Sunday, September 30, 2012


AMERICAN ANGST

Paul Ryan has been channeling Tod Akins, the "legitimate rape" gentleman. On WJHL, during an interview, Ryan stated that there is no reason for an abortion, ever. His exact words, "the method of conception doesn't change the definition of life."
If you've been raped, it's just making love on a different level. 
The right's seeming disregard for females continues. Akin jumped back into the fray with his statement that Senator McCaskill was "much more ladylike in 2006." It would have been a gift if he would have defined "ladylike" to us all so we can be sure what a lady should be. I would really enjoy hearing conservatives defining the gender, would be an eye opener for all.
Senator Brown of Massachusetts has decided that he can't beat his democratic challenger on the issues of the day, so he's decided to attack Elizabeth Warren personally. During a recent debate, Brown stayed on topic. Unfortunately the topic focused on Warren's statement years past that she had Native American heritage. This was never used for securing employment, only a statement. I don't see why this even matters, but I guess attacking his opponent instead of discussing policies is a safer bet for the gentleman.
Even worse, at a rally his deputy chief of staff and others got the crowd excited by making "war whoops" and "tomahawk chops." I'm sure Native Americans are not as excited as his supporters apparently are.
For those not paying attention, Romney's energy plan show's a complete disregard for the citizenry and science. His plan expands fossil fuel use and derides renewable energy by ending subsidies for clean energy. No mention of climate change anywhere in the plan, keep this is mind if you intend to vote for him. Even better, let me know why this is good.
Joining the Romney team is Dan Senor, who spoke for Romney on Libya and Egypt. This is one of President George W. Bush's selections because of his loyalty to him and the political party, not because of any expertise. "Bagdad Dan" ignored what was happening in Iraq and concentrated on generating spin for the American public that made everything look fine.
My favorite conservative mantra this week that is being yelled from the rooftops is that the polls on the election are showing Obama taking a commanding lead cannot be correct. All the talking heads, including my favorite bender of facts, Rush Limbaugh, are crying foul. They believe this to be a liberal media plot to get conservatives to stay home come election day.
The best take on this foolishness came from Colbert:
The Honorable Allen West was in the news for vocalizing his thoughts on President Obama's speech to the United Nations. He posted the following nonsense on FB:
My statement to the United Nations would have been, "The future does not belong to those who attack our Embassies and Consulates and kill our Ambassadors. The Angel of Death in the form of an American Bald Eagle will visit you and wreak havoc and destruction upon your existence." I know readers dislike when I start calling those I disagree with belittling names, but really?
Mr. West is from Florida, one of the states doing their best to disenfranchise voters. There they feel the need to protect the election from voting fraud, and the best way to do that is make sure minorities are not allowed to vote. We've heard about the firm that was involved in voter fraud in Florida, the conservative firm run by Nathan Sproul, seems to be the culprit. What may not be as well known is that many conservative states were doing business with his Strategic Allied Consulting firm. The RNC has now dropped the company, which was involved in registering the dead. 
All the "voter fraud" laws being battled appear to be in conservative run states. I was surprised to learn how small a margin our current president had in those states; now I know why conservatives are trying to dismantle the federal voter protection laws through local legislation. These are the same tactics they used in eliminating women health care providers by circumventing Roe vs. Wade.
In Ohio where they tried to eliminate three days of early voting, the president won by 262,224 votes. The republican controlled state legislature, if they had their way, would have eliminated 100,000 votes during that time. Then you tack on another almost 15,000 votes that they tried to eliminate if provisional ballots were filed in the wrong precinct. They lost that battle as well, but since an overwhelming majority of these votes have been for democrats in the past, you can see what they have in mind.
Pennsylvanians favored the president in 2008 by over 620,000 votes. The new voter I.D. laws would exclude as many as 759,000 voters. 
They tried the same law in Wisconsin, where it was overruled by the state's Supreme Court. Obama won by over 400,00 votes there.
In Iowa they have given up on trying to purge registered voters. Obama won by 146,000 votes.
Florida, Tennessee, New Mexicoall states where conservative leadership is in the process of disenfranchising a basic American right. I only list all this data to make it very clear how conservatives intend to win. Lying and cheating is the apparent game plan for 2012.
The Citizen's United ruling is now having an effect on our election. Corporate political spending has reached 78% of campaign funding. If you think anyone getting elected is there to serve the interests of the public, I have a bridge to sell you.
Atheists are seemingly tired of both parties, at least when it comes to religion. The Secular Coalition of America finds that a resolution from the U.S. House of Representatives excludes many Americans. That resolution "reaffirms the importance of religion in the lives of United States citizens." I think we all know which religion is important.
California has an interesting ballot initiative this fall dealing with GMO labels on food products. Though Monsanto and allies have spent 32.5 million dollars in trying to keep this off the ballot, Californians favor the initiative 2 to 1. With luck this will spread across the country, especially with Monsanto corn being in the news. Russia has decided not to buy Monsanto corn after a recent French study that linked the corn and the herbicide roundup to cancer and organ failure.
GOD'S GREATEST
