Happy Eid al-Adha

picture from Karin's Public Gallery

Abraham is a central patriarchal figure in Judaism, Christianity and Islam. If it were not for Abraham we would not have the mutilation of male genitalia so pervasive in Islam and Judaism. Abraham was such a great man he was willing to slaughter his own son Isaac because some voice in his head commanded him to. Today when people do this they are arrested and thrown in prison. I wonder if it's just the women that get arrested. Abraham was regarded as a hero. Hmmm. In Islam Eid al-Adha is the festival of sacrifice celebrating Abraham's willingness to sacrifice foreskins and offspring to god and this year it starts tomorrow on December 19. To honor such sacrifice they slaughter sheep, goats and cattle by the millions. Sounds like fun! Who needs Mortal Combat when you can go out in the streets and cut the throat of a live sheep.

A Jesus™ Nation

That's what Huckabee is fighting for. It's clear he has a vision of one nation under Jesus™. He basically says so in his own words way back in 1998:

"I didn't get into politics because I thought government had a better answer. I got into politics because I knew government didn't have the real answers, that the real answers lie in accepting Jesus Christ into our lives. . . . I hope we answer the alarm clock and take back this nation for Christ."

It looks like Huckabee is surging in the polls. So I guess all you Jews, Muslims, Wiccans, Buddhists, Hindus, Baha'is, Taoists, Druids, Native Americans, Universalists, Pagans, and atheists better start thinking about moving to a new country. If this guy gets in the whitehouse I don't think you'll be very welcomed here.

Mitt Romney is a blathering idiot

"Freedom requires religion, just as religion requires freedom. Freedom opens the windows of the soul so that man can discover his most profound beliefs and commune with God. Freedom and religion endure together, or perish alone," he said.

So says Mitt. I can't believe that this guy is seriously seeking the presidency. Has he not read the constitution? Does he not understand that our founders purposely separated religion from affairs of the state? To say that religion is the only way to find one's personal self is completely and utterly insane. I would say Mitt will be as fundamentally bad for the separation of church and state as Bush is now based on statements like this.

The Golden Compass

Come on folks. It's FANTASY! Really, kids can tell the difference between fantasy and reality. They can. Why do you think it's so hard to get them up and out the door to Sunday school? If you haven't heard there's an uproar about the new film, The Golden Compass. It's like Harry Potter all over again. Religious nuts think this movie will indoctrinate their children into the evils of atheism. Give me a break. And give your children some credit. If you have raised your child to believe in your god, fine. This movie is not going to change their minds. Are you so afraid that your believes are so tenuous that a fantasy movie will destroy it? You must not have much faith in your beliefs then. It's interesting to see the evangelical blogsphere get their panties all in a bunch about this. I can't wait to take my son to see this movie. I'm sure we'll have a spirited discussion about it afterwards.

Another tragic death from fantasy

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Religious fantasy kills. Fourteen year old Dennis Lindberg of Seattle, Washington passed away last night because he thought getting a life-saving blood transfusion would make him unclean. Sad, really. This was even against his parents' wishes. They wanted him to live. Unfortunately, Dennis' aunt, a Jehovah's Witness, greatly influenced him. The judge in the case that let the eight grader die didn't believe his decision was the result of any coercion. What the hell is fantastical religious indoctrination if not coercion? The doctors said he would have had a 70% chance of beating his leukemia with the transfusion. The judge said his ruling was a death sentence. We need to protect our children from this idiocy.

You're elected to work not pray

Part of me makes me glad I don't live in Georgia, but I'm sure it is similar here. This story from CNN today raises the issue nicely. I'm talking about elected officials wasting valuable taxpayer paid time pleading with some fantastical deity for help when they could be doing work for the people. This year Georgia is suffering from one of the worst droughts in its history. Water shortages are reaching critical stage in Atlanta and many places in GA. There's a lot to do. So, what does Governor Sonny Perdue and the GA legislature have on their agendas today? Yes. They're going to stand around on the steps of the Capitol mumbling to some imaginary magical creature to come down and spread some rain around. This is NOT what public servants are elected to do.

