Hey Wait a Minute
When I made those comments about intelligent design the other day, I was doing so within the context of the golden ratio. Over too many of Todd's martinis, I learned something new: "Intelligent Design" is a political movement, so to speak. I know, I know. I should have known that. There have probably been hundreds of articles on it, and surely I'd seen a few, right? Well I didn't, and don't call me Shirley.
To me, "intelligent design" is, or was, precisely what you'd think: the notion that something greater than ourselves designed This Whole Thing. Nothing more. Nothing dogmatic, just open to the Grand Idea. I'm comfortable with that notion provided people don't draw lines in the sand and claim that their knowledge of this creator is deeper and more personal and more accurate than yours or mine.
I'm fine with "intelligent design" unless it seeks to disqualify the decades of excellent science supporting evolution. "Intelligent design" and evolution should not necessarily be mutually exclusive. Evolution could simply be a process by which the intelligence works. Like a baking cake, perhaps. I'm fine with the idea unless it seeks to close the book on our most important questions. If there's a giant worldwide scientific revelation next spring, for example, our views should evolve with the information. Many people will think such information, whatever it would be, is merely a test of faith by the Temptor Himself. Arguing with this type of thought is futile.
What we know, by virtue of what what we can measure and duplicate should be taught. I don't think beliefs have any business in public schools, from a teaching perspective. But I also don't think we should be telling students that they can't pray to whatever god they choose, even if it's smack dab in the middle of homeroom. In 6th grade, I once prayed to the goddess that was Rachel Walsh. She never answered the call, which might explain my agnosticism as an adult.
Anyway, that's just my $0.02
Sack Him
Listening to the interviews and reading about his response, it's obvious that FEMA Under Secretary Mike Brown should resign immediately. How clueless and ineffective can a director be?
I'm Going to Say It
There are a lotta fingers being pointed in and around Nawlins. Some probably deserved, some probably not deserved. But let's be real here. SOME of the blame has to go to the victims themselves—those who COULD get out. They were warned days in advance. Then they were warned again and again and again: GET OUT. I forget the timeline, but I heard that public transportation was available. But some people were stubborn. You can't get to everybody when "everybody" is in the thousands, scattered all about in their attics.
Oy, when this water recedes, it's going to be a horror show.
I'm Going to Say This, Too
The media has been asking leading questions that imply that the "current administration" doesn't care about poor people and that's why there are dead bodies floating in the Nawlins floodwaters. Come ON...it's really pathetic how low some people will go to politicize a tragedy. Race issues have been brought up. It's BULLSHIT.
But I don't like the fact that the U.S. appears to be ignoring the offers of many countries. At its most basic, it's rude. If countries are offering to help, TAKE IT! WTF?!
Labels: ponderage
11 Comments:
First, while I agree that some people stupidly chose to stick around in New Orleans, I hardly think that they all deserve the blame. The mayor did not issue a mandatory evacuation until less than 24 hours before landfall. For a city that gets all number of hurricane warnings, I don't think it's reasonable to expect the working class to bolt, risking a lost job, for each warning. Only for a mandatory evacuation should they leave. Public tansit was nonoperational by the time the mayor issued his mandatory evacuation. That, however, does not excuse those who did choose to stay even as they had the ability to leave.
As far as the current administration not caring 'bout poor people, I'm inclined to agree with you that the statement does fall on the bullshit side of things. However, I don't think it's bullshit to suggest that they don't understand. I've read about some pretty insensitive comments and decisions which suggest that the members of the administration don't have a real strong grasp of reality, but I don't think it's fair to say they don't care.
I can understand why the U.S. is refusing the help. The help will come in the form of another country's military presence on U.S. soil. I can think of a lot of reasons why the G would avoid that. Not that I agree (I'm not sure that I care if French Soldiers return to New Orleans, or not).
Oh, and the intelligent design thing? I have classmates, presumably very smart ones, who believe that the creation story is a true and accurate account of how the world was created. The theory of evolution is just something scientists concocted to comfort themselves. I shit you not. I liked one commenter's link to the Open Letter about the giant spaghetti monster.
5:47 PM
Points well taken, Ms. Tory (May I call you Nuga?) I didn't mean to suggest that ALL people should shoulder the blame. I think I said SOME people. I should have said SOME people should bear SOME of the blame. But whatever, you got my point, and I got yours.
It just really sucks to see all that taking place when we should have had levees that could resist a category 5.
We can put a man on the moon, but...
RE: the receipt of gifts, no, obviously we wouldn't accept a foreign military presence. I'm talking about CASH, BABY. CASH. Lotta cash gifts being offered to Nawlins, and I think the U.S. should say Why Thank You.
7:40 PM
I didn't know they were offering money. Yah, I have no idea why the hell our cash-strapped G won't take the gifts. I interpreted their offers of help to be akin to our offers of help: the navy.
From what I understand about the public transit is that by Sunday, it wasn't available. I'd been following this blog pretty closely. Some NOLA residents who did evacuate frequently post in the comments. One woman wrote that she was trying to leave on Sunday, but she didn't have a car and Greyhound wasn't operating. Fotunately, she managed to hitch a ride with her neighbor's cousin, but she was pretty angry that there weren't other options for people who don't have neighbors with cousins with cars.
Back to the nutjobs:
Here's something scary. Click on the "fun for kids" link.
And also check out Lambuel.
10:03 PM
lambuel: Oh *MY*
Good laughin'...but in a creeped out, kinda pissed way.
11:26 PM
Hopsiah the Kanga-Jew? I almost lost my fucking shit right here at work over that.
I'm getting one of them T-shirts, too.
12:33 PM
I know it's linked to things that aren't a joke, but it HAS to be a joke. I mean, look at question #8 on Professor Giraffenstein, for god's sake!
1:54 PM
It's totally not a joke. See the parent directory. It only seems like a joke because it's' utterly ridiculous; it's impossible to take it seriously.
Those creation story people are real hung up on that beetle.
2:37 PM
Well Holy Shit indeed then.
3:21 PM
No, I think that site is a joke. Seriously, they have a Divine Org Chart with a spot for "alien messiahs". It's not real.
5:21 PM
How can it be a joke? I mean, look at this picture.
And with songs like Jesus Be Just A'ight, I'm absolutely certain that Zounds is a real youth rock ministry.
10:46 PM
I'm not so sure it's a joke. They really have a bug up their ass over Landover Baptist. Unless I'm just not getting it, which happens alot.
I also like the instructional pictures under "eschatology" in the statement of faith. I expect to see this posted in the bathroom of a Thruway rest stop someday.
The Goats will go to hell.
10:48 PM
Post a Comment
<< Home