Can I ask a question of religion? No.

Andrew Sullivan (at @sullydish on Twitter) can write interesting pieces. Sometimes it is for the reasons that Sullivan means. Sometimes it is something else entirely. This is true for when he writes on politics and when he writes on religion, and definitely when they overlap.

So recently Andrew Sullivan wrote on this question:

Is Mormonism Different Than Other Religions?

If you have seen some of my other posts, you will know that is a question I am interested and would like to see properly examined.

So what does Sullivan do? To start, he points to a later article coming out to address whether Mormons and the LDS act properly or not. Eh, it's a post from a writer, you can expect that to happen.

But it's where he goes from there that is so interesting.

"Mormonism, in other words, should not be tackled differently than any other faith; but neither can it be completely exempted from examination in this election."

Wow, that is such an interesting view. The first half, is so on point. Mormonism should be treated just the same as other religions. Every religion is weird. Every religion has secrets. Every religion has it's little traditions. So the fact these are facets of Mormonism is not, in and of itself, a good issue.

But that second half. It should be treated like other faiths, but it can't be COMPLETELY exempt from examination... Does that mean the other religions are exempt? If Newt was the candidate, would we not be allowed to talk about the Pope and Cardinal Dolan? If Santorum was the guy, would we be sanctioned for talking Evangelicalism? As I recall, "the black church" got some scrutiny. Was it like Mormonism? 


And this is the presumed starting point for so many of the faithful.

"Of course, we don't have to talk about my faith. That's different, I'm different. It would be offensive. Why would you ask or invade that area of a person's life? How dare you!"

Sacred. It's a human construct. We can choose to respect. We can choose to keep some respectful distance. And, we can choose to pay no attention at all to the topic. But when we debate and dance with religion, we don't have to worry about keeping space for the Holy Ghost. Rather we can get up close and, barring blasphemy law, speak our minds. And, no one should be above this.


As a matter of your personal life, you can believe what you like, without harm to others. Religion, in and of itself, has no immunity and is up for scrutiny, debate, and criticism. And in politics, their is a blend  of the two points, as it is your life, but it is also a public concept with real world impact.


So let's amend, and truncate, Sullivan's line:

"Mormonism should not be tackled differently than any other faith; and like all other faiths, it is not exempted from examination ..."

Religious Law is Blasphemous

Among the varying laws meant to protect or push religion are the blasphemy laws. It might sound quaint to you, but these are ever present in our world.

You may not know this, but in the United Kingdom these laws were on the books up to 2008. And there was wailing and teeth gnashing at the effort to end them. So, no, this was not some old forgotten law on the book. Back in the day, these laws were held over the heads of iconoclasts, like Monty Python. So, again, this was considered vital law. But, as of 2007, when a British teacher in Sudan mistaken let kids name a teddy bear Mohammed and was arrested, suddenly the importance of blasphemy in the U.K. went down. It was hard for them to complain about someone else's stupid laws, when they were still using similar laws.

Moohammad - Atheist Experience

But there has been change. Positive change. So it is easier to turn now and look at how these laws are maintained and applied around the world without that stench of hypocrisy.

So let's see a close example, in Turkey. A Turkish pianist made the mistake of having a twitter account where he made jokes (Twitter is only for sober dialogue.), including about the government and about Islamic beliefs.

... 

Say, 42, who is also a composer, is accused of ''publicly insulting religious values that are adopted by a part of the nation'', the semi-official Anatolian news agency said. 

...

He will be tried in the Fall, and could go to prison for up to a year and a half. FOR RETWEETING jokes on twitter. Not even iffy  @FrankConniff  or @JimGaffigan material. And Turkey is one of the more balanced Islamic nations, between religion and secularism. But also it is trying to garner trust among fellow European nations. Turkey, this isn't helping your case.

In Afghanistan, back in 2008, Sayed Parwez Kambakhsh was tried for blasphemy for writing an online article about the treatment of women in the Quran. He was convicted and sentenced to death. Then that was commuted to 20 years in prison (and appeals process followed that's proved to be a joke.). And he's the one of a number that have faced prison time or death in Afghanistan, for ideas.

In Pakistan, the most powerful governor in the nation, and longtime critic of religious extremist, Salman Taseer, was gunned down for calling for an end to blasphemy laws, in Pakistan.

For the Saudi, it has been an intense and sometimes unternational effort, having a Hamza Kashgari, a journalist who tweeted a joke (Tweeting does seem to be more dangerous than I thought.) was grabbed in Malaysia for the Saudi government. At present he is back in Saudi Arabia. And it is being said, he has gone through some repentance process to be freed from prison. But the facts of this, or if it has happen is not clear for me yet. We can only hope he will be freed.

An Australian man was only partially that lucky in Saudi Arabia. While on a Hajj (pilgramage) to Medina, Mansor Almaribe, was arrested for:

... Family members told Australian media that Saudi officials accused him of insulting the companions of the prophet Muhammad, a violation of Saudi Arabia's blasphemy laws. ...

He was convicted and sentenced to 500 lashes (whipping) and a 2 year in jail (Not to worry, the jail time was reduced.). After fighting over his health issues, it was decided to just whip him 75 times, then send him home. Happy ending? ...He is still alive, at least.

