This is a moment in history and I am so proud to be a witness to it.
Regardless of your poltical philosophy, you must recognize the impact of this moment, the signifigance of this accomplishment. It is the first true signifier of our emergence from the darkness that was our collective history of intollerance and hatred.
I do not pretend to think that this is a universal acceptance of progression. There will always be those who will fill their hearts with empty and pointless hate. But we are a nation built on the premise of the Shining City on a Hill, a promise of something better than where we came from, somewhere more perfect than what we can imagine. This moment in history is our first step up the staircase of progress toward that lofty goal of true democracy, inclusion, and hope.
Hyperbole? Nothing in this century can compare to this great step forward. We are a generation that is closer toward color-blindness having not witnessed first hand the tragedies of Jim Crow. We have grown up in integrated schools, integrated neighborhoods, integrated workplaces. We are the generation that can take this color-blindness to a higher plane simply by casting a vote.
Do not deny that every one in this country has a place in it's history. While many of our nation's accomplishments have been made at the hands of a few, many, many more have been at the hands of the nameless, the faceless, the common man with a voice guaranteed to him by our Founding Fathers. Do not squander that which is so sacred in the story of our nation. Do not squander your chance to tell your children that you were responsible for changing the tide of history and restoring true righteous grandeur to our country. Relish the chance to have your voice be heard saying "I have made a difference, I have made things better, I have helped right a wrong."
I am proud tonight to be an American, simply because I have learned that my fellow countrymen believe, as I do, that we are better than our collective history and can redraw the path we go down. It has been so long since I have been able to embrace my country. It has let me down, lied to me, stolen from me, betrayed me. But now there is hope, that our nation will once again be led by an honest, altruisitc man filled with integrity, duty, courage, and conviction. What makes me proud is that so many in this nation have seen as I do and have made their voices heard.
We will not erase the errors of our past, but we can control the tenor of our future. Choose to be a part of that which is greater than you. Make the future one you wish your children to inherit. But more importantly, simply recognize that America is being re-born as a nation filled with promise. Do not let that flame of hope be extinguished by the repetition of history.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
I am the anti-Job
So we all know, even us who don't read the Bible, the story of Job. Satan bet God that Job would renounce his faith if he felt that God had abandoned him. After countless tragedies, Job remained faithful.
I, too, feel like Job, but more like the anti-Job. One thing after another continues to plague my happiness and health, questioning my faith. But instead of these trials pushing me to renounce God, my tribulations are due to my lack of belief. Although it may sound oxy-moronic to say that I believe that a deity I don't believe in is pushing me to believe in Him by punishing me over and over again. Just admitting that this is a possibility is tantamount to acceptance of the existence of a higher being.
Of course if I truly believed this, I would have become a born-again long ago. Too much has happened for me to allow it all to continue Yet, I refuse to believe that my suffering is due to a lack of religious belief. And so as I continue to be steadfast in my atheism, more and more gets piled on.
So would my refusal to believe give recognition that I am in a battle with a God, which in turn shows that I have to believe in something to disagree with it? Or am I simply ranting against the frustration of all that continues to befall me?
If there is a God, then he is a cruel one because only a sadist would construct a body that had to pass a kidney stone.
Really, if God loves us, then why create man (in his image, no less) that is so susceptible to illness and injury? If we are made in God's image, then God must be in constant pain and agony, victim of cancer, multiple sclerosis, blindness, deafness, congestive heart failure, leprosy, diabetes, to name a few. (And another question, if man is made in God's image, then is God black, oriental, hispanic, arabic?) This might explain why He's too distracted to step in and end our own human sufferings. Misery enjoys company.
They say that kidney stones are the closest man will ever get to experiencing the pain of childbirth. Another reason for me not to want kids. I would never wish this pain on my wife.
I spent the day doubled over in more pain than I can ever recall having. And after getting fabulous drugs at the ER, I traded my kidney pain for skin pain. Yes, I had a terrible reaction with my skin and every inch of me flared up in red painful rash and I tried my best to completely rip off my skin.
So as my doctor used his skills to ease my suffering, the deity I don't believe in stepped in and gave me another round of pain to try and force me to admit He exists.
