There is someone else who has finally started a discussion of
Democracy Without Liberty.
I have posted several times about this topic here, here and here.
Honesty
Religion vs Morality
I have been struggling with the concepts of Religion as the source of morality. Each religion I have encountered believes it is the sole source of morality. That to be anti-religion is to be the same as amoralism. I always find that I am very much anti-religion, as it seems to make most people blind and dumb to the world. I think of myself as a scientist, looking at the world as a reasoned individual, but I believe that I am also very moral. Perhaps due to my brushes with a religious upbringing, but I believe that I have, at this stage in life, created my own moral compass removed from any religious aspects. And while I remain spiritual, I am not a religious person. The term ‘Religion is an anathema to reason’ or ‘religion is the opiate of the masses’ has strong meaning for me.
This has been brought to the forefront by the ranting of Radical Islamic Clerics, and Fundamentalist Christians ministers who both believe that they are locked into a war of beliefs. And all I see is two factions fighting over political control of an ignorant public.
I believe that if education was allowed to teach the facts, and that people could realize that there is morality without religious foundations. Most of the public would choose the secular morality. And that clerics and minsters who interpret their respective texts, are using these works as a control for their own purposes. That under the appearance of being a moral tool, they are deliberately distorting the message to strike out at opposing religions in a desperate attempt to prevent a secular approach to morality.
Both religions (in fact all religions) are fighting for control, in a vain attempt to preserve their institutes. And that real education, and real truth are the enemy. This appears to manifest in the so called Republican war on Science, and the secular religious schools of Islam. The truth, and perhaps the rational view of facts is being subverted to prevent a more just view of the facts and a clearer view of the truth.
We did not walk out of the jungle, or climb out of the evolutionary ladder just because God Placed us there, we got there, by way of our reasoning minds, and rational thought, corroboration, cooperation and trust.
Update: I heard about this when I posted this article, but I’ll link it now as another confirmation that religion is more concerned with ‘turf’ and not the spiritual nature of the human condition. It also reflects a ‘Burnt Earth’ policy. If we can’t have him, no one will!
Swearing on the Bible
When I read this article over at DISPATCHES FROM THE CULTURE WARS It got me thinking.
The fundamental reason people are sworn to their oath on a Bible during government hearings or swearing in ceremonies does not so much bring religion into the proceeding as it does the foundations of ones honesty.
This may seem strange, but using the Bible for someone who believes the Bible (or God) will harm him if he speaks a lie, is at it’s root. But that root is founded in the understanding that;
1) the person believes in the bible, and
2) that the person believes he will be judged for his lies, should he speak any, by God.
If the person does not believe in the Bible or a God, or that he believes he will be forgiven for his sin of lying, then there is absolutely no reason, or purpose for the Bible to be used. There is fundamentally, only the belief that the person being sworn in is standing on his honor, and if the person has no honor, then anything that person speaks could be a lie.
The question then becomes if a Muslin is sworn on a Bible does it mean anything at all, would a Hindu feel bound? How about an Atheist or a Buddhist, or any politician who only plays the part of a religious person to gain votes. The un-righteous mocking the righteous.
It does not even become a matter of separation of church and state, it’s more a matter of trust. And can you really trust politicians, at ALL?
The Republican’s won’t stop the gravy train
The Push to Tighten Lobbying Rules Loses Strength
Statements like;
while the Senate did vote this week in favor of a ban on gifts and meals from lobbyists, the real fight will be over whether to limit a much more lucrative perk: private travel, and lawmakers’ use of corporate jets.
Results in responses like this:
…the new majority leader, Representative John A. Boehner of Ohio, is not keen on the travel ban
“The fervor for reform in this case was driven by a fear that a match was about to be lit to dry tinder. They were scared to death they would go back home and people would be waiting as they got off the plane with buckets of tar and bales of feathers.”
