2005-03-31
Pandagon: Getting closer to mandatory glass walls for bedrooms
Pandagon: Getting closer to mandatory glass walls for bedrooms: "...it is sure troubling that this is an issue in the 21st century."
Yes, it's VERY troubling!
Yes, it's VERY troubling!
2005-03-30
The power of prayer.
2005-03-28
The Seattle Times: Danny Westneat: The demise of the GOP revolution
The Seattle Times: Danny Westneat: The demise of the GOP revolution: "This week will go down in political history as the moment the conservative revolution died."
I hope he's right.
I hope he's right.
2005-03-25
Truer words were never spoken.
The Poor Man - All Quiet on the Western Front: "...the Republican Party is primarily concerned with A) diminishing the government's power over large corporations and the very rich, and B) pandering to a sizeable constituency who want to increase the government's power over every other facet of American life, and over the rest of the world, in accordance with God's Holy Bible, a book they have not read."
2005-03-24
How to Destroy America
Dispatches from the Culture Wars: Democracy and Liberty
Dispatches from the Culture Wars: Democracy and Liberty: "Those two conceptions of democracy are in conflict, and they always have been. In the contest between liberty and democracy, I choose liberty every time. That's why I reject the majoritarian arguments from social conservatives complaining about 'unelected judges' taking away their 'right' to tell other people what they can do with their lives."
Sounds about right to me too.
Sounds about right to me too.
2005-03-23
What Molly Ivins said about the sad & gruesome Terri Schiavo issue.
WorkingForChange-Pull the plug on pandering: "The New York legislature, in all its majesty, made sure the 76-year-old, 90-pound man dying from cancer did not become a morphine addict. Political bodies have no business making medical decisions.
Do I believe in miracles? Yes, I do, and I'm praying for one that will let the sanctimonious phonies in Washington realize the gross moral error of their presumption. "
Do I believe in miracles? Yes, I do, and I'm praying for one that will let the sanctimonious phonies in Washington realize the gross moral error of their presumption. "
2005-03-22
Sounds eminently reasonable.
And I'm sure it will send most conservatives into fits of blood-curdling rage. LEFT is RIGHT (blogging against The Bush War): "'Our country is not the only thing to which we owe our allegiance. It is also owed to justice and to humanity. Patriotism consists not in waving the flag, but in striving that our country shall be righteous as well as strong' - - - James Bryce"
One reason why poor people in America vote for conservatives.
The Three Rules of Calvinism: "...the losers (poor) themselves...want so much to identify with winners (rich) that they deny their votes to any candidate who tries to represent their interests."
2005-03-14
The wonderful PZ Myers on the less than wonderful Amy Sullivan
Pharyngula::Sullivan. Gah.
Here, though, is where Sullivan sinks to a new low. Take a look at this comment:
Here, though, is where Sullivan sinks to a new low. Take a look at this comment:
More damningly, to the extent that the religious left continued to exist, it became tied in the public's mind with secularists. "The positions of the religious left and secularists on crucial questions seem indistinguishable," says Joseph Loconte of the Heritage Foundation. "And that hurts them politically."I don't even need to mention that this progressive Christian is quoting a fellow of the heinously conservative Heritage Foundation approvingly: look at the message. Secularists are bad. It hurts us that they share ideals with us. There is no hiding what she is trying to say, which is that the Democrats need to distance themselves from atheists, agnostics, secular humanists, and freethinkers. This is the kind of divisive idea I'm sure the Heritage Foundation would love to see get wider play in the Democratic party.
Visited States
2005-03-11
The Day the Enlightenment Went Out
What Gary Wills said.: "Can a people that believes more fervently in the Virgin Birth than in evolution still be called an Enlightened nation? "
2005-03-08
You're JUST NOW figuring this out?
The American Street: Women and Power: "...it seems to me that much of what passes for conservative morality today is simply an effort to squelch women's power."
2005-03-07
Where you've been.
Bold the states you've been to, underline the states you've lived in and italicize the state you're in now.
