yeah it can happen).

What would it take to make you disbelieve in a deity?

Not to try to sway folks to my own side, but I've always been curious. Again, I don't think there's every been a point in my life where I've truly believed in a god of any sort so it's always puzzled me. Religions puzzle me--why is this one right and this one not? How is it possible that such and such created the universe but never makes himself known? How have these beliefs been held for centuries?

I mean, I have my theories, since as an atheist it's my unofficial job to spend my every waking, and some sleeping, hours pondering about theology *canned laughter* but I've never really gotten a solid answer on what it would take to make a believer disbelieve.

I've seen it happen. I've seen evangelical Christians suddenly turn over to atheism and preach the gospel of godlessness for various reasons or another, usually something involving utter disgust with religion. But you can believe in a god without actually belonging to a religion so, what keeps that belief going I wonder?

On the other hand, I also wonder what makes staunch atheists suddenly start praising almighty _______. I've seen that happen a lot too and it's always kinda...weird.

I think my best bet is, in both cases, you were probably never really atheist or religious to begin with and whatever property in you was just...latent, then at some point you finally felt brave enough to embrace it. But is that really it? Huh.

Listen, Jesus, to the warning I give!

Okay, yeah, so...you know, being godless and everything, I'll be damned if some of my favorite movies aren't religious movies. Ben-Hur, The Ten Commandments, King of Kings, the Greatest Story Ever Told, the Last Temptation...well, it's probably just because I like the classics in general--this includes literature--it's not like I'm so repulsed by religion I can't watch a damn movie.

One of my favorite movies to watch around Easter is Jesus Christ Superstar. Let us sing and dance together in fringe.

I don't care who you are or what you are, this movie is just my SHIT. It's got fantastic songs and it's actually a different retelling of the story all together--it actually kind of strays in to the Christian Gnostic tradition a little, the story isn't entirely from Jesus's point of view and Judas is actually made as a sympathetic character. Jesus, likewise, is interesting in that he's more of an angsty figure rather than the strong, brave, wise Jesus you'd expect. He's more human, I think, in that he's not all that accepting of the fact that he has to die for this to work. Will people remember him after his death? Who's to say this will actually work? Why does he have to die anyway?

The other point is, I think, the portrayal of Pontius Pilate, again, sort of like Judas, not really wanting to do anything with this shit. But the mob wants blood and the Galileans want blood and everyone wants blood so what can he do besides say "Auugh damnit".

So naturally since we can't be singing the Bible and shit, this was and is still deemed blasphemous. Well we actually sort of like blasphemy here, so if you've managed not to see this movie or the original play, I'd highly recommend it. Watch it with me, too, I'll sing all the songs to you really loud in your ear. Although, if you're not a fan of musicals you may not be swayed either way.

So here's some of the important songs.


"Heaven on Their Minds"


"Blood Money/Damned for All Time"


Myyy temple should beeee a house of praaayerrrr~


"Gethsemane"


The Trial


"Superstar"

Catholics, rest of the world to Pope: "Shut the fuck up!"

Oh this just warms my heart. A tip of the hat to this entry on Pam's Houseblend.

In light of Papa Benedicto XVI's embarrassing, dangerous, and inane comments on condoms, and everything ELSE HE'S DONE since his...uh...ascension? it seems all sorts of folks are just crawling out the woodwork all angry-like.

First, France & Germany told the Elder Thing to STFU, now it seems the Shepard's own flock are about to join together in a rousing rendition of "Bring 'Em Out". Okay, maybe not, but that'd be hilarious.

Vatican Insiders declare Pope a "disaster"

The Holy See is struggling to contain international anger over the Pope's claim on his first official visit to Africa that Aids "cannot be overcome through the distribution of condoms, which even aggravates the problems".

The Pope's remarks about condoms, and a recent furore over his lifting of the 20-year excommunication of a British bishop who has questioned the Holocaust, has left him looking isolated and out of touch, prompting calls for a radical shake-up of the way the Holy See delivers its message.

The Pope is isolated and fails to adequately consult his advisers, said a Vatican source with 20 years' knowledge of the Holy See.

Another Vatican insider described Pope Benedict's four-year-old papacy as "a disaster", recalling the pontiff's previous inflammatory remarks on Islam and homosexuality.

"He's out of touch with the real world," the Italian insider said. "On the condom issue, for example, there are priests and bishops in Africa who accept that condoms are a key part of the fight against Aids, and yet the pope adheres to this very conservative line that they encourage promiscuity. The Vatican is far removed from the reality on the ground."

I think I can safely sum that up to "DO NOT WANT". I think this is my favorite piece from the whole thing (the link is mine for the good Papa):

The Holy See claimed that the Pope had no idea that British bishop Richard Williamson had denied the extent of the Holocaust, but critics have pointed out that a simple Google search would have uncovered the maverick's anti-Semitic views.

Yeeep. But don't worry, the Papa's foot soldiers aren't taking this unfair criticism from sensible Catholics lying down, oh no:

We learned this morning that "Vatican insiders" consider Benedict XVI "a disaster". It's true. They do think that. He's a disaster for them, and their determination to turn the Catholic Church into a touchy-feely forum in which uncomfortable teachings and traditions are "modernised" to impress non-Catholics. Until the Williamson affair, the media weren't sufficiently interested in attacking Benedict XVI to be useful. But now, after that own goal... YES!!!

