She could take the rag off her head and do her job. Nothing bad would happen (though she would probably claim it was "God's punishment" if she lost.) Then she might realize that there's no reason to wear the thing. This is how change happens. Religion nearly shuts down critical thinking, but sometimes it happens anyway.

Do you know what the Left is? I like NPR, but I certainly don't find the "extreme Left" on there.

Gandhi was facing an opponent usually unwilling to use deadly force. He didn't have any good advice for the Nazis' victims. Sometime in the 1930s, Hitler suggested to Churchill (or somebody else in the British government, yes, I know Churchill wasn't PM yet) that they should kill Gandhi, and then ten of his friends, and then a hundred, and then...

***

China's sex imbalance is one way to bring down the population, though it's not the best way.

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned dysgenics yet. Do I need to explain how it's relevant here? Look at who has litters of children, starting in their teens...

I think jazz is like motorcycle racing: thrilling for participants, but often dull for spectators. That's been my experience, at least. In high school, I played some jazz (at the 11th- and 12th-grade levels,) and it was fun while it lasted. I never listen to any, though, because it says nothing to me about my life. Neither does most of the classic rock that we're all supposed to like.

I'm not a music fan as much as I am a *songs* fan. I grew up actively disliking most kinds of music. I eventually started listening to music because Michael Stipe and Billy Corgan and Morrissey and so many others were singing songs that spoke to me. I could relate to it. I had found guys (and gals) that sounded like me.

I could go on for a while, but I'll just dispute Amerigo's assertions about musical mortality: People break down in tears at rock (not pop) shows because they connect so powerfully with the songs. That sort of thing ought to be immortal... but what did people like me do before the 1970s or thereabouts?

I think I'll use the racing analogy when I speak to my bass guitar teacher tomorrow.

Once again, religion poisons everything.

Why do some people have such a problem with this? I think I can answer my own question: It's due to their own sexual repression. Everything is pornographic to them (for example,) because they're basically sexless themselves.

As somebody noticed, I meant that the writer seems to be one of those sex-negative people who have a problem with anyone having sex for enjoyment. That's how I understood her scornful use of the phrase "recreational sex." I've heard it said that these people are essentially just taking out their repressions and hang-ups on others. Speaking of which, does "shocklin" (or something similar, I can't remember the name) really think that intimacy only exists in marriage? A.k.a. means "also known as," so that's what you're implying.

Nobody here seems to see the possible point of contention, which is the same as the last time around: many people see disease as a deterrent to sex, and would like to keep it that way.

I don't understand why people have pets. Why would you deliberately take a burden like that? I know what the upsides are supposed to be, and to that, let me put it this way: I once spent some wonderful time with a therapy dog. I really liked him, and wish I could have encountered him again. But I'm glad he wasn't my responsibility!

Thanks, Karenn. NAFTA isn't about "free trade" at all. It gives welfare to the rich and free markets to the poor, with disastrous results.

I hope some atheists in and around Harvard bring Sam Harris on the scene. Or perhaps Steven Pinker could come over from MIT. This is ludicrous. So is all this mumbo-jumbo about kosher and halal and whatever. Universities are supposed to be dedicated to education, and, thus, why should they roll over to accomodate idiotic Bronze-Age superstitions? Such nonsense should be challenged and rejected at such a place, not rewarded! New rule at school: You want to learn, great. Step one involves dropping your superstition. It's a prerequisite. If people are behaving inappropriately at the gym, then they should be disciplined like anywhere else on campus. Shame on Harvard.

They certainly should ditch the so-called "Divinity School" and use the buildings and funding for something useful. What a waste. I don't claim to be tolerant, in fact, I espouse Sam Harris's "conversational intolerance." There's no reason that religion should get a free pass, just because it's religion. We shouldn't respect things that are inaccurate, i.e. all religions/spiritualities et cetera. It's completely erroneous and relativistic to call "militant atheism" a superstition, since it's based on facts and evidence, not wishful thinking.

It's interesting that you mention the medieval era. It reminds me of the slogan: "when RELIGION RULED THE world, they called it the DARK AGES."

I stand by my shaming of those at Harvard responsible for kowtowing to all this backwardness.

I'm sure rocker girls search for band names, as well.