But
Congress tends to have a short attention span.
as
There has been little political fallout from the Abramoff case
so
Without a grass-roots hue and cry of the sort that pushed lawmakers to block the Dubai port deal this week, it was perhaps inevitable that the push for lobbying law changes would diminish.
and everyone will forget, and it will go back to the way it was. Lobbyist in control of Congress.
Left wing teaching, looks fair and balanced
It is quite evident that some of the commentaries here (thanks for the link Fi Fie Foe) have not been in a High school in the U.S. The audio of a so called left wing teacher teaching a class sounds to me, more or less a balanced world view from different perspectives.
(You can read a better review here )
They would have known that for a teacher to even get the attention of the class they would have to engage in controversial subjects and current affairs. The class sounded quiet, and interested. Unlike most classes where the drone of canned ‘facts’ clouds most students minds to the point that they pay no attention at all and chat amongst themselves.
Students in the U.S. Today (but not in Ireland), have immense access to the internet, mass media and other alternative sources for information. They are immersed in information far beyond the textbook learning of the past. And if a teacher does not engage that information, they loose the class.
Much of the far right would love to have only their facts (read propaganda) drilled into students, without critical thinking being part of the plan. Independent thought and freedom of speech are not what they are seeking from the next generation of students.
The very fact that this recording was made (by one of the students who holds an alternative opinion), is evidence that the students have the intellectual capacity to understand the subject matter, even if they are of an opposing viewpoint.
The last days of Fundamentalist Righteous Superiority
In recent weeks in the U.S., there have been numerous attempts by fundamentalist christians to force State legislatures into passing laws reflecting their religious beliefs. A South Dakota Rape Law in the form of a anti-abortion law, Intelligent Design teachings in schools, a law authorizing the establishment of a State Religion. Mad things, and with no hope of them withstanding a constitutional review. (I hope)
On the surface they don’t seem to have much in common except their republican, right wing religious pinnings. But what they share is desperation.
That’s what I said, Desperation. They all have the same fear, that the Republican GOP has run out of steam, and is facing a massive back lash in the upcoming elections. The expectation that the corruption, lies and constitutional violations by the Republicans in Congress and the Executive branch are going to bring about a massive Democratic reversal.
This all comes on the heels of calls for NSA reviews, impeachment and lobbying corruption scandals.
There is also an expectation that now that the Judicial Branch has a decidedly right wing slant. There could be some hope that these State Laws might pass Supreme Court Review, and hence force these laws upon other states.
There is even more fear, as the government is continuing to force states to implement electronic voting machines which clearly do not work, or worst, results in republican bias in their reporting.
The monster that the republicans have created is facing a revolt of the public. There is even more talk of a real overthrow of the current administration.
Some republicans are now having to consider if there needs to be some change in direction. A distancing from the president, and I can only hope that in their desperation that they finally choose to Impeach the President in a effort to save their own skins.
I have a faint hope that they will impeach, and also fail to sustain their majority one world government.
I hope that the American people get their government back without a violent revolution and that just a small revolution will reestablish the Constitutional Republic of the United States of America.
Defending a Castle
After a long discussion with a representative of An Taisce about methods to save Ballincollig Castle from the grasping urban sprawl and rampant uncontrolled construction of housing estates. The advice was, Patronage and Publicity. Of all things community support, and involvement has no place in the preservation of Irish history and heritage.
And this is what the Irish have become, a nation of Patronage, where politicians travel around the countries like country lords granting ‘Favors’ to the peasants. I thought that the Irish had thrown down the kingships of the English. And yet this is also the reason that many politicians use to deny support the preservation of Castles and heritage sites around the country. “Their English” is the proclamation and should be destroyed as the English were evil.
Well some of these sites predate this presumption and the real reasons are profit for the builder, and brown envelopes for the politicians-Lords.
Even, if any of these sites were locations for English evil, they were built by Irishmen, with Irish hands and from Irish stone. They are Irish to their foundations, and their preservation above the heads of political gain.