Instead, I chalk it up to karma.
I must have been one mean terrible evil son of a bitch in my previous life. It is the only explanation as to why I have been so crapped on by life when I try so very hard to be a good and productive person. I love my wife, and I try every day to do right by her, to give her a good marriage, to show her my undying love and devotion. I love my pets, whom I consider my kids. I respect and adore my family, my friends. I don't do drugs (unless you count prescriptions, countless and unending prescriptions), I don't practice bigotry, racism, sexism. I don't steal, slack-off, cheat. I own-up to my mistakes and shortcomings. I do what I must to be a productive and positive member of society.
So why do I continue to suffer affliction after affliction, economic defeat after economic defeat? I have an incurable immune disorder that will require me to get IV treatments for the rest of my life and may prevent me from ever working a 40 hour work week. I have a painful and incurable skin disorder that causes me to always want to rip off my own skin. I have insomnia, partial deafness in my right ear, the beginnings of cataracts in my left eye due to years on steroids for my other conditions, constant digestive distress due to the immuno deficiency, and now 6 stones sitting in my kidneys just waiting to cause me unearthly pain and suffering.
I must be paying penance for a prior life of scum and villainy.
Because if God does exist, he hates me.
I, too, feel like Job, but more like the anti-Job. One thing after another continues to plague my happiness and health, questioning my faith. But instead of these trials pushing me to renounce God, my tribulations are due to my lack of belief. Although it may sound oxy-moronic to say that I believe that a deity I don't believe in is pushing me to believe in Him by punishing me over and over again. Just admitting that this is a possibility is tantamount to acceptance of the existence of a higher being.
Of course if I truly believed this, I would have become a born-again long ago. Too much has happened for me to allow it all to continue Yet, I refuse to believe that my suffering is due to a lack of religious belief. And so as I continue to be steadfast in my atheism, more and more gets piled on.
So would my refusal to believe give recognition that I am in a battle with a God, which in turn shows that I have to believe in something to disagree with it? Or am I simply ranting against the frustration of all that continues to befall me?
If there is a God, then he is a cruel one because only a sadist would construct a body that had to pass a kidney stone.
Really, if God loves us, then why create man (in his image, no less) that is so susceptible to illness and injury? If we are made in God's image, then God must be in constant pain and agony, victim of cancer, multiple sclerosis, blindness, deafness, congestive heart failure, leprosy, diabetes, to name a few. (And another question, if man is made in God's image, then is God black, oriental, hispanic, arabic?) This might explain why He's too distracted to step in and end our own human sufferings. Misery enjoys company.
They say that kidney stones are the closest man will ever get to experiencing the pain of childbirth. Another reason for me not to want kids. I would never wish this pain on my wife.
I spent the day doubled over in more pain than I can ever recall having. And after getting fabulous drugs at the ER, I traded my kidney pain for skin pain. Yes, I had a terrible reaction with my skin and every inch of me flared up in red painful rash and I tried my best to completely rip off my skin.
So as my doctor used his skills to ease my suffering, the deity I don't believe in stepped in and gave me another round of pain to try and force me to admit He exists.
Instead, I chalk it up to karma.
I must have been one mean terrible evil son of a bitch in my previous life. It is the only explanation as to why I have been so crapped on by life when I try so very hard to be a good and productive person. I love my wife, and I try every day to do right by her, to give her a good marriage, to show her my undying love and devotion. I love my pets, whom I consider my kids. I respect and adore my family, my friends. I don't do drugs (unless you count prescriptions, countless and unending prescriptions), I don't practice bigotry, racism, sexism. I don't steal, slack-off, cheat. I own-up to my mistakes and shortcomings. I do what I must to be a productive and positive member of society.
So why do I continue to suffer affliction after affliction, economic defeat after economic defeat? I have an incurable immune disorder that will require me to get IV treatments for the rest of my life and may prevent me from ever working a 40 hour work week. I have a painful and incurable skin disorder that causes me to always want to rip off my own skin. I have insomnia, partial deafness in my right ear, the beginnings of cataracts in my left eye due to years on steroids for my other conditions, constant digestive distress due to the immuno deficiency, and now 6 stones sitting in my kidneys just waiting to cause me unearthly pain and suffering.
