I smite thee! ...The Diary of Nod

I'm no fan of Reza Aslan, but between him and CNN, holy Jesus fuck, are they stupid. Basically, Aslan points out that the phrase "Muslim countries" includes relatively tolerant countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia and Turkey, while many of the criticisms of "Muslim countries" are specific to a region (female genital mutilation is primarily in African countries, Muslim and not) or specific to a country and its regime (Saudi Arabia, Iran).

Fair point, right? Except that even after he explains it, the CNN anchors Still Don't Fucking Get It and continue to say "Muslim countries" to mean "Saudi Arabia" or "Iran" or "Muslim and non-Muslim countries, mostly in Africa, where female genital mutilation is common".

'Cause CNN is fucking stupid.



(h/t Mediate)

Labels: africa, cnn, islam, religion, reza aslan

posted by Lachlan @ 11:53 AM 0 comments

PZ Myers hates on religion, again.

It's always cool watching someone sanctimoniously criticize another for being sanctimonious. And by cool I mean uncool. Language these days. Let me clarify: PZ Myers is a dick.

From the Edmunton Sun (Canada):

The Salvation Army says it refuses to distribute Harry Potter and Twilight toys collected for needy children because they're incompatible with the charity's Christian beliefs.

The Salvation Army is a religious organization. OMG! Shocking, I know. As such, they hold religious beliefs - belief being something you think is true but have no rational basis. PZ has a hate on for people with beliefs, specifically religious ones. This time, he complains that unwanted donations might not be used:

So donors may have handed over popular toys for distribution, not knowing that the destination was going to be the landfill. And it's not because the Salvation Army is concerned about the quality or educational value of the toys.

Actually, they are concerned with both. PZ quoted it himself - "they're incompatible with the charity's Christian beliefs." But for PZ, that isn't a valid reason. Well, can't please everybody, but that's no reason to attack them:

I feel so dumb for having ever given that organization anything. I should have been clued in by the frickin' name that it was run by a gang of puffed-up sanctimonious looneys.

Yeah. They're being sanctimonious. Overall, the group does awesome things that - let's be honest - are handled far more frequently by religious groups than non. If you drop a dollar in their bucket, it's going to food and clothes and toys. If you donate toys, it's almost certainly going to someone in need. And, despite PZ's artful selective quoting of the Sun article, the Salvation Army says it gives the unused toys (Harry Potter and all) to other groups who "[distribute] in another manner where parents can choose."

Nobody's perfect. In the real world, they're pretty good. And PZ is a dick.

Labels: charities, christianity, christmas, harry potter, pz myers, religion, salvation army, twilight

posted by Lachlan @ 2:30 AM 0 comments

Texas GOP supports Israel because God said so

From the Texas GOP party platform, under the heading of "Israel":

Our policy is based on God's biblical promise to bless those who bless Israel and curse those who curse Israel and we further invite other nations and organizations to enjoy the benefits of that promise.

Christians defend Israel uniquely because of their religious beliefs, including the role of Israel in Armageddon. The US is largely biased for Israel and that is evidenced pretty well, even without the Texas GOP stating it explicitly.

When I point this out, I'm sometimes labeled "pro-Palestinian" or, when people are feeling particularly ignorant and insulting, "anti-Semitic". But, I'm not biased for or against Israel or the Palestinians. I take issue with the biased and hypocritical treatment we give Israel (and a whole host of other states and organizations) and I think our bias for Israel is detrimental to everybody, including Israelis, in part because it's become an impediment to peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

Unfortunately, anything less than that biased, hypocritical, unequivocal support for Israel, or any expression of sympathy for the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, often earns a person personal attacks and slurs. Until we can be allowed to disagree without verbal insults or physical violence, the situation will not improve.

Labels: god, government, israel, palestinian, politics, religion, republican, texas

posted by Lachlan @ 4:30 PM 0 comments

QOTD: Jon Stewart on homosexuality, humanity and shame

"The fact that you would trust the government with tanks and nuclear weapons but not to pass out cheese to poor people, well, you gotta ask..."

"Religion is far more of a choice than homosexuality."

"Semantics is cold comfort when it comes to humanity."

"You talk about the Pro-Life movements being one of the great shames of our nation. I think if you want number two, I think, I think it's that. I think it's an absolute...it's a travesty that people have, uh, forced someone who is gay to have to make their case that they deserve the same basic rights as someone else."
-Jon Stewart to Gov. Mike Huckabee, The Daily Show, 09 Dec 2008

I am often amazed at how very respectful the audience of The Daily Show is. They don't boo; even when Stewart hits a big ideological point, they often stay quiet because cheering would make it more like a game than a discussion. For a show that's about laughing and humor and cheering, it's incredible how quiet and respectful the audience can be when they're hearing someone argue for something they argue against.

Labels: conservative, daily show, gay, government, humanity, jon stewart, marriage, mike huckabee, prop 8, religion, sex

posted by Lachlan @ 9:11 PM 0 comments

QOTD: To each according to his needs.

From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs!
Karl Marx, Critique of the Gotha Program (1875)

All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one's need.
Acts of the Apostles 2:44-45

There was no needy person among them, for those who owned property or houses would sell them, bring the proceeds of the sale, and put them at the feet of the apostles, and they were distributed to each according to need.
Acts of the Apostles 4:34-35

Labels: acts of the apostles, christian socialism, christianity, communism, karl marx, marxism, politics, qotd, religion

posted by Lachlan @ 9:43 PM 0 comments

QOTD: Recipe for a Fortune

"Sometimes it makes me sad that if I only I could be cynical, craven, hypocritical, manipulative, and greedy, I, too, could make a fortune swindling the gullible faithful, plus the power trip for my ego would be like a Harley ride to heaven."

"Straight Shooter", commenting on CNN’s God’s Warriors: Ron Luce

Labels: atheism, greed, gullible, hypocrisy, religion

posted by Lachlan @ 12:14 PM 0 comments