Doug's Views – Page 155 – Ocassional Thoughts of an Independent Progressive Atheistic Humanist

March 21, 2006April 18, 2020

Atheist sells self on Ebay

Hemant Mehta, chair of the board of the Secular Student Alliance, offered himself on Ebay. Well not himself, per se, but his beliefs. He had an auction offering to the highest bidder, Mehta’s time to visit a church of the winner’s choice. Mehta is an Atheist and he found out that there are many Christians looking to convert anyone who offers them a chance. The winning bid was $504 and led Mehta to visit several churches in the Chicago area. The money bid went to the SSA as a donation.

His efforts also received a good deal of media attention including making the front page of the venerable Wall Street Journal on March 9th.

His auction leaves me conflicted. While on one hand I liked the media attention he got, I was also bothered by the whole concept. It reminded me a “sucker’s bet” because Mehta never considered converting to Christianity and his auction played on the one major flaw of someone with sincere religious beliefs – that they can convert others even Atheists.

Committed believers will grasp on any bit, no matter how small, to “prove” that those who hold differing beliefs can 1. change on a dime and 2. A simple visit to a church or quoting Bible verses will do it.

Does everybody remember recently when respected Atheist, Anthony Flew, commented he did think some unknown force was behind our universe making things work. Christians had field day, reporting that an Atheist now believed in God. Of course a closer reading of what he did say had nothing to do with the God of Christians.

Then there is the constant myth that there are no Atheists in foxholes. No matter how many examples we provide that such a myth is false it still endures in the Christian community.

It isn’t the first and probably not the last time Christians would pay to try to convert people. When I was a teen and still a believer I use to get invited to my friends church on many occasions for a pizza party. The price I had to pay was to listen to my friend give his testimony to me. I had no intention of joining his church. It was an evangelical Baptist church where it was a good thing to rise during a service and speak in tongues. That goofy scene caused me to cross that church off my list.

I think some caution should be exercised about the point of the auction. Mehta himself has said he didn’t intend for the auction to become what it did. He said he didn’t think anyone would bid. His comments suggest that it was started as a joke and that is what most Atheists would think as well if you really think about it.

It may have shed a bit of light in our theistcentric media about Atheists but at the end of the day nothing would have changed and may have reinforced the believer’s idea that Atheists are just smug and arrogant.

March 16, 2006April 18, 2020

Playing hooky from work

I’m suppose to be at work at this time but I called in sick. I’m not sick.

I guess I am just bored with my job.

I did plan on going I really did, even after waking up late and knowing I would be late. But when it came time to trudge to work I just couldn’t do it. Whenever I call off for a non-sick reason I have huge pangs of guilt. I was indoctrinated to want to work and knowing if I don’t have a valid reason, it is a bad reason not to go into work.

Most companies I’ve worked for have attendance policies and they have them because if people had a choice, most would not want to be working. Even with the shot to the pocketbook, they can find other “fun” things to do with their time.

I don’t feel guilty because I called off, but I do because I like and respect my co-workers and I feel I’m letting them down if I skip a day or two.

My job isn’t difficult or stressful. It is challenging but because my company controls my time by minute detail, I’ve grown bored. Most would say, “Then quit.”

I would if I could find a job similar in duties and pay but I know that is not likely.

I can tell I’m bored at work because when I am on break or lunch, the time flies by quickly. When I am working the time seems to stand still. 8 hours seems like I am stuck in my own hell.

I’ve tried to read or write to take my mind off the ticking clock. I’ve even taken to covering up the clock on my computer so I don’t watch it, but none of it is helping.

I’m playing with fire and I can’t help myself at the moment. I know I’m going to need a real day off due to a family emergency, health issue when the Bird flu hits, or some other reason that is more real than “I don’t feel like working today.” And if I’m not careful I’ll have plenty of time not to work as I collect unemployment for violating the rules. And it will be nobody’s fault but mine.

February 21, 2006April 18, 2020

Announcing a new page about Swing Out Sister

I had some time this weekend to finally create and upload a tribute page for one of my longtime favorite bands, Swing Out Sister. I have liked them and their music ever since the debut in 1987. They started out as just another synth pop dance band common during the late 80’s but their music seemed different. It sounded fresh even if the style was not. Then through the years they evolved into more of a cool jazz style.

Some reviewers accuse them of having more style over substance but their music is just plain fun to listen to, even the slow ballads.

If you are a fan of late 60’s Burt Bacharach with bits of a Latin beat then Swing Out Sister might be your cup o’ tea.

Doug’s Little Tribute to Swing Out Sister

February 17, 2006April 18, 2020

Are the Democrats any different than the GOP?