Take the furore over condoms. I don't think the Pope should have strayed into the topic of condoms and Aids, but what he said didn't represent a hardening of the Church's line on this subject. Post-Williamson, however, the liberal media have slipped back into anti-papal default mode, which suits certain "Catholics" just fine.

I just love how it's always the Libruls fault in ANYTHING when shit goes down. And you thought it stopped at politics. Nope! Puppies get run over? Libruls. Your foot falls off? Libruls. Millions dying over seas? Libruls. Can't find the cool side of your pillow? Libruls. LIBRULS!!!111!!AUUGH!

*tissue* Okay. Okay. I'm done now. I think I might just start calling Papa the Rubberband Man, he's always in trouble man.

Pope tells Africa condoms are wrong?

Before reading this, please put any and all liquids away and close your windows.

Ready?

Alright then:

Because Benedict the 16th just blew my damn mind!

The pontiff, who preaches marital fidelity and abstinence, said the practise only increased the problem.

"A Christian can never remain silent," he said, after being greeted on arrival in Cameroon by President Paul Biya.

The Pope is also due to visit Angola on his week-long trip, where thousands are expected to attend open-air Masses.

Some 22 million people are infected with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, according to UN figures for 2007.

This amounts to about two-thirds of the global total.

According to Vatican figures, the number of Catholics in Africa has been rising steadily in recent years.

Pope Benedict said on the eve of his trip that he wanted to wrap his arms around the entire continent, with "its painful wounds, its enormous potential and hopes".

HIV/Aids was, argued, "a tragedy that cannot be overcome by money alone, that cannot be overcome through the distribution of condoms, which can even increase the problem".

Comment: So...in the face of HIV/AIDS prevention...we shouldn't use...protection?

Ohhh....what?

Excellent solution sir. Just like life saving abortions being a more grievous crime that raping a 9 year old girl. Wooooow.

Nigerian gay activists speak against gay marriage ban

Oh dear, just when you were beginning to lose faith in America, here come the rest of the world.

On that note, why does BBC have to make everything a damn noun?

Nigerian gay activists speak out

Nigerian gay rights activists have told the country's lawmakers that a new bill to outlaw same sex marriage would lead to widespread human rights abuses.

The new law would mean prison sentences for gay people who live together, and anyone who "aids and abets" them.

The plea by activists was made to a public committee of the National Assembly which is discussing the bill.

It is already illegal to have gay sex in Nigeria but the new law would extend police powers to arrest suspects.

"This bill is not necessary, we see no reason why people should be criminalised," Rashidi Williams, 23, of the Queer Alliance of Nigeria told the committee.

"I did not choose to be gay. It is trial enough to live in this country, we should not create more laws to make us suffer," he said.

Uhhh tell it. It is, in fact, hard out there for a homo. Even worse in Africa where some countries still hold homosexuality an offense punishable by DEATH.

I'm really mad at the picture of the children wearing the "Same sex marriage is unnatural and unafrican" t-shirts. Why do we indoctrinate the children this way? Well, why do we treat human beings this way.

Can you imagine outlawing gay sex? Well, it'd be hard if some states didn't choose to do that in the land of the free & the home of the brave *side eye* the connections to the church in this article also make me increasingly ill. I really am looking forward to the fall of religion from a roaring cry to a barely heard whisper.

Washing machines, they liberate the modern woman

You know what I say about the Vatican...can't stop won't stop! Y'all can hate them now!

Vatican says washing machine brought rights to women

The washing machine has had a greater liberating role for women than the pill, the official Vatican daily said in an International Women's Day commentary.

"The washing machine and the emancipation of women: put in the powder, close the lid and relax," said the headline on the article in Osservatore Romano.

"In the 20th cenutry, what contributed most to the emancipation of western women?" questioned the article.

"The debate is still open. Some say it was the pill, others the liberalisation of abortion, or being able to work outside the home. Others go even further: the washing machine," it added.

The long eulogy to the washing machine - for which the first rudimentary models appeared in the 18th century - highlighted "the sublime mystique to being able to 'change the sheets on the beds twice a week instead of once'," quoting the words of late American feminist Betty Friedan.

While the machines were at first unreliable, technology has developed so quickly that now there is "the image of the super woman, smiling, made up and radiant among the appliances of her house", wrote Osservatore.

...Riiiight. Here I was thinking it was the microwavable TV dinner :/ Come on, who wants to back me on that one?

I dunno, I just feel that after basically backing a 9 year old's rape, the church should go sit in a corner and think long and hard about what they've done. Don't worry, an apology will be coming in about 10 decades at least.

We're thinking of the children alright: 9 year old raped, pregnant, excommunicated?

Coz that's how it works!

Well, in case you ain't know, there's this story making its way around the blogosphere. It goes a little something like this:

A 9-year-old girl who was carrying twins, and whose stepfather is suspected of raping her, underwent an abortion on Wednesday despite complaints from Brazil's Roman Catholic Church.

The stepfather has been jailed since last week, the police said. Abortion is illegal in Brazil, the country with the most Roman Catholics, but judges can make exceptions if the mother's life is in danger or the fetus has no chance of survival. Fatima Maia, director of the public university hospital where the abortion was performed, said the pregnancy, which was in its 15th week, posed a serious risk to the girl, who weighs 80 pounds. But Marcio Miranda, a lawyer for the Archdiocese of Olinda and Recife in northeastern Brazil, said the girl should have carried the twins to term and had a Caesarean section. "It's the law of God: Do not kill," he said in comments reported by the newspaper O Globo.

Even shorter, a 9 year old CHILD has an abortion because her stepfather raped her. She was carrying twins. Her body would not have been to handle the birth because she is so young and small. And the Roman Catholic church wants to...to...call her a murdering murderer. WITCH HUUUUNT!

No really, as if that weren't bad enough now the girl's family and the doctors that performed the abortion have been excommunicated. This is me drawing the "I give up" Xs on my eyes. Say. Fucking. What?

So, all I'm seeing is this: a little girl was raped & molested for YEARS by her stepfather, it seems that no one did much to help her, she gets pregnant with twins and has a life saving abortion. And that's pretty much all I care about, then here comes the church basically saying "eh, rape? But she killed a fetus! She killed two fetuses!"

Give me a goddamn break. Seriously? And what the fuck was a C-section going to do if she was too young to give vaginal birth? Ah, I get it, save the kids. As in, the babies, not the kid that got raped because she's unimportant right now. Oh yeah she can take care of them, she's nine (old enough to bleed you know). Oh wait, let's give them up for adoption, better option. Certainly. And leave this little girl with the knowledge that her church cared more about a fetus than her safety and her life. Never mind her body possibly not being able to carry the weight of twins, or the fact that we can't even be sure what her living conditions are like. What, were you going to take care of the kids?

_AUUUUUGHHH

Goddamn that's just unbelievable and frankly unacceptable. Unacceptable and unbelievable IN ANYONE'S GODDAMN UNIVERSE except the church I GUESS. That's pretty much all that needs to be said on that.

Don't cryyyyyy~ we wish you well

Strangely enough, I like to think of this song when I deal with trolls or any other particularly unsavory people.

What's that?

Why, it's Eulogy!

He had a lot to say
He had a lot of nothing to say
We'll miss him
I'll miss him
He had a lot to say
He had a lot of nothing to say
We'll miss him
I'll miss him
We're gonna miss him
We're gonna miss him

It's so long now
We wish you well
You told us how you weren't afraid to die
Well so long
Don't cry
Or feel too down
Not all martyrs see divinity
But at least you tried

Standing above the crowd
He had a voice that was strong and loud
We'll miss him
I'll miss him
Ranting and pointing his finger
At everything but his heart
We'll miss him
I'll miss him
We're gonna miss him
We're gonna miss him

There's no way
To recall
What it was that you had said to me
Like I care at all
But it was so loud
You sure could yell
You took a stand on every little thing
And so loud

Standing above the crowd
He had a voice that was strong and loud and I
Swallowed his facade 'cause I'm so
Eager to identify with
Someone above the ground
Someone who seemed to feel the same
Someone prepared to lead the way and
Someone who would die for me

Will you?
Will you now?
Would you die for me?
Don't you fuckin' lie
Don't you step outta line
Don't you step outta line
Don't you step outta line
Don't you fuckin' lie

You've claimed all this time
That you would die for me
Why then are you so surprised
When you hear your own eulogy?

He had a lot to say
He had a lot of nothing to say
He had a lot to say
He had a lot of nothing to say

Come down
Get off your fuckin' cross
We need the fuckin' space
To nail the next fool martyr

To ascend, you must die
You must be crucified
For our sins and our lies
Goodbye

The Great AOL Brawl of Yesteryear

[Edit: Oh the typos. I shouldn't type while hungry.]


So, if anyone here still uses AOL (and I used to) please forgive me because I'm about to talk straight shit about these folks. For it occurred to me when I was younger and we still used the, uh, service, you know who else used it? A bunch of backwoods backward thinking head-up-ass anti-choice anti-gay racist assholes. Then, you know, just some other people.

I knew this through those little polls. You know, the "Should abortion be outlawed?" and then yes or no radio buttons, I'd click no, then pull up the results and see the bar overwhelmingly pulled for YES and, when they used to allow comments (I don't think they do anymore) it would be mass hysteria about how we're all sinners and going to hell and blah blah bliggity blah.

And I was about 12 or 13, I forget. It happened a lot on so called hot button issues, and after a few times I'd gathered up enough data to make the conclusion that my family was pretty much the only sane one using AOL.

11-14 were my horrible years: I was just turning atheist, realizing that it's okay if I don't like boys but it's NOT okay if I DO like girls, first period, bullied constantly, and going through my emolicious I Hate Everything phase. Everything just sucked sucked sucked and there are almost zero redeeming moments from those lost years.

Well, maybe one. The one day I realized that maybe I don't have to take shit from the world, even if it's just the internet. I got into an AOL brawl. I say brawl because it was a messy, drawn-out fight and I so wish I still had evidence of it, wish that I REMEMBERED more of it because if I recall, it was totally awesome. And a gay rights fight.

This is what I remember. I was just browsing around on the internet doing my thing, whatever it was I did back then, when I found myself doing one of those little polls. I think the question was along the lines of "is homosexuality a choice", I filled out "no" because I can read scientific evidence and it doesn't bother me, and of course the results were overwhelmingly "YES". Like ridiculously. Having nothing to do with my young life, I pulled up the comments/message board thingie and saw all these inflammatory topics declaring that yes homosexuality is a sin and they should be punished, it's wrong, we're wrong, how can you support that, eat babies, shit like that.



As I went through this hysteria...well, frankly I dunno what happened. I guess the internet made me brave for a while and I said, "I don't have to take this!" Well, not that cool since my awesomeness hadn't quite developed then. But next thing I knew I was responding to a comment with something antagonistic about Christians (I was still in the Superior Atheist stage of my atheism) being hypocrites and how homosexuality was fine.

