Effort intensifies for same-sex marriage ban

The battle over same-sex marriage in California heated up Thursday, when supporters of an initiative to ban it in the state’s Constitution submitted more than 1.1 million signatures in an effort to qualify the measure for the November ballot.

Representatives of a conservative coalition called Protect Marriage delivered boxes of signed petitions in each of the state’s 58 counties. Opponents immediately pledged to wage what is expected to be a costly campaign to defeat the measure if it goes to voters.

I don’t get what the fundies are protecting marriage from. Let’s be clear; allowing same sex marriage doesn’t require same-sex marriage. If the government updates the law to allow equal rights for same-sex relationships, I will not be required to get a divorce and marry some dude. Besides, George Clooney probably wouldn’t be available anyway so I’d end up single.

More below the fold.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said two weeks ago that he would fight such an initiative, and the state Supreme Court is weighing whether to overturn or leave intact Proposition 22, an initiative approved by California voters in 2000 that barred recognition of same-sex marriage in the state. Justices are expected to rule in June.

Of course Prop 22 should be overturned. Prop 22 is discrimination similar to the anti-miscegenation laws overturned by the Loving v. Virginia case in 1967.

If Prop 22 is sent packing, that doesn’t mean that churches will be required to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies. Your church is your own private club and you can discriminate against anyone you please just like you can preach all sorts of harebrained ideas. However, the government shouldn’t discriminate. Equal rights and equal legal protection is only fair.

Backers of the proposed measure also have garnered endorsements from conservative and religious groups around the nation, including Focus on the Family, Concerned Women for America and the Traditional Values Coalition.

Interestingly enough, anyone who would belong to or support one of the above organizations isn’t welcome in my home. I don’t allow religious fundamentalists/zealots/brainwashed assholes through the door. But I don’t have a problem socializing with gay men. I think the last one visited back in December when we had the Winter Solstice party. Note to self: have Janet give him a call and see if he wants to come down for dinner sometime.

I summed up the pros and cons of the same-sex marriage debate back in 2004, writing as Richard E. Normus:

Dear Dick,

There’s a lot of stories in the news lately about same-sex marriages in San Francisco, Oregon, Washington, New Mexico, New York, and so on. It seems to be a really emotionally charged issue. What are the unemotional pros and cons so I can make my own informed decision?

Anne B. Less, Ian Togaf, and many others

Dear Loyal Readers,

Yes the issue of same-sex marriages is a hot button topic right now, so I’ll try to shed some light on the issue.

The proponents of same-sex marriages believe that homosexuals should have the same rights as heterosexual couples who have committed to spend their lives together. These rights include things like joint ownership of property, being treated as a spouse if their partner is in the hospital, being able to adopt a child as a married couple, receiving the same health benefits for their partners as heterosexual partners receive from their place of employment, and so on. As you can see, their arguments are quite compelling.

Equally compelling are the arguments from the opponents of same-sex marriages. Several thousand years ago, a group of uncivilized, superstitious, uneducated nomads wandering around in a desert decided that homosexuality offended an invisible man who lives in the sky. Opponents of same-sex marriage argue that this is reason enough to deny spousal rights to same-sex couples.

I hope this helps you make a rational decision.

Posted by: Richard E. Normus on 3/15/2004 8:49:40 AM

Or, maybe I’m getting the position of the Protect Marriage completely wrong. Maybe they’re opposed to gay marriage. I’m reminded of my answer to a fake letter back in 2003:

What’s Wrong With a Gay Marriage?

Dear Dick,
I’ve seen on the news recently that the Pope and President Bush have come out against gay marriages. Don’t they want married people to be happy and gay?

Calvin Day
Atlanta, Georgia

Dear Calvin,
This is a very timely question that requires a serious answer. The dictionary defines “gay” as follows:

1. Light-hearted; frolicsome; jolly
2. Showing or characterized by cheerfulness and lighthearted excitement; merry.
3. Bright or lively, especially in color: a gay, sunny room.
4. Given to social pleasures.

Both President Bush and the Pope regard marriage as a serious commitment by two people who are in love. If a man and a woman, or two men, or two women, or one man and two women, or two men and one woman, etc., decide to get married they should do so with the understanding that married life is not always going to fun and games. There are going to be good times as well as bad times.

The President and the Pope object to the “Light-hearted; frolicsome; jolly” part of the definition of “gay” and don’t want to see people going into marriage with that attitude. These two fine leaders know about the high divorce rate and they suspect that getting married with a gay attitude is a big contributor to the problem.

