But it IS their right in America

Let's all have a bible-burning day. Maybe a Sunday morning in front of churches across the country. On the sidewalk, of course; we wouldn't want to be arrested for trespassing.

I mentioned this idea about six years ago to loud gasps of shock. I felt that a book burning is a powerful statement about oppression and censorship that would strike religious-folk most pointedly. And done on their "holy" day of worship would be just...wonderful. Time and again I was told this was a terrible idea. I didn't think so then and don't know. But in light of what that most-un-christ-like man in Florida is doing, I wish I had. It was my idea first DAMNIT! Now I would just look like a copy-cat, and who wants that?

Now, while I don't think this is a good thing for this man to be doing, he does have that right. This is freedom of religion (intolerant as it is toward Islam) and freedom of speech; both of which I argue in favor of here. To condemn his actions out of hand would be disingenuous and hypocritical. The ability to carry out this action is what makes our country so splendid. We are allowed to do this and to have our voices heard. We have this freedom. And there is a price for it.

Those who fought for our independence paid in blood. And maybe he will, too. But he is doing what he thinks is the right thing to do. He's not a smart man, he doesn't see a big picture, he is hateful and arrogant. But is he any different than any other "christian" in this country who protests secularism and aims to force us all into their own religion? Not really. He's just different.

Chuck

Religious Tolerance: Fact or Fiction

There is no secret to the fact that I loathe organized religion. Whatever the sect, adherents have shown immeasurable hatred and bigotry toward others, whether it's other races or political viewpoints or even other religions. And this hatred of others isn't sect-specific, it courses through the ideologies of most, if not all, of the religions. Growing up baptist I heard first hand their hatred of the Jews (though you will never hear them say this to outsiders lest they feel the wrath of god) and pedophile catholics and gays (as well as anyone who sympathized with them).

Yet, while these god-fearing folks preach their hatred around the globe and marginalize anyone who disagrees, they consistently cry "foul" whenever anyone has the audacity to call them to the carpet. Oh how we pick on those poor unfortunate "saved" souls. We are just abominable toward them. How can anyone dislike a religious person that does so much good in the world? They do all that they do out of love, they say.

Most ironic in all of their rhetoric is their claim of Patriotism and alleged love for out country, Constitution, and our beloved Bill of Rights. Especially the amendment about religious freedom. How dare anyone try to quiet them in this country, this christian country founded on strictly christian principles and established solely on the idea that they, and they only, have the right to worship without restraint. Apparently; "All others be damned" seems to be their cry.

Because no mosque will be built where they don't want one built. Those godless muslims will not have the right to worship freely in this here christian country, no sirree! It is the job of those who are "full of love for their fellow man" to pigeon-hole and oppress the filthy terrorist sympathisers and keep them in their place, which is not in lower Manhattan. These meanies don't have the same religious freedom the perfect christians have. No, we must do all that we can to eliminate them from the face of the earth. Well they may not be THAT extreme, but I'm sure muslim reservations wouldn't be out of the question; it would be easier to keep an eye on them if they were all in one place, I'm sure.

Religious folks are a funny bunch. They don't really believe in logical thought, reason, honesty, truth, love, or even their own bible. Have they read that book yet? Do they get it? Do they have the ability to get the big picture? I don't think so. "Ignorance is Bliss" they say and none are more so than the religious.

They were given plenty of rope in The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and we are slowly watching them hang themselves. Good riddance to bad trash.

Chuck

Death to christianity!

The wicked ones of religion have a saying they like to spout regularly. "Hate the sin, love the sinner." Balderdash. christians don't love the sinner. Well, to put it more accurately, christians don't love non-christians. Especially homosexuals. If these hate-mongers had their way all the fags would be killed.

You see, I was raised conservative baptist. Time and time again I was told that all gay people should be lined up and shot. Or, that they should all be shipped to one island in the middle of the ocean and bombed until they are all dead. Yes. I heard this all the time. Was I alone in this? No, unfortunately not. I still hear similar stories from those who escaped the disgusting grips of religion. Those who cling to the fantasy of their christian tenets are wicked, evil, hateful, and just plain mean. They talk incessantly of a battle between them and the secular world as if those who don't proscribe to their belief system are amassing weapons to destroy them. The world should be so lucky.

And their hatred knows no boundaries. They have been bitching and moaning for months about this new hate crimes bill. Yeah, you know, the one that says you can't physically harm homosexuals and transgendered folks. You can speak badly of them, you can disparage them, you can openly discriminate against them in 31 states, but you can't do to them what these horrific christians have been speaking of for eons. Now it's the law of the land and they are pissed off. They have just been itching to feed the fags to the lions and now they are told "no". Da Horra! But they're not done with their claims of "the world hates us" and everyone is out to get them; No, they are now claiming they have proof. This website tells the whole sordid story. A blogger writes idly and innocently about the build up of angst by the gay community and the church goes wild.