Just so you don't think Turkey is alone in Europe, we have Ireland. In 2009 they passed new blasphemy laws. Old ideas made new again. Hallelujah!

That's right Father Ted is now a crime.


...


But there is talk of a constitutional action. And, last year, a new government promised action.


...


But this belies further continuation of blasphemy laws in Europe. To be honest, it's not that rare.



Other European Nations with blasphemy, or similar (like Religious Insult), laws:

• Andorra
• Austria
• Cyprus
• Croatia
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Finland
• Germany
• Greece
• Iceland
• Italy
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Norway (on books, but defunct)
• Poland
• Portugal
• Russia
• San Marino
• Slovakia
• Spain
• Switzerland
• Ukraine

Things may have changed this information was first compiled. But it is worth learning about countries of interest. Their is also some merit in debating the line between blasphemy, hate speech, incitement, and the free speech.

I always appreciate the line:

"Your right to swing your arms ends just where the other man's nose begins."

Tweeting a joke about your vision of a god lands NO WHERE NEAR your nose. Does it?

Nor, does a satirical play, or an expressed negative opinion.

The opinion may be horrible, the play may be "obscene," and the joke may fall flat. You may see, read, or hear of any of them, and be offended. You may say they are blasphemous.


But that shouldn't make them crimes.

Political ends > Science

The ever thoughtful, Dr. Steven Novella, looks at the moves in North Carolina to legislate science.

Neurologica:

...  

Recently the North Carolina legislature proposed House Bill 819 to study the effect of climate change on sea levels, and therefore coastlines. For some reason the legislators felt the need to include in the bill specific restrictions on how the science can be done.   

...  

Apparently being elected to the State House of North Carolina invests politicians with superior knowledge (to actual scientists who work in the field) as to the proper way to model future trends. Extrapolating current trends into the future is always tricky. The very heart of any such extrapolation is to know what the mathematical trend is. There is a tendency to assume a linear extrapolation, but that is usually not the case.  

...

It is astounding that...no, no it's not astounding, it is too common these days to be that. It is too familiar a sight to see state legislators try and spitball scientific truth as they see it and fit it into bills. Evolution, Climate Science, Geology, the facts are all up for debate.

But, no. Just because you got a number of people to fill the oval by your name does not mean you're every half-assed opinion is golden. Sorry. But it's better you know that now. Politicians should have a respect for the people actually crunching the numbers on these complicated issues. A society that chooses to dislike science and scientist aren't ones heading into a golden age.

What happens when Christian leaders do want to stone you?

Uganda

Remember that country? Remember the "Kill the Gays" bill?

No? Damn your lousy memory! Here!

To be far, I think even most people who bothered to be concerned with the treatment of gay folks around the world, have moved on to other shiny things. But the question of law deciding the fate of gay people still exists.

And it gained a new proponent in one Archbishop Orombi. His full title is archbishop of Uganda and Bishop of Kampala. So not a minor figure. He's also the chair of the Uganda Joint Christian Council, which brings together Catholic and other denominations. So, again, not a minor figure.

Among other statements, on taxes, education, and presidential power (...Would love to get into that...), he made a point of pushing to have the anti-gay bill finally passed and enacted in Uganda. (...but, you notice how much his platform nicely parallels the GOP's?) He says he's concerned with protecting marriage and the moral fabric of the country. (...It's like he was separated at birth from Rick Santorum...)


Well, if you want to know the connections this has to the US and GOP, or need a refresher, just look back to Jeff Sharlet's work on it:

Jeff Sharlet on Uganda
Jeff Sharlet Explores the American 'Straight Man's Burden' in Uganda
Finding The Roots Of Anti-Gay Sentiment In Uganda






At the end of the article about the archbishop, you'll notice a name, Bahati. This is a leading advocate of this bill in the Ugandan parliament. In the NPR piece above, he said the following to Sharlet:

... 

"Bahati said: 'If you come here, you'll see homosexuals from Europe and America are luring our children into homosexuality by distributing cell phones and iPods and things like this,' " Sharlet recounts. "And he said, 'And I can explain to you what I really want to do.' " 

Sharlet accompanied Bahati to a restaurant and later to his home, where Bahati told Sharlet that he wanted "to kill every last gay person." 

...

And here he is with Rachel Maddow:




That is the thinking being dealt with here. And it now has the openly public backing of the most powerful religious voice in the country. That's what the gays of Uganda face today.

Many of us may have forgotten about Uganda. But those trying to get these laws enacted have not.

Atlas Shrugged, and they thought it meant the next one was a freebie.

If you haven’t seen or heard of it, yes, they made a movie out of Atlas Shrugged, the book of Ayn Rand. Rather, they made a movie of the first part of the book, intending to do two more movies.

The result was somewhat low rent. Not really the best of anything, but that was because no one really wanted to donate money to get the movie made (Had they no appreciation of Randian philosophy?)

So the movie was made, it was in theaters, we all made jokes (Mr. Mendo did a humorous review of this flop.), and it left the theaters, having made less than $5 million of it's $20 million budget. I wonder if it worked like those lousy religious movies, where the movies really bad, but it espouses ones beliefs, so you love it? No matter it was gone. ...