Posted by: Richard E. Normus on 8/11/2003 7:15:09 AM

Yeah that’s it. It’s not narrow-minded bigotry; it’s their concern for the institution itself.

Or not.

From Pharyngula:

CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE EVOLUTIONARY APPARATUS DIRECTIVE
• OBEY • OBEY • OBEY • OBEY • OBEY • OBEY • OBEY • OBEY • OBEY • OBEY • OBEY • OBEY •

We need to get the NCSE’s counter-site to the hideous little propaganda film, Expelled, to rank higher in the search engines. The way to do this is for lots and lots of you to link to the Expelled Exposed site with the word Expelled. It’s not hard: just copy this code into a blog post.

<a href=”http://expelledexposed.com/”><i>Expelled</i></a>

Whenever you write about the movie, use that link. Do it a bunch of times, if you want. It’s more effective if many people use the same link every time, though, than for one person to be repetitive.

• OBEY • OBEY • OBEY • OBEY • OBEY • OBEY • OBEY • OBEY • OBEY • OBEY • OBEY • OBEY •
CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE EVOLUTIONARY APPARATUS DIRECTIVE

Finally, I might have found a minister who might be worth following. Or he’s just another hypocritical swindler fleecing his flock.  Okay, it’s probably option 2:

Missing NY rev. found at Ohio strip club

RIVERSIDE, Ohio - Police say a pastor who was reported missing from his home in western New York has been found at an Ohio strip club.

A police officer patrolling the K.C. Lounge parking lot Friday morning in the Dayton suburb of Riverside spotted out-of-state license plates on 46-year-old Craig Rhodenizer’s car.

The FBI and New York authorities had been searching for Rhodenizer, who disappeared Wednesday after telling his wife he was getting his computer fixed at Best Buy. He is the pastor of a church in Lyndonville, N.Y.

The profession of shaman has many advantages. It offers high status with a safe livelihood free of work in the dreary, sweaty sense. In most societies it offers legal privileges and immunities not granted to other men. But it is hard to see how a man who has been given a mandate from on High to spread tidings of joy to all mankind can seriously be interested in taking up a collection to pay his salary; it causes one to suspect that the shaman is on the moral level of any other con man.

- Robert A. Heinlein

Religious groups want Russian cartoon channel shut down

For a second time in two weeks, religious groups have called for the closure of Russia’s cartoon channel 2X2.

Christian and Muslim groups are demanding that 2X2 be shut down because it airs cartoons, such as South Park, which they deem to be anti-religious, violent as well as promoting homosexuality.

They should join forces with L. Ron Hubbard’s group and the Mormons. But to be fair to Parker and Stone, they were somewhat sympathetic to the LDSers.

“Through the use of cartoons this channel is pumping, day and night, an ideology into the consciousness of minors of perversion and other vices,” said the council in a statement released this week.

Umar-Khazrat Idrisov, the head of a regional Muslim association, has called on the country’s Federal Culture and Cinematography Agency to strip 2X2 of its licence. “Destructive energy” should not be aired on TV said Idrisov.

Chortle. Shows like South Park and The Simpsons demonstrate more and better ethical lessons than have ever come out of your various groups. I’d much rather live next door to these “deviants” than to narrow-minded bigots like you.

The channel, which has about a 2 per cent audience share, has said its target audience is men aged 16 to 30, not children.

“We live in a fully secular, not puritan state,” Doglosheveva told the Russian news agency Interfax.

“The atheists could have just as well written a letter to demand that all religious channels and programs be closed. We work respecting the constitution, we do not violate the law.”

Amen brother! Testify!

Technorati Tags: religion, South Park

Pair charged in tarot card curse scheme

NAPERVILLE, Ill. - Authorities say the owners of a suburban Chicago tarot-card reading business have been charged in an alleged plan to defraud customers by persuading them they were cursed.

Wow, someone who claims to be psychic and reads tarot cards is a swindler?  Who’d a thunk it?  Anyone with half a brain is who.

The DuPage County sheriff’s office says customers of Psychic Tarot Card Reading thought they could only lose the curse by undergoing thousands of dollars worth of counseling.

“There’s a sucker born every minute” is erroneously attributed to P. T. Barnum but was actually said by David Hannum.  Psychics, tarot readers, and TV preachers have all learned Hull’s lesson well.  It’s the same con in a different wrapper.  They’re swindlers fleecing the gullible while feeding them bullshit.

It’s too bad I have ethics.  There’s lots of money out there that the suckers just want to give away.

