Liberals and atheists smarter? Intelligent people have values novel in human evolutionary history, study finds
I'd like it if I could look at this and think it proves something I've been thinking for years but I cant help but think it's skewed a little bit.
Global Warming
Watch this video, it's Bill Nye arguing with a meteorologist about climate change. I love how the meteorologist against climate change is allowed graphics to pop up on screen (some of which dont make sense) and Bill Nye is allowed cardboard slides like a fifth grade book report.
I'm mostly glad that Bill Nye makes the point that I've been thinking for awhile. The world is warming, that's fairly established, whose best interest is in mind by disproving it?
Are global warming skeptics proposing it is not a good thing to limit carbon emissions? Or to do our best to create green energy? I mean whether there is global warming or not, I don't think anyone out there thinks wasteful energy and carbon emissions are a GOOD thing. Do they?
http://www.foxnews.com/search-results/m/29170397/bill-nye-in-no-spin-zone.htm#q=bill+nye
I'm mostly glad that Bill Nye makes the point that I've been thinking for awhile. The world is warming, that's fairly established, whose best interest is in mind by disproving it?
Are global warming skeptics proposing it is not a good thing to limit carbon emissions? Or to do our best to create green energy? I mean whether there is global warming or not, I don't think anyone out there thinks wasteful energy and carbon emissions are a GOOD thing. Do they?
http://www.foxnews.com/search-results/m/29170397/bill-nye-in-no-spin-zone.htm#q=bill+nye
Fear
I've been watching a lot of things, reading a lot of things, and trying to evaluate my own belief system on the world and here's something I've come to find. Behind a lot of nearly all of the things I disagree with in the world I see fear at it's roots. I see a new bill proposed by Jared Polis to end discrimination based on sexual indentity and orientation. The people oppose it do so because they fear it could open into a gay agenda, or open up the definition to widely. They fear what it can do.
People who are unwilling to look at others' belief systems as an actual possibility of truth, because they fear it will shake their own beliefs, or they fear what it would mean if that other person is truly more right.
People whose reason for wanting less gun control is that they fear that they will have to defend themselves from a government takeover. (I think we should be able to have guns I just disagree with the reasoning)
People who decide to invade other countries because they fear what that country may be planning to do to ours.
Christian Bale said something in an interview with GQ that I think is very admirable. Think what you will about Christian Bale, but I think what he had to say was interesting and very admirable. Here's the question, and his answer taken from the GQ website.
So……outside of your roles, do you have a history of putting yourself in situations where you have to test yourself physically or even court danger?
Definitely. Though the one that stands out to me wasn't physically demanding or dangerous. One of the places where we lived when I was growing up had this big wood out the back. And starting when I was about 8, I used to enjoy just walking alone through the wood late. Eleven p.m. Midnight. Later. Deep into the woods. It was terrifying. And I wasn't allowed to look behind me, no matter what noises I heard. That was the point. That thing. The fear. To go into some deep place, a well of fear, that you've never been to before and that you didn't know the way out of. Not looking behind, not turning around, just going deeper and deeper into those woods. I always enjoyed that.
I think that is extremely admirable. Fear should be eliminated, and the best way to do that is to tread on in the face of it, and to understand it.
If you ever are having a difficult time making a decision, or are questioning an aspect of your life. Look closely to see if it is fear holding you back. Fear should never hold you back.
People who are unwilling to look at others' belief systems as an actual possibility of truth, because they fear it will shake their own beliefs, or they fear what it would mean if that other person is truly more right.
People whose reason for wanting less gun control is that they fear that they will have to defend themselves from a government takeover. (I think we should be able to have guns I just disagree with the reasoning)
People who decide to invade other countries because they fear what that country may be planning to do to ours.
Christian Bale said something in an interview with GQ that I think is very admirable. Think what you will about Christian Bale, but I think what he had to say was interesting and very admirable. Here's the question, and his answer taken from the GQ website.
So……outside of your roles, do you have a history of putting yourself in situations where you have to test yourself physically or even court danger?
Definitely. Though the one that stands out to me wasn't physically demanding or dangerous. One of the places where we lived when I was growing up had this big wood out the back. And starting when I was about 8, I used to enjoy just walking alone through the wood late. Eleven p.m. Midnight. Later. Deep into the woods. It was terrifying. And I wasn't allowed to look behind me, no matter what noises I heard. That was the point. That thing. The fear. To go into some deep place, a well of fear, that you've never been to before and that you didn't know the way out of. Not looking behind, not turning around, just going deeper and deeper into those woods. I always enjoyed that.
I think that is extremely admirable. Fear should be eliminated, and the best way to do that is to tread on in the face of it, and to understand it.
If you ever are having a difficult time making a decision, or are questioning an aspect of your life. Look closely to see if it is fear holding you back. Fear should never hold you back.
Daily Show
I always find myself wanting to post clips from the Daily Show that are completely hilarious, but I realize it is on nearly a daily basis.
So I am simply going to say, that show should be required viewing for anyone with even a mild interest in political goings ons and a sense of humor.
Today's bit about Glenn Beck cursing republicans for tax and spend, and then talking about how he studied at the "free" library is just hilarious.
So I am simply going to say, that show should be required viewing for anyone with even a mild interest in political goings ons and a sense of humor.
Today's bit about Glenn Beck cursing republicans for tax and spend, and then talking about how he studied at the "free" library is just hilarious.
Take Your Time Coming Home
Dear Everyone Who Loves Me,
I love you too! I woke up on the right side of the bed today and started the day of with some good tunes to put me in an effusively good mood, one of those moods where you want to be almost aggressively happy. I’ve been out here in Seattle for nearly 2 months now and an honest fear I think everyone has is that when they are away no one will miss them. I have been getting calls from family, and friends throughout the two months who just want to talk, or share their problems, or ask me about mine. I love the text messages I get at 2 in the morning from a drunk friend that says I miss you. I love being able to call up my family and share my experiences and hear about theirs. I love the honest feeling I have of missing people because it all let’s me know that there are a lot of people out there, more than I knew, that love me and that I love back. So if you’re one of those people, and you know who you are, thank you for loving me and missing me, it really helps me re-evaluate my self worth. I love you too, and can’t wait to see you all again.
Also, if you want a slice of my good-vibe pie, I’m more than willing to share it, just let me know and I’ll send a slice your way.
Love, Bryce
I love you too! I woke up on the right side of the bed today and started the day of with some good tunes to put me in an effusively good mood, one of those moods where you want to be almost aggressively happy. I’ve been out here in Seattle for nearly 2 months now and an honest fear I think everyone has is that when they are away no one will miss them. I have been getting calls from family, and friends throughout the two months who just want to talk, or share their problems, or ask me about mine. I love the text messages I get at 2 in the morning from a drunk friend that says I miss you. I love being able to call up my family and share my experiences and hear about theirs. I love the honest feeling I have of missing people because it all let’s me know that there are a lot of people out there, more than I knew, that love me and that I love back. So if you’re one of those people, and you know who you are, thank you for loving me and missing me, it really helps me re-evaluate my self worth. I love you too, and can’t wait to see you all again.
Also, if you want a slice of my good-vibe pie, I’m more than willing to share it, just let me know and I’ll send a slice your way.
Love, Bryce
Tales
I went to a party last night in Downtown seattle, they had this sweet rooftop veranda thing you could go out onto, it was super badass. Here's a panorama I took with my sweet sweet iPhone
ON my way there I watched a young hip skater alterna girl all dolled up in black scratch "You are 1 of THEM" on the back of a bus seat. It made me mad. I went into an internal rant about tax dollars and public services and no respect.
The part was ok, then we went back to Seattle University dorms and drank wine. I ate a habanero. It was hot. I also found out that my roommate's girlfriends works at the Seattle University equivalent of Telefund and got super excited. Hopefully I am going to get to hang out there someday and see how they do things.
My roommate and I bussed it back, not arriving til about 4 AM. We got on this one bus and didnt have exact change but the bus driver goes, "just get on the bus, see those two guys there? They have a gun and they deal drugs on the back of the bus, just get on the bus" As we drove off we saw two dudes who had missed the bus at the bus stop. Apparently they are drug dealers, with a gun.
That's all I got for now.
No wait. I watched Glen Beck and CPAC. They are idiots. All of them. They curse democrats for "tax and spend" and all along I thought we were paying taxes, so that the government had money to spend on services...
 |
| From Panorama |
ON my way there I watched a young hip skater alterna girl all dolled up in black scratch "You are 1 of THEM" on the back of a bus seat. It made me mad. I went into an internal rant about tax dollars and public services and no respect.
The part was ok, then we went back to Seattle University dorms and drank wine. I ate a habanero. It was hot. I also found out that my roommate's girlfriends works at the Seattle University equivalent of Telefund and got super excited. Hopefully I am going to get to hang out there someday and see how they do things.
My roommate and I bussed it back, not arriving til about 4 AM. We got on this one bus and didnt have exact change but the bus driver goes, "just get on the bus, see those two guys there? They have a gun and they deal drugs on the back of the bus, just get on the bus" As we drove off we saw two dudes who had missed the bus at the bus stop. Apparently they are drug dealers, with a gun.
That's all I got for now.
No wait. I watched Glen Beck and CPAC. They are idiots. All of them. They curse democrats for "tax and spend" and all along I thought we were paying taxes, so that the government had money to spend on services...
The best solution, really, is just to murder babies
-I wrote this last night in a frenzy, posted it, and then reread it. It totally made no sense and sentences didnt even match up, so I took it down and fixed some things. Are all my blogs like that? Maybe I should read through them more often before posting them.
So I’ve got a mind that talks shit to itself. It thinks too much, and occasionally brings up a rather disturbing topic, and then gets itself to thinking that following the rabbit down the rabbit-hole is a good idea, that I should be a brave mind-explorer, and not back down from what could be a good adventure no matter how dark and scary it seem. But then the other part of my mind goes, “Woah now Bryce, that just seems too dark, I am sure you will explore the thought, flesh it out, and in the end only give yourself more reasons to be depressed”
Finally the brave explorer side of my brain chimes in and goes, “ Damnit Bryce, quit being such a pussy” Now, I don’t like it when my own mind calls me out on being a huge bitch, so of course, I chase after that little rabbit of an idea and end up with things like I do now. Damnit.
So to start this off, I smoked cigarettes for a while (sorry mom and dad) but it was a relatively short few months and I no longer do it. It is quite the nasty habit, and I the best option is never starting. I’ll tell you why, but that’s not the main idea of this blog.