Now, I have no problem with people praying. Prayer can make people feel good. It can give them inner strength and lift them up. The GA governor and legislature can pray all they want to, but can't they do it on their own time? Their constituents are certainly expecting more from their work day. Most working people don't get to stop working to organize prayer vigils. They use their day off on Sunday for their worship. Why should elected officials be granted special rights in this regard?

At least one guy down in GA has the right idea:

"The governor can pray when he wants to," said Ed Buckner, who is organizing the protest. "What he can't do is lead prayers in the name of the people of Georgia."

Not all xtians are scientifically ignorant

There is hope. According to a recent poll, many xtians believe the earth could be billions of years old. There are still a lot of nutjob biblical literalists who think only in terms of a few thousand years really. Only 30% of xtians believe the earth is billions of years old. Maybe that's a frighteningly large number to the fundies, but I find it frighteningly small.

Democrats are letting us down

A friend just sent me an email with a question from Jim Babka of DownsizeDC.org. A very important question that we all need to consider.

Why did a Democrat controlled Congress pass a bad bill that President Bush wanted, when the Republican controlled Congress couldn't muster the votes for it the year before?

Of course I'm talking about the FISA bill - Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. You know, the one that allows our government to monitor at will any phone call we make outside of the homeland? The bill that legalizes all of the illegal acts this administration has perpetrated on us over the last six years. That bill.

In the House, 41 Democratic representatives voted to approve and legalize illegal wiretapping on us. This includes my own representative, Earl Pomeroy. Earl, you should be ashamed of this vote.

In the Senate the picture was no better - 16 Democrats voted to weaken our constitution. Senator Conrad from North Dakota was among them. Dorgan weaseled out by not being present to vote. I'd like to know where he stood on the issue.

Someone remind me why we voted in all these spineless politicians last November?

Christians are just too busy for god

Results of a five year worldwide study are in and it says that the majority of christians have no time for god. This study, conducted by the Charleston Southern University School of Business, sampled some 20,000 christians from 139 countries and found that a significant number of folks were too busy to develop their relationship with god. North American christians topped the chart with 62% reporting they were too busy for god. Interestingly, when the results were categorized by profession, the results were surprising. 65% of pastors said they were too busy to develop their relationship with god.

They've found the cure for autism

Because we all know that autism is not really a disease but evil spirits lurking in our brains.

"(Uyesugi felt that) the boy could be prayed over and the demons could be cast out of him," Detective Brad Swain told 6News' Ben Morriston."
. . .
Swain said Uyesugi "forced the boy down, punched him in the face several times, put his fingers in the boy's throat, causing him to vomit."

"When the family objected, Uyesugi told them that the vomit was demons being cast out," Swain said

Fortunately this guy was arrested and charged with battery. Frankly, he belongs in an institution.

You wonder where they get these crazy ideas? Oh, I see - this guy was an usher for the Cherry Hill Christian Center in Bloomington, IN. Apparently you can go to school to learn all kinds of things there, like new, never before heard, languages.

"The purpose of the School of the Holy Spirit is to feed and develop the spirit man, to release the rivers of prayer language and prophesying, and to move into the revelation and power gifts (word of knowledge, word of wisdom, discerning of spirits, gift of faith, gifts of healing, and working of miracles)."

This church looks like a scary place. If I were in Bloomington, I'd be watchful of my neighbors who go there.

Even Hindus are NUTS

I wonder if there are any religions that are not completely bonkers.

Man cuts off hand for Hindu goddess offering

A man from Nepal cut off his right hand for the Hindu goddess of power. Loopy if you ask me.

Anyone can go to heaven - if you believe as I do

A couple weeks ago I posted about the Pope's holier than thou attitude toward other xtians and how they don't truly follow christ. There was an interesting response to the Pope in the Fargo Forum letters section this morning. The Rev. Howard Fleury claims that god does not exclude anyone from eternal life, despite what the pope says. Now, that sounds all nice and inclusive until you really read his letter. Just as I expected from a delusional charlatan, the Rev. Fleury goes on to explain that you must believe as he does and be 'born again' to enter heaven. He even proudly claims that xtianity is an exclusive club and no one else can be saved. The rest of us will all end up in hell. Interestingly he claims that about 66% of the world's population will rest in hell. Does that mean that 33% of the Earth's 6 billion people are born again xtians? I think not! Certainly the "Born Agains" are a much smaller fraction of the xtian population. Not only is Rev. Fleury delusional, he thinks HIS club is the biggest in the world. Perhaps he should read more than just his bible.