... Until the DVD was released.

Yep. Really a class operation there. They truly got the core message of Rand, getting and using social security and Medicare.

But that’s not even the end of it. Like Frodo warned of 2/3^rd’s of the way through Return of the King, “There’s room for more.” ...

... Yep. They conned…they got more support and have continued the vanity project. Come on, after Battlefield Earth no one was raced out to do the next part of the story. They had the good sense to burn their identities and walk away. Except, Travolta, he just got a relaxing massage.

But on with this they push. New cast. Got the likes of Michael Shermer to visit the sets. And the tracks looked clear and ready to get up to full speed.

That is, until the Ayn Rand people actually took offense. You see, the movie makers haven't actually paid for the right to make another movie. You don't skimp on paying off the Rand people. They will cut you. (Though I am not sure why they are eager to go after Netflix, for carrying the movie. Guess they are fair game for the "self-interested.")

Why do I imagine that the word parasite was passed around at Casa Rand? Guess the producers of these movies are not the right kind of selfish.

The Romneys, a case study in the need for Obamacare.

Electablog finely pointed out just why we need Obamacare, by example of the life of Ann Romney.

... 

Then I got thinking: What if Ann Romney weren’t Ann Romney? What if she were a mother of six with a history of MS and cancer and suddenly thrown into the free market to purchase health care? 

...

(Photo: Buzzfeed)

You see, Ann Romney has not had an easy life. She continues to deal with the impact of Multiple Sclerosis as she moved around and deals with day to day life, including campaigning with her husband. As well, she has had to face the impact of breast cancer. These are not light or easy issues on her own.

So we all want to give her and her family all due consideration as they have had to deal with concerns no one should face. As LOLGOP (at @LOLGOP on Twitter) notes, this probably helped Mitt appreciate the need for action in Massachusetts. Though, he's since forgotten, apparently.

What is different about what happen to the Romney family, compared to the lives of thousands of other families is that they are rich and connected. When Ann Romney had deal with a pack of kids, then MS, then cancer, she was not alone.

Things they don't have to worry about affording or acquiring:

• ANYTHING

Yep. That's it.


Want a doctor, anywhere or anytime?

Paid and on call. 

Trouble moving around?

Someone's been hired to help. 

Have a preexisting condition?

How much extra will that cost? And how much do I tip you on top of that?

Need a special car elevator to make life easier?

We'll just rebuild the whole mansion to make it fit in better.

When you are rich, famous, powerful, and/or connected, a lot of problems are not problems.

The problem with these not problems is most all of us are none of those things. And when things are real bad, we are alone scared and forgotten.

I am genuinely happy Ann Romney has persevered through her travails. I am glad she has her hobbies and family. But they seem to have both, Mitt and Ann, blithely forgotten about us, poor, the scared, and the uninsured. We need Obamacare. We need more than that, but so far all Romney and the GOP offer is less than Obamacare. That's no good, unless you have the wealth to not need it. Most of us do.

That is not the leadership I want, or that we need.

Calling out Romney's lies.

Why is Romney getting to lie so casually?

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

When will more journalist call him and his campaign on this stuff? Shouldn't we expect better, of politics and news folk.

We need more the like of Maddow.

FLORIDA. How is this accepted any longer?

FLORIDA. So many issues arise there. But it is in the matter of elections that is of particular importance for us to be informed, and talking. Worse, for us, is the media's relative silence. As most of us are not wonks and news junkies, so many of these key events are unknown, and in the shadows. That is a fault I'll lay on the media. But as they fail as promised, it is up to us to be heard amongst out friends and family.

In electoral events of the last 3 presidential bids it has had serious question arise. And know under Rick Scott, we see things only worsening. While shadiness falls over every election, if you look hard enough, Florida seems to take a special pride, with it's particular mix of different politics, races, cultures, and generations, in being a bur in the side of the process.

So what is happening under Rick Scott.

Think Progress has been chronicling the injustice.

How Governor Rick Scott Is Preventing Eligible U.S. Citizens From Voting In Florida

The Miami Herald reports that “Florida’s quest to identify and remove non-U.S. citizens from the voter rolls was started at the direct urging of Gov. Rick Scott.” Scott instructed his former Secretary of State, Kurt Browning, to compile a list of people who were registered in Florida but ineligible to vote. 

Browning struggled to aquire accurate data and eventually resigned his post in February. Scott moved forward with the effort anyway, and in recent days “the state sent a list to county election supervisors of more than 2,600 people who have been identified as non-U.S. citizens.”   

According to election supervisors, the list is riddled with inaccuracies. Seminole County Supervisor of Elections Mike Ertel, a Republican, posted a picture on Twitter earlier this week of a voter on the list falsely identified as ineligible... 

... 

A study by the non-partisan Brennan Center for Justice found that actual voter fraud is practically non-existent. According to the study, most cases of alleged voter fraud can be traced back to clerical or administrative errors. 

...