So smoking, which I wish I had never started, helped me to understand addiction. I now watch those intervention documentaries, and while I am sure I cannot fathom what an addiction to heroin is like, I at least no longer think to myself, “what pussies, not being able to quit, just stop doing it, it’s as simple as that” An addiction is your body convincing you that you need something, like food or air. It’s introducing a new need to your body that it never had before. Addicts aren’t addicted to the feeling, the buzz of the cigarette of the high of other drugs, they are addicted to something else in there. So now throughout the day addicts not only get hungry, thirsty, or out of breath, they also get the need for a cigarette in the same way. So in many ways quitting smoking is like fasting. It’s hard. You don’t get sick, or headaches, or anything of that sort, there’s just this need in you that nothing else can satisfy. There are substitutes that can distract from parts of it, but that satisfaction is still never met, that itch is never scratched. It also seems a permanent thing. I haven’t smoked in nearly a month, and didn’t smoke for much longer than that, but still, whenever I see someone with a cigarette, or a have a stressful situation I get this need that can only be satisfied with a cigarette. So all starting smoking does, is add another need, it’s making living more difficult. If someone told you, you can either go through living needing food and water, or you can go through needing food, water, heat, 7 hours of sleep and 3 other things. I’d pick just the food and water. Moral of the story: Don’t start smoking.
Anyway, having an addiction to something almost irrefutably unhealthy made me think about what other things in life I have dependcy for and I got to thinking about all those belief systems, those ascetics, that encourage one to strip themselves of their belongings, because in reality I don’t need clothes, I’m just addicted to them. I don’t need fancy food, I’m just addicted to it. I know when I am stressed out sometimes I eat really tasty food, it’s merely satisfying an addiction. So these people shed themselves of everything, they can live without. They even sometimes take it a step further and shed the relationships they treasure, because I’m sure those are just addictions as well. We don’t really need any of those things.
So to take step further I got to thinking that in all reality life could just be the ultimate addiction of our mind. One thing I learned about addiction is that when I was trying to quit smoking my mind would play all sorts of tricks trying to convince me that cigarette smoking was actually a beneficial and good thing. Your addiction tries to convince you first that it’s not there, and then that it is there, but it’s a good thing to have. I don’t kid about this in the slightest bit. I came extremely close to buying another pack on several occasions because of my mind’s tricks. On one occasion I was planning to stay in even though I had been invited to go drinking on the town, but because I was trying to quit my mind convinced me that it should go out, and then while I was out, and slightly intoxicated, it tricked me into bumming a cigarette off of someone. I wasn’t aware that it had gone on until really thinking about it the next day.
So, let’s just say all the things we see in life as good, and the things we enjoy in life are really just our addiction manifesting itself. If life truly is the ultimate addiction of our mind then I am sure the tricks our minds play to convince ourselves that it is actually good are much trickier than a simple nicotine addiction, especially since this has been going on for centuries. Our minds have been stacking bullcrap (thanks Neil) for thousands of years, convincing us that our addiction to life and all this is within it is a good thing.
If you think about one of life’s ultimate addictions, -sex, -procreation it makes one think. The mind is addicted to life, and through that addiction creates more of the substance it is addicted to. Life could really just be the ultimate addict, so convinced that it’s addiction is a positive thing that life of all forms has reproduced and swarmed over the entire planet, feeding it’s addiction. We view life as beautiful and resilient, but if that’s truly just a virus-like addiction, or a devil’s plot convincing us to stay alive by forming an addiction and so convincing us that this life addiction is a positive force in the world, then it seems far more sinister.
If this is truly how things are, the truly cold turkey quitter would off himself on the spot. So in this sense life and death are really battling, death will always get the person in the end, but if the person dies, and always deep down had fond memories of life and all it entailed, death hasn’t truly won. A total win for death is someone entering death completely reviling all that life entails, and 100% believing that death is a better option. A 100% win in this situation cannot happen for life because all people will die. The best life can do is make the win less satisfying for death.
So the thing is that most of these beliefs that propose we strip ourselves of all of our addictions to life propose that we do so because that way we can enter death, with no attachment or addictions to this world, making death win entirely. So if the ultimate goal in this situation, assuming these Ascetics are correct, is to enter death with no attachments to this world, maybe those folks who walk around hating life from day to day will really be the kings of death, far more prepared for it than the rest of us who take enjoyment. The easiest solution seems it would just be to kill every newborn child before it has a chance to open it’s eyes. That way the baby won’t have time to form any attachments or addictions. Actually, to take it a step further, people should not procreate, because even in the womb babies from addictions. The solution really seems to be complete and total genocide of all living species. Nuclear holocaust? Maybe Saturn, Mars, Pluto and all the other lifeless space entities are really far ahead of us in this sense. At least if we eliminate all of life, life and death cannot use us as pawns in this sick battle.
WELL SHIT, but here’s the thing, following all of this. If death is inevitable, and you cannot really die if you have never been alive, both are inevitable, life and death. Maybe it is incorrect to view them as opposing one another, as battling for wins over human souls but as two separate inevitabilities. I will live, and then I will die. I will live my hardest, so that when I die, I will be well trained for the afterlife. Whether or not the training I will receive in life will come in handy at all in the afterlife, chances are it’s better than having no training in any art, coming into death skill-less. Then again, maybe weakness is strength, and ignorance intelligence in death. Death is just bizarro-land and any training we have for life will really just hinder us in death, actually proving to be a practice in weakness.
But then again maybe death is just the end of life and we are silly to think that there has to be something more, I mean we thought it up, right?
Maybe we shouldn’t think too much about it, but then again maybe that’s our addiction telling us that we shouldn’t investigate, because then we would discover the addiction. Heck people thought cigarettes were great, then when we discovered it was bad and addictive we tried to wipe it out.
Idunno man
So I’ve got a mind that talks shit to itself. It thinks too much, and occasionally brings up a rather disturbing topic, and then gets itself to thinking that following the rabbit down the rabbit-hole is a good idea, that I should be a brave mind-explorer, and not back down from what could be a good adventure no matter how dark and scary it seem. But then the other part of my mind goes, “Woah now Bryce, that just seems too dark, I am sure you will explore the thought, flesh it out, and in the end only give yourself more reasons to be depressed”
Finally the brave explorer side of my brain chimes in and goes, “ Damnit Bryce, quit being such a pussy” Now, I don’t like it when my own mind calls me out on being a huge bitch, so of course, I chase after that little rabbit of an idea and end up with things like I do now. Damnit.
So to start this off, I smoked cigarettes for a while (sorry mom and dad) but it was a relatively short few months and I no longer do it. It is quite the nasty habit, and I the best option is never starting. I’ll tell you why, but that’s not the main idea of this blog.
So smoking, which I wish I had never started, helped me to understand addiction. I now watch those intervention documentaries, and while I am sure I cannot fathom what an addiction to heroin is like, I at least no longer think to myself, “what pussies, not being able to quit, just stop doing it, it’s as simple as that” An addiction is your body convincing you that you need something, like food or air. It’s introducing a new need to your body that it never had before. Addicts aren’t addicted to the feeling, the buzz of the cigarette of the high of other drugs, they are addicted to something else in there. So now throughout the day addicts not only get hungry, thirsty, or out of breath, they also get the need for a cigarette in the same way. So in many ways quitting smoking is like fasting. It’s hard. You don’t get sick, or headaches, or anything of that sort, there’s just this need in you that nothing else can satisfy. There are substitutes that can distract from parts of it, but that satisfaction is still never met, that itch is never scratched. It also seems a permanent thing. I haven’t smoked in nearly a month, and didn’t smoke for much longer than that, but still, whenever I see someone with a cigarette, or a have a stressful situation I get this need that can only be satisfied with a cigarette. So all starting smoking does, is add another need, it’s making living more difficult. If someone told you, you can either go through living needing food and water, or you can go through needing food, water, heat, 7 hours of sleep and 3 other things. I’d pick just the food and water. Moral of the story: Don’t start smoking.
Anyway, having an addiction to something almost irrefutably unhealthy made me think about what other things in life I have dependcy for and I got to thinking about all those belief systems, those ascetics, that encourage one to strip themselves of their belongings, because in reality I don’t need clothes, I’m just addicted to them. I don’t need fancy food, I’m just addicted to it. I know when I am stressed out sometimes I eat really tasty food, it’s merely satisfying an addiction. So these people shed themselves of everything, they can live without. They even sometimes take it a step further and shed the relationships they treasure, because I’m sure those are just addictions as well. We don’t really need any of those things.
So to take step further I got to thinking that in all reality life could just be the ultimate addiction of our mind. One thing I learned about addiction is that when I was trying to quit smoking my mind would play all sorts of tricks trying to convince me that cigarette smoking was actually a beneficial and good thing. Your addiction tries to convince you first that it’s not there, and then that it is there, but it’s a good thing to have. I don’t kid about this in the slightest bit. I came extremely close to buying another pack on several occasions because of my mind’s tricks. On one occasion I was planning to stay in even though I had been invited to go drinking on the town, but because I was trying to quit my mind convinced me that it should go out, and then while I was out, and slightly intoxicated, it tricked me into bumming a cigarette off of someone. I wasn’t aware that it had gone on until really thinking about it the next day.
So, let’s just say all the things we see in life as good, and the things we enjoy in life are really just our addiction manifesting itself. If life truly is the ultimate addiction of our mind then I am sure the tricks our minds play to convince ourselves that it is actually good are much trickier than a simple nicotine addiction, especially since this has been going on for centuries. Our minds have been stacking bullcrap (thanks Neil) for thousands of years, convincing us that our addiction to life and all this is within it is a good thing.
If you think about one of life’s ultimate addictions, -sex, -procreation it makes one think. The mind is addicted to life, and through that addiction creates more of the substance it is addicted to. Life could really just be the ultimate addict, so convinced that it’s addiction is a positive thing that life of all forms has reproduced and swarmed over the entire planet, feeding it’s addiction. We view life as beautiful and resilient, but if that’s truly just a virus-like addiction, or a devil’s plot convincing us to stay alive by forming an addiction and so convincing us that this life addiction is a positive force in the world, then it seems far more sinister.
If this is truly how things are, the truly cold turkey quitter would off himself on the spot. So in this sense life and death are really battling, death will always get the person in the end, but if the person dies, and always deep down had fond memories of life and all it entailed, death hasn’t truly won. A total win for death is someone entering death completely reviling all that life entails, and 100% believing that death is a better option. A 100% win in this situation cannot happen for life because all people will die. The best life can do is make the win less satisfying for death.
So the thing is that most of these beliefs that propose we strip ourselves of all of our addictions to life propose that we do so because that way we can enter death, with no attachment or addictions to this world, making death win entirely. So if the ultimate goal in this situation, assuming these Ascetics are correct, is to enter death with no attachments to this world, maybe those folks who walk around hating life from day to day will really be the kings of death, far more prepared for it than the rest of us who take enjoyment. The easiest solution seems it would just be to kill every newborn child before it has a chance to open it’s eyes. That way the baby won’t have time to form any attachments or addictions. Actually, to take it a step further, people should not procreate, because even in the womb babies from addictions. The solution really seems to be complete and total genocide of all living species. Nuclear holocaust? Maybe Saturn, Mars, Pluto and all the other lifeless space entities are really far ahead of us in this sense. At least if we eliminate all of life, life and death cannot use us as pawns in this sick battle.
