A LITTLE IRONY, A LITTLE LEVITY

It is remarkable to me how the most fervent, flag-waving patriots and the pushiest proscelityzing religious zealots are among the most intolerant people on earth. One of my favorite "a picture is better than a thousand words" websites, Morons with Signs, is quick to notice and portray this sad irony. How dare ANY believer think that he/she has a monopoly on righteousness and the only true faith? Fervent right wing Christian fundamentalists are just as annoying and dangerous as fervent right wing Muslim fundamentalists. One side claims "Islam is a lie," the other side claims "Christianity is a lie," and I'm frankly grateful to be an atheist. One hopes that neither extreme represents the majority of believers in their respective religions. But in these days of increasing polarization and animosity, you never know.















In the film Straw Dogs, Dustin Hoffman's character asserts during an argument with a priest that more wars have been fought, more human misery inflicted, and more ignorance perpetuated in the name of religion than for any other cause. Certainly religion has been in the forefront, serving as a convenient flag, behind which we indulge in colonialism, bigotry and sheer avarice. We as an intelligent species have a long, long way to go.

On a lighter note, the rapier wit of xkcd outdid itself today .... it took me a moment to catch on to the visual implication. (Click on the image to enlarge.)

And finally, a very short and utterly hilarious interview with a woman who speaks her mind in no uncertain terms. "I have no secrets" -- my knda girl.