Doug's Views – Page 46 – Ocassional Thoughts of an Independent Progressive Atheistic Humanist

April 3, 2013April 18, 2020

Open Letter Addressing Sexism In Secular Community Is A Good Start

On Tuesday, leaders of most of the secular groups in the United States issued an open letter addressing the ongoing internal firestorm over social justice, sexism, and diversity in the freethought community taking place mainly in online forums and comment sections. I applaud the leaders wanting to take on this serious issue in the community and while it doesn’t go far enough in addressing the real issue in the dispute, I hope the letter does open the door to further progress.

You can read the letter at the end of this post then come back here for my comments.

April 2, 2013April 18, 2020

Atheists Support Islamophobia? No, Atheists Don’t Support Any Irrational Beliefs

Richard Dawkins, Islamophobe?

On Saturday, Salon posted an article by Nathan Lean that took to task famous atheists like Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and Christopher Hitchens for attacking Islam. Lean insinuates these atheists have a streak of Islamophobia. But the real facts show the article is yet another hit piece against atheists. Atheists see all religion as irrational and mostly results in bad treatment of people (“evil”). It is disappointing when religious apologists cherry pick the good parts while ignoring the overall bad parts of religion especially in publishing an attack against those who have no religion.

April 1, 2013April 18, 2020

Genetically Modified Crops: Should We Be Worried? Sort Of

Genetically modified crops (GM crops) sounds scary like some sci-fi story. Think Invasion of the Body Snatchers. But do we need to fear GM crops? We should be concerned about our food supply and what goes into it but the fear over GM crops doesn’t match the facts. However one major worry I have is how much big corporations are involved and how that might hurt some people in the long term either economically or health wise.

March 24, 2013April 18, 2020

Why Republicans Love State’s Rights

image of the top of the Bill of Rights document

A major Republican talking point I hear quite often is to let state’s decide some policy issues – like same-sex marriage or voting rights. The implication is clear. Republicans want states to deal with those policy issues because Republicans control more state legislatures than Democrats. It is the GOP way of subverting the Federal government when they don’t control it.

Read this post on ThinkProgress today:

March 22, 2013April 18, 2020

Governor Kaisch Lies About Opposing Discrimination

Ohio Governor Kaisch unhinged as usual

I just love the word gymnastics a politician attempts in order to hold one narrow position and totally ignore the larger implications of that position. Ohio Governor John Kasich said in a recent interview he opposes same sex marriage but claimed to support civil unions until it was pointed out that was an alternative to same sex marriage. He says he opposes discrimination but based on his walk back on civil unions he is a liar.

It all started as it usually does with Kasich speaking without thinking about what he’s saying: