In honor of the state of Mississippi, where a recent poll has found that 52% of the population believes that President Obama is Muslim, and only 22% believe in evolution.
Just sayin'.
Just sayin'.
Showing posts with label Muslims. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Muslims. Show all posts
Monday, March 12, 2012
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Just In Time For Christmas
Courtesy Jesus Needs New PR. I'm not sure if this is a real product. It may be a satire ad. Let's all hope. For the record, I could not find the original ad in a Google search. Blog posts have been criticizing this product as far back as 2008, though.
Could you imagine play time with this action figure? Your child, with the help of "Enduring Freedom Jesus", ridding the world of all of those pesky Muslims that don't believe in Christianity. Talk about "hours of fun". (sarcasm)
What is this world coming to?
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Bullshit Christianist Propaganda Poll Of The Day
I have spoken about World Net Daily's website a number of times in the past. They are a vile, hate filled mouthpiece for the Christian Right. They're anti-gay, xenophobic and not afraid to make their opinions known. They regularly conduct polls amongst their readers. Often times, the question or the choice of responses are skewed in a way to where people have no choice but to answer in the direction that the website leans.
Today is no exception. In response to yesterday's domestic terrorist attack in Norway, WND asked the following question:
"Islamic terrorism"? Ladies and gentlemen, here is your "Islamic terrorist":
At this time, 92 people are dead from yesterday's dual attacks. At least 86 of those people were shot and killed when Breivik, dressed as a police officer, gathered dozens of people together at a youth camp and methodically opened fire on them, one by one, with an automatic rifle. Crews are still pulling bodies out of the bombed government buildings in Central Oslo.
Does anyone use Google anymore, or are they fine with accepting this bullshit propaganda at face value? I can't wrap my head around this kind of blatant racism.
Today is no exception. In response to yesterday's domestic terrorist attack in Norway, WND asked the following question:
"Islamic terrorism"? Ladies and gentlemen, here is your "Islamic terrorist":
His name is Anders Breivik. Oslo Police are describing him as "right wing and a Christian fundamentalist", exactly the profile of those who read World Net Daily. Hours before the attack took place, Breivik posted a 1500 page manifesto online detailing preparations and calling for a Christian war to defend Europe against the threat of Muslim domination. His neighbors even described him as a gun-loving American Norwegian obsessed with what he saw as the threats of multiculturalism and Muslim immigration. Essentially, he's Norway's version of Timothy McVeigh.
At this time, 92 people are dead from yesterday's dual attacks. At least 86 of those people were shot and killed when Breivik, dressed as a police officer, gathered dozens of people together at a youth camp and methodically opened fire on them, one by one, with an automatic rifle. Crews are still pulling bodies out of the bombed government buildings in Central Oslo.
Does anyone use Google anymore, or are they fine with accepting this bullshit propaganda at face value? I can't wrap my head around this kind of blatant racism.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
A Fascinating Conversation With A Hospital Chaplain
As many of you know, I was in the hospital again last week. It was my third hospital stay since the second week of March. As has been my experience, on the first morning of my stay, the hospital chaplain usually visits. In the past, I've told them that I'm atheist, and they tell me to have a nice day and walk out of the room. This time was remarkably different.
It was 9:30AM Monday morning. Roughly 13 hours earlier, I had seen President Obama announce that Osama bin Laden had been killed in Pakistan. I fell asleep the night before watching New Yorkers sing the National Anthem at Ground Zero from my hospital bed. Monday, May 2, 2011, was the dawn of a new era for the United States and for the world.
The chaplain was a dead give away. The nurses all wore soft soled shoes. None of the patients on my floor walked past my room (I was at the end of the floor). And, all of the visitors either wore tennis shoes or sandals. I could hear his wooden heals on approach 45 seconds before he got to my room. He walked at a very calm and even pace.
He entered my room and sheepishly peeked his head around the curtain to see if I was awake. When seeing that I had already eaten my breakfast, he walked up to my bed and introduced himself. His name was Ahmed. He explained that he was Muslim. Upon seeing my beard (albeit unruly and unkempt at the time), he asked if I was Islam as well. Honestly, I probably could have entered a bin Laden lookalike contest at the time. I told him I wasn't. I explained to him that I was an atheist.
I could only imagine the type of conversations he was having that morning, with bin Laden being shot the night before. Immediately, without even hesitating, he started defending his religion. You know, he started going into the "Islam is a peaceful religion" bit. I had to interrupt him.
I explained that I knew that the Prophet Muhammad was a messenger of peace, and that Allah is a peaceful god. I told him that for centuries, people have killed others in the name of their prophet or their god. Sometimes that prophet's name is Jesus. Sometimes, that's their god's name. Sometimes, they don't even know the name of their god.
