Ban Religion??? Sounds good to me.

I heard a suggestion this weekend that we should ban organized religion. Sounds good to me. Read this if you have a moment. Is this an isolated case? I don't think so. This one may be a bit extreme, but not alone. What about the catholic priest scandal? Those boobies are rampant. Is this what we want for our children? How about the boy scout leader in Arizona that was collecting kiddie porn? Another organization extolling the virtues of religion. How about GW? Killing over 1700 US soldiers in Iraq. I really believe he is the killer here. And now the proof is coming out of the woodwork. Not only the Downing Street memo is pointing out he planned this war (if you can call it planned) even before September 11. He knowingly sent all those folks to Iraq without any appropriate planning and equipment to do the job right. Ignorance must truly be bliss for that man. And he is claiming God as his own. Ban that man's religion. It's murderous. Read this little Bush agenda. What was this man thinking?

On a good note, I think, the Supreme Court is working for our benefit. I agree with this ruling. They had common sense attached.

All this needs some clarity. It is all my opinion and you can choose to disagree if you like. It's a free country, as they say. But I was reading the headlines today and getting pretty angry. And after talking to folks and discussing things going on in our government, I got even more angry. Most of these people aren't even paying attention. They don't even know what is happening. We live in a country of apathy. It's disappointing.

Chuck

P.S. To Mr. Bush. This is for you.
"Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body." Ephesians 4:25 c.

American Standards??

Today, we are in a climate of meanness. It is the Republicans fighting the Democrats with no holds barred. All bets are off. Unfortunately, it is the American People who are losing. By now, I’m sure, you’ve all heard of the remarks by Karl Rove about the Democrat’s response to September 11th. As much as they are untrue statements, they are, nonetheless, mean spirited and divisive. Meant to further the wedge between the two parties and cause animosity toward the Democrats. I would urge each of you to read the entire article from MSN and decide for yourself. There was then this quote by a Ken Mehlman:

MSN June 24, 2005
“I think what Karl Rove said is accurate and reflects a big difference between the two parties,” added Republican Party Chairman Ken Mehlman.

They all seem to be on the same page of political division. It’s a rather curious thing to see, especially in light of this from Salon dated 1999, before GW was appointed king. This from George:

Salon, May 6, 1999
“Second, I showed the people of Texas that I'm a uniter, not a divider. I refuse to play the politics of putting people into groups and pitting one group against another.” - G. W. Bush

Has our empassioned leader decided to change his tune once getting into office? Let’s, once again turn to the Bible, GW’s self proclaimed standard, and see how he stands up. Read this one about division.

“I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you..”
Paul to the Corinthians I Corinthians 01:10

Isn’t this GW’s standard? Is he living up to this by letting Karl Rove and Dick Cheney discredit the Democrats with lies? By grouping people up and lying about them? This causes division among the parties. Specific example is the nomination of Bolton to the UN. GW will not give over records so that there can be harmony in the government, and then says that the Democrats are stonewalling. This is divisive AND untrue.
Looks to me like GW really isn’t holding water with his arguments. Let’s look at this one about lying.

“Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.”
Ephesians 04:25

What is rather amazing to me is how all those conservatives who voted for him based on his moral standing on policy continue to stand on his side. His hypocrisy is amazing. And the blindness of the American morality is equally so. If this is the result of a church upbringing, why would anyone bring up children in ANY church? What happened to the golden rule of treating others as you would want to be treated? What happened to “loving one another” and harmony? Have these all gone out the window to be replaced with greed and deceipt? It looks as though they have in the Republican controlled environment we are currently experiencing. This is to ALL our shame. We are sitting idly by while treason is being commited against our constitution and citizens. We are accepting an hostile take over of our rights and our government. More importantly, we are permitting that same take over of our morals by a group claiming, in word only, morality. Theirs is a god of greed, power, and corruption. A ruthless atrocity against American values and what our forefathers fought to avoid. Values our Constitution and Bill of Rights were written to protect. Ours is becoming an American Corporation. Strictly for the profit of the white christian right. A white christian right that is dragging the name of religion through the mud and that very same religion is assisting.

So, keep watching for more division from the right and the White House while keeping the Salon article in mind. And if you need more proof that GW is a liar to the American People and trashing YOUR COUNTRY, read this.

