SUBTLE SLAMS

It may not be a full frontal assault yet, but you are under attack. It may not even be a conscious decision by your theist family and friends, but there is a whispered conversation taking place. A conversation that excludes and demeans your thoughts.

Take for example the following: 

This week I am the bad guy. Actually, at this time of year, I'm the bad guy every fucking day. I get tired of religious bullshit assaulting my senses daily and am prone to take a stand. A portion of my family is in an uproar, I am persona non-gratis. Tempers have flared, verbal smack downs have been issued. The glove has been dropped by loved ones now lost, oh ye of little faith. The steps are being walked, the pistols loaded; death to anyone who would dare to offer an opinion that conflicts with this country's glamorous addiction to religion.

Some have to take themselves seriously, since anyone who opens their eyes once in awhile will not participate. At times, drama is all there is for the willfully ignorant.

A family member posted an image that she thought was honoring veterans. I looked at it and decided it slammed atheists that served in the military, so I left a comment. Always the same; we can to a certain point joke and tease, learn and teach, unless fantasy is the subject. I was lambasted for deciphering the anti-atheist code.

Now that we are firmly entrenched as a warrior country, when something pertaining to the military is discussed, we're supposed to jump up and salute. Americans are in a jam, hating war yet afraid to denigrate the soldier. The Vietnam backlash is so ingrained in our culture, that clarifying a thought about patriotism is not only unwanted, but an affront to all. Minds that babble bullshit will not be corrected; ever.

To frame the discussion properly, I do
have Vietnam vets in the family. I've heard the horror stories of their time in Vietnam and I know how they were treated when they returned. It is not their fault that our government went to war.

The person(s) that are upset with me are one of those vet's offspring. They post fairly constant memes that honor vets since they are proud of their father's service. Not a problem. Though I do not agree with the warrior culture, I understand. I have great respect for the gentleman, even though I disagree with almost everything that he says. Conservative christian of the Limbaugh type; you can smell the hate that oozes out of his enraged pores when he gets worked up about those traitorous liberals, and amusingly, any conservative that would work with them. He is the poster boy for the Tea Party, it's my way or the highway.

We don't talk politics, pretty much pointless.

Being a white male in a country that continually finds a part of the populace to oppress, the atheist putdowns catch me by surprise. Not the in your face slams, I can handle confrontations, but the sneaky little messages that are spread around by an unknowing or uncaring populace are starting to aggravate. I understand the message even if they don't.

My horrible comment on the cartoon in question was very relaxed. I only made the point that whether correct or not, some people find the pledge of allegiance to be a separation of church and state issue. Nothing more. Didn't get excited, it is after all, family. After my comment I was verbally smacked down for my audacity to start a conversation. I could tell that I had grievously offended the family member in question, so I removed my comment and apologized. I thought possibly the longwinded bitching by someone who doesn't understand how social networks operate would disappear, but it didn't. After a day or so I removed my apology as well; kiss my ass. Go ahead, post another atheist slam and see where it gets you.

Tis the season of course. I open up an email yesterday from another family member, who is closely related to the conservative faction of the family, that contains fantasy. Father from heaven coming down and saving their children nonsense. Of course, cannot ignore. I take it easy and replied, "look at this, a fairy tale in my mailbox." Nothing too dramatic.

I was informed that the email was intended for my wife. Guess they are still hoping she can be turned back to the nonsense.

My point is that as atheists, we are continually slammed by the theist community. They see absolutely nothing wrong in promoting their religion; in fact it's their right to brainwash the world. But don't dare promote reality since for a theist, reality is not only abhorrent, but is also a dire insult.

Now I'm not in any way comparing atheists and atheism to the denigration of those not white, or those that prefer their own gender as mates, or even the battles that women still are fighting; not yet anyway. Atheism, though targeted by the religious, hasn't seemed to be a problem that directly effects how this guy lives; but it's coming. It's been coming since the religious right took over conservative politics, and soon we will be the hot topic.

The battles that groups have had to wage to be included in American society will be our battles. You think atheism is frowned upon now, wait until the national debate centers around us as it has on women's rights, or any other battle for equal rights. Whenever one battle is won in the equal rights arena, another one will rise. It's coming to a town near you soon. We've been quiet and unobtrusive like other groups in the past. Everyone has been ignoring us. Now with the dawn of in your face atheism, I think that public attention is turning our way. It has always been there, but wait until you are the national topic.

It will be great fun.

WITLESS WONDERS

Over 55 million people voted for a lie. Simple as that. 

Though there were missteps by both campaigns, nothing compares to Romney straight out lies. At the end of the campaign, Romney's message in Ohio was that Chrysler owners Fiat were going to make Jeeps in China and American would lose jobs. Not only that, but the president had sold Chrysler to Fiat. Falsehoods encompass the entire statement.

Chrysler had been in negotiations with Fiat before the financial crisis. The president didn't own Chrysler, so could not possibly sell it, though he did help the deal go through. Jeeps being made in China was the best part of the story though. It is less expensive to make the auto in the country you will be selling it to. That's why we have foreign car factories in America, they don't want to pay for shipping and deal with the taxes either. The Jeep plants were already in China, they're being reopened now that Chrysler is once again making money.

There are many of these false statements. Mr. Romney based an entire campaign on half truths and outright lies. One of my favorites was his continual harangue about the President's apology tour. When it does to reality, Mr. Romney will have none of that thank you. He was unable to see diplomacy in action. Unable to understand that our relations with other countries needed to move forward. Mr. Romney apparently would fail in the world arena.

But again, over 55 million people voted for a liar.

Personal bias and racism had to play a part, you don't close your eyes to reality unless what is real offends you. This was not only a part of the national elections, but also state elections. Down to the most minuscule thought, lies were told. 

In Michigan, I had a few conversations over the last few days on politics. Trustworthy information would seem to be a necessity when making decisions at the poll. Those who make intelligent choices do so by finding non-partisan sources. Wouldn't seem to be much of a task, unless you are diseased with an ideology that no facts can cure. For a democracy to succeed, it takes the willing participation of citizens who are informed. If that statement is true, we are doomed to eternal bickering where there's no middle ground to be had.

On Sunday, while watching football at my favorite watering hole, I noticed some quiet conversations occurring. The gentlemen in question are conservatives that I usually get along with well. I've noticed that the closer it gets to voting time, the less welcome I am with the regulars. Instead of the "how's my favorite liberal" greetings, I'm getting the look. You know, I'm getting the feeling that I'm not welcome today.

I was sitting next to a few these gentlemen while watching the game. I got up to use the men's room, and when I got back they had moved away from my spot. A few stools down the bar where they're talking in confidence. Sorry, not happening. I walk the few steps down to hear what the story is. As I get near I hear one gentleman talking to another about how some people "show up" at work. Not workers, only there because they somehow feel they deserve the job and pay. I know what they're alluding to; one of Michigan's proposals on the proposal protecting union workers. A proposal that lost because of the misinformation, and now pay will decrease as contracts are broken. 

Conservatives for some reason hate well paid middle class workers with a passion. 

I push my way into the conversation by slightly agreeing with the premise that some people are not as productive as others. Trying to get them to carry the thought farther, but now that I'm there, they're not talking the bait.

That's okay, I have time.

Back to my seat. The second games are on, but my attention is now on discussions around me. After some everyday chatter, they are back to discussing politics. Now the proposal being discussed is one I'm very familiar with, and that's the clean energy proposal. They are talking about the horrible increase in utility costs for the homeowner, which I know is nonsense. In the proposal it states that utility bills cannot be increased anymore than one percent a year. Furthermore, the data I've read states the average consumer cost will be around 50 cents a month; possibly more, but will never reach a dollar a month increase. 

Back I go, I don't mind confrontation. I tell them their facts are wrong, they shake their heads in disbelief and argue the point. I tell them what the bill says, they state I'm wrong. I tell them how the clean air initiative has actually reduced utility costs in Illinois, they tell me my facts are wrong. I tell them about the 26,000 jobs created in Ohio and how they are estimating over 90,000 jobs being created in Michigan, they're not buying it. Minds closed so tight to facts and reasons that I'd need the jaws of life to open them up.

