Separation is a must in a democracy:

Separation is a must in a democracy:

Have you considered why church and state don't mix?  let's do that now.

The kind of good government we're all use to enjoying here in the US is called a democracy.  That means the people make the laws through representation - we, the people, are the first and the final word in all decisions of law making.  Churches don't work that way. 

In religion, the final word on everything is left to church elders, scripture, religious laws, Popes and gods (and of the gods... they're only heard from when they're spoken for and interpreted by the priests - ordinary men and women).  It works this way: religions are essentially organized as top-down governments.  Its true.  They're best compared to dictatorships where all the rules are imposed, top down, upon the bottom tier of members, the faithful followers. Those who sit at the top of the heap dictate to the bottom.

Moreover, religion and democracy don't mix for another reason.  Unlike our constitutional government, a representative government which is designed to allow churches to function within its open society, religions are unprepared to reciprocate and do likewise.  Religions are entirely intolerant of the democratic process - they just aren't made for.  Think it over... Are the members of a church given the right to choose what their gods are allowed to demand?  As an example, could they elect to add or subtract specific items from the ten commandments?  Of course not; and it is this kind of basic difference of structure, a difference over who makes the rules, that cause religions to be entirely unsuitable as a partner in democracy.

Give this topic some additional though on your own time, if you will.  And then, please step forward to join the secular society that stands firmly together keeping religion out of government.   

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Pre-Paid Politics:

Pre-Paid Politics:

Since the federal government has now paved he way for corporate America to spend limitless amounts of money to influence our future election results, we'd better start taking a closer look at what corporate America stands for.  Is it profit alone?  It could be.

The following links lead to a three part documentary program that sheds some light on the character of corporations.  Its worth the watch.  Check it out.

Part 1
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-684415688278839051&ei=4xtdS8yLM4uUrALu_IGUDw&q=the+corporation+documentary&hl=en&client=firefox-a#

Part 2
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-684415688278839051&ei=4xtdS8yLM4uUrALu_IGUDw&q=the+corporation+documentary&hl=en&client=firefox-a#docid=-7052046910074531527

Part 3
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-684415688278839051&ei=4xtdS8yLM4uUrALu_IGUDw&q=the+corporation+documentary&hl=en&client=firefox-a#docid=7348963343777979199

 

Opportunity knocks... Let's seize it!

Opportunity knocks... Let's seize it!

First Lady, Michelle Obama, released a message from the White House for all Americans to offer input into the president's search for an appropriate honoree to receive our nation's second highest award for citizenship, the Citizens Medal.  Her question was simple: "Who inspired you?"

For over 40 years, the President of the United States has awarded the Citizens Medal -- the second highest civilian honor in our nation -- to Americans who have "performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens."
Now for the 2010 Citizen's Medal, the White House is opening up the process to include an exciting source of nominations: you.  President Obama is inviting the American public to nominate candidates he should consider for the Presidential Citizens Medal -- truly making this an honor of, by, and for the American people.
Who has inspired you?  Whose selfless dedication to service has touched your life or the lives of others?
Watch the President explain the program in this web video and then nominate an unsung hero from your community...
Who inspired you?

As an atheist and a devoted citizen of my country, and a modern-day patriot, in fact, my thoughts immediately turned to the nation's founding fathers.  But as great as they were, they won't do.  Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Adams and the like, Einstein, Kinsey, Sagan and their kind, and Madeline Murray O'Hare, a truly unsung heroine, are all long gone.  Yet these were people who stood for the America I stand for, a secular America, and consequently my recommendation to President Obama of an appropriate candidate for the nation's Citizens Medal will have to live up to the standard these great people set.

Again, thinking as an atheist and as patriot of our country, I see an opportunity for the atheist community to join together and act as one in making a recommendation.  Consider it... Which living American has been least selfish in their efforts to build a better America, a secular minded America, and a better world for everyone?

I have my own short list.  It begins and ends with Paul kurtz - the man given credit for being the father of Secular Humanism.  What could be more American that that?