I must be paying penance for a prior life of scum and villainy.
Because if God does exist, he hates me.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
The case against God
Some numbers are hard to wrap your head around.
A number like, say, 117, 599,000.
These numbers represent people. Actually, these numbers represent dead people. More specifically, casualties.
Casualties of God.
This number is actually only a small slice of the real number of people killed throughout history in the name of religion.
Casualties of God.
For me, this is just a small reason for my personal disdain for anything religious. To hear the faithful portend that God is good, great, giving, compassionate doesn't fit with the reality of the murderous and callous nature of invoking God's name. It has been invoked in nearly every conflict in mankind's history. The Bible itself is wrought with wars of faith, man killing man in the name of God.
The hypocrisy is a bit troublesome. Why should I believe that God is vested in the personal happiness and well-being of this Earth when He is the cause and reason for so much death, destruction, hatred, and war?
Religion is the cause of social prejudices, clinic bombings. It taints laws and governance. The tenants of inclusion, love thy neighbor, compassion are espoused by all religious believers, but ignored when applied toward those of a differing religious belief. Every church, every religion, believes that they are the "right and true" way to God. Because of this, man has fought man for all of history. Nearly every conflict and conflagration has invoked God as it's cause celeb re.
Think of all of the wars that have been fought due to religious differences, and then think of how many have died in these conflicts.
50 million dead because one failed vegetarian German painter had a prejudice against Jews.
15 million dead because a Catholic zealot assassinated a low-level royal in Sarajevo.
20 million Native Americans slaughtered or displaced because they were "pagan savages."
9 million Russians dead in a civil war that pitted Orthodox Christians against atheists.
7 million Europeans in the 30 Year's War (Catholics vs Protestants).
1 million or more during the Crusades.
2 million Saxons, Vikings, and Swedes died battling conversion to Christianity.
3 million in the battle between the Catholics and the Huguenots.
10 million indigenous Indians in Central and South America battling the Conquistadors.
Over 112,000 in the Troubles, the conflict between Ireland and England.
More than 60,000 died during the Muslim invasion of Hindu India.
Think, too, of the inter-Muslim battles between Shia and Sunnis, the fight over Cashmir between Muslims and Hindus, Kurds being repressed by Muslims and Christians, the genocide in Rwanda, Sudan, the Balkans. 32,000 died during the Inquisition. How many have died in the Middle East due to religious differences?
Gays have been attacked by conservatives. Doctors murdered for performing abortions. The KKK burns crosses on the lawns of African Americans.
And yet, God seems to be there for the vapid actress who had won an award or the athlete who scored a touchdown? Where is He when man picks up a gun and kills his fellow man in His name? Where is the logic in believing in a God that would allow so many to murder, rape, kill, molest, defame, degrade, maim, slaughter in His name? If God is watching over us all, and investing His time in personal achievements, then why is He not also guiding us all toward reconciliation? Why allow so many to claim ownership to Him?
If there is a God, then it's about time He stepped up to the plate, stop being so narcissistic in allowing so many to fight over who loves Him more, or who loves Him in the right way and end the aggression that has sullied His name for centuries.
If we are to follow the mantra: love thy neighbor, then why allow the violation of this tenant for so long? Why allow so many to die in Your name if you preach peace and tolerance?
Religion has caused nothing but misery for mankind since we grasped at something to explain those things in nature around us that we had no answers for. We are enlightened and educated now and can see the world through logical and scientific eyes. We don't need an unseen force to explain thunder and lightening, which is exactly what religion is: a convenient device to explain the unknown during the early days of mankind's' evolution.
I know that I have just offended many of my friends and family who themselves believe in God. I respect those who hold such a deep belief, but I will only respect those who do not disparage the beliefs of others. For if you do, then you are no better than those who have caused and perpetuated the death and destruction of millions simply because they disagree with something that neither of you can see. For those who quietly practice their devotion without impeding on the beliefs of others, I begrudge you not.
So forgive me if I choose not to believe. There is more evidence to contradict His existence than I can reconcile.