This particular Castle history tells an Irish story of a Knight call Coll who sold a castle to a Barrett who held it for nearly 400 years and of it’s fall as one of the last forts of Irish insurgency in the face of Cromwell’s assault on Cork. A castle of almost 800 years of age, and older than Blarney Castle, should be reserved and honored.
But it appears not to be, as Irish politicians seek to gain from it, none will lift a hand to save it, short of coinage in the pocket.
So to preserve Irish heritage, we will have to seek foreign money, the Queens shilling, to preserve an Irish Castle.
The Conversion
This story is one I heard at the University of Kansas. It was in a Medieval History class I was enrolled in (being as I was bound and determined to be a History teacher). This class was taught by the best history professor I have ever had, and I’m sorry to say, I don’t recall his name after all these years.
He would start out every class with a Medieval Joke or a story. And as best as I can, I will attempt retell one of my favorites.
There were a couple of merchants who were friends, one a Catholic the other a Jew, and they were in constant discussions as to the superior nature of each their chosen religion. At the time around the 13th century Catholicism was on the rise and there was a consistent stream of conversions and the Jewish merchant was always amazed. The two friends were each attempting to convert the other and neither succeeding. On one occasion the Jewish man who was intending a trip to Rome for business, told his Catholic friend in a bit of an amusing way that if what he found in Rome could convince him of the superior Catholic church, he would convert. Upon hearing this the Catholic man was fraught with fear as the Rome of that period was as corrupt as could be, with Bishops, Cardinals and Priests selling dispensation, granting favors and indulgences. While themselves participating it drunken debauchery and whoring. A generally poor example of the nature of the Catholic church. But knowing this the Catholic merchant did not illustrate this for his friend, hoping that such things might not be observed during his trip. So the Jewish merchant made his trip, and upon his return came to his friend and confessed that he would convert to the Catholic Religion. And his friend was perplexed, and ask what had been the determining factor. His friend then went on to describe the worst fears of what he had heard of Rome. The Catholic man was shocked at what he heard, and ask his friend that in the face of such corruption's, how could he want to convert to such a church. And the Jewish man said, it was because of such chaos that he determined that for a religion to grow as it had, then it must be the one true religion as nothing else could explain the rise of this religion. And the Jewish man converted to Catholicism.
Now this is interesting as it has a universal applicability to politics and religion in that with all the political corruption’s of democratic governments they continue to grow. Even in the face of fumbling presidencies corrupt politicians and bungled opportunities, when democracy has a chance, it will succeed even in the face of such chaos. Errors are corrected, politicians are convicted, presidents impeached, and bungled opportunities are recovered.
They are not without pain and require much work by honest men. And as it’s been said before;
Democracy is the the worst form of government, except for all the other’s
The Boxer can’t knit
I mentioned in a previous post that if Sinn Fein was to enter politics that it would be like a boxer entering a knitting contest. Well due to the riots it surely looks like the boxer can’t knit.
By allowing the scumbag thugs of the more violent factions of Sinn Fein to riot, destroy property assault Garda, reporters and anyone else who happened to be in the wrong place. They have shown that they are not motivated to extend the same liberties that allow them to speak, to others of the opposing voice. Demonstrating that their most potent arguments are those of the common bully.
And while the Unionist are laughing it up, their motivations are clear also, confrontation and incitement. Celebrating the victims of the IRA, while not honoring the victims of Unionist violence is equally one sided.
No one is honoring the Flag of the Irish Republic. And even I, as a ‘blow-in’ Irishman, know what they stand for. And anyone who crosses that white line between the the Green and Orange deservers to be instructed in the definition of Peace.
Far Right Wingnuts pull out hair!
This article is probably making the far right pull their hair out.
Bush, Congress clash over ports sale
Lawmakers want to halt UAE takeover; Bush threatens veto
Now who is it that is trying to protect the U..S. from attacks originating from the sea ports? The United Arab Emirates you say. Very interesting, isn’t that where some of the 9/11 bombers call home? Ok, if Bush said it’s Ok.
