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An Atheist Woman's Point Of ViewI am treated as evil by people who claim that they are being oppressed because they are not allowed to force me to practice what they do.- Dale Gulledge
July 25 The waiting is brutalA week and a half ago my life changed forever, but I don't yet know how much. I find myself in a state of limbo as I wait for a phone call... or a letter, I don't even know which one I'll get. Unfortunately with my personality, the more time I have to wait, the more time I spend researching and convincing myself of a worse case scenario.
And boy is that worse case scenario not only horrific, but it looks more and more like it is the more likely scenario. Which of course makes it so much worse in my mind. My friends and family all keep saying the same thing. They want to believe that everything will be fine, and as apparently much smarter people than I am, they are not getting the information about it. Since they don't know the things I know, it's very easy for them to ignore the glaring facts. And it is those facts that indicate things are about to get really really bad.
So who do you talk to about things that every one you know has chosen to ignore? I know I'll find out soon enough, but what about this limbo time? Am I suppose to just bottle up, pretend it's not happening? Pretend I don't know the information that I know? Why do I feel like I have to be strong for everyone else?
Why do I still have to wait?! April 08 NEWSWEEKNEWSWEEK had an awesome article about the declined of religion amongst American's and the rise of the non-religious. This has upset the religious like no other. Unfortuanatly they have disabled and removed all comments from the first article, but there is a second one that is currently active with many comments. I would recommend reading those as well.
It's a shame that a religion that ourtwardly preaches love and understand deep down is so full of venom and hatred that just the mention of a less than glowing recommendation of the Christian religion brings out the worst in some poeple.
Thank god I'm an atheist! January 10 History has been known to repeat itselfMy mom lost her job. She just told me a half an hour ago when I called to tell her happy birthday. She turned 58 today, and she found out yesterday that the plant she has worked at for many many years is closing down. It wasn't a suprise to her at all. Shes seen too many of her co-workers handed a pink slip in the last year that she was just waiting for it to all end. I guess they're announcing it monday, most people don't know yet. My mom only knows because a close friend works in HR.
This is the first time the deteriorating economy has affected my life. I've been hanging onto the notion that this economy thing just had to bounce back soon, I didn't want to believe that the future of this country is so uncertain. I want to hang on to the notion that we got to it in time. That electing Obama was what needed to be done before it's to late. I never considered the possiblity that it might already be too late. I'm still going to hang on to the hope that we didn't miss the boat, but I need to start contemplating the less optimistic possible outcomes.
It makes me wonder, just what could happen, how low can the economy take a country. Is money really everything when it comes to a society? Is money what makes a country a "western" country. Is it possible for America to become a "third world"? Could America break up as the Soviet Union did, resulting in the emrgance of several new countries?
They're scary questions to think about, but they may be vital. What would happen to us if the United States dissolved? How many new countries would emerge? Or would we just be absorbed into existing countries, like canada?
I've been reading the history of the Soviet Union and it's fall, and I have to tell ya, it's sounding very farmilliar, but at the same time, we've suffered the great depression and came back. The will of the people of this great nation is very hard to break. So many people believe in the dream that America represents I don't know if we would allow such a thing to happen.
At least, I hope not. January 08 Update on www.alphainventions.comOk, so posting about the site did increase my traffic. In a 24 hour period I got about 160 hits from there, but whether they are true hits or just when my blog was shown on the screen for the 10 seconds or so they show them, is unclear. So if all I cared about was hits I guess it would be a great site. But since I would have to be posting about them consistantly to acheive that, or pay to have it on there for a while, I'm not going to bother. January 07 What the hell is alphainventions.com?www.alphainventions.com Anyone heard of this site?? Seems to me to be run but some guy with a big head who thinks us bloggers are just attention hogs who will obssessively link to his site in order to get traffic. I checked it out for about 30 seconds, no impressed. Especially since he assumes we're all too stupid to understand how it works and therefor refuses to bother explaining it, even a bit.
But in the name of fairness, I put a link to see what happens. I'll update tomorrow if anything happens, but I'm pretty confident there will be no change in my stats. January 05 The invasion of PalestineIsreal has finally done it. They've gone full force into the Gaza strip with the intention of wiping them off the map. And the timing isn't a coincidence either. With just 15 days before the change over here in America, Isreal believes this is their last chance to do it with the full support of America's government. And their probably right. At least I hope so.
America's support of Isreal has long extended these wars and delayed and even prevented the possibility of peace. Isreal has become a huge bully thanks to our backing. As long as America completely supports Isreal, they have absolutely no incentive to comprimise on a fully two state solution. Why should they? They believe that the whole area should be theres and Palestine shouldn't exist, and they have the muscle to do it. Atleast they do until Jan 20th.
A lot came happen before then, and I believe that Isreal will try to make as much happen before the change over as possible. By the time Obama takes office, Gaza will be nothing more than a smoldering brick mound splattered with the blood of innocent people.