Technorati Tags: psychic, tarot, swindle

Saudi Arabia has marched boldly in to the year 1692 and is adopting Salem Massachusetts of that time as a reasonable model. Pleas for condemned Saudi ‘witch’

Human Rights Watch has appealed to Saudi Arabia to halt the execution of a woman convicted of witchcraft.

<snip>

The illiterate woman was detained by religious police in 2005 and allegedly beaten and forced to fingerprint a confession that she could not read.

Among her accusers was a man who alleged she made him impotent.

<snip>

When an appeal court decided she should not be executed, the law courts imposed the death sentence again, arguing that it would be in the public interest.

Technorati Tags: religion

My personalized Google News page often presents me with links to sites I normally wouldn’t visit. But with the brouhaha in Florida over teaching actual science in biology classrooms instead of feel-good stories, I decided to click through to this article in the Florida Baptist Witness to see if the creationists have come up with anything new. They didn’t, and the twisted logic from the keyboard of Florida Baptist Witness executive editor James A. Smith Sr. made my brain hurt.

More below the fold, including a story from my satellite operations days (yes, it’s relevant):

In spite of growing concern and opposition, Florida education leaders are on the brink of requiring an evolution-as-dogma approach to teaching origins in public schools in the Sunshine State. Fortunately, there’s still time to change the outcome on this critical matter.

Right off the bat we see that Smith doesn’t understand the difference between science and religion and tries to equate the two. Religions have unchanging dogma. Science is under constant scrutiny and changes to accommodate new information.

In October, a 45-member committee appointed by the Florida Department of Education released proposed new standards for teaching science, requiring evolution and diversity knowledge as one of the “big ideas” for elementary students and “bodies of knowledge” for high school students. The standards require doctrinaire acceptance of Darwin’s theory, without any acknowledgment of evidence to the contrary.

What Smith blatantly fails to realize is that Darwin isn’t regarded as an unerring prophet. Darwin came up with the basic ideas of populations changing to form new species, but the theory has evolved with new discoveries. If Charles Darwin were to suddenly appear today, it would take him years of study to understand how his original ideas have been modified to accommodate new information, but unlike a religious prophet, I doubt very much that he would shriek “blasphemy”. I suspect he would instead roll up his sleeves and dig in the books.

For example, standards for grades 9-12 continue to require students learn: “Evolution is the fundamental concept underlying all of biology and is supported by multiple forms of scientific evidence. Organisms are classified based on their evolutionary history. Natural selection is the primary mechanism leading to evolutionary change.”

With evolution, nothing in biology makes sense. Tossing in concepts like “an invisible man who lives in the sky did it” just muddies the waters and is not backed up by evidence.

Like the first draft, what is missing from the revised standards is any recognition that there is controversy about Darwinian evolution and that students should learn about that controversy. Whatever happened to academic freedom and exposing students to all sides of a debate? For the evolution-as-dogma crowd, there is only one side when it comes to Darwin.

There is no controversy in the scientific community about the basic concept of evolution. In addition, the idea of “academic freedom” doesn’t apply here. We’re talking about high school students learning basic concepts, not university researchers being stifled for taking unpopular views.

It’s obvious from Smith’s “dogma” statement that he’s never seen a scientist at work. Back in my satellite operations days I flew APEX, the Advanced Photovoltaic and Electronics eXperiments. The main raison d’etre of the satellite was the payload PASP Plus. PASP Plus tested various solar panel designs (hence “Photovoltaic”). In order to do that there had to be several instruments that measured the local environment – magnetometers, particle counters, accumulated dust on the panels, etc.

I got to know several of the scientists pretty well and would talk to them daily about lots of things, not just PASP Plus. The general public’s perception of a scientist is that of a nerdy guy with thick glasses who is socially inept. I think there was only one guy like that. The others were just “regular guys” who just happened to have PhDs in physics. They wouldn’t be out of place in your local bowling alley.

One day I walked into the payload area and one of the experimenters came up to me and said, “My instrument isn’t giving me the numbers I expect.” The average non-scientist would be upset by news like this. This guy was thrilled. Sure he would have to do diagnostics on the box to make sure it was working properly, but if it checked out he would be able to publish a paper that would generate discussions and possibly modify or refine some of the mathematical models physicists were using. There would be arguments about “what it all means” and how the data fits in to the understanding of how the universe works and what was thought to be true. There would be checks and balances, and new ideas would have to be proven. The experimenter was happy to see the unexpected.

This arrogant approach, however, has prompted a growing backlash from parents, teachers, interested citizens and at least a dozen school districts in Florida that have passed resolutions urging the State Board of Education to not impose the evolution-as-dogma model on their school districts.