Starting to piss me off. Fools say foolish things, and I've had enough. I take out my trusty smart phone and bring up the data, toss in front of them on the bar and tell them to read it. They look at it out of the corner of their eyes, but none reach for the truth. Eyes open wide like I tossed a coiled rattler in their midst. The blinders are on tight, the bias is strangling any intelligence that they might have. I see fear in them when they glance at the phone. Evil thoughts reside online, dreaded facts that can't be ignored. 

Over 55 million voters are unable to comprehend truth.

The election has been decided, President Obama will have four more years to entrench healthcare for all, to continue fighting for equal rights, to hopefully address climate change with more clean air initiatives. Education, immigration reform, women's health; there's a lot to do.

Though the House remains in conservative hands, many ultra right tea party crazies are gone. Maybe the House will actually start working on the problems that face the country. This is a good thing. The future of the country is on the right track. The only problem is that half of our voters do not understand facts.

Think about it, over 55 million voted for a fantasy.

AMERICAN ANGST

This was the week of the first presidential debate. Though disappointing to many, I thought everything went as planned. Michel started a discussion here for those who want to discuss the apparent missteps of the president.

I myself thought it was perfect. When you set the bar that low you can only go up. When you pretend to be a horrible debater, then come back in round two on fire, you will surprise and grab America's attention. If this wasn't a planned drama I'd be surprised; Obama is now the underdog in the debates and Americans love underdogs.

While we wait to see if there's anything to my reasoning, at least we can have some real fun watching Congressman Ryan and Vic-President Biden duke it out, that one will be great fun. Are you ready to rumble? If so, Thursday should quench that thirst.

Congressman Paul Broun, a republican out of Georgia, got up on the wrong side of the bed and decided that all science is "lies straight from the pit of hell." Evolution, Embryology and the Big Bang, all the devil's doing. Normally I'd see the big "R" on his lapel and not expect anything real spouting out of his blowhole, but this gentleman deserves special attention; he is a high ranking member of the House Science Committee.

Someone slap me and wake me from the nightmare.

For every setback, someone takes a step forward. The Tea Party's "True The Vote" organization is being criminally investigated because of their activities. Senator Barbara Boxer, a democrat out of California, started the ball rolling with a letter to True The Vote and the Justice Department.

Senator Boxer wrote, "At some point, an effort to challenge voter registrations by the thousands without any legitimate basis may be evidence of illegal voter suppression."

It is about time someone started looking closely at the conservative move to purge voters. Representative Elijah E. Cummings, a democrat out of Maryland and on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has picked up the ball and is running with it.

This is more troublesome than all the anti-voting legislation being passed in conservative led states. Those laws have been either struck down, or put on hold until after the election. True The Vote is different. This organization is mobilizing a national network of volunteers to go to the actual polls and challenge and intimidate voters on election day. 

I hope anyone seeing any criminal activity like this when they go to vote will stand up to the criminals. You know they will only go after those they think they can intimidate. The voter fraud initiative has been a disease from the beginning, hopefully it will finally end with some of these fine citizen criminals being locked up for a good long time.

Unemployment dropped to 7.8% giving the Obama administration a nice boost after the not so good debate. Psychopath and ex-GE CEO Jack Welch goes into emergency denial mode about the good news for the country, which is always bad news these days to conservatives. He tweets, "Unbelievable job numbers..these Chicago guys will do anything..can't debate so change numbers." The usual conservative mantra, if we don't like it it can't be true. Like science, conservatives are unable to grasp anything that might damage their disgusting world view.

Even worse for conservatives is that the federal deficit dropped 200 billion dollars. The deficit is now 1.1 trillion, which is the lowest since 2008 when the financial crisis started that brought about the great recession. A conservative nightmare that makes life oh so sweet for the the reality crowd.

GOD'S GREATEST

At the end of September, Pat Robertson spoke at the Americans for Jesus 2012 rally. The old crazy guy happily looked out at a crowd of 8,000 to 10,000 - I'm sure Pat thought there were millions there; it's a miracle! - and said "I don't care what the ACLU says or any athiest says, this nation belongs to Jesus." There there Pat, it will be okay. The two day event was organized by the group One Nation under God. They are the bumbling numb minds that in the 1980's were credited with helping to start the religious right movement in this country. Happily the statistics show in the past that they used to get crowds of a half million; apparently Jesus is losing his appeal. 

