Archive for the ‘death’ Category

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Healthcare: Profits and Prophets

14 September, 2009

I have some weird friends.  They’re good people, but some of them are severely disconnected from reality.  I find myself trying to explain things calmly and rationally.  And with no effect.

I’ve told her that yes, Obama really is an American.  His mother is a citizen, therefore, no matter where he was born (that would be Hawai’i (an actual state of the United States)) he would still be a US citizen and no, he does not kill babies.  I’ve told him (yeah, more than one) that high tax rates on the rich, massive public investment in infrastructure, and strong labour unions have, historically, lead to much more rapid economic expansion than supply side economics.  And I have, patiently, explained to both of them that ‘death panels’ already exist — they are run by for-profit insurance companies.

And here is a case in point:  Read the rest of this entry ?

Posted in abortion, Christianity, Church and State, conservatives, death, god, GOP, health care, regulation, Republican Party, sex, teabagging | 11 Comments »

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I Get Mail. And It Isn’t Nearly As Exciting As It Should Be.

19 August, 2009

Today, I got an email from Tina Jane.  I  did not recognize the address, or the mailer, but, after doing a quick McAfee scan, I clicked.  Then I clicked over to a Google document.  And I realized that I was being witnessed via billytheatheist (at) gmail.com as I read: Read the rest of this entry ?

Posted in (((Humour))), born again, Christianity, death, god, humor, idiots, Me, prayer, proselytizing, religion, Religious Abuse, scam | 26 Comments »

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Killing a Child for Acting Like A Child?

17 July, 2009

I, with (((Wife))), have two children.  Well, we actually have one young adult college student (now taking general studies courses with as many art credits as he can fit in) and one teenaged young lady.  Both are in school, both have jobs, both have become remarkably productive human beings (or are, at least, showing signs of becoming productive human beings).  Of course, (((Wife))) and I can smile no matter what happens.  Why?  We remember what they did as really little kids.

(((Girl))) once ate a firefly.  She did it to see if she could make her butt glow.  She also, during a party with some coworkers, had to be extracted from a bowl of potato salad.  Dressed only in a diaper.  (((Boy))) once came home from school, placed his books on the shelf, his jacket on the counter and his shoes in the sink.  He also, once, told (((Wife))) that he had a haddock.  (((Wife))) explained that it was a headache, as in “I have a headache.”  (((Boy))) then answered, “Oh.  So do I.”  (((Wife))) once changed his diaper on I-95 in New York City.  Without pulling over.  In stop-and-go traffic.  In a car with a manual transmission.

My point is, kids are, well, kids.  They are human beings, but they are still incomplete.  Their brains continue to change well into their 20s.  Their corps of knowledge grows faster than they do, and as the knowledge base grows, they make more an more connections.  But even a 19-year-old is, compared to a 30-year-old, incomplete.  That’s what makes them kids, right?

So what happens if, because of religious beliefs, the parents expect a toddler, or an infant, to respond in an adult manner?  Read the rest of this entry ?

Posted in Authoritarianism, batshit crazy, Christianity, crime, death, family, god, rant, religion, Religious Abuse | 12 Comments »

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The Culture of “Life” Strikes Again: The Murder of Dr. George Tiller

31 May, 2009

Back in April, the Department of Homeland Security warned that right wing extremist and terrorist groups may take advantage of the worsening economy and the election of an African-American President would increase both the number of hate groups and increase the number of people involved in such groups.  Of course, the reaction of the media right was measured and moderate.  Well, not really — many accused the Obama Administration of orchestrating a hit job on real Americans.  After all, no Christian American would ever become a terrorist, right?  No politically conservative veteran would ever become involved in an extremist act, right?  Conservatives and Christians value life (even if it means the death of a mother).

Today, the sick neo-conservative Christian culture of ‘life’ struck again.  Read the rest of this entry ?

Posted in abortion, choice, Christianity, Church and State, conservatives, crime, death, Doctor Tiller, health care, Predators, religion, Religious Abuse, RIP, Tiller | 62 Comments »

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“If you’re not Christian, you’re going to die.”

13 March, 2009

Back in 1999, two very sick boys killed 12 students and a teacher in Columbine High School in Colorado.  One of the girls, Rachel Scott, became a Christian martyr for, supposedly, dying for her faith.  Read the rest of this entry ?