WELL SHIT, but here’s the thing, following all of this. If death is inevitable, and you cannot really die if you have never been alive, both are inevitable, life and death. Maybe it is incorrect to view them as opposing one another, as battling for wins over human souls but as two separate inevitabilities. I will live, and then I will die. I will live my hardest, so that when I die, I will be well trained for the afterlife. Whether or not the training I will receive in life will come in handy at all in the afterlife, chances are it’s better than having no training in any art, coming into death skill-less. Then again, maybe weakness is strength, and ignorance intelligence in death. Death is just bizarro-land and any training we have for life will really just hinder us in death, actually proving to be a practice in weakness.
But then again maybe death is just the end of life and we are silly to think that there has to be something more, I mean we thought it up, right?
Maybe we shouldn’t think too much about it, but then again maybe that’s our addiction telling us that we shouldn’t investigate, because then we would discover the addiction. Heck people thought cigarettes were great, then when we discovered it was bad and addictive we tried to wipe it out.
Idunno man
Seatte is very Horn-ey
I think in my entire time being alive and living in Iowa I have been honked at while driving possibly twice, and in both occasions the honk served to warn me that soon my car would violently collide with someone else's unless I slammed on the brakes. In my time in Seattle I have been honked at, given sarcastic thumbs-ups, been flipped off and been honked at some more. Now, I'll let you know that if you live in Iowa, and drive to Seattle, you will be in the top 1% driving skill wise. Seattle drivers don't even deserve the title driver. Someone just gave them cars and screamed, "do what you will!"
So this morning I'm driving to work, sun is shining, I'm singing a long to a song about pretty girls by the band fun.. (Do I need the second period?) Nothing seems better, I am in great spirits, and by golly, the band's name is fun.. So as I merge off the highway in an entirely legal and nobody-inconveniencing-in-the-slightest-way sort of way but some guy in a blue car has to slam on his horn, and pass me with a big mocking thumbs up out the window. Sure he feels better for letting out some of his pent up rage, but he has certainly soured my spirits in an unnecessary way. I'm a dweller so now all my thoughts of pleasantries and sunny skies have reverted to hating Seattle once again. YOU KNOW WHAT GUY? Today I refuse to hate you Seattle, you are beautiful today and I intend to enjoy it.
The other day, I am at a stop sign, hoping to cross the road, and see a car coming in the perpendicular road, I have plenty of time so I choose to go, this woman doesn't have to slow down, alter her driving pattern or even sweat it, she is not going to come within 100 yards of hitting me. she honks, loud.
I'm just guessing here, but my assumption is that the manufacturer's intention with the horn is to allow drivers to warn other drivers of impending doom, not to passive aggressively express rage.
Another quick thing. Leash laws. I think they're legit. I know when I'm running, and some bigass dog comes walking by with no owner in sight I think to myself "Oh crap, I'm about to get bit and have to fight off a dog" The owner comes up from behind a few hundred feet back and now my thought is "oh good, at least know when I get bit, he can help me fight the dog off" It's not that big of a deal folks. I've seen it too many times, my neighbors dog was mostly nice, but sometimes something would trigger it and he'd bite. After about 3 times they had to put him down. Easily prevented by keeping the dog on a leash. Just put the dog on a leash, a small sacrifice for a little added safety, no matter how nice your dog is.
Also, I love pastries. Muffins are my favorite, but donuts are right up there, and cake. Top Pot donuts out here in Seattle, you would be the death of me were you not a drive away. Seriously, you bake it, I'll eat it. If there were to be a heaven, it would be me, in a big comfy recliner, just stuffing my face with various pastries, never filling, unless I needed a break, and never getting obese. AHHHHH WHAT A LIFE.
So this morning I'm driving to work, sun is shining, I'm singing a long to a song about pretty girls by the band fun.. (Do I need the second period?) Nothing seems better, I am in great spirits, and by golly, the band's name is fun.. So as I merge off the highway in an entirely legal and nobody-inconveniencing-in-the-slightest-way sort of way but some guy in a blue car has to slam on his horn, and pass me with a big mocking thumbs up out the window. Sure he feels better for letting out some of his pent up rage, but he has certainly soured my spirits in an unnecessary way. I'm a dweller so now all my thoughts of pleasantries and sunny skies have reverted to hating Seattle once again. YOU KNOW WHAT GUY? Today I refuse to hate you Seattle, you are beautiful today and I intend to enjoy it.
The other day, I am at a stop sign, hoping to cross the road, and see a car coming in the perpendicular road, I have plenty of time so I choose to go, this woman doesn't have to slow down, alter her driving pattern or even sweat it, she is not going to come within 100 yards of hitting me. she honks, loud.
I'm just guessing here, but my assumption is that the manufacturer's intention with the horn is to allow drivers to warn other drivers of impending doom, not to passive aggressively express rage.
Another quick thing. Leash laws. I think they're legit. I know when I'm running, and some bigass dog comes walking by with no owner in sight I think to myself "Oh crap, I'm about to get bit and have to fight off a dog" The owner comes up from behind a few hundred feet back and now my thought is "oh good, at least know when I get bit, he can help me fight the dog off" It's not that big of a deal folks. I've seen it too many times, my neighbors dog was mostly nice, but sometimes something would trigger it and he'd bite. After about 3 times they had to put him down. Easily prevented by keeping the dog on a leash. Just put the dog on a leash, a small sacrifice for a little added safety, no matter how nice your dog is.
Also, I love pastries. Muffins are my favorite, but donuts are right up there, and cake. Top Pot donuts out here in Seattle, you would be the death of me were you not a drive away. Seriously, you bake it, I'll eat it. If there were to be a heaven, it would be me, in a big comfy recliner, just stuffing my face with various pastries, never filling, unless I needed a break, and never getting obese. AHHHHH WHAT A LIFE.
Things
SO I read an article about the Tea Party today, which if you ask me is getting scarier and scarier (the article) To completely generalize it, but I think accurately, it's a bunch of uneducated ignorant white religious zealots wanting someone to be angry and violent towards. The article is very very biased against the Tea party, doing it's best to point out how ignorant the majority of them are. But still. Tea party is scary, anybody who threatens violent revolution in relatively moderate times is frightening. I mean in times of Hitler murdering thousands of a race, yeah, probably a good idea to rise up. But in terms of a President doing possibly questionable things in order to attempt to help the vast majority of American people in a more transparent way than any president before him? I don't know about that. Moral of the story, Tea Party scary, worried to see how they progress.
Second topic. Wasteful science. So I love when I hear of some break through piece of science that further understands the human genome, or takes a step towards curing a disease, or making a more fuel efficient energy source. I think to myself, AHH what a good day to be a part of humanity. Then sometimes I go on CNN and see a new study that says, "Malaria is probably what killed King Tut, yup, we've spent thousands researching this. We finally know what killed this king thooouuussands of years ago" and I'm like, "God Damnit" Why would anybody spend their time researching that. I mean researching fossils and dinosaurs or human ancestors or the history of the cosmos is one thing, but something as specific, non-relevant and who-caresey as what killed King Tut, Why do people waste the time?
No more topics. Actually quick third topic. I like First Lady Obama's keep kids fit movement, I do not like people who appear on the news criticizing her, claiming she is going to make fat kids feel self conscious, when she has said several times that it's not about body image but health. Dude just wanted to promote his book, what a stooge. Also, I believe, or at least have heard rumblings, that there is a legitimate connection between obesity and poor health. hmmmmmm.
Second topic. Wasteful science. So I love when I hear of some break through piece of science that further understands the human genome, or takes a step towards curing a disease, or making a more fuel efficient energy source. I think to myself, AHH what a good day to be a part of humanity. Then sometimes I go on CNN and see a new study that says, "Malaria is probably what killed King Tut, yup, we've spent thousands researching this. We finally know what killed this king thooouuussands of years ago" and I'm like, "God Damnit" Why would anybody spend their time researching that. I mean researching fossils and dinosaurs or human ancestors or the history of the cosmos is one thing, but something as specific, non-relevant and who-caresey as what killed King Tut, Why do people waste the time?
No more topics. Actually quick third topic. I like First Lady Obama's keep kids fit movement, I do not like people who appear on the news criticizing her, claiming she is going to make fat kids feel self conscious, when she has said several times that it's not about body image but health. Dude just wanted to promote his book, what a stooge. Also, I believe, or at least have heard rumblings, that there is a legitimate connection between obesity and poor health. hmmmmmm.
OH SEATTLE
So I am in the University of Washington's library right now. I feel like an outlaw. Although I was thinking today, it should totally be ok that I'm here. Aren't all centers of research and knowledge allied in the fight for knowledge? I figure as a student of another state university I have the right to use their internet and quiet study areas. Wouldn't it be cool if that was like a real thing? All universities united, students welcome at any of the campuses? Maybe it is? I don't know, but this library and campus sure are more grandiose than the University of Iowa's. I have to say I'm jealous.
How I came to be here is a slightly different story. I been readin' and writin' and trying to get all smart in my time out here so I went out to a a coffee shop to get a cup and some quiet. The first one I went to was called Sureshot: Coffee and Pinball. There is no pinball. It was fairly nice, they played music a little too loud but that didn't bother me too much. I did overhear two people behind me talking about how a female friend of theirs nearly overdosed this weekend because different people kept shooting her up with heroin, so that's...uh...neat. I listened to them for awhile, then occasionally watched this other guy writing on his laptop in front of me, who would occasionally tweak out, and was bobbing his head to a rhythm other than that of the song playing, and then I turned around to see a wiry fellow with thin facial hair just sitting and staring ahead. I went back to my work, turned around about a half hour later and realized this guy was still just sitting there staring ahead. HMMMMM. Quite a bit of character I tell ya. I was done with my brew and needed some grub so I headed out, not exactly sad to be heading towards a new location.
I went and got me a burrito, then walked down towards the water to eat it. There was nothing down there, but the burrito wasn't bad. There were all sorts of people who seemed to not realize that the 90s were over, and that Kurt Cobain is no longer singing with Nirvana, smoking cigarettes and basically darkening good space with their dyed black long hair, beards, and leather jackets. Cool.
