Okay, enough, please.
Organized religion is nonsense, it is ridiculous, it is just plain bad for humanity.
Following the end of the Alabama bunker hostage event and the rescue of a 5 year old boy, I heard countless interviews where god was praised as the force behind the rescue, where god was thanked for "looking out for the boy", that the boy was saved because of god's care, and on and on and on. Does that mean that the same "god" did not care about the 60 year old bus driver who was killed, did this same god only slightly care for the boy or why else would god not have prevented the event in the first place. Was this god to busy to look out for the other children killed in accidents or crimes in the past few days. Don't waste my time the "mysteries of god" crap, god is a construct of man, man is NOT a construct of god.
nuf said
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
People proudly say "I am a college graduate." Once a graduate always a graduate, the same is true with Boy Scouts. Once an Eagle Scout always an Eagle Scout. Sort of.
Following the Supreme Court's 2000 ruling allowing bigotry by the Boy Scouts of America, I returned my Eagle award, pin and other paraphernalia to the national organization along with a letter explaining my belief that the organization did not practice the values it claims to hold. At that time, I renounced my support of the organization and renounced any history I might have had with the association. I received a pathetic form reply offering no defense of their bias. Last week I began to hope that my, and many others, efforts might have begun to sink in. I hoped that the BSA was coming to see the light, not that they were just responding to pressure from financial supporters. Today's (non)action by the organization shows exactly how the BSA works, they do not act based on moral right and wrong, Rather they seem to make all of their decisions based on what is only in their best financial interests.
So, once a college graduate, always a college graduate. But I am proud to say that I was, but am no longer, an Eagle Scout.
nuf said
Following the Supreme Court's 2000 ruling allowing bigotry by the Boy Scouts of America, I returned my Eagle award, pin and other paraphernalia to the national organization along with a letter explaining my belief that the organization did not practice the values it claims to hold. At that time, I renounced my support of the organization and renounced any history I might have had with the association. I received a pathetic form reply offering no defense of their bias. Last week I began to hope that my, and many others, efforts might have begun to sink in. I hoped that the BSA was coming to see the light, not that they were just responding to pressure from financial supporters. Today's (non)action by the organization shows exactly how the BSA works, they do not act based on moral right and wrong, Rather they seem to make all of their decisions based on what is only in their best financial interests.
So, once a college graduate, always a college graduate. But I am proud to say that I was, but am no longer, an Eagle Scout.
nuf said
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Friday, December 21, 2012
I sit here just days away from the end of the year, a time of the year full of celebrations and holidays and I cannot believe how sad and disgusted I am with today's NRA press conference and last night's radical right obstruction of government.
These 2 events are so clearly tied together. How have we come to the point in our society that a small fringe element can control and harm all of us. How can a tiny section of Washington be so powerful and rabid that their renegade behavior is in opposition to even their own party. And then, in both cases the victim is blamed. The Republican party now tries to claim that it will be the White House's fault if no agreement is reached and the NRA claims that had there been MORE guns the hands of the public, the many recent mass shootings would not have occurred.
Does any rational person believe that the solution to violent gun crime is to arm principals and teachers? Does anyone out there really think that we should put an armed guard in every school. Should every theater usher have a gun? How about every fast food cashier, there have been mass shootings in movie theaters and fast food joints.
Does anyone out there think that with our current deficit, raising taxes on those earning more than $1 million dollars a year is a bad thing? First $250,000 would not fly, then $400,000. Now the Republican party feels the need to protect those taking home more than an even cool million per year. Their argument that greater tax of these high earners will harm the economy is nonsense. Every single non-partisan unbiased look at the deficit agrees that a blend of higher taxes and lower spending is the only solution.
How long will Americans continue to tolerate such behaviors in the public or private sectors?
not enough said
These 2 events are so clearly tied together. How have we come to the point in our society that a small fringe element can control and harm all of us. How can a tiny section of Washington be so powerful and rabid that their renegade behavior is in opposition to even their own party. And then, in both cases the victim is blamed. The Republican party now tries to claim that it will be the White House's fault if no agreement is reached and the NRA claims that had there been MORE guns the hands of the public, the many recent mass shootings would not have occurred.
Does any rational person believe that the solution to violent gun crime is to arm principals and teachers? Does anyone out there really think that we should put an armed guard in every school. Should every theater usher have a gun? How about every fast food cashier, there have been mass shootings in movie theaters and fast food joints.
Does anyone out there think that with our current deficit, raising taxes on those earning more than $1 million dollars a year is a bad thing? First $250,000 would not fly, then $400,000. Now the Republican party feels the need to protect those taking home more than an even cool million per year. Their argument that greater tax of these high earners will harm the economy is nonsense. Every single non-partisan unbiased look at the deficit agrees that a blend of higher taxes and lower spending is the only solution.
How long will Americans continue to tolerate such behaviors in the public or private sectors?
not enough said
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Please elect me President of the NRA.
I just joined the NRA. Seriously, I did. For $35 a year, I can receive all of their mail, read all their writings and most importantly vote in their (or should I say my) association's elections.
Rather than trying to fight with the NRA and change their positions from the outside, maybe a couple million Americans with common sense should join and at this year's annual meeting nominate our own slate and elect a board that will respond to the desires and interests of the new NRA majority. I'll be happy to be NRA President if that will help move the country towards sanity.
not enough said
I just joined the NRA. Seriously, I did. For $35 a year, I can receive all of their mail, read all their writings and most importantly vote in their (or should I say my) association's elections.
Rather than trying to fight with the NRA and change their positions from the outside, maybe a couple million Americans with common sense should join and at this year's annual meeting nominate our own slate and elect a board that will respond to the desires and interests of the new NRA majority. I'll be happy to be NRA President if that will help move the country towards sanity.
not enough said
Friday, December 14, 2012
After last months elections I thought enough had been said and that I could (at least for a while) retire what James would call my "rants". But today's shooting in CT reminds me that we cannot sit back and let the radical elements of society go unchecked and unchallenged.
There is no rational excuse to hide behind the 2nd Amendment for the un-infringed right to own military style semi-automatic pistols with large volume ammo clips.
But for the sake of argument, why not stop fighting the Constitutionality of gun control under the 2nd Amendment and work to change the Constitution. Why not just seek an amendment allowing for reasonable gun control. What rational and reasonable person would vote against such an amendment? Let the NRA and the radical right show their true colors. Put it to the people, isn't this what the radical right would claim they want? Yep, the country will split on this issue just like on so many others, but one has to hope that enough Americans are sick and tired of un-infringed gun ownership and will vote to see that events like today's shooting are stopped.
not enough said
There is no rational excuse to hide behind the 2nd Amendment for the un-infringed right to own military style semi-automatic pistols with large volume ammo clips.
But for the sake of argument, why not stop fighting the Constitutionality of gun control under the 2nd Amendment and work to change the Constitution. Why not just seek an amendment allowing for reasonable gun control. What rational and reasonable person would vote against such an amendment? Let the NRA and the radical right show their true colors. Put it to the people, isn't this what the radical right would claim they want? Yep, the country will split on this issue just like on so many others, but one has to hope that enough Americans are sick and tired of un-infringed gun ownership and will vote to see that events like today's shooting are stopped.
not enough said
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