Say "the religious right" One More Time...Go Ahead, See What Happens...

I know I might not be the most religious person around, but I still am of a religion--that being Christianity.  I went to church today for the first time in a while, the sermon was about anger (I don't do the 'youth group' thing).  This made me realize something about my anger for the recently-coined term, "religious right". 

As a kid, and I think it goes the same with most Christian children, I think I was pretty much shielded from any other way of thinking or living, which was both good and bad. I thought Christianity was pretty much the main deal in the U.S., and although I knew there were other religions, I thought Christianity was accepted and mainstream; it might be, but you wouldn't know it.

I don't know if it was because of that shielding or not, but I have seen a change as I've grown older and become more exposed to the world, and that change is the alienation of Christianity and Christians as well.  You all know what I'm talking about, no matter on which side of the spectrum you reside.  Well, I've put up with it, argued against it, held it in for a while now, but this "religious right" bullshit has just about pushed me over the top. 

Let's look at this from the outside, as a true intellectual always does...
Here you have the Christians, I--being one of them--will try and look at them from the outside.  They believe what they believe because of the ancient text dubbed the Bible.  The Bible teaches many things, but what many Christians take away from it are the moral teachings and value systems.  They, having derived their morals and values from the Bible, wish to see them upheld in society because that's what they believe is right and just.  Typically, they feel it's the government's duty to help uphold these standards which have been a part of American law and society since the very beginning of our country.  Placing your hand on the Bible to take an oath, ten commandments being placed in government buildings, government buildings being used for church services, etc.  

There are also Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, and Hindus who feel the same way.  So, these people, no matter what race, religion, or political affiliation, are dubbed the "religious right".  Say what you will, I firmly believe that the term "religious right" does not refer to only those conservatives who wish to impose their evil, fascistic morals upon everyone else, but Christians in general, or even people of other religions who disagree with the liberals are included in the crazy, dangerously naive group known as the "religious right".  Hey, at least I tried to look from the outside...lol...

(American Athiest Symbol)

On the other side, you have the secularists, athiests, and agnostics.  These people tend to think of themselves as "intellectuals".  I have been sucked into this way of thinking often because I'm a deep thinker, but I hate it.  Why?  The "intellectuals" tend to be self-centered, arrogant, cocky bastards that think they're better than the average person, which of course they are not.  Drinking Starbucks and discussing 18th century poetry with a poodle in your left arm while smoking a rediculously long cigarette does not make you better than a person who sits at a factory all day, in fact I would argue the latter is more productive.  These people think the Christians are naive, stupid, and fascistic for insisting their principles be inforced by law.  

Most of them spend all of their time devoted to hating Christianity, whether it be by making a blog with nothing but anti-Christian posts or acquiring the services of the ACLU to make the evil Christians go away.  They think the Christians are so dumb for believing the same species that built skyscrapers, developed sophisticated languages, split the atom, and discovered electricity did not come from a species who's most prodigious achievement is using a stick to gets it's food from a log. 

Or for believing that there is an afterlife, or a God.  I'll be honest here, everyone agrees that everything must have a beginning and an end, correct?  I've heard of this Big Bang theory, sounds great.  Matter somehow explodes.  Realistic as anything I've ever heard...huh?  First of all, if matter exploded then, why doesn't matter explode now?  Second of all, where did that matter come from?  Had to come from somewhere, didn't it?  Oh, it was just there...well how did it get there? Next, if there isn't an afterlife, what's your purpose for being here?  See, true intellectuals will think about that, whereas the athiests which I described above simply won't.  Or if they do, they give me this 'do the best you can for society' crap.  Sounds good, but what's the point?  You're not going to be around to benefit from your own good, and you won't know if what you did was actually beneficial or detremental. 

Okay...got a little off track I think there...point being, these athiests, secularists, and agnostics don't want the "religious right" trying to implement their policies.  "Religious right" is the same thing as "homophobic," a political term, nothing more.  "Homophobic" implies that those who disagree with homosexuality somehow have something wrong with them in the head, or that  they have an irrational fear of it.  See, I'm mildly afraid of spiders, it's called arachiphobia, as some of you might as well be.  What do I do when I see a spider?  I Cringe...How about when I discover a spider is crawling up my arm?  Well, I let out an "AH" and flick it off of me, then chase it down and kill it--kill it dead.  When I see a homosexual, do I cringe?  No...When I discover a homosexual is crawling up my arm, do I go "AH" and flick him off?  Probably, but not because I'm afraid of homosexuals, it's just that'd be really weird.   Same deal with "religious right".  It's a term trying to make these individuals, in being part of this group, seem somehow discredited or irrational because of their personal beliefs. 

