Atheism

It's often argued - by people who feel their beloved superstitions are under threat - that atheists are people without a moral compass, who cannot appreciate the wonders of creation, and whose arguments involve just as much faith as those of the religions they criticize. This view of the faithless is here soundly rebutted by Christopher Hitchens:

And here is the point, about myself and my co-thinkers. Our belief is not a belief. Our principles are not a faith. We do not rely solely upon science and reason, because they are necessary rather than sufficient factors, but we distrust anything that contradicts science or outrages reason. We may differ on many things, but what we respect is free inquiry, openmindedness, and the pursuit of ideas for their own sake...

We are not immune to the lure of wonder and mystery and awe: we have music and art and literature, and find that the serious ethical dilemmas are better handled by Shakespeare and Tolstoy and Schiller and Dostoyevsky and George Eliot than in the mythical holy books. Literature, not scripture, sustains the mind and - since there is no other metaphor - also the soul. We do not believe in heaven or hell, yet no statistic will ever find that without these blandishments and threats we commit more crimes of greed or violence than the faithful. (In fact, if a proper statistical inquiry could ever be made, I am sure the evidence would be the other way.)

We believe with certainty that an ethical life can be lived without religion. And we know for a fact that the corollary holds true - that religion has caused innumerable people not just to conduct themselves no better than others, but to award themselves permission to behave in ways that would make a brothel-keeper or an ethnic cleanser raise an eyebrow.

-Christopher Hitchens, God Is Not Great, 5-6.

They Know Not What They Protest

Notes on the "arguments" (I use the term loosely) made by protesters at today's "tea party" in Washington:

"Fascism": is a totalitarian form of government. Fascists don't like freedom of speech. If the Obama administration were fascist, you wouldn't be marching; you'd be tear-gassed and shot. QED.

"Socialism": Yawn. Still haven't cracked that dictionary, have you?

"Communism": also a totalitarian form of government, and also not known for its peaceful tolerance of loud, angry criticism. And see "Socialism".

"Where's the Birth Certificate?": Right here, you jackass. Do you need to see his placenta, too?

"You Lie, You Lie" [chanted]: Sorry, no. Joe Wilson's puerile outburst has been shown to be unequivocally, totally wrong to anyone who can read at a fourth-grade level. But don't let intransigent stupidity stop you from adopting a pithy rallying cry!

Obama as the Joker, with the word "SOCIALISM" written underneath: Where the hell did this come from, anyway? How does it make even the slightest bit of sense? The Joker is a sadistic anarchist who fights justice and sows chaos; socialism is an egalitarian economic system. Whatever you think of either, they're opposites in both methods and goals. Obama is a liberal, so I can understand (but not excuse) the harebrained accusations of socialism, but... the Joker? What?

Obama as Hitler: So Hitler, like Obama, was... an anti-war, bleeding-heart liberal? Do you not get the History Channel?

"Death Panels": Are you people deaf, or stupid? I'll go with stupid.

"Born free, taxed to death": And how's it working out for you to pay double what other countries pay for the same quality of care? You hate letting money go to the government, but you're content to be reamed by a flawed insurance industry? To each his own!

"Health Rationing": is an inherent aspect of any insurance system. Your point?

American flags flown upside-down: Well look at that - 'hating America' isn't just for liberals anymore! Have you forgotten the shame-on-you rhetoric you used against critics of Bush for eight years?

"Government-run healthcare": you know, if you chose to get your news from a source other than ranting loons, you might learn that this plan IS NOT GOVERNMENT-RUN HEALTHCARE. A minor detail, to be sure.

Truth is Funnier Than Fiction

As an extension of my last post, here are two actual, verbatim quotes:

"Insurance executives don't do this because they're bad people; they do it because it's profitable."

-Barack Obama


"When he said tonight that insurance executives are bad people, that took me back [sic] as a bit harsh!"

-Sean Hannity

Not the brightest bulb in the shop, are you, Sean?

In A Nutshell: Obama's Speech to Congress on Healthcare

Obama: This plan is NOT government-run healthcare. The public option will be a self-sufficient competitor within the PRIVATE insurance industry.

Republican response: Government-run healthcare is bad.


Obama: The plan will not add to the deficit.

Republican response: Mr. President, this isn't a good time to increase the deficit.


Obama: Medicare is vital. Ignoring the rising costs of healthcare will push Medicare into a crisis. This plan will help to protect Medicare.

Republican response: We disagree with Obama's plan to gut Medicare.


Obama: The plan will NOT cover illegal aliens.

Republican response: "YOU LIE!" (?!?)


Obama: We will explore ways to end frivolous malpractice suits.

Republican response: We encourage the president to find ways to end frivolous malpractice suits.



Obama: "Death panels" are a ridiculous fantasy.

Republican response: (Obstinate silence)


Obama: By the way, stop making up crap like that.

Republican response: Hm?