And then, you know, I got virtually jumped by what I recall being more or less a bunch of truck drivers laughing at me and calling me naive. But surprisingly I held myself and, a little like the Lone Swordsman, I just batted at and battled the stupid. Which may subconsciously be part of the reason I still can't do internet debate without eventually blowing up at someone because the arguing was pretty intense. At this point I already knew I was at the very least bisexual--it was kinda obvious--and I was told by people that didn't even know me that naturally, my mother LOVED me but HATED my "sin". To me the concept of sin largely didn't exist anymore and I said this, and when it came out that I was agnostic, even more hell broke loose. Joy.

I had folks emailing me spam letters & bible versus, if I recall correctly--and just why--and I just laughed, figuring it'd sting to have their religion insulted so mightily by a child (they didn't necessarily know I was a child though, I don't guess). Don't think I didn't get any support though, it was actually more or less my first interaction with some form of LGBT community. I remember one out lesbian emailing me to thank me for my support and I was mighty touched.

But, because sane people don't use AOL I guess, the support was a little weaksauce and we were ridiculously overwhelmed, so we eventually had to withdraw. And after a couple of days the discussion just reached its inevitable conclusion and finally died (yeah this wasn't just a one day thing, I definitely remember that). I remember telling mom about it, at least in part, and she just shook her head. Eh, so what, I felt mighty happy about myself, at least for mocking the stupid.

And that's about it. I don't know why I'd forget about such a clearly awesome event, but I've pretty much buried nearly all memories from those years *shudder* huh, who knows what awesome things I've done that I'm not aware of now...

Meet the new jihad, same as the old jihad?

Oh yeeeah, let's start a jihad on Gazaaaa.

Clerics urge new jihad over Gaza

At a weekend meeting in Istanbul, 200 religious scholars and clerics met with senior Hamas officials to plot a new jihad centred on Gaza.

In a hall crowded with conservative Sunni Muslim sheikhs and scholars, in a hotel close to Istanbul's Ataturk Airport speaker after speaker called for jihad against Israel in support of Hamas.

The choice of Turkey was significant. Arab hardliners were keen to put aside historic differences with the Turks.

As one organiser put it: "During the past 100 years relations have been strained but Palestine has brought us together."

Many delegates spoke appreciatively of the protest by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who stormed out of a Davos debate on Gaza two weeks ago.

Well, believe it or not I do try to keep up with the news of the Gaza/Palestine [Ed: Obviously I don't keep up with it enough to know that it's actually ISRAEL and the Gaza Strip] conflict, but frankly I'm confused. I understand what a jihad is, but what I'm not understanding is...how this will help anyone involved. Well, except for that whole bringing factions together. I'm more than tempted to just say "oh well" but we must see how this pans out.

Conscientious Objection & Atheism

I'm a lot better, thanks. Although last night I did just randomly skin my toe this morning because of the GODDAMN CLOSET.

*nurses it* Okay, I think we're all done with that random slew of emo posts, but I read something interesting this afternoon while I was desperately studying for a class I didn't go to (don't judge me).

I was reading this post from the Friendly Atheist about Agustin Aguayo, an army specialist. Long story short, Aguayo is an an agnostic and decides during his training that he could not kill another human being because it was against his beliefs, so he files as a conscientious objector (which I didn't even realize you could DO anymore).

Except, you know, atheists & agnostics apparently don't have morals (Aguayo says he believes in a "higher power" but doesn't attend any churches) so how can we conscientiously object to anything? Or so a judge felt:

… although Aguayo met many of the requirements of a conscientious objector according to military policy, he failed to meet one important non-official requirement: his belief system wasn’t Christian.

Aguayo wasn’t court-martialed that day. Instead the army told him he was going to Iraq whether he liked it or not — even if he had to be forcefully carried onto the plane. Soon after, Aguayo went AWOL again.

...

PFC Aguayo’s convictions do not appear to be sincerely held… PFC Aguayo did not identify any specific ways he has altered his behavior to accommodate his beliefs. Although practicing a religion is not a requirement for CO approval, PFC Aguayo has not discussed any equally significant source of his beliefs other than he was raised in a kind and respectful family.

So, at the end of the day and going AWOL repeatedly and clearly showing that he DOES NOT WANT TO HAVE TO KILL OTHER HUMAN BEINGS, the consensus is that you don't go to church, you're non-christian, you don't get to conscientiously object. Which is just WEIRD and wrong for a couple of reasons, 1) it's pretty clear that not everyone in the army is a Christian so why is this even a "non-official" requirement, and 2) why are they trying to force this man to do what he's clearly decided he isn't up for.

Let me explain that second point first. As you guys know I identify as an atheist, but when I was a little one, for some reason I wanted to join the Marines. Really badly. The ceremonial swords looked so awesome and I wanted to feel like I was doing something I suppose. Mind you, back then I dreamed I could have met the weight requirement. But also back when I was fantasizing, if I'm not mistaken there was no war. Sure there was some military shit going down, but I'm pretty sure the major conflicts were over, far as the public knew anyway *side eyes the government* My dad was in the Navy, btw, before he got discharged for having whatever mental problems (thanks for passing those on, damnit).