(for a PDF of the Forum letter, click here)

The War that Wasn't

It's July and it's not just the summer sun that is getting hot. The War on Christmas™ is heating up also. Before anyone has even uttered a "Happy Holidays" (which is an expression of well wishes, not a slap in the face) the lunatic fringe is mobilizing their xtian soldiers to take on the great opposing army. The non-christians are swarming like plague-infested rats during the dark ages. If left alone to reproduce, they will soon take over! Oh wait, xtians still make up over 80% of the US population. Yes, I'm being satirical.

Two articles have caught my eye today regarding this so-called war. The first I gleaned from the Atheist Revolution blog about a petition in Berkely, Michigan for the city to display a nativity scene on public land. The second article comes from the xtian news source, One News Now. This reports on the attempts by the Seattle airport to ban religious displays. The local locos have their panties in a bind claiming this is some kind of "censorship" of religion.

I have just one question for the xtians out there. There's a christian church on nearly every street corner in America. If you put a nativity scene on every lawn, wouldn't you just about saturate every city in America with your religious symbolism? Why must you have it on the city square, or, for crying out loud, in an airport? Have you been in an airport lately? With all the delays people are just running from one end to the other to make their connecting flights. They don't have time to sit and wonder at the fantastical magic of a virgin birth. Please, just leave a little room for the rest of us. That's all we ask.

I agree with PZ

Magical incantations DO NOT belong in the senate. Unbelievable that these so-called christian zealots want everyone to tolerate their prayers in our senate, at high school football games, and everywhere else, but they can't sit in silent respect for two minutes to listen to a Hindu prayer.

Read more and watch the video on Pharyngula.

Superiority Complex

Nearly every religion has it. If you ask a leader of any one of the world's religions, they will tell you their version of reality imagination is the only true one. Some are more vocal, and violent, than others. The latest 'holier than thou' proclamation comes from the Vatican. Yes, Pope Rat has decreed that non-catholics are not true followers of Jesus Christ™. Of course, this declaration is basically aimed at any christian denomination that does not bow to the pope. Silly me, and I always thought religion was about a personal relationship with one's deity. Perhaps we need to replace the 10 commandments monument that is in Fargo's city hall square with a graven image of Pope Rat.

Read the full story here.

Who Cares about CAIR?

An interesting article appeared yesterday in the Washington Times describing the precipitous decline in membership for CAIR in recent years - down from 29,000 members in 2000 to only 1,700 in 2006. CAIR, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, pretends to be a civil rights organization. Frankly, this is a sham. It is clear they want nothing less than the adoption of Sharia law for America. Several CAIR spokespeople have been caught saying this in the past. It is not surprising that most mainstream American thinking Muslims are rejecting CAIR. They have known ties to Hamaas and other terrorist jihadist groups and have been named as co-conspirators. I would urge you to find out more about this very narrow-minded group that hides behind a cloak of civil rights. Here are some web sites for further reading.

CAIR Watch
CAIR: Islamists Fooling the Establishment
CAIR: 'Moderate' friends of terror
Anti-CAIR In defense of the Constitution

Dick Cheney is an SOB

When all is said and done, I think this administration will go down in history as the most corrupt ever. Every day we hear of new depths of unethical behavior by people who are entrusted with our lives. Dick Cheney heads the list of arrogant power mongers who don't give a rat's ass about the integrity of what our country stands for. According to this Washington Post article, Dick disagreed with justice officials about the illegality of wiretaps. Now that, of course, is not the problem. Everyone has the right to disagree. But, according to testimony of former deputy attorney general James Comey, Cheney's office retaliated by blocking the promotion of senior Justice Department lawyer, Patrick Philbin. Why did he block the promotion? Because Patrick raised concerns about the illegal surveillance that Cheney was pushing for. I'm sorry, this kind of retaliation seems to be commonplace in this administration. When will it stop? I think Cheney belongs in jail.

