Bittersweet Distractions

Current Events, Phiosophy, and Other Distractions

Archive for the ‘Philosophy’ Category

Posted by Price on September 1, 2009

Sinclair Lewis wrote, “When facism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.”

The Freedom Federation is the soft and quiet form of Ameritianity.org. Take a look at Glenn Beck’s 9/12 project, watch Fox defend the Christian Crusade, and you might start to think twice about with whom you associate.

Posted in Christofacism | Leave a Comment »

Another Attack on Christianity in the U.S.A.

Posted by Price on August 5, 2009

Wouldn’t you know! The secular, godless government is attacking REAL American Christians again! This time, they are putting them in jail!

Dale Neumann of Wisconsin, a born-again Christian, is charged with reckless homicide for putting God before materialism! Oh Heaven’s forbid! Neumann’s daughter was ill, very ill, and he prayed to God to heal his daughter’s ailment instead of taking her to the doctor. He said, “If I go to the doctor, I am putting the doctor before God. I am not believing what he said he would do.”

Of course, the Bible does say God will heal. And, we all know that the U.S. Constitution was written based on the Christian Bible for the US to be a Christian nation. So, what’s wrong with putting the Bible above US law? Isn’t that what the Founders intended?

Neumann’s daughter was 11 years old and had diabetes. She could have been easily helped by a doctor. But, his belief in a Bronze Age text brought him to neglect proper, modern treatment. How sad. How stupid. The above is a joke by the way.

Posted in Christofacism, General, Religion, Science, Science and Religion | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Calling all Birthers

Posted by Price on July 24, 2009

So lots of attention has been given to the Obama birth certificate controversy lately. Perhaps it is a sign that this intellectual movement is gaining some serious momentum.

The issue of concern is fundamentally whether or not Barack Obama was born in the United States, and thus whether or not he is qualified to be the President of the United States.

During the presidential election campaigns, the issue was addressed by Obama’s team who released a copy of Obama’s Certificate of Live Birth. Naturally, skeptics believed it was not legitimate–in fact, a forgery.

So, Factcheck.org decided to take on the issue. Factcheck.org staff members traveled to Chicago, inspected and photographed the COLB, confirmed its authenticity of its authenticity and concluded Barack Obama is, in fact, a natural born U.S. citizen.

Despite Factcheck’s efforts, some of the birthers maintained their skepticism by arguing the Factcheck is liberal and bias, and in the bed for Barack Obama. Others forged ahead claiming that the COLB is a short-form BC (as opposed to a long-form), and thus insufficient evidence of Obama’s U.S. birth. Finally, the State Health Department of Hawaii issued several statements concerning the skepticism, saying the Barack Obama was born in Hawaii and that the COLB is a legitimate and legal Birth Certificate.

But still, many aren’t buying it.

Several reputable news organizations such as CNN, Politco, and others have addressed the issue, while bias political entertainers who consistently promote falsehoods have continued to promote it.

Then recently, this happened and has since received a ton of coverage:

What I find to be most interesting is that the birthers, such as this woman, are demanding a long-form BC with the doctor’s name, hospital, and witnesses, as well as school records and a bunch of other ‘evidence.’ They are hard to impress; they need undeniable evidence that BO was born in the US. But… in the last part of her first statement:

He is not an American citizen. He is a citizen of Kenya.

What? Really? Given the birthers strict standards for what evidence is considered sufficient for proof of citizenship, I can only imagine that they must have overwhelming evidence of Obama’s Kenyan birth and/or citizenship.

So, I googled “Obama born in Kenya evidence” and most of the results were about Obama’s Kenyan BC being sold on eBay. But I finally got to the real source of evidence most cited.

A translation that supposedly suggests that Obama’s Kenyan grandmother said she was present for Obama’s birth in Kenya. That’s all the evidence you need? A translation, which has been reported as a false (or at least misunderstood or distorted), is the solid proof the Obama was born in Kenya.

I just have to say, what the fuck?!

I mean how one-sided and hypocritical can you be?! You are skeptical of the Hawaii Health Department, a legal and legitimate COLB, Factcheck.org and other evidence, but a translation of an interview with Obama’s Kenyan grandmother that can be interpreted (if you know what you want to hear) as her saying Obama was born in Kenya is all the evidence you need to conclude Obama was born in Kenya.