But yeah, I wanted to be a Marine. I didn't factor in that whole war and killing folks business (or knowing the demon child I was, I probably didn't care). But as I got older--and this wasn't a conscious decision, but you know what? Killing is horrible and war is hell. I would never want to be part of that. And even after identifying as an Atheist, guess what? I still don't want to have to kill anyone. I don't think I could even in self-defense if my life was in danger (well, maybe). As much as I talk about how awesome it would be to burn my AmLit teacher's house down and terrorize his pets, please believe that I don't have it in me to burn his house down with him in it _{knowingly, and maybe I'd feel bad later}. I do not and I will not--it goes against my moral code.

Yes, folks, even without a deity to govern us, most real atheists (by that I mean not your emo Satanist neighbor down the street, we don't associate) still have MORALS and VALUES. I believe that this is just a part of the human experience. Not believing in God and not going to church doesn't make you an immoral or amoral asshole, it makes you godless. If in fact you are an immoral or amoral bastard, you were probably that way anyway regardless of your religious beliefs.

And that's where people get it twisted, that without any sort of moral structure humans would go nuts. And maybe that's true for some of us that claim we'd go on killing sprees if it weren't for Jaysus, but I can almost guarantee you that's not true for the rational 80% of the world, religious or not. It's just stupid. People, I believe, know what's right and what's wrong regardless of religion. We did before organized religion and we would continue to do so without it.

So on to that first point, well that doesn't really need to be explained much more. There's been some ongoing debate about these so-called atheists in foxholes, and atheists & agnostics have made it pretty clear we have no problem joining the army if we think it's right. But also, what about other folks that practice different religions in the army? Uh, Islam? Judaism--well, I guess that'd fall under Judeo-Christian. The point is, it's like they're implying that if you're not Christian you don't have the morals to conscientiously object, which is just silly considering that on the whole religions are actually PEACEFUL (yeah even Islam, I know right). Most of them have SOMETHING to the effect of "don't kill that person" unless you count the extremists that just want to go all hard on everything.

I will mention that there's also a fair debate on the Friendly Atheist post about why did the guy even join the Army if he knew he was just going to conscientiously object, and I honestly don't think that's fair. He'd already done a tour of duty, and even if he hadn't, damnit war is hell. I relate it back to my joining the Marines--I thought it was a special honor, but did I think about having to kill? Of course not, I just wanted to do it. This man isn't 5 or 6 years old, but he clearly joined the Army out of choice then realized that he just couldn't do this. How is this wrong? Would you rather put him out front and make him take other lives--something he doesn't believe in--and fuck his mind up for life? Perhaps he didn't think he was agnostic until he joined the army, we're not all born into non-religious families. As for whether he bit off more than he could chew and he's just chickening out, I say bless him for actually realizing he made a mistake and trying everything he can to get out of there. I don't think it's disrespectful towards the army, he clearly no longer wants to be there, why force him? That's just my outsider's look on it though.

See? Look at that, a big ol' substantial post! I'm so happy *sniff*

Hold on, she can still have babies, this is murder!

I'll admit, if I barely know shit about American politics I know next to nothing about Italian politics (other than they actually seem to have a lot of issues that very much mirror our own in a sort of Bizarro way). But there's this case I've been following about an Italian woman--Eluana Englaro--who's been in a coma for about 17 years after she was in a car accident. Now her family is trying to fight for her right to die peacefully as, according to her doctors, the coma is irreversible.

17 years in a vegetative state. 17 years watching your daughter lay there and show no signs of ever waking up again. The woman is, for all intents and purposes, dead. Keep that in mind because it's about to become key when you read what this article says:

Italy faces constitutional crisis over coma woman

The Italian government has been plunged into a constitutional crisis over the fate of a 38-year-old woman who has been in a coma for the past 17 years. Eluana Englaro was left in a vegetative state after a car crash in 1992. After a decade-long court battle, doctors reduced her nutrition on Friday in preparation for removing her feeding tubes, which her father claims would be in accordance with her wishes.

But in an extraordinary turn of events, the country's prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, after consultation with the Vatican, has issued an emergency decree stating that food and water cannot be suspended for any patient depending upon them, reversing the earlier court ruling. On issuing the emergency decree, Berlusconi declared: "This is murder. I would be failing to rescue her. I'm not a Pontius Pilate."

Wait, hold on, I haven't gotten to the creepiest part yet:

Justifying his campaign to save Englaro's life, the prime minister added that, physically at least, she was "in the condition to have babies", a remark described by La Stampa newspaper as "shocking". Giorgio Napolitano, Italy's president, has refused to sign the decree, but if it is ratified by the Italian parliament doctors may be obliged to resume the feeding of Eluana early this week.

You are fucking kidding me.

This woman in a coma is able to have babies. Just what the fuck does that have to do with anything considering she's been in a COMA for 17 years? Signore, just what the fuck are you implying?

Everything is wrong with this. This is sick. First off, good job comparing yourself to Pontius Pilate--so I guess she's somehow your "Jesus"? Your Virgin Mary? Also, consulting the Vatican? They have no impact on this woman's life. Even if she were Catholic, dude, they have no bearing on her family's decision to let the Englaro die. It is not your right to come to her family and say they can't let their daughter have her dignity and die peacefully. You have no right to keep this woman hooked up in a hospital for, what, another 17 years? And for what? She isn't coming back, her family has realized this, and they are willing to let her go. I suggest Berlusconi does the same. Sir, it is not up to you, the decision had already been MADE.

