I was watching a debate between Christopher Hitchens and four (really 5) Christian theologists the other day. I really like Mr. Hitchens’ writing, but his debate style often leaves much to be desired. Many times he’ll be so enamored about what he thinks the point or the question is that he’ll completely talk past the …
Monthly Archive: September 2010
Sep 17 2010
Movie Friday: Tim Minchin – Prejudice
This song really isn’t what you think it’s about: I love Tim Minchin.
Sep 16 2010
Hate speech laws – THIS is why I oppose them
I recognize that many people don’t share my stance on free speech, particularly as it relates to hate speech laws. I think that free speech should be free, regardless of its content (making an exception for incitement to violence, which really isn’t speech so much as being an accomplice to assault). I say this because …
Sep 15 2010
The short answer is ‘yes’
I laughed my ass off when I saw this. That being said, obviously not everyone in the Tea Party is there because they are racist – smaller and more efficient government has nothing at all to do with race. However, due to its stubborn opposition to any program designed to level the playing field or …
Sep 15 2010
Russia doesn’t have a race problem
I once had a conversation with a good friend of mine who wanted to go on a trip with her (black) boyfriend to Russia to meet some of her family members. I suggested that perhaps that might not be such a good idea. She asked what I was talking about. I was talking about this: …
Sep 15 2010
Can bridges be built between ancient enemies?
I haven’t done a ‘good news’ segment in a while, so I thought I’d take this opportunity to talk about a couple of items in the news that made me particularly hopeful. First off, I have been remiss in talking about the serious humanitarian crisis in Pakistan: Massive flooding in Pakistan has killed at least …
Sep 14 2010
Gobsmacked: Some people DO get it
I should know better. I should know better than to gauge the actual opinion of people by what elected officials are saying. And yet, I get sucked into the trap every time. Luckily, people aren’t quite as stupid as I might make them out to be. The mosque is not seething with resentment tonight.The atmosphere …
Sep 14 2010
Madness? THIS… IS… well yes, this is madness
Sometimes something happens in the news that is so painfully stupid that it’s hard to hold out any kind of hope for the future of mankind. It’s like watching a slap-fight between two legless drunks – it would be funny if it weren’t so macabre. Such is this “International Burn a Koran Day” bullshit. For …
Sep 13 2010
“I’ve done my own research” and “Common Sense” – when to ignore someone
In my random flittings about the internet, I come across many discussion forums. The great downside of giving everyone the tool to voice their opinion, is that we’ve allowed every tool to voice their opinion. Without wanting to sound like too much of a snob, there is a meaningful connection between formal education and the …
Sep 10 2010
Movie Friday: Peter Chao
Sometimes ridicule is a powerful weapon. Peter Chao seems to recognize this: While I am definitely not a fan of blackface, especially when it is divorced from its historical context, I actually laughed watching this video. Not because it’s funny to make light of black stereotypes, but because those same stereotypes are being held up …
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