Notice the Russian flag 😐

DenoPenno comments on Oct 18, 2023:

Who in the hell would put bullshit like this on their truck and drive around? It makes no sense to me. I have no flags or bumper stickers.

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 19, 2023:

A dumbass, authoritarian-loving, white supremacist/Christian nationalist.

Notice the Russian flag 😐

Garban comments on Oct 18, 2023:

Palm trees. Must be Florida.🤮

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 18, 2023:

San Diego, actually. We got our morons here too. 😐

MAGA makes it so easy for him.

HippieChick58 comments on Oct 18, 2023:

Pin headed nimrods and morons.

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 18, 2023:

Selfish, arrogant, entitled, angry little boys.

Spoiler alert!

HippieChick58 comments on Oct 18, 2023:

They must be rolling in their graves.

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 18, 2023:

Spinning at 3,000 rpm 😂

Oklahoma education leader claims church/state separation is "state-sponsored atheism" -- Friendly ...

Flyingsaucesir comments on Oct 16, 2023:

I guess the only thing to do is sue the bejesus out of them; hit 'em in the pocketbook until they get the message. I'm so glad I don't live in Oklahoma.

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 18, 2023:

@snytiger6 You should go! Have you seen the latest thing from Ken Burns, about the Buffalo? The Cherokee people figure prominently in this 4-hour documentary.

When it comes to accepting climate change, white evangelicals lag far behind -- Friendly Atheist

Flyingsaucesir comments on Oct 16, 2023:

80% of White Evangelical Christians voted for Trumpty Dumpty in 2020. Most of them still believe the fiction that he won. That ain't the only fiction they believe in, the credulous bovines.

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 18, 2023:

@snytiger6 Exactly. Faith is valued over fact-based reason.

Which is your favorite Christopher Hitchens debate?

MacStriker comments on Oct 17, 2023:

this one always stands out to me as a fav https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFQODNlFtc0

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 18, 2023:

Nice! But one ("stupid") question and one (acerbic) answer do not a debate make. As Dickens' Oliver Twist once said, "Please sir, I want more!" 😂

[gregreese.

Flyingsaucesir comments on Oct 18, 2023:

Hey bra, you posted your link in triplicate. How about deleting two copies?

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 18, 2023:

@1patriot Anybody ever tell you that you are truly charming and endearing? What's that? No? I wonder why not. Hmmm 😂

For the first time scientists observe the creation of matter from light.

Charles1971 comments on Oct 16, 2023:

Which atheists said it can't be done? Since when have atheists been science deniers?

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 18, 2023:

@skado I never said the commentary is useless. Much as I like Gould, I think he was wrong about science and religion being non- overlapping magesteria. Christopher Hitchens had this to say about it: "...religion has one advantage, huge one and only one. It's the first and the worst explanation that we came up with. It's what we came up with when we didn't know anything, when we were terrified children, when we didn't know about microorganisms or dinosaurs, comets, or volcanoes. This is a depressing picture, but I think it's more cheerful to face it than otherwise, and my, my verdict, therefore, is that these, these magisteria, as Gould calls it, do indeed overlap, and you must choose which one of them you take seriously, and they are not compatible or reconcilable, and thus what the poet Shelley called the necessity of atheism is born in on you just because of scientific reasoning, never mind moral and ethical reason." In this, the Hitch is closer to the mark than good old Stephen J. You write that science's "job is accurately describing the natural world to the conscious mind in literal prose." That's not wrong. Neither is it "all." Having a better understanding of nature can also enrich the human spirit. For instance, evolutionary biology teaches us that all life on Earth sprang from a single common ancestor who lived some 3½ or 4 billion years ago. The related fields of geology and ecology teach us about the rock cycle, the water cycle, the carbon cycle, and the nitrogen cycle. The takeaway is that we are all related, and we're all made up of the same materials, which have been used over and over again by countless, long dead cousins. It is very possible that some of the atoms making up my body once helped make up the body of a dinosaur, and before that, a trilobite, and before that, a bit of blue-green algae. And this engenders an unsurpassed sense of continuity in my psyche. Knowing that I share kinship with every organism on the planet, and that my own life is only possible because other organisms have transformed sunshine into the forms of energy I need to strum my guitar, give me a profound sense of connectedness that can rightly be called deeply spiritual. Being able to date the rock I stand on, classify the fossils in it, see back through millions and billions of years and describe ancient and long ago vanished ecosystems is a far richer experience than the childish creation myths we find in every religion. This is not to say that the old myths have no utility. They do. They are endlessly entertaining. And they tell us something about the mentality of our recent human ancestors. We can all appreciate their creativity, and get a little better understanding of the challenges they faced. Science not only offers us ...

For the first time scientists observe the creation of matter from light.

Flyingsaucesir comments on Oct 17, 2023:

If the first and only person I hear this from is @FvckY0u, of course I'm going to be skeptical. Duh! 😂 However, I'm not going to totally discount what I have heard. After all, Einstein's formula E = mc² says that mass can be converted into energy (the principle behind an atomic bomb). Why ...

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 17, 2023:

@FvckY0u I understand you are frustrated. You have been roundly criticized, rejected and ignored on this site. 😂😂😂

For the first time scientists observe the creation of matter from light.

Flyingsaucesir comments on Oct 17, 2023:

If the first and only person I hear this from is @FvckY0u, of course I'm going to be skeptical. Duh! 😂 However, I'm not going to totally discount what I have heard. After all, Einstein's formula E = mc² says that mass can be converted into energy (the principle behind an atomic bomb). Why ...

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 17, 2023:

@FvckY0u Seek help. Please.

For the first time scientists observe the creation of matter from light.

Flyingsaucesir comments on Oct 17, 2023:

If the first and only person I hear this from is @FvckY0u, of course I'm going to be skeptical. Duh! 😂 However, I'm not going to totally discount what I have heard. After all, Einstein's formula E = mc² says that mass can be converted into energy (the principle behind an atomic bomb). Why ...

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 17, 2023:

@FvckY0u Who was it that first went uncivil? "Now go away and stop being a twat." -- @FvckY0u 🖕

Every reasonable human is an atheists.

Flyingsaucesir comments on Oct 17, 2023:

I like Hitchens. I also like a lot of other writers. It's hard to pick a favorite. My top 21 (in no particular order) are: William Faulkner Orhan Pamuk Gabriel Garcia Marquez Joseph Conrad Mark Twain James Michener Patrick O'Brien John McPhee Ken Kesey B. Traven Isabel Allende Loren ...

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 17, 2023:

@Liam991 Dang, you don't find many people who can handle Faulkner, or even know about Eiseley! Good on you! Here's another one I forgot to mention: Farley Mowat. 🙂

For the first time scientists observe the creation of matter from light.

Charles1971 comments on Oct 16, 2023:

Which atheists said it can't be done? Since when have atheists been science deniers?