So the State Board of Education should consider the input from people who know nothing on the subject? If I want an opinion on treating cancer I ask an oncologist, not a automobile transmission mechanic. If I need my transmission fixed, I don’t ask a gourmet chef to whip out a set of wrenches. If I want to know what to teach about biology, a biologist is the person to ask, not a preacher and his flock.

Technorati Tags: evolution, intelligent design, creationism, Florida State Board of Education, religion

As I was reading The Backwards, Anti-Evolution Argument of David Gibbs III and the associated Woods Hole Case Update I was reminded of that great trial attorney Vincent Laguardia Gambini.

I can picture the courtroom clearly.  David Gibbs III has just completed his opening statement.  Judge Chamberlain Haller asks for Mr. Gambini’s opening statement.  Vinny walks up to the jury box and says, “Everything that guy just said is bullshit.  Thank you.”   That just hits me as the perfect response.

From Bill would ban swearing in bars:

ST. CHARLES, Mo. - What the …? A St. Louis-area town is considering a bill that would ban swearing in bars, along with table-dancing, drinking contests and profane music.

<snip>

Marc Rousseau, who owns bar R.T. Weilers, said he thinks the bill needs revision.

“We’re dealing with adults here once again and I don’t think it’s the city’s job or the government’s job to determine what we can and cannot play in our restaurant,” Rousseau said.

The proposal would ban indecent, profane or obscene language, songs, entertainment and literature at bars.

From the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Seems pretty clear cut to me.

This is hilarious:  Priests Scuffle Inside Bethlehem Church 

Robed Greek Orthodox and Armenian priests went at each other with brooms and stones inside the Church of the Nativity on Thursday as long-standing rivalries erupted in violence during holiday cleaning.

-

…  the cleanup turned ugly after some of the Orthodox faithful stepped inside the Armenian church’s section, touching off a scuffle between about 50 Greek Orthodox and 30 Armenians.

Violence over religion is like arguing whether Santa Claus wears glasses all the time, or just for reading. 

Technorati Tags: religion

White House told to detail Christian leader visits

A U.S. judge ordered the Secret Service on Monday to disclose records of visits by nine prominent conservative Christian leaders to the White House and Vice President Dick Cheney’s residence.

The ruling, in response to a legal watchdog group’s suit, could shed light on the influence leaders like James Dobson of Focus on the Family have had on President George W. Bush’s administration. It may also affect legal efforts to force the release of visiting records of convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff and other similar cases.

-

Dobson is one of the most influential opinion leaders among conservative Christians who are at the heart of Bush’s political base.

Others whose visiting records were sought included Family Research Council president Tony Perkins, Gary Bauer, who unsuccessfully sought the 2000 Republican presidential nomination, and Moral Majority co-founder Jerry Falwell, who died in last May.

The idea that bastards like Dobson, Falwell, and their slimy ilk have access to the president and can influence him in any way is more than disturbing. It’s horrifying. Is it too much to ask for a leader who bases his decisions on facts, rationality, and what’s best for all of his people and for the world? Oh yeah, we’re talking about W.

The following advances would not have happened recently if the religious extremists had the power they wished.

Stem cells reverse sickle cell anemia in mice

Stem cells may ease muscular dystrophy

Stem-cell patch may fix damaged hearts

And that’s just the beginning.  I know that if I or someone I loved had any of these afflictions, I’d be pissed at the zealot’s opposition.

Republican representative Steve King of Iowa has introduced the following resolution:

Recognizing the importance of Christmas and the Christian faith. (Introduced in House)

More below the fold

HRES 847 IH1S

110th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. RES. 847

Recognizing the importance of Christmas and the Christian faith.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

December 6, 2007

Mr. KING of Iowa (for himself, Mr. AKIN, Mrs. BACHMANN, Mr. BAKER, Mr. BARRETT of South Carolina, Mr. BISHOP of Utah, Mr. BOOZMAN, Mr. BRADY of Texas, Mr. BROUN of Georgia, Mr. BROWN of South Carolina, Mr. BURTON of Indiana, Mr. CARTER, Mr. CONAWAY, Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee, Mr. DOOLITTLE, Mr. FEENEY, Mr. FORTENBERRY, Ms. FOXX, Mr. FRANKS of Arizona, Mr. GINGREY, Mr. GOHMERT, Mr. HAYES, Mr. HERGER, Mr. ISSA, Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. JONES of North Carolina, Mr. JORDAN of Ohio, Mr. KINGSTON, Mr. KLINE of Minnesota, Mