Autonomous cultural reflections

Oklahoma GOP is insane

2009-04-27T23:41:00.000-07:00

The Oklahoma Republicans have come up with (PDF warning!) their platform.

My favorite bit is from the Education section(emphasis mine):
Quote:4. While the objective study of philosophy and religion can be beneficial, public schools should not be endorsing any specific religion or philosophy. We believe that students and teachers should enjoy the right of free exercise of religion.

5. We support posting the Ten Commandments and our Nation's motto, “In God We Trust,” in all public schools in recognition of our religious heritage.

Considering #5, I doubt #4 a bit.

#7 makes me wince of course:
Quote:7. We believe that the scientific evidence supporting Biblical creation should be included in Oklahoma public schools curricula, and if any evolution theory is taught, that both should receive equal funding, class time, and material. Teachers should have the freedom to cover creation science without fear of intimidation, reprimand, or lack of professional respect.

Keep in mind that these people are running the second-largest city in Oklahoma and the 45th-largest in the US (according to Wikipedia). That is why yes, creationism is a problem.

There are quite a few "hilarious if they wern't in charge of a major metropolitan area" bits in the Curriculum section.

Quote:5. We oppose any curriculum that promotes one-world government, communism, socialism, global citizenship, and any curriculum originating with UNESCO. We affirm that our citizens, of any race, creed, or culture, are fully American. We support teaching our commonalities as U.S. citizens. We support teaching the intent of our founding fathers, the original founding documents, and the difference between a democracy and a republic.

The best argument against belief EVER!

2009-04-25T23:40:00.000-07:00

"So why don't you believe?"

"The world is so awesome. How can you believe it all came from nothing?"

"You're an atheist so you can sin all you want."

(insert some version of Pascal's Wager here-usually a really simplified and stupid version)

Pretty much any openly atheist person living in the Bible Belt has had a conversation turn in one of these directions. I won't go into the ones that go into apologetics, because they're just silly.

So why is it I don't believe?

Because I don't want to.

Try it the next time such a conversation starts. It is truly enlightening how it shuts things down. After all-there's nowhere to go after that.

I have no need to disprove anyone's faith. Without any evidence for it, I can choose whatever I want to believe.

Dear Texas Legislature-don't be stupid

2009-03-20T23:10:00.000-07:00

A Texas legislator is trying to allow degrees in Creationism. Do these people never think about the wider implications of their actions? If this passes I'm going to go start a college to grant degrees in Dr. Pepper drinking.

Anyway, if anyone lives in Texas you might want to write your state representatives.

Texas House of Representatives

Texas Senators

Atheism and Me

2008-11-18T00:34:00.000-08:00

In my formative years I was pretty apathetic towards religion, though my family was off-again/on-again JWs. Then in my twenties I became part of a protestant-fundamentalist-YEC-strongly Religious Right college church (I had a few issues). It was one of the churches where people talk about 'feeling the presence of God' and such-which I never did. I saw wonder and beauty and often questioned whether people were confusing that with God. I [i]wanted[/i] the transcendent experience. For years I beat myself up over not feeling it, and during that time I raged at both myself for not having enough faith and at God for hiding from me. So in a way that period of time was certainly a love/hate relationship with God.

Later on I became somewhat of a pariah when I told someone how I felt and it spread through the congregation like wildfire. I stopped going and eventually stopped caring about God. At some point I realized that I have very little capacity for believing in any sort of supernatural anything, so I'm an atheist by default.:D I actually realized my atheism after working for a time with a conspiracy believer. One day after talking about UFO abductions he asked me if I believed in the soul, in a manner that indicated that he expected to base his next argument on my saying 'yes.' However, after thinking for a moment I said that I didn't and gave my reason. He then asked about God, and for the first time I realized that not only did I doubt God's existence, but I didn't really care and in fact rather hoped that He didn't.

Over the next few years I began to really discover who I was. For a time I blamed my old church, and by extension Christianity in general for the misery I had felt, but eventually I got over it. I don't think that religion is good, but I don't believe that it is evil either. I believe that it simply reflects its own subculture.