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 17, 2023:

@skado A wise rabbi who was given only the time he could stand on one leg to summarize the Jewish Bible said this: treat others as you would have them treat you. The rest is mere commentary. (I paraphrase.) I think that is sufficient elaboration. I think you are onto something when you say that "people bring whatever beliefs they already carry to their religious practice." People see what they want to see, understand what they want to understand. The problem is that in the voluminous scriptural commentary one can find justification for just about any heinous act. That in itself is not so bad. Fiction writers portray ugliness all the time, and readers do not feel empowered to emulate it. But many religions promote the idea that it's OK, in fact desirable and virtuous, to believe in shit for which there is no evidence. Faith is valued over reason. That is the top of the slippery slope whose bottom is science denial and sectarian violence. Do the religions explicitly teach science denial and sectarian violence? Most do not. They don't have to. They just set up a permission structure that allows people to believe whatever they want to believe, however nonsensical it may be. And if the wise priest says, "No, that's not what I meant at all," those who disagree simply form a splinter group. In the Christian family of sects, there are already over 40,000 competing dogmas. After 400 years, there is still only one science. Science gives permission to investigate anything you want. It does not give permission to believe whatever you want.

For the first time scientists observe the creation of matter from light.

Flyingsaucesir comments on Oct 17, 2023:

If the first and only person I hear this from is @FvckY0u, of course I'm going to be skeptical. Duh! 😂 However, I'm not going to totally discount what I have heard. After all, Einstein's formula E = mc² says that mass can be converted into energy (the principle behind an atomic bomb). Why ...

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 17, 2023:

@FvckY0u I recommend you seek psychiatric help. Do it now. Do not delay! 😂

When it comes to accepting climate change, white evangelicals lag far behind -- Friendly Atheist

Trolling comments on Oct 16, 2023:

I’ve still seen as much proof of Jesus as I have seen of climate change.

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 17, 2023:

@CourtJester Air travel has the biggest carbon footprint per passenger mile. It take a lot of energy to keep a jet in the air. Zoom would be a much better option. But again, you're putting way too much importance on sea level. It's the heat that's the real killer.

For the first time scientists observe the creation of matter from light.

Flyingsaucesir comments on Oct 17, 2023:

If the first and only person I hear this from is @FvckY0u, of course I'm going to be skeptical. Duh! 😂 However, I'm not going to totally discount what I have heard. After all, Einstein's formula E = mc² says that mass can be converted into energy (the principle behind an atomic bomb). Why ...

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 17, 2023:

@FvckY0u If by "it" you mean souls, uh, you're all wet 💦

For the first time scientists observe the creation of matter from light.

Charles1971 comments on Oct 16, 2023:

Which atheists said it can't be done? Since when have atheists been science deniers?

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 17, 2023:

@skado For what it's worth, I acknowledge that religion has some positive aspects. But in toto, I think it acts like a brake on human progress. It may have provided an advantage for survival at one time, but things have changed. To the extent that religious belief promotes science denial, it's working against the survival of the species. If we don't accept climate science now, and act accordingly and with alacrity, we're probably done for as a species. As for whether affiliation is rising or falling, I only know what I read here. And that is apparently a matter of dispute. But I'm only a very casual observer, not very concerned about it. I'm much more interested in things like the rise of Christian nationalism in America (a phenomenon that apparently has little to do with actual religious belief), the wave of authoritarianism sweeping the globe, climate change, politics in America...stuff that is impacting us here and now. Climate change itself will convince people of its reality, sooner or later, regardless of religious beliefs. It's just going to keep on getting hotter and hotter...

For the first time scientists observe the creation of matter from light.

Flyingsaucesir comments on Oct 17, 2023:

If the first and only person I hear this from is @FvckY0u, of course I'm going to be skeptical. Duh! 😂 However, I'm not going to totally discount what I have heard. After all, Einstein's formula E = mc² says that mass can be converted into energy (the principle behind an atomic bomb). Why ...

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 17, 2023:

@FvckY0u The thing about souls and other "non scientific stuff" [sic], is that there is no evidence for it. However, there is evidence supporting Einstein's theory of relativity. For instance, the theory predicted the discovery of black holes. And difference in the rate at which time passes depending on velocity has been directly measured. Nothing like successful prediction of other phenomena, or direct measurement supports the notion of souls. There are many words that accurately describe the idea that souls actually exist. An incomplete list would include hokum, balderdash, bullshit, fantasy, wishful thinking, flim-flam, nonsense,...you get the idea.

For the first time scientists observe the creation of matter from light.

Charles1971 comments on Oct 16, 2023:

Which atheists said it can't be done? Since when have atheists been science deniers?

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 17, 2023:

@Esprit_de_Corp Looks like I touched a nerve 😂😂😂 These memes are silly. They're not an argument; they're an abdication. You need to up your game. Time to put on your big boy pants.

When it comes to accepting climate change, white evangelicals lag far behind -- Friendly Atheist

Trolling comments on Oct 16, 2023:

I’ve still seen as much proof of Jesus as I have seen of climate change.

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 17, 2023:

@Esprit_de_Corp, @CourtJester For the entire 20th century, the USA was the world's greatest emitter of greenhouse gases. Around the turn of the 21st century, China passed us. They will have to go green just like the rest of us. Right now they have more electric cars than we do, but they also have more coal-fired power plants. As time goes on, mother nature is going to provide us all more and more incentive to change. Stay tuned. You seem obsessed with rich people's beach houses. Some of them have already lost their homes (in San Diego, California, more to cliff erosion than storm surge). Norfolk, Virginia is seeing streets flooded regularly now, as is Palm Beach, Florida. High tides are coming up through their storm drains on sunny days. Many more homes are threatened, but sea level is rising at a rate of about 0.35 millimeters per year, so their inundation is not necessarily imminent. That's ⅓ of a millimeter per year, 1 millimeter in three years, 1 centimeter in in 30 years. Very fast by historical standards, but on a human time scale, kinda slow. At this rate, people don't need to move out right away. The question is, will that rate hold? The fact is, it is slowly accelerating, and could really speed up if a big glacier like Thwaits were to lose its footing and start sliding into the sea. And it looks like that is what is happening. Thwaits is grounded below sea level. There's a ridge below sea level that hold the glacier back, keeps it from sliding. But as warmer sea water is now melting the sea ice, that ridge loses its ability to hold back the glacier. If it goes, sea levels will jump up quick. But nobody knows for sure when this will happen. People might as well stay in their beach homes, for now.

When it comes to accepting climate change, white evangelicals lag far behind -- Friendly Atheist

Trolling comments on Oct 16, 2023:

I’ve still seen as much proof of Jesus as I have seen of climate change.

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 17, 2023:

@Esprit_de_Corp It will take centuries to melt Antarctica. That estimate has always been a long one. Hell, it's 2 miles thick in places. But portions of it could give way sooner (see Thwaits glacier), and the timetable for that keeps getting moved closer as retreat of the sea ice is accelerating. Original (like 20 or 30 years ago) estimates for an ice-free Arctic Ocean in summer was end of this century, but it looks like we are going to get there much sooner now; probably before 2050. It's going fast. It used to be 20 feet thick year round. Now is barely 2 feet thick at its maximum, and slushy farther into winter than ever. Polar bears are starving because they can't hunt seals from atop the sea ice, because the ice is forming later and later every year. Entire native villages have had to move to higher ground as the sea has risen. Some islands in the Arctic are disappearing fast. As are many in the tropical Pacific. You have probably heard of the Maldives, right? An entire country is disappearing. Australia is taking them in as climate refugees.