NEW DATA: Elections Supervisors Throughout Florida Confirm U.S. Citizens Improperly Included In Voter Purge

When Gov. Rick Scott’s (R-FL) administration distributed its controversial lists of possible non-citizen voters last month, state statute required the state’s 67 county supervisors of elections to send out letters requiring those voters to prove their eligibility to vote within 30 days — a window that will end in the next couple of weeks in many counties. But a ThinkProgress survey of several county supervisors in Florida reveals that the lists of presumed non-eligible voters is riddled with errors. In large and small jurisdictions across the state, supervisors have found that a large number of the voters on the list are indeed eligible voters. 

...

Meet Bill: The 91-Year-Old Decorated WWII Veteran Targeted By Florida Governor Rick Scott’s Voter Purge

Bill Internicola is a 91-year-old, Brooklyn-born, World War II veteran. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge and received the Bronze Star for bravery. He’s voted in Florida for 14 years and never had a problem. 

...

Meet Maureen Russo: An Eligible Florida Voter Governor Rick Scott Just Purged From The Voting Rolls

Maureen Russo was born in Akron, Ohio. For the last 40 years she’s operated a dog boarding and grooming business — Bobbi’s World Kennels — with her husband in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Maureen is 60 years old and has been a registered voter in the state for the last four decades. She regularly votes at the church around the corner from her home. 

...

Florida GOP Chair Compares Disenfranchising Voters to Stopping Drunk Drivers

Yesterday, Florida GOP Chair Lenny Curryreleased a statement defending Gov. Rick Scott’s (R-FL) plan to purge tens of thousands of voters from Florida’s voter roles. The purge is based on an error riddled list of purportedly ineligible voters which includes hundreds of eligible U.S. citizens in just one county. According to Curry, purging voters is just like a DUI checkpoint ...

But some action is coming, as the Department of Justice demands some answers.

TPM has the story: “The Justice Department sent a letter to Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner Thursday evening demanding the state cease purging its voting rolls because the process it is using has not been cleared under the Voting Rights Act, TPM has learned. DOJ also said that Florida’s voter roll purge violated the National Voter Registration Act,  ...

Also, a federal judge has ruled on this (Thanks to the hard work from BRAD BLOG):

As I'm on the road and largely off the grid this week, I was about to post the following video from last night'sRachel Maddow Show, thanking her for covering so much of what we've been covering here at The BRAD BLOG, for so long, in one nice long top-of-show segment. 

I'm still going to do that, but below that, I'm happy to post a press release just sent out by the non-partisan Brennan Center for Justice at NYU, breaking the news that a federal judge has just blocked the "key provisions of a restrictive voting law in Florida today." The Brennan Center describes the ruling as "a breakthrough victory for Florida voters and voting rights advocates nationwide." 

...

But the media needs to start asking questions and start talking more about examples like this around the country, because it is happening around the country. And until, or if, the media gets involved. It falls on us to speak up.


Get informed, get involved.

Hey, English, you have something on your backside.

Based on the soft spot people have for the Amish, this may not be popular.

The Amish. Noble. Frozen in time. Mercurial. Fuzzy Beards. Got a lot of wood.

The Amish. I'd have fewer issues with them, if they weren't another under examined isolated group in this country that has a level of under reported abuse. Then you had an orthodox nutter break away sect that has been going around and attacking other Amish, shearing beards off (an act of humiliation and emasculation) and being...what you'd expect. And then you have people all over the country who hold the Amish in patronizing awe, like living like it's the early 19th century is an accomplishment, or the secret to some insight.

No. They're living by a set of rules their founders set up for them, and avoid changing where possible. And fine. Do that. To each his own. But, please, they aren't magic gnomes, or Brigadoon.

Most of the problems, as bad as they can be, are internal. Like Christian Science parents denying a child medicine, it's bad, but they aren't closing the clinic. It's when they think that the world needs to bow to their religious quirks, even when it puts other people at risk. Then we have to say, no.

And for some Amish (in this case, another quite orthodox subgroup) the fight is on putting pretty nontechnical orange safety triangles on the back of horse buggies. You will have seen these on the back of many slow moving vehicles that enter road ways. If you've driven at night you will likely have seen these as you come up on things, like construction vehicles being moved. So, if you will imagine, a very black horse drawn buggie is going down the side of a highway after dark...would you like to be sure you see it before you plow into it? I would.

But for some it is an affront. An affront to them, and an affront to God. Yes. God will keep them alive (This is a refrain from many Amish when safety rules and regulations are brought up.). Great.

And as was one person noted, the Amish do get a lot of passes and forbearance. And that is fine to me. They want out of society and social security, fine. They refuse to fight in wars, I can respect that. But they also want safety laws that affect us all to be written to fit their thinking. And as they violate the law in these cases they just out and refuse to pay fines, because...God.

So what is the problem with orange safety triangles:

• It's orange and bright, which counters their black buggy motif.
• It's a triangle, which is a religious symbol. (It's also an established safety standard.)

So EVERYTHING that makes it a safety tool is their problem...are you fucking kidding me? Yes, I know that the Amish are enamored of the idea God is protecting them, but what happens to me? Does God throw my car away from your buggy into a tree, cause he's all about you? Will God help me out to? I'm not on Team Amish, maybe God wants to smite me? What the fuck does God have to do with simple safety standards used nationally to keep people alive?