Another war on reality has hit the airwaves. John Hagee stated to Glenn Beck that the Civil War was ended by President Lincoln with his call to a national day of fasting and prayer. That's what we need now, prayer for the upcoming election. It does seem that the religious right's goal is to rewrite history as fast as they can. Lincoln's call to fasting and prayer took place two years before the war ended. Pesky facts. 
The Pope weighed in on the gay scourge. According to the supreme leader of all sheep, gays are not fully developed people. Apparently he's a bit peeved by France's move to legalize marriage for all. His exact wording was that the catholic values of marriage and family must be obeyed to"permit the full development of the human person." Possibly this is a step forward, at least gays are now considered people, even if they are incomplete.
All we can hope for is that religious leaders keep talking, it's how they will be exposed as the conmen that they are.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon decides that the religious are more important than humans. As the Blasphemy laws are once again injected into global discussion, he thinks that limiting free speech is okay when referencing religion. No way buddy.
GUN GROUPIES
Another horrible story that revolves around our love of firepower. A Connecticut teacher shoots his own child, thinking that his target was a robber. 
Every year 31,000 Americans are killed and over 66,000 injured by guns. Over 18,000 people kill themselves and almost 600 are shot by accident. I know, nobody really cares. Second amendment guarantees our right to be armed to the teeth, and for some their lack of reasoning guarantees that people will die.
In a seven day period ending September 20th, the TSA found 47 guns, (38 loaded), 3 inert hand grenades, hunting knives, black powder, fuses and a sword. We're into this fantasy of power that the righteous use of weapons of destruction in the U.S. gives us. 
Since crime is rampant and guns are easy to get,  the city of Camden in New Jersey - the most dangerous city in the country - is disbanding the police force. Like the NFL referees, the unionized police force is just too darn expensive. This should work out well if you're looking to save money, not so much if you're looking to save people.
FOOD FIGHT
The small story, a woman was abused at a local Kroger's for using food stamps. After having her groceries rung up, she was told she owed ten dollars. Knowing that her food stamps covered the purchase, she argued the point. The store manager gave in, but not after letting her know what he thought. 
"He finally just said, 'Okay, just give it to her.' I said, 'See, I told you it was covered by food stamps,' and he said, 'Excuse me for working for a living and not relying on food stamps!'"
The big story is from my home state which is experimenting with another sly way of getting rid of welfare recipients. The new policy that is in effect will tie welfare cash to school attendance. Conservatives are claiming, and most of us would probably agree, that children should be in school; that their future is in jeopardy if they are truant.
Unfortunately for the state, I have a policy expert in the house. Some quick notes from online sources. There is no study that shows that truancy is a problem only of the poor. Some also think that this is not the right kind of encouragement; taking away food seems to be drastic. The talking heads keep defining truancy as ten or more unexcused absences, but that is not in the new policy.
The following is Jo's interpretation of the policy.
DHS policy change
DHS policy change
The Michigan Department of Human Services (DHS) is implementing a policy change for families receiving cash assistance effective October 1, 2012. This caught my attention as it hit national news this week. Being a retired policy writer for DHS, I had to go check out the details in DHS policy.
I discovered that 16 and 17 year old children must be attending school full time. 18 year olds must be attending high school full time in order to receive cash assistance.
High school means a course of study leading to a high school diploma or it's equivalency and includes all of the following:
Adult basic education.
Alternative education
Charter school
Non-public school
Vocational or technical training.
School means:
Public school
Non-public school registered with DOE
Home school
It appears that whether or not a child is "attending," and if full or part time is up to the school to determine. School verification forms are automatically generated on the child's birthday every year beginning at age 16. Shouldn't the definition of truancy be spelled out and applied uniformly if at all?
It also appears that if the "truant" child is the only child in the family, all cash benefits stop. If he/she is only one of multiple qualifying children, the family suffers a reduction in the amount of cash assistance.
I could not find historic policy online, but my memory is that in the past, 16 and 17 year olds not attending school full time used to be referred to a work program. If non compliant with that program, penalties were applied to the family, but at least they were given an alternative.
While reviewing current policy I also noticed that a change was implemented some time in the last 2 1/2 years. Policy used to allow cash assistance to continue for 19 year olds who were attending high school full time when expected to graduate before age 20. This no longer applies.
We all know of a teenager, some from well educated, affluent families who lose their way in high school and are unsuccessful students. We also know of children who were held back and who do not have the opportunity to graduate before age 19. What about special education students? Should parents of these children lose their possibly only source of income because of this? Who is this helping?
I was unable to locate any case studies on this topic online, or the philosophy behind this change. Could it be that we have the pleasure of having a republican governor who is hell bent on building a new bridge from Michigan to Canada?
Bridge first. Michigan's Families somewhere lower on Mr. Snyder's priority list.
Neal again. 
This raises the question, how do we treat those in need? Those who are temporarily having a hard time because of the economy, those who are locked into generational poverty, what is the correct action to take? Ridicule? Patronize? Sympathize? Maybe a swift kick to get them moving?
Conservatives think that by cutting off aid those less fortunate will either get off their rears and work, or die. Either way it solves the problem.