The way I see it, the athiests are at an advantage. Why?  Well, because they don't have a religion, unless of course you see it like I do--liberalism is their religion, since it's the reason they don't have one. So, because they don't have a religion, they can smear people who use their religion for the basis as their beliefs without fear of any similar repricussions.  Also, athiests in general tend to believe that Christians have done a grave injustice to the world.  It is true, certain Christians have killed millions upon millions of people, a lot of them innocent.  These people were misinterpreting the Bible, very similar to the way the Muslim extremists are misinterpreting the Koran.  Bad things have happened at the hands of Christians, no doubt.  Catholics were a big part of this, if you're going to group them in as Christians, which usually means Protestants these days.  But you also have to look at the good Christians have done for the world.  Christians have fed, clothed, housed, saved (both sensed of the word), and helped better the lives of billions of people over time, more than any group of people have ever done or will ever do.  The same goes for America, if you think about it.  Some liberals, especially those living outside our country, but even some in, say that the U.S. is imperialistic and is the worst thing that has ever happened to the world and the world would be better if we never would have been there, etc, etc.  Okay, the U.S. has done some bad things.  Slavery, yes.  The way we treated the native Americans, definately.  Japanese enterment camps, sure.  But you must also look at the good.  We saved the world from the fascistic regime of Hitler, from the imperialistc Japanese who raped and forced millions of women into prostitution rings, we've fed, clothed, housed, and bettered the lives (sound familiar) of more people than any other country has ever done or will ever do.  So the bad outweighs the good in my opinion.  Wow...that took hours to write...hopefully someone read it...thanks, and have a good day.  

 

Back and Better Than Ever...

Okay, I know it's been a while, but I've been working, had summer school, and started soccer conditioning, so I hope you'll cut me some slack. Just to let you know, I'll be gone for about two weeks so I probably won't be posting until the beginning of August after this. I've also been working on my Xanga page which I recently turned political instead of satirical, so I decided I can multitask and do both blogs at once. Where to start...

Unborn Babies Carry Polutants, Study Finds. (Reuters)
My initial reaction to the title was that it's another wacko science research type of thing, trying--in this case--to make 'the unborn' look like a disease-ridden amoebas of filth and grime. This would be to make the slaughtering of 'the unborn' seem less like murder and more like a cleansing of the infected unwanted. Well, then I read the story, and I was half right--it was a wacko science research type of thing, but not pushing the abortion agenda, rather pushing the enviornmentalist agenda. Now, how is it that the same people who propose that killing 'the unborn' is a just thing to do are so concerned with protecting them from the dangerous evils of the "stew of chemicals" in which they, well...stew. Interesting, also, how the scientists are so quick to blame enviornmental policies for things they don't even know how got into the mothers' bodies. But wait, there's more!

Bird Droppings Linked to Arctic Pollution
You know what, I give up. For every story I can find to prove what I think, somebody else can find something to prove me wrong, and vise-verse. It's really all getting quite rediculous to give a crap about, honestly. So many scientists telling me so many different things, and none of them really have any solutions to any of it, and if they do come up with a solution, someone will complain. Take this for example, people have said for as long as I can remember that the evil humans with their SUVs and Nuclear power plants were contaminating the earth and causing the polar ice caps to melt and holy cow we're going to have a mass flood. Well, this study shows that seagull crap is the actual cause of the Arctic polution. What can be done about this horrible occurance? Shoot 'em! No? Relocate them? No chance? That would be uncoooomfortable for the birds, we can't do that would be the response from the left. Why don't we, instead, spend millions of taxpayer money to have a gint pooper-scooper save the planet from the ensuing doomsday. Some days, I sware, you just have to laugh.
Britons Fall Silent to Honor Victims
For this, I'd like to copy something from my Xanga blog and put it on here:

In reaction to the London terror attacks, it is at this time we find out who the true supporters and the pretenders in this war really are. It takes a pretty significant pair to fight this war--a big, shiny, brass pair. I have to give the English people credit, I always thought them to be as weenie as France or Germany, but they still have a tiny amount of Churchillian resolve left in them, it seems. The threat from these terrorists claimed that Italy and...I don't remember the other country...but it claimed that Italy would be next. I just saw that Italy is pulling its troops out of Iraq soon...