Now they want "a dialogue" to find an alternative that doesn't offend. How about you put battery powered lights on? No? How about cheap reflective symbols car drivers will recognize? Oh, that's right, that's horrible.

Now, some have used some reflective tape on the back of buggies, cause even in this group, they know they need something, or they might get killed, or be jailed. But that hasn't been enough, because we do set safety standards in cities, counties, states, and nations. We teach drivers to recognize them so that they can respond efficiently. What's more, less orthodox Amish just put the damn triangles on and got on with their lives. Because using a simple reflective triangle instead of lights and other higher tech safety tools IS the compromise.

I know I've seen online commenters on news stories coming to the Amish side. They say many things, including:

• Religious freedom! No. You don't get the freedom to put other's lives at risk for your beliefs. This is basic road safety. You are in a slow moving dark black wooden box. You want to disengage with rules, but still want to use the roadways. That is not acceptable. Which is why most Amish accept it.
• The triangles don't work. Then why didn't the Amish arrested make this argument? That would be a good debate to have. When I am driving at night I see them. So I would like to see this proven. Until this, it's an excuse to ignore basic road safety.

Another annoyance to me is that the ACLU has come in to help the Amish. I love the ACLU, and appreciate the stand, but this is basic highway safety. People that can't see shouldn't drive, and people in slow moving black vehicles should be barred from highways if they don't make the basic effort to make themselves visible. Where am I wrong?

Government spending in the time of the 44th president

If there has been one constant ridiculous refrain conservatives love it's Reagan was a nuke loving, tax cutting, immigrant kicking kind of guy. But that really has nothing to do with this post. Rather this post deals with the refrain from conservatives that Obama is a big time spender, and he has been an unprecedented  inflater of budgets. Is this based on facts? How much do conservatives rely on those?

Market Watch noted that the annual growth in spending under Obama has been at 1.4%. So yes. Spending is up under Obama. Under GW Bush (or as Mitt Romney calls him The Predecessor.) growth increased until it was at 8.1%. In his first term, Reagan beat this, reaching 8.7%. Call me crazy, but it looks like spending has been quite controlled, as no one in the last 30 years has had spending growth as low as Obama has had.

Of course some of this comes from Republican's shutting down much of the government trying to humiliate the president. But the president also has been interested in trying to control spending. As he has said many times, he has sought deficient neutrality on many projects. For persons like me, I would rather more spending was made on the nation's infrastructure. But to say he has been throwing our tax dollars around haphazardly is just bull shit. It's time for conservatives to acknowledge it.


If there is one fun aspect (and by fun, I mean sad) to seeing these facts be reported on, it's seeing conservative responses. These responses center on the fact that Obama is a communist, a druggie, a villain, and so is anyone that has anything good to say of him. You know, the cream of conservative thinking. It would be nice if these people are so concerned for the country, if they would join us in a real conversation.

Christians and Leviticus *UPDATED*

One of the most spun and flip floppy aspects of debates over morality and Christianity is the topic of Leviticus. And this spills over from personal talk, to actual expectations and demands for US Law, and civil rights.

Leviticus's function is:

Leviticus, called by Rabbinic writers "Law of the Priests" or "Law of the Sacrifices", contains nearly a complete collection of lawsconcerning the Levitical ministry. They are not codified in any logical order, but still we may discern certain groups of regulations touching the same subject. The Book of Exodus shows what God had done and was doing for His people; the Book of Leviticus prescribes what the people must do for God, and how they must render themselves worthy of His constant presence.

It is a contentious topic. You see, on the one hand if you ever listen to a strict Christian moralist want to denounce some modern aspect of society, or a minority group previously made criminal or demonized. It is a favorite, as it does give LAW, and is so ridiculous it gives "ammo" against all sorts of activities and people.

Now the trouble is many Christians will tell you that Christians can and should disregard Leviticus. They see the declarations in the New Testament (SPOILERS) by Jesus end the need to maintain the old laws, which make"themselves worthy of His constant presence," at an end. So, by this argument, Leviticus is irrelevant and only points made in the New Testament should carry weight. But, as I said, Leviticus is still delivered by people in arguments as standing divine law. And the people making these arguments are not just casual bible readers, they are quite often pastors, priest, and vicars. So, presumably, authorities. Sorry, "authorities."

So maybe when Jesus made the new covenant, he meant to free people from the old laws Or as many also say, it is meant to be the final and ultimate sacrifice, ending the need for future animal sacrifice. Apparently there is some confusion on what the bible says, means, and wants. That's so odd, that never happens.

But let's look at the laws: (Okay, not all of them because it drones on and stops being ridiculous quick.) Some of this is from the Skeptic's Annotated Bible.