Pastor John Hagee is back to being somewhat more unbalanced than he normally is. It was this gentleman that stated the Nazis were sent from god to hunt the jews. His newest endeavor is Global Evangelism Television; an internet business where all things idiotic are featured. He recently set out an email to all christians and people of faith - maybe Chick-fil-A bosses as well - that centers on the impending destruction of America if Obama wins. Be more afraid than usual people. 

Delirious quotes from the fine pastor:

“First, I want to express my profound appreciation to President Barak Obama for doing what all of the Republican candidates have not been able to do for months: he unified the Bible-believing church in America in one week over the issue of abortion.

“When the president ordered the Catholic Church to provide contraceptives to prevent the birth of new life, he hit a nerve in the heart of every true Catholic and evangelical."

“Being a politician, he will attempt to compromise his position until after the election and then release the full power of government to force the church to obey the state. Think about this! If he made this bold statement before the election, consider how brutal he will be if he is re-elected!"

“I have said it before and I will say it again: the election on Nov. 6, 2012 for the office of president is the day of decision for America. Four more years of Obama will bring absolute socialism to America. Our children and grandchildren will never know the greatness of America that we have experienced."

“This must not happen! … I am asking the Christians of America to join us in 40 days of prayer for this presidential election. These 40 days of prayer will begin on Sept. 28, 2012. You can do it individually or in groups, but prayer is the most powerful force God has given us to bring our nation back to righteousness. I'll be saying more about this as the year progresses, but mark it on your calendar and start telling your family, friends, and church members now about the 40 days of prayer.”

Tickles me thinking about all the faithful wasting their time, and our oxygen, yammering to the invisible. At least it may keep them out of trouble.

The FBI has been taken over by gays. Another gentleman with a lack of critical thinking skills, Brian Camenker, is promoting the thought that gays are now in charge of not only the FBI, but the CIA as well. These well dressed enforcers of law are using their new found power to crack down on pro-family groups and citizens; if only. Read the whole article if you need laugh, this gentleman is very frightened. He runs a group out of Massachusetts called MassResistance, I wouldn't recommend going to the site, it is horrible.

The Army has launched an investigation into mandatory prayer. Apparently at Fort Sam Houston, a Suicide Prevention Awareness, Education and Training program was highjacked and turned into a revival. This important training was being held at other military bases around the country, but only this one decided to make it a religious event. Someone didn't realize that having a mandatory spiritual fitness and candlelight prayer is an assault on the separation of church and state.

Great news for those waiting for the return of Jesus. Christian television networks have setup camp in Jerusalem to broadcast live the return of Jesus. Continuing the longest running scam in history, Daystar TV and Trinity Broadcast Network have set up camera and studios overlooking Mount Olive where the messiahs return will supposedly take place. 

Filming the final battleground seems to be a bit odd, who will be left to watch it? Never mind that, it is still a great excuse to run christian programming 24 hours a day in the hope that the Jewish people can be converted to christianity.

EDUCATION ENEMIES

I'm becoming interested in a program called "Every Student, Every School." Apparently since adults get in trouble if they bring religion into public schools, there is now a program that teaches students how to evangelize on campus; let the brainwashing begin. 

The program is for junior high and high school students. If you go to their site, it teaches how to evangelize on public property. Corporations, and individuals, can "sponsor" a school, though who they may be is not disclosed. I looked up my local public high school, and yes, there are two corporations sponsoring the program. 

How insidious is this? If there's one thing you can always count on from the religious is they're constant sneakiness; especially evangelicals, who will do anything to promote the nonsense that keeps them financed.

FOOD FIGHT

In a discussion with a young liberal atheist, he was of the opinion that there are more conservative atheists than one, meaning me, might think. He knows several and insists that the liberal atheists that dominate the secular networking sites are an anomaly, that the conservatives are not represented because they do not reveal their atheism.

I thought the idea was not the brightest one I'd heard of lately, but after a little more thought, perhaps he could be right.

It doesn't seem to fit, since the faces of conservatism are usually more Gung ho than those tree hugging liberals are.  Could it be that liberals are more exuberant about atheism than their polar opposites? If you're conservative, perhaps you don't want the rest of the republican base to know that you don't believe in god, that if that was revealed you would not be accepted by your peers. 