Have a great weekend,
Chuck

Catholics and Michael Jackson and that Guy in SJC

There was a conference of catholic bishops in Chicago last week discussing the issue of child molestation in the church. An article in the Chicago Tribune was giving details about how the church was looking to renew its "zero tolerance" stance on offending priests so as to disallow the same type of scandal it is finishing with from happening again. One bishop was quoted as saying how he wished they didn't need that rule, but it was currently bad timing to abolish it. Funny, isn't it? The catholic church is supposed to be a leader in morality, like the hypocrites of the National Baptist group seem to be. Yet they want to give priests MORE THAN ONE opportunity to molest children. I guess they don't find this offensive and repulsive. Michael Jackson was just aquitted in his case. Will the catholic church now advocate children sleeping in his bed again? If it's ok for a priest to molest over and over, why not Michael Jackson? The catholic church must think that man in San Jose California is pretty close to being a god. Golly, he molested over 3,600 children and kept impeccable records. He even rated them and coded them according to the acts performed. I can almost hear the priests "oooohing" and "aaaaahing" over it already. You just have to love the moral among us. The kind of people we all just want to emulate.

I hope you feel outrage over these occurances. If you really loved children the way they should be loved, you would. Now keep in mind that these catholics want to inject their moral code into our secular government. If Rick Santorum had his way, catholic doctrine would be very much a part of it. Do you want that morality a part of YOUR government? I hope not. I know I don't. If Rick Santorum is such an advocate for catholic morals, and a champion for their cause, what is his relationship like with HIS children. Kind of sends a shiver up your spine just thinking of it. And a little outrage that he's an elected government official. And fear. He's popular, too. Just like the church. We all know how safe our kids are there.

Have a great week.

Chuck

Corporate culture and who's to blame

Large corporations have CEO's, COO's, Presidents, and Vice Presidents. These people run the company. Part of that running of the company is injecting and managing a corporate culture. This culture is typically used to keep the company focused and on track. If a corporate culture gets too out of whack with, greed, let's say, it eventually comes to the fore and some one pays the piper. Usually some one at the top. One of the four listed above, maybe. They can go to prison like the Enron folks or Tyco folks. Or simply get voted out like the Disney folks. Leading a company wrong will cost you.

Our country is run by GW Bush. Our current corporate culture is one that insists EVERYONE be christian. Of some denomination. It has pervaded our entire infrastructure and given religious perverts the balls to try and force every one to abide by their standards. Look back on a previous post and see where that is getting our president according to his own standards. The rest of the country will blindly follow suit. All the while blaming those who don't adhere. They will destroy the first amendment and eventually others. Or at least they will try very hard.

So why is this country so apathetic? Why are we all standing around with our thumbs up our proverbial butts and not making a fuss? We have a couple of NY Times reporters fighting to protect sources while at the same time the entire media has given away its first amendment rights. Is it investigating what is going on and reporting it? No. GW has forbidden pictures, by our free press, to be taken and printed of dead soldiers arriving home. We are NOT outraged at this?

Current corporate culture won't let us. It's UNPATRIOTIC, they say. I say it's unpatriotic NOT to be outraged. The religious zealots in this country want to do away with the first amendment. They are succeeding enormously with our first round of defense, the press. And our corporate culture says hush, so we hush.

Will GW and the other fundamentalist republicans pay the piper? We can only hope in 2006. Will you still be apathetic then? I hope not. Are you wearing a "Fuck Your God" pin to show your disapproval over their god? You should be. Their god is, after all, the god of greed. For money, for power, and for personal glory. And that is NOT the god I know. Is it the one you know?

Homogenized Politics??

People say that politics doesn't affect them. Hm. Are they paying attention? It's understandable, if they aren't paying attention, they would feel this way. The affects are rather round about sometimes.

Some say the parties are all the same. What's the point in voting. This, I have a problem with. Look at past performances and we see BIG differences. Republican leadership lies the most profusely and followers believe it most readily. Studies of performances by both parties show that, as the Republicans SAY small government, it always grows when they are in power. BOTH in spending and employment. Those who vote Republican will tell you what the party says, not what it does. Republican leadership says it wants a balanced budget. Studies show that ALL Democratic presidents came closest, with the eight year term of Clinton actually Over performing and producing budget SURPLUS. Try that with a Republican. Look at GW and his budget. He cooks his books with TWO. One for the country using more than he takes in in revenue and one he likes to call an EMERGENCY budget for the war. I think I'll consider my heating budget an EMERGENCY and get MY boss to pay for it. Isn't that what he is doing?