Now, I have much respect for the Italian people, seeing as that without them we would not have pizza. However, Italy has been pushed around since before WWII. Mussolini was Hitler's biatch, and don't even give me the crap that, "Oh, but they took over Ethiopia and other North African countries." They did, but at the time even Mussolini and a few of his friends armed with mere kitchen utensils could have taken over North African countries.

So it comes to no suprise that the Italian government would be so easily persuaded to pull out because the terrorists threatened them for having troops in Iraq. In doing so, in my opinion, they're actually crediting the terrorists by thinking they are a rational people. They don't care if you're in Iraq or not, they're going to attack you anyway because your society doesn't resemble they year 1100 A.D. Not until your country strips all rights of women from its constitution, or all mention of any religion but Islam, will they stop attacking you. So, when is Italy going to start doing that? Or will it be France of Germany to be the first to make women wear veils? Probably not, sense--even though France wouldn't have been much of a military help anyway--the reasons they did not go into the war is because they had been in bed with Saddam more than any reasonable causes not to engage in military action.

So it should be evident to people that the war on terror is a just and necessary war, and there are many reasons for this. Iraq, even though I know a lot of you disagree, is an extension of this war. One of the reasons, and the strongest reason in my opinion, that we need to strike preemptively against the terrorists is so that they are not strong enough to carry out many massive attacks in the U.S., or any coalition country. If we don't fight it there, we will be fighting it here, and I know you don't want that. Without taking away from the tragedy that took place in London, it seems that the attacks on innocent civilians by Muslim extremists are getting weaker and weaker. This is a sign--to me--that Al-Qaeda, or even Islamofascism as a whole, is losing support.

It's really quite simple, we need to get the countries that support terrorism, which usually means countries that are against Israel (not every country, but most). Withough state sponsorship, terrorism cannot exist. Therefore, since the trend seems to be that the terrorists are losing support, and also since we have evidence Saddam and the Afghan government supported terrorism, that the beridding (is that a word? If not it should be) of these governments has led to the overall castration, if you'll excuse the term, of worldwide terrorism. Iran sponsors terrorism, as well as Syria. Syria, although I cannot discuss much of it because I learned it off-the-record, we probably won't have to deal with them, since they basically are our political biatch now. Iran, however, unfortunately looks like another country which will have to be dealth with by means of aggresive force, since I doubt they will just all of a sudden stop supporting terrorism. Hopefully, this time the United States will not have to carry the load. Although I am against the commanding of U.S. troops by non-U.S. commanders, it would be nice for the U.N. to be usefull for once in twelve years.

This of course is after Iraq is handed over to the Iraqis, since the insurgency will die out after the U.S. leaves I think. Why do I think this? Well, it's simple, it's because they aren't Iraqi terrorists. Most are from Saudi Arabia, (whom we cannot be forceful with for obvious political reasons) Iran, and Syria. They are trying to make the efforts in Iraq A) fail and B) look bad. Now once Iraq has set up a democracy and the U.S. leaves, they won't have much of a motive to do their evil deeds. But once again I stress that these are not rational people, so Iraq will have as much threat against their democracy, and probably much moreso because they are surrounded by Islamofascists, as the United States of Great Britain will.

The reason I stay so optimistic about the war, even though oddly enough I have a rather pessimistic personality for a conservative, is because democracy works, and once, in the fasion of the dominoe effect of Dwight D. Eisenhower with communism, a democracy is stabilized in the Middle East, the non-democratic governments in the area will surely soonthereafter fall.

Joesph Wilson Calls on Bush to Fire Rove For what? Rove did nothing illegal, he's not even the one being investigated. This whole thing is a lot of attention on nothing. It's almost like people gathering to see a fight, pushing their way up to the front to get a better view, and discovering that it was just two girls yelling at each other, and not even being able to see that.