Numbers don't lie. And 117,559,000 is just too big a number to ignore.
A number like, say, 117, 599,000.
These numbers represent people. Actually, these numbers represent dead people. More specifically, casualties.
Casualties of God.
This number is actually only a small slice of the real number of people killed throughout history in the name of religion.
Casualties of God.
For me, this is just a small reason for my personal disdain for anything religious. To hear the faithful portend that God is good, great, giving, compassionate doesn't fit with the reality of the murderous and callous nature of invoking God's name. It has been invoked in nearly every conflict in mankind's history. The Bible itself is wrought with wars of faith, man killing man in the name of God.
The hypocrisy is a bit troublesome. Why should I believe that God is vested in the personal happiness and well-being of this Earth when He is the cause and reason for so much death, destruction, hatred, and war?
Religion is the cause of social prejudices, clinic bombings. It taints laws and governance. The tenants of inclusion, love thy neighbor, compassion are espoused by all religious believers, but ignored when applied toward those of a differing religious belief. Every church, every religion, believes that they are the "right and true" way to God. Because of this, man has fought man for all of history. Nearly every conflict and conflagration has invoked God as it's cause celeb re.
Think of all of the wars that have been fought due to religious differences, and then think of how many have died in these conflicts.
50 million dead because one failed vegetarian German painter had a prejudice against Jews.
15 million dead because a Catholic zealot assassinated a low-level royal in Sarajevo.
20 million Native Americans slaughtered or displaced because they were "pagan savages."
9 million Russians dead in a civil war that pitted Orthodox Christians against atheists.
7 million Europeans in the 30 Year's War (Catholics vs Protestants).
1 million or more during the Crusades.
2 million Saxons, Vikings, and Swedes died battling conversion to Christianity.
3 million in the battle between the Catholics and the Huguenots.
10 million indigenous Indians in Central and South America battling the Conquistadors.
Over 112,000 in the Troubles, the conflict between Ireland and England.
More than 60,000 died during the Muslim invasion of Hindu India.
Think, too, of the inter-Muslim battles between Shia and Sunnis, the fight over Cashmir between Muslims and Hindus, Kurds being repressed by Muslims and Christians, the genocide in Rwanda, Sudan, the Balkans. 32,000 died during the Inquisition. How many have died in the Middle East due to religious differences?
Gays have been attacked by conservatives. Doctors murdered for performing abortions. The KKK burns crosses on the lawns of African Americans.
And yet, God seems to be there for the vapid actress who had won an award or the athlete who scored a touchdown? Where is He when man picks up a gun and kills his fellow man in His name? Where is the logic in believing in a God that would allow so many to murder, rape, kill, molest, defame, degrade, maim, slaughter in His name? If God is watching over us all, and investing His time in personal achievements, then why is He not also guiding us all toward reconciliation? Why allow so many to claim ownership to Him?
If there is a God, then it's about time He stepped up to the plate, stop being so narcissistic in allowing so many to fight over who loves Him more, or who loves Him in the right way and end the aggression that has sullied His name for centuries.
If we are to follow the mantra: love thy neighbor, then why allow the violation of this tenant for so long? Why allow so many to die in Your name if you preach peace and tolerance?
Religion has caused nothing but misery for mankind since we grasped at something to explain those things in nature around us that we had no answers for. We are enlightened and educated now and can see the world through logical and scientific eyes. We don't need an unseen force to explain thunder and lightening, which is exactly what religion is: a convenient device to explain the unknown during the early days of mankind's' evolution.
I know that I have just offended many of my friends and family who themselves believe in God. I respect those who hold such a deep belief, but I will only respect those who do not disparage the beliefs of others. For if you do, then you are no better than those who have caused and perpetuated the death and destruction of millions simply because they disagree with something that neither of you can see. For those who quietly practice their devotion without impeding on the beliefs of others, I begrudge you not.
So forgive me if I choose not to believe. There is more evidence to contradict His existence than I can reconcile.
Numbers don't lie. And 117,559,000 is just too big a number to ignore.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
The Definition of "Sacrilege"
Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary defines sacrilege as: gross irreverence toward something hallowed.