I went back to a different coffee house I thought looked nice, and it was. Lots of space indoors and a nice little deck outdoors to read and study on. I got me a coffee, prepared for me by an extremely cute barista. She complimented my drink, then we talked about muffins. OH YEAH! Then I went to sit outside. It was nice...for awhile. The table of young U-Wash students was studying diligently, and I sat reading the Qur'an (yup) until another, just getting off a workout arrived. Then loud talking began. I am not good at zoning out of these things, and tend to listen, I can't help it. It was like an episode of the hills. Who hooked up with who, what they were wearing to the upcoming party, what they thought of this couple, and so on. I didn't appreciate it, but I am sure I'm guilty of doing that with my friends from time to time to, so no big, I just did my best to zone it out. THEN, reminder I am on an outdoor balcony thing, this guy come up across the street, sidles up to the corner with his guitar, and just starts belting out tunes. He's not singing nicely to the passerbys, he he BELTING tunes for the entire downtown area to hear. His tunes were cute, and mostly based around how much Seattle sucks, which I was glad to hear, but MAN he was loud.I couldn't put out him and the others at the same time, I had to go inside, BUT there were no seats inside, SO I decided to go all outlaw to the U-Wash library, which I haven't regretted for a moment.
BUT, I think I am learning something more about Seattle. It is very liberal, very alternative. COOL, good for it. BUT I have been noticing something that may be at the root of the tension I see in every Seattleite. There's this guy belting out tunes in the street, real cute, alternative and fun BUT extremely inconsiderate at all the people outdoors just trying to have nice conversations or read. Yet, the people at the table say things like, "oh how nice" or "I like it" but then go on to insult the person doing it, apparently they know him. Also, I'm at Barnes and Noble the other day, and theres all sorts of people just laying down in the stacks reading books. As you pass by trying to find your book to purchase, they lightly move their feet, but still, they are in a store, lying on the floor, reading a book they haven't bought. Not just one or two either, many many many. People pass them by and look at them like "oh how cute and alternative of them, they're doing something different and unconventional, good for them" This is everywhere. There seems to be a mentality that nonconvention is intrinsically good and shouldn't be interfered with. I think at the heart of these people they are extremely annoyed that everyone has some crazy hairstyle or fashion sense, or lays down in aisles of stores, or belts out songs inconsiderately loud in the streets, or does things in other non-sensical ways. YET, something about them being a Seattleite makes them think, yes this should be cherished and nurtured, different is good. These two things are at tension with one another.
It's like this, (purely hypothetical situation) I walk down the street and see someone with a tattoo saying "praise" on their forehead, they are wearing leopard skin tights, a black leather jacket, a bright red silk shirt and a mohawk.
I walk by them and think to myself, "wow you look like a jackass" but then I remember, hey, he's just expressing himself, I'm sure that ridiculous outfit has a lot to say about who he is and is a very important of defining who he is as a person. Yet, there is still that part of me that's like, "seriously though, you look like a jackass" This creates a tension. If I had to live with that for years and years I think I'd go crazy. I think that's what Seattle's problem is. It prides itself on the alternative, but it secretly burdens them on the inside and they can't exactly place why there is such a pride in it, because they know deep down they want to ask that guy at the corner to just sing a little bit quieter to be considerate of all those around him, but as a "Seattleite" that would be suppressing the alternative.
I'm going to go with my gut on this one and say, yeah there's people who do things differently out there, that's ok with me, but if your idea of being different is "oh I like to fart openly wherever I am, that's just who I am" I am going to tell you not to fart near me. Or if you idea is "to express who I am I like to scream everything I say in a public place" I am probably going to ask you not to scream in a public place. There's different, and then there's stupid. Let's not be stupid people.
How I came to be here is a slightly different story. I been readin' and writin' and trying to get all smart in my time out here so I went out to a a coffee shop to get a cup and some quiet. The first one I went to was called Sureshot: Coffee and Pinball. There is no pinball. It was fairly nice, they played music a little too loud but that didn't bother me too much. I did overhear two people behind me talking about how a female friend of theirs nearly overdosed this weekend because different people kept shooting her up with heroin, so that's...uh...neat. I listened to them for awhile, then occasionally watched this other guy writing on his laptop in front of me, who would occasionally tweak out, and was bobbing his head to a rhythm other than that of the song playing, and then I turned around to see a wiry fellow with thin facial hair just sitting and staring ahead. I went back to my work, turned around about a half hour later and realized this guy was still just sitting there staring ahead. HMMMMM. Quite a bit of character I tell ya. I was done with my brew and needed some grub so I headed out, not exactly sad to be heading towards a new location.
I went and got me a burrito, then walked down towards the water to eat it. There was nothing down there, but the burrito wasn't bad. There were all sorts of people who seemed to not realize that the 90s were over, and that Kurt Cobain is no longer singing with Nirvana, smoking cigarettes and basically darkening good space with their dyed black long hair, beards, and leather jackets. Cool.
I went back to a different coffee house I thought looked nice, and it was. Lots of space indoors and a nice little deck outdoors to read and study on. I got me a coffee, prepared for me by an extremely cute barista. She complimented my drink, then we talked about muffins. OH YEAH! Then I went to sit outside. It was nice...for awhile. The table of young U-Wash students was studying diligently, and I sat reading the Qur'an (yup) until another, just getting off a workout arrived. Then loud talking began. I am not good at zoning out of these things, and tend to listen, I can't help it. It was like an episode of the hills. Who hooked up with who, what they were wearing to the upcoming party, what they thought of this couple, and so on. I didn't appreciate it, but I am sure I'm guilty of doing that with my friends from time to time to, so no big, I just did my best to zone it out. THEN, reminder I am on an outdoor balcony thing, this guy come up across the street, sidles up to the corner with his guitar, and just starts belting out tunes. He's not singing nicely to the passerbys, he he BELTING tunes for the entire downtown area to hear. His tunes were cute, and mostly based around how much Seattle sucks, which I was glad to hear, but MAN he was loud.I couldn't put out him and the others at the same time, I had to go inside, BUT there were no seats inside, SO I decided to go all outlaw to the U-Wash library, which I haven't regretted for a moment.
BUT, I think I am learning something more about Seattle. It is very liberal, very alternative. COOL, good for it. BUT I have been noticing something that may be at the root of the tension I see in every Seattleite. There's this guy belting out tunes in the street, real cute, alternative and fun BUT extremely inconsiderate at all the people outdoors just trying to have nice conversations or read. Yet, the people at the table say things like, "oh how nice" or "I like it" but then go on to insult the person doing it, apparently they know him. Also, I'm at Barnes and Noble the other day, and theres all sorts of people just laying down in the stacks reading books. As you pass by trying to find your book to purchase, they lightly move their feet, but still, they are in a store, lying on the floor, reading a book they haven't bought. Not just one or two either, many many many. People pass them by and look at them like "oh how cute and alternative of them, they're doing something different and unconventional, good for them" This is everywhere. There seems to be a mentality that nonconvention is intrinsically good and shouldn't be interfered with. I think at the heart of these people they are extremely annoyed that everyone has some crazy hairstyle or fashion sense, or lays down in aisles of stores, or belts out songs inconsiderately loud in the streets, or does things in other non-sensical ways. YET, something about them being a Seattleite makes them think, yes this should be cherished and nurtured, different is good. These two things are at tension with one another.
It's like this, (purely hypothetical situation) I walk down the street and see someone with a tattoo saying "praise" on their forehead, they are wearing leopard skin tights, a black leather jacket, a bright red silk shirt and a mohawk.
I walk by them and think to myself, "wow you look like a jackass" but then I remember, hey, he's just expressing himself, I'm sure that ridiculous outfit has a lot to say about who he is and is a very important of defining who he is as a person. Yet, there is still that part of me that's like, "seriously though, you look like a jackass" This creates a tension. If I had to live with that for years and years I think I'd go crazy. I think that's what Seattle's problem is. It prides itself on the alternative, but it secretly burdens them on the inside and they can't exactly place why there is such a pride in it, because they know deep down they want to ask that guy at the corner to just sing a little bit quieter to be considerate of all those around him, but as a "Seattleite" that would be suppressing the alternative.
I'm going to go with my gut on this one and say, yeah there's people who do things differently out there, that's ok with me, but if your idea of being different is "oh I like to fart openly wherever I am, that's just who I am" I am going to tell you not to fart near me. Or if you idea is "to express who I am I like to scream everything I say in a public place" I am probably going to ask you not to scream in a public place. There's different, and then there's stupid. Let's not be stupid people.
Why I have sincere doubts about there being a God
Recently I have been requested (I think by my mom) to write about the origins of what a lot of my blogs have centered around lately, that being my strong doubts as to the existence of a God.
One thing I want to clarify is that my current disbelief is nothing tragic. It’s not a poor soul who lost his God and is lost in life. It wasn’t as if I witnessed a human die a tragic death and could simply no longer believe. I think it is a wonderful thing. It is my next step in development as a human. I no longer believe something I had to trick myself into believing. I now see what I truly think is the truth, and rather than tricking myself into believing it, I get to gregariously study life in an honest sense to learn more about this truth, and how this truth can help others. It’s no a poor me, lost my God, y’all should be worried about my troubled soul type of thing. More of a, I’d like to share with you what I think the truth is and how it can really help people out.
That said, the first reason I don’t believe is simply because I don’t believe. From the time I was old enough to comprehend the belief in a God on a higher level that Jesus loves me for the bible told me so, I always knew in the back of my head that I didn’t really believe it. In my later high school years I tried to get really into the whole youth Christian thing, going on a mission trip and telling others about my love of Jesus, now I realize, and I realized to some extent while I was doing it, that this was really an overcompensation for the guilt I felt because of my doubts. Whenever I had a doubting thought, or heard some new idea that conflicted with my beliefs, that couldn’t be reconciled with what I thought I should believe I felt guilty. Whenever I had this guilt I would go like a criminal into public service to make up for it. What I realized as I got older is that I wasn’t really committing any crimes. I had nothing to make up for, and should not feel guilty for having evolving beliefs. I realized I didn’t want any part of a system that would cause me guilt for growing as a person. So to summarize, guilt and that whole system aside, I simply didn’t believe in it, couldn’t convince myself to believe it, and realized that if I had to convince myself to believe it when everything else I was starting to believe was contrary, without any substantial evidence for why I should convince myself to believe, WELL, I just don’t see why I’d believe that.
Now, to clarify again, what I am renouncing here is any established religion’s take on a higher power. I am not saying that there are not forces out there that humans do not understand; I am saying that we simply do not understand them, and that I have strong doubts as to whether these not-understood things can be explained by a God. I am also not ruling the idea that a conscious super-human being could play some role on those unexplained things, because to do so would be to rule out a solution without substantial evidence to do so. I simply wish to proceed with my beliefs as a logical thinking scientist would. Example: If I am trying to cure cancer, and there is a bunch of evidence that this new chemical treatment can help, and I also have a colleague that says a voice told him that the cure is in prayer. I am going to give 90% of my energy to researching this chemical treatment and maybe some afterthought to this prayer idea, simply because it makes sense.