Posted in Christianity, crime, death, news bias, Predators, religion, Religious Abuse | 12 Comments »

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Marriage is a Civil Right

18 February, 2009

Not a Religious Right

One of my best friends is gay.  Which means, of course, that he is denied one of the very basic human rights:  the right to marriage (unless, of course, he uproots himself, his career, and his partner and moves to Massachusetts).  A few states use ‘civil unions’ to provide weasel room.  They are afraid of the religious right, even though marriage is an act governed by civil law.

Marriage is, legally, a civil act.  If a couple wishes to marry in a church or other religious building or setting, that is their option. But it is the state legislatures, not the pastors, priests, rabbis and imams, which decide who can legally marry, often overruling religious groups — age and number of wives are two examples.  When (((Wife))) and I married, a justice of the peace performed the ceremony.  The key phrase?  “By the authority vested in me by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, I now pronounce you man and wife.”  No god, no church, no religion involved. Read the rest of this entry ?

Posted in Authoritarianism, Church and State, death, family, gay marriage, gay rights, GLBT, health care, religion, Religious Abuse | 31 Comments »

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Damn, I Hate Being Right!

11 February, 2009

In late July, I posted about a gunman in Tennesse who killed two in a Unitarian Church.  In that blog, I wrote this:

Unfortunately, I have my suspicions (based, I will admit, on stereotypes) and I am disturbed by this attack.  A Unitarian Church in Kentucky Tennessee shot up by a gunman.  Hmmm.  What could be the motive?  Well, this is the last paragraph of the article:

The Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church is a community that meets to worship and work together for social change, according to the church’s Web site. Since the 1950’s, the congregation has worked for desegregation, racial harmony, fair wages, women’s rights and gay rights, according to the Web site. The congregation also has provided sanctuary for political refugees, fed the homeless and founded a chapter of the ACLU.

I really hope that the socially progressive stance of this church is not a motive.  I hope it’s not, but, as I said, I have my (stereotyped) suspicions. Read the rest of this entry ?

Posted in Authoritarianism, crime, death, guns, news bias, Predators, Religious Abuse, Unitarian Church | 17 Comments »

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An Infuriating Case From Italy

9 February, 2009

One frequent apologetic which shows up in conversation is the blatant canard that religion does no harm.  I’ll pause here for a moment so we can consider Jerusalem, Carcassone, Magdeburg, and Salonika (among thousands of cities and towns).  For those who prefer outrages on a personal level, remember Terry Schiavo?  And today’s politicians much prefer tragedies one at a time.  They can toss a bone to the radical religious right voters. Read the rest of this entry ?

Posted in Authoritarianism, Church and State, death, health care, hypocrisy, Predators, religion, Religious Abuse, Right to Die, scary, sex, sexism | 30 Comments »

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“Let’s Kill Atheists for Their Body Parts”

30 January, 2009

Long before I began surfing the internet regularly, I knew that there were some truly scary people in the world.  The sheriff who lived down the street helped catch Charles Manson (Charlie really screwed up when he started fooling with the National Park Service construction equipment).  The right-wing Christians I’ve met over the years can be really scary.  But a year-and-a-half ago, when I started using the internet for more than maps and weather, I discovered just how scary scary can be. Read the rest of this entry ?

Posted in atheism, crime, death, god, health care, Predators, religion, Religious Abuse, RIP, scary | 21 Comments »

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It’s All Happened Again, and Again, and Again, and Again, and Again.

11 November, 2008

Ninety years ago, at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the Great War ended.  It was the longest war in Europe in a century and the bloodiest war in Europe since the 30 Years War in Germany.  It was also the War To End All Wars in which, under the leadership of America, the world would be made Safe For Democracy.

Well, I can’t help but wonder now, Willie McBride,
Do all those who lie here know why they died?
Did you really believe them when they told you the cause?
Did you really believe this war would end all wars?

Well, the suffering, the sorrow, the glory, the shame,
The killing, the dying, it was all done in vain.
For William McBride, it’s all happened again,
And again, and again, and again, and again.
                                The Green Fields of France,  by Eric Bogle Read the rest of this entry ?

Posted in addiction, death, history, Me, medicine, Politics, Predators, racism, terrorism, veteran, war | 20 Comments »

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