Sunday, September 23, 2012


AMERICAN ANGST
Candidate Mitt Romney has been having a bad week. Tim Pawlenty, who had a short run in the conservative primary, has left Mitt's campaign to go work as a lobbyist. When your milk toast compatriots start running away, you know there's a problem.
Most of the flack that Romney is the deserved brunt of this week, revolves around the idea that 47% of the U.S. populations are freeloaders who will vote for Obama so they can keep their entitlements. That was the big story, though if you listened to the full video there were many more statements from the gentleman that deserved your scorn.
Romney decided to target immigrants with a few really wild statements. He sarcastically stated that "If you have no skill or experience you are welcome here." If you have a PH.D., he'd like to "Staple a green card on your forehead and welcome you to the country." I may be making those statements difficult to understand, but the gist is that the only immigrants we have are uneducated, unskilled and unwelcomed. He would like to be involved in a hostage situation so he could take advantage of the opportunity. He made false claims about the Federal Reserve buying up three quarters of the American debt and that if he's elected there will be easy dividend gains for the rich. Among other ridiculous claims, he also stated that he was as poor as a church mouse.
The gentleman hasn't a clue.
His seemingly nice wife Anne stated in his defense that "It is hard" to run for president. This statement was directed at conservatives who thought Mitt's 47% remark might damage his chances at being elected. Thanks for the clarification.
This week Romney's tax returns remained a hot topic. He dumped his 2011 return late on Friday, as most politicians do when they have news they'd like to bury. Interesting enough, he paid more than he needed to in 2011. I would think that was a deliberate overpayment to help bump his tax rate up; even though percentage wise it is still less than what the middle class pays.
Ryan helps out by speaking in front of a AARP convention, the boos were apparently music to his ears, why else would he wear that silly grin all the time?
The right is ramping up the crazy. Megyn Kelly, a Fox employee, compared the Obama campaign poster to an image of a blood streaked wall in Libya.
In Texas, a gentleman has lynched an empty chair adorned with an American flag in his front yard. I think it not hard to comprehend what the man has in mind.
Santorum made this incredibly awesome comment in front of a conservative group last Saturday, "We will never have the elite, smart people on our side." Finally a conservative who realizes the truth. Theists have no use for the hard to con group.
My favorite Romney weirdness this week was his appearance on Univision. Apparently Mitt darkened his face to appeal to hispanic voters. Weirdness defined.
This would appear to be a constant conservative error. They make statements that anyone who would wish to do so can fact check; yet they don't care. The lies and deceit flow from their mouths on the American public like Niagra Falls dumps water on sightseers. I can only ponder the incredulous reality that much of the American public either doesn't care, or is so easily duped, that a politician would not think twice about the lies spread. 
I wonder what the makeup would look like if he was addressing the NAACP? Could Mr. Romney then lay claim to becoming our second black president?
Too funny.
CULTURE CLASH
In Michigan, we have passed legislation that will require schools to have an American Flag and to give every student the opportunity to vocalize the Pledge to Allegiance. The bill doesn't require students to take part, but we all know what this is; a bill that will make sure that young women and men feel peer pressure from those whose parents have already warped their minds with theist insensibilities.
Texas Governor and ex-presidential hopeful Rick Perry has stated that the separation of Church and State is the work of Satan. The nonsense could be easily ignored except that he mentions "Christian Warriors," which is pretty creepy. He also states that those who preach tolerance and diversity are actually bullies. Ah, the twisting of reality into a parallel universe continues.
Texans appear to be leading the crazy train this week. High school cheerleaders, who were ordered to stop waving around bible verses at football games, are apparently going to sue for the right to infringe upon everyone else's rights. Nothing gets those athletes more fired up than Sodom and Gomorrah tales. A local judge is allowing the verses to be displayed for at least a couple of more weeks.