This brings up the entire issue of the first amendment. How? Well, what's-her-face is sitting in jail to protect a source that waivered his or her right to be a protected souce. Something fishy there, probably some kind of cover-up, but this woman shouldn't be in jail either way because there should be no circumstance where a journalist should be forced to reveal a source. This is what the whole "Freedom of Press" thing is about; journalists are the watchdogs of the government, ergo the government should not be able to control any part of the media it wishes.

Do you all remember the guy on Iraqi TV saying that Iraq was winning the war when the U.S. soldiers where 20 miles from Baghdad? This is the end result of state-controlled media, complete bullcrap. Lies, manipulation. If you've ever read 1984, my personal favorite book by the way, you should remember what Winston's job was--he worked at the Ministry of Truth, or minitrue, and he rewrote and disposed of old newspaper articles depending on what the state's current position was on anything. Of course these are extremes of what can happen, but the point is still the same--it is the direction in which we are headed.

The mainsteam media (or MSM as you bloggers seemed to have dubbed it) has become useless, in terms of it being used in it's original purpose, ergo the emergence of the 'alternative media'. Don't get me wrong, I don't think there's some huge government/media conspiracy going on here, but there are few true journalists left out there, even at FOX. Bloggers are not journalists, I'm sorry, they just aren't, except of course the few that have journalistic training (though if they were decent journalists they would have real jobs with real newspapers or television stations and not be running a blog). There's a thin line between journalism and propaganda, and I don't think most people can tell the difference when they see it. If the government can exert control over the media, there's little from stopping them from having their own propaganda published as journalism.

Boy, that ought to keep you occupied for a while. Tell your friends Jay is back! Spread the word, my friends!

Almost There...

School is officially over, and soon I will be back to revitalize my blog. I won't be posting every day, but I'll try to do as much as I can. Since I've been gone, I've changed my opinions on certain things, especially when it comes to the Republican Party, but you'll see that soon enough. I'm the same ol' me though, so get ready for Church and State Debate: Part III (or IV, I lost track...). See you then!

More Stolen Stolen Goods

Stole this from El Problemo:

My uncle once: married my aunt? This is a horrible first inquiry...
Never in my life: Have I listened to country music.
When I was five: I was hung from a swingset.
High School was: How about is. It is unstimulating and acts as a tranquilizer.
I will never forget: how I felt that day...I don't know what that means, I think I heard it in a movie or something.
I once met: Jay Leno, Mark Souder, and most importantly, The dog from Frasier.
There's this girl I know who: Doesn't know what an ovary is. She also spent a night in juvy stealing from Von Maur. HAHAHAHAHA.
Once at a bar: I walk around it...(think, just think about it)
By noon I'm usually: In a state of unconsciousness (Algebra).
Last night: Was the first night of the rest of my life...Again, another movie line I think.
Next time I go to church I: stay awake, I sware I'll stay awake.
When I turn my head left, I see: my left arm, the wall behind it.
When I turn my head right, I see: Spots...But that's normal right?
You know I'm lying when: I tell you that I love you. heh.
What I miss most about the eighties: The two wonderful years I don't remember living in them.
By this time next year: I'll be preparing to go to FSU....Hopefully.
A better name for me would be: Hey You.
I have a hard time understanding: Advanced Algebra. And liberals ideology. Neither seem to serve a purpose except to annoy me.
You know I like you if: I talk to you.
Take my advice, never: go to Johnson City, Tennessee. For God's sake, never set foot on this meth-laced soil.
My ideal breakfast is: What is this thing, breakfast?
If you visit my hometown, I suggest: You Party. For I am from New Orleans. That's if you want to be technical. I grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana, so I adopted it as my hometown as it did I. Go to Coney Island Weiner Stand. Just do.
Why won't anyone invent: An alternative to gasoline already. We've flown to the moon, but we can't find another way to make cars go vroom. Go figure.
If you spend the night at my house, don't: go to sleep. mwamwamwamwamwa.
The world could do without: celebrities. I'm talking movie stars, singers, these types of scum.
I'd rather lick the belly of a cockroach than: Wait...Is this insinuating there's something wrong with licking the belly of a cockroach? My answer is nothing, BRING ON THE ROACHES!
My favorite blonde is: Hmm...Well I know too many that are like pseudoblonde, then some aren't natural blonde, so God knows if they're still blonde at this point, so I must go with Alyssa.
Paper clips are more useful than: women. HA! I jest.
If I do anything well, it's: fall short.
I'm notorious for: being the one that got drunk and puked on my boss's porch.
I brake for: insurance purposes.
I am: me, of course.