Kevin's Got it Right

A letter appeared in The Forum this morning that says it like it is. Way to go, Kevin!

Kevin Oak, Detroit Lakes, Minn. letter: Bible-thumping dimwits at it again
The Forum
Published Thursday, May 03, 2007

What’s with these Bible-thumping dimwits and their rant against The Forum’s article about the two young men attending prom together? I thought The Forum did a fine job presenting this issue in the context of what is a very significant event in a teen’s high school tenure.
But then you get these self-righteous nut jobs who read it with minds sealed drum tight, gasp, clutch at their chests, and frantically peruse the good book to find some passage in an attempt to make some obscure point. Then it’s up to the altar they go with a “God loves you but ...” finger-shaking hellfire-and-brimstone tirade.

And they continue to show the depth of their ignorance by expressing sympathy for gays’ family members, or saying something really stupid, like how a gay can change what happened at conception but only with a close, personal relationship with Jesus.

Please, sit down and shut up, already. I’m only here to listen to the choir.

The Jesus I know is about forgiveness, tolerance and acceptance.

He’s also the guy who said, “Let the person who is without sin cast the first stone.” Because if the Bible-thumpers’ God judges all sins on an equal basis, the water they’ll be in on their judgment day is going to be just as hot as anybody’s.

John, Sam and Santa

What do John the Baptist, Uncle Sam and Santa Claus have in common?

Why, John Frum, of course!

The people on the isolated South Pacific island of Tanna, in the country of Vanuatu, have long put their faith in John Frum, a figure they insist is a former American GI during World War II who will someday emerge from the volcano and shower his believers with wealth and knowledge.

Frum has been described as a combination of John the Baptist, Uncle Sam and Santa Claus.

Well, if you are worried about their poor lost souls, fear not, for Christian evangelism has arrived to save the day. Apparently 7000 islanders have given their hearts to Jesus™ after watching a Jesus™ film video that was left behind. I guess if you're gullible enough to be swayed by Santa, Sam and John, then Jesus™ should not be too hard to swallow.

Read the story here.

Littering is against the law in North Dakota

Ok, I'm all for free speech and all that jazz, but I do have a problem with people littering public places with propaganda. I was at NDSU today and had to use the restroom. As I was washing up I noticed some money laying around here and there. On closer inspection, they appeared to be $1,000,000 bills! I picked one up and flipped it over and behold - Once again, someone is trying to save me. What a waste of trees and ink. It's one thing to hand them out to people. That's fine. But it is quite another thing to dirty up our public spaces with all this paper. Frankly the folks who drop these around campus should be cited for littering.

Godless Money Commands a High Price

Say what you want about "In God We Trust" on US currency, but it's clear that people are paying a premium for new dollar coins that are missing this inscription. The US Mint has released some new dollar coins that were improperly struck. Intially coins were fetching upwards of $600. As word spread, more were discovered and the price has settled down to about $50 on ebay.

Read the story here

Minimum Wage is a Republican Ideal?

I think not! Once again, the Republican-controlled ND legislature has shown their true arrogant plagiaristic selfs and held a photo-op touting their "Republican" bill to raise the minimum wage. Funny, they've killed the bill the last 10 times the Democrats have brought it to the table. The real credit should go to Sen. Tim Mathern (D-Fargo) and Rep. Jasper Schneider (D-Fargo).

The Forum has more to say on the issue:

Forum Editorial: Democrats initiated wage bill
The Forum
Published Wednesday, March 07, 2007

Monday’s celebratory photo op for signing a minimum wage bill was among the more bizarre political sideshows to come out of the North Dakota legislative session. Conducted by a Republican governor and Republican lawmakers, the lead participants pretty much soft-pedaled the fact that the original minimum wage bill was a Democrat initiative. Indeed, all the majority Republicans did was amend the bill to say it would not take effect until the federal minimum wage is raised, which Congress is expected to do this year.
The efficacy of government setting wages in a diverse jobs marketplace aside (we think it’s a bad idea for North Dakota), the failure of Republicans to properly acknowledge the primary role of Democratic lawmakers in the wage bill was petty. Oh, a brief mention was made of the Democrats, but it seemed almost an afterthought. And a couple of Democratic legislators and a labor union leader were on hand, but their marginal participation came off as so much window dressing.