Alabama / Alaska / Arizona / Arkansas / California / Colorado / Connecticut / Delaware / Florida / Georgia / Hawaii / Idaho / Illinois / Indiana / Iowa / Kansas / Kentucky / Louisiana / Maine / Maryland / Massachusetts / Michigan / Minnesota / Mississippi / Missouri / Montana / Nebraska / Nevada / New Hampshire / New Jersey / New Mexico / New York / North Carolina / North Dakota / Ohio / Oklahoma / Oregon / Pennsylvania / Rhode Island / South Carolina / South Dakota / Tennessee / Texas / Utah / Vermont / Virginia / Washington / West Virginia / Wisconsin / Wyoming / Washington D.C /
Go HERE to have a form generate the HTML for you.
Alabama / Alaska / Arizona / Arkansas / California / Colorado / Connecticut / Delaware / Florida / Georgia / Hawaii / Idaho / Illinois / Indiana / Iowa / Kansas / Kentucky / Louisiana / Maine / Maryland / Massachusetts / Michigan / Minnesota / Mississippi / Missouri / Montana / Nebraska / Nevada / New Hampshire / New Jersey / New Mexico / New York / North Carolina / North Dakota / Ohio / Oklahoma / Oregon / Pennsylvania / Rhode Island / South Carolina / South Dakota / Tennessee / Texas / Utah / Vermont / Virginia / Washington / West Virginia / Wisconsin / Wyoming / Washington D.C /
Go HERE to have a form generate the HTML for you.
2005-03-03
Pandagon: First they came for biology, then for enviromental science....
Ten Reasons Not To Display the Ten Commandments
Welcome to Ethics Daily.com! By James L. Evans First Baptist Church pastor
Number Ten. Posting the Ten Commandments endorses Protestant Christianity. Almost all of the displays use the King James Version of the commandments—a Protestant distinctive. Roman Catholics and followers of Judaism use a different translation.
Number Nine. Public displays of the Ten Commandments reduce all other religions to second-class status. Not all religions in our country are part of the Judeo-Christian tradition. And since it is still possible to be a citizen of this country without being a Christian, all religions must be treated equally.
Number Eight. Displaying the Ten Commandments as a way of trying to improve the social order reinforces a magical view of religion. Proponents say that if we display the Ten Commandments children will behave better in school and our nation will be blessed for acknowledging God. Thinking this way reduces the Ten Commandments down to the level of a lucky rabbit’s foot. The impact of the Ten Commandments comes when they are taught by faithful teachers, not when they are dangling from a keychain.
Number Seven. Public displays of Scripture corrupt the true purpose of religious practice. God did not send the Ten Commandments or the Sermon on the Mount in order to “create a more perfect union.” These Scriptures represent an ideal community far more difficult to attain than the mere democracy we struggle with.
Number Six. Public displays of Scripture corrupt the true purpose of government. Every time in history the state has acted on behalf of God, blood has flowed in the streets. God may work through the state as God chooses, but that does not mean everything the state does is God’s will. Keeping church and state separate makes it possible for the faith community to remind the state of its temporal limitations as needed.
Number Five. Public displays of the Ten Commandments are a form of idolatry. Anytime we treat as ultimate something we have made with our own hands, we are worshipping idols. Even if the words on the monument are God’s, the monument is ours. That’s why one of those commandments warns against graven images.
Number Four. Grouping the Ten Commandments with other historical documents distorts the history of all. The United States was established as a secular state not a theocracy. And Moses was not present at the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Number Three. Public displays of religion promote social disorder by setting groups of people against each other. The only way America works is if we guarantee equal freedom for everyone.
Number Two. A public display of Scripture trivializes what is supposed to be important and profound. Do we really want our sacred texts treated like soda pop ads?
And the number one reason the court should rule against public displays of the Ten Commandments—God wants them written on our hearts, and that’s not going to happen just because they are on display down at the courthouse.
Number Ten. Posting the Ten Commandments endorses Protestant Christianity. Almost all of the displays use the King James Version of the commandments—a Protestant distinctive. Roman Catholics and followers of Judaism use a different translation.