Anyone There?

That's what you've been saying, right? Don't worry, I'll be back in approximately 11 days. I was watching Mark Souder wrap up his speech in the House today on C-Span, and when he yielded the floor the speaker gave a certain Rep from New York the floor. His name: Major Owens, Democrat. When given the floor, he said, "Mr. Speaker, today is May 20th, 1952." Is there any doubt now that Democrats have lost all sense of reality?

Busy

I know I haven't been posting much, but there are reasons for it. I've been busy with stuff. I got a 26 on my ACT, that should help me get into the colleges I want. Right now it's basically going to be Florida State and South Florida, although I'll apply pretty much to every school in Florida. Anyway, it's been a slow news week--well, month actually. So here's my very rough draft of my first article for the school's newspaper, it's on the gas prices:

A major concern among Americans recently has been the sudden spike of gas prices. According to the Energy Information Administration, gasoline prices reached $2.24 in April 2005, an increase of 42.2 cents from a year ago. Many factors contribute to the increase, but unfortunately there is little that can be done to reverse the trend. Experts say that 21% of the price of gas comes from taxes, while 54% comes from the price of crude oil. Ergo, the recent rise in crude oil prices has led to an increase in gas prices. Crude oil prices are determined by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, or OPEC. The price fluctuates depending on how much oil OPEC produces. Recently, the price of crude oil has reached and surpassed a record-breaking $50.00 per barrel. Roughly 20% of our imported oil comes from the Persian Gulf (mostly from Saudi Arabia), while approximately 50% of our oil is imported from within the Western Hemisphere. In late April, President Bush met with Saudi Prince Abdullah to discuss ways to stabilize the oil market. As the world’s leading oil producer, Saudi Arabia plays a major role in the price of crude oil and gasoline. To reduce the U.S. dependence on foreign oil, the House of Representatives passed a bill allowing for the drilling of oil in the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge, more commonly referred to as ANWR. Democrats in the Senate, however, have threatened to filibuster the bill because of environmental issues. It is important to not that although prices seem high, Americans do not pay much compared to Europeans. In U.S. dollars, the average price of gasoline in Europe is around $5.75, that’s over twice as much as the average price in the United States. The Department of Energy projects prices to remain high through the April to September season.

Investigator?

You Are the Investigator

5 You're independent - and a logical analytical thinker. You love learning and ideas... and know things no one else does. Bored by small talk, you refuse to participate in boring conversations. You are open minded. A visionary. You understand the world and may change it.

What number are you?

A Little Taste of Satire

I'm warn out. Just a vacuous pit of useless much. So, instead of sitting here trying to figure out how to spell things, I thought I'd give you a little sample of some of my satire from my Xanga page. If you've ever listened to the Phil Hendrie Show, which I know Jay S. has, then you'll love this stuff because I basically just copied the idea and made my own characters. Anyway, all the people are fake that I interview, but the great thing is that some people don't know that so they'll post all pissed off at the person, no matter if they're libs or cons. Anyway, here's my favorite recent post, I hope you like it:


Shotguns in the Hospitals?
Saturday, February 12, 2005Myth1ca: I'd like to introduce Fred Schaap, he's Vice President of the NPCA--National Pro-Choice Association. Welcome, Mr. Schaap.
Schaap: It's good to be here, thank you.
Myth1ca: Why don't you tell me a little about this...movement, I guess, you've started.
Schaap: Okay, well I'm working with a union that has something to do with liberties that are civil, but you didn't want me to mention their name because you might get suited--
Myth1ca: That's right, and I'd appreciate it if you just didn't mention them at all.
Schaap: You bet. Well anyway, I'm working with...those people...to start a movement to get a shotgun in every hospital, more specifically in delivery rooms.
Myth1ca: Why's that?
Schaap: Well, as you know, I'm a pro-choice advocate. I believe every woman has the right to choose whether or not she wants to have a baby.
Myth1ca: Yes, I'm aware of your position. What's that have to do with shotguns?
Schaap: Well, unfortunately there are cases when either the abortion attempt is unsuccessful, or the mother waits to the last minute to decide whether or not she wants to keep the..thing.
Myth1ca: What do you mean "a thing"?
Schaap: Well, I don't know what to call it--
Myth1ca: How about, "a baby"?
Schaap: That's up for debate. My point is, there are those circumstances sometimes.
Myth1ca: Are you going where I think you're going with this?
Schaap: Well that depends on where you think I am going with it, but I can assure you, it's not what you think--
Myth1ca: Well, what do you think?
Schaap: I think women should be given the choice, if absolutely necessary, to...terminate, if you will, the unwanted entity.
Myth1ca: You mean, shoot it? With a shotgun?
Schaap: I don't like the term, "shoot it". It's just like an abortion, only a little late.
Myth1ca: I guess the question is, how late is too late?
Schaap: An excellent question,. I think, much like the children have a 'Five-Second Rule', this should be used in a similar way by doctors.
Myth1ca: So a doctor should be able to shoot a child after within five seconds after birth?
Schaap: Umm...I'd say a minute or so...The mother must have ample opportunity to decide whether or not to terminate the entity.
Myth1ca: A minute or so?
Schaap: Yes, call it the "minute-or-so rule".
Myth1ca: You don't think this is a bit...cruel?
Schaap: Not at all. The entity won't remember it, and it's really about the mother and her needs and wants.
Myth1ca: Okay...So how are you going to get this accomplished?
Schaap: Lawsuits, how else?
Myth1ca: Well, you could try and lobby to congress or--
Schaap: Ah, they're all too busy hating gay people or something. The Democratic ones are too busy with their airplane subsidies and un-enviornmentally friendly hogwash.
Myth1ca: Right...Well, can you be so can as to answer questions for the people who visit my blog? I'm sure they'll have questions...
Schaap: Absolutely.
Myth1ca: Okay, again, Mr. Schaap is proposing that all delivery rooms have shotguns. If you have any questions or comments, leave them here and I will try and get you a response from him as soon as possible.

Welcome Back!

This is my first post in a while, so I'm going to haphazardly ramble...as usual. I was just browsing on Drudge on found that the Department of Homeland Security may resume flying illegals back to their hometowns. I guess I can see the logic in this, I mean it'd be a farther trip than just being dropped off at the border like they are now. But can you imagine me breaking into a mansion, then being driven home by the butler? Sounds pretty appetizing to me. I say, since they broke the law to get here, we sent them to...I don't know...Mexican prisons? This whole Tom DeLay thing is just rediculous in a way I haven't seen in...well, days. Fact is, DeLay hasn't done anything wrong, immoral, or even uncommon. It's just that the liberal attack squad (or 'media', as some call them) has done such a fine job as portaying DeLay as some kind of criminal. Anyway, that's all for now, hopefully politics will get more juicy as I return to blogging. Happy trails, kids!

Bad Timing

Ah, the irony. The week I leave for Spring Break, the Terri Shiavo case heats up and Jessica Lundsford's body is discovered. Figures, right? Well I went to Florida for break. We--the folks and I--went to our favorite little spot in the son--Madeira Beach, which is right outside of St. Petersburg. I was following the Shiavo case very closely, and I had the distinct pleasure of coming across Glenn Beck's program one morning. After that I listened for the following days, and his analysis was brilliant. He had been in Tampa since the whole thing started 15 years ago, so he knew pretty much everything that was going on.