The original bill was written by Sen. Tim Mathern, D-Fargo, and Rep. Jasper Schneider, D-Fargo. It was given little chance of passing because the Republican majority historically has been against raising the state’s minimum wage. But Congress changed hands after the November election and the new Democratic majority said it would advance a federal minimum wage hike. President Bush went along and said he would sign a wage bill. Apparently when the Republican president said he would support a higher minimum wage, Republicans in the North Dakota Legislature began to dance to his tune.

If a minimum wage hike was anathema to Republican legislators in the past, why would they think it’s a good idea now – even if the president apparently thinks so? Why did they appropriate what clearly was – and has always been – a Democratic initiative? Free-market, conservative Republicans have no business lining up behind a wage philosophy that contradicts everything they say they believe.

And since the minimum wage hike was a Democratic bill from the start (changed minimally to reflect pending federal legislation), why snub Sen. Mathern and Rep. Schneider? That’s rude and a tad dishonest.

Sometimes politics – even in civil North Dakota – just stinks.

Forum editorials represent the opinion of Forum management and the newspaper’s Editorial Board.

Republican Plagiarism in North Dakota

plagiarism |ˈplājəˌrizəm| noun
the practice of taking someone else's work or ideas and passing them off as one's own.

That describes the republican dominated North Dakota legislature. For years they have completely discounted the democratic minority with arrogance and disdain. The idea that ND Democrats should just be happy their ideas are becoming law even if Republicans have stolen those ideas as their own is completely idiotic. This is just plain unethical! Republicans should be ashamed of themselves. If I were to do this in my university, I would be fired for plagiarism. It's a serious ethical offense.

Read more from the Grand Forks Herald:


VIEWPOINT : Yes, the GOP stole our bills in Bismarck
By Arlo Schmidt and Dorvan Solberg,
Published Thursday, March 01, 2007, Grand Forks Herald


BISMARCK - This is a response to the comments made by Republican leadership in a recent Forum Communications Capitol bureau story, “Cross words at crossover” (Page 4B, Feb. 16).
Republicans acted as if they didn't notice that they had stolen ideas from Democrats. However, it is hard to imagine that Republicans didn't realize they were stealing our ideas. For example, we asked a Republican senator and representative to co-sponsor a bill to keep interest rates down for student loans. They told us they would not sponsor that bill, but then introduced a virtual carbon copy of the bill with several other Republican co-sponsors.

House Majority Leader Rick Berg, R-Fargo, insinuated that it was Democrats' fault for not getting the bills passed. He seemed to indicate that no bill will be passed with a Democrat sponsor because Republicans are in control of both the Senate, the House and the governor's office.

Senate Majority Leader Bob Stenehjem, R-Bismarck, implied that this is just part of the legislative process. But Stenehjem needs to know that stealing ideas, hoghousing bills and dominating public policy is not part of the legislative process. It is bad politics, and it is not going unnoticed.

Berg alluded to the idea that Democrats shouldn't be upset that Republicans are stealing our ideas. He says that Democrats should just be happy to see their ideas brought forward and getting passed - as if he is doing us a favor by stealing our ideas.

We would just like to compare the situation to something Herald readers can identify with. Pretend that you came up with a great idea at your place of employment. Pretend that you go to a co-worker and ask for help in presenting this great idea to your boss.

Now, imagine the audacity that co-worker would need in order, first, to tell you to your face that he can't help you; and then second, to go to the boss and present your idea as his own.

We suspect you would not be very impressed with that co-worker. That is exactly what is happening in the state Legislature and why we are calling foul.

In the North Dakota House of Representatives, Schmidt, a Democrat from Maddock, N.D., represents District 7 and Solberg, a Democrat from Ray, N.D., represents District 2.

Ayaan Hirsi Ali is my hero

Here she is on Real Time with Bill Maher. I was shocked to see Bill come full circle and state Islam has been violent from the beginning. This from a man who once said Mohammed was liberal and tolerant. The difference between Islam and many other religions is that in large part, it has not abandoned the violence that most religions gave up since the 14th century.

