I've got an idea: phuque the labels--let's just call them PEOPLE!
Greetings, fellow Dot Calm Readers, Freedom Righters, and Truth Crusaders!
A few not-so-random thots here...
I've got an idea...instead of the whole LGBTQ+ thing, why don't we just call our brothers, sisters, and everyone in between PEOPLE?
I've got another idea...why don't we pass the two Republican counter-proposals to the two gun control bills offered by Democrats? Granted, the Republican bills are far from perfect, and I understand why Dems voted them down, but still--it would have been something. Something would have been so much better than nothing right now. There's a video from Secular Talk below in today's Movies, and Kyle is dead on with his advice to our friendly neighborhood invertebrate (spineless) Dems--put up yer dukes and get aggressive with the Republicans because you're right on the issues of gun control...drown them in the poll numbers and denounce them in the media for flouting the American public they claim to represent. And keep doing it until you get the job done.
Duh!
Hum, what else has been kicking around in my haid lately...?
...um, how about the stupidity of religion?
How often have you been told that it's good to have faith--that it's all good just as long as you believe in something? WHY is that a GOOD thing? Faith is belief without evidence. Without evidence, how do you know you're not buying into something that's completely made up and imaginary? That's right--you don't! Here's an example for you. Would it be good if people started believing in Russell's Teapot and started organizing their lives around the religion of Russell's Teapot? Would it be good for them to spend their lives worshiping and praying to it instead of working to make life better for the very real people who live on this planet? Would it be good for them to waste their money building it houses of worship and offering it sacrifices instead of feeding the poor? Would it be good for them to kill and die fighting non-Teapotists...or the heretics who think the Teapot is Dresden porcelain rather than china, as Russell said...or the fundamentalists who insist that It Must Be Bone China? Would it be good for them to indoctrinate their youngest children into loving, fearing, and serving the Teapot before they could think for themselves? Seriously--how can you say that faith is good? How can you think it's anything other than a fundamentally threatening flaw?
Have you ever read the Bible...really read the Bible...through the lens that you MUST believe every word is the literal truth or you will fry in hell?
I did, and my brain barfed.
I didn't even get through chapter 2 of Genesis before I rejected the Bible's "factual" content. Why? Because there is none!
Here is a discussion of biblical contradictions from infidels.org; there's another great discussion at Skeptics Annotated Bible. You can also go to the forum for "Why Won't God Heal Amputees?"--I was shocked at how many more contradictions and inconsistencies I saw there in the reader comments...cheez. No wonder so many fundies become atheists--they read their Bibles! Crazy stuff like Jesus breaking his own commandments, contradicting himself, or misquoting scriptures...or Judas being damned to hell for betraying God whether he betrayed Jesus or not (he had no choice: he either betrayed Jesus, who was God, thus betraying God, or, by not betraying Jesus, he'd have allowed God's "plan" to fail, thus betraying God)...that I never even thought about before.
It's enough to make your brain spin around inside your haid!
More than a few were obvious to me just from reading the Bible...like God creating the first man both before and after all the animals, not to mention all the other glaring factual errors in the creation stories...or all the glaring scientific errors in the OT...or God's viciously immoral behavior in the OT, especially to Pharaoh and the Egyptians...or the two ways Judas died and the two ways the potter's field was sold...or Jesus' failed prophecy of his return--which, according to Deuteronomy, means that we can ignore Jesus and not fear him! And since Jesus is God, we can ignore and not fear God, too. Nyeah!
But I digress...
Since I was pretty much taught not to believe the OT literally as a kid, I found it laughable trying to believe it literally as an adult. Impossible...unless you've either lived under a rock your whole life or unless you've been educated by rocks (or unless you have rocks in your haid). However, I did believe the New Testament growing up...again, not literally because we were taught, for example, that each gospel author was trying to bring out a different aspect of Jesus and that the NT wasn't intended as a literal history.
Unfortunately, if you read the Bible, you'll see that the Book itself insists that you believe every word literally without question at the risk of eternal damnation if you don't.
But I digress (again).
So it's taken seeing things from others' points of view to realize all the nasty shit in the NT. Jesus was NOT very nice...he was NOT very smart (he couldn't even quote scripture correctly)...and he is NOT very merciful. Oh, and his "family values" suck. (Don't believe me--look it up for yourself!)
The douche doesn't fall far from the bag in that unholy family.
I know I've said this before, but I'd expect a god to be better than I am. Smarter, more patient, more loving, more merciful. Not the biggest douche on the planet. In other words, I saw nothing in the God of the Bible that inspires me to love, follow, or worship--I saw only to disgust, disdain, and reject.