The drug wars are still failing. In Mexico, President Calderon's war on the drug cartels has killed 50,000 citizens since he's been in office. Please put down your fatty and come out with your hands up. Disgusting.
GOD'S GREATEST
This is my favorite story of the week. Apparently a new text has been discovered that implies that Jesus was married. Take that all you catholic priests living lonely lives of celibacy, you could of had a wife instead of the boys choir section.
Though pedophilia is not amusing in any way, shape or form, it would be even more of a horror if the sheepherders had deliberately twisted a story that then allowed for the depravity. the long years of child molestation could have been prevented. I would think the Pope dude will say this is not real, how else can one protect the reign of nonsense.

CLIMATE CHAOS
If you haven't joined Michel's group, "Our Climate," you should.
The latest data are showing the summer ice cap is the smallest in recorded history. Scientists are thinking we may be running out of time. Keep yourself up to date on the data being collected; it is the only way to contradict the science deniers. We really can't let them have the last word. 
I watch daily as energy companies advertise the benefits of raping and destroying the planet. As a stopgap measure for rebuilding the economy, there may be a grain's worth of truth in the messaging. The lie is not exhorting the values of renewable energy and the jobs that industry would build with the same vigor.
OCCUPY OASIS
We still hear almost nothing about the OWS movement. It would appear to be nonexistent if you follow the usual media news sources. Yet on the year one anniversary, there were almost 200 arrests made. The article I'm linking states 100 were arrested, others say 180. 
The question this raises is the following; if there was a movement that no longer exists, how is it possible to arrest non-existent protestors? The powers that be do not want you to hear or understand what is still going on.
If nothing else, remember that the movement coined the 99% phrase. If that were to be the movements only moment of shining glory, it is still a powerful one. It could possibly become a message that will resonate with the public for many years to come.
PLANET POLITICS
Libya is not happy with the militias in the country. Whether the latest uprising is secular or not, apparently the citizens have had enough of terror tactics. They are actually supporting the U.S. in protests occurring in the city of Benghazi. They want nothing to do with the militias and al Qaeda. 
If nothing else, these protests show that the Arab Spring still survives and that freedom is still a desired outcome for the people of the region. It appears that the common thread of reasoning by the people is that the country is theirs and not owned by anyone who would claim to rule.
A great message that the citizens of the U.S. could learn from.
FOOD FIGHT
Is Heaven anything more than a way to way of subduing the feeling of regrets that humans embrace when a loved one is lost? If you think about it, what a perfect comfort the thought would be if you had treated your elders badly. Don't feel bad, they're living it up in heaven and you can join them when it's your turn. All regrets need not be heeded. All your non-caring behavior is absolved. All meanness forgotten.
Modern theist thinking is that the western countries are so advanced that we have too much comfort on earth. No dealing with the weather, no dealing with a cruel life of working from sunup to sundown trying to survive. When life sucked, heaven was a place to look forward to. Literal comfort makes us believe that our heaven is now, that life is the best it's going to be right now, and these thoughts are horrendous to those who preach.
Amazing that they can make a good life a bad thing, but if you think about it, a comfortable life does suck for those promoting the game of worship. 
They do not rejoice in the advances man has made to secure that comfort, since it takes away from their dominion. They would rather believe said comforts cheat our minds from the thought that their is a better place for us in our future. 
And that thought would keep them in control.
Even if life is tough, heaven cheats us of the desire to make our lives better; why work for this life when you have one that somebody else built. Why reach for the sky when you can wait for death to take you there. 
Many seem to take comfort in the thought that there is a god and an afterlife, I think it part of human selfishness to absolve themselves of responsibility. It is not comfort, it is the coward's way out.