The people of Gaza have suffered so much already. For years their access to even the basic neccessities has been cut off by Isreal. The people are starving and dying while Isreal claims to be protecting it's people. But desperation breeds violence, and the desperation of the citizens of Gaza have to be at the extreme by now. Of course they're going to fight back with what little resources they do have, it's people and it's bombs.
Half the world calls the Palistinians terrorists, while the other believes its Isreal. By my own research (and without requiring a god to determine which is which) I have to say the Isrealies are the terrorists in this matter. And I believe that if they are not stopped, this "holy war" will erupt into the next world war and could devastate this planet.
Before Obama takes office nothing is going to change, that's for sure. But I have to hope that Obama will finally give this country the balls to cut Isreals legs off, to stop it's support of Isreal if they don't immediatly call a cease fire, leave Palistinian lands, and work their ass of for a decent border plan. Otherwise, Isreal is on it's own.
I honestly believe if Isreal is at risk of losing it's backing from America then the incentive to bring peace to the area will prevail over anything they may gain by continuing. Quite simply Isreal can't do any of what it's doing without our support. And taking it away, or atleast the honest threat of it being taken away, is the only thing that will stop the terrorists in the Isreali governement from continueing to slaughter the people of Palestine. January 03 My inbox may appear here! Beware!I don't know exactly how it happened, but somehow I got added to islamic email lists. I don't mean like from terrorists, I get things like purchasing a condo in Dubai, or adding my "products" to islamic websites. I honestly have no clue how it happened, but it doesn't really bother me. They often end up in junkmail, or I glanced at them just to see what I can get in Dubai today.
But today, I got am email from someone showing how the number 11 has been so prominent in everything surrounding sept 11 that it's suppose to prove that "allah" had a hand in it. This was a mass forward, so I decided to reply all with my own statement to everyone who got the email. I've included both the first email and my response below.
From: RAJEN ANADAC (rajen5@live.com)
Subject: FW: The Secret Behind Number 11
The Secret behind the number 11 - Pretty Chilling
If you are a sceptical person - still read on as it's actually very
interesting!! This is actually really freaky!! (Mainly the end part, but read it first) 1) New York City has 11 letters 2) Afghanistan has 11 letters. 3) Ramsin Yuseb has 11 letters. (The terrorist who threatened to destroy the Twin Towers in 1993) 4) George W Bush has 11 letters. This could be a mere coincidence, but this getsinteresting: 1) New York is the 11th state. 2) The first plane crashing against the Twin Towers was flight number 11. 3) Flight 11 was carrying 92 passengers. 9 + 2 = 11 4) Flight 77 which also hit Twin Towers, was carrying 65 passengers. 6+5 = 11 5) The tragedy was on September 11, or 9/11 as it is now known. 9 + 1+ 1 =11 6) The date is equal to the US emergency services telephone number 911. 9 + 1 + 1 = 11 Sheer coincidence..?! Read on and make up your own mind:
1) The total number of victims inside all the hi-jacked planes was 254. 2 + 5 + 4 = 11.
2) September 11 is day number 254 of the calendar year. Again 2 + 5 + 4 = 11. 3) The Madrid bombing took place on 3/11/2004. 3 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 4 = 11. 4) The tragedy of Madrid happened 911 days after the Twin Towers incident. Now this is where things get totally eerie:
The most recognized symbol for the US, after the Stars & Stripes, is the Eagle. The following verse is taken from the Koran, the Islamic holy book:
"For it is written that a son of Arabia would awaken a fearsome Eagle. The wrath of the Eagle would be felt throughout the lands of Allah while some of the people trembled in despairstill more rejoiced: for the wrath of the Eagle cleansed the lands of Allah and there was peace."
That verse is number 9.11 of the Koran. Unconvinced about all of this Still ..?!
Try this and see how you feel afterwards, it made my hair stand on end:
Open Microsoft Word and do the following:
1. Type in capitals Q33 NY. This is the flight number of the first plane to hit one of the Twin Towers. 2. Highlight the Q33 NY. 3. Change the font size to 48. 4. Change the actual font to the WINGDINGS 1 What do you think now?!! From: arletta_q@msn.com
Wow, that's one hell of a coincidence if all the claims are true. But it's still a coincidence.