"When people are talking about violence to pro-family proponents, you have to take it seriously," said one in response to the blog.

Of course they take it seriously, they know how serious they are when they speak of killing homos. On a side note, I find it funny that this person considers religion "pro-family". These are the folks that are denying a whole group of people the right to marry and build family. These are the same folks that would rather have innocent children in Arkansas and Florida die in foster care without ever knowing family than allow a gay person adopt and love them. These are the same folks that evict their own underage children by the dozens when they come out as gay. Yes, this is what pro-family does, they hate the sinner AND the sin. That is truly what Jesus would do.

Now, I've read the blog in question and this writer was speaking hypothetically. Just like the christians that want fags lined up and shot. Would christians really kill gays en mass? I'd venture a guess that, no, they wouldn't, as much as it would bring them ultimate joy. He was writing of remote possibility and romantic conjecture. Just like the christians do.

The same "pro-family" hater goes on to say that they are taking this seriously because the events at Fort Hood show us how this idle chatter might mean something. Considering the crime he cites was committed by a religious zealot, maybe we should be more concerned with christians killing homos and less concerned with homos killing christians. It is the christians who are seeing their own numbers dwindle and their way of life in jeopardy, so they have more cause for killing "the enemy" than any queer I've encountered.

More irony in all of this is that religion is an amazingly protected institution in this country. Yet they are also amazingly evil and wicked. Our government gives them so many special rights and protections. What do they do with all of this special treatment? They bully others and work relentlessly to oppress the rest of us. While our soldiers are fighting for democracy and freedom, the christians are fighting for hatred and oppression.

Douche bags.

Chuck

Religious folks aren't very intelligent, are they?

The religious folks in the United States are all abuzz. Hate crime legislation was passed and signed by Mr. Obama. And the religious nut bags are all crying foul. They think that this new legislation won't allow them their First Amendment right to bigotry. This is only because, I think, they are stupid individuals. Of course this group gives complete credence to fairy tales, so what should we reasonably expect? They staunchly believe that there is this major war against them and so they attack before being attacked. They hate before any hatred heads their way. Preemptive strikes against the heathens.

The goons of religion don't get it. Speech is different from action. You don't like queers? Fine. You want to express your hatred of homosexuality? Great, have at it. You want to kill or maim or attack them? That's a whole different ball of wax. It is my personal conviction that religion should be outlawed from the public discourse and my First Amendment right allows me to express this. It does not, however, allow me to punch religious people in their faces. Sad, but true.

So hate away, religious person. Be free to be bigoted. Just make sure it stays oral. And if you don't, don't be surprised should the gays better the instruction you give and sock it right back at you.

Chuck

Why do THESE FOLKS get special rights???

Everyone deserves a second chance. If there is some manner of illness, maybe more than two. If it's mental illness, how about some kind of help; therapy can do wonders for folks looking to get their mental illness under control. Personally, I've known way too many people with this type of illness and medications have been quite helpful to them.

Unfortunately we immediately consider sex offenders to be merely violent criminals that deserve to be locked up or banished from society with no further question. I'm not a doctor or law enforcement official, but I wonder how many sex offenders suffer from some type of mental illness, like obsessive/compulsive disorder? Could these people be rehabilitated through therapy and medication? Could they be closely monitored and return from their banishment into a productive life of citizenry? Yes, we all agree that sex offenders have done some pretty horrible acts to innocent people, but is it at all possible that some of these people are acting beyond their own control and would benefit from psychological intervention?

In Georgia, these people are just pariahs. Exiled from any life they may be able to eke out by some of the most strict sex offense laws in the nation. I wouldn't have been struck by this Associated Press story in today's Chicago Sun Times if I hadn't read this particular line: "...Georgia law, which bans the state's 16,000 sex offenders from living, working or loitering within 1,000 feet of schools, churches, parks and other spots where children gather."

Churches? Really? Churches! Yes, religious organizations get special rights and privileges. These folks not only DON'T pay taxes, they get all kinds of special laws protecting them from everything and all kinds of people. Is there some reason that churches need protection from other people? What is so bad about churches and religious folks that they would need such special consideration? And what about the Church of Pedophilia? Do they have to stay away from themselves in Georgia? How can a state legally make such laws respecting all religious institutions in this manner if the First Amendment of The Constitution of the United States forbids any government, local and national, from making any law respecting religion or the free practice and expression of religion?

What I find to be more appalling than all of these special laws protecting religion is that they are not reciprocal. Religion and those who lead these heinous organizations are free to denounce, mock, lambaste, and HATE everyone around them. They engage in political rhetoric and fear mongering, they press for politicians to favor them, and they argue for more and more and more privilege and special laws to keep away the heathen masses who simply wish to worship, or not, in a way that doesn't agree with them. Americans who identify with religion is on the decline. Yet these people still see themselves as special and truly believe that everyone should worship as they do, even if it means via legislation. Yet if someone chooses to hate them back, those people could be breaking the law. If you wish to NOT HIRE a religious person because they belong to such a hateful group, you are breaking the law. If you express disdain toward religious organization in a physical way, you break the law.