On Sarah Palin

2008-09-02T00:00:00.000-07:00

Here are some interesting opinions the Republican candidate used to hold. Just a few:

1. Complete the sentence by checking the applicable phrases (you can check more than one).
Abortion should be:
Banned throughout entire pregnancy.
Legal to save the life of the mother.
Legal in case of rape and incest.
Legal if the baby is handicapped.
Legal if the baby has a genetic defect.
Legal in the first trimester.
Legal in the second trimester.
Legal in the third trimester.
Other:__________________

SP: I am pro-life. With the exception of a doctor’s determination that the mother’s life would end if the pregnancy continued. I believe that no matter what mistakes we make as a society, we cannot condone ending an innocent’s life.

So she favors forcing a raped woman to carry her rapist's child? Wow, that's pretty cold.

2. Will you support the right of parents to opt out their children from curricula, books, classes, or surveys, which parents consider privacy-invading or offensive to their religion or conscience?

SP: Yes. Parents should have the ultimate control over what their children are taught.

The problem is that many parents don't want their children to learn things that they need to know. Little Jimmy won't be able to 'opt out' of evolution questions on his SAT, mom.

3. Will you support funding for abstinence-until-marriage education instead of for explicit sex-education programs, school-based clinics, and the distribution of contraceptives in schools?

SP: Yes, the explicit sex-ed programs will not find my support.

Abstinence-based sexual education doesn't work. Not to mention that some parents don't do a very good job! That's one of the problems with Republican idealism.

11. Are you offended by the phrase “Under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance? Why or why not?

SP: Not on your life. If it was good enough for the founding fathers, its good enough for me and I’ll fight in defense of our Pledge of Allegiance.

Heh. What, are you kidding me? Now I'm guessing that the defense will be that she was referring to the words 'Under God' with this answer, but it sure looks like she thinks that the founders wrote the Pledge. (hint: they didn't) The words 'Under God' weren't even part of the Pledge until the 1950s.

The Price of Beauty

2008-08-22T05:03:00.000-07:00

This morning I was speaking to a rather attractive woman I know who has a problem-men 'fall in love' with her all the time. Now, I am not one of them. I am in fact quite happily married myself. However, it did get me thinking.

I have known quite a few women who I think would be happier if they were not quite so attractive. Attractiveness makes meeting a prospective partner easier, but it seems harder to know if your partner likes you for you or as a status symbol.

I guess I'm lucky to be utterly average.

Arkansas politician shot

2008-08-14T13:26:00.000-07:00

Sad news for the Democrats in my state. This reminds me of the Jim David Adkisson case from a couple of weeks ago. One can only hope that this is not politically motivated-our country really doesn't need that right now.

On Gay Marriage

2008-08-11T23:08:00.000-07:00

I believe that I have mentioned being an atheist deep in the Bible Belt. Because of this, I am considered liberal on social issues. So one of my more Christian than usual friends asked me for my opinion on gay marriage.

I'm all for it. Here is why.

Marriage is both a religious union and a legal union. Those who want it outlawed are often coming from a religious perspective that says that marriage is a sacred union-which if you believe in such things it probably is. However, it also serves a legal function. Therefore, it is not 'owned' by the religious groups. If it were, then granting legal rights based on marriage would be an legal endorsement of a religious rite. That's it. Simple, right?

Of course, I also thing that it is immoral to deny anyone the same rights anyone else has, but sadly the law often has little to do with morality.

Superhero Movies

2008-07-25T11:47:00.000-07:00

Apparently I am the only person on the planet who prefers The Incredible Hulk to Iron Man or Hellboy 2. Now don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed the other two, but Hulk captured the character perfectly. This was the Hulk that I grew up with.

I guess now I just have to go see The Dark Knight.

The Father of a Hobby Passes

2008-03-04T11:04:00.000-08:00

According to numerous sources, E Gary Gygax passed away today. Anyone even slightly geeky knows that he was one of the creators of Dungeons & Dragons. He made the world a happier place for millions-I can think of no better epitaph.