Number Nine. Public displays of the Ten Commandments reduce all other religions to second-class status. Not all religions in our country are part of the Judeo-Christian tradition. And since it is still possible to be a citizen of this country without being a Christian, all religions must be treated equally.
Number Eight. Displaying the Ten Commandments as a way of trying to improve the social order reinforces a magical view of religion. Proponents say that if we display the Ten Commandments children will behave better in school and our nation will be blessed for acknowledging God. Thinking this way reduces the Ten Commandments down to the level of a lucky rabbit’s foot. The impact of the Ten Commandments comes when they are taught by faithful teachers, not when they are dangling from a keychain.
Number Seven. Public displays of Scripture corrupt the true purpose of religious practice. God did not send the Ten Commandments or the Sermon on the Mount in order to “create a more perfect union.” These Scriptures represent an ideal community far more difficult to attain than the mere democracy we struggle with.
Number Six. Public displays of Scripture corrupt the true purpose of government. Every time in history the state has acted on behalf of God, blood has flowed in the streets. God may work through the state as God chooses, but that does not mean everything the state does is God’s will. Keeping church and state separate makes it possible for the faith community to remind the state of its temporal limitations as needed.
Number Five. Public displays of the Ten Commandments are a form of idolatry. Anytime we treat as ultimate something we have made with our own hands, we are worshipping idols. Even if the words on the monument are God’s, the monument is ours. That’s why one of those commandments warns against graven images.
Number Four. Grouping the Ten Commandments with other historical documents distorts the history of all. The United States was established as a secular state not a theocracy. And Moses was not present at the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Number Three. Public displays of religion promote social disorder by setting groups of people against each other. The only way America works is if we guarantee equal freedom for everyone.
Number Two. A public display of Scripture trivializes what is supposed to be important and profound. Do we really want our sacred texts treated like soda pop ads?
And the number one reason the court should rule against public displays of the Ten Commandments—God wants them written on our hearts, and that’s not going to happen just because they are on display down at the courthouse.
My representative in Congress hates me and wants me dead.
Lovely.
The Raw Story A rational voice: Congressman unapologetic about comment that liberals should be Iraq human shields: Rep. Jim Gibbons (R-NV) is unapologetic for his recent salvo fired at “tree-hugging, Birkenstock-wearing, hippie, tie-dyed” liberals who he suggested should be deployed as “human shields” in Iraq, Roll Call’s Mary Ann Akers will report Thursday, RAW STORY has learned.
“Gibbons issued a statement Wednesday defending, rather than apologizing for or clarifying, remarks he made at a Lincoln Day dinner in Elko, Nev,” Akers pens. “He said that as a Vietnam veteran who knows what it’s like to be ostracized by his own people, he was simply trying to defend and support U.S. troops ‘while the new generation of Jane Fondas — people like Michael Moore — deride their efforts.’”
Last Friday, Gibbons excoriated liberals and said it was “too damn bad” the U.S. didn’t buy liberals “a ticket” to become human shields for the “enemy” in Iraq.
More from Max Blumenthal and Orcinus.
The Raw Story A rational voice: Congressman unapologetic about comment that liberals should be Iraq human shields: Rep. Jim Gibbons (R-NV) is unapologetic for his recent salvo fired at “tree-hugging, Birkenstock-wearing, hippie, tie-dyed” liberals who he suggested should be deployed as “human shields” in Iraq, Roll Call’s Mary Ann Akers will report Thursday, RAW STORY has learned.
“Gibbons issued a statement Wednesday defending, rather than apologizing for or clarifying, remarks he made at a Lincoln Day dinner in Elko, Nev,” Akers pens. “He said that as a Vietnam veteran who knows what it’s like to be ostracized by his own people, he was simply trying to defend and support U.S. troops ‘while the new generation of Jane Fondas — people like Michael Moore — deride their efforts.’”
Last Friday, Gibbons excoriated liberals and said it was “too damn bad” the U.S. didn’t buy liberals “a ticket” to become human shields for the “enemy” in Iraq.
More from Max Blumenthal and Orcinus.