The superstitions of yesteryear have no place in the world of today, other than to destroy it. At one time the human race may have benifited from religion, as it brought law and order to a population that lacked it. Law and order is essential for the human race to progress. But the human race also desperatly needs compassion. Compassion for it's loved ones, neighbors, and strangers. It is essential to the health of the populace to live and let live, reguardless of their individial beliefs. Religion doesn't allow for that. When a holy book that people put so much stock into calls for the death of those different than oneself, then it creates a society of fear and hatred. A society that tries to kills itself under the premise that it's trying to save it. And I'm not just talking about the koran, not at all. There is just as much death and destruction in the bible as there is in the koran. All religions claim to be superior and claim those who don't believe their version are condemned, and go as far as calling for the death of the non believers, while still claiming to be a religion of peace and love. The god of the bible/koran/torah are all the same, mean, evil being who acts like a spoiled child when he doesn't get his way. He encourages rape, murder, kidnapping, slavery, incest, and numerous other atrocities that today would put him in a catagory all his own of evil. Lucky for us all, he doesn't actually exist. It wasn't the all mighty god who has these evil and hatred beliefs, it was the authors who decided they wanted to write their own religious texts. Their own prejudices were injected into the texts they wrote. Back then people where afraid of anything unknown, and since they lacked even our basic science, anything and everything was unknown. Things they liked were attributed to god, while things they didn't like were attributed to the devil/evil. And of course anyone who didn't believe the same as them was complete evil and deserved to be murdered on the spot. Most religious people believe power comes from the ability to do "magical" things. But real power comes from knowledge. Without knowledge one is just a sheep, a follower, unable to think for themselves and must rely on other's knowledge, or, I should say, others percieved knowledge. If one is ignorant than anyone can lead them on their path with lies and half truths. But those who can think for themselves, those who can find out the truth thru research and not thru someone else's words are the most powerful of all. Think for yourself. Discover how the god of the bible/torah/koran can not possibly exist based on it's own contridictions and lack of actual knowledge of the way the world really works. So I emplore you, before you condemn others and their beliefs, look at your own. Research your own religion. Research older religions and find where most of the stories for your religion came from, as most religions are just a mix of numerous older religions. Find the real truth, not the dispicable hatred filled lies desguised as a loving religion. Throw away the bonds that hold you to a life not worth living and come into the world with a life that's more than worth living, it's worth everything. December 20 Idiot vs IgnorantI often call Bush an idiot. To be fair though, he's real good at making himself appear to be one. But now, I don't think he's an "idiot". I've heard his iq is 125. That's not too bad. Not genius, but definatly not idiot level either. I'm not but a few points higher than Bush myself (damn, that hurts to say) and I'd like to think of myself as intelligent. So then what the hell can explain these last 8 years?
Ignorance. As simple as ignorance. The current president is ignorant of a litany of things. One must have the correct knowledge in order to make a proper decision. Bush has been coddled from the world and brought up under religion. He's been told his whole life that jesus is coming back in his lifetime to take the "rightious" to heaven. He can't be expected to care about global warming if he doesn't see it happening before jesus arrives. He's been told that in order for jesus to come back the temple must be rebuilt on the Temple Mount, where there is currently a mosque and Dome on the Rock, one of the holyest places for muslims. You can't expect Bush to push for a equal and fair resolution in Israel/Palistine. No, because he believes that Israel will win out, because otherwise jesus can't come back. He believes that homosexuals are deviats, that other religions are dangerous, and that atheists are pure evil. He gets these beliefs because he's been given wrong information his whole life, wrong and downright dangerous.
Bush believes he will be considered one of the most important Presidents in history. Why on earth would he think THAT? Because he's still shielded from what the rest of the country, or the world for that matter, thinks and says about him. He's so convinced that he's doing "god's work" that he's able to ignore everything actually going on and justify his actions as the right choice. Those around him feed into his ignorance so they can control him. Knowledge is power, especially if those around you aren't privy to your knowledge. Bush has been so brainwashed by religion that anyone can control him by convincing him that it's really what god wants. We know Chaney figured that one out long ago.
December 10 The christians are out for blood, againWhats the fastest way to piss off a christian? Tell them what their bible really says.
The cover story of this weeks NewsWeek http://www.newsweek.com/id/172653 was a beautiful story written by Lisa Miller, the religion editor of NewsWeek, about gay marriage. Specifically about what the bible really says about marriage and gays and why it should have no effect on gay marriage today. Miller did her research, not just on what the bible says about gays, but took a long hard look at how the bible portrays marriage at all. With the majority of marriages in the bible being polygamous, "traditional marriage" (according to the christian right) is hard to find in the bible.
Well as you can imagine, the christian right has their panties in a bunch. The most popular complaint is that Miller distorted and misunderstood the verses in the bible she mentions. I'm pretty confident that most of those people themselves have no idea what the bible says, they just refuse to believe it really says what she quoted. But the fact of the matter is, as far as I can tell, Miller was pretty spot on. While it may be true that in Leviticus the bible claims that homosexuality is an "abomination" and a death penalty case, it says the same thing about a lot of things. Such as adultery (of the woman, it's apparently ok for the man to do it), divorce, disobeying one's parents, heterosexuals having sex while the woman is on her period, eating shelled fish or pork, false balances, remarring the same woman, a woman wearing pants, bearing false witness, a proud look, lying, diver's weights, scorning others, wearing clothing made of more than one fiber, the list continues.
On the other hand, lets see what is not an abomination. Slavery as long as they are from a different country, sex slaves, polygamy, sex with prostitutes, rape, murder, kidnapping, human sacrifice, genocide, that list continues as well.
These are traditional values? This is what it really means to be a christian? Oh wait, being a christian really means picking and chosing only what you want to agree with and believe and then violently defending those positions while trying to force everyone else abide by your chosen standards.
Yeah, no thanks. |
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