Disemboweled and Torn Apart for Teaching Girls

The world does not need the Taliban. The world does not need Islamic fundamentalists. The world doesn't need fundamentalists, period. They should be killed. Everyone single one of them. Killed -- because if it's not them, it's us. This report from 2006 is a reminder of why the war in Afghanistan got as much support as it did; and why it's still a just war. If George W. hadn't fucked it all up by invading Iraq, the world would have been a different place today. Muslim moderates would have cheered to have the fundamentalists purged from the planet. Instead, George W. succeeded in irking Muslim moderates and turning a war against fundamentalists into a war against Islam. Way to go jackass.

The gunmen came at night to drag Mohammed Halim away from his home, in front of his crying children and his wife begging for mercy.

The 46-year-old schoolteacher tried to reassure his family that he would return safely. But his life was over, he was part-disembowelled and then torn apart with his arms and legs tied to motorbikes, the remains put on display as a warning to others against defying Taliban orders to stop educating girls.

Stupid Old Men

The Economist is running an article on the ongoing debate of how much accommodation should be given to religions that wish to regulate the lives of their faithful -- especially when they conflict with the laws of the land. This isn't a debate just about Islam and Sharia law -- although that's where the noise has been coming from recently. Religious law and its practice has had a long and rich history in the world's preeminent democracies -- and it has always been a fine line in the court of civic society. As the article points out, the Jews, the Amish, the Christians -- they've all had their share of making binding pronoucements from their respective pulpits. But where does it end?

In my opinion, it should have ended before it began. Compromises should not be made to the law of the land, and religion should definitely not play a role in the determining or application of law -- including the ritual swearing on holy books. It is an increasing global state we live in and the dictates of one's beliefs should not be binding on even the believers. Laws should be applied equally to everyone. I realize there are opposite ends of the spectrum involved here, but I'm not for compromising on this score. The article cites as an example, Sikhs in BC, who are allowed to ride motorcycles without helmets. That's wrong, and is a perversion of our collective social agreement to compromise on that account. Should Sikhs in motorcycle accidents be given the same medical attention for head injuries? Their religious beliefs represent a financial burden to society. Simply put, the Sikh religion doesn't allow its adherents to ride motorcycles -- at least in Canada.

If you follow the trail of relgious law, you'll eventually get back to some old guy, in a white beard, most likely wearing a costume that includes a really ugly hat. I'm sorry, but I don't think we want society under the dictate of their whims.

Killing Girls for Allah

There are some parts of the world that is dying need of a revolution. One such place is Saudi Arabia, where the Saudi religious police, the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, prevented firefighters from rescuing girls from a burning school building, because they were not wearing the abaya. Men who attempted to rescue the girls were stopped, with the police telling them "it is a sinful to approach them." As a result, 15 girls were burned alive.

Stupid Women

The NYTimes chronicles a female circumcision event in Indonesia, where women take their daughters, usually before their 14th birthday, to have their genitals brutalize by older women who should really know better. It's a sickening, misogynic act, practiced to keep women in a station of life -- made much worse by women who offer up their daughters to this torture. The thumbnail image to this post is of a 9-month-old baby, who had her genitals mutilated. Backwards -- culturally and religiously. Some places of the world, people are still living in the dark ages.

Science, Evolution, and Creationism

The US National Academy of Sciences and Institute of Medicine has just published Science, Evolution, and Creationism -- a book "designed to give the public a comprehensive and up-to-date picture of the current scientific understanding of evolution and its importance in the science classroom." In the book, the Academy makes it quite clear that evolution is central to modern biology, yet continues to be challenged in the classroom by proponents of creationism and intelligent design. The Academy states in the book that science and religion can coexist, and present different ways of understanding the world.

This book is an update from previous versions published in 1984 and 1999. The Academy is trying to appeal to religious moderates in the face of rising religious fundamentalism in the US and educate the masses of uneducated in the US (aka: the general public).

In science, explanations must be based on evidence drawn from examining the natural world. Scientifically based observations or experiments that conflict with an explanation eventually must lead to modification or even abandonment of that explanation. Religious faith, in contrast, does not depend only on empirical evidence, is not necessarily modified in the face of conflicting evidence, and typically involves supernatural forces or entities. Because they are not a part of nature, supernatural entities cannot be investigated by science. In this sense, science and religion are separate and address aspects of human understanding in different ways. Attempts to pit science and religion against each other create controversy where none needs to exist.

Whether this education of America will actually work is up for debate. I'm not going to be an optimist on this one. Those that believe have no reason to want the education. They already have their belief that religion is correct, and science is the work of the devil. And on that score, they're already preparing for the battle.

In God We Trust

It's time to stomp out atheists in America. The majority of Americans would love to see atheists kicked out of America. If you don't believe in God, then get out of this country.

The United States is based on having freedom of religion, speech, etc., which means you can believe in God any way you want (Baptist, Catholic, Methodist, etc.), but you must believe.

I don't recall freedom of religion meaning no religion. Our currency even says, "In God We Trust." So, to all the atheists in America: Get off of our country.