Religion does not get this. GW Bush called Islam a religion of peace after 9/11.

Thibaud70 comments on Oct 15, 2023:

In general, religions are not more violent than other aspects of human culture. The exceptions are Islam and Christianity

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 17, 2023:

@Thibaud70 I don't claim that any of the aforementioned religions are inherently violent. But they all offer extremists whatever justification they might need to act out, if that's what they want to do. It's not so much what is written in the scriptures; it's how people interpret them. What all the religions have in common is a get-out-of-reason-free card; they all value faith over fact-based reasoning. That's the slippery slope that dumps them all in the same infamous camp.

For the first time scientists observe the creation of matter from light.

Charles1971 comments on Oct 16, 2023:

Which atheists said it can't be done? Since when have atheists been science deniers?

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 17, 2023:

@skado We have some hard core science deniers on this site (e.g. @CourtJester,...and who's the other joker with the five-pointed star badge thumbnail photo? @Esprit_de_Corp? These characters are so forgettable...😂). However, just because they are on this site, that does not mean they are atheists. Who knows what they believe? And even more to the point, who cares?

When it comes to accepting climate change, white evangelicals lag far behind -- Friendly Atheist

Trolling comments on Oct 16, 2023:

I’ve still seen as much proof of Jesus as I have seen of climate change.

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 16, 2023:

@CourtJester Hahaha CJ, you crack me up! 😂 The science on global warming has never been "debunked." In fact, it has grown and solidified steadily for up to 200 years, if you count the first awareness that Earth's atmosphere could act like a blanket around the planet, slowing the escape of heat into space. The term "climate change" was introduced by scientists because it better encompasses the full range of climate variations seen over the whole Earth. While the AVERAGE temperature at the planet's surface IS steadily increasing, changing wind and sea currents may result in local average temperature decreasing (at least for a time). I have attached a link to a good article on the various terms that are in use, and it gives a good example of how local temperature can go down while the global average goes up. Rising sea levels poses a very real long-term threat to millions of people. We are already seeing higher storm surges due to a combination of higher sea level and more violent winds, inundating homes and other infrastructure. Sea level rose about one foot over the last 100 years; we expect another 2 to 3 feet of rise by the end of this century. But sea level rise is NOT the greatest danger we face from climate change. Heat waves kill more people (and livestock, and food crops) than do floods, fires, or winds. You can look at sea level rise as like a flashing warning light, or a canary in a coal mine: a harbinger of much worse things to come. The thing is, we have a rapidly closing window of opportunity to stop warming the planet before feedback loops kick in and bring on an unstoppable upward spiral in temperature (and all the nasty effects that go with heating). If we carry on with business as usual, we are consigning future generations to life (and death) on an inhospitable planet. That would represent a moral failure of epic proportions. https://www.dictionary.com/e/new-words-surrounding-climate-change/

US military secrets for sale, cheap!

CourtJester comments on Oct 16, 2023:

Interesting that the Democrats accuse others of doing what they're doing. What about Bob Menendez, or the 19,000 business emails Biden sent and received while he was vice president???

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 16, 2023:

@CourtJester Menendez was indicted once before ang got off with a hung jury. Before the more recent facts came out, who knew what they were? They had not come out. In any case, Trump makes Menéndez look like a fucking Boy Scout. THAT'S why Republicans won't say shit.

When it comes to accepting climate change, white evangelicals lag far behind -- Friendly Atheist

Trolling comments on Oct 16, 2023:

I’ve still seen as much proof of Jesus as I have seen of climate change.

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 16, 2023:

@Esprit_de_Corp Fine. You are free to go on living under your rock. 😂😂😂

Religion does not get this. GW Bush called Islam a religion of peace after 9/11.

Thibaud70 comments on Oct 15, 2023:

In general, religions are not more violent than other aspects of human culture. The exceptions are Islam and Christianity

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 16, 2023:

@Thibaud70 OK, you don't want to call mass murder that occurred precisely along religious lines religious war; you prefer the term "tribalism." Fine. But in the Indian examples I gave, what is the defining feature of each tribe? Hmmmm, let's see.... Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism. Note that Moslems only account for 14% of the Indian population; far too few to go toe-to-toe with the Hindus and Sikhs. Maybe that's why what goes on there doesn't qualify as religious war. Instead of playing semantic games, why don't you just admit that your original assertion that Islam and Christianity stand out as particularly violent from other religions is not supported by the facts?

When it comes to accepting climate change, white evangelicals lag far behind -- Friendly Atheist

Trolling comments on Oct 16, 2023:

I’ve still seen as much proof of Jesus as I have seen of climate change.

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 16, 2023:

Well it's happening all around you. You mean to tell us that you don't know about the retreat of glaciers all over the world? Or of invasion of tropical disease vectors into temperate zones? Or of record-breaking heat waves, floods, and forest fires? Or of the water levels in the great rivers of the world falling so low as to become un-navigable for the first time in recorded history? Or of migration patterns and habitation ranges of animals changing radically? Or of farmers having to change long established timing of sowing and reaping? Or of the disappearing sea ice in the Arctic Ocean? Or of the Keeling curve, which records the steady rise in atmospheric CO2 caused by burning fossil fuels, and the science (the 200 years of science) predicting that such a rise in greenhouse gases would raise temperatures globally? Where have you been? Do you live under a large, flat rock?

Religion does not get this. GW Bush called Islam a religion of peace after 9/11.

Thibaud70 comments on Oct 15, 2023:

In general, religions are not more violent than other aspects of human culture. The exceptions are Islam and Christianity

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 16, 2023:

When India was partitioned, Sikhs slaughtered trainloads of Moslems who were trying to flee to Pakistan and Bangladesh. More recently, Hindus have murdered thousands of Indian Moslems in dozens of separate incidents. Christians and Moslems are definitely not alone in their violent barbarity.

US military secrets for sale, cheap!

CourtJester comments on Oct 16, 2023:

Interesting that the Democrats accuse others of doing what they're doing. What about Bob Menendez, or the 19,000 business emails Biden sent and received while he was vice president???

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 16, 2023:

Hahaha Republicans have been strangely silent about Menéndez. It's only Democrats that are calling for him to resign. Why is that? 😂😂😂

He's done in New York. Soon he'll be done in the whole USA.

Trajan61 comments on Oct 15, 2023:

New York is a radical left wing state. Glad I don’t live there.

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 16, 2023:

@Garban And even the singled-out argument falls flat. The fraud and business records type of cases are the bread and butter of New York prosecutors. And you don't have to go far to find people who have recently been prosecuted for mishandling classified documents. The fake electors scheme is, admittedly, unique. But individual elements of it are run of the mill, e.g. illegally accessing computer records, defamation, pressuring government officials to break their oath of office, etc.

We know how this story ends: an innocent child speaks the truth.

Thibaud70 comments on Oct 16, 2023:

In the GOP there are no innocent children left who could tell the truth. They are all dead or have been ostracized

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 16, 2023:

Thinking outside the box, the child could be 12 honest citizens just doing their civic duty.

No winners here.

