I'm an atheist. But I don't see why so many of us are constant harping on religion's history. Yes, there were horrors perpetrated in the name of God(s). But there was also unmitigated good. Religion, I think, is a fundamentally human thing. It's both good and evil and often within moments of each other.
I would be happy to live like Christ--he left something good behind him (help others) and it was later people who made it into killing and oppression. He died for what he believed in. I'm perfectly willing to do the same.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Sunday, January 6, 2008
UPDATE: Noooooo!
So apparently that glitch in the middle was an edit. He still doesn't support evolution, but at least he'll leave it up to the states. I cautiously coming back to Pauldom.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Nooooooo!
That was my thought when Isaw the video where Ron Paul admits to being an evolution denier.
I'm sorry, can't vote you now, Dr. Paul. One scientific ignoramus in office in my lifetime is more than enough.
Kunich, now, I suppose. :le sigh:
I'm sorry, can't vote you now, Dr. Paul. One scientific ignoramus in office in my lifetime is more than enough.
Kunich, now, I suppose. :le sigh:
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Post-Bhutto
In the wake of the murder of Ms. Bhutto (RIP), I once again must reflect on a trend I see in Western politics.
Most of the time, non-Western politicians are portrayed as either being infinitely worse than ours (when they kill, maim or oppress their citizens) or much better than ours (when they stand up for what they believe in and possibly killed for it), when the truth is, they're about the same as ours.
Humans are the same the world over, and the same type is attracted to power the world over--the more authoritarian sort. No matter where you go, there will be a few principled politicians (Ron Paul, Aung San Suu Kyi and others), some incredibly corrupt ones (Musharraf, the leadership of Burma, Nixon, Cheney) and the rest are in between (Clinton, Bhutto, etc.)
Of course, politics aside, my condolences go to Ms. Bhutto's family, and most particularly her mother, since this is her fourth or fifth child to die, in addition to her husband.
Most of the time, non-Western politicians are portrayed as either being infinitely worse than ours (when they kill, maim or oppress their citizens) or much better than ours (when they stand up for what they believe in and possibly killed for it), when the truth is, they're about the same as ours.
Humans are the same the world over, and the same type is attracted to power the world over--the more authoritarian sort. No matter where you go, there will be a few principled politicians (Ron Paul, Aung San Suu Kyi and others), some incredibly corrupt ones (Musharraf, the leadership of Burma, Nixon, Cheney) and the rest are in between (Clinton, Bhutto, etc.)
Of course, politics aside, my condolences go to Ms. Bhutto's family, and most particularly her mother, since this is her fourth or fifth child to die, in addition to her husband.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Difference
I apologize to anyone who read this post. I think I was going through a funk.
That may finally be lifting, after two years.
Yes, I know, not really a funk--that's depression--but in any case I was feeling particularly lost.
I still don't know what I want to do with my life, but it's a little better now.
I think realizing that my depression was originally fear of my future, which shifted to general depression after I was pressured into not attending my university because I didn't have every nickel covered (was about $10k short, on a $48k/year school), and forced to attend my local community college instead.
Where it got worse, with idiot classes and no friends in the very beginning.
I regret allowing myself to be pressured. Every day I wish I was at UOP. Every single day.
But I allowed it to happen. My manipulative, fearful mother conned me into not going.
She made logical arguments, but the crying fits after my acceptance and receival of my finical aid notice got me. And the threat of her anger and disappointment if I went anyway.
Her approval means so much to me, and she knows it.
That may finally be lifting, after two years.
Yes, I know, not really a funk--that's depression--but in any case I was feeling particularly lost.
I still don't know what I want to do with my life, but it's a little better now.
I think realizing that my depression was originally fear of my future, which shifted to general depression after I was pressured into not attending my university because I didn't have every nickel covered (was about $10k short, on a $48k/year school), and forced to attend my local community college instead.
Where it got worse, with idiot classes and no friends in the very beginning.
I regret allowing myself to be pressured. Every day I wish I was at UOP. Every single day.
But I allowed it to happen. My manipulative, fearful mother conned me into not going.
She made logical arguments, but the crying fits after my acceptance and receival of my finical aid notice got me. And the threat of her anger and disappointment if I went anyway.
Her approval means so much to me, and she knows it.
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