How To Be Offensive
Posted on 21. Mar, 2010 by Brad Hart in Agnosticism | Twitter: @ |
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First and foremost agnostic does not mean noncommittal, indecisive, undecided, or neutral. True agnostics, not the usurpers who have attached themselves to us or been labeled by someone else, have a very definite view when it comes to the existence of god(s). We do not believe it is possible to know if they exist. This is a far cry from the opinion of atheists who adamantly believe god(s) don’t exist and Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus and other religious folk who believe they very much do exist. Most of us take it a step further and say since it can’t be proven, it is unimportant and to simply say you believe to fit in or chance being saved is nothing but a lie and self-serving hypocrisy that the deity in question will know you have committed if they do exist. With this in mind we would really appreciate it if you would quite labeling everything as agnostic this and that, simply because you can’t make up your mind.
Why should you quit mislabeling everything as agnostic? Number one, you more often than not use the term in a manner that doesn’t even have a relationship to the Greek root words much less our views on religion it makes you look stupid. While I have no problem with you looking stupid, I and most other agnostics, have a big problem with people trying to associate us with being indecisive, noncommittal, undecided, or your own ignorance. If you want to know how offensive we find it, let me give you a few examples. Misusing the term agnostic to mean noncommittal, indecisive, undecided, or neutral is akin to labeling anything that is hypocritical, self serving, anti-science, delusional or just plain crazy as christian. It is akin to labeling anything remotely associated with Africa including people of black African descent or who Europeans colonized Africa with the term NIGGER. It is akin to slapping a KIKE label on anything associated with either Jews, Jewish culture, or the State of Israel. If you are offended I would use those terms, I hope you are getting the point as to how offensive the misuse and rebranding of Agnostic is to us.
Before you even dare say you know an agnostic who uses the term freely, ask yourself if they are they really an agnostic or have they simply had the term attached to them. Secondly, it doesn’t matter if they use the term casually, there are plenty of blacks who use the term nigger and the amount of Jewish people who crack the regular Jew joke or refer to themselves as Kikes, Hook Noses, Hebes, or Red Sea Pedestrians is staggering. The terms are still offensive to the majority of the people who are truly these things. Agnostic is not a trendy brand name or a technical specification so we would appreciate you not slapping the term on every piece of genera you come across.
Sick and Tired of Hearing about Haiti
Posted on 17. Jan, 2010 by Brad Hart in Agnosticism | Twitter: @ |
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I’m sick and tired of hearing about Haiti from my Atheist and Agnostic friends. By an large Haitians belong to religions that at the best of times hold our non-belief in god against us as people. By and large they also blame their current situation on God. As an agnostic I will say maybe there is a god and maybe there isn’t, I don’t know because it can’t be proven. If there is a god and he did do this, then screw him for being a rat bastard. That said if he did this to them then he could also do this to me if I piss him off by trying to undo his Haitiain Handicraft.
In the end these people either are or are not being screwed by their god. Whether they are or not I am not about to spend dime one on someone who would spit in my face (or lynch me) for my beliefs. If god is the way for them, they are entitled to believe in him, so I’m just going to let him help them for better or worse. (more…)
The Devil Went Down to Haiti
Posted on 14. Jan, 2010 by Brad Hart in America's Finest | Twitter: @ |
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Pat Robertson said what about Haiti? I keep seeing comments all over the place to the latest outrageous thing out of conservative demagogue Pat Robertson’s mouth. It is not what he said that actually surprises me, it is the number of people who are surprised by what he said that amazes me. When something tragic, controversial, or will be twittered about, Pat Robertson is bound to say something loathsome. Has everyone forgotten the 9/11 or Hurricane Katrina?
I won’t dignify Pat’s comments on any of the above subjects by reporting them here, so let me point out a few more examples that make you go WTF?
Terrorism Surprise
Posted on 26. Dec, 2009 by Brad Hart in Politics | Twitter: @ |
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I’m completely stunned that people were surprised by the Christmas terrorism attempt. First the date is symbolic, even for non-believers in America, this meets one of the first criterion for terrorism. I am surprised we don’t see more of these small scale attacks as matters of symbolism.
The real question here though is not why did this happen, or who was Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab working with. The real question is why are we surprised by it? For years now we have been engaging in open warfare in the Muslim world killing as many or more civilians as we do combatants and writing them off as collateral damage. When you make war on a people who had you calling “oops my bad, so sorry,” won’t cut it. We need to not only expect attacks of retribution, but accept attempts will be made and some of them will succeed. Simply put war is a messy business and you shouldn’t participate unless you are willing to accept losses. Being surprised by this sort of thing clearly says we are so arrogant that we honestly believe it is okay to stand around with our heads in the sand. (more…)
Divine Misdemeanors
Posted on 20. Dec, 2009 by Brad Hart in Entertainment | Twitter: @ |
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For those who have been following the continuing saga of Merry Gentry, aka Meredeth Gentry or Meredith NicEssus, Divine Misdemeanor is the eighth book in the series by Laurell K Hamilton. While clearing up some details and furthering the storyline started in Swallowing Darkness it is my least favorite of the series. I find the continuing character development very good, but there is not just enough main storyline continuation for me. I think we are setting the stage for a new story though and it would be a mistake miss this book. I look forward to the next edition out probably next year.
As has been my habit for new books of late Divine Misdemeanors was listened to as an audio book rather than read. Laural Merlington is back to narrating this edition. I was disappointed that Claudia Black did continue reading the story, I quite enjoyed her reading of Swallowing Darkness, there is quality to her voice that matched the story for me. Either way the book is well read making for a great listen.
From Barnes and Noble:
Following on the heels of the heart-stopping conclusion to Swallowing Darkness, Laurell K. Hamilton and Meredith Gentry are back!
Between dark faerie magic and the deepest desires lies the world of Meredith Gentry, princess, private eye, and powerful player in a game of supernatural sexual intrigue. The tension in this extraordinary saga continues to mount as Merry, pregnant with twins, refuses the throne of faerie and retreats with her bodyguards to Los Angeles in an attempt to protect the new life growing within her. Both the deadly destructive factions of the faerie courts — as well as those who would worship her — will be equally dangerous to her attempts to create a peaceful haven for her unborn children. Filled with riveting twists, this new novel adds yet another unforgettable chapter to a story that is both epic and breathtaking.
Personally this one will be forgettable if the next book doesn’t do a much better job at tying up the loose ends.