Atheists have caused the ruin of this great nation by taking prayer our of our schools and being able to practice what can only be called evil. I don't care if they have never committed a crime, atheists are the reason crime is rampant.

I don't think I need to clarify the letter to the editor above. It speaks too well for itself. These people are out there, and they will be the ruin of the world if they are not mocked, silenced and sent bleating back into the holes from which they crawled.

Update: Apparently, the letter above while really published in a newspaper, turns out to be a fake letter. Who wrote it? Why? But it has had other appearances prior to being published. It was penned by someone. Their intent unknown. Goes to show you -- you can't trust much found on the internet.

Whales talk French at the bottom of the sea?

A college professor in Red Oak, Iowa, claims he's been fired for giving an academic treatment to Christianity in his western civilization course. In the course, Steve Bitterman, teaches that the Biblical story of creation should not be taken literally. At the end of a recent class, he remarked to a couple of students that the story of Adam and Eve was just a fairy tale. Oops. The students apparently threatened a lawsuit in response, and the whole matter go escalated to the college administration -- who, with the usual intestinal fortitude of administrations everywhere, recoiled from confrontation -- and fired Bitterman.

This of course, is Bitterman's claim only -- but the college has done little in their official response to counter his claim.

So, WTF Iowa? I'm well aware that America is reveling in its new new found religious fundamentalism -- but surely the people in charge know that the recent surge of the religious right is only a phase -- and should be limited to a very short one. Those in academia -- the educated -- better is expected of you. Giving in to the mindless morons of fundamentalism the way unchallenged is not the answer -- and leads to death of reason. We've seen the results of this. It's playing itself out in the Middle East right now.

The Heresy of Pi

The Bible defines Pi as 3. A whole number, as pointed out at the Gospel of Reason. So just how do fundamentalist Christians reconcile the Biblical proclamation with Mathematics? Well, a helping hand. I Kings 7:23-26 references something "circular in shape" -- not a circle. So really, it wasn't a circle. Just more evidence of God testing the faithful.

Dispatches: Undercover Mosque

The UK's Channel 4 news show, Dispatches, filmed a documentary of extremist Islam being practiced in British mosques. While they publicly talk moderation, Dispatches "finds preachers condemning integration into British society, condemning democracy and praising the Taliban for killing British soldiers" in their mosques. The extreme views may be coming from a few, but those Muslims that do nothing to counter them are just as guilty. Watch the video and be afraid.

The Murder of Du'a Khalil Aswad

If I had a magic wand, I would wave it for a lot of things -- one of them being fundamentalists. I would wipe the lot of them, regardless of the dogma they subscribe to, right off the planet. I wouldn't waste time on inflicting horrors before their existence is negated -- I would be in too much of a hurry to just get rid of them all.

What has caused my blood to boil is the news coming out of Iraq of the "honour killing" of 17-year-old Du'a Khalil Aswad, last month. Aswad was condemned to death by the men of her family, for being in love with a Sunni Muslim boy -- Aswad is a Yezidi. She was hiding out in the house of a Yezidi tribal leader in a small town outside of the Kurdish capital of Mosul, when 8-9 men stormed the house and dragged her out to the street. They then proceeded to stone her for half-hour, until she died. A large crowd looked on, including security authorities. The entire incident was filmed and the story only broke when the video made it onto the internet.

Her name is Du'a Khalil Aswad. She was a girl. Men and religion murdered her. Her story should never be forgotten.

Ahmadinejad's Sin

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president best known his love of George W. Bush, has violated Sharia law -- and is being accused of "indecency and violating religious values" by conservatives in his country. His crime? Publicly kissing the gloved hand of an elderly woman that used to be his school teacher.

Take a moment to ponder and get over it.

So ... shouldn't we all have a problem with fundamentalist ideologies being forced down on anyone?

US National Prayer Day

May 3rd is the National Prayer Day in America. It's the 56th annual prayer day, and I've never heard of it. Yesterday, Bush released his proclamation for the National Prayer Day. Included in his proclamation, are the following words:

At this important time in our history, we also pray for the brave members of our Armed Forces and their families. We pray for their safety, for the recovery of the wounded, and for the peace we all seek.

"... for the peace we all seek." Peace doesn't come easy. It's hard work -- prayer however, is the most ineffective way to go about achieving peace. I'm reminded of this one simple sentence I read recently: "We are the ones we have been waiting for." We are the ones that can make a difference. Not god. Whichever god you believe in has given us the power over our own actions. Bush's actions started the war that currently feeds on American lives. He was the power to stop the war. Instead, he has continually opposed any suggestion that the war should have a timetable that sees it to a quick conclusion. His proclamation to the American people is nothing but the words of a hypocrite.

Let's turn now to the National Prayer Day itself. The organization describes its mission as:

... to communicate with every individual the need for personal repentance and prayer, mobilizing the Christian community to intercede for America and its leadership in the five centers of power: Church, Education, Family, Government and Media.