Thibaud70 comments on Oct 15, 2023:

1.- Hamas did not kill 1200 Jews because they hate Netanyahu, and the civilians are just *collateral damage*. They killed them because they hate all Jews. They would have staged the raid even if there was a center-left government in Jerusalem, including the representatives of Arab citizens of ...

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 16, 2023:

@Thibaud70 Too bad. I'm tired of hearing about their bickering. The world is tired of it.

He's done in New York. Soon he'll be done in the whole USA.

Trajan61 comments on Oct 15, 2023:

New York is a radical left wing state. Glad I don’t live there.

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 15, 2023:

I'm sure they don't miss you either 😂

US military secrets for sale, cheap!

HippieChick58 comments on Oct 15, 2023:

I don't put that past him.

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 15, 2023:

@HippieChick58 What a sad excuse for a human being.

This cartoon mirrors the news coverage of the last 5 days.

Trajan61 comments on Oct 12, 2023:

I hope Israel totally destroys both Hamas and Hezbollah.

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 15, 2023:

@Trajan61 On the contrary; we had access to all of their nuclear facilities, and they were not on track to build a bomb. Now we don't have access, and we don't know what they are up to. All our allies who were parties to the deal were shocked and dismayed by Trump's foolish action. Let's face it: he killed the deal because a Black guy negotiated it.

US military secrets for sale, cheap!

HippieChick58 comments on Oct 15, 2023:

I don't put that past him.

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 15, 2023:

The only thing he cares about is 💰💰💰

This cartoon mirrors the news coverage of the last 5 days.

Trajan61 comments on Oct 12, 2023:

I hope Israel totally destroys both Hamas and Hezbollah.

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 15, 2023:

@Trajan61 Actually the nuke deal was a good deal for everybody. Trump screwed the pooch by backing out f it.

No winners here.

Thibaud70 comments on Oct 15, 2023:

1.- Hamas did not kill 1200 Jews because they hate Netanyahu, and the civilians are just *collateral damage*. They killed them because they hate all Jews. They would have staged the raid even if there was a center-left government in Jerusalem, including the representatives of Arab citizens of ...

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 15, 2023:

That all may be true, but it's because of the original insult of being evicted and then continued building of illegal settlements that Hamas can recruit fighters from the Palestinian population. They've got to find a way to rectify that. Otherwise, this shit will go on.

Isn't it strange that those people from the Left, who are all too eager to call out the tiniest ...

Flyingsaucesir comments on Oct 14, 2023:

All the reporting I am seeing on the Hamas attack is using adjectives like "barbaric," and/or "heinous," or nouns like "atrocity" to describe it. I am a progressive lefty, and I agree with those assessments. So I don't know what you are talking about. The other day, you intimated that I was ...

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 15, 2023:

@Thibaud70 I think they need to repair the original sin, or at least convince the Palestinians that they are getting the best deal they will ever get, and the alternative is far worse. Continued expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank, and keeping 2 million Palestinians in the world's biggest prison is definitely not the answer.

This cartoon mirrors the news coverage of the last 5 days.

Trajan61 comments on Oct 12, 2023:

I hope Israel totally destroys both Hamas and Hezbollah.

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 15, 2023:

@Trajan61 Sure, we should support opponents of Iran. Again, soft power will probably gain us more than military intervention. Let the Iranians change their own regime. Our experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan have to have taught us something.

Isn't it strange that those people from the Left, who are all too eager to call out the tiniest ...

Flyingsaucesir comments on Oct 14, 2023:

All the reporting I am seeing on the Hamas attack is using adjectives like "barbaric," and/or "heinous," or nouns like "atrocity" to describe it. I am a progressive lefty, and I agree with those assessments. So I don't know what you are talking about. The other day, you intimated that I was ...

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 15, 2023:

@Thibaud70 There was the original sin, and it has been tit for tat ever since. Israel has always had more fire power, better training, better organization, better logistics, and they have also been lucky. They always hit back harder than they got hit, thinking they're going to teach their enemies a lesson: don't mess with Israel. But that strategy does not seem to be working. Piling up bodies does not erase the original sin. The Palestinians just get more resentful. The stain does not come out in the wash.

This cartoon mirrors the news coverage of the last 5 days.

Trajan61 comments on Oct 12, 2023:

I hope Israel totally destroys both Hamas and Hezbollah.

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 15, 2023:

@Trajan61 We tried regime change in Afghanistan...20 years of blood and treasure, and where did that get us? I don't think it's possible to eradicate an ideology. Probably the best we can do is exercise soft power, and don't expect instant results.

Isn't it strange that those people from the Left, who are all too eager to call out the tiniest ...

laidback1 comments on Oct 14, 2023:

They are stealing the land, people live there, and had for centuries,the Jews got along fine in that area with everyone,before White Israel.. Jews live peacefully in Iran to this Day.... Not sure there's any White Jews there though... Europeans with a religion Just fucking thieve ... Mow the lawn .....

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 14, 2023:

@laidback1 Can't an Islamist be white?

Isn't it strange that those people from the Left, who are all too eager to call out the tiniest ...

laidback1 comments on Oct 14, 2023:

They are stealing the land, people live there, and had for centuries,the Jews got along fine in that area with everyone,before White Israel.. Jews live peacefully in Iran to this Day.... Not sure there's any White Jews there though... Europeans with a religion Just fucking thieve ... Mow the lawn .....

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 14, 2023:

I can see how it might have been an accident. The driver's view is not exactly ideal. Joking about Corey cakes is indeed black humor. Pretty insensitive. I'm probably guilty of saying things that were equally stupid. Could the Israelis who danced on 911 have been Islamists? It is a diverse society, you know.

Isn't it strange that those people from the Left, who are all too eager to call out the tiniest ...

ChestRockfield comments on Oct 14, 2023:

Example?

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 14, 2023:

@ChestRockfield Yes, an example please!

From one of the non western MSM sites (Yes, they exist, to those who think all news comes from MSNBC...

Flyingsaucesir comments on Oct 13, 2023:

Kiev would look like that, but where Gaza has no air defenses, Ukraine does. Thanks to the United States and our European allies.

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 14, 2023:

@Druvius The bombed-out building with a burning car in front of it was a maternity hospital in Mariupol, Ukraine.

From one of the non western MSM sites (Yes, they exist, to those who think all news comes from MSNBC...

Flyingsaucesir comments on Oct 13, 2023:

Kiev would look like that, but where Gaza has no air defenses, Ukraine does. Thanks to the United States and our European allies.

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 14, 2023:

@Druvius The three bombed-out apartment buildings are in Bakmut, Ukraine.

No winners here.

FvckY0u comments on Oct 13, 2023:

We are not Trump. We are not Biden. We are not Democrats. We are not Republicans. We are not Libertarians. We are not the labels they give us. That's them, the label givers.

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 14, 2023:

Yet Americans bear responsibility for what Trump or Biden do, as Israelis and Palestinians bear responsibility for what Netanyahu and Hamas do. None of these parties rise to power without the popular support of their respective constituencies.

Just issue the indictments against Biden, Netanyahu & crew to drag them before the international ...

DenoPenno comments on Oct 13, 2023:

I'm not a Nuttiyahu fan but I only know one thing at this point. He said "if you are a member of Hamas you are a dead man." Seeing how this all came about and the terrorism going on, I agree with him. War can be a terror but terrorism is not war. It is barbaric.