"There is fanaticism in every religion", I said.I explained to him that I used to be an "ordained minister" (what a joke). I told him that the reason why I am atheist now, is because I saw the fanaticism in the church I was in as well. Religion attracts crazy people. There are crazy Muslims, just as there are crazy Baptists, Pentecostals, Methodists, Lutherans, Catholics, and Jehovah's Witnesses.
Then I dropped a bomb on him. I told him I owned a Koran. I purchased one last September 11th on International Buy A Koran Day. He was surprised that 1.) a "non believer" would own a Koran, and 2.) that there was actually an international show of support for the Muslim community in which people would go to a bookstore and purchase one of their holy books. He was almost moved to tears. He asked me if I had read any of it, which I said that I did. The copy that I have is in both Arabic and English.
He asked me if I was married. I told him I was. He asked if I had a "good wife". I told him that I had a wonderful, supportive wife. I said that with the health problems that I have been dealing with recently, if it weren't for her taking care of my daughter and myself in and out of the hospital, I don't know how I would have made it. Ahmed extolled the virtues of a good wife, though the way he did so was somewhat antiquated.
"A good wife will take care of your children. She won't spend all of your money. She'll make sure you have a clean house to come to when you get home from work."
I found it to be a bit laughable, but I got his point. I have a wonderful partner. I have spent most of the last six weeks on my back. Not only has my wife taken care of our two year old single handedly, but she has also waited on me hand and foot. She has cooked my meals, refilled my drinks, and brought me my medication. She has picked up my share of the household chores. She has also driven me to and from appointments for the last few weeks. I really am lucky to have her.
My conversation with Ahmed lasted the better part of an hour. It was the most pleasant conversation I have had regarding religion in recent memory. Considering what had happened the previous day, I'm sure Ahmed had thought the conversation was going to go into a different direction. It's a rare and wonderful thing when two individuals with such varying concepts on religion can come together, have an educated conversation about their beliefs, walk away feeling respected, and have an untold respect for the other in return.
It was 9:30AM Monday morning. Roughly 13 hours earlier, I had seen President Obama announce that Osama bin Laden had been killed in Pakistan. I fell asleep the night before watching New Yorkers sing the National Anthem at Ground Zero from my hospital bed. Monday, May 2, 2011, was the dawn of a new era for the United States and for the world.
The chaplain was a dead give away. The nurses all wore soft soled shoes. None of the patients on my floor walked past my room (I was at the end of the floor). And, all of the visitors either wore tennis shoes or sandals. I could hear his wooden heals on approach 45 seconds before he got to my room. He walked at a very calm and even pace.
He entered my room and sheepishly peeked his head around the curtain to see if I was awake. When seeing that I had already eaten my breakfast, he walked up to my bed and introduced himself. His name was Ahmed. He explained that he was Muslim. Upon seeing my beard (albeit unruly and unkempt at the time), he asked if I was Islam as well. Honestly, I probably could have entered a bin Laden lookalike contest at the time. I told him I wasn't. I explained to him that I was an atheist.
I could only imagine the type of conversations he was having that morning, with bin Laden being shot the night before. Immediately, without even hesitating, he started defending his religion. You know, he started going into the "Islam is a peaceful religion" bit. I had to interrupt him.
I explained that I knew that the Prophet Muhammad was a messenger of peace, and that Allah is a peaceful god. I told him that for centuries, people have killed others in the name of their prophet or their god. Sometimes that prophet's name is Jesus. Sometimes, that's their god's name. Sometimes, they don't even know the name of their god.
"There is fanaticism in every religion", I said.I explained to him that I used to be an "ordained minister" (what a joke). I told him that the reason why I am atheist now, is because I saw the fanaticism in the church I was in as well. Religion attracts crazy people. There are crazy Muslims, just as there are crazy Baptists, Pentecostals, Methodists, Lutherans, Catholics, and Jehovah's Witnesses.
Then I dropped a bomb on him. I told him I owned a Koran. I purchased one last September 11th on International Buy A Koran Day. He was surprised that 1.) a "non believer" would own a Koran, and 2.) that there was actually an international show of support for the Muslim community in which people would go to a bookstore and purchase one of their holy books. He was almost moved to tears. He asked me if I had read any of it, which I said that I did. The copy that I have is in both Arabic and English.
He asked me if I was married. I told him I was. He asked if I had a "good wife". I told him that I had a wonderful, supportive wife. I said that with the health problems that I have been dealing with recently, if it weren't for her taking care of my daughter and myself in and out of the hospital, I don't know how I would have made it. Ahmed extolled the virtues of a good wife, though the way he did so was somewhat antiquated.
"A good wife will take care of your children. She won't spend all of your money. She'll make sure you have a clean house to come to when you get home from work."
I found it to be a bit laughable, but I got his point. I have a wonderful partner. I have spent most of the last six weeks on my back. Not only has my wife taken care of our two year old single handedly, but she has also waited on me hand and foot. She has cooked my meals, refilled my drinks, and brought me my medication. She has picked up my share of the household chores. She has also driven me to and from appointments for the last few weeks. I really am lucky to have her.