Sunday, September 16, 2012


Welcome to another edition of The Planet. The last couple of weeks I've been helping out with the wife's family as they settled my father-in-law into a nursing home and fretted over another who is battling cancer; hasn't been enjoyable.
There may be a little old news mixed with the new as I try to catch up. Hopefully you'll find something here worth yelling about.
The last couple of editions have been critiqued by members on my use of profanity and on my opinions. Profanity I have always kept to a minimum, and will continue to do so. Censorship I will not ever tolerate, but I will respect those that have a problem with four letter words as much as I possibly can; sometimes writing about current events sets off my temper and descriptive words come easily. And though I understand those who rail against my opinions have a legitimate complaint, it is still my opinion and I intend to continue to yell it from the rooftops. Silence should not be a desired option for anyone.

AMERICAN ANGST

I missed being able to comment on the conventions. Would have made for an easy Planet, but I'm sure everyone has heard more than they want to about the events by now so I'll let them go except for one point; the democrats did have some substance to theirs while the conservatives decided to stay away from any concrete policy. Culture wars and flat out falsehoods dictated their strategy. My favorite after convention quote was from Neil Newhouse's "We're not going to let our campaign be dictated by fact checkers." 
If only one thought sticks in your mind it should be that the conservatives have made it clear that the truth will not be spoken in their camp.
The recent horrors in the Middle East I will comment on later in Planet Politics, but there is one thought that belongs in American news, and that is a reminder that we have our own crowd of fundamentalists inciting hatred towards our fellow citizens. We must remember that much of the violence world wide can be directly blamed on religion; it is easily understood. 
I may not have had the time to comment on the conventions, but happily I can comment on the atrocity of the Values Voters Summit that took place this week. This is where fundamentalists stir up the hate. It has nothing to do with reality, and everything to do with the great illusion.
Michelle Bachmann ranted about the evil of Islam and about cutting off funds to Egypt and other Middle Eastern countries who are now being run by the Muslim Brotherhood. She discussed the anti-blasphemy laws that have been rattling around the U.N. for years, like it is something new; directly lying to the public about Hillary Clinton helping to implement the anti-blashemy law. The United Nations Resolution 1618 that she refers to is not an anti-blasphemy document, but an anti-discrimination resolution. Bachmann does promote free speech, but only if it is Christian, conservative and missing anything resembling truth. Her speech could easily be summarized; "Muslims are bad and evil and are killing our Christian brothers, our president is helping said Muslims impose Sharia Law in the United States, and our president's approach of appeasement shows weakness."
Matthew Lee Anderson, a young evangelical blogger/author, stated that abortion and marriage are "symbols of our concern for life" and that Christians needed "more craftiness in their presentation." It is apparent that the only life they are concerned about is one that excludes a large part of America. 
Regarding same sex marriages, Joseph Backholm stated that the only reason Americans are in favor is because they don't want anyone to think they hate gay people. Not a clue does this man have about the real reason, which is equality. He thinks we treat gay people equally. He was pushing R-47, a measure that would delay same sex marriages in the state of Washington. He was hoping to get enough signatures to get it on the ballot come November, which could also influence the race for governor. He succeeded.
