An Inconvenient Truth

Controversy, schools, condoms, prospectives, America, selfishness, religion

I've been scratching my head concerning my next topic for quite a while. Thankfully my muse has struck, in what could only be called a late christmas present.

In case you're too lazy to click the link, apparently a town near Seattle is embroiled in controversy over the film An Inconvenient Truth. Apparently some bone-head doesn't think the school should show the film to students because he doesn't want his daughter to see it. Frosty (I swear I'm not making this up.) Hardison, a parent of seven who also said that he believes the Earth is 14,000 years old is quoted as saying "Condoms don't belong in school, and neither does Al Gore. He's not a schoolteacher. The information that's being presented is a very cockeyed view of what the truth is. ... The Bible says that in the end times everything will burn up, but that perspective isn't in the DVD."

I'll pause now until the laughter subsides.... Because it gets better.

His wife, Gayla, was then quoted as saying "From what I've seen (of the movie) and what my husband has expressed to me, if (the movie) is going to take the approach of 'bad America, bad America,' I don't think it should be shown at all. If you're going to come in and just say America is creating the rotten ruin of the world, I don't think the video should be shown."

Really? We're letting idiots like these determine the policy of our schools now? A guy who believes the Earth is 14,000 years old has a say in our educational policies? I'm sorry, I think a prerequisite to having a say in what our children are taught should be a few simple questions: Do you believe the Earth is flat? Do you believe in gravity? Do you believe the Earth is only a few thousand years old? If you answer yes to *any* of those, they should laugh you out of the room.

Secondly, condoms DO belong in schools. Teenagers are having sex, period. Hell 90% of Americans have had premarital sex (link) that seems like a pretty impressive number. Condoms don't encourage teens to have sex, it encourages them to have SAFE sex. If 5% of kids who wouldn't have had sex do because of condoms, and 50% of kids who were doing it anyway now do it safely, I'd say that's a solid win. I think Frosty could have used some education on condoms to save his seven children from being raised by a pair of idiots.

Third, Al Gore IS a schoolteacher. (link) In fact, he was a visiting professor at Columbia University, UCLA, and a few other places.

Fourth, of course prospectives from the bible aren't on the DVD. It isn't a gag-reel. He's dealing in solid scientific theory. Yes, theory, but with compelling evidence behind it. The bible doesn't have much to say in that regard. If you want your kids to learn about the bible, take them to church. Schools are for real learning, with actual facts and solid scientific theories.

Now the wife. First I think she should think for herself. Secondly who cares if it insults America? As if our country hasn't done many terrible things. Hell our country was stolen from a native populace which we then slaughtered. We then enslaved millions of blacks for several hundred years. I won't even get into the last 100 years. We have a sacred duty to criticize our government. America has had a LOT to do with 'creating the rotten ruin' of the world, and what's more we're in a position to fix a lot of the problems, even the ones that we haven't created. However we don't. Instead we spend billions of dollars to overthrow countries for their oil, and incite civil wars in the process. One billion people in the world live on less that one dollar a day. We've spent $350 billion so far on the war in Iraq. I think perhaps we could find better uses for the money.

It's selfishness, which is the same thing that caused Frosty to reveal his ignorance to the world. Too many people have gotten selfish to the point that instead of accepting the world, they want to change it to suit their own viewpoint. Change the channel, leave the room, walk away. There are plenty of things I don't agree with. Idiot preachers in Kansas protesting at funerals, the KKK, caffeine-free anything, but I don't want to out law them. Laws are for the things that keep society running smoothly. Generally things that if you put 100 average people in a room, 95 would agree upon. After that, it's vanity. If you don't want your daughter to see the movie, keep her at home that day. Let the rest of the children get smart while you stunt her development so she can grow up like her mom and have her husband think for her.

If you don't believe in gay marriage, don't marry one. If you are against abortion (and I'm *not* a big fan) don't have one. If you don't believe in evolution, feel free to teach your kids whatever fantasy you believe in. But keep your religion out of *our* government, schools, and laws. Because the rest of us live here too, and we think you're a little nuts.

Freedom of Speech.. unless you curse.

Today's 7 Words: censorship, persecution, asinine, obtuse, self-righteous, pedantic, myopic

I'm tired of certain individuals and groups telling other individuals what they cannot say, at least in the context of our civilization. I am sick of the government, religious groups, and other nut-jobs telling me that my right to say whatever the hell I want is less important than their right not to hear it. Anyone in this country, who wants to change the laws to impose their belief system, morals or censorship ideas on the people who DO NOT believe in it, is an obtuse, pedantic, windbag living outside of the realities of society, and especially the society of this great country.

For instance the myopic James O'Connor, in book called "Curse Control" says this: "...Today we seem to think the rights of the individual take precedent over the comfort of the majority." Well NO FUCKING SHIT! Of course the rights of the individual are more important, that is what freedom is. Anything else is unnesscary censorship. If we only respected the rights of the majority, blacks would still be slaves, women wouldn't vote (or drive, wait that could be a good thing :) just kidding ladies), and we would be forced into whatever religion had killed enough people to put itself into power at that moment. Isn't that what we fought a war with England about? Everyone having the right to believe and do what they wanted? No one is making a case to ban prayer in public.

Unless it's in a government institution, which has a point, I wouldn't want to be forced to pray in school, stopping voluntary prayer is a mixed bag I won't get into yet.

If we were they would be all over us. If we do not protect the rights of the minority, in almost any situation, then we are not a free country. Most religions can look to their own history to understand why the U.S. has constitutional laws that protect people from persecution.

A generally bastardized quotation states that: "Profanity is the last refuge of the intellectually bankrupt." I agree, there often are more articulate, creative ways to express oneself. However sometimes "FUCK" is a lot easier than saying "gosh, golly-gee, that hurt!" Swearing isn't a one-size fits all solution, just look at rap music :) I can't even understand that crap. But then again I'm not a self-righteous idiot who is lobbing congress to ban it.

And that ladies and gentleman, is entirely the point. There are plenty of things I don't agree with, chiefly racists, and other intolerant people. Especially those morons from Kansas who protest at the funerals of soldiers and others because "God hates [gays]." But I would lay down my life to protect their freedom to say whatever they want, no matter how much I disagree with it. No speech, even hate speech, is worth censoring, because it's too slippery a slope. No matter how much we disagree with what someone says, we *do not* have the right to keep them from saying it. My moral indignation and offense over what someone else says does not give me the right to shut them up.

So remember, if you don't like it, change the channel, leave the room, go hang out with "safe" people who hold the same beliefs as you. And for god sakes don't park your children in front of the T.V. for hours like it's a baby-sitter, and then complain when they see something you'd rather they hadn't. That's simply asinine. Me? I'll be the asshole saying anything I want to because it's my right to shock anyone dumb enough not to walk away from me. I'll be debating religion with Atheists and Christians, abortion with pro-lifers and pro-choicers, and politics with Republicans and Democrats. And look out, I might be swearing while I do it.

The BEST 7 words...

Shit, Piss, Fuck, Cunt, Cocksucker, Motherfucker & Tits.

I'm partial to #3, #4, #5, and of course #7. #2, but only when I have to go #1, and #1, but only when I have to go #2.

I always wondered if he got those first two backwards. Shouldn't it be Piss, Shit..... That way #1, would be #1, and #2 would be... well you get the point.

Anyway...

I felt it was only appropriate to start a blog called 7 words, with those now (in)famous words. I'll primarily be making social commentary, and only occasional rantings about my own life... Hopefully someone will be paying attention, and might even take a second to think.