And this God is where Leviticus 20:13 comes from--God's command to kill the gays. And Leviticus is where the Quran and the Hadith come from with Allah's command to kill the gays. (Oh, yeah, Christians--you can cut your hair, eat pork, get divorced, and let your women speak in church or walk around bare-headed all you want...you can break every other law in Leviticus and Deuteronomy and disregard every command Jesus uttered...as long as you hate them gays enough, you're good with God, yessiree bob!)
And this is why I say that religion is dangerous. If you really read your holy book, you will see that the stories do NOT make sense. They are NOT factual. They are NOT moral. They do NOT point to a godlike God.
They point to humans seeking to control other humans.
The worst part?
When the humans with the control scream enough at the humans without the control, the mentally unstable among the humans without the control go all unhinged. And they shoot up women's clinics. Or churches. Or gay nightclubs. Or non-believers. Or believers from a different sect. Or completely innocent bystanders. Or friends and neighbors. All in the name of their god, whatever they choose to call it.
And, as far as the right-wingers in their respective governments are concerned, that's hunkey dokey. Great for gun sales, and we luuuurve our gun sales!
GRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!
Lastly, before I slog on with the blog, let me remind you please to read "The Silenced Majority" by Amy Goodman and Denis Moynihan. (There are YouTube videos, too, but do read the book.) This book should be required reading for all American voters. The information in the book will make your blood boil once you realize how badly you're being skrooed (worse than you can imagine), by whom (the rich), and why (money). You'll see just how little the Powers That Be on either side of the aisle value your life or your rights. It's a bitter pill to swallow, but we need to know so that we can vote properly and so that we don't EVER forget why it's so phuquen important to support Bernie's "revolution" back to the center.
Also don't forget to read Dot Calm's shadow's favorite independent sources of news and information:
Daily Kos
AlterNet
Democracy Now!
Slate
Vox
BuzzFeed
Conservatives are Destroying our Future
Conservative Clown Car
Mrs. Betty Bowers, America's Best Christian(TM)
God, the Good Lord Above
Americans Against the Republican Party
Americans Against the Tea Party
Please keep supporting Bernie--send him a buck o' five if you can. At the very least, I'm gonna send $15 to Debbie Wasserman Schultz's Democratic primary opponent, Tim Canova, on Bernie's behalf (yup--ain't done it yet but still definitely planning to...I know, I know! This week, without fail--I think that vote is on the 28th). Schultz needs to GO!
Thanks for reading, and thanks for being good to yourself and your loved ones. Hug or call an LGBTQ friend today, please. I am still reaching out to my dear, delightful never-been-"normal" buds and budettes.
With condolences for the victims in Orlando--who were primarily Latino, so love to my Latino buds and budettes, too--and their families...and in solidarity with my LGBTQ brothers, sisters, and everything in between around the world...I remain
- Dot Calm's shadow
(P.S.--consider the standard Blogger-random-formatting disclaimer to be still in effect. Grrrrr!)
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MAKE AMERICA
GAY AGAIN
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Mailbag
From Keystone Progress--stop payday loan sharks
With Shark Week coming up, it's the perfect time to make sure we stop the Payday Loan Sharks. Click on the link to make your comments to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. You can write your own reasons why we need to stop 300% predatory interest rates on the poor, or you can use our pre-written template.
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From National Partnership--stop the lies; protect women's right to reproductive freedom
Abortion opponents across the country are telling lies about abortion and then turning those lies into harmful laws.
These dangerous laws aim to prevent a woman from getting abortion care, even when that means lying to her, delaying her care, requiring unnecessary tests, making care more expensive and shutting down reproductive health clinics.
That’s why the National Partnership is running a powerful online ad campaign to take the fight to abortion opponents and help spread the word about the urgent need to protect women’s access to abortion care.
If you chip in $5, $10, $20 — whatever you can afford — we'll keep these "Lies Into Laws" ads running on social media, petition sites and beyond.
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From Demand Progress--stop Trump's corporate supporters
Facebook and Google are helping fund Trump's
campaign of hate as corporate donors to Trump's National Convention in
Cleveland next month. Will you chip in $5 to help demand they end their support of Trump?
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As
veterans, military family members, and VoteVets supporters, we have a
unique understanding about the cost of our dependence on foreign oil.
It's not just measured in the price at the pump, or a changing climate,
but also in the lives lost and changed through deployments to protect
the flow of oil in the Middle East.
Right
now, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is considering gutting
one of the most important policies put in place to limit the amount of
fossil fuels we burn and lower our dependence on foreign oil.