• What animals are unclean.
• Martial infidelity. DEATH PENALTY.
• How to sacrifice animals.
• How to buy slaves.
• A setting for the financial value of human beings. (A woman's value gap here is even greater than in the modern work force. Progress!)
• How and with who cattle can graze. CATTLE SEGREGATION.
• We are dirty. Sex is dirty. Dirty! Dirty! Dirty!
• How to purify yourself.
• No, really the cleanliness obsession. It's like reading something from the mind of Monk (from the TV show Monk). You're dirty. Someone saw you, now they're dirty to. Oops, missed a spot, we have to start over again. High tech clean rooms are less paranoid.
• Sleeping with your mother-in-law. DEATH PENALTY, by being burned to death.
• No hair cutting.
• Being a psychic. DEATH PENALTY ...That is a bit much.
• Women menstruating are unclean. Stay away from them, make them separate themselves from the community.
• Sleeping with a female slave. SCOURGING...of the slave women. The guy is lucky it's just a slave.
• Baby girls are doubly unclean compared to baby boys.
• Sex with a women during her period. EXILE. In fact men are not to even look at menstruating women.
• The disabled are barred from approaching the alter. God only has time for the beautiful people.
• Having sex with an animal. DEATH PENALTY ALL AROUND. Even the animal abused.
• No multiblend fabric wearing.
• Disrespecting your parents. DEATH PENALTY.
• Don't mix crops in a field.
• Blasphemy. DEATH PENALTY.
• Oh, yeah. And apparently gay people are bad, or something. (Though oddly it focuses on what the dudes do. But I guess if they thought too much on what women were up to they'd have to restart the whole purifying cycle.)

And also consider some of the facts of Leviticus, which should apparently be accepted without question:

• Bats are birds.
• Stoning people to death is acceptable.
• Insects have 4 legs.
• Burning people to death is acceptable.
• You can keep slaves

We could also bring in Judaism, which Leviticus was produced for all those centuries ago. But in the United States any part of Leviticus still of interest to Jews, is a matter of personal action, and constrained by American law (if someone actually wanted to stone someone else). Now their may be some people or rabbi that quote it to denounce gay people, but they are such a minor and unremarkable group that they are lost amongst the horde of Catholic and Evangelical nutters. It's like the Jewish creationists.

As I like to say, I don't care what you believe. I care if you want to impose it on me and others. I care if you want to deny people rights, or criminalize activities or persons that have no real harmful affect.


Let's face it anyone who references Leviticus to justify an idea, law, or course of action, is going to be an asshole.

See:

• Pastor Knapp

• Pastor Worley

• Rep Andy Gipson (R-MS)

These are just a few of the people at pulpits, in legislatures, and in governor's mansions, deciding law and policy, many fondly quoting Leviticus.


We may now be creeped out.

_______

ADDENDUM:

I think Larisa nicely explains how confusing all these ancient religious laws are.

Trumped by Trump

So, Donald Trump is back as a major player in news stories and the 2012 elections...

I guess the current season of The Apprentice ended last week, he must have free month or so.

And better Mitt Romney is pathetically treating him as a serious person, or informed person, or a person who's value isn't cheap and fleeting.

Oh, Mitt...you have such shit sense when it comes to judging character, or understanding humanity.

But he brought him back to national relevance.

And he's loving it, jumping right back into the birtherism, the same way he jumps into an iffy real estate deal.

Now, he wants to pretend it's no big deal. He's just a guy with an opinion?

... 

Trump will join Romney and former presidential candidate Newt Gingrich for a campaign fund-raiser in Las Vegas on Tuesday evening. Romney's campaign also is raffling a chance to have dinner with the celebrity business magnate for supporters who donate $3 to the campaign. 

... 

Yeah. that's more than just some guy you know. He's a backer. He's a surrogate. He's a fund raiser. He's a reference for why he should be president. So, please.

And Team Obama has fired back, with good reason.




This is all loss for Romney. He already has the Birther support. He already is the arrogant rich guy candidate. And he has plenty of money so far, and can get more without Trump. It makes no sense.

But all over conservatives are trying to deflect (Though some liberals are concerned this is an obfuscation of all the other shady activities Romney is currently involved in.). This morning on Twitter David Frum has been going full tilt trying to get people to be disgusted and focused on a dumb gaff of Obama, in regards to Poland, and seeing it has being just the same as Romney trolling to get a good Trumping. Come on.

Trump is a trifle. He's a joke. But Romney's embrace of him speaks all the more of who he is and how he work. It says nothing positive.

The plus side of the new Justice League book.

Yeah, I have been wanting to look at the new DC Universe...

...right. No idea what that is? That's the reworked and restarted comic book line of DC Comics...you know, Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and the Flash (yeah, I don't use Green Lantern in this spot, and I don't even really like Barry Allen).


That drive away all the non comic readers then? 

Good, back to not explaining things.

Diss-trict of Columbia. Funny, eh? Not really.

The District of Columbia, is stuck in a crap position. It's actually a territory, and being the capitol, it gets treated like an ever present pawn and a whipping boy. It has a representative, but no vote. And many decisions on its budget and laws are get in Congress, and you can imagine how nice that is for a city.

Along the way, it's been slapped around by the Catholic Church when adoptive services weren't going to be run the way the Church liked (but the Church is run by dicks and assholes). But Congress, particularly Republicans really love abusing DC. Guess if you aren't a real boy, your a puppet.

Since December, the GOP worked to cut off all funding to abortion services. This includes money from local taxes. D.C. CANNOT take and spend it's own money as it wants. That is the "state" of life in D.C.

How would you like to live with that absence of freedom?

It must suck, to be blunt.