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 13, 2023:

@FrayedBear I think the point DP is trying to make is that the history of Israel does not justify the wholesale slaughter of Jewish civilians. I agree with DP; the Hamas attack was barbaric. Ukraine did not invade it's own territory (Donbass). Your assertion is laughable; a very clumsy swipe at Ukraine; obviously a piece of Russian propaganda from a frayed Russian bear.

Just issue the indictments against Biden, Netanyahu & crew to drag them before the international ...

St-Sinner comments on Oct 13, 2023:

Israel is now like an over pampered child who behaves badly and gets into trouble for bad behavior. And then the rich parents rescue him. They made Gaza like an open air prison. There was a separate line for Arabs like the despicable human beings everywhere - at border crossings, at government ...

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 13, 2023:

@St-Sinner The Harvard student groups are not wrong: Israel is ultimately responsible, IMO. Driving a truck billboard around showing pictures of the students' faces is over the top. But I would encourage a student spokesperson to come forward to be interviewed. That may yet happen, when things have calmed down a little.

Just issue the indictments against Biden, Netanyahu & crew to drag them before the international ...

St-Sinner comments on Oct 13, 2023:

Israel is now like an over pampered child who behaves badly and gets into trouble for bad behavior. And then the rich parents rescue him. They made Gaza like an open air prison. There was a separate line for Arabs like the despicable human beings everywhere - at border crossings, at government ...

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 13, 2023:

@St-Sinner I did not see reporting on the Israel lobby/Harvard student story. Can you provide a link? What you say about Gaza being an open-air prison is entirely correct. Unfortunately, Israel painted herself into a corner by mistreating the Arab/Moslem population from the founding of the Jewish state onward. She has generated so much animosity that she has to over-invest in security. It's a totally fucked up situation.

This cartoon mirrors the news coverage of the last 5 days.

273kelvin comments on Oct 13, 2023:

Can anyone please explain to me how a two-state solution can be enacted when only one or neither side recognises the other's right to exist?

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 13, 2023:

Aye, there's the rub. They would have to get past that stumbling block. They have come close in the past, but now the two sides look more entrenched than ever.

Just issue the indictments against Biden, Netanyahu & crew to drag them before the international ...

St-Sinner comments on Oct 13, 2023:

Israel is now like an over pampered child who behaves badly and gets into trouble for bad behavior. And then the rich parents rescue him. They made Gaza like an open air prison. There was a separate line for Arabs like the despicable human beings everywhere - at border crossings, at government ...

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 13, 2023:

I think Biden had to make a big show of American support for Israel as a preventative measure, to forestall other actors escalating it into a wider regional conflict. As for supplying war material to Israel, I doubt that is actually necessary. Israel is armed to the teeth and well stocked with ammunition.

New Rule: Truth Matters | Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO) - YouTube

Druvius comments on Oct 13, 2023:

"If you have to fabricate the stories of your mistreatment, isn't that a commentary on where we are now?" No, not at all in any way shape or form. Stopped listening at that point, anecdotes aren't evidence. Taking the actions of one person as representative of their race is called racism. Thanks for...

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 13, 2023:

One of the points Maher was trying to make is that we, as a nation, have made progress vis-a-vis racism. And he's right; it's not as bad as it once was. Do we still have work to do? Definitely.

This cartoon mirrors the news coverage of the last 5 days.

MyTVC15 comments on Oct 12, 2023:

Thank you for posting this. Not everyone is brave enough to point out that there is another side to the story. I tried to talk about this the other day and ended up having to block someone that I had previously thought of as a friend.

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 12, 2023:

People are sometimes so eager to cry "antisemite!" offering the slightest criticism is a little like walking on hot coals. But if Israel overreacts (and it looks like they are getting ready to do just that) watch how people change their tune.

This cartoon mirrors the news coverage of the last 5 days.

Trajan61 comments on Oct 12, 2023:

I hope Israel totally destroys both Hamas and Hezbollah.

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 12, 2023:

@MyTVC15 Indeed! But but the israelis will have flattened Gaza way before Trumpty Dumpty's first criminal trial begins. 😂

This cartoon mirrors the news coverage of the last 5 days.

Switchcraft comments on Oct 12, 2023:

A "dispute" this old takes two, just like dancing. And one has by far the superiority in resources and is in a better position to offer. Even the U.N. has essentially labeled this as Apartheid. The other side has nothing to offer besides compliance, and we know how well humans are at that once ...

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 12, 2023:

@MyTVC15 Hamas is a client of Iran, and Iran is aligned with Russia against Ukraine. So there's that too.

There is no end to the bizarre beliefs in India and now the rejuvenation of ancient beliefs and ...

Flyingsaucesir comments on Oct 12, 2023:

Do all Hindus actually believe in the literal truth of these things? Or do they simply hold them as representational allegories?

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 12, 2023:

@St-Sinner Follow-up question: were the myths originally intended to be taken literally?

This cartoon mirrors the news coverage of the last 5 days.

Switchcraft comments on Oct 12, 2023:

A "dispute" this old takes two, just like dancing. And one has by far the superiority in resources and is in a better position to offer. Even the U.N. has essentially labeled this as Apartheid. The other side has nothing to offer besides compliance, and we know how well humans are at that once ...

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 12, 2023:

Yes! Israel is by far the richer, more accomplished, better situated of the two parties. And as such I think they have a responsibility to be the adult in the room. But instead of showing a little magnanimity, they seem to pounce on every opportunity to be more tyrannical, more brutal, and to seize more land for themselves. I have heard a hypothesis floated that Russia put Hamas up to this latest atrocity. Apparently Hamas leaders have had several meetings with the Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov over the last year or so. According to the hypothesis, Putin's intent is to create a distraction from Ukraine, and have the US divert resources that would otherwise go to Ukraine to Israel. I can't see how this would make much of an impact though. This thing in Gaza should be over pretty quickly.

This cartoon mirrors the news coverage of the last 5 days.

Trajan61 comments on Oct 12, 2023:

I hope Israel totally destroys both Hamas and Hezbollah.

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 12, 2023:

@Thibaud70 I was not even remotely intimating that "Jews secretly pull the string all over the world." But I am pointing out that Israelis have, since the inception of Israel, pushed out, dispossessed, evicted, and corraled the Palestinians who were already living there before Israel was a state. I don't think it matters that the Palestinian population was small when all this started, and has grown exponentially since. The people who were there in 1945 did not get to pass on their lands to their descendants, because they were illegally dispossessed by newcomers. Much as I would like to see Jewish people have a place of their own, I don't like the way they got this one. My position is in line with that of the United Nations: that the Jewish settlements in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights are an illegal land grab. Israel screwed up, or acted maliciously, and in bad faith. And I'm not a Holocaust denier. And I'm not any more anti-Semitic than I am anti-Christian, anti-Moslem, anti-Hindu, or anti-superstition in general. I don't really wish ill upon any group of people. As for their religions, a pox on all their houses of worship. Now my final point. Where the hell do you get off calling me a moron? Aren't you a little old to be acting like a bratty child? Grow up! Jeez.