And there you have it folks, a big "fuck you" to anyone who's belief does not subscribe to the Christian doctrine. Following in Christian tradition however, right below its mission statement, the National Prayer Day organization has for sale a framed poster titled, the Prayer at Valley Forge, for $163. The poster is an image of General George Washington, kneeling in the snow, praying. $163. Prayer doesn't come cheap apparently.

The whole thing just gnaws on me. It goes against the fundamental principles of which democracies are supposed to be built on -- the clear separation of church and state. Says the website,

The National Day of Prayer Task Force exists to communicate with every individual the need for personal repentance and prayer, mobilizing the Christian community to intercede for America and its leadership.

Haven't these fundamental morons seen the clear danger of blindly following? Of leaving it all to faith? Of seeing their religion twisted and misused for political gain? Don't they see the danger of bleating passively while they allow the wolves to prowl their flock? My suggestion to Americans: wake up. You are the ones you have been waiting for. Instead of dropping to your knees -- praying to "preserve America's Christian heritage" -- get out there and do something to make a difference. I hear some atheists plan on giving a donation of blood that day. Not a bad start. Do some of that. Get involved. Make a difference.

48% of Americans Think Evolution is Rubbish

A Newsweek poll on the belief of god finds that Americans are deeply religious. 91% of Americans believe in god -- and 82% of them are Christians. Further, 48% of Americans think the scientific theory of evolution is a load of shit -- with 34% of college graduates believing the Bible's take on creation is fact.

Goes to show you -- we really do need population control.

Islam and the UN

Sometimes, the United Nations say things that make it hard to give it support -- especially in an age when the US sees little benefit in gaining UN approval for its actions around the globe -- when the UN needs any support it can get. The latest stupidity from the UN highlights the problem with the organization -- it basically treats all nations as equals -- when clearly, they're not. The UN Human Rights Council (HRC) voted 24 to 14 to adopt a resolution on Combating Defamation of Religions [DOC], which "expresses deep concern at attempts to identify Islam with terrorism, violence and human rights violations" -- especially in the aftermath of 9/11 -- and further, "urges States to take resolute action to prohibit the dissemination including through political institutions and organizations of racist and xenophobic ideas and material aimed at any religion or its followers that constitute incitement to racial and religious hatred, hostility or violence."

The result of the vote:

• In favour (24): Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Cameroon, China, Cuba, Djibouti, Gabon, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Pakistan, Philippines, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Tunisia.
• Against (14): Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Guatemala, Japan, Netherlands, Poland, Republic of Korea, Romania, Switzerland, Ukraine and United Kingdom.
• Abstentions (9): Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Ghana, India, Nigeria, Peru, Uruguay and Zambia.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with passing a resolution that condemn the discrimination and persecution of the religious -- or those that practice any faith. The problem with this resolution is that it specifically singles out Islam for special treatment -- when religious intolerance is widely practiced, encouraged and enshrined in Islamic nations around the world -- including some of those that voted in favour of this resolution.

Membership in the HRC is what the problem is here -- and in general, it is the problem with the UN. The organization regularly puts the foxes in the hen house, then casts votes on whether to have chicken for dinner. It dilutes the credibility of the UN and only gives credence for those that wish to abolish the organization.

Evolution a Jewish Conspiracy

They grow them really stupid in Texas. And I don't mean GW alone ... the whole place is awash with stupidity ... and at the highest levels of their society. This one comes from AlterNet -- reporting that the chairman of the Texas House Appropriations Committee, Republican Warren Chisum, is distributing a memo penned by Ben Bridges, that references "indisputable evidence" that science, from the Big Bang to Evolution, is all just a Pharisee religious conspiracy trying to undermine Christianity.

The memo suggests that creation science -- an oxymoron used by morons -- which can't be taught in schools because it has a religious agenda, is the same argument that can be used to remove evolution science from schools.

Indisputable evidence -- long hidden but now available to everyone -- demonstrates conclusively that so-called "secular evolution science" is the Big-Bang 15-billion-year alternate "creation scenario" of the Pharisee Religion. This scenario is derived concept-for-concept from Rabbinic writings in the mystic "holy book" Kabbala dating back at least two millennia.

The memo, which makes torturous use of italics, then went on to provide a number of links to the "indisputable evidence" published at the Fair Education Foundation, Inc. -- a place very far Texas, where they be cuckoos who believe,

The Earth is not rotating...nor is it going around the sun.
The universe is not one ten trillionth the size we are told.
Today's cosmology fulfills an anti-Bible religious plan disguised as "science".
The whole scheme from Copernicanism to Big Bangism is a factless lie.
Those lies have planted the Truth-killing virus of evolutionism
in every aspect of man's "knowledge" about the Universe, the
Earth, and Himself.

Umm ... yeah, OK. The memo exhorts members of the Texas House of Representatives to join Ben Bridges, and his looney friend Marshall Hall, in supporting a bill to challenge science as religion, and therefore get it booted out of Texas schools. Frankly, I support their efforts. Here's hoping that reality will leave the state, as it is apparently "causing incalculable harm to every student and every truth-loving citizen."

Speaking of reality -- who the hell elected these idiots? Oh ... nevermind. <-- italics, so I can be taken seriously.