The Election - An Obligatory Reaction Post

The results I care about:

1) OBAMA WON! Yay!

2) California Prop 4 (requiring parental consent for minors to get abortions) has not been called yet. Right now CNN shows 99% of precincts reporting with prop 4 winning 52% to 48%. Messed up.

3) California Prop 8 (banning same-sex marriage) also hasn't been called. CNN shows 99% of precincts reporting with prop 4 winning 52% to 48%, sound familiar? This is unbearably depressing to me.

You know, that means that in California there were A LOT of people who voted for Obama and at the same time voted for Prop 4 and Prop 8. This disturbs me. It disturbs me that people can be racially tolerant and leaning toward a liberal ideology and still be intolerant enough to think that it is wrong for same-sex couples to get married. It also bothers me that Obama not only says he is a Christian but claims that he also defines marriage between a man and a woman. He is quick to defend the rights of ethnic minorities, but he is slow to stand up for other minorities in the states such as atheists and GLBTI individuals. In these ways he does not represent me and my secular corner of America which desires true equality for ALL Americans.

So where does this leave us? Well I am hopeful that with a liberal president and a democratic senate we will be able to get some progressive judges on the bench in the next 4 years. Also, the "No on 8" folks out here haven't given up quite yet. A law suit is being mounted saying that Proposition 8 was unconstitutional to begin with therefore it cannot be added to the California constitution. There is still hope... but I remain thoroughly disappointed in California voters tonight.

**UPDATE**

So since I checked CNN last night things have changed - Prop 4 is NOT going to pass! That is awesome, I'm glad. But I'm still totally ticked about prop 8. Thats just BS...

More Evidence for Evolution

Okay, well "evidence" may be a stretch, but seriously, if Springfield won't allow teaching of creationism (aka "intelligent design") in schools, then surely no school district should.

Enjoy:

On a side note, this is my new desktop image:
http://www.pixelgirlpresents.com/images/desktops/Siebe_Warmoeskerken/Retro_Love_by_swiebel.jpg

I like it. It makes me feel simultaneously uncluttered, creative, and relaxed. Don't you want to go curl up in that chair?

Religulous

So a movie is coming out in October called Religulous (religion + ridiculous = religulous). Here is the trailer:

Honestly? I want to see it. I think I will enjoy watching it. I think I will laugh and smile and have a good time, especially if I am a theater full of other atheists/agnostics/skeptics, etc.

Though I also think it would be entertaining to watch it with a bunch of Christians. I can imagine them laughing at first saying "Oh those Buddhists, how can they believe something so crazy?" But then the movie would start showing the ridiculousness in what Christians believe and they would get so offended. "Oh no! We are so persecuted! Atheists are so horrible!" (Sidenote: according to this Gallop poll, atheists are no longer the most hated group. Its now Scientology.)

It reminds me of a quote:

"I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours." -Stephen Henry Roberts (1901-71)

More later... maybe I'll see the movie in a few months and write a review.

You say god hates fags? Well we hate you.

Showing their truly hateful colors, here is a video of some members of the Westboro Baptist Church protesting at the gay marriage celebration in San Francisco. At least they aren't protesting at a funeral this time. Plus I love the guys chanting "We're getting married."

If you can't see the video, you can go to it here.

I don't understand how some people can have such hate for others, especially in the name of a loving god. How can love and commitment be so wrong? Don't the Westboro Baptist Church people know that they are doing more harm than good? Not only are they driving people away from belief in their god, but they are tarnishing Christians everywhere.

Someone told me once that the Westboro Baptist Church protests at places like funerals, parades, and schools (they went to my brother's school once) in order to incite violence against themselves. Once someone punches them, as I'm sure plenty of people do, the 'church' sues. This is how they make money.

So if you are ever unlucky enough to be faced with these people do everything you can to avoid hurting them, no matter how much you want to. It would only help them in the end. Instead why don't we give them some food and water, after all it would be like heaping coals on their head (Proverbs 25:21-22). Of course I bet they wouldn't get the irony of their queer atheist enemy knowing the bible better than they do.

Another Quiz, this time: Religion

Which is the right religion for you? (new version) created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as Atheism You scored as atheism. You are... an atheist, though you probably already knew this. Also, you probably have several people praying daily for your soul. Instead of simply being "nonreligious," atheists strongly believe in the lack of existence of a higher being, or God. Atheism 80% Agnosticism 80% Satanism 75% Paganism 60% Buddhism 50% Hinduism 25% Confucianism 25% Christianity 15% Islam 10% Haruhism 5% Judaism 0%