My conversation with Ahmed lasted the better part of an hour. It was the most pleasant conversation I have had regarding religion in recent memory. Considering what had happened the previous day, I'm sure Ahmed had thought the conversation was going to go into a different direction. It's a rare and wonderful thing when two individuals with such varying concepts on religion can come together, have an educated conversation about their beliefs, walk away feeling respected, and have an untold respect for the other in return.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Fox News Does The Impossible - Double Headdesk In 12 Hours
There are times when, as a network, Fox News creates more newsworthy stories themselves than the politicians they cover. A study came out in December of 2010, showing that, out of all cable news networks, their viewers were the most "misinformed". And by the looks of things, the network is doing nothing but encouraging it. Between the hours of 8pm EST Monday and 8am EST Tuesday, they completed the unheard of Double Headdesk. For those of you that don't know what a headdesk is, let me give you a visual example:
On Monday night, Fox News gathered a focus group of Republican voters in Iowa to discuss their thoughts on Bill O'Reilly's interview with the President the day before. At one point in the discussion, a woman in the focus group says that she believes that the President's "religious beliefs govern his foreign policy". When asked on what she feels his religious beliefs are, she says "Muslim". Watch how the commentator responds:
The Fox News representative never stepped in and said, "He's Christian". He never tried to correct them. He aided in spreading what has amounted to a conspiracy theory on national television. Headdesk.
Then this morning, Fox News put an online poll on their website concerning abortion. The poll has since been taken off the site, but I was able to get a copy of it from another blog:
What's wrong with this poll? If I select not sure, I'm pro-life. If I select yes, I'm pro-life. And, if I select no, I am still pro-life. There are absolutely no pro-choice options on a poll about banning abortion. You might as well just have one question on the poll. Headdesk.
I wanted to add this additional video. It's not a headdesk moment, because it should have been expected. During O'Reilly's interview with Mr. Obama, he interrupted the President 48 times. 48 times! Sure, you come to expect this when you are watching his show on Fox News and he has an invited guest, but this is the President of the United States. How disrespectful. Talk about an asshole.
Looks like Fox News is having one hell of a February.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Display Of Brotherhood In Egyptian Protests
I had to share this picture I saw on Al Jazeera's blog this morning. It shows protesters in Tahrir Square on Thursday afternoon. While Muslim protesters were completing their daily prayers, Christian protesters held hands, forming a ring around their Muslim brethren, to protect them from counter protesters while vulnerable. The image gave me chills. It showed beyond a doubt that these people were not violent, but peaceful and united, regardless of religious background. Truly heartwarming.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
9/11 Happened To Us All
On a personal note, I am happy to see that the Imam in New York City has not agreed to move the mosque near Ground Zero. 9/11 happened to us all...Christian, Muslim, and atheist. The following is one of a series of commercials airing in the New York City area to try to ease anti-Islamic tensions. It was hard for me to watch. Got a little emotional actually. It really brought the point home.
Saturday Is "International Buy A Koran Day"
On September 11th, show support for Muslims across the world and buy a Koran. A pastor by the name of Terry Jones and his buddy Fred Phelps at the Westboro Baptist Church had planned to burn copies of the Koran on the anniversary of 9/11 to protest "radical Islam". If their plan came to fruition, it would have not only given the U.S. the stigma of being "radical Christian", but it would also put thousands of soldiers' lives in danger overseas.
I encourage you to join the online movement toward understanding and brotherhood and against fear and intolerance. There is a Facebook page you can join to show your support. I personally don't know where you can go to buy a Koran, but Amazon.com has a large selection of Korans in both English and Arabic.
Update: Terry Jones has announced that he is canceling the Koran burning event. According to the news conference minutes ago, he claims he has struck a deal to cancel in exchange for the NYC mosque move from it's proximity to Ground Zero. MSNBC and Rueters both quote the Imam in New York City, saying that no deal has been brokered and the mosque building continues as planned.
The nutjobs at the Westboro Baptist Church have now announced that if Terry Jones doesn't burn Korans on Saturday, they will.
What has this country come to?
I encourage you to join the online movement toward understanding and brotherhood and against fear and intolerance. There is a Facebook page you can join to show your support. I personally don't know where you can go to buy a Koran, but Amazon.com has a large selection of Korans in both English and Arabic.
Update: Terry Jones has announced that he is canceling the Koran burning event. According to the news conference minutes ago, he claims he has struck a deal to cancel in exchange for the NYC mosque move from it's proximity to Ground Zero. MSNBC and Rueters both quote the Imam in New York City, saying that no deal has been brokered and the mosque building continues as planned.
The nutjobs at the Westboro Baptist Church have now announced that if Terry Jones doesn't burn Korans on Saturday, they will.
What has this country come to?
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