gdp's Comments

Atheist Revolution : Becoming More Accessible to Atheist Women

Mon, 7 Mar 2011 18:27:55 +0000

The ideas in the atheist community about using "sexy atheist women" were absolutely alienating. Personally, I lost a lot of trust in the outlets that expressed that view. While there's definitely something to be said for showing theists that women are atheists too, the suggestion to women's bodies for marketing was a slap in the face. Women don't need to be "reached out" to. There's this ridiculous idea that men have that something gender-neutral won't appeal to women, that women need special, women-things. Broadsnark hit the nail on the head right here: "Perhaps we should consider that one reason why atheist activism tends to be so skewed towards white, middle class, men is that they don't have as many competing frustrations to deal with."

The Antichristian Phenomenon : Christianity, not Islam, threatens American freedom

Sat, 12 Jun 2010 00:37:50 +0000

The power with religion is twofold: 1. It creates opinions based free of evidence. 2. I repeat the quote at the end of my post: “The thing about religion is that it provides a powerful language through which you can justify any ideology.” —Reeza Aslan, author of God Or No God.

The Antichristian Phenomenon : The most depressing story about Faith Healing you'll read

Sat, 12 Jun 2010 00:36:08 +0000

I read this story too. Incredibly sad. Is this really what morality is supposed to be?

The Antichristian Phenomenon : Christianity, not Islam, threatens American freedom

Sun, 6 Jun 2010 03:47:37 +0000

The power of Christianity in America lies less in specific groups--although there is this, as well as groups outside of the US affecting voters--and more in the overall effect Christian thinking has on voters. Nevermind the powerful language and influence used by religious leaders.

The Antichristian Phenomenon : Christianity, not Islam, threatens American freedom

Sun, 6 Jun 2010 03:45:18 +0000

db0 is correct - nevermind that Islam, regardless of what it thinks, nevertheless has a very small effect. Christianity does not.

The Antichristian Phenomenon : Christianity, not Islam, threatens American freedom

Sun, 6 Jun 2010 03:44:30 +0000

I've specifically said that the danger of Christianity in the US doesn't lie in the lives it takes but in the fact that it influences public policy so strongly.

Atheist Revolution : I Get E-Mail From a 12 Year-Old

Sat, 5 Jun 2010 02:21:23 +0000

I remember being a girl of twelve or so and arguing with people whose knowledge vastly exceeded my own, and thinking that my recycled arguments like "there was no Adam and Steve" actually proved anything. I don't mean that children can't be just as or more intelligent than adults (in fact they often are), but to the girl, if she is indeed a young girl, I have this to say: life is vastly more complicated than even a genius can comprehend. There is so much to learn about evolution and the human body and the brain and how people think and work, and all of that knowledge is beautiful and worth soaking in. You don't have to believe any of us, but get interested in science and learning how things work a bit more, and you won't regret it.

The Antichristian Phenomenon : Christianity, not Islam, threatens American freedom

Thu, 3 Jun 2010 08:26:05 +0000

I don't understand what you mean by "used by Christians for fear-mongering." > Our Christian government has used Islamist terrorist attacks as a method of gaining support for themselves and for a war, when in reality the seasonal flu causes more deaths. Christians in general also turn it into a holy war--just look at the recent controversy over plans to build a mosque /near/ Ground Zero. Also, what biblical laws do you mean? > Ones like "thou shalt not suffer a witch to live", which have resulted in the deaths of countless innocent women. But yes, Sharia law is worse. Christianity's idea of hell doesn't scare me, because it's just an idea. People with weapons scare me. > You are more likely to be killed by a Christian with a weapon in America than a Muslim. That aside, again, the actual number of deaths caused by Islam in America is very low. And while the Christian hell doesn't influence you, it influences the vast majority of the country and the government as well. THAT should scare you.

The Antichristian Phenomenon : Christianity, not Islam, threatens American freedom

Thu, 3 Jun 2010 02:05:57 +0000

Islam is certainly terrible for those countries it controls and has serious influence in. I recall someone referring to Iran and remarking that it is rare a country's elderly look back on more progressive and liberal days with fond memories. And Islam certainly does exert an influence in censoring anti-Islam criticism. But does Islam exert control over the entirety of the American political system? Only when it's used by Christians for fearmongering. America is perfectly capable of looking like that if it were ruled entirely by Biblical law. Unlikely, but horrible religious laws are not unique to Islam.

The Antichristian Phenomenon : Christianity, not Islam, threatens American freedom

Thu, 3 Jun 2010 01:45:35 +0000

Curious about the neo-pagan religions as a way to reinvent nationalism--what do you mean by that?