Here's
the letter we're submitting the EPA in response. Read it, and co-sign
the letter before we submit it. You can do that here: http://action.votevets.org/
To: Environmental Protection Agency:
Docket ID Number: EPA-HQ-OAR-2016-0004
Please preserve a strong Renewable Fuel Standard and increase America's 2017 biofuel targets to the statutory levels called for by Congress. Weaker targets for domestic biofuels threaten the economic, environmental and energy security benefits of America's most successful energy policy.
As veterans, military families and VoteVets supporters, we know the cost of America's dependence on foreign oil. We cannot afford to become complacent about shielding our country against the next spike in oil prices or crisis in the Middle East.
By protecting America's domestic energy producers from manipulation by foreign cartels, this simple policy has started a revolution that drives billions of dollars of economic activity across the U.S. and supports more than 852,000 American jobs.
More than that, investing in cleaner-burning, American-made energy saves consumers money at the pump and reduces emissions.
Don't allow special interests to set America down the wrong path. Strengthen the Renewable Fuel Standard, and keep our country on the road to true energy security.
Thank you,
[[Your Name]]
Sign the Letter here:
http://action.votevets.org/
All my best,
Rick Hegdahl
Iraq War Veteran
Iraq War Veteran
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From Barbara Boxer--Republicans side with NRA over American people
It is heartbreaking.
We just voted on two commonsense gun reforms overwhelmingly supported by the American people.
Like clockwork, Republican Senators voted in lockstep with the NRA -- and against action to save thousands of American lives from gun violence.
Enough. This painful cycle of violence, shock, heartbreak, and prayers -- only to be followed by inaction -- is unacceptable.
But I'm not giving up -- and I know you won't either.
We're going to continue fighting for gun reform.
And we're going to do everything in our power to take back the Senate -- and replace Republicans who side with the NRA with Democrats who demand action on gun reform!
Please add your name now to say you won't back down, not now, not ever. I need you and our
PAC for a Change community to stay in this fight. Are you in?
| I'M IN » |
Thank you for not backing down on gun reform -- no matter how much the NRA tries to stop us.
In Friendship,
Barbara Boxer
U.S. Senator
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From Stand--stop oil trains
All of us have friends and family in the blast zone -- 25 million Americans live within one mile of oil trains.
Looking back on the Lac-Mégantic tragedy or the fiery
June 3rd oil train derailment in the Columbia River Gorge -- we know the
blast zone is a dangerous place to be. There has been more damage done by oil trains in the past three years than the previous four decades combined.
This is your opportunity to join the movement. If you want to organize, it’s easy! Some gatherings only have a handful of people, but every gathering is part of this important national movement.
Communities are fighting back -- and winning -- against
oil trains. They’re breaking free, demanding transparency and moving to
safe and clean energy. More and more government officials are seeking a
ban too. The Mayor of Portland just came out against them and, even the
Oregon Department of Transportation is calling for an indefinite
moratorium.
No matter how you participate this July, we’re going to say loud and clear -- we have the right to know and the right to say “no” to dangerous oil trains. Because we know every oil train battle is part of a bigger movement to protect public health, safety, and the climate.
Let's do this together,
Ross Hammond
Campaigns Director
P.S. Stand has been selected as one of three non-profit groups to receive funding from CREDO. For every vote we get in June, we get a donation. It’s easy! Vote now!
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From Daily Kos and Arcadia Power in Virginia--free LEDs for signing up for clean power
Together we are supporting the growth of renewable energy projects across the country. And by taking this extra step, we are showing that consumers are standing up and demanding clean energy.
Sign up for clean energy by June 30th and get 4 FREE Energy-Saving LEDs from our friends at Arcadia Power.
Thank you,
Chris Bowers
Executive Campaign Director, Daily Kos
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From Daily Kos--don't let Republicans hide behind the NRA any more!
Sign the petition from Daily Kos and the PCCC: This Congressional procedure should be used to pass the assault weapons ban.
Here's CREDO's--I signed both, just like Dot Calm would have.
| |
| Tell Democratic leadership: Force a vote on gun control now, including a ban on assault weapons | |
| Tell Democratic leadership:
“Do everything in your power, including halting all other legislative business, to force a vote on comprehensive gun control reforms, including banning the sale of assault weapons.”
Add your name:
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You know who I would NOT WANT
in my daughter's bathroom?
BROCK ALLEN TURNER
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Democracy Now!