Florida Tries to Catch Up

2008-02-20T08:02:00.000-08:00

According to this story, Florida's Board of Education will be adding evolution to the state's science standards. See, it is this brand new theory that...never mind. Cutting edge, aren't they?

But wait! They must teach it as a theory, not as a fact! Of course it is a theory. So is gravity. Great Cthulhu's cochlea, people-almost all of science is theory.

The thing I hate the most about the Creationist movement is the dishonesty. Because the popular usage of the word theory translates into roughly the same meaning as the word idea, by making sure to include it in (only) this case they are deliberately misleading their own kids. Don't you want little Sally to do well in college someday? Shouldn't that be a bit more important than making sure nothing challenges the idea that the world was made in six days?

Now I don't care what someone believes. If you want to believe that the Earth was made from the blood and bones of Ymir the Frost Giant-hey, whatever floats your boat. That isn't what this is about.

The Theory of Evolution has withstood the most strenuous attempts at debunking for a century and a half. Why these constant attempts? Because it contradicts a literal interpretation of the Bible.

So does Intelligent Design. ID is the idea that Someone (wink, wink; nudge, nudge) set up everything to indirectly create Us. This isn't what the Bible says. So why bother?

Evolution is a huge part of all biological science. So even if you disagree with it, shouldn’t your child understand it? The sad fact is, in my area I find that few people have the remotest idea what the theory even says. It causes such controversy that it is glossed over to avoid problems.

Ah, well. I just bought Carl Sagan’s book The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark. Maybe someday more people will agree that the darkness is only scary when we think it contains monsters.

How I Read

2008-02-18T23:26:00.000-08:00

Currently I am reading How the Irish Saved Civilization by Thomas Cahill. This will be the next book I blog about. I thought this might be a good time to explain how I read.

First, I read the book to get an overview of it. After this, I typically write a brief paragraph. Then I go the book through more carefully, taking notes and contemplating what it says. Even a short book like How the Irish Saved Civilization will likely cover several entries.

Fiction works a bit differently. I read the whole thing to get an idea of how it turns out, then I analyze the plot as a whole. The primary difference is that I judge fiction based on artistic merits or entertainment value, while I judge nonfiction on what I learned, with entertainment factor and style as distant contributing factors.

Hulk-The End Part Three

2008-02-18T23:14:00.000-08:00

Summary of Hulk-The End

WARNING: This is a work of fiction. I will be discussing the plot in this post. If you don't want to know the ending, do not read this post.

This is an strange story to summarize. Very little actually happens in the story. Mostly it is a monologue by Bruce Banner with occasional interruptions by the Hulk persona.

The story has Bruce Banner walking about in a deserted wasteland. The world had at some point destroyed itself with nuclear fire. The only survivors are Hulk/Bruce Banner and cockroaches-who have mutated into monstrous new forms. At some point a recorder android had arrived to record the end of mankind, leaving a recording probe to await the death of Banner. Eventually Banner’s physical form can no longer survive and he dies-leaving only the Hulk.

Analysis:

First I’ll comment on the art of Dale Keown. It is fantastic. The Hulk looks, powerful, brutal, and menacing. Fantastic images abound in this graphic novel that truly deserves the term.

This is the greatest Hulk story ever, though you wouldn’t know it from the summary. This is because most of the drama is internal.

This story examines the Hulk from several different angles. One is the Hulk as symbol. The subtitle of the story is The Last Titan. Within the story this is expanded. Prometheus gave man fire. For this transgression he was chained to a great rock and a vulture ate his liver each day. The Hulk was born in the dawning of the Nuclear Age. He was one of the first. Mankind’s knowledge of nuclear fire would destroy it, and the Hulk pays for it by being devoured by the bugs each day, only to regenerate.

There is also the futility of the Hulk’s wrath. In the end, Banner sees eternity stretching out before him. An eternity of peace and being reunited with those that he has lost. In an interesting twist, it is presented in a way that he may simply be hallucinating. However, the Hulk will not go. He ignores Banner’s pleading and changes to avoid going with him. Raging against the dying of the light indeed.