And as they continue to mettle, the GOP pushes this further, now trying to pass law banning abortion in the district after 20 weeks. To be clear, Congress is looking to set law for the city of D.C. THEY DO THIS SHIT ALL THE TIME! And when Delegate Eleanor Norton, D.C.'s only representation, wanted to speak, she was denied. Why listen to a woman from the district, or it's elected representative, right?


Why aren't they a state yet? Or given some recognition and access to the rights as citizens of the country they are currently being denied?

Some have said that it is The Capitol. So Congress has a vested interest. But of you look at the issues that D.C. citizenry have dealt with over the decades, and the general Congressional disinteret, you know that reasoning is bull shit.

Just saying.

Standing on Obamacare.

For some working on health care reform was a folly. People, like Barney Frank have said it shouldn't have been attempted. And others want to flee it and deny it ad nauseum. It is a reaction we see too often on the "Left." Backing away from desired policy advances only strengthens the Rights expectations and arguments.

Now, is it flawed, "Obamacare", and I'll just call it that, but it does offer many important advances in services and access. Much more is needed, but to give this up will be to put many people in dire straits. It is important. And, it looks like some GOP Congresspersons are beginning to see and admit it...some what.

TPM (w/ video):

As the landmark Supreme Court decision looms next month, Republicans have been privately considering a plan to reinstate some popular provisions of "Obamacare" if it's struck down. 

... 

Rep. Allen West (R-FL), a tea party darling, told ThinkProgress that he supports preserving three popular provisions of the Affordable Care Act — the same three that his party’s leaders are reportedly considering. 

“You’ve got to replace it with something,” West said. “If people want to keep their kid on insurance at 26, fine. We’ve got to make sure no American gets turned back for pre-existing conditions, that’s fine. Keep the doughnut hole closed, that’s fine. But what I just talked to you about — maybe 20, 25 pages of legislation.” 

...

 Even half-sensible Tea Party favorites know the reality, our health care system is flawed, and Obamacare's key ideas are important ways to right some of these issues. And as much as they want to junk aspects, like a mandate, they are important to make most all the positives functional.

So as, people like West go and spout off and try to placate the concerned voters in their districts, they want to sell the idea of all the candy of health care reform, and denounce the veggies. We need it all together, to try to bring together a bad metaphor.

And the bosses in the GOP know this.

... 

The revelation sent conservative advocates — who have demanded nothing less than total repeal — into a tizzy, which forced House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) to reaffirm his commitment to “repealing Obamacare in its entirety,” declaring that “[a]nything short of that is unacceptable." 

...

They can't actually keep any of it, not if they want to keep their zealots happy. But of course this is the one of many things, benefiting Ameicans, that the GOP and their pressure groups want to dismantle, and not for the interests of everyone.

Because let's remember, once they get rid of Obamacare, what are they going to do?

Nothing. They can't agree on an alternative, nor a way to accomplish the key results it has given us already and as it further unfurls for America.

Now, let's recall some of these Obamacare benefits:

• Kids getting covered on parent's insurance until 26  years old now.
• Closing out the prescription "donut hole" issue.
• Seniors are saving billions on prescriptions and preventative care.
• Preexisting condition protection for people.
• 630,000 veterans will qualify for Medicare (that thing conservatives want to get rid of) and another 520,000 veterans will have access to subsidized insurance. Now consider how many of these vets have families who also need coverage.
• Women's preventative service support.
• Maternity care required.
• Being a woman won't be a preexisting condition and more...

Thrusters a go at NASA

Despite a dismissive look from many for NASA these days, NASA is continuing to work on.

Today, they have been testing out the new J-2X rockets.

NASA:

Testing of the next-generation J-2X rocket engine continues to set standards. Last fall, the engine attained 100 percent power in just its fourth test and became the fastest U.S. rocket engine to achieve a full-flight duration test, hitting that 500-second mark in its eighth test. On, May 25, NASA recorded another first during a 40-second test of the engine on the A-2 Test Stand at John C. Stennis Space Center. For the first time, test conductors fired the J-2X in both the secondary and primary modes of operation, 20 seconds in each. Previous tests were run in one mode only; combining the two allowed operators to collect critical data on engine performance.  

The data will be used in continued development of the engine, which is being built to help carry humans deeper into space than ever before. ...

NASA still is working hard. It may not be the priority we'd like, for the time being. But it still has it's function. And like all of us, it still has it's dreamers and innovators.

It's Lego Development

Ragnell (at @Ragnell on Twitter) linked to a funny image that's been making the rounds.

The great comedy Arrested Development, in Lego.

Bluth Company, Legoland Development Project


And, no...I am not building various settings out of LEGO in my loft amateurishly...I'm not.

Mitt Romney: Job Creator

Truly, it is rare that you see a candidate who so well and so often inadvertently reflects his true self and his true interests.


Thanks Mitt.

Sexism and Misogyny should never be political.

It's true. I have never wanted to see the issues with these issues as such, but what we have found is that some parties are more entrenched in old views and attitudes then others. That is not to say Democrats are immune, we have our own "old boys" that deserve the same slap up side the head for being assholes.

