For those not following the situation in Québec – or for those following it only through English media, which is almost worse than not following it at all – Premier Jean Charest has implemented draconian laws to restrict protests as an emergency measure against the ongoing student strike. The government asserts that they are concerned with protecting the rights of non-striking students to go to class without disruption by the strikers. Law professors and striking students, on the other hand, have called it a violation of fundamental rights. Both sides claim they’re protecting people’s rights; so it sounds like it’s time for another Saturday Cerebration! (more…)
They won’t name names
One of the worst things you can do to the victim of an offence is to blame them for it. Of course, it’s done all the time, but that doesn’t make it okay. But while you can’t call a victim responsible for the offence they experienced, does that make the victim completely free of blame? No, it doesn’t. Victims do have responsibilities. (more…)
You’re not helping
I’ve been busy helping my dad bring his music career into the 21st century, so I’m going to offer this old post I wrote. It was originally a Diaspora* post made after yet another complaint about atheists who speak out. Recent events have brought an old issue back up, and I posted an old Diaspora* post in anticipation of writing about them. That older post references and links to the previous version of this post, but unfortunately, you cannot view it unless you’re on the Diaspora* network. So, for completeness, I am reposting it here.
When people started fighting the evils of racism, there were inevitably those who claimed they were above both sides of the debate. They condemned those who were racist. But then they also condemned those who spoke out against the racists, calling them “uppity”, and accusing them of merely wanting to reverse the racism rather than ending it. (more…)
Why haven’t you quit the Catholic Church?
I’ve been busy helping my dad bring his music career into the 21st century, so I’m going to offer this old post I wrote. It was originally a Diaspora* post made after the FFRF unveiled their It’s time to quit the Catholic Church campaign, which is still ongoing. Some recent events have brought the issue back up, and I’m going to discuss those, so I’m providing this post as background.
Annie Laurie Gaylor, Co-President of the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), has written an open letter to “moderate”, “nominal”, “liberal” and “cafeteria” Catholics, ‘It’s time to quit the Catholic Church‘, throwing down the gauntlet by challenging them to realize that they are tacitly supporting the misogyny of the Catholic Church. (more…)
Like clockwork
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the best weapon against nutters is their own mouths. Jesus T-shirt student William Swinimer was given a chance to peacefully share his views in a dialogue… and look what happened. (more…)
My take on the “life is wasted without Jesus” T-shirt feud
If you’ve been following the (Canadian) news, you have probably heard about the kerfuffle raised by Nova Scotia high school student William Swinimer, and his “life is wasted without Jesus” T-shirt. The issue is already resolved, but there are a few things I would like to say about it. (more…)
Saturday Cerebration: A philosophical study of abortion
Even as I write the next few words I can’t believe this isn’t an April Fool’s joke but… the abortion debate seems to be reopening in Canada. Yeah, really. I guess the Conservatives will do anything to distract attention from the robocall and F-35 scandals. (more…)
Introducing Saturday Cerebration
Starting tommorrow, I am going to be doing a semi-regular series that I will call Saturday Cerebration. “Cerebration” is not simply a slurred pronunciation of “celebration” (though, I admit, I like the pun); it comes from the same root as “cerebral“. Saturday Cerebration posts will be exercises in cerebrating – in cogitating; in thinking very deeply, but rationally. (more…)
There are more than two options
Sometimes it’s like I’m speaking a different language to other atheist activists. I say, “do not tolerate religion where it does not belong, but be strategic about how you respond to it”, and they hear, “we have to accommodate religion, or pander to it, to achieve our goals”. It’s hard to react to seeing your point totally misinterpreted like this with any response other than a facepalm. (more…)
Bigotry, and not getting it
By some twist of probability, there seems to be a flood of overreaction to imagined bigotry by freethinkers in the news recently. I took Atheist Revolution author vjack to task over it last week, and this week it’s Friendly Atheist Hemant Mehta chiding Saskatoon resident Ashu Solo for flipping out over a prayer at a municipal awards dinner. (more…)