All of this really brings me to my second big reason I don’t believe. I simply think it’s a thing of the past. For thousands, possibly millions of years, humans have been attributing anything they cannot explain to some supernatural being.
Thunder in the sky? –Zeus.
No rain for a month? -Gods must be angry
I won a battle? – God’s are smiling upon us
Life seems too complex and beautiful – God must have made it
My friend with cancer got better – must have been all that praying we did
My friend with cancer didn’t get better – God decided it was his time
Humans benefit from being good to one another – Because God says so
Sometimes life is horribly cruel –God works in mysterious ways.
What amazes me is that though we now have explanations for thunder, weather, forces of nature, evolution, the way disease progresses, battle strategy, sociological studies etc. that provide more logical and evidenced reasons for why all of these things happen, we still continue to attribute the things we have yet to explain to a higher being. The number one thing being death; which I won’t cover here. I think those times are simply behind us. Science, logic and research cannot yet fully explain anything, and strictly speaking even if we think we have a complete solution, science always holds that it can be disproven. Yes, it is scary to go into a world without knowing what this world is, but how will we ever discover if we have a belief system that makes us resistant to new discovery?
A metaphor I thought of yesterday (I like metaphors) is this. Say you are going for a trek through some woods; you have to get to the field on the other side. The first man goes in and his guide tells him, these woods are good, there are definitely no bears. The second man goes in and his guide tells him, there are just tons of bears everywhere, and they are super hungry, will probably eat you within a minute. The third man goes in and his guide tells him, hey, these woods are probably good, but it doesn’t hurt to be wary of bears. Whose guide gave them the best advice? Your opinions may differ, but for the purpose of this metaphor I’d say the third man. The first man is going to boldly walk in, and if there are bears, he’s going to never see it coming, bear is going to EFF HIM UP. Second guy is going to go in there all super cautious, take forever getting through those damn woods because he thinks bears are everywhere, if there are bears, he’s probably going to stand a good chance, but it won’t be an enjoyable journey. The third guy is going to walk, with a chip of caution on his shoulder. If there are bears he’ll stand a better chance then guy 1 and if there aren’t he wont be held up and as fearful as guy 2.
Now, I know what you are all thinking. If there aren’t any bears it’s best to be guy 1, he walks through with a blissful mindset and gets to the other side the easiest. He’s got faith and unquestioning “truth” to guide him. I’m sorry but I will always live by the mentality of being cautious, not overly cautious, but not being oblivious to danger. It just makes sense. You tell me right now that if you see a dude walking naked and blindfolded into some woods you’ve heard were bear infested you wouldn’t stop him and tell him he’s being an idiot.
So simply I am tired of progress and human understanding being held up by a belief system that thinks it understands everything already. A world that thinks it has an explanation for everything in the world no longer has a reason to be interested in the world. I am tired of people doing what they have for thousands of years an attributing the unknown to a higher power that is equally unknown. Why can’t we be brave enough to simply say, “Hey, I don’t really know why that thing does what it does, and that’s kind of scary, but damn it if I’m not going to do my best to figure it out”
Isn’t it far more beautiful to think that life spent billions of years coming to be the beautiful thing it is now? Isn’t it more beautiful to believe that a reason we should be good to each other is because being good to each other begets goodness, rather than because a big scary guy says so? How wonderful is it that we now live in a world where not everyone will die from the flu, not because we are performing silly rituals, but because we sought to further understand human physiology and how the flu operates within it? Isn’t it a more beautiful world where we can accept people not despite of our beliefs but because of our beliefs? Where there are no obligations to an unknowable being to like/dislike certain people or things. I now only have myself, my species, my planet, and life-itself to which to answer. No longer do I have to think, would a God approve, but only is this good for me and for life? It’s liberating folks, the outlook is more challenging, but has such brighter prospects.
A final request, if you share these beliefs, don’t be afraid to share them. You have just as much right to let others know what you think the truth is, as they do you. I’m not saying evangelize, but don’t be ashamed of them. I think they are something to be proud of.
I’ll leave this with one of my favorite excerpts from Atlas Shrugged.
By suspending your judgment, you are negating your person. When a man declares: 'Who am I to know?' -he is declaring: 'Who am I to live?'
and a response from Richard Dawkins (who I think is a bit too atheist) when asked "what if you are wrong?"
Dawkins replies -"What if you are?"
This is just the tip of the iceberg folks, I love discussing this stuff, challenge my beliefs, it's the only way they'll grow.
One thing I want to clarify is that my current disbelief is nothing tragic. It’s not a poor soul who lost his God and is lost in life. It wasn’t as if I witnessed a human die a tragic death and could simply no longer believe. I think it is a wonderful thing. It is my next step in development as a human. I no longer believe something I had to trick myself into believing. I now see what I truly think is the truth, and rather than tricking myself into believing it, I get to gregariously study life in an honest sense to learn more about this truth, and how this truth can help others. It’s no a poor me, lost my God, y’all should be worried about my troubled soul type of thing. More of a, I’d like to share with you what I think the truth is and how it can really help people out.
That said, the first reason I don’t believe is simply because I don’t believe. From the time I was old enough to comprehend the belief in a God on a higher level that Jesus loves me for the bible told me so, I always knew in the back of my head that I didn’t really believe it. In my later high school years I tried to get really into the whole youth Christian thing, going on a mission trip and telling others about my love of Jesus, now I realize, and I realized to some extent while I was doing it, that this was really an overcompensation for the guilt I felt because of my doubts. Whenever I had a doubting thought, or heard some new idea that conflicted with my beliefs, that couldn’t be reconciled with what I thought I should believe I felt guilty. Whenever I had this guilt I would go like a criminal into public service to make up for it. What I realized as I got older is that I wasn’t really committing any crimes. I had nothing to make up for, and should not feel guilty for having evolving beliefs. I realized I didn’t want any part of a system that would cause me guilt for growing as a person. So to summarize, guilt and that whole system aside, I simply didn’t believe in it, couldn’t convince myself to believe it, and realized that if I had to convince myself to believe it when everything else I was starting to believe was contrary, without any substantial evidence for why I should convince myself to believe, WELL, I just don’t see why I’d believe that.
Now, to clarify again, what I am renouncing here is any established religion’s take on a higher power. I am not saying that there are not forces out there that humans do not understand; I am saying that we simply do not understand them, and that I have strong doubts as to whether these not-understood things can be explained by a God. I am also not ruling the idea that a conscious super-human being could play some role on those unexplained things, because to do so would be to rule out a solution without substantial evidence to do so. I simply wish to proceed with my beliefs as a logical thinking scientist would. Example: If I am trying to cure cancer, and there is a bunch of evidence that this new chemical treatment can help, and I also have a colleague that says a voice told him that the cure is in prayer. I am going to give 90% of my energy to researching this chemical treatment and maybe some afterthought to this prayer idea, simply because it makes sense.
All of this really brings me to my second big reason I don’t believe. I simply think it’s a thing of the past. For thousands, possibly millions of years, humans have been attributing anything they cannot explain to some supernatural being.
Thunder in the sky? –Zeus.
No rain for a month? -Gods must be angry
I won a battle? – God’s are smiling upon us
Life seems too complex and beautiful – God must have made it
My friend with cancer got better – must have been all that praying we did
My friend with cancer didn’t get better – God decided it was his time
Humans benefit from being good to one another – Because God says so
Sometimes life is horribly cruel –God works in mysterious ways.
What amazes me is that though we now have explanations for thunder, weather, forces of nature, evolution, the way disease progresses, battle strategy, sociological studies etc. that provide more logical and evidenced reasons for why all of these things happen, we still continue to attribute the things we have yet to explain to a higher being. The number one thing being death; which I won’t cover here. I think those times are simply behind us. Science, logic and research cannot yet fully explain anything, and strictly speaking even if we think we have a complete solution, science always holds that it can be disproven. Yes, it is scary to go into a world without knowing what this world is, but how will we ever discover if we have a belief system that makes us resistant to new discovery?
A metaphor I thought of yesterday (I like metaphors) is this. Say you are going for a trek through some woods; you have to get to the field on the other side. The first man goes in and his guide tells him, these woods are good, there are definitely no bears. The second man goes in and his guide tells him, there are just tons of bears everywhere, and they are super hungry, will probably eat you within a minute. The third man goes in and his guide tells him, hey, these woods are probably good, but it doesn’t hurt to be wary of bears. Whose guide gave them the best advice? Your opinions may differ, but for the purpose of this metaphor I’d say the third man. The first man is going to boldly walk in, and if there are bears, he’s going to never see it coming, bear is going to EFF HIM UP. Second guy is going to go in there all super cautious, take forever getting through those damn woods because he thinks bears are everywhere, if there are bears, he’s probably going to stand a good chance, but it won’t be an enjoyable journey. The third guy is going to walk, with a chip of caution on his shoulder. If there are bears he’ll stand a better chance then guy 1 and if there aren’t he wont be held up and as fearful as guy 2.
Now, I know what you are all thinking. If there aren’t any bears it’s best to be guy 1, he walks through with a blissful mindset and gets to the other side the easiest. He’s got faith and unquestioning “truth” to guide him. I’m sorry but I will always live by the mentality of being cautious, not overly cautious, but not being oblivious to danger. It just makes sense. You tell me right now that if you see a dude walking naked and blindfolded into some woods you’ve heard were bear infested you wouldn’t stop him and tell him he’s being an idiot.
So simply I am tired of progress and human understanding being held up by a belief system that thinks it understands everything already. A world that thinks it has an explanation for everything in the world no longer has a reason to be interested in the world. I am tired of people doing what they have for thousands of years an attributing the unknown to a higher power that is equally unknown. Why can’t we be brave enough to simply say, “Hey, I don’t really know why that thing does what it does, and that’s kind of scary, but damn it if I’m not going to do my best to figure it out”
Isn’t it far more beautiful to think that life spent billions of years coming to be the beautiful thing it is now? Isn’t it more beautiful to believe that a reason we should be good to each other is because being good to each other begets goodness, rather than because a big scary guy says so? How wonderful is it that we now live in a world where not everyone will die from the flu, not because we are performing silly rituals, but because we sought to further understand human physiology and how the flu operates within it? Isn’t it a more beautiful world where we can accept people not despite of our beliefs but because of our beliefs? Where there are no obligations to an unknowable being to like/dislike certain people or things. I now only have myself, my species, my planet, and life-itself to which to answer. No longer do I have to think, would a God approve, but only is this good for me and for life? It’s liberating folks, the outlook is more challenging, but has such brighter prospects.
A final request, if you share these beliefs, don’t be afraid to share them. You have just as much right to let others know what you think the truth is, as they do you. I’m not saying evangelize, but don’t be ashamed of them. I think they are something to be proud of.
I’ll leave this with one of my favorite excerpts from Atlas Shrugged.
