Keep Your Superstitions to Yourself, Please

Enough with the God stuff.

I'm including "one nation, under God" and "in God we trust." I'd like to be rid of it. It has gotten out of hand.

Keep it to yourself, Church Lady.

You (and my mother, for that matter) can revel in being outraged by people who understand (and accept) that there are many kinds of families, including some with two mommies or two daddies.

It's so easy to adopt the "they're picking on us" position when someone points out that you've overstepped the bounds by demanding pseudo-science be taught in public schools. I do pity the kids whose parents send them to schools with curricula that simply reinforces their prejudices and superstitions.

Religion does provide some value. Asking questions like, "How should we live?" and "How should we treat each other?" is a good idea. Gloating about going to heaven while all who disagree with you are eternally punished is unseemly.

FreedomWorks? For Whom?

The universe's sense of humor has revealed itself once again, and the NeoCon movement is at the forefront with its ongoing and relentless use of the word "freedom" without the slightest acknowledgement of its irony.

They've goose-stepped into Vermont with flags flying, setting up an outpost of an organization that calls itself (with a straight, very straight, face) "FreedomWorks." Declaring its intention to fight for lower taxes, less government, and more freedom, one might guess that these folks are yellow-ribbon-magnet-affixing supporters of the current administration. That's the one that has made significantly higher taxes inevitable with unprecedented deficit spending. The one that has expanded the government's size and power, especially with the ironically named PATRIOT act and Department of Homeland Security.

Freedom means permission to abuse public land and water with ATVs and PWCs, pollute with impunity, and carry any gun one wants. Not, however, to make personal health or marriage decisions if the church ladies can get riled about them. Right?

Yikes. This isn't my America.

"There's no place like home. There's no place like home. There's no place like home."

Extreme? I'll give you extreme!

I hope Dr. Dean puts some fire in the Democratic party. Somebody's gotta take a swing at the NeoCon Mullahs and their minions. Controlling the conversation by branding those who disagree with your position as extremists and bullying thoughtful press into not daring to question any position, however far-fetched (let the Iraqi oil revenue pay for the "liberation"? Somebody said this with a straight face!) for fear of being labeled liberal media elite.

It's not really necessary to shout back, but perhaps calmly calling this stuff rubbish out loud might help.

Pundit for Sale

These little posts are absolutely extemporaneous, with barely a spell check before publishing.

That could change, if the price were right. I could be a very disciplined pundit, thoughtful, well-edited, and articulate (even erudite) with regard to whatever position the gang with the right amount of cash cares to have me pimp.

So, like Armstrong Williams and so many others have already done, and Maureen Dowd has offered, I join the ranks of the available for a price.

Look me up. I'm ready!

Christian Republic of America?

On the Champs Elysees in Paris I walked passed the offices of Iran Air "The official airline of The Islamic Republic of Iran." I don't think I'm alone in my fear of theocracy, yet I see it creeping onto this continent. It started with the addition of "In God We Trust" to the currency and continued with amending the Pledge of Allegiance to include "under God." The latest affronts to the separation of Church and State include the introduction of "Faith Based Initiatives" to the public sphere.

I stand in mute outrage at these affronts to our Constitution.

Here's something interesting:
http://www.perrspectives.com/features/Taliban.htm

Triumph of the Believers over the Thinkers?

I've been worried for quite some time about rampand aggressive defiant ignorance. I'm even related to some people who are proud of the fact that they haven't actually read or seen some of the things they're indignant or outraged about--they've heard about it on talk radio or read it in the newspapers and magazines they read to have their prejudices reinforced.

Liberal elite media are blamed for so much that is evil, yet I've never gotten any indication from any of the sources I respect that they want to do anything other than inform me. Even The Daily Show with Jon Stewart gets most of their stuff direct. You can't make up stuff that's more absurd than what happens in real life.

Never stop thinking. Please.

Never Surrender!

I just found this:
http://www.neversurrender.org/
Very interesting approach. I liked the black wristbands but thought they weren't positive enough.

I like the contrast to the rhetorically meaningless "Support Our Troops" garbage that gets trotted out everytime a Bush goes to war on Iraq.

There are any number of things that I would like to display, but fear reprisal, vandalism, or harassment (see http://rockymountainnews.com/drmn/cda/article_print/0,1983,DRMN_15_3495709_ARTICLE-DETAIL-PRINT,00.html). Even living is a fairly blue state, I know that there are more than enough yahoos around who seem to believe what's going on is a good thing and would take umbrage at my disagreement.

Once upon a time there was a movement to "Take Back Vermont" from the people who thought protecting the environment and equal rights for all citizens (especially with regard to GBLT folk) had gone too far. America has been hijacked by church ladies and the greedy. Dr. Dean spoke of Taking Back America, I don't think that's it, either.

I don't happen to believe that intellectual is a bad thing to be. Having knowlege is a virtue. And that's another post.

You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

Freedom

Just another word for nothin' left to lose?

Something that isn't free and needs spreading around the world by well-armed working-class kids and very surprised formerly only weekend warriors?

Not, however, having to do reproductive choice or same-gender marriage.

Including, though, loud toys (ATVs/PWCs/snowmobiles, etc) and the right to have motorized fun regardless of the effect on the environment. And guns.

embarrassed again

I have had it with American Pride. Pride is, after all, a deadly sin. The reputed punishment is to be broken on the wheel. I'm just waiting for a whimpering return from Iraq with the metaphorical tail between the legs.

When I work in Europe people ask, "What is going on in your country?" They've been asking this for several years. Begining with the persecution of President Clinton through the war on Iraq. I wish I had a good answer.

I have had it with rampant arrogant ignorance. From the churches to Fox News and talk radio, some folks seem to only want their prejudices reinforced.

I believe that one reason Republicans get elected is because they like to take the armed forces out and play with them instead of just using them for sissified things like UN peacekeeping missions.

At the rate this gang is spending, there won't be any money available for war toys and expensive revenge and crony-enrichment adventures for much longer.

anomalink - the blog

It's been a long time coming. Now there's a place to put it all. I only hope to have time to write.