Take a look at this clip:

Death to women who won't cover their heads

PZ Myers has a lot to say today about the execution of Pakistan's Minister for Social Welfare in Punjab province. Her crime? She did not cover her head.

The shooter had this to say . .

"I have no regrets. I just obeyed Allah's commandment," he said, adding that Islam did not allow women to hold positions of leadership. "I will kill all those women who do not follow the right path, if I am freed again," he said

I particularly like PZ's commentary about this story . .

Face it, everyone. Religion is not a source of moral behavior. It's a source of tribalism and obedience to authority, which sometimes coincides with respectable morality, but isn't necessarily associated with it. We have to find our virtue in one true thing, our common humanity, and these ancient superstitions actually interfere with instruction in how to be good by encrusting it with nonsense.

Read more from PZ here . . .

Speaking of Islamic Rants - they want you dead

Omar Brooks thinks all non-muslims should be slaughtered.

I am ashamed of my party

As a liberal democrat, I abhor intolerance. So when our party's leaders support individuals and groups that are intolerant, I can't understand it. On Feb. 2, Howard Dean stood next to Imam Husham Al-Husany as the Imam feigned a desire for peace and love and called Americans oppressors. Is Howard so shallow that he does not understand that this Imam is only interested in everyone living under shari'a law? His associations with CAIR and his support of terrorist organizations around the world are ample evidence that he is another Islamic leader who thinks that peace, love and unity can only come if we all follow Muhammed.

Although I don't really care for Sean Hannity's tactics, Imam Al-Husany's rants during his interview with Sean demonstrate how out of touch he really is. It's clear that if anyone criticizes Islamic domination, then they encourage the wrath of Muhammed and Jesus. Incredible! Peace and Love and Understanding . . I don't believe that is what the Imam really wants. He wants the whole world to be like him. And Howard embraces characters like this? Take a listen for yourself:



Oh, and after the DNC address, equally ignorant young democrats blindly supported Howard's choice.



One more reason that RELIGION and GOVERNMENT should forever be separated. This Imam is as nuts as the christians Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, and Fred Phelps!

My party should be better than this.

Pardon me for wondering

Ok, I have to ask. Did anyone else wonder why this story (Russian smuggled nuclear-bomb uranium) that appeared on CNN.com tonight has been kept under wraps since last summer? I usually don't go in for conspiracy theories, but . . is it coincedence that this came out one day after GW's gloom and doom State of the Union address? I mean, the sting happened last summer! The perpetrator has already been arrested, charged and convicted! According to the article:

Details of the investigation, which also involved the FBI and Energy Department, were provided to The Associated Press by U.S. officials and Georgian Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili.

That means the US government released the information by choice today.

This is my speculation, but I think this was released today to bolster Bush's pro-war agenda after his speech. This is an important piece of news. If (when) "nucular" material does get into the hands of terrorists, we are all in trouble. Why wasn't this news reported last summer? Using information that is vital to all of our safety for political agendas is disgraceful.

Man, the last few years have really turned me into a pessimist.

Politics: Dare I say the "I" word?

Yes, I'm talking about IMPEACHMENT. Not a word I throw around lightly. One I thought I would never want to use. But I don't know what else to do with the ignorant arrogant self-appointed dictator that is George Bush. To say he, and he alone, knows what's best for America and the rest of us have no say in the matter just goes too far. Whether or not his troop surge is right or wrong is irrelevant in this discussion. What is relevant is his complete and utter disregard for Congress and the American people who have spoken loudly that he needs to do something else. Maybe his way is right, but he hasn't made the case yet and he can't sit on his throne and simply tell us it is. He and Dick are now saying it is their duty to stomp all over our rights. Yes, we 300,000,000 Americans are too stupid to understand how King George and Prince Dick will save the world. Well, it's time to dethrone them. This is the last straw.

Ok, that being said, I want to ask, WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH THE DEMOCRATS? Where are their plans? We need them to lead, NOW. THIS IS THE TIME! DO IT. George will just keep doing this unless you Dems start doing something smart. Howard went around the country talking about "Tough but Smart". Well, it's January, we have wrestled congress from the clutches of the Republicans. It's time for the Tough and Smart. Please step up to the plate, and do it quick before we're all doomed.