What fun this would be if true, secular conservatives hiding while secular liberals get to control the conversation. Conservatives allowing the progressive community to be the face of reality, while they hide amongst the god followers. 

I really don't think there's as many as the young guy I was talking to thinks, but there is a slight joy in the thought that for once conservatives must hide their true thoughts. Besides too soon gone Hitchens, the only other prominent conservative atheists I can think of off immediately would be Penn Teller and - sorry to put in the same sentence - S.E. Cupp.

I didn't have a good argument I could use to rebuke his stance. Though wandering around the atheist networks for a few years, and finding a lone conservative here or there, it always seemed that liberals were the vast majority. A conservative could not really rally around the right these days, they may hang out with Randian economists but where else would they be accepted. 

Are there conservative atheists who think that a marriage is between one man and one woman? Are there conservative atheists who are pro-choice. And if I keep asking basic questions about their views and they answer in a manner that is compatible with liberal ideals, are they really a conservative?

Enjoy your week people.

The Weekly Planet April 7 2012

Welcome to this week's edition of "The Weekly Planet." This week besides the usual topics I'll be adding education into the mix since that ties in with the global unrest and world wide protests. Education will be a recurring topic, as it should be, since an uneducated populace is an easily controlled populace.

Why Obama Will Not Lose

I can sum up this thought in one word, "alienation." A conservative cannot win by appealing only to old white males. With the right's continued offense against equal rights for women and minorities, they've thrown a match into the gas tank of their candidacy. In the latest Gallup Poll of swing states Obama leads Romney by 9% as a whole, with women supporting Obama over Romney in the same states by 18%. With Santorum throwing culture into politics, especially concerning women, even after he drops out women in general will still be leery of any GOP candidate. Romney with his wife Ann's input, states that women are concerned about the economy. Yet, with the ongoing attack on reproductive rights that appears to be going global, women are at least as concerned about health issues than they are about anything else.

The only voting block that Romney has an edge on Obama is the over 50 white male group. Not enough to help. Close to 70% of latinos voted for the president in 2008, and it appears the percentage will stay about the same. The black vote will heavily swing towards Obama again as well. Van Jones quipped that even if the president came out as gay, he would still get that vote. Ninety-five percent of the black electorate voted for Obama in 2008, we'll see the same for 2012.

Romney will get the evangelical vote as he panders to the right. His statement that Obama wants to establish a secular religion shows the depths of idiocy he is willing accept. I don't think the war onreligion message will do much for his campaign. Besides offending liberal theists, he also throws away atheist voters. There seems to be a dearth of conservative atheists, and for those who exist the conservative's  religious stance will offend them enough that they either will not vote at all, or they will vote for Obama.

I don't think the LGBT community will be head over heels in love with the party of  DOMA as well.Seventy percent voted for Obama in 2008. I think the percentage will be even higher in 2012.

Romney will be helped as the coffers of the RNC grow. With no limit to corporate spending, the super pacs are attacking Obama while the RNC gets to save money for the election. Thank's to the Supreme Court the RNC has already tucked away over eighty million dollars for the candidate's run. 

One more thought on gender voting blocks and how important they are. In 1996, Clinton wasreelected even though he lost the male vote by 1%. During that time period conservatives were going after social safety nets, as they do so again. When you target a group to further an ideology, you lose.

Unless something drastic and unforeseen happens, this current administration will get another four years.

State Politics and Misogyny: The Good News, The Bad News

The bad news outweighs the good news in every GOP controlled state, but at least the fight continues and in some areas appears to be gaining traction. In my home state of MI, the culture war is in full swing. We have fetal personhood, ultrasound and other bills that won't help the state, being legislated. We have a swarm of angry tea party nitwits that have taken over. Democrats have sued their counterparts over a procedure that determines how fast a law can go into effect. Though it's a stalling tactic, the two new laws that are being stalled are attacks on the middle class and unions. Every little bit helps.

