Letters to the Editor
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The truth about Huckabee
If your someone like Mike Huckabee, who seemingly cannot make the distinction between personal religious belief and secular government then how could I accept that you would be the leader of all Americans, how will the Jew or Catholic or Sikh or Muslim or atheist be assured that you are the leader for them and not just the American President of Evangelical Christians?
You have pretty much nailed it here. Huckabee, like his predecessor Pat Robertson, is not really running for President any more than someone like Al Sharpton was, he is running for the position of top Evangelical Christian rabble-rouser within the party.
The hilarious thing is that this symbolic candidacy has taken on a life of its own and it is beginning to look like he is a contender.
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Sheesh
Is it a surprise that Joseph Smith read Milton and ripped off one of the central ideas of Paradise Lost? He ripped off every other part of the constructed Mormon myth.
I think it's great, though-- a huge theological war in the R ranks about Jesus and the devil because their followers are too ignorant to know about classical literature.
Serves 'em right.
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I don't know a thing about Catholicism, but ...
don't they practice ritualistic cannibalism on a weekly basis?
What do you mean I'm attacking Catholics! If you read the full context of my remarks, you can see that I was trying to say that doctrinal issues are irrelevant to this campaign. Why, even Jews should be allowed to hold public office. So what if they DO have horns?
Sorry, huckster, you're not fooling anyone - least of all those of us who grew up Southern Baptist and know exactly how you and yours feel about religions that are unlike yours. Hey - don't you guys believe that wives should obey their husbands and children should be beaten with rods? Not that that's relevant....
I can't even look at the man without getting the heebie jeebies. If it looks like a preacher, talks like a preacher, and acts like a preacher ... don't elect it!!!
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It is not all bad
Itis not all bad. What is going on now is all part of the political process of weeding out a suitable candidate for president.
Religious fundamentalists are a subculture within this country where the fundamentalist way of thinking tends to be encapsulated and not tested by reality.
Preachers preach to the converted and when they get on TV they sometimes say silly things, then get nailed for it in the secular world, then backtrack, then go out and say the same things again.
In this electoral process, the kind of remarks that score points with devout church congregations sound kind of silly when exposed to secular criticism.
This is all well and good. It provides a living example for young people, first time voters maybe, to see exactly why our ancestors plumped for a secular democracy.
Evangelical voters have been on a bit of a roll in recent years, partly due to the fact that less-educated and elderly voters are scared by the changing world we live in and cannot fathom issues like abortion and gay marriage, which seem to be of particular concern.
However the pendulum is probably now swinging the other way and we should thank people like Romney and Huckerbee for showing us why religion and politics don't and can't mix.
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Tolerance
But do they think Decker's a replicant? Where do they stand on the issue of whether Greedo shot first?
There are problems in this world, problems an American president will have to address. If he starts from the premise that those problems were caused because a talking snake realized women were weak and got the first one to bite a magic apple, then he's not equipping himself to solve those problems.
The idea that we've got two political candidates who get bogged down the the details of a fairy story - that grown men in 2007 are even having the conversation - ought to be funny. It really isn't. It demonstrates that those of us who are tolerant, calm and sensible and make up 99% of the population are in genuine danger from the people who aren't. It demonstrates that our tolerance is not reciprocated, or respected, it's simply ridden over. It's time to stop treating this as a joke and to start treating it as what it is: insanity and extremism.
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@kevmornj
What do we call this period?
The Endarkenment, of course. Clearly they're working against Enlightenment values, so what else is it, but that?
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@Slackie
I was thinking "The Ennightenment." It's more Orwellian.
Or, how about "Global Dimming"?
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How about the
Endumbenment?
As the reference to the Pastafarians - in order to reverse the trends of Endumbenment - from the true words of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (may he wrap you in his noodly tentacles), I present:
The Eight "I'd Really Rather You Didn'ts"
1. I'd really rather you didn't act like a sanctimonious holier-than-thou ass when describing my noodly goodness. If some people don't believe in me, that's okay. Really, I'm not that vain. Besides, this isn't about them so don't change the subject.
2. I'd really rather you didn't use my existence as a means to oppress, subjugate, punish, eviscerate, and/or, you know, be mean to others. I don't require sacrifices, and purity is for drinking water, not people.
3. I'd really rather you didn't judge people for the way they look, or how they dress, or the way they talk, or, well, just play nice, Okay? Oh, and get this into your thick heads: woman = person. man = person. Samey = Samey. One is not better than the other, unless we're talking about fashion and I'm sorry, but I gave that to women and some guys who know the difference between teal and fuchsia.
4. I'd really rather you didn't indulge in conduct that offends yourself, or your willing, consenting partner of legal age AND mental maturity. As for anyone who might object, I think the expression is go fuck yourself, unless they find that offensive in which case they can turn off the TV for once and go for a walk for a change.
5. I'd really rather you didn't challenge the bigoted, misogynistic, hateful ideas of others on an empty stomach. Eat, then go after the bitches.
6. I'd really rather you didn't build multi million-dollar churches/temples/mosques/shrines to my noodly goodness when the money could be better spent (take your pick):
Ending poverty
Curing diseases
Living in peace, loving with passion, and lowering the cost of cable
I might be a complex-carbohydrate omniscient being, but I enjoy the simple things in life. I ought to know. I AM the creator.
7. I'd really rather you didn't go around telling people I talk to you. You're not that interesting. Get over yourself. And I told you to love your fellow man, can't you take a hint?
8. I'd really rather you didn't do unto others as you would have them do unto you if you are into, um, stuff that uses a lot of leather/lubricant/Las Vegas. If the other person is into it, however (pursuant to #4), then have at it, take pictures, and for the love of Mike, wear a CONDOM! Honestly, it's a piece of rubber. If I didn't want it to feel good when you did it I would have added spikes, or something.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gospel_of_the_Flying_Spaghetti_
Monster#The_Eight_.22I.27d_Really_Rather_You_Didn.27ts.22
Pax