There is no end to the bizarre beliefs in India and now the rejuvenation of ancient beliefs and ...

racocn8 comments on Oct 12, 2023:

Almost imaginative...

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 12, 2023:

Oh I'd say imaginative is an accurate descriptor. Now are these stories as imaginative as modern science? I don't think so. 😂

This cartoon mirrors the news coverage of the last 5 days.

Trajan61 comments on Oct 12, 2023:

I hope Israel totally destroys both Hamas and Hezbollah.

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 12, 2023:

Isn't Israel, in a sense, the creator of Hamas and Hexbollah?

This cartoon mirrors the news coverage of the last 5 days.

racocn8 comments on Oct 12, 2023:

The 'two-state solution' has always only been a fig leaf to cover the truth that the Palestinians were deemed to be unfit for self-rule. Hell, who IS fit for self-rule? Seriously, a population dedicated to perpetual war or outright genocide can only be walled off. They can do whatever they want ...

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 12, 2023:

I don't completely disagree. But I will ask you this: how did the Palestinians refugees come to be walled off in the Gaza strip in the first place? Isn't "excuse" a better descriptor than "justificaion?"

This is about water which is very important to all of us.

jackjr comments on Oct 12, 2023:

Again a great example of the planet having a set availability of resources. It's not the supply that's the problem but the demand - us. Just more proof of what happens when too many of us need a fixed resource base.

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 12, 2023:

Demand is a big problem, but climate change is throwing a spanner into the gearbox. 🔧

Portrait of craven self interest.

racocn8 comments on Oct 11, 2023:

Note how the MAGA caucus comprise those who are not only totally loyal to Trump, but to Putin as well.

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 11, 2023:

That Venn diagram is basically a circle. 😡

The road to Kiev runs through Washington DC.

Druvius comments on Oct 11, 2023:

A case can be made that pouring arms into Ukraine isn't accomplishing anything except giving piles of money to war profiteers and enabling endless Ukrainian dead. Russia captured the disputed territories in the first few months of the war, and the chances wildly outnumbered and outgunned Ukraine is ...

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 11, 2023:

@Druvius What would he gain? The stuff that civilization was built on: topsoil. Gorgeous, rich, black topsoil. Two hundred thirty-three thousand square miles of it. The world's bread basket. A very tasty piece of real estate, with very important strategic value. Letting him keep what he's got now does not remove his "red lines." It just moves them westward a few miles.

The road to Kiev runs through Washington DC.

Druvius comments on Oct 11, 2023:

A case can be made that pouring arms into Ukraine isn't accomplishing anything except giving piles of money to war profiteers and enabling endless Ukrainian dead. Russia captured the disputed territories in the first few months of the war, and the chances wildly outnumbered and outgunned Ukraine is ...

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 11, 2023:

@Druvius Let's be very clear: the USA and our European allies are not "trading Ukrainian lives to hurt Russia." Ukraine is in the driver's seat. It is Ukrainians who, rightfully, will decide when enough is enough. As long as they have the will to fight, they deserve our support. By the way, what makes you think Putin is satisfied with what he's got? He doesn't just want a little piece of Ukraine; he wants ALL of it. Any peace accord signed by him would not be worth the paper it was written on. Give him some breathing room, a chance to regroup and rebuild strength, and he will be right back at it, gobbling up territory.

The road to Kiev runs through Washington DC.

Druvius comments on Oct 11, 2023:

A case can be made that pouring arms into Ukraine isn't accomplishing anything except giving piles of money to war profiteers and enabling endless Ukrainian dead. Russia captured the disputed territories in the first few months of the war, and the chances wildly outnumbered and outgunned Ukraine is ...

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 11, 2023:

I would not call it a stalemate (yet). Certainly the conflict will run on through 2024. Vlad's military might has turned out to be like one of Potemkin's villages: a mere facade. He's holding on in the hope that Trump will return to power. Failing that, and with a Ukrainian breakthrough cutting off Crimea and the south east, and his war chest dwindling, Putin will start looking for an offramp. And for only 5% of our military budget, and no American boots bloodied, we get to see Putin's military shattered. It would be a bargain at twice the price!

The road to Kiev runs through Washington DC.

HippieChick58 comments on Oct 11, 2023:

Donnie opened the door to this.

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 11, 2023:

Certainly Vlad was emboldened by his success at influencing American politics, helping a would-be tyrant get elected. And now that he has got a chunk of Ukraine in his claws, he's not going to even think about quitting, no matter how badly things go for his army, until after the 2024 election.

Portrait of craven self interest.

HippieChick58 comments on Oct 11, 2023:

IOW he is a suck up, just a chip off of the old Donnie Boy.

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 11, 2023:

Yep, nothing but a shameful opportunist, a coat tail rider, a hanger on, a politics player, without scruples, morals, or substance.

The Israeli philosopher Yeshayahu Leibowitz, whom Isiah Berlin called “the conscience of ...

Flyingsaucesir comments on Oct 9, 2023:

It's only the MAGA crazy caucus and a few other penny-wise-and-pound-foolish Republicans who seriously consider cutting off aid to Ukraine; a distinct minority. Nice try conflating the Isreal-Palestine mess with Ukraine, Frayed Russian Bear. Fortunately, Vlad the Invader is not going to get off ...

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 10, 2023:

@FrayedBear If I recall correctly, pretty much anyone Khan left alive would have been enslaved.

The Israeli philosopher Yeshayahu Leibowitz, whom Isiah Berlin called “the conscience of ...

LenHazell53 comments on Oct 10, 2023:

I am of Jewish decent though raised Christian. Lessons I have learned in researching my ancestry All Zionist are Jews NOT All Jews are Zionist All Israelis are Jews (this is why they do not call themselves Israelites only 12% of Israelites were Jews) either by naturalization and ancestry, ...

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 10, 2023:

Sorry to pile on, Len, but there's a problem with your grammar. I think I know what you mean when you say "All Jews are NOT Zionist." You mean there are some Jews who are Zionists, and some who are not, right? If that's what you want to say, then it should be "Not all Jews are Zionists," or "Some Jews are Zionists, and some are not." What you wrote literally means that NO Jews are Zionists. Even I, a gentile who has never visited Israel, know that's not true. 🙂

It's not going to work...

CourtJester comments on Oct 3, 2023:

Someone is actually a pretty decent artist.

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 10, 2023:

@CourtJester Nice 🙂👍

The Israeli philosopher Yeshayahu Leibowitz, whom Isiah Berlin called “the conscience of ...

Flyingsaucesir comments on Oct 9, 2023:

It's only the MAGA crazy caucus and a few other penny-wise-and-pound-foolish Republicans who seriously consider cutting off aid to Ukraine; a distinct minority. Nice try conflating the Isreal-Palestine mess with Ukraine, Frayed Russian Bear. Fortunately, Vlad the Invader is not going to get off ...

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 10, 2023:

@FrayedBear Genghis khan came before Napoleon.

We keep discovering the meaning of MAGA.

glennlab comments on Oct 9, 2023:

Thanks to Gaetz we are unable to respond in any meaningful way in the middle east. Thanks to Tommy Tubesteak we don't have a chief of Naval Operations , and thanks to Rand Paul we don't have an ambassador to Israel. Way to make government work.