Now, as I have said in other posts, I am a fan of all sorts of comedy. Light fare to darker macabre humor. Self deprecating jokes to those that are pointed and aimed at certain people. But it is a matter of degrees. And we each decide how far is far enough with jokes. We rationalize the lines we stop at (just like with religion). For instance I feel you don't punch down, hitting or mocking those without power.

Also I don't generally care for jokes that dehumanize another person. I think most people feel this way. And you actually can one up that when you do this to someone you have a social or political argument with. You see chasing this humor means you don't have to actually address real issues. And it allows you to rob them of their humanity. The dialogue just stops. You don't win, you don't show the value of your position, you just humiliate.

How empty is that?

So, obviously, when Hustler, the Hustler of porn magazines, decided to go for some photoshop humiliation of a rather annoying and wrongheaded conservative pundit, S. E. Cupp, liberals came out to support her and denounce the pornographic treatment. Good. Her treatment is something that is insulting, and it's worth calling out as such.

S.E. Cupp, as I said, is not someone whose politics I care for. Her arguments for her ideology, candidates, or social norms in many cases hold no water for me. But that is my beef with her. I want to see persons like her argued and debated on that stuff. Photoshopping a crappy picture of her that degrades and hurts her does NOTHING to prove or show her the flaws in her positions. It just provokes. It is cheap.

This country has many problems in how we communicate and work through our social/political/economic issues. This doesn't improve things, it advances nothing (except sell some magazines), and only can coarsen the dialogue. We all deserve better.




And that should be where the story goes. We all agree, conservatives and liberals, that this was wrong and we will all learn and change...


That's not what happen.

Instead conservatives decided it was a good time to flip out and start cursing out the liberals who were agreeing with them and criticizing the sort of treatment Cupp got. Not surprising, like the story of the scorpion you could see it coming.

NC Fantasy Camps of Terror

Pastor Worley from North Carolina managed to nicely represent the constipated view and understanding of so many religiously faithful in regards to the LGBT community.

On the one hand he doesn't want to force convert them to not be gay. Nor does he want to stone them all to death (Is there any other stoning policy?). No, he just wants to round them up, put them in a small isolated area behind electric fences. Oh, don't worry he also wants to feed them while they die off inside. Christ's love! LynnSanity (at Illiter8 on Twitter) pointed me to the Human Rights Campaign page on this (w/ video).

And it's been learned that in past decades he actually longingly looked back on the days when they would just out and murder gay people, so I guess he's actually moderated. Death camps all around. Add to this one pastor saying this garbage, the fact that he has been defended by his parishioners.

The idea is dumb. It is also kind of half-ass. I mean, it isn't well thought out, but it feels like he's put some thought into how to make it "fair."

But it is plain weak. If you want someone to pull this plan together and make it really work, you go to someone with a real imagination and genuine creativity. Enjoy.

If you want to see the issues with Mormonism. *UPDATED*

As I said in an earlier post, I don't think generic attacks on Romney for ostensibly being different are a thing I deeply dislike. It is the same, to me, as attacking Obama for being black, having the name Barack, or having a father from another country. Trying to alienate a person is not a good thing, particularly when they have actual aspects worth derision. And Romney does, from policy to personal actions.

However, that is not to say his religion, and his part in it is out of bounds (As Mormonism operates, he is a bishop of the church). Religion is NEVER out of bounds. It's just magic underpants are the same thing as a Sikh turban or a Jewish kippah. You can mock them, but why? It is all ridiculous. Other aspects of every religion are more worthy of our concern.

There are a number of sites that detail the experiences of current and former Mormons. Feel free to learn about these issues. One is, Recovery from Mormonism.

But to listen to a discussion about life inside the church, Reasonable Doubts podcast did a couple of good episodes talking to former Mormons.

Episode 99: Formons

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints remains largely mysterious to those of us on the outside. With the help of three former Mormons, we explore the history, rituals and beliefs of the LDS including proxy baptisms for the dead, racial issues, mission trips, and a theology more uncomfortable than any “magical underwear.”

RD Extra: The Ties That Bind - Sophie's Story

Former Mormon, skeptic blogger, writer and sexual rights activist Sophie Hirschfeld discusses her past in the Church of Latter Day Saints, an abusive marriage and how she got out of both.

And if you would like a more humorous view of the LDS, you have Mr. Deity.



This is a fun web series. And be sure to check out other episodes, and see all the other faiths get tweaked as well, along with the Deity himself.




ADDENDUM TO POST:

Apologizes. I forgot to add a link to Part 2 of Sophie's Story, which was done as an online exclusive episode of WPRR's Reality Check show.

The Ties That Bind: Sophie's Story Part 2

In this online exclusive episode skeptic blogger and sexual rights activist Sophie Hirschfeld continues her story of leaving the Mormon church, an abusive marriage and how she became a professional dominatrix and an activist for sex workers rights.

To note, they do get into her sexual experience and work. But it is interesting to hear how unaware and uneducated she was, even after marrying, about sex. It speaks to how girls, women, and sexuality get treated. In part it is what we find in Mormon community, but in a larger sense it is what we find in the conservative Christian world view. Leave women blissfully ignorant of what will be asked and demanded of them once they are passed from father to husband.

...

And on 6/2/12 I fixed a typo at the start. And added the point Romney is a bishop of the LDS Church.