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Stories |
In
Oakland, California, a third police chief has resigned in just over a
week amid a massive scandal in which multiple Oakland police officers
are facing allegations of statutory ... Read More →
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"The Battle Has Just Started": Activists Denounce Police Killings & Crackdowns on Teachers in Oaxaca
In
the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca, a deadly police crackdown against
teachers has left nine people dead and more than 100 wounded. On Sunday, police descended on ... Read More →
|
Oakland
is facing a major police scandal in which multiple Oakland police
officers are facing allegations of statutory rape and human trafficking
after allegedly having sex with ... Read More →
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On Thursday,
British voters will go to the polls in a historic referendum known as
Brexit to decide whether to leave or remain in the European Union.
British opposition leader ... Read More →
|
An Attack on Democracy Itself: UK Opposition Leader Jeremy Corbyn Pays Tribute to Murdered MP Jo Cox
Britain is continuing to mourn the murder of British Labour MP Jo Cox, who was stabbed and shot to death Thursday after she met constituents in her district. Cox's death came ... Read More →
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I'M WITH LGBTQ+
They dress better, and they're more fun!
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Daily Kos
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Women of the planet!
Stand proud...
No Woman Ever
wrote ONE WORD
of the Bible
or the Quran
Stand proud...
No Woman Ever
wrote ONE WORD
of the Bible
or the Quran
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SCOTT BAIO IS A MORON
FOR SAYING OBAMA
IS A SECRET MUSLIM
Suck on that, Baio...you little dipshit!
Go hang with Pat Sajak now, since you're both
LOSERS!
Go hang with Pat Sajak now, since you're both
LOSERS!
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AlterNet
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...um, the one on the left is a hell-bound harlot,
according to the Bible and the Quran,
because her head is uncovered
and she is immodestly dressed?
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RELIGION KILLS
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Movies
Secular Talk on how the Dems can and should grow a pair and fight for the pro-death Get Obama Party for sensible gun control...makes me wanna bitch-slap 'em!
Stephen Colbert's take on Republican obstruction of gun control--I can't believe they'd rather let phuquen terrorists buy guns than protect Americans according to the will of the American people
Seth Meyers's take on gun control and the Senate's failure to pass anything reasonable
The authoritarian left, which is NOT liberal--it exists, and it gives the authoritarian right way too much ammunition to denounce the real left by virtue of association
The Young Turks on Wendy Bell's firing--a very even-handed discussion with Cenk and Ana. This is why Dot Calm loved TYT...and I do, too.
John Oliver gives you the inside skinny on Brexit and why it's a bad idea (who knew?). Yup, it's a batshit crazy idea. Dunno about you, but it got quite a few good laugh-snorts outta me!
Seth Meyers's take on gun control and the Senate's failure to pass anything reasonable
The authoritarian left, which is NOT liberal--it exists, and it gives the authoritarian right way too much ammunition to denounce the real left by virtue of association
The Young Turks on Wendy Bell's firing--a very even-handed discussion with Cenk and Ana. This is why Dot Calm loved TYT...and I do, too.
John Oliver gives you the inside skinny on Brexit and why it's a bad idea (who knew?). Yup, it's a batshit crazy idea. Dunno about you, but it got quite a few good laugh-snorts outta me!
Corey Lewandowski: YOU'RE FIRED! How much ya wanna bet Trump stiffs Lewandowski out of whatever he owes him just for good measure?! (Why does every image of Lewandowski look like a mug shot?)
Trump's sad, empty little campaign--it's corrupt for politicians to take money from corporations and PACs and super-PACs, so that's not where my beef with Trump's vanishingly small campaign is. No, I LOL because Trump claims he has "possibly" the most campaign money EVAR, and he claims he's going to be the first person to make money campaigning! Trump is one pathetic, lying, windbag LOSER, and his statements really beg the question: from whom does he plan to steal, and whom does he plan to phuque over to make money by campaigning?!??
Here's Stephen Colbert's take on The Donald's tiny shrunken shriveled campaign with a few funny jabs thrown in at Hillary for good measure...hehe
Trump paid a surprisingly large proportion of his measly campaign funds to Draper Sterling--wait, isn't that the fictitious firm from Mad Men? And what was I saying about making money off the campaign? Graft, anyone? If not graft outright, what Trump's doing with his campaign peanuts still looks fishy. Do ya think he got into the campaign just to make money?
Trump paid a surprisingly large proportion of his measly campaign funds to Draper Sterling--wait, isn't that the fictitious firm from Mad Men? And what was I saying about making money off the campaign? Graft, anyone? If not graft outright, what Trump's doing with his campaign peanuts still looks fishy. Do ya think he got into the campaign just to make money?
Seth Meyers with Ricky Gervais and his brilliant plan for Donald Trump--hee HEE!
Nonstampcollector on What Would Yahweh Do
Nonstamp on Jephthah
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posted by Dot Calm @ 7:43 PM