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 9, 2023:

But we do have a carrier strike group headed to the eastern Mediterranean. Hope they have a very boring time there.

We keep discovering the meaning of MAGA.

Garban comments on Oct 9, 2023:

Mindless sack of monkey shit. They love him here in the panhandle for his fealty to the orange turd.

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 9, 2023:

Fealty to Trump; it's a difficult concept to wrap my head around. In the light of so much evidence of mendacity, criminality, and ineptitude, how could anyone possibly follow that orange foolius? It is only explained by a kind of religious fervor; the biggest cult of authoritarian personality we have ever seen in our lifetime.

We keep discovering the meaning of MAGA.

HippieChick58 comments on Oct 9, 2023:

He is a WMD

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 9, 2023:

On his Enemies List podcast, Rick Wilson (of the Lincoln Project) appropriately called Gaetz a "grubby little political arsonist." An apt description, I think.

How do Western astrology and Vedic astrology differ?

St-Sinner comments on Oct 8, 2023:

If vedic culture is so good, why India - a Hindu nation with a large population was invaded by foreign powers with small armies over 2,300 years? Where was Vedic philosophy and superiority? This happened because vedic is trash and Hindus have been cowards.

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 8, 2023:

Hmmmm...this sounds like victim blaming 🤔

Narges Mohammadi: Iranian woman jailed for rights work wins Nobel Peace prize Imprisoned Iranian ...

jackjr comments on Oct 7, 2023:

She may not even be able to hear of it. This is what happens when religion takes over a country. My late partner, An extroverted, Iranian woman who came to the U.S. with her ex (unfortunately he is still alive-he was a typical paternalistic Iranian man). She did say she had to thank him for getting ...

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 8, 2023:

@Druvius And why did the USA install the Shah? To benefit American oil companies. It was ALL about money.💰💰💰

Opinion | How atheists can fix a broken America - The Washington Post

Flyingsaucesir comments on Oct 4, 2023:

The problem with most religions is that they teach people to accept one or more (false) propositions without a shred of supporting evidence. Once you head down that path, anything goes They can be fed any kind of preposterous lie, and they'll swallow it, hook, line, and sinker. The high rate of ...

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 8, 2023:

@ChestRockfield The law sees a difference, and rightly so, I think. If the tumor is inoperable, then the person will still have to be restrained, but it would probably be in a different setting; a mental institution rather than a penal one. No? In any case, I agree that we should avoid vengeful punishments. In fact, I would like to see more rehabilitation and education go on, and less warehousing.

Truth is stranger than fiction.

Thibaud70 comments on Oct 8, 2023:

it is undeniable that Biden has done a lot of good during his tenure, but it is also obvious that he is no longer physically and mentally fit. He should have stepped aside and made way for a younger candidate. That he wants to run again despite all his shortcomings is simply hubris ("I am ...

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 8, 2023:

It's true that he's showing his age, but I would not say that he is not mentally fit. In fact, he strikes me as quite sharp. We have a problem with ageism in this country; this is nothing new. Luckily, the office of POTUS does not require the ability to run marathons. Aside from public-facing, speech-making aspect of the job, it is mainly deliberative. And Biden has an excellent team around him. I see no reason why he can't go on executing the duties of office to the high standard he has already set. If he's the candidate come November 2024, he will have my vote.

Opinion | How atheists can fix a broken America - The Washington Post

Flyingsaucesir comments on Oct 4, 2023:

The problem with most religions is that they teach people to accept one or more (false) propositions without a shred of supporting evidence. Once you head down that path, anything goes They can be fed any kind of preposterous lie, and they'll swallow it, hook, line, and sinker. The high rate of ...

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 8, 2023:

@ChestRockfield So you would let Trump off the hook, because he just couldn't help himself? Please!

Three Functions of Religion [agnostic.com] .

Flyingsaucesir comments on Oct 7, 2023:

"Joseph Campbell, a leading scholar in the fields of mythology and comparative religion, explains that myth has four basic functions: metaphysical/mystical, cosmological, sociological, and pedagogical. Its metaphysical function is to awaken us to the mystery and wonder of creation, to open our ...

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 8, 2023:

@skado I seriously doubt that religious institutions do a better job of teaching ethical or moral behavior than secular culture. There's all kinds of hanky panky going on among the "faithful." We hear mostly about the pecadillos of Catholic priests, because buggaring altar boys is a crime. But there's also plenty of coveting of neighbors' wives going on too among the laity. You said it yourself: religious chauvinism has always been with us, and is rampant now. I can think of two places outside the US where religious conflict is re-igniting right now: Serbia/Croatia, and India. So much for social cohesion. Yes, our healthcare system could fo a better job of providing psychiatric and psychological support. My sense is that it is improving as taboos around discussing it are falling away. Not teaching mysticism is not a fault, it's a good thing. We should not be filling people's heads with a lot of mystical rubbish. Science does address our relationship to the environment. Unfortunately, the fossil fuel industry has done a spectacular job of sowing doubt about the science in the popular culture. And who are the people who are primed to doubt the science? The same people who already reject biology, geology, and cosmology because these sciences conflict with their brain-dead literal interpretations of ancient fucking scripture!

Opinion | How atheists can fix a broken America - The Washington Post

Flyingsaucesir comments on Oct 4, 2023:

The problem with most religions is that they teach people to accept one or more (false) propositions without a shred of supporting evidence. Once you head down that path, anything goes They can be fed any kind of preposterous lie, and they'll swallow it, hook, line, and sinker. The high rate of ...

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 7, 2023:

@ChestRockfield Funny video 😂👍 We may never know for sure if we have free will or not, but I'll tell you something you probably already know: our legal system assumes that we do.

Opinion | How atheists can fix a broken America - The Washington Post

Flyingsaucesir comments on Oct 4, 2023:

The problem with most religions is that they teach people to accept one or more (false) propositions without a shred of supporting evidence. Once you head down that path, anything goes They can be fed any kind of preposterous lie, and they'll swallow it, hook, line, and sinker. The high rate of ...

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 7, 2023:

@ChestRockfield Oh, I think we have free will, but it's influenced, to a greater or lesser extent depending on the individual, by our genetically-driven predispositions and our circumstances.

If you have to ask the price (if you're not a billionaire), you can't afford it.

racocn8 comments on Oct 7, 2023:

And most of them belong behind bars.

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 7, 2023:

Well, I don't know if I would go that far. Certainly the ones who lied to get on the Court should be kicked off. Let's see: that would be Alito, Thomas, Gorsuch, Kavenaugh, Coney-Barrett, Roberts...

Truth is stranger than fiction.

Tejas comments on Oct 7, 2023:

He also wants to disarm the vast majority of us. He is too old, and he's building back that racist Trump wall his constituents were crying about for years.