A little more:

The case has deeply divided Italian society and raised concerns over the influence of the Vatican. Yesterday Pope Benedict indirectly referred to Englaro in a message delivered to mark the World Day of the Sick, stating that society had a duty to defend "the absolute and supreme dignity of every human being" even when "weak and shrouded in the mystery of suffering". But even some of Berlusconi's political allies, including the president of the lower house of parliament, Gianfranco Fini, have stated that the supreme court ruling should be obeyed and Englaro should be allowed to die.

Meanwhile, doctors are continuing to act according to the original supreme court ruling. On Friday morning in the La Quiete clinic in Udine, northern Italy, they began reducing the amount of food in Eluana Englaro's feeding tube, according to a precise medical protocol that will see nutrition gradually replaced with sedative and anti-convulsant medication. Experts say that within four to five days her condition may have deteriorated to an irreversible extent, though it might be two weeks or more before her heart stops. The process means the Englaro family and their doctors are now in a race against time as they try to end Eluana's life before the Berlusconi government and its backers in the Vatican halt the process.

This is just...sick. In a "race" to give this woman her final--or at least her family's final--wishes. It's true that people do come out of comas in months, years, decades...but this is what her family wants. They just want their daughter to go off peacefully. What is wrong with this? How is this a "crime against humanity" I ask you? Wouldn't it be more humane to end her suffering? Just because she can still have children--physically--but is not MENTALLY capable is that all that's required for life? That...is sick.

Do You Know Who You're Dying For?

Well, let me start by saying that having a blog that your friends know about makes it harder to talk shit about them. I need to stop advertising, I need that anonymity. I'm just snitching on myself damnit! But then again, maybe we both need to read this.

"I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones." - Albert Einstein

Anyway, so a friend and I were randomly discussing WWIII. I do hold it in my chest cavity, somewhere, that the world is headed towards a third World War. Eventually. It just seems inevitable. Wars just...are.

So my friend's Palestinian. You know there's the "issue" between Israel and Palestine right now--and yes I know "issue" is a vast, vast understatement. Only if "issue" means "all out senseless bloodshed". My friend is Palestinian and while this bloodshed is something I don't think I'll ever hope to understand, me and her talk about it sometimes. I mean, it's her home country & the country of her parents, how could it not wiggle into conversation? How could she not be on the side of her homeland? How could she not think of it. I understand all of this.

Tonight though she said something odd, to the effect of wanting to be a martyr for her country. I blink numbly at this and ask her why. She says she can't explain it, wanting to die for God and her country.

Now...not only do I draw the line at "God" but I draw the line at senseless destruction and violence. MARTYRDOM?

Not much time with much to do, look ahead and walk on through; no one's taking sides this time--it's you. -- "Summerland", King's X

Getting my delicate atheist sensibilities aside, I have never seen the "goodness" in martyrdom. It's a stupid act. I told her thinking like was what gets people killed--and it is. I honestly think so! Religion doesn't start all wars but it does start them. Martyrdom. Who are you dying for? Who believes in a God that wants them to die? That your eternal reward--after death--is? I don't actually care how devout or how devout you think you are, that is senseless.

I didn't want to talk about it anymore. It actually sort of frightened me that dreams of martyrdom had infected her thoughts. It frightens me when anyone ups and says they want to die for their god. It also pisses me off a little but it scared me more than anything. I suppose we all want to live and die for what you believe for...but haven't enough people been lost in this conflict, this war? Suicide bombers, holy missions...it all frightens me. I don't want anymore people to die for this.

It's play time but it's far to late...what you gonna give, is not enough, it's not enough for me. --"Wicked As It Seems", Keith Richards

What are you dying for? Do you know what you're dying for? That takes... a certainty and conviction I really don't have, I think. I'm not particularly afraid to die, but I'm not dying for something that I can't even be sure is there. Pie in the sky happiness. Dying for my country? But that's what soldiers do...not young girls wanting to go to medical school...isn't it?

Is she braver than I so I call her foolish? Or is she brave because she's foolish...is it so foolish? Is it my place to inform her that God, it doesn't exist, so what are you dying for?

It really is hard to explain...

_{Don't ask about my song selection.}

Holiday Diversity, or: LOL.

Well, my screen is still blinding me but good news! There is no mass conspiracy against me and now my Buddy has made peace with his woman, again most MySpace dramedy style. I fucking guess. I do love it when drama wraps up nicely though. I'm officially free everyone!

Oh well, on to more important things. You all know how I feel about teh holidays, but you know what bugged me this year? The extreme lack of diversity in celebration. It seems moreso than every this year was strangely all about Christmas. Remember when people were getting in a tizzy about "happy holidays"? Well no more of that, cultural insensitivity is so IN right now! AHAHAHA.

Anyway, I first noticed it on campus many moons ago actually. Christmas trees and snow men and shit everywhere. No one bothered to wish me season's greetings or happy holiday, and I was tempted just to start telling folks I was Muslim just to watch their faces break up. But up at ETSU I just put it off to the fact that...well, it's ETSU.

Then, you know, I got home and it started occurring to me...the only place I was seeing holiday diversity was children's shows. It seems that only as children can you learn about Hanukkah & Kwanza and other holidays, but other than that it seems that no one even bothered to TRY this year. I mean in previous years past at least there were some attempts to acknowledge Those Other Events That Aren't Christmas but this year I scarcely saw any. Yes, Christmas is a major event and it makes sense to pander to that, I get that. And I'm not actually offended, but I just thought it was so...strange.