Gary Bauer, president of American Values, is a contemptible man. Well, I have a few better words for him but I will keep them to myself this week. Conservative racists are always amusing, yet scary as well since the followers believe their diatribe. Gary states that Obama supporters are welfare recipients and that voter fraud will be rampant in some cities; you know, those that are predominately black. He doubles down on the culture of dependency thought that Romney has promoted, against all facts to the contrary. Bauer gave the conservative crowd a reach around by promoting the anti-gay political ad this year that showed an elderly couple who were upset that they voted for Obama. Now he's shoving the gay agenda down their throats; that's not the change they voted for. 
Glenn Beck resurrects Abraham Lincoln for the crowd. He starts off by comparing Obama to Lincoln's vice-president Johnson, who was drunk at his second inauguration; how's that for respect. His theme is that America is under attack from extremists Muslims abroad and anti-capitalists in the states. He rails against the many who never want to work, who are only here to take and destroy. His speech lasts forty minutes, I didn't make it through it all.
Bill Bennett in a short speech was even worse. In his mind we gave up the swift sword for the bleating of sheep over Libya's attack on American citizens. This was one of Reagan's guys, and the man has not an ounce of honor in him. He stated back in 2005 that if you aborted every black baby in America, the crime rates would drop. He thinks since the media all condemned Romney's comments on Libya, Romney must be right.
David Bereit, founder and director of 40 days for Life, recently returned from Australia to attend the Value Voters Summit. There, during an anti-abortion crusade, he was met by feminists who decried the fact that women die in backyard abortions. A nice little red shoe was tossed at the gentleman in an apparent imitation of the shoe that was thrown at President Bush. This is the gentleman who thought an abortion clinic was possessed by the devil. I only mention Dave as one example of the type of person who is invited to these kind of events. 
They had over 70 speakers at the Summit, and I'm not going to summarize every speech. I will continue with a few of our political leaders that joined the Values Voters in this mission of hate and lies.
Eric Cantor did his usual twisting of words. According to him, traditional marriage is what brings families out of poverty. Ignoring the fact that same sex marriage has actually economically benefitted the states where it is legal, ignoring the reality that it is jobs that lift families out of poverty, he goes all in on the culture wars. Our freedom is gone, not because of his help in passing laws used to spy on Americans, but by health care. He understands how important education is; if only we could get rid of teacher unions the problem would be solved.
Jim Demint took the teacher's strike in Chicago to an even more detestable place. His opening remarks contained this line. "You know, we’ve had a lot of bad news this week. On my way over I was reading another story about a distant place where thugs had put 400,000 children out in the streets. Then I realized that was the story about the Chicago teachers’ strike." Oh, you're such a funny ape. Demint's stance is that government is forcing ungodly values on America and it must be stopped; stopped so Christians can push their values on an apathetic populace.
I can't do this anymore, it's kind of creeping me out. The Values Voters Summit was an evangelical outpouring of disgust and hate for the American people. Reading about the honorable Tim Huelskamp's statement that abortion is slavery and that Planned Parenthood is a racist organization makes me sick. This is what America will be if we ever let these people back into power.
Time for better news.
Allen West has a challenger named Patrick Murphy. Interesting since Murphy is a republican who has turned democrat; conservatives no longer appreciate truth and Murphy can't stand the lies. I'm sure he'll be centrist leaning right if he wins, but no one can be worse than Mr. West

PROTECTING THE POOR

Every so often a pundit gets real. We've seen it lately with Soledad doing her fact checky thing with former governor Sununu, and now we can watch another. Melissa Harris-Perry couldn't handle the idiocy coming from one of our mythical "job creators" Monica Mehta. Enjoy listening to someone who's finally had enough.