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 7, 2023:

@Tejas It's a common misconception of the political right that most liberals are not for strong borders. We are! I, and virtually all my liberal friends, believe that the United States has the right and duty to its citizens to control and limit immigration. At the same time, we acknowledge that the US birth rate is not sufficient to meet demands, that there is a great demand for labor, that the vast majority of immigrants add positively to the economy and the culture, and that we have a duty to render aid and comfort to people who are fleeing political, religious, or criminal persecution. Contrary to the idiotic mumblings of Donald Trump, most immigrants to the United States are good, hardworking, tax-paying people. They come here because they are choosing freedom over oppression. They know what it is to live without liberty and opportunity, and they greatly appreciate what they have here. And when they have gone through the process of naturalization, and gained their American citizenship, they know more about American civics than most people whose citizenship is a mere accident of birth. And you know what? Like it or not, we live in a globally connected world. We have to deal with foreign powers, on economic, political, diplomatic, and military fields every day. Do you realize what an advantage it is to have Americans who understand those foreign languages, economies, political systems, and cultures? Do you have any idea how much soft power we are able to exercise in the world because of our own diversity? We need immigrants as much as they need us.

Truth is stranger than fiction.

Tejas comments on Oct 7, 2023:

He also wants to disarm the vast majority of us. He is too old, and he's building back that racist Trump wall his constituents were crying about for years.

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 7, 2023:

@Tejas That's it, beat him up for doing his job.

If you have to ask the price (if you're not a billionaire), you can't afford it.

HippieChick58 comments on Oct 7, 2023:

Term limits will help, and much more oversight.

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 7, 2023:

And ethical standards.

Truth is stranger than fiction.

Tejas comments on Oct 7, 2023:

He also wants to disarm the vast majority of us. He is too old, and he's building back that racist Trump wall his constituents were crying about for years.

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 7, 2023:

The money for the wall was allocated by Congress during the the Trump administration. It has to be spent on what Congress intended it for. Biden cannot re-allocate the funds for something else. His hands are tied.

Opinion | How atheists can fix a broken America - The Washington Post

Flyingsaucesir comments on Oct 4, 2023:

The problem with most religions is that they teach people to accept one or more (false) propositions without a shred of supporting evidence. Once you head down that path, anything goes They can be fed any kind of preposterous lie, and they'll swallow it, hook, line, and sinker. The high rate of ...

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 7, 2023:

@ChestRockfield, @skado Yes, and we are barely beginning to understand epigenetics. Environmental factors experienced in one generation can actually affect the expression of genes in that generation or the next generation. I hope civilization persists long enough to fully explore all this.

Opinion | How atheists can fix a broken America - The Washington Post

Flyingsaucesir comments on Oct 4, 2023:

The problem with most religions is that they teach people to accept one or more (false) propositions without a shred of supporting evidence. Once you head down that path, anything goes They can be fed any kind of preposterous lie, and they'll swallow it, hook, line, and sinker. The high rate of ...

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 6, 2023:

@skado, @ChestRockfield We are at the point now in our political discourse that we identify as conservative (and Republican) belief in the person-hood of a fertilized egg. But this notion is anything but conservative. It's actually a radical idea, and one that is not supported by any repeatable evidence. We really need to spend some time defining our terms. Notwithstanding, I think its safe to say that Republicans in this country are more likely to be affiliated with an Evangelical Christian church than are Democrats. And the evangelicals, along with the Christian nationalists (there appears to be significant overlap in that Venn diagram) are the ones we really have to worry about.

Opinion | How atheists can fix a broken America - The Washington Post

Flyingsaucesir comments on Oct 4, 2023:

The problem with most religions is that they teach people to accept one or more (false) propositions without a shred of supporting evidence. Once you head down that path, anything goes They can be fed any kind of preposterous lie, and they'll swallow it, hook, line, and sinker. The high rate of ...

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 6, 2023:

@skado It's been a few years now, but I did read about an interesting study that indicated a link between the propensities toward liberalism or conservatism on the one hand, and where the subject fell in the birth order of his siblings, on the other. It turns out that a disproportionate number if conservatives were first-born sons, while most radicals and revolutionaries in history were second or third-born. The explanation hypothesized was that first-borns, before the birth of their siblings, were the sole focus of their doting parents, and had an interest in maintaining that status quo. The interests of the later-born siblings, by contrast, lay in upsetting the status quo. The author provided lists of historical figures that supported his claim. If true, this would tend to refute the notion of a genetic link, instead making the development of conservatism or liberalism more a matter of nurture rather than nature.

Arizona school board member sues district prohibiting her from reading Bible scripture during ...

Flyingsaucesir comments on Oct 6, 2023:

It will he interesting to see how this case is adjudicated. I'm guessing that prohibiting the Board member from reciting a Bible verse is a violation of her 1st Amendment rights to free speech and free expression of religion.

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 6, 2023:

@anglophone Did you see my reply to his comment?

Arizona school board member sues district prohibiting her from reading Bible scripture during ...

racocn8 comments on Oct 6, 2023:

Rooks is perfectly free to recite all the bible verses she wants on the street, but inside a government proceeding, she is seeking to violate the 1st Amendment. That 1st Amendment protects everyone else from not being forcibly indoctrinated by kooks like her. These fanatics CHOOSE not to honor the ...

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 6, 2023:

It's a case of the separation clause vs. the free exercise clause. Where exactly do we draw the line? If I were on that board and arguing a point on X topic, I might use a phrase from the Bible or from Shakespeare to drive home my point. And I doubt that anybody would object to that. However. Just reading a passage from the Bible, not linked to any point I was making would, in my opinion, represent a lame attempt at proselytization. Either way, it's not exactly cut-and-dried. I would like to hear more argument before issuing my ruling. 😂

Opinion | How atheists can fix a broken America - The Washington Post

Flyingsaucesir comments on Oct 4, 2023:

The problem with most religions is that they teach people to accept one or more (false) propositions without a shred of supporting evidence. Once you head down that path, anything goes They can be fed any kind of preposterous lie, and they'll swallow it, hook, line, and sinker. The high rate of ...

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 6, 2023:

@skado I'm not crazy about your metaphor of the fire department, though it does have a couple of illuminating factors. 1. Yes, religions are supposed to have the function of helping people to live together in peace (call it putting out fires; we don't have to discuss religious wars right now). And they secondarily function as power structures that employ a con job to keep people in line and money flowing to an elite high priesthood. 2. Religion, like a fire department and the equipment it uses, is a human invention, just as all cultural artifacts are human inventions. We do agree that something is wrong with religion as it exists today. Your solution is renovation. What would that look like? I would posit that any meaningful renovation would have to include stripping out all references to the supernatural, so no God(s), demigods, devils, angels, ghosts, souls, heaven, hell, purgatory, etc., etc.; calling a halt to teaching belief in the literal truth of outdated creation myths and other fables; making helping the poor and downtrodden the actual mission, rather than just a facade to cover up the fleecing of the flock for the greater wealth and aggrandizement of the high priesthood. That's what I would call a useful renovation. After it's done, do you still have a religion? Maybe. That's question for a discussion on semantics.

Right before the dam broke, cracks started to appear in the myths of his wealth and legal ...

HippieChick58 comments on Oct 5, 2023:

And it is a glorious time to be alive!

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 5, 2023:

Trump's downfall is reason for hope 🙂

Funny how that works 😐

HippieChick58 comments on Oct 5, 2023:

Well, he's not wrong. And apparently I have missed some news stories.

Flyingsaucesir replies on Oct 5, 2023:

He has not switched parties, but Republicans have been largely silent over the revelations of his corruption (as they have been with Trump's various criminal indictments).