By suspending your judgment, you are negating your person. When a man declares: 'Who am I to know?' -he is declaring: 'Who am I to live?'
and a response from Richard Dawkins (who I think is a bit too atheist) when asked "what if you are wrong?"
Dawkins replies -"What if you are?"
This is just the tip of the iceberg folks, I love discussing this stuff, challenge my beliefs, it's the only way they'll grow.
The most pain I have ever been in
I watched Sarah Palin's address to the Tea Party today. I am going to post both the video and some criticisms, my criticisms wont make sense unless you watch the video, so if you are ready for some brain numbing pain. Watch.
1/2. People paid $500 each to see her? wtf?
1.DO YOU LIKE YOUR FREEDOM AMERICA? - Yes, this is a stupid question, and it's not under threat, so leave it be.
2. Scott Brown was just a guy with a truck... - NO he was an established real estate lawyer who went to Tufts and Boston College. Sounds like he was pretty well established. He also posed nude for cosmo in his 20s, not that I care, it just seems strange that the republican/tea party wouldn't
3. Sarah Palin refers to the economic idea that competition is good for production, getting things done and innovation. Not in politics, this is an economic idea, not a political one. They can't just be applied to whatever you want.
4. She says that the U.S. troops we have overseas now are protecting our constitution from terrorists who hate our consitition. Pretty sure they hate both our involvement over seas and the questionable basis for it, whether it be for oil, or to establish a Christian nation (something Bush may have wanted to do)
5. She says the Obama and Pelosi have blamed the Democratic party for the problems and that Rahm Emmanuel blamed a pollster. That seems blatantly untrue, while the democratic party and a pollster may have been given some blame, I am 100% certain that all the blame has not been placed on them. This is a complicated issue, not one person is to blame. They have blamed the republicans far more often, and this idea of winning for your party in the government rather than compromising for the people.
6. The whole Christmas day terror attack, first off, it was a failed attempt, not because of the governments quick intervention, but because of the help of passengers, still it needs to be truthfully told as an attempt. second, he didn't walk on to the plane with a bomb, he had explosive undergarments that in no way appeared to be a bomb. I would say that nobody could screen for explosive undergarments. ALSO one big thing, that I believe Obama's foreign policy will establish is that even thought we now have bumped up security, maybe people won't want to bomb us anymore.
7.Saying we need to give this terrorist military tribunal type trials is just inhumane. Say we are at war, and an American attempts to run in and throw a grenade into a bunker but is captured. How would we want him to be treated? They may say, "hey, he's a terrorist" but to the american, he was just fighting for what he believed in. I think I'd want the american to be given rights, not tortured and interrogated in reasonable ways. Opening up our interrogations to somewhere outside the field of normal law is dangerous, especially when justified by him being a "terrorist" That is how the bush administration started torturing all sorts of innocent americans and foreigners for being potential "terrorists"
8. She claims we need a Commander in Chief rather than a professor of law. Yet, he party and other conservatives have criticized him for telling the military what to do. HMMMMMMMM pick one here. And I don't know about you, but I'd always prefer to have a law professor to a warlord.
9. Administration cut support for "Democracy programs?" wtf is a democracy program besides a way of generalizing another programs so it sound like when the Gov't cuts support for it they are stopping democracy.
10. Obama talking to hostile nations, how the hell else will we eventually get them to become non-hostile?
11. Iran revolts. Yeah, Obama was kind of a puss there.
12. Democracies don't go to war with each other? I seem to remember a war of a civil nature in which a democracy split and went to war with one another. hmmmmmmm. She talks about how they can talk and settle their differences, why can't a democracy like the U.S. talk to a not-so democracy like Iran, to settle differences?
13. Talking about JFKs quote that all of his problems are not his predecessors fault.
In Obama's case, the destroyed economy, transit from a surplus to an extreme deficit, 2 wars in the middle east, THAT is all his predecessors fault.
14. There's a quote in there somewhere about how America is great because we accept specially challenged children. This is a cheap sympathy card to pull and what kind of country would we be if we didnt? I mean are we just going to throw them in the gutter? What type of inhumane nation would not accept and raise special needs children? Why does she think the US is incredible for this? That's basic humanity.
FINALLY Palin is just a poor speech giver, she talks to the crowd as if they are children who need to be babied, but still sounds incompetent herself.
It frustrates me to my limits to watch these videos and not be able to go on stage and just call her out on all of this. AND that there are people out there who hear this and stand up to cheer.
1/2. People paid $500 each to see her? wtf?
1.DO YOU LIKE YOUR FREEDOM AMERICA? - Yes, this is a stupid question, and it's not under threat, so leave it be.
2. Scott Brown was just a guy with a truck... - NO he was an established real estate lawyer who went to Tufts and Boston College. Sounds like he was pretty well established. He also posed nude for cosmo in his 20s, not that I care, it just seems strange that the republican/tea party wouldn't
3. Sarah Palin refers to the economic idea that competition is good for production, getting things done and innovation. Not in politics, this is an economic idea, not a political one. They can't just be applied to whatever you want.
4. She says that the U.S. troops we have overseas now are protecting our constitution from terrorists who hate our consitition. Pretty sure they hate both our involvement over seas and the questionable basis for it, whether it be for oil, or to establish a Christian nation (something Bush may have wanted to do)
5. She says the Obama and Pelosi have blamed the Democratic party for the problems and that Rahm Emmanuel blamed a pollster. That seems blatantly untrue, while the democratic party and a pollster may have been given some blame, I am 100% certain that all the blame has not been placed on them. This is a complicated issue, not one person is to blame. They have blamed the republicans far more often, and this idea of winning for your party in the government rather than compromising for the people.
6. The whole Christmas day terror attack, first off, it was a failed attempt, not because of the governments quick intervention, but because of the help of passengers, still it needs to be truthfully told as an attempt. second, he didn't walk on to the plane with a bomb, he had explosive undergarments that in no way appeared to be a bomb. I would say that nobody could screen for explosive undergarments. ALSO one big thing, that I believe Obama's foreign policy will establish is that even thought we now have bumped up security, maybe people won't want to bomb us anymore.
7.Saying we need to give this terrorist military tribunal type trials is just inhumane. Say we are at war, and an American attempts to run in and throw a grenade into a bunker but is captured. How would we want him to be treated? They may say, "hey, he's a terrorist" but to the american, he was just fighting for what he believed in. I think I'd want the american to be given rights, not tortured and interrogated in reasonable ways. Opening up our interrogations to somewhere outside the field of normal law is dangerous, especially when justified by him being a "terrorist" That is how the bush administration started torturing all sorts of innocent americans and foreigners for being potential "terrorists"
8. She claims we need a Commander in Chief rather than a professor of law. Yet, he party and other conservatives have criticized him for telling the military what to do. HMMMMMMMM pick one here. And I don't know about you, but I'd always prefer to have a law professor to a warlord.
9. Administration cut support for "Democracy programs?" wtf is a democracy program besides a way of generalizing another programs so it sound like when the Gov't cuts support for it they are stopping democracy.
10. Obama talking to hostile nations, how the hell else will we eventually get them to become non-hostile?
11. Iran revolts. Yeah, Obama was kind of a puss there.
12. Democracies don't go to war with each other? I seem to remember a war of a civil nature in which a democracy split and went to war with one another. hmmmmmmm. She talks about how they can talk and settle their differences, why can't a democracy like the U.S. talk to a not-so democracy like Iran, to settle differences?
13. Talking about JFKs quote that all of his problems are not his predecessors fault.
In Obama's case, the destroyed economy, transit from a surplus to an extreme deficit, 2 wars in the middle east, THAT is all his predecessors fault.
14. There's a quote in there somewhere about how America is great because we accept specially challenged children. This is a cheap sympathy card to pull and what kind of country would we be if we didnt? I mean are we just going to throw them in the gutter? What type of inhumane nation would not accept and raise special needs children? Why does she think the US is incredible for this? That's basic humanity.
FINALLY Palin is just a poor speech giver, she talks to the crowd as if they are children who need to be babied, but still sounds incompetent herself.
It frustrates me to my limits to watch these videos and not be able to go on stage and just call her out on all of this. AND that there are people out there who hear this and stand up to cheer.
...thanks?
So I'm running last night, little cold raindrops falling on me, heart pumping, and I'm taking in the splendor of this lake surrounded by all the lights on the hills of Seattle thinking to myself, "life is pretty cool, I get to have some of it for 100 years or so, and a hell of a lot of development came to make that possible, I'm super glad my existence came to be in a lush planet in a time where my species is evolved enough to comprehend how lucky I am to exist on this lush planet out in the atmosphere and everything was wonderful except one frustration. I don't exactly think there is a God out there, and I'm not frustrated by the fact that all this lushness and wonder is purposeless, but merely that I had no one to thank for the wonder I was taking in, it is just there, creatorless" SO, to who/whatever deserves the most credit for my existence, existence itself, and this wonderful planet... Thanks!
Trust me on this one.
So I been thinking thinking thinking as usual. Been stuck on this whole God issue for a long time. People need something to have faith in right? Otherwise what's the point right? I mean I am the process of tons of evolutions and am self aware and we are now in dominion of the planet, that's cool and all, but why man? I am going to break down a couple of problems and solutions I see.
One thing, I think dudes in the bible and torah and koran and all that jazz were on to something. They were simply trying to make metaphors and explanations for what they saw as the truth. It's all parables you see, this isn't news, I just think sometimes the readers misinterpret this stuff all the time. First off, I don't think any of it is direct from the mouth of God spoken through a messenger, I think it is merely people who thought a lot, needed some truth to live by and did their best to convey what they saw as the truth. FOR EXAMPLE, let's take a brief look at this Adam and Eve jazz and what I think is going on there.
So God's like, don't eat this fruit, and Eve is like, "but that fruit looks good," and God is all, "naw, I swear it isn't" Eve eats it anyway - OH SHIT. All of a sudden sin enters into the world people put clothes on and the world is never the same, and people spend the next bajillion years trying to set it right again without ever really knowing what the fruit did in the first place. (I feel the need to disclaim profusely to avoid confusion that I don't think this actually happened, that's retarded, I think it is some dude speaking some truth through tales)
So I think the number one thing here is trust. It's not obedience, obedience would suggest that there is a divine power that must be obeyed otherwise punishment will ensue, that eliminates free will and most that we know about the world. I simply cannot believe that we have free will, yet it can be altered at any time by a divine being, a subjective free-will just doesn't make sense to me.
Rather than a God figure saying, "I will punish you for eating this fruit," I think it is more-so a God figure saying, "I've eaten this fruit before, it's not good for you, just trust me on this one" By eating the fruit anyway, at a serpent's suggestions, Eve is introducing doubt and distrust into the world. The serpent is a figure trying to bring doubt, to bring distrust. It's not even so much the idea of distrust either, but more-so the doubt of another's good intentions. Eve doubted that the God figure was fully good intentioned in advising her not to eat the fruit, she assumed he must be hiding something, and in turn found he was honest the whole time, but now had this distrustful seed planted inside her.