Give me a break. I don’t know if it is racism, fear of difference, or just lack of critical thinking skills (combined with gullability) that makes people buy into this bullshit; but I do know that this movement is scary, ignorant, and irrational.

Posted in Christofacism, Media, Politics | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Who John Galt is Not

Posted by Price on April 25, 2009

Since I only have your attention for a few seconds before you decide whether to continue reading or to leave, I’m sparing an introduction to my discussion and telling you right now what I am going to argue.

Pure laissez-faire capitalism, constitutional libertarianism, and libertarian-anarchy are not practical political and economic theories.

Now, if you have decided to stay and read, I hope you feel inclined to comment, question, and/or challenge my argument after reading it.

This is what I have to say, Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Philosophy, Politics | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

This Week’s Bittersweet Distractions

Posted by Price on April 21, 2009

Besides the usual daily commentary throughout the week, I will also be posting a new article each day. So come check them out and give me your thoughts.

Tuesday: Who John Galt is Not, practical economic policy and conservatism in relation to Austrian economics and the growing libertarian movement in the United States.

Wednesday: The Moderate, political and ideological polarization in the United States and why we must inject Aristotelian moderation in the mainstream exchange of ideas.

Thursday: Be Wary of Attacks on Academia, academics and educators are facing a wave of attacks from ideologues, a sign of political collectivism that must be stopped…or else.

Friday: The Weekly Top Five Distractions, a list of the week’s top five winners, losers, and the good, bad, and ugly talking points.

Posted in General, Philosophy, Politics | Tagged: , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

The Theory of Intelligent Design; Been There, Done That

Posted by Price on March 4, 2009

It occurred to me recently that we’ve seen this before. The this to which I am referring is the Theory of Intelligent Design. I came across the Discovery Institute’s Intelligent Design teacher’s manual and was struck by the reality of ID’s historical existence. While its opponents often consider ID to be a newer ‘prettied’ up version of Creationism (which I don’t deny), the theory is actually nothing new; rather, the theory’s advocates are revisiting one of the first theories of modern biology.

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Posted in Science and Religion | Tagged: , , | 2 Comments »

Scientific Revolutions and the Movement for Academic Freedom

Posted by Price on February 19, 2009

The study of knowledge and how it is obtained, epistemology, is a fundamental philosophy underlying all human efforts to justify “truth” claims. The Enlightenment gave rise to modern science, a practice for obtaining knowledge grounded in naturalism, empiricism, and materialism. Since then, science has yielded inquires and insights that have lead to significant developments in our understanding of the universe and its causal mechanisms. Scientific progress has also generated technological advancement and intellectual growth throughout human civilization. Throughout the history of modern science, its theories have been met with reservation and denial, censorship and rejection. Even within its own domains, scientists have rejected previously accepted theories and replaced them with new models as better explanations for physical systems and observed phenomena.

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Posted in Philosophy, Politics, Science, Science and Religion | Leave a Comment »

Why “Intelligent Design” is not science and why, therefore, it should not be taught in a science curriculum

Posted by Price on February 12, 2009

I found this on the internet and believe it is the simplest and easiest explanation for why ID is not science I’ve found. The author is Dr. Penny Higgens, a Research Associate in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Rochester.

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Posted in Science, Science and Religion | Tagged: , , | Leave a Comment »

Fascism and the Christian Right: Part I, Introduction and the Cult of Traditionalism

Posted by Price on February 7, 2009

INTRODUCTION
We often think fascism cannot occur again; that the idea was defeated in World War II with the fall of Germany and death of Mussolini. We recognize the great evils and intolerance of these groups and are tuned to recognize any such movement that even resembles those of the past. You often hear political opponents equate their rivals to Hitler or Stalin. Saddam Hussein, for example, was often considered the post-WWII era Hitler. There is no doubt we are weary of it happening again. But, is fascism that easy to detect?

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Posted in Christofacism, Politics, Religion | Tagged: , , , , , | 1 Comment »

The Easiest Way to Disprove Evolution

Posted by Price on January 31, 2009

OK, so you wanna disprove the theory of evolution? Well, you’re in luck! I’m prepared to show you everything you need to do in order to topple over more than a century of biology so we can preserve our belief in a divine Creator (since, of course, evolution and the existance of God are totally incompatible).

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Posted in Science, Science and Religion | Tagged: , , , , , , , | 3 Comments »