The Enlightenment

History classes teach us that The Enlightenment happened in Europe and the United States (the U.S to be, that is) between the 1500's and the end of the Industrial Revolution. I believe that this couldn't be further from the truth. In fact, I believe that The Enlightenment is still going on today. And today it's leaders are social liberals.

True in the 1789 all men were created equal, but it wasn't until 1865 that black men were included, and 1921 until white and black women were included. And still after that point we had segregation, race riots, the KKK, and to this day anti-gay movements.

But I think we are about to reach the top of the mountain on this one. Thankfully, it's been nearly 500 years. In time we will learn to accept the rights of those different from us in all their aspects. We won't look away when a black man or gay couple walks down the street. We won't have need for words like nigger and fag. Someday soon we will see that Arab is not a reason to kill. Neither is race, religion, orientation, sex, age, mental capacity, or ideas.

I do hold out hope for civilization, perhaps we can look beyond the color of our skin, our religions, our differences really and realize that in the end we are all people. And people all deserve the same respect and dignity that you have.

My only hope is that I live to see this come true. Then I will be happy.

Fruitless Debate

I've said a lot of things here in this blog that some might see as political statements. And sometimes, people ask me to defend my statements. Really, I can clarify if you want, I have no problem restating my beliefs. However, I don't desire to debate someone who has a political agenda. If you want to test my theories then by all means. In fact by all means, say anything you want. But, in all likelihood, I won't really care to debate you. You can say a few points and I a few counters, but we never really get anywhere. Neither of us ever changes our minds, at most we clarify our positions to each other. And I really don't care what random people's positions are on anything. It's cold but true.

When it boils right down to the core issue, after hours of skimming off the treacle that is, we come down to a point where we share opposing beliefs on one particular subject, perhaps you believe that birth control is a sin because it stops the reason for having sex. I would disagree. And there's nothing that either of us is going to do to change the other's mind. All we can do is cut through the slop that we've garnered around our beliefs because there is no concrete right and wrong, no real answer.

I believe that we should help one another, someone else may think that we should leave one another well enough alone. We can make excuses as to why we believe that we are right and the other is wrong, and unless we are smarter than the other or a better speaker, we aren't going to change anything. And even if we are smarter or better orally on a certain day, or maybe we got lucky with a heavy uppercut, they're just going to get mad at us and leave. Nothing changed.

So here's what I say: I believe what I believe because it feels right to me.

That's it, nothing more, nothing less. And you can defend against that.

Things are looking to be on the down and down

Heading home, sanity hold together.

Words Continued...

Semantics. I don't care about semantics. Tell it like it is. Any time this word is used you must understand that I realize that everything you are about to say is pure bullshit.

Gay marriage. For God's sake, get over it. They are supposed to have the same rights as you whether you like it or not. Besides, in siding against it your are actually taking your right to marry anyone you want away as well. Sure, you may never use it, but isn't it nice to know you have the freedom to? It's really not the end of the world.

Gay marriage again. It's not gay marriage, it's marriage. We don't call it traditional meaning straight marriage, so stop using it.

Civil Unions. Same thing, different name. Give it up. There is no sanctity in marriage, as it should be. It is the union of two people into a social and civil contract stating that they will love each other. Why do we need such a thing?

Red State/Blue State. The opinions of the majority do not reflect the opinions of everyone. This is the flaw of republican (not the party) democracy.

Democracy. We do not have a democracy. We have a representative democracy or a republic.

The Parents Council. Why don't you actually parent your kids instead of complaining about why the television, movie, and music industries aren't doing it for you.

Spin. As in in the news industry. Everything, even the truth, has some sort of bias. The difference is that I think the truth is liberal and you think it is conservative. I am right. Guess what's left.

Pedophile Priest. No one is above the law. They must all be tried and the guilty convicted and sent to prison for the same amount of time as any other pedophile. The cloth is not immunity. Those who partake are criminals.

Katrina victims. I see the point, there was a big disparity across ethnicities. Stop reminding me. News is no longer new when it's old news.

Breaking News. Stop interrupting my regularly scheduled program. If I cared I'd be watching CNN or FOX or something else. I don't, leave me in peace. For a couple hours a day I'd like to be able to escape from the painful reality that is the outside world. Leave me alone. If I want to be unhappy I'll ask for it. Thank you.

Disaster. Why is everything weather-related today called a disaster? Maybe it was a catastrophe, or an epidemic, or a mishap. Get these news writers a fucking thesaurus.

And that's all I can think of at this time. There will be more.