Most of all, Republican leaders vow to uphold the Constitution, yet they look determinedly to add amendments based on religious beliefs in CONTRADICTION to the Constitution. Separation of Church and State. And these religious beliefs are christian beliefs. So much for freedom for all.

I see big differences in these two parties. And they seem pretty important to me. I know the Democratic party lies. But I would rather it be about getting head in the White House than killing 1700 honorable young citizens in a bogus war.

Chuck

What's the Score??

Our government, as founded and treasured and so gallantly fought for, is dying. It has been selfishly and greedily hijacked by individuals who call themselves “Compassionate Conservatives” and by corporations whose bottom lines will always be money and not people. Abraham Lincoln has been embraced by our two most prominent political parties recently. His legacy has been destroyed by one of them. George W. Bush and his GOP have, once again, spoken and acted in direct contradiction of one another.


“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that “all men are created equal”.”
Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburgh Address, 1863.


Today, the top 1% of our elite are enjoying tremendous tax breaks while the poorest amoung us suffer social inequity. How is this gross disparity equal?

Today, eleven states have adopted constitutional amendments discriminating against homosexuals because of religious belief. Many more are moving for similar legislation. How is this equal?

Today, mostly white christian groups are working to influence our government to impose christian beliefs into law. How is this equal?


“..that government of the people by the people for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburgh Address, 1863.


Today, this government is slowly perishing from the earth. At the hands of “compassionate conservatism”.


“So, this is how democracy dies. With thunderous applause.” Star Wars, 2005



Chuck

p.s. To our anonymous commenter: Thank you for your support.

Biblical standards and the Religious Right

My, how the people who say they adhere to "Biblical Standards" are so ignorant as to what those standards are. Let's look at GW for a moment. He cited weapons of mass destruction as his reason for going to war. Stood by this reason while sending, not his own children, but the nations children, to war. Told the American people this was the reason. Now we have this Downing Street Memo. This says something totally different. George W Bush has "Biblical Standards". And he wants YOU to have them, too. What is a "Biblical Standard"?

And the Bible says......

Colossians 3:09 (NIV) "Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices.."

Compare GW to this passage from the book to which he claims to adhere. Also, compare other quotes from GW, as well as actions of GW to this:

1 John 2:06 (NIV) "Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did."

Does Mr. Bush walk as Jesus did? I can't imagine Jesus ever saying "He killed my daddy" and soon after going to war with ANYONE.

Now, I know these are just a couple of examples, and there are many, many more. I think I simply wanted to make a point of how ANTI-Biblical GW really is. And I'm sure, if I had a week to spend, I could compare and contrast GW's actions with Biblical passages directly condemning this man. And there is such a comfort in knowing, according to his own standard, he's going to hell.

Chuck

The awe of children

I think I'm still a little struck by Saturday's encounter. I then awoke to this article online. It leaves me in awe. Awe struck. Baffled. And it brought me back to my posting from May 31. The day AFTER memorial day. I thought of the Boston Tea Party, again. And some others that I never answered (and no reader tried to answer, either). And, most of all, our Declaration of Independence? We did these for the sake of our entire country. For the future of our United States. For OUR freedom. It's sad to think that, NO, we would not do these things again. Religious zealots and fanatics (yes, one in the same) make those of us Constitutionalists out to be wicked heathens. The fact that some of us might be something other than chrisitian only adds to the flavor and fullness of our Constitution. But this inflames christian zealots. It causes them to fight what they fear is a group of godless heathens. And godless only because the "heathens" might not believe in their GOD.

The woman from Saturday said that she could not respect another's belief because that would mean a disrespect of her beliefs. That doesn't seem right to me. Respect does not mean agreement, per se. More of an acknowledgement that this belief exists. And in this country, it has that right to exist peacefully among other beliefs. How many of these christians feel this way? I'm sure she is not alone. And it is scary to think that our lawmakers are listening to these people. People trying desperately to legislate our religion.