LOSING LABOR

The nice long weekend many experienced over the last Labor Day was brought to you by unions. 
One reason why unemployment is up is that we are in the midst of a "speedup." Employers want employees to be more productive than before, so employees are not only working harder, but working more hours. Less family time, less leisure time; America is moving backwards. The American dream is now only for the very few.
The teacher's strike in Chicago is the newest in labor standoffs. Conservatives call them thugs, I call them heroes and here is the reason why.
The contract that has been negotiated revolves around the following.
There will not be differentiated pay for teachers. This would have allowed one set of teachers to be paid at a different scale than other sets. I know of this problem first hand. In Air Traffic Control, they now use a similar scale. Those who are new hires will never ever make as much as those who are currently employed. In fact, every year the disparity gets greater. The result is that highly qualified applicants no longer wish to do the job, it doesn't pay enough for the stress.
Next is an agreement I support totally. Chicago will be hiring 500 more teachers to enlighten the students on art, music, physical education and world languages. Making a school day much more interesting for all involved.
The hiring pool will come from 50% of laid off teachersinstead of eliminating them completely, a small safety net but better than nothing
If a school is closed, teachers can now "follow their students"and keep their jobs.
This is one of the things that conservatives would like you to believe is destroying America. Nonsense.

PLANET POLITICS

Libya and the rest of the Middle East appears to be forming a more perfect union, a union against free speech.The big story as everyone knows is the attack on the American Consulate and subsequent deaths of our Ambassador and his protectors.
Ambassador Chris Stevens, who didn't appear to be disliked by the community, is dead. If you want to see him being dragged through the streets by people trying to save his life, go here. I'm not in the mood to post it.
This is not an understandable act in American eyes. I dislike having to comment about the situation because of that lack of understanding. The area is erupting in anti-American protests over a really horribly made film that no one here, excepting for a few crazed Muslim-hating theists, would ever bother watching. Yet to the Arab world this film is something that requires retaliation. Violent retaliation. I will say to my friends that live in that part of the world, this is insane.
There is one freedom that guarantees all other freedoms, and that is speech. In this country speech is a freedom that is cherished. I could say Jesus was gay and either someone would like to debate the issue, or they would walk away. It would not be a killing offense.
Western European Embassies being attacked, American forces being sent to the region, this spells out doom for peace.
The questions an atheist must ask, is this because of a religion strengthening its position in the Middle East? Is this the consequence of fundamentalist regimes creating theocracies?
Someone tell me why this is happening. I can read every news article I can find, and they all point to a ridiculous cheap movie trailer. Childish if this is the reason. From Western Europe to Australia people are upset and erupting in violence because of a perceived insult to a being that doesn't exist. Get a life people.
FOOD FIGHT

Death has been on my mind lately due to, well, life.
My mother passed away several years ago. She died in a local hospital at around 4 in the morning or so, sometime in the early morning. My brother and a niece were there with me when she took her last breath; it is a memory that I have put aside while embracing the vision of her in life.
It was a significant emotional event for all, she was well loved by many.
We called our siblings and other close relatives. They came in and when many were assembled they grabbed the chaplain, or whoever was there speaking for god that day, and had a quick service for her in the hospital.
My brother and I, being atheists, were not invited. My brother let me know what was going on and we joined them, not for god, but for community and for family. Because of our lack of faith, it appeared we would be excluded from saying goodbye in our own manner.
I guess to some extent, it didn't matter. I had already said goodbye but I was a little aggravated by the exclusion. Like someone's fairy tale is so much more important than the basic human bonding over tragedy.
Am I correct in the assumption that religion is not only an exclusive commodity that only theists share, but also that by assuming that those without their beliefs need not be present during an outpouring of grief makes religion a vengeful and unforgiving creed as well?
I'd say religion cripples the bond shared by humanity throughout our lives, and that one point alone is enough to rail against the powers that be that support the institution of delusion.