Well anyway, we relaxed for a few days then hit the road for college tours! First was University of South Florida. I was looking forward to this tour the most, and I must say it didn't disappoint. I liked the programs the offered the best, the Journalism school looks great, as does the PoliSci course. They have a great TV facility, and three radio stations (2 commercial, 1 voluntary). Next was the University of Florida. I must say, I was disappointed in this one. I have been a Gator fan all of my life, but I'm leaning more towards South Florida now because of this visit. First, the administrations guy was a total dick. It was obvious he had a little bit too much bongwater that day, or not enough, I don't know how that works. The overall impression I got was, "You know you want to come here, so we're going to show you how great we are and then you're going to stop wasting our time." I bought a hat, keychain, and two shirts at the giftshop anyway. Then came University of Central Florida. I must say I was plesantly suprised, UCF had by-far the nicest campus, even nicer than Florida. I expected this one to be smaller than Florida (4th biggest in the country) and South Florida (14th biggest in the country), but in fact it was the 9th biggest in the country. That slid into second on my list, although the communications building was a bit disappointing. Then came UNF, which is a heaping pile, I didn't even take the tour, although I was molested and assaulted by the female mascot, which was a blast. I hate mascots and puppets for some weird reason, probably something from my childhood--apparently I had a run-in with a giant crawfish at the New Orleans Zoo as an infant.

I had an opportunity to dive into Newt's new book, and I'll have a review for you soon. Some good news with which to leave you: I have been named editor of the first edition of the new newspaper at our school next year! I can't wait to get my hands on the editorials, heh. They require 40 hours of community service at my school...The Superintendent is resigning, and I think it's because she knows I'll tear her and the school board apart on that one. Just a theory :-)

Spring Break

Sorry I haven't posted for a few days, been busy with term exams. Anyway, Spring Break for the next week so you'll have to find some way to live without me. See ya Next Monday!

Church and State Debate: Part II

If you're wondering why you can't find Part I, it's because there isn't one. Confused? You should be, Part I is actually called The Declaration of Independence: Unconstitutional?. Yes, I realize the declaration is not the Constitution, just read it if you're going to whine about it. Let me put this whole 'debate' to rest right here and now. First, the phrase "separation of church and state" does not appear in the Constitution. Prove it? Okay, here's the first amendment:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceable to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

So we have these people complaining that the Ten Commandments shouldn't be displayed in government buildings or on government property. Well, it says 'congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion', so what law requires them to display the commandments? Or, what law requires them to display all religious texts? The people who administer these buildings have the choice to display them or not, any person of any religion can submit text to be put on display at these buildings.

Now, let's just talk hypothetical here. Let's say there is such a thing as 'separation of church and state'. One must ask oneself, "what is the purpose of the Constitution, what does it do?" Here's your answer, no matter what you've been taught: The Constitution limits the government. It doesn't give you rights, and don't let anybody you so. The Declaration of Independence states you are endowed by your Creator with certain enalienable rights. So, if there was a separation of church and state, it would mean that government could not interfere with a church, or place of worship, no matter what kinds of things they were doing. So if a 'church' pops-up that believed in human sacrifice, would that be their right? I don't think so. The fact is, I'm not a lawyer, but it doesn't take a Harvard law degree to figure out that this whole separation of church and state malarky is just that, malarky.

Blame Canada

President Bush and Prime Minister Paul Martin are talking again. They're talking about the whole mad cow disease in Canada ordeal, but more importantly talking about the missile defense system. Canada refused to have anything to do with the U.S.' planned missile defense system, because they are a bunch of tree-hugging gun-hating peacemongerers. Now, this may not seem like a big deal, but I think Canada is royally screwing themselves over with this one. Think about it, Canada doesn't have an army. Why? Because their state of mind is that the U.S. will protect the continent, so why have an army? Okay, nothing wrong with that I don't suppose, that is until you refuse to let us do just that, defend the continent. Around 80% of Canada's population lives within 100 miles of the border with the United States, so I guess they're taking the chance of a nuke going off away from their border. Who do the Canadians think they are, anyway? If Canada was worth having, we could easily take it. So maybe they figure since they live in such a craphole, the U.S. won't do anything about their stubborness. I honeslty have no clue what Canada is doing here, besides making all their dope-smoking citizens happy.

This Week In Croatia!

In light of the USA facing Croatia in the Davis Cup, I thought I'd enlighten you with some news from the week in Croatia. Why? Because I can, and it's a slow news day. I have some weird connection with Croatia, even since I was a kid. I have no clue why, but allow me to scratch my itch to inform you on Hrvatska! ::Croatia floats a gambit to save UN talks.::

A Critique of Hoosier Stereotypes

You Know You're From Indiana When...