Then there were the movements about "keeping the 'christ' in Christmas" and the so-called War On Christmas 08. It finally occurred to me that I'm extremely lost because I have no idea who is trying to take the Christ out of Christmas (let's talk about the "mass" part and the fact that Christmas is based on a lie anyway and tra-lala~) and I'm not sure which insurgents have declared war on Christmas THIS year.

Man, it's been...odd. I can't decide if it's because I've been paying MORE attention this year or if things have just gotten...worse. When I saw people wishing Muslims merry Christmas I wanted to cringe and pop some faces. Who knows, maybe it's both. But it bugs me a little lot. Anyone else notice this little, uh, trend?

Damn this new administration! Yes, already!

Well, before I get started on the ultra depressing infant mortality story, I must share this one. This reminds me of the vitriol my father spewed towards Obama last night while looking at his picture.

...my man called him a "darkie". What?! And you wonder where I get it from!

From here

The New York Times’ Katharine Seelye has is reporting that Rick Warren, the pastor at Saddleback Church, has been chosen by President-elect Barack Obama to deliver the invocation at the inaugural ceremony.

This is the same Rick Warren who recently said that the relationships of his “many gay friends” are no different from child rape, incest or polygamy. He also jumped on the paranoia bandwagon surrounding same-sex marriage by falsely claiming that Prop 8’s failure somehow would have overturned the Constitution’s First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and religion.

Oh joy. Goddamnit Obama, what are you allegedly doing? First you decide to take a breather on that Don't Ask Don't Tell thing, your speech writer gropes a Hillary Clinton cut out, and now you want this clown at your inauguration. Why, allegedly, why?! It makes me want to allegedly claw my eyes out. When will the blatant pandering in politics end?

Oh sigh. Perhaps this will all end like Free Willy on inauguration day...you remember the end of Free Willy right, where the whale jumps over the wall and he's free? Yeah, that was the fuzziest moment of my childhood. Maybe Obama will jump over the audience, roundhouse kicking these bad decisions and fucknecks in the process.

The Field Negro does a good look at this...mess as well.

Speaking of Christmas, I don't like much Kwanzaa either

Okay, I'm going to just whisper this entire post so lean in close to your screen. Good? Okay.

I already did my Christmas hate post and I was going to leave it at that, but frankly I'm no where near done with the Holidays. Come see me at Easter and Lent.

So anyway, I've drank a lot of Kool Aid and eaten far too many cookies for a healthy person (I swear I'm older than 10) so rather than bouncing off the walls and out the window, let me talk about Kwanzaa.

I first learned about Kwanzaa in 2nd grade as essentially the black alternative to Christmas. To me it sounded a whole lot like Hanukkah and I actually voiced this opinion but it kinda fell on deaf ears. So in elementary school to...well about middle school I guess all I knew of Kwanzaa was that it was the Black Man's Christmas. Under this guise I couldn't figure out for the life of me why blacks needed a separate Christmas/Hanukkah hybrid.

My other memory of Kwanzaa was...well, I was in chorus for two years and we did a holiday special that included Christmas, Hanukkah and yup, Kwanzaa. Kwanzaa was flippantly mentioned after Hanukkah (again, I'm puzzled) and we even had the girl in the "typical" African garb. Then we did a Hanukkah song that is still the talk of the family to this day (you just had to be there, it was flippin' hilarious).

So as I said, I went most of my life just knowing that Kwanzaa was the black alternative to Christmas and not much else. It wasn't until later that, through a series of circumstances I don't remember, I just got on Wikipedia and looked up the damn holiday.

What I saw confused me even more. Guess what, Kwanzaa isn't JUST the "black alternative" to Christmas, it's more than that. But also, my mother is older than the celebration of Kwanzaa. Yes, I'd also gone around thinking it was an ancient holiday turns out it's probably about 50 years old. Well, that was shattering.

I know Wikipedia isn't the most trustworthy source out there but it actually helped me understand the basics of Kwanzaa and led me to do my own research. That's how I found out I really don't like Kwanzaa, and that's why I'm still whispering this whole post *is hoarse, takes a drink of water*

I, T R Xands, of questionably sound mind and body, do solemnly declare that I think Kwanzaa is silly.

*gasps*

Yes, I said it and I'm not ashamed! Well, I am a little. "Silly" is really too flippant a term, I don't think it's so much silly that I just disagree with it is all. I'm not quite sure how to put this without sounding all self-loathing or offensive to people who do celebrate Kwanzaa. I guess I should say, I like the concept of Kwanzaa but I've never truly understood why, like Christmas or Hanukkah (I had to even it up a little even though Hanukkah is a little different) these principles (the 7 principles) are relegated to a week or so of "celebration". That just seems odd. Give presents and be a decent person all year round; likewise, live out these 7 principles all year round.

I'll have to pick on Kwanzaa some more because I don't hate it for religious reasons like Christmas, it mostly just seems to be political/personal reasons that I just find the whole thing a little weird. I feel a little jilted because I don't think I've ever met anyone that seriously celebrated Kwanzaa (now I have seen people that half ass it for whatever reason they feel the need to). So...yeah, there will definitely be more holiday hate coming up.

Alright, let me stop whispering.

Questions for those who voted Yes on Prop 8

And...it so happens to be my 200th post! Yaaay! *noise makers & party hats...but no cake* Sorry there's no cake you gaiz :/

I'd say that I know *I* I don't have any friends that voted Yes on Prop 8, but I also said I didn't associate with ignorant folk. But I do, as it turns out. A lot of 'em. A LOT OF THEM.