Finally, there is the futility of power. In the end, mankind’s power destroyed it. In the end, the power of the world’s superheroes could not save them or the world. In the end, the Hulk’s power leaves him utterly, totally alone.

The final words are haunting, especially given the Hulk’s oft-repeated mantra of “Hulk just wants to be left alone!”

“Hulk feels...

...cold.”

An Atheist in the Bible Belt

2008-02-17T23:41:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite blogs is that of Atheist in a Minivan/PossumMomma. I found this post particularly inspiring.

I am an atheist living in Northwest Arkansas. This is not a great place to be an atheist. Atheism is not particularly popular here-witness the following column from the local paper.

Ignoring the horrible reasoning of the author, he does seem to represent the view of a lot of people here. At the very least, I have found few Christians who disagree with the sentiments-at best they may admit that he may have "phrased it a bit strongly."

I hope to see a growing number of atheist groups. One of the hardest things about being an atheist deep in the Bible Belt is the feeling of isolation. I know very few atheists, though quite a few agnostics. Religion is such a part of the shared experience in my area yet I cannot share that experience myself. At times when I was younger it was a lonely feeling. I hope to live to see a time when atheists don't feel like they need to be in the closet as I sometimes still do.

The Hulk-The End Part 2

2008-02-17T21:37:00.000-08:00

Summary of Future Imperfect #2:

WARNING: This is a work of fiction. I will be discussing the plot in this post. If you don't want to know the ending, do not read this post.

The first issue ended with a face-off between the Hulk and his future self. The second issue begins with the result-the Hulk flying through the air courtesy of the Maestro. The fight between the two is short-the Maestro's experience and trickery help him to beat the Hulk. The fight ends when he snaps his neck.

The Hulk awakens to find himself mostly paralyzed, with a servant girl attending to his every need. The Maestro is attempting to turn him to his own side. He believes that the Hulk's journey through time has created an alternating timeline, as the Maestro has no recollection of these events.

As time passes the Maestro takes the Hulk to the Wastelands. A small community struggles to exist there. The Maestro is reintroducing nutrients to the soil, but demands their daughters for his harem in return.

Maestro continues to explain how humanity destroyed themselves. Only he could survive and attempt to rebuild. For years the world called him a monster-but in the end he won. The Hulk seems to be considering the Maestro's position.

Later that night (presumably), the Maestro's chief minister attempts to assassinate the sleeping Hulk, only to find the rebels have infiltrated the palace. The Hulk is also up and about-he recovered far faster than the Maestro had allowed for. He had continued to feign helplessness in order to lull the Maestro into a false sense of security. The Hulk heads for the Maestro’s sleeping chambers for a final showdown.

Only to be met by a horrendous blast. The Maestro is wielding a weapon designed to kill him.He knew the Hulk had recovered and was waiting for this situation to occur so that he could destroy the rebels once and for all. He begins to track down the injured Hulk.

He tracks him to Rick Jones’ museum. Jones distracts the Maestro and is killed. The Hulk attacks but the Maestro is too strong. The Hulk crawls away, with the Maestro mocking his every move as he closes in for the kill.

Then the Hulk pushes a button.

He activates Doom’s time machine, sending the Maestro to the moment of the gamma bomb test that created him. The Maestro is destroyed in the blast.

Analysis:

This story is a great example of Peter David’s writing. Unlike many comic villains, one can almost empathize with the Maestro. He had been treated as a monster, yet in the end he was the one to survive.

The plot is convoluted with the Hulk and the Maestro constantly trying to outwit each other. It is interesting to note that at no point does the Hulk actually physically beat the Maestro. He beats him by trickery alone.

I personally feel that Peter David writes the Hulk better than anyone. What is interesting about this story is the ambiguity of the characters. While this has become fairly standard these days, it was still unusual enough at the time.

This story doesn’t showcase Peter David at his most brilliant-the next story in this collection does. In the next post I will cover Hulk-The End, which I consider the greatest Hulk story of all time.

Hulk-The End Part 1

2008-02-17T00:26:00.000-08:00

Yes, I am a geek. To honor my geeky roots I will share my thoughts on a comic book for my first real post. The next post should be more substantial.