While I agree that physical violence against any person or thing is wrong, I find it disturbing that the laws protecting religious property and people from this require stronger penalties against the perpetrator. Why? What is it about churches and religious people that demand such intense punishment? Surely it's not because religious people are so good and wonderful and blameless that acts against them are so much worse? They can't possibly think that they are so undeserving of disgust and hatred that any negative act against them is shocking and unwarranted? But, alas, they really do consider themselves special and deserving of privilege.

I think we should abolish ALL LAWS that protect the religious institutions and their hateful bunch. Let them reap what they have sown on their own. Why should they get special treatment while folks who may be working very hard to atone are thrown out into the muddy cold of exile? How many pedophile catholic priests are in that camp in Georgia? I'd venture to say not many. These people are special, they spread the love of their own warped and weird version of a god. So they are exempt from following the laws of everyone else. I'd say "fuck your god" to those folks, but I'm sure they already have.

Chuck

Constitution openly ignored by Illinois government

The First Amendment of our U.S. Constitution, as you've read here before, prohibits the government from sponsoring or championing one religion over another or promoting any religion at all. In the state of Illinois it goes much further and prohibits the state from funding religious institutions, in particular it prohibits funds being allocated for religious schools.

Article X, Section 3 of the Illinois State Constitution states:

SECTION 3. PUBLIC FUNDS FOR SECTARIAN PURPOSES FORBIDDEN

Neither the General Assembly nor any county, city, town,township, school district, or other public corporation, shallever make any appropriation or pay from any public fundwhatever, anything in aid of any church or sectarian purpose,or to help support or sustain any school, academy, seminary,college, university, or other literary or scientificinstitution, controlled by any church or sectariandenomination whatever; nor shall any grant or donation ofland, money, or other personal property ever be made by theState, or any such public corporation, to any church, or forany sectarian purpose.

And yet State Representative Maria Berrios, D-39th, feels that the state Constitution does not apply to catholic schools. One can only guess it's because she was raised catholic? One can only guess. This supporter of the Church of Pedophilia* has given tens of thousands of dollars of tax monies to aide in the infrastructure and capitol improvements of these schools. One can also guess that, perhaps, could Ms. Berrios have a problem with adhering to the State Constitution? Isn't she sworn to uphold this all-important document and law of our lands here in Illinois? What could possibly account for this level of disdain? Why does she loathe a state she was elected to represent and a constituency that believes in the Illinois Constitution?

Anti-abortionists will appose public funds for Planned Parenthood and other providers claiming that they are murderers and that it is against their religion. Yet I'm sure they are ok with the public promotion of pedophilia by giving money to the organization that was, and still is, wracked by massive payouts, debt and legal wrangles due to this outrages behavior. A double standard, not uncommon for religious folk.

One can only hope that the ACLU will challenge this. We don't need our state Constitution trampled like this. If you get a chance, phone Maria Berrios or send her an e-mail. Especially if you're not a pedophile or some other religion.

Chuck

(catholic)

Shades of Gray

Life is not black and white. There are gradations of all colors in all aspects of living. Nuances, some would call them. Nature is full of nuance. Look at rainbows. Inspect a couple of identical twins. Even cloned sheep are not exact when inspected closely. Even, sometimes, gender is not just male and female. This week we've been introduced to Caster Semenya and she has thrown our understanding of gender out of whack. We still don't know for sure that Ms. Semenya is fully female, or even female at all (though, out of respect for this individual we will consider her female). She may well be intersexed like many children born each year are. Your belief in God, or Buddha, or Muhammad, or any number of "higher beings" is irrelevant to this woman's plight. What is, however, is that there is question. There is question because she appears so ambiguous. Her "nuance" is not what one would expect in a black and white world.

In our American society there are those who only subscribe to the black and white. For them there is right and wrong, those who believe in their god and those going to hell. The case of Caster Semenya illuminates the gray in this black and white "reality" to which they adhere so strongly. You see, America is full of nuance. It is full of gray areas and full of "other" religions and non-religions. Because we are home to so many that believe in so much it is important that we extend respect for as many as we can.

In the public sphere this is not always easy. Those who only align with black and white wish to eliminate the gray. They wish to blacken that with which they disagree and whitewash anything with which they agree. Unfortunately this does not sharpen and enhance our world view but, alas, cheapens it and dulls the excitement we get from the experience of life. Those who embrace their own god and condemn those who embrace another short-change their own existence with blinders and rose-colored glasses. What they have chosen to see is not complete. Their experience is lessened. Cheapened.

Nature, however you choose to explain it, created nuance. Who are we to disallow it's existence?

Chuck