Michigan is the home of a new thought that attacks democracy as a whole. To take over a legally elected city council, throw out the mayor, and take over the entire city in the name of democracy, is the exact opposite of what democracy stands for. There is a radio station that has a three mile radius that the Emergency Financial Manager just tried to sell on Ebay. Apparently the city council and mayor were using it to talk to their constituents. The feds stepped in and prevented the sale. Instead a local school bought it, and communications for ousted officials may continue. Another small, but needed win.

It may seem insignificant in a world of crazy, but that's how the crazy starts. They are starting to talk about the takeover of Detroit. Now that would be fun, the push back would throw the state into chaos.

Then there are states like Mississippi, which holds the dubious distinction of being the worst state to live if you're a woman. Besides the stats on the lack of education, poverty and obesity that effect the women of the state, they're brainwashed by the christian cult that dominates their thinking. MS has never sent a woman to congress. Par for a state that is the most religious state in the union.

Looking at the other worst states, the ratings are based on poverty, lack of insurance, lack of reproductive rights and lack of education. Great.

Every week I'm going to grab a couple of states that are doing their best to marginalize science and women. I know everyone must be as bewildered by the nonsense as I am. From creationism back in school to misogynist legislation, crazy rules the day.

Occupy, Education and Income Equality

I find all three subjects related to the unrest around the world. I would probably be called a socialist because of my viewpoints on government's role pertaining to the general welfare of the populace. I see a free, or at least affordable, education as being one part of a successful society. The only reason to neglect education is to control a populace.

Part of the Occupy movement directly relates to education. The protests that are taking place on campuses, and elsewhere, are tuition motivated. Higher education is being put beyond the reach of the populace. The easiest way to prevent an informed electorate from developing is to prevent access to higher learning.

As many as 30 demonstrators were pepper sprayed in Santa Monica College while protesting tuition hikes. Pepper spraying may not be as news worthynow as when it first started happening, but I liked that one of the demonstrators that was sprayed is a congressional candidate. Green Party, so no chance, but would have been great to have someone in congress that understands how close to a police state we are becoming. 

The photo on the left is Mr. Steinman learning first hand that freedom of assembly is no longer a reality. 

During the last month protests have been picking up, usually centered on raised tuition and the millionaires' tax.

The protests are still minor in violence compared to western Europe. Austerity measures are the flames lighting a short fuse, this could get worse quickly. In Italy, a man lit himself on fire because he hadn't been paid in months, another did the same over a tax evasion charge; times are definitely tough.

In Greece, Dimitris Christoulas has become a martyr after shooting himself. He claimed that the cuts to his pension were so severe he could not sustain himself. He decided to end his life rather than scavenge for survival. Protests are ongoing.

Even our neighbor to the north is involved. 71 have been arrested there, and it appears that the university was successful in obtaining an injunction against the protestors that stops them from blocking entrances and intimidating staff. 

Should education be affordable, or even free? It would seem that if you wanted an engaged populace that educating them would be a top priority. Every election year we hear about how education is a top priority, and then nothing happens. Our colleges would appear to have great income generated through sports programs, is that all we want is athletes?

Republican That Don't Totally Suck

It appears that you can teach an old republican something new, at least when legislation hits home. Georgia state Representative Ron Stephens, who is a pro-life conservative, would not vote on an anti-abortion bill until it was amended. The bill centers around the no abortion after 20 weeks bill that was being proposed. His daughter's child was diagnosed with trisomy, and she ended up getting an abortion after the 20 week period being proposed.

For a moments worth of sanity, he is now the target of conservatives who think he is a republican in name only. When you think it can't happen again, conservatives set the bar lower again. 

I doubt I would agree with the vast majority of his thoughts, but leave it up to the conservative party to make sure sure that any reasonable thought is draped in disdain. 

Bang the drums, light the torches, grab the pitchforks, this man has to go. 

The republican party no longer exists. It is only an arm of the christian right and no longer is pertinent as a political or social force, except for a minority of literal christians. They are the champions of biblical morals which no longer have any business in our daily lives.

ALEC

If you haven't been following this, it is good news time. Major funders are dropping ALEC. Coca Cola, Pepsi, Kraft foods; all breaking ties with this corrupt conservative group. Voter suppression, stand your ground laws; all part of their job. 

This is where the legislation you hate is spawning.

And yes, our friends to the right fund the insanity.