You drive for three hours and the scenery outside doesn't change. There's three feet of snow on the ground and school is still in session. You only go to the mall once a year 'cause it takes too long to get there. While driving all you see is corn. People still have Christmas decorations up at Easter. You start saying to yourself "More than corn in Indiana my butt." Anyone with a cell phone looks out of place. Walking through Wal-Mart with two carts full of kids is normal. Wnyone with a tan is rich. The hip hang-out place is McDonald's. There really is more than corn in Indiana. There’s soybeans, too. When you plan an orgy and a Euchre game breaks out. A restaurant has an invisible wall in the non-smoking section and you believe it works. Speeding consists of 2 miles over the speed limit. You think you don't have to use a turn signal on your car because you don't use it on your tractor. You build your dream house on a cornfield, and you considered it posh. You warsh your clothes and you think George Warshington was the first president. You're proud to be called a Hoosier, even if you don't know what one is. You have no problem spelling or pronouncing "Terre Haute" Detassling was your first job. Bailing hay, your second. You can stack hay, swim in the pond to clean off, and then have the strength to play a couple of games of hoops all in the same day. You say things like "catty-wumpus" and "kitty-corner". You own a dirtbike or a ATV. You live in a city ... and there's a cornfield in your backyard. High school basketball game draws a bigger crowd on the weekend nights than movie theaters. You can see at least 2 basketball hoops from your yard. You can name every one of Bob Knight's "exploits" over the last few years. You shop at Marsh. Damon Bailey was your childhood hero. The biggest question of your youth was "IU or Purdue?" Indianapolis is the "big city". "Getting caught by a train" is a legitimate excuse for being late to school. People at your high school chewed tobacco. Everyone knows who the town cop is, where he lives, and whether he is at home or on duty. You actually know what the CART vs IRL debate is about and have taken a side. To you, a raccoon is simply a "coon". The vehicle of choice in your area is not a car, but a pickup. Someone you know is BIG John Mellencamp fan. You've been to the Covered Bridge Festival. To you, a tenderloin is not an expensive cut of beef, but a big, salty, breaded piece of pork served on a bun with pickles. You call a green bell pepper a "mango". Sometimes, you call the toilet the "commode" or the "stool". In the fall, one of your favorite pranks was corning cars. You know what FFA and 4H stand for. You know what chip-and-seal is, and your high school was located on just such a road. You go the county fair every night of it's week-long duration. You can say "French Lick" without laughing out loud. There's actually a college near you named "Ball State." The last "g" is silent in any word ending in "ing." You think the state Bird is Larry. You actually get these jokes and pass them on to other friends from Indiana.

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Here are a few things I can attest to or I feel is wrong:

You drive for three hours and the scenery outside doesn't change.
True
There's three feet of snow on the ground and school is still in session.
An exaggeration, but a point well made
You start saying to yourself "More than corn in Indiana my butt."
Ouch
Anyone with a cell phone looks out of place.
I don't think that's right...
Walking through Wal-Mart with two carts full of kids is normal.
Alright, who the hell does this guy think he is?
You warsh your clothes and you think George Warshington was the first president.
This ain't Missouri
You're proud to be called a Hoosier, even if you don't know what one is.
It's uh...Okay, you got me there.
You say things like "catty-wumpus" and "kitty-corner".
Huh?
You own a dirtbike or a ATV.
I had a go-kart, does that count?
You live in a city ... and there's a cornfield in your backyard.
Haha...That one made me feel like such a loser
You can see at least 2 basketball hoops from your yard.
Well, that's a no-brainer
Damon Bailey was your childhood hero.
This guy has definately been to Fort Wayne. Damon Bailey, you are my hero
The biggest question of your youth was "IU or Purdue?"
Actually I was a Gator fan, and yes I got weird looks
Someone you know is BIG John Mellencamp fan.
Unfortunately, that's true
There's actually a college near you named "Ball State."
All my teachers went to Ball State, I've played in soccer tourneys there, and I know many people that go there. Go Cardinals!
You think the state Bird is Larry.
Who doesn't? He should be.
You actually get these jokes and pass them on to other friends from Indiana.
Oh, they were jokes? In that case I'm not offended anymore.

For those of you who aren't from Indiana, I'm sorry you read that and didn't get it, I should have put this disclaimer at the top. Oh well.