Can you agree?  If not, then who? 



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Holy stamps... This is unbelievable!

Holy stamps... This is unbelievable!

Yup... you're seeing it correctly.  That's a US postage stamp and its honoring a famous religious figure, Mother Teresa.

Does that bother you?  It bothers me!

The United States postal service is a government branch and it is subject to all the same church state separation laws set by the US constitution and the law.  Additionally, the post office's own criteria of regulations for choosing appropriate commemorative candidates for honoring on stamps clearly says that it will not print stamps that "honor religious institutions or individuals whose principal achievements are associated with religious undertakings or beliefs." 

What the...?  Did someone at the post office forget how to read or are they to dense to realize that even little kids know Mother Teresa became famous for doing 'Gods work' and that she was  a Roman Catholic nun.  She's even been honored by the Pope, for goodness sakes.  What could be more obvious?

Com'on guys and girls (and I don't mean just the atheists either...)   Isn't it about time for everyone to make some noise and do some complaining over the extraordinary special privileges religions are getting... and all at the cost of the tax payer. 

This is just plain WRONG!

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LOL ... This pure Christian silliness.

LOL ... This pure Christian silliness.

An ABC news article on January 18th 2010 reported that a supplier of military quality weapon targeting telescopes has been inscribing a coded religious message embedded into the model number of every device he has manufactured and sold to the United States government.  The supplier is Trijicon Incorporated of Wixom, Michigan.

Good gosh. How silly is this?

It is not within the US military's policy to purchase items that tout religious slogans or messages and now they are in a quandary over what to do.  A supplier (and one who was likely aware of the government's attitude of religious neutrality) has craftily slipped one past them.  What to do..? What to do..?

I certainly don't understand the quirky Christian habit of inscribing odds and ends religious messages on everything in sight and on everything that can't say "no" or how a Christian might think that doing so will bring them special blessings from their god or from their fellow god-believing buddies.  I guess it all comes down to being some sort of cheap advertising gimmick, like that of the too familiar "Trust Jesus" graffiti found on bathroom walls, overpasses and bridges and back alley garage doors.  We've all come to dislike this sort of thing so much over the past half century but what can be done about it?  When will enough be enough?

I hope the government makes an issue of this case... honestly.  This is just way over-the-top too silly.  

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Those who would be President:

Those who would be President:

Pat Robertson did his best to rally the faithful behind his presidential bid back in 1988 and even beat George Bush Sr in the Iowa Republican caucuses... Holy Cows!

But guess what?  He was just as flaky then as he is today and fortunately a somewhat more reasonable voting public recognized that good ole Pat, even with God in his heart, was a lousy choice to put in the chief executive's seat of the world's only super power nation.  Thank the goodness of reason for that, eh?  The voters made the right choice and this week's comment from Pat Robertson (video) (that Haitians brought on themselves and deserved God's wrath as payment for their sins) should serve as a stark reminder to us all that weeding out flakes and over-the-top wacko presidential hopefuls is a very serious business.

And what's coming down the road that we ought to take a serious Pat Robertson-type look at... hmm?  How about Sarah Palin and Mike Huckabee?

Good gosh! It's Pat all over again.

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Yikes... What a way to start off the new year.

Yikes... What a way to start off the new year.

I'm as sick as a dog with the worst head cold I've had in years (sniff sniff) and all the home remedies I've tried aren't helping.  My nose is running. My head aches. My sinuses are clogged.  My eyes itch like there are fleas biting them... ugh, I'm worn out, pooped out and ready to call it quits.

I guess its time to make a tough decision and call in some professional help.  But who?

Should I send out an SOS to a Christian Science preacher or call Benny Hinn?  Would an Indian medicine man or a Chinese acupuncturist be a better choice?  Or perhaps I ought to just stop a passing truck driver and ask him to run me down in the street.  Gee whiz, it sure is hard to make a good choice when the options don't include a blond haired cheerleader.

I guess I'll figure it all out by morning. 

Would somebody please pass the NiQuil.

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