The book in question:
Hulk-The End. Hardcover, Marvel Comics 2008.

WARNING: This is a work of fiction. I will be discussing the plot in this post. If you don't want to know the ending, do not read this post.

This is a collection of stories printed earlier. In this case the stories were originally published as Future Imperfect #1-2 and The Incredible Hulk-The End. The link between the two radically different stories is that both are possible futures for the Incredible Hulk.

I'll admit that I rarely read comic books these days. I only buy collected editions, and even that is rare. However, I have always had a fondness for the Hulk. Peter David added a depth and complexity to what is on the surface a very simplistic character. I've been hooked ever since.

Future Imperfect dates from 1992. At that time the multiple personalities of Bruce Banner's fractured psyche were merged together, resulting in him having the Hulk form at all times yet being in control of it. (I know that isn't an absolute case, but I'm writing for everyone here)

Summary of Future Imperfect #1

The story originally took place over two issues. The first introduced the players. We begin by following a group of anti-authority figures as they do...something. We're not sure exactly what they are doing at first. They live in an apparently post-apocalyptic future, inhabiting a city known as Dystopia-not exactly subtle. They soon run afoul of the local authorities, who kill one of them and capture another.

Then the Hulk steps in. He makes short work of the remaining soldiers and imparts a warning to the master of the city-the Maestro. The message that the Incredible Hulk is coming for him.

A messenger tells his lord about the Hulk's arrival. We find out that the Maestro is in fact an aged Hulk.

One of the surviving rebels is a woman named Janis. She takes the Hulk to their secret base (there's always a secret base) under the city. By this point the Hulk is demanding proof of her claims about the future. So she takes him to her leader. Not, not THAT Leader. Their leader is in fact an aged Rick Jones. For those who don't follow comics, Rick Jones was the teenager that Bruce Banner tried to save, becoming the Hulk in the process. He became a companion of many different heroes in the years following this event. He lives in a shine to the fallen heroes of Earth. This is a wonderful homage to modern superheroes and villains. The double paged spread is filled with relics that I myself enjoyed identifying. We also learn that Janis is Rick Jones' granddaughter.

Meanwhile we are given a flashback showing us how the rebels brought the Hulk to the future-with the aid of Doctor Doom's time machine. This leads to Rick Jones telling the Hulk (and us) the history of his version of the future. Mankind fell not to alien threats or the plots of supervillains, but to the old specter of nuclear annihilation. The Maestro built Dystopia, becoming absolute ruler of the few survivors. Rick tells the Hulk the Maestro’s identity as the Maestro leads an invasion of the rebels’ base. The defenses take care of his men, leaving only him.

At the end of the first issue, an elevator slowly raises the Hulk up to face his future self. They both utter the same line:

“Doctor Banner, I presume.”

Analysis:

Peter David wrote this story, with George Perez as the artist. The art is very cluttered and a bit too colorful for my tastes. It is very good, just not my favorite look for the Hulk. I never could get used to him being dressed (relatively) normally either. But that's just me.

Most of Future Imperfect #1 is set up for the fight we know is coming in the next issue. Considering that the writer had to set up a dystopian world, get the modern-day Hulk into it, and get him involved in a rebellion against his future self, I'm alright with that. When I originally read this story, I couldn't wait to see the next issue.

The story up to this point is fairly standard comic-book fare. I personally feel that the next part is far better. Hopefully I'll get to it tomorrow.

About Me

2008-02-15T13:51:00.000-08:00

This is my first attempt at a blog. In this blog I will write down whatever strikes me as interesting. Most of this will be what I have read lately. I am an avid reader. Perhaps even an obsessive one. I read fiction, science fiction, religious texts of all religions, philosophy, on rare occasions comics, history, philosophy-about the only thing I don't read is romance novels.

I'm in my late thirties, happily married to a beautiful woman, no children. I'm American, I'm a radical centrist politically, and an atheist-though not a very rabid one.

I hope you enjoy reading. Once there's something to read, of course.