Not when it comes to incestuous backroom political machine dealing. It seems the Democrats haven’t come very far since the days of Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley (1902-1976).

In 2004, Dem leaders dumped a promising candidate in Governor Howard Dean, who created a buzz through his straight talk and Internet website, to go with horse face Senator John Kerry just because it seemed it was his turn.

This year in Ohio, state and national Democratic leaders forced a promising candidate, Paul Hackett, an Iraq war veteran, who came a close shave in defeating Republican Jean Schmidt in last summer’s special congressional election, to drop out of a Senate race against incumbent Senator Mike Dewine.

Who do they want? Rep. Sherrod Brown, who served 2 terms as Ohio Secretary of State in the 1980’s.

Paul Hackett charged that “behind-the-scenes machinations” by Schumer, D-N.Y., and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., cut off his campaign money to avoid a potential primary faceoff with Rep. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio.
Hackett, a lieutenant colonel in the Marine Reserves, said he was quitting politics rather than take the party’s advice to run again for the House in Cincinnati’s suburbs.
“Thus ends my 11-month political career,” said Hackett, who gained a national profile with scathing attacks on President Bush as a “chicken hawk” – and by nearly defeating Republican Jean Schmidt in last summer’s special congressional election.
Ohio’s Hackett quits Senate race, politics

So the new kid on the block gets shoved aside to maintain the old boy network.

Why have primaries at all? I mean if the party bosses decide who can run then a primary vote is just a formality.

Former Senator and one time Presidential candidate Gary Hart commented:

This is simply old politics at its worst. There is a party which hand-picks its candidates, decides who can and cannot run, directs money to the favorite candidate, and dictate terms. Up till now, that party has been the Republican party.
Now, it seems, my Democratic party is once again imitating the Republican party in a desperate effort to regain power. With the McGovern democratic reforms in the early 1970s, political bosses were diminished and grassroots voters were elevated. The theme was, Let the people decide.
Gary Hart: Pressuring Paul Hackett To Abandon Campaign is Old Politics at its Worst

It is yet another reason I see no worth in participating in party politics and is yet another proof that the US political system is broken.

February 5, 2006April 18, 2020

My obligatory Ben Roethlisberger fan post

The Super Bowl is today in Detroit. The Pittsburgh Steelers vs The Seattle Seahawks.

The game is going to be extra special for those of us from Findlay. A hometown boy will be leading the Steelers on the field.

Big Ben Roethlisberger is one of the youngest starting quarterback to start a Super Bowl. The youngest was Dan Marino.

I am a die hard Cleveland Browns fan and have been since the days of the Kardiac Kids, and Cleveland’s rival has always been the Steelers. Being a homer, as long as the Browns weren’t playing the Steelers, I rooted for Ben and his team.

Findlay has jumped on the bandwagon big time but it is good for the town. It is funny because out of town reports label Findlay as a “small town”. Those of us who know, know that McComb is a small town. Findlay, with 40,000 people is a small city. We may have only one high school but we have more than one fire station (we have four).

Finally, Findlay now has a website tribute called Big Ben’s Hometown and the visitors bureau is hoping many Steeler fans take a side trip to see where their QB grew up. The local paper, The Courier, noted that some journalists working the game have driven the 100 miles south from Detroit to visit the town and to interview the significant people in Ben’s life – his high school coach Cliff Hite, the Mayor Tony Iriti, his parents and sister, and local people celebrating the best PR Findlay has had since the runaway train went through town a couple of years ago. I have seen reports across the country mentioning Findlay.

I have always been on the Ben bandwagon. When I heard him play at Findlay High then in college, I knew he was the type of quarterback who has staying power. In fact when I found out he would be starting his first NFL game after Tommy Maddox got hurt in 2004, I selected Ben for my fantasy football squad. He didn’t let me down.

Another conflict I have is that I also like the Seahawks and am happy they made it in, but during the game I’ll be rooting for Big Ben.

*Update*

Big Ben had some serious off field problems that led to being suspended by the NFL for four games in 2010. His issues which included a sexual assault charge and being known as a party guy drew some strong negative reactions in conservative Findlay. As a result Roethlisberger had his hometown, listed in the Steelers press guide, changed to Cory-Rawson Ohio. That is the name of a merged school district southwest of Findlay but it is not an actual town. People in Findlay weren’t too happy with that either.

Since he has stayed out of trouble and has gotten married people in Findlay aren’t so unhappy with him. However he moved his parents to a house next to his in a Pittsburgh suburb.

Time will tell if he and the town mend their break.