IntenseDebate - Derek Balling

14 years ago @ ~ Angry White Boy ~ - Hey, piss off · 0 replies · +1 points

By committing war-crimes, we have sunk to their level, (since those things you describe are also war-crimes).

14 years ago @ ~ Angry White Boy ~ - Hey, piss off · 1 reply · +1 points

Well, other than being a war crime under Article 17 of the First Geneva Convention. <sarcasm>But aside from that little detail, yeah, total non-event.</sarcasm>

14 years ago @ ~ Angry White Boy ~ - Hey, piss off · 2 replies · +1 points

I'm sorry, but we're the ones who are supposed to have a moral high ground. We're the ones who are supposed to be BETTER than the Bad Guys.

When we sink to their level, we have absolutely no moral authority to stand on, and are no better than they are.

14 years ago @ ~ Angry White Boy ~ - Ahem... Picture ID req... · 0 replies · +1 points

I've never needed a photo ID to obtain college transcripts, or to open up a cell phone account, or to get electric service started up in an apartment.

I'm not disagreeing with you on principle (people SHOULD have to present photo ID to vote, it guarantees the sanctity of the vote, which the Dems are oh so worried about), but just that some items in the list you've presented may not be as firm and absolute. :-)

15 years ago @ ~ Angry White Boy ~ - Atheists Attack Christ... · 0 replies · +1 points

Prove it.

Seriously, it's all any agnostic or atheist has ever asked. Show me actual proof of your mystical being. Show me something I can't just use "Global Find and Replace" on, searching for "God" and replacing with "Space Aliens", "Cthulhu", "Thor", or "A Magical Invisible Squid-Like Creature", and it is equally valid.

15 years ago @ ~ Angry White Boy ~ - Atheists Attack Christ... · 0 replies · +1 points

Buscopat: I'm perfectly reasonable. It's also perfectly reasonable for the Muslims to get to use town hall to promote their holidays in an equal fashion. And the pagans. And the Jews. And the worshippers of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. And the Jedi (seriously, it's spawned a religion, who knew!)

I love Christmas. At the end of the day, something purely seasonal - the spirit of giving, etc., etc., - is fine by me. I'm an atheist who celebrates Christmas (although we may cynically refer to it as giftmas from time to time). But when you start to have depictions of Holy Figures Born By Divine-Inspired Virgin Birth, well, then you've crossed the line.

Just remember... the reason for the season is a 23.45º axial tilt, and nothing more. :-)

15 years ago @ ~ Angry White Boy ~ - Atheists Attack Christ... · 0 replies · +2 points

Tim: the current SCOTUS precedent is that you can't "promote or establish" a religion (via the use of public funds or property) unless it is open to all comers.

So, as long as you're cool with all of the alternative religions getting to promote their holidays and festivals (or lack thereof for atheists) with equal prominence on the same public property.... but I strongly suspect you're not ok with that.

15 years ago @ ~ Angry White Boy ~ - Atheists Attack Christ... · 2 replies · +2 points

"it's not promoting, it's acknowledging".

Great, so you'll have no problem with the Flying Spaghetti Monster getting equal billing in promoting the FSM's noodly goodness, right? Or celebrating the long history of voodoo. Or Satanism? Or witchcraft? Or, your nightmare scenario I'm sure, Islam? You'll be *completely* fine with "acknowledging" all of those with displays of equal stature.

Oh, right, it's the same Religious Right that wants government funds to "acknowledge" the Christian holidays that also adamantly comes down with a banhammer any time some alternative belief system is "acknowledged" in schools, etc., etc.

Believe me, making fun of believers isn't what gets me out of bed in the morning. I've got far bigger fish to fry in my life. I just can't stand the hypocrisy by which the religious right tries to get gov't property to promote their religion, but insists that it never be allowed to happen for other religious belief systems they consider 'wrong'.

15 years ago @ ~ Angry White Boy ~ - Atheists Attack Christ... · 4 replies · +2 points

And, by the way, the "all" in "we all need to stand up" includes also the atheists who think it's not right for public property to be used to promote a religious belief system.

15 years ago @ ~ Angry White Boy ~ - Atheists Attack Christ... · 0 replies · +3 points

A "nativity scene" isn't seasonal, it's religious.

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