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You know, there are days when I really, really want to stop playing nice. The LDS Church is asking members to “do all you can to support the proposed constitutional amendment [banning marriage equality in California] by donating of your means and time.”
EDITED: I’ve deleted three paragraphs of angry and unpleasant things I had to say about the Mormon religion. Suffice it to say, if there was any lingering interest I might have ever had with reconciling with the LDS church (there wasn’t), it’s gone.
A few days ago I posted a video of John McCain discussing his belief that America was a Christian nation and that a President ought to be a person in the “Judeo-Christian tradition.”
In the interest of fair time, here’s Barack Obama speaking on a similar topic:
McCain may promote himself as a moderate maverick, but when I watch these videos, I see nothing moderate about McCain and the gulf between the candidate widens.
“…no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.” U.S. Constitution, Article VI, section 3
“Stop throwing the Constitution in my face! It’s just a goddamned piece of paper!” George Bush, November 2005, in response to criticism that parts of the Patriot Act may have violated the U.S. Constitution, as reported by three GOP witnesses.
“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” - Presidential Oath of Office sworn by every U.S. President since George Washington.
Tonight involved drinks, dinner and a romantic comedy. See I do date. I just date my best friend, we split the bill, and take seperate cabs home.
After a couple drinks, but before going to see the movie, Jen and I had dinner that included this bit of conversation while talking religion:
Jen: See, and that’s where they lose me. Once you get this idea that you’re superior to other people, that you have the only correct answer, once you establish systems of superiority–
Me: Oh, I believe in systems of superiority. I totally think I’m superior to other people.
Jen: What?
Me: I think I’m smarter than most people in this world. I’m more capable, intellectually, than most of the people I’ve met, anyway. And it’s not just because I’m genetically coded to be smart, but because in a world where chaos reigns, enough untraceable factors have come together to make me smart. And so, if there is a problem that is best solved by an intellectual solution, I believe that I am better suited to offering a sound intellectual solution than the average person, and that makes me superior.
Jen: Yes, but your system of superiority doesn’t involve a magic fairy or invisible being telling you you’re better than everyone else because of your skin color or what you eat on Fridays…
About 10 minutes later it dawned on me that anyone listening to our conversation would think we’re a bunch of assholes. Like I care what they think…
Anyway, we went to see Kiss the Bride, the new gay flick everyone is buzzing about. It was about what I expected in some regards: uneven acting from leads who were probably cast more for how their asses would look in the obligatory naked scenes than dramatic range, low-budget props, kooky side-kick characters, broad situational comedy based on mistaken identities and drunken revelations, etc.
What delighted me was that the writing itself (Tyler Lieberman) was so superior to the production. Witty, clever, and aside from some rather clunky exposition in the first 15 minutes, spot-on. Tori Spelling was great, as was Amber Benson as the bitter sister-of-the-bride (the anti-Tara from Buffy). The scene involving the rehearsal dinner speeches was comedy gold. So were the strip club confessions from the spastic groomsmen (including my other boyfriend Steve Sandvoss–but don’t tell James Marsden I’m cheating).
Sadly, if the dramatic moments between the two leading men had been as good as the comedy, this would be a great film. As it is, it’s a cute movie. The lead roles are carried Philipp Karner and James O’Shea - both of whom are delightful to look at, but as Paula Poundstone once said (regarding ‘actress’ Darryl Hannah): “It’s the walking and talking that are the problem.” This is coming from the guy who usually cuts actors a lot of slack if I want to find them naked in my bed some night (did you see my reviews of Stop-Loss and Jumper?).
One other point of issue. I’m getting gorram tired of gay flicks using bisexuality as a punchline. I don’t care how clever you think your “bi now, gay later” joke is, it’s tired and it’s offensive. Stop it.
Some days, I think that if Keith Olbermann was a drug, I’d want to inject him straight into my veins.
Don’t take his word for it, listen to the shrill theist become increasingly offensive in this audio…
I find it shocking that a elected official of any political persuasion, but especially a Democrat, is so blinded by her own biases that she literally tells an atheist that he has no right to participate in the legislative process.
Not the most exciting Saturday on record. I spent most of the day doing homework.
A tip for anyone eating at St. Francis Fountain in San Francisco, if you see the place staffed entirely by waitresses, keep on walking. If any of the guys are working, and you’re reasonably sure they’ll be your server, go on in. I’ve been avoiding eating there lately because the last few times I’ve been in, I’ve had to deal with the women who, at best, are slow and often get my order wrong or, at worst, are totally rude and bitchy to me. Luckily, tonight they had the good-looking guys working, so it turned out to be a great place to study for an hour or so.
I’ve been laying off the political ranting for the last week or so, but I saw a story today that pissed me off. You know, I have no tolerance for the recent trend of pharmacists denying birth control to women based on their religious beliefs. In this case, the pharmacist didn’t just refuse to fill a prescription, he wouldn’t refer the woman to another pharmacist either. Then he sued when the state Pharmacy Examining Board sanctioned him, claiming religious persecution.
Here’s what people like this pharmacist, and those who oppose ENDA-style laws on religious grounds, and those who feel personally attacked by laws preventing local governments from sponsoring nativity displays, simply don’t get: it’s not religious discrimination when the law prevents you from imposing your religious beliefs on other people. For examples of what is religious discrimination, see the EEOC guidelines or their handy facts about religious discrimination.
Recasting religious people as victims of discrimination when the government or regulatory agencies are trying to crack down on other forms of discrimination–with their roots in a particular vein of dominant religious thought–is an increasingly common approach. It’s also dishonest and offensive to anyone who has genuinely been a victim of institutional discrimination. Yet, it rallies the troops and generates strong emotions, so don’t expect it to go away anytime soon.
It’s actually quite fun to watch Jennifer get angry about certain things. The video that inspired this particular trigger is below the jump. Basically, a guy claims atheism is bunk because he didn’t find new organisms in a jar of peanut butter.
As for me, I became incredibly angry listening to this clip (opens an MP3) of Sally “Gays are worse the Terrorists” Kern, Peter “Porno Pete” LaBarbera, and Matt “Concerned Woman” Barber (found on Pam’s House Blend). With LGBT people experiencing one of the most upsetting and alarming rates of well publicized violent attacks and murders in recent memory, it truly baffles my mind that these three privileged assholes spent fifteen minutes talking about how bullied and victimized they are. When Barber announced that they had logic, scripture, experience and science on their side, I almost shit myself with shock. Um, yeah, scripture–maybe depending your interpretation and religious background–but Barber wouldn’t know logic, experience or scientific evidence if it bit him the assless chaps.
Anyway, between my raise, my bonus, my tax refund, and the end of my monthly tax bill for 2006, I finally have a healthy bank balance again. I’m no longer one paycheck away from living on the streets. How did I celebrate? I came home and fell asleep, then woke up at midnight. That’s a crappy way to start a weekend.