The pilgrims left England in a boat, the Mayflower. Have you ever seen this boat(well, ok, exact replica of)? It was very tiny. People died of illness, were cramped, cold, and hungry. Many died. And not so they could start a christian country. Why did Roger Williams leave Massachusetts and start Rhode Island? Not so he could start a christian country. Why did William Penn leave and start Pennsylvania? Not so he could start a christian country. The Mormons? Ditto. William and Mary? Yep, you guessed it. These people wanted to be able to worship FREELY. And they all did it differently. But they all did it to be FREE. Not christian.

Interesting side note: Florida was explored for the fountain of youth. Can you say "Shallow and selfish"?? Texas was fought over for land, we wanted it from Mexico. Can you say "Greedy"?? Funny these are Bush states. Shallow, Selfish, and Greedy.

Anyway, these are why our country was formed. Not to be christian, but to be FREE. Our Declaration of Independence turns 229 this June 11. We are on the precipice of bleakness for democracy. All the while declaring it from the mountain tops. We have a government working diligently to eliminate the Separation of Church and State, and succeeding in oppressing the press. All of this while going abroad and telling the world how wonderful democracy is. I'm not sure we really know how wonderful it is right now.

I do know, however, that we can do something about it. I also know that I'm trying. What are you doing? Are you aware that by the time they come for you, there may be no one left to defend you. You weren't one of them, so you stayed out of it. And that, dear reader, is apathy. Staying out of it. Another answer to another post.

Chuck

Thanks for your patience

It's been quite a weekend here in Fuck Your God land. Not terribly busy, but distracting enough to have inadvertently stood someone up. I'm really sorry about that, folks.

I went to the Gospel Music festival in Millennium Park on Saturday. It was mostly uneventful. I will say, it was nothing like past years. It seemed very small and sparsely attended. As beautiful as Millennium Park is (thanks, again, Ms Pritzker), I don't think it's such a great venue. The park is designed superbly using the most of it's relatively small space. It is filled with exciting little spots for small bric-a-brac of activity, but not very good for a cohesive festival such as this one. I will say, the music was wonderful and the youth in one of the tents did a truly magnificent job. Even the white ones. And for those of you wondering, yes, I wore a button. Should I not have? I think it was not inappropriate. Not the best venue, yes, but not inappropriate. People need to be less re-active and more informed and pro-active. It was nothing personal (this time) toward the Bible thumpers. I just injected a little food for thought.

On the bus ride home, we ran into a rather disturbing woman. Delightful, mostly, but rather disturbing. She is a bible believer and church goer. She strongly believes that, as a christian, there should be legislation governing religion in private lives. She voted for Bush precisely because of his beliefs and stand for the bible. She truly believes it is the duty of christians to make other people christian. Funny, even Jesus Christ didn't feel that. He taught it would be nice, and everyone should know, but we all have free will. This woman says, essentially, "Fuck Free Will". Those are my words, but her seeming sentiment. She said that she should not have to respect others' religions. How very frightening. Are christians this militant? I would hope not.

She was also grossly misinformed about our founding fathers. She is under the misguided notion that they were ALL christians and this country was founded on christianity. I seem to have been taught otherwise, and that has been confirmed by many. Most of the founding fathers even denounced christianity. And I thing it was Ben Franklin who said that this country "..was in NO way founded on christianity" but, rather, religious freedom. I fret that there are more women such as this. And more men.

As next week progresses, I hope to write about our passion for our country. Where is yours? What are you doing to protect it? How important is it to you really? And now for the Tony's.

Chuck

Lemmings and us

Not much of a difference in some behaviors, I'm finding.

I was talking with a co worker today about the sad state of people and society. Discussing how "Civilized" we seem, or don't. I had mentioned my button and the reaction to "Fuck Your God" and how so few people get it right off the bat. There once was a time in this country when people were aware of happenings. They understood tom swiftys or plays on words or whatever you want to call them. They would have understood the chosen wording of the slogan and understood a deeper meaning. But, unfortunately, we've only become very on edge and defensive about everything. We don't think anymore. We just simply follow the status quo. We have this NEED for others to explain everything. It's rather frustrating. And when no explanation comes, we become offended and defensive.

I wish we would think for ourselves a bit more.

The answers to the questions posted the other day are coming. And, no, the Bible quote I was thinking of wasn't the one about worrying about tomorrow. Good try, though.

Chuck