Atheist Revolution : Sexy Atheist Women are Good for the Atheist Community

Wed, 2 Jun 2010 08:13:26 +0000

This isn't just fighting fire with fire or helping a good cause, it's perpetuating a culture where men think women's bodies belong to them. Who are you using these women to advertise to? Men. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6LHg_OFFRY Our bodies are not objects for men to use as mouthpieces. Is the tactic effective? Yes. Is it right? I sincerely hope people rethink whether promoting male dominance--at the cost of half the nation's population--is worth promoting the cause of a small minority group. Women: using your bodies /sexually/ to gain men's attention may get you listened to in the short run with in the long run and in the grand scheme of things it will only confirm for men that you are an object for them to enjoy, and that your value lies with your body.

Womanist Musings : Students Participate in “Kick a Jew Day”

Wed, 9 Dec 2009 18:02:44 +0000

Not to sound cold, but an extremely important and controversial issue involving two nations is just as, if not more important as a minor albeit awful incident in a schoolyard. By saying what she said, WM only added to the misinformation out there about the former issue.

Womanist Musings : Students Participate in “Kick a Jew Day”

Wed, 9 Dec 2009 18:00:53 +0000

Honestly, WM, I expected a lot better from you. I completely agree that this incident was awful. However: "Anti-Semitism is not a thing of the past. People regularly deny the holocaust and question the right of the Jews to have a home state. While there are certainly issues with Israel’s criminal treatment of the Palestinians, to deny the right of a Jewish home state, is certainly a desire to reduce the possibility of any form of power and or security." Anti-Semitism has nothing to do with anti-Zionism/anti-Israel. Holocaust denial has nothing to do with anti-Zionism/being anti-Israel. There are legitimate reasons for not supporting having people kicked out of their homes, off their land, and treated like extremists. I expected a lot better from you - usually there's a great deal of logic and intelligence behind your posts but this is awful.

Womanist Musings : It\'s not a valuable discussion on race until the POC show up

Fri, 4 Dec 2009 17:36:11 +0000

Yes, a discussion between a bunch of white people on race is not going to be truly valuable. Though, if some in the discussion are educated on the subject and others are not (and by educated I mean know the history of race relations and such, and the causes behind current conditions, ie things like property values) there can be some enlightenment on the part of those who aren't educated. And let's not pretend whites can't come to their own, better (but not best) conclusions on their own. We don't need people of color instructing us on their experiences to *see* some of what's going on. Is that going to be nearly as good as learning about it directly from a person of color? No. And of course that goes both ways. Simply being a person of color isn't going to give you the most accurate opinion on race. Probably a better idea of race (and I say race with hesitation, since there's not really any thing such as race) is going to be had from someone who is a person of color (or even better, biracial) *and* well educated on the subject, like yourself - simply being a person of color does not give you the education that tells you how these things happened and why they're still happening.

Womanist Musings : Parents Teach Child That Hitler Was A Good Man

Sat, 6 Jun 2009 19:54:41 +0000

Since when is indoctrination okay as long as it's done to a child? What other blatant violations of human rights are okay when done to a child?

Womanist Musings : Hey Fatty Cover Up

Fri, 5 Jun 2009 15:25:43 +0000

I couldn't agree with you more about how those without perfect bodies are fat shamed into not taking part in life. It's funny how supposedly supporting a healthy lifestyle (which includes eating disorders, hardly healthy) keeps a person from doing the activities which actually keep them healthy. Since when were people just on display for others? "Who wants to see that"? It's not there for you to look at, it's there for the comfort of someone else. A foreign concept, I'm sure.

A Division by Zer0 : Is Anarchism Utopian?

Mon, 11 May 2009 13:33:23 +0000

I really, really love this post. You should submit this one to the next carnival, too. ;) Sorry though, I hadn't realized you had submitted one. Which is odd. Maybe they take a few days to go through the system or something? Sure didn't take long for the spam to appear though. ;) Posts like these are a perfect example of why sitting around worshipping Marx and Lenin and repeating their quotes does us little good. If theory is of any value, it has to come from us, not them.

Womanist Musings : Silly Immigrants, Canada Is For White People

Thu, 7 May 2009 19:35:12 +0000

Somewhat shocking. I knew Canada had serious issues, though I consider it a relatively nice country, especially when compared to the US, but damn...

Womanist Musings : Teach Me About Blackness T. J Holmes

Thu, 7 May 2009 19:33:27 +0000

So true about how voting for Obama is equated with not being racist, and in my case, saying I did not vote for Obama (I'm a Nader girl, with reservations about even him, though I'll admit Obama's nice for a politician) immediately brands me as racist (and assumes I voted for McCain). Anyways, Renee, we'd really, really, really love you to submit something to our first Red Carnival -- http://global-communist.com/redcarnival.php

A Division by Zer0 : The Tragedy of Boxes

Thu, 7 May 2009 19:15:05 +0000

Interesting analogy, though funny how it's overthought by everyone. It's just an analogy! Anyways, db0, Doug's Global Communist site is up and is doing great, and we're going to be starting a blog carnival--I'm doing the first one, since no one else seemed interested. Would really love for you to submit something, even if it's an old post. http://global-communist.com/redcarnival.php