I define it as Brett Favre wearing a New York Jets jersey.
The name Favre has become synonymous with the Green Bay Packers, with Lambeau Field, with Cheesehead. He reigned as the most respected man in football. Rivals and peers alike afforded him the respect and awe due a record-setting athlete. He was considered the Gentleman of the NFL. No matter how you spin it, he was the epitome of sportsmanship.
Then he retired.
Sure, there had been overtures in the last few years, hints that he was ready to hang up his jockstrap. But with a finality punctuated with tears, he retired for real at the end of last season. He left at the pinnacle of his career, celebrated as one of the best to ever play the game.
-Uh, wait, hang on a sec...I think I've changed my mind.
-No, no, nevermind, nevermind, I'm retired.
-But, uh, I sure do miss playing....
-No, I'm done, time to be with the fam.
-Okay, I want to play. I definitely want to play. I totally take it back, I am NOT retired.
Seriously? We were gonna go with this Rogers fella, you know, the guy who's been shivering in your shadow all these years...
-Yeah, screw him and everyone else, I need to play, I AM the Packers, and I'm comin' home!
Uh, yeah, but we've moved on and you aren't on our list, so, uh, yeah, you're gonna have to sit in that Rogers fella's seat.
-Well then I'm taking my toys and going to Minnesota, so there!
Actually, you're going where we tell you, and you know where it really sucks? New York.
Although there is a certain justice in that decision, given Favre's impetuousness, there is also an inherent wrong in seeing him in a New York jersey (at least he's still in green).
Imagine if Michael Jordan or Ryne Sandberg got traded and were no longer in Bulls red or Cubs blue!
Oh, yeah, nevermind.
So one of two scenarios are going to happen:
1. The Jets will go all the way under the leadership of a rejuvenated and determined Favre.
2. The Jets will go down, down, down, proving that he should have stopped when he was ahead.
The only real scenario:
I will be rooting for that Rogers fella all the way. Team loyalty trumps individual athletes. One phrase will always ring true, no matter to whom it may refer:
Go Packers, Go!!!
I define it as Brett Favre wearing a New York Jets jersey.
The name Favre has become synonymous with the Green Bay Packers, with Lambeau Field, with Cheesehead. He reigned as the most respected man in football. Rivals and peers alike afforded him the respect and awe due a record-setting athlete. He was considered the Gentleman of the NFL. No matter how you spin it, he was the epitome of sportsmanship.
Then he retired.
Sure, there had been overtures in the last few years, hints that he was ready to hang up his jockstrap. But with a finality punctuated with tears, he retired for real at the end of last season. He left at the pinnacle of his career, celebrated as one of the best to ever play the game.
-Uh, wait, hang on a sec...I think I've changed my mind.
-No, no, nevermind, nevermind, I'm retired.
-But, uh, I sure do miss playing....
-No, I'm done, time to be with the fam.
-Okay, I want to play. I definitely want to play. I totally take it back, I am NOT retired.
Seriously? We were gonna go with this Rogers fella, you know, the guy who's been shivering in your shadow all these years...
-Yeah, screw him and everyone else, I need to play, I AM the Packers, and I'm comin' home!
Uh, yeah, but we've moved on and you aren't on our list, so, uh, yeah, you're gonna have to sit in that Rogers fella's seat.
-Well then I'm taking my toys and going to Minnesota, so there!
Actually, you're going where we tell you, and you know where it really sucks? New York.
Although there is a certain justice in that decision, given Favre's impetuousness, there is also an inherent wrong in seeing him in a New York jersey (at least he's still in green).
Imagine if Michael Jordan or Ryne Sandberg got traded and were no longer in Bulls red or Cubs blue!
Oh, yeah, nevermind.
So one of two scenarios are going to happen:
1. The Jets will go all the way under the leadership of a rejuvenated and determined Favre.
2. The Jets will go down, down, down, proving that he should have stopped when he was ahead.
The only real scenario:
I will be rooting for that Rogers fella all the way. Team loyalty trumps individual athletes. One phrase will always ring true, no matter to whom it may refer:
Go Packers, Go!!!
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