I saw this post on the Friendly Atheist and figured it was worth spreading.



It wasn’t just Christians who voted to ban gay marriage in California, but no doubt the measure would’ve failed without their support. Ditto to the Mormons.

There are so many questions I want to ask those people who voted in favor of Proposition 8 and as a result banned gay marriages in California:

* How is your marriage any more secure now that homosexual marriages in your state are broken?

* What do you say to the children of gay parents who question why their mommies or daddies can’t be married?

* Can I vote on the legality of your marriage?

* How does this vote change your life?

* Are you proud of yourself?

* What did you say to your gay friends (if you have any) when you saw them post-election?

* Will your actions bring gay people closer to Christ?

* When gay marriage is finally legalized (it won’t be long), are you going to lie and tell your children your church led the charge for equal rights or will you tell them the truth and say you were the reason for the delay?

* How do you defend your position to your children?

* Are you in favor of lifelong commitments between two people or against it?

* What effect do you think this gay marriage ban will have on gay people? Young people? Non-Christians? Young Christians?

* Is this what Jesus would do?

Also, on the second floor (aka the Boys' Floor) there's a big sign declaring the resident(s) of that room is/are not racist because they voted for McCain they looked at the issues yadda yadda yadda. I wonder who made them feel so compelled to state that...if anyone did. I bet no one asked them. Real anti-racists don't need to explain themselves you guys!

Anti-porn bill passed in Indonesia

Check this:

Indonesia passes anti-porn bill

Indonesia's parliament has passed an anti-pornography law despite furious opposition to it.

Islamic parties said the law was needed to protect women and children against exploitation and to curb increasing immorality in Indonesian society.

Sounds like the morality police are at it again. I have to admit, noble their intentions might be, lack of pornography isn't going to stop people from abusing/exploiting women and children, or anyone for that matter.

What really concerned me was this:

"The law would ban images, gestures or talk deemed to be pornographic.

...

Violators face up to 12 years in prison and hefty fines."

Goodness. I understand that Indonesia isn't a very rich nation at all, and 12 years for having porn is just crazy-talk. Speaking of talk, I'm not sure what pornographic gestures or talk would be...and I wonder if the bill guys are either.

Man, Indonesia is a different thing entirely. There was the story of this one Australia woman that was supposedly about to face 10-20 years (something like that) in prison there for possession of weed. Weed! Obviously I don't have the story on my hand right now and I have a reaaal serious headache right now so forgive me, I'll see if I can link later.

But anyway, the bill hasn't been signed yet but when it does, wow. I tell you there's just no point in policing morality, you just can't do it, no matter how big or how small your country is.

The Obama Presidency, according to James Dobson

Well, not specifically him but rather Focus on Family.

Focus on Family is for the most part, a silly organization. I'm sorry but that's just how I'm looking at it, and I may be looking at it mostly from a negative view but that's what I do. But tell me this isn't...silly.

I've read this on Pharyngula & on the Friendly Atheist, interestingly enough, and now I want the fair readers of my blog to FEEL it, y'own mean? (Try to say that outloud...it'll make more sense).

Here is a letter (pdf file) sent from "the future" from a horrified citizen describing life under Chairman Obama. Please read this and never ask me why I'm not religious.

I'll give them points for creativity--because that really is a fantasy tale and no where near the damn truth--but that's still a double F-F-F-FAIL. You'll notice how much of it seems to fall on Queer Atrocities and the Church is at the sway of the gays. The future IS scary isn't it?

You don't get it, do you?

I'm sorry, I found this on Pharyngula and I had to take time out of my busy research schedule to...discuss.

From Pharyngula I read a blog entry from a woman who seems dismayed at the thoughts of gays going to school. And...apparently would prefer gays to be stoned to death rather than letting them live like everyone else. Uh oh well.

We can't let the gays go to school! That would be wrong!

Now I'm not going to attack her actual blog or her person or anything, just this line of thinking *rolls eyes* We can't let the straight kids attend school with the gay kids. Again that'd be wrong no? They would infect the innocent, God-loving straight kids with their homo-poison and...and stuff! She even suggests that someone "blow up the school"--what de hale?

Ahem. Anyway. I couldn't help but think that I'm sure this is how whites felt when schools because integrated in the South *snicker* except they actually did blow up the schools, as you know. Aren't you glad the internet as we know it came much, much later?

I don't really understand this kind of intolerance. I mean, we're all entitled to our own opinion of things and fine, if your Holy Book says that you shouldn't like gays and that's your only reasoning, whatever. I wish I could change your mind but chances are that I can't. But still suggesting that we blow up schools, stone people and just generally be very UN-human (and dare I say un-damned-Christian) towards people who are different is just insane. It's insane that this sort of intolerance still breeds, lives, exists and it's not like it's in the minority (well, not the majority either). It scares me how many people really think this way.

It also makes me wonder...do people really think about what they say, when they put it out there in the open? I mean, how do you go home to your kids and talk about dem damn niggers or dem damn gays or dem damn Arabs or whatever it is you discriminate against? It's depressing. How can you teach intolerance? How can you stand against tolerance and yet expect people to respect you and be thoughtful of you? It's also disgusting. We are not enlightened and yet we're not moving backwards--then does that mean, we are stuck?

...sorry that was some existentialist rambling. The world is a little much for me right now, I'm just gonna go back to my research paper...