Trust is a big thing with me. I think this is at the root of every single problem in existence. We need more trust in this world. Lack of trust is the basis for fear, and the basis for hatred. I want fences and gates to come down, because we trust our neighbor won't do anything that requires a fence. I want a world where I feel free to help out a homeless person because I trust that he isn't a scam artist or that he's just going to go buy booze. I want a world in which I pass a man late at night and don't clench my fist in preparation of a possible attack. I mean think even if you and a team were given an assignment, each assigned a task within it, how nice would it be if I didn't have to stress all week wondering if their parts would come together, if I just had such strong trust in their word that I had no worries. That would be nice right? This can all be achieved through trust in the goodness of humanity and life.
There's a problem though. I think if trust were to be established, every man trusting one another's good intentions and trusting that nobody would exploit the gullibility of humanity, that would be a good world. (I think The Invention of Lying is all about this, I need to see it). The big problem is though, that even though this is good, there seems to need to be some divine benevolent power for it to occur, if we are not putting our trust in him to keep everyone trusting and good-natured, in who are we putting our trust?
Trust in life my friend. Trust in the trust and goodness of others. Here's the thing, people may exploit your trust, people may not deserve your trust but if you continue to trust in the good intentions of others you are always the winner. Now, I'm not saying that if a man walks up to you in the street and offers you a solid gold plane for $100 you should hand it over. I'm just saying if you write something, and somebody criticizes it, trust that they are doing so because they want you to improve, not because they are trying to put you down. Or trust that if someone is giving you advice on life, that they are doing so with your best interest in mind. Trust in the support of others because I think trust grows, if I trust you, and others, and they see this, they will see that there is some goodness and trust in the world, maybe they in turn will trust another. Trust spreads. It may never encompass the whole world, and I may not be able to force anyone to trust me, but I know I can do my best to not add to the distrust.
Honesty people, trust, it's a good thing. I am going to equate it with light. Spread the light people.
(I know this is disjointed, rambling, not fully fleshed out, and idealistic, but you get what I'm saying right?) Trust is good, we need more of it.
Just think if we could trust our politicians, all of them. OHHHHHH MAN. So far I think Obama's got humanity's best interests in mind. Good work dude.
One thing, I think dudes in the bible and torah and koran and all that jazz were on to something. They were simply trying to make metaphors and explanations for what they saw as the truth. It's all parables you see, this isn't news, I just think sometimes the readers misinterpret this stuff all the time. First off, I don't think any of it is direct from the mouth of God spoken through a messenger, I think it is merely people who thought a lot, needed some truth to live by and did their best to convey what they saw as the truth. FOR EXAMPLE, let's take a brief look at this Adam and Eve jazz and what I think is going on there.
So God's like, don't eat this fruit, and Eve is like, "but that fruit looks good," and God is all, "naw, I swear it isn't" Eve eats it anyway - OH SHIT. All of a sudden sin enters into the world people put clothes on and the world is never the same, and people spend the next bajillion years trying to set it right again without ever really knowing what the fruit did in the first place. (I feel the need to disclaim profusely to avoid confusion that I don't think this actually happened, that's retarded, I think it is some dude speaking some truth through tales)
So I think the number one thing here is trust. It's not obedience, obedience would suggest that there is a divine power that must be obeyed otherwise punishment will ensue, that eliminates free will and most that we know about the world. I simply cannot believe that we have free will, yet it can be altered at any time by a divine being, a subjective free-will just doesn't make sense to me.
Rather than a God figure saying, "I will punish you for eating this fruit," I think it is more-so a God figure saying, "I've eaten this fruit before, it's not good for you, just trust me on this one" By eating the fruit anyway, at a serpent's suggestions, Eve is introducing doubt and distrust into the world. The serpent is a figure trying to bring doubt, to bring distrust. It's not even so much the idea of distrust either, but more-so the doubt of another's good intentions. Eve doubted that the God figure was fully good intentioned in advising her not to eat the fruit, she assumed he must be hiding something, and in turn found he was honest the whole time, but now had this distrustful seed planted inside her.
Trust is a big thing with me. I think this is at the root of every single problem in existence. We need more trust in this world. Lack of trust is the basis for fear, and the basis for hatred. I want fences and gates to come down, because we trust our neighbor won't do anything that requires a fence. I want a world where I feel free to help out a homeless person because I trust that he isn't a scam artist or that he's just going to go buy booze. I want a world in which I pass a man late at night and don't clench my fist in preparation of a possible attack. I mean think even if you and a team were given an assignment, each assigned a task within it, how nice would it be if I didn't have to stress all week wondering if their parts would come together, if I just had such strong trust in their word that I had no worries. That would be nice right? This can all be achieved through trust in the goodness of humanity and life.
There's a problem though. I think if trust were to be established, every man trusting one another's good intentions and trusting that nobody would exploit the gullibility of humanity, that would be a good world. (I think The Invention of Lying is all about this, I need to see it). The big problem is though, that even though this is good, there seems to need to be some divine benevolent power for it to occur, if we are not putting our trust in him to keep everyone trusting and good-natured, in who are we putting our trust?
Trust in life my friend. Trust in the trust and goodness of others. Here's the thing, people may exploit your trust, people may not deserve your trust but if you continue to trust in the good intentions of others you are always the winner. Now, I'm not saying that if a man walks up to you in the street and offers you a solid gold plane for $100 you should hand it over. I'm just saying if you write something, and somebody criticizes it, trust that they are doing so because they want you to improve, not because they are trying to put you down. Or trust that if someone is giving you advice on life, that they are doing so with your best interest in mind. Trust in the support of others because I think trust grows, if I trust you, and others, and they see this, they will see that there is some goodness and trust in the world, maybe they in turn will trust another. Trust spreads. It may never encompass the whole world, and I may not be able to force anyone to trust me, but I know I can do my best to not add to the distrust.
Honesty people, trust, it's a good thing. I am going to equate it with light. Spread the light people.
(I know this is disjointed, rambling, not fully fleshed out, and idealistic, but you get what I'm saying right?) Trust is good, we need more of it.
Just think if we could trust our politicians, all of them. OHHHHHH MAN. So far I think Obama's got humanity's best interests in mind. Good work dude.
Dear Readers
I am proud to declare that Bryce is out of his funk. You may have noticed a certain level of humanity hatred and cynicism in the past couple blogs, and for that I apologize. I still think Americans have no balls, but now I don't hate them for it. I get in these funks you see, but I am getting better and better and shaking them off. FRET NOT!
I attribute my new positivity mostly to going for a wonderful run around Green Lake in Seattle and listening to Temper Trap. If you ever get a chance, give it a go, plus two points if there is a light rain.
I just labeled a DVD I burned with a marker that smelled of chocolate, completely unnecessary, but a delightful surprise.
I've also been reading John Mayer quotes all day. This guy has balls. I like him. His music isn't AMAZING but enjoyable, more-so if I realize this ballsey mild douche is singing them. Badass.
MY WISH FOR THE DAY: I wish, that when trolling through cnn/youtube/facebook/etc. comments on news articles, I could click on them. When I clicked that person and I would teleport to a room with two comfy chairs, in this room I could berate them for their idiocy, thank them for their time, and then send them home. GOOGLE, get on this.
And now, for a totally cheerful, hope for the world inspired post.
I attribute my new positivity mostly to going for a wonderful run around Green Lake in Seattle and listening to Temper Trap. If you ever get a chance, give it a go, plus two points if there is a light rain.
I just labeled a DVD I burned with a marker that smelled of chocolate, completely unnecessary, but a delightful surprise.
I've also been reading John Mayer quotes all day. This guy has balls. I like him. His music isn't AMAZING but enjoyable, more-so if I realize this ballsey mild douche is singing them. Badass.
MY WISH FOR THE DAY: I wish, that when trolling through cnn/youtube/facebook/etc. comments on news articles, I could click on them. When I clicked that person and I would teleport to a room with two comfy chairs, in this room I could berate them for their idiocy, thank them for their time, and then send them home. GOOGLE, get on this.
And now, for a totally cheerful, hope for the world inspired post.
America has got no balls.
We don't. We really don't. I watched the Obama address to the GOP on whitehouse.gov today and it seems Obama is doing his best to plant some testicle seeds in America. I am writing this to help fertilize those seeds.
Mostly Americans are just afraid of boldness and change. Obama's address to the GOP was extremely bold, he said exactly what he disagreed with, what he saw that the U.S. needs to do to correct it and was critical of both sides. He basically challenged his opposition to criticize him and answered directly to their criticisms, at times just directly taking the blame. He called for an end to this whole idea of politics for politics sake, even calling out a representative from Texas on this. That's some balls right there.
After I listen to this bold call for unification to defeat the United States' problems I go to CNN.com and see Sarah Palin is calling for a Rahm Emanuel to be fired because he used the word retarded. WHO CARES. Yeah, it's offensive, apologize and move on. Grow some balls. So he used an offensive term, does that mean he is any less qualified to do his job? NO! If everybody was fired for the minorist non-PC slip up we'd have our entire government switching on a weekly basis.
People are up in arms over a recent video today of Mel Gibson calling an interviewer an asshole on TV. GUESS WHAT. The interviewer was an asshole! Good for you Mel for calling him out.
Remember when Joe Wilson shouted "You lie!" Yeah, he thought the President was lying GO JOE WILSON FOR CALLING HIM OUT. Whether or not I think the President was lying I think Joe Wilson has got balls for trying to call him out.
What I am embarrassed about is that government debate sessions were held to decide whether or not to officially reprimand him. Basically saying should we make a check mark on his permanent record. Why does our government waste time on such meaningless things.
We live in a world where people disagree and one where we have the glorious freedom of speech, you're going to be offended by things, DEAL WITH IT.
Let's determine whether or not an offense deserves an apology. First off, whether or not an apology is deserved, there is nothing that can require me to give one.
Let's say a Christian shouts at a Muslim, "Jesus is that way, Mohammed is a false prophet" The Muslim is offended and asks for an apology. I say the Christian was standing up for his beliefs.
Let's say I call my friend a dickbag in the heat of the moment, now, I don't really believe he is a dickbag, I was just mad. He is offended and asks for an apology. I'm going to give it to him.
NOW, let's say a conservative christian out there screams, "go to hell fag" to a gay person, the gay person is offended and asks for an apology. I say if the Christian really believes that gays will burn in a hell, he doesnt need to apologize, he does however need to know that no gay person will take anything he says from that point on seriously.