Now what is the Presidents role in Commercial governance?
An Update: The President of the United States supports Islamic World Domination. Very Interesting George Bush is a closet Muslim
Sinn Fein, Hamas and George Washington
Someone ask me what I thought about Sinn Fein being elected as part of the government of the Republic of Ireland. And I flipped off an answer
If the people vote Sinn Fein into government, that is their will. If Sinn Fein are voted in on a platform that they will not fulfill. Then they are no different than any other politician that they replaced, untrustworthy, and they too, should, and will be replaced.
And then I hear that many people in Ireland fear terrible things will happen if Sinn Fein, “the Murdering IRA Thugs”, win more seats in the government.
And sure, I know that there are concerns there, but what would you say to George Washington. To the the British, he was a “Murdering rebel Traitor” but he became President of the United States. Some Americans wanted to make him King, but he declined. It seemed to work out fine for them, being a good man that he was.
I’ll quote you something normally attributed to Ben Franklin
Revolution is always illegal in the third person, such as ‘Their’ Revolution
it’s only legal in the first person, as Our revolution
So if Sinn Fein are, in their own minds, Revolutionary Patriots, then what would make them different from George Washington. The fact that they do not hold office yet, or that what they stand for is not what you stand for?
And if that’s the only difference, being that their platform distinguishes them from any other party, it only makes them politicians, like any other. And you wouldn’t be voting for something you don’t believe in as no amount of thuggery will get the average Irishman to change his mind, only kindly persuasion. (or maybe the parish priest)
Do you think maybe, that Hamas may believe they are patriots for their own people too?
It is really only a matter of perspective.
It’s much like a boxer entering a knitting contest, he wins only if he can knit.
Democracy is philosophically complex
When ever I hear some one proclaiming that they are striving to bring ‘Democracy to the world’ I shutter, and then mark it down as some one else who does not know what they are talking about. The following is an example of why I know they don’t know what they advocate when they say such things.
U.S. and Israelis Are Said to Talk of Hamas Ouster
The professed supporter of Democracy usually means that they support democracy so long as they win, or that the winners believe the same things as, and fall into line with, the speakers own agenda. The U.S. and Israeli politicians believed that the winners in the Palestinian election would be clones of themselves. And that is just not going to happen in a true Democracy.
The previous government in Palestine was corrupt, detached and did not help, or reflect the needs of the people they were elected to work for.
And if you think this is revolutionary, try reading the rest of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights and the Constitution.
Simpleton minds, hearing simplistic rhetoric often misunderstand what democracy really means. The form of government that the U.S. (and U.K, and most of the western ‘democracies’) exercises, is not a pure democracy, but a republic, with democratic foundations, governed by Laws that prevent Majorities from overturning minority rights. Such things as Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Religion are protections for minorities, they prevent the rule of the mob from overcoming the rights of the minority.
The mighty Hunter?
This might explain why the Vice President enjoys torture so much Humane Society Statement
“If the Vice President and his friends wanted to sharpen their shooting skills, they could have shot skeet or clay, not resorted to the slaughter of more than 400 creatures planted right in front of them as animated targets.”
Seems the VP can’t even shoot straight even then, he shot one of the other group, and then hid the incident for 18 hours until he could report that the victim hadn’t died.
If the VP really has such a challenge shooting caged game birds, I know that he would love a barnyard full of free range chickens.
Hunting used to be a sport.
More on Externalities
This is Classic externality, the Oil companies profit, and the the world pays the price. Climate ‘makes oil profit vanish’ This is a misleading headline, it should read “Oil companies Profit, world pay’s climate costs”
So called ‘Science President’
It looks like the so called ‘Science President’ is really helping out NASA, not only has he accepted the resignation of his ignorant press suppresser, Deutsch, but he’s helping them so much that they are having to beg for financial support from other nations, and industry just to keep programs running.
NASA seeks partners as budgets tighten
So the nation that when to the moon, can’t get even get some programs off the ground.