THE MAIN POINT IS: I am tired of people apologizing for things they have said that were really them just boldly stating their beliefs. If Mel Gibson apologizes for calling a reporter and asshole, then he has one less ball. Grow some balls humanity. In this day and age I am no longer representative of my family, my school, my state, my country, my planet even, I am representative of my species. I am a human and so are you. I am sick and tired of turning on the TV or reading about something in the news and just being ashamed of my species. I hate when I look at a fellow person on the street and want to say, hello fellow human representative but can only exclaim GOD DAMNIT as I see them do something completely pathetic and shameful. The human species has lost it's dignity, and we need to have some balls to get it back. So grow some.
Mostly Americans are just afraid of boldness and change. Obama's address to the GOP was extremely bold, he said exactly what he disagreed with, what he saw that the U.S. needs to do to correct it and was critical of both sides. He basically challenged his opposition to criticize him and answered directly to their criticisms, at times just directly taking the blame. He called for an end to this whole idea of politics for politics sake, even calling out a representative from Texas on this. That's some balls right there.
After I listen to this bold call for unification to defeat the United States' problems I go to CNN.com and see Sarah Palin is calling for a Rahm Emanuel to be fired because he used the word retarded. WHO CARES. Yeah, it's offensive, apologize and move on. Grow some balls. So he used an offensive term, does that mean he is any less qualified to do his job? NO! If everybody was fired for the minorist non-PC slip up we'd have our entire government switching on a weekly basis.
People are up in arms over a recent video today of Mel Gibson calling an interviewer an asshole on TV. GUESS WHAT. The interviewer was an asshole! Good for you Mel for calling him out.
Remember when Joe Wilson shouted "You lie!" Yeah, he thought the President was lying GO JOE WILSON FOR CALLING HIM OUT. Whether or not I think the President was lying I think Joe Wilson has got balls for trying to call him out.
What I am embarrassed about is that government debate sessions were held to decide whether or not to officially reprimand him. Basically saying should we make a check mark on his permanent record. Why does our government waste time on such meaningless things.
We live in a world where people disagree and one where we have the glorious freedom of speech, you're going to be offended by things, DEAL WITH IT.
Let's determine whether or not an offense deserves an apology. First off, whether or not an apology is deserved, there is nothing that can require me to give one.
Let's say a Christian shouts at a Muslim, "Jesus is that way, Mohammed is a false prophet" The Muslim is offended and asks for an apology. I say the Christian was standing up for his beliefs.
Let's say I call my friend a dickbag in the heat of the moment, now, I don't really believe he is a dickbag, I was just mad. He is offended and asks for an apology. I'm going to give it to him.
NOW, let's say a conservative christian out there screams, "go to hell fag" to a gay person, the gay person is offended and asks for an apology. I say if the Christian really believes that gays will burn in a hell, he doesnt need to apologize, he does however need to know that no gay person will take anything he says from that point on seriously.
THE MAIN POINT IS: I am tired of people apologizing for things they have said that were really them just boldly stating their beliefs. If Mel Gibson apologizes for calling a reporter and asshole, then he has one less ball. Grow some balls humanity. In this day and age I am no longer representative of my family, my school, my state, my country, my planet even, I am representative of my species. I am a human and so are you. I am sick and tired of turning on the TV or reading about something in the news and just being ashamed of my species. I hate when I look at a fellow person on the street and want to say, hello fellow human representative but can only exclaim GOD DAMNIT as I see them do something completely pathetic and shameful. The human species has lost it's dignity, and we need to have some balls to get it back. So grow some.
Washington and Seattle
Dear Washington,
I went for a walk in your nature the other day. You are a wondrous and beautiful state. Your people are extremely kind and down to earth. I only have one question. Why did you allow Seattle to be a part of you?
Love, Bryce
Dear Seattle,
Get out of Washington. Float out to sea. You are a cancer on the state, and a cancer on the state is a cancer on the country. I don't like you.
Sincerely, Bryce
I went for a walk in your nature the other day. You are a wondrous and beautiful state. Your people are extremely kind and down to earth. I only have one question. Why did you allow Seattle to be a part of you?
Love, Bryce
Dear Seattle,
Get out of Washington. Float out to sea. You are a cancer on the state, and a cancer on the state is a cancer on the country. I don't like you.
Sincerely, Bryce
Conserve
SO, lately, conservative religion has really been frustrating me greatly. I am a firm believer that progressive change is good. It may be difficult, but it is good. Conservatives have tried to give progressive a negative connotation. I have never ever thought that progress could be illustrated as a negative thing. BUT...amazing things are possibly when you're constituency exists on the idea of having unquestioning faith in things.
Some thoughts: I want you to go back in time, and think to yourself about civil rights efforts. Right of women to vote, blacks to vote, getting rid of segregation, freeing slaves. Anything that was done in the past and is today thought of with the mindset, "glad we did that" Think to who the largest opponent of any of these things was. It seems to ALWAYS be a conservative religious group. Even now, there are still groups who don't want evolution taught in schools, won't allow gays to marry, or don't want them to serve in the military. Religious groups. Religion is anti-progress.
I read the blog of a very conservative friend of mine and he makes lists of people to pray for and keep in your hearts. I think this is a solid thing. I think positive energy is good. If I am not well and I know there are tons of people out there thinking of me and hoping for me to get better, I am probably going to feel better faster or at least not feel as bad during the healing process. I think all that is good. What I don't get is when he is asking for prayer for people who are extremely depressed, or financially unstable, or have another problem that would be more adequately solved by something other than prayer. They're depressed? Go talk to them, set up a support group, refer them to therapists. They are financially unstable? Help them find a job, give them a loan, help them fix their finances.
Another thing, this person prays a big thank you whenever something good happens to him. He applied for and was awarded the chance to travel overseas and he thanks God. Whether God had anything to do with it I don't know, but why don't you give yourself some credit. You were able to seek this out, apply, and prove yourself most equipped for the job. YOU did that. YOU. Why don't you thank the people who have shaped you along the way. THEY made YOU into the person who is capable of such things.
Do you think Steve Jobs thanks God every day that he was able to sell millions of iPhones? I bet he thanks himself, his supportive family, and is extremely capable staff for thinking and developing both a wonderful product and marketing plan to make that possible.
My message may be this, I'm not sure, but here goes.
Dear Humanity,
Through fortuitous development of both our own and nature's doing, you have become capable of amazing mind-blowing things. Let's realize this. Let's stop thinking that the fortuitous things in our life are granted by a divine being. We now know that by doing a dance we can't make it rain. So let's stop thinking that by locking ourselves into a doctrine and it's rituals we can bring societal perfection. The religious raindance is a thing of the past. We may be sad to see it go, and the future without that to comfort you may be scary, but let's roll up our sleeves and stroll into the dark. Our achievements will be ours. We will have made things happen the best way for us. We will have engineered our success and continued advances. Let's get brave for once.
Love, Bryce
I read a quote on the 9/12 projects twitter feed the other day that illustrated to be exactly the conservatives wrong way of thinking. IT was something along the lines of 'it takes a strong/brave man to reach an arm into the dark in order to pull him into the light.'
Yeah, maybe, but a smarter man would shine a light into the dark, so the dark isn't so scary anymore. Let's set up a world where there is no dark, and where there is dark there are people working to shine a light on it, so the unknown is understood, because when something is understood it isn't so scary anymore.
ON a further side note.
One thing this blogger wanted people to pray for was a friend who was "misled" into thinking there was a heaven but not hell.
Do people honestly believe that there is a being of the underworld that's sole purpose is to claim damned people and torture them for all eternity? I mean that's just insane. I am not even going to go into the idea that an "omni-benevolent" God could allow the existence of such a place or being because even when I considered myself a Christian I though the idea of Hell was just insulting to the wonderful brain I have developed.
Some thoughts: I want you to go back in time, and think to yourself about civil rights efforts. Right of women to vote, blacks to vote, getting rid of segregation, freeing slaves. Anything that was done in the past and is today thought of with the mindset, "glad we did that" Think to who the largest opponent of any of these things was. It seems to ALWAYS be a conservative religious group. Even now, there are still groups who don't want evolution taught in schools, won't allow gays to marry, or don't want them to serve in the military. Religious groups. Religion is anti-progress.
I read the blog of a very conservative friend of mine and he makes lists of people to pray for and keep in your hearts. I think this is a solid thing. I think positive energy is good. If I am not well and I know there are tons of people out there thinking of me and hoping for me to get better, I am probably going to feel better faster or at least not feel as bad during the healing process. I think all that is good. What I don't get is when he is asking for prayer for people who are extremely depressed, or financially unstable, or have another problem that would be more adequately solved by something other than prayer. They're depressed? Go talk to them, set up a support group, refer them to therapists. They are financially unstable? Help them find a job, give them a loan, help them fix their finances.
Another thing, this person prays a big thank you whenever something good happens to him. He applied for and was awarded the chance to travel overseas and he thanks God. Whether God had anything to do with it I don't know, but why don't you give yourself some credit. You were able to seek this out, apply, and prove yourself most equipped for the job. YOU did that. YOU. Why don't you thank the people who have shaped you along the way. THEY made YOU into the person who is capable of such things.
Do you think Steve Jobs thanks God every day that he was able to sell millions of iPhones? I bet he thanks himself, his supportive family, and is extremely capable staff for thinking and developing both a wonderful product and marketing plan to make that possible.
My message may be this, I'm not sure, but here goes.
Dear Humanity,
Through fortuitous development of both our own and nature's doing, you have become capable of amazing mind-blowing things. Let's realize this. Let's stop thinking that the fortuitous things in our life are granted by a divine being. We now know that by doing a dance we can't make it rain. So let's stop thinking that by locking ourselves into a doctrine and it's rituals we can bring societal perfection. The religious raindance is a thing of the past. We may be sad to see it go, and the future without that to comfort you may be scary, but let's roll up our sleeves and stroll into the dark. Our achievements will be ours. We will have made things happen the best way for us. We will have engineered our success and continued advances. Let's get brave for once.
Love, Bryce
I read a quote on the 9/12 projects twitter feed the other day that illustrated to be exactly the conservatives wrong way of thinking. IT was something along the lines of 'it takes a strong/brave man to reach an arm into the dark in order to pull him into the light.'
Yeah, maybe, but a smarter man would shine a light into the dark, so the dark isn't so scary anymore. Let's set up a world where there is no dark, and where there is dark there are people working to shine a light on it, so the unknown is understood, because when something is understood it isn't so scary anymore.
ON a further side note.
One thing this blogger wanted people to pray for was a friend who was "misled" into thinking there was a heaven but not hell.
Do people honestly believe that there is a being of the underworld that's sole purpose is to claim damned people and torture them for all eternity? I mean that's just insane. I am not even going to go into the idea that an "omni-benevolent" God could allow the existence of such a place or being because even when I considered myself a Christian I though the idea of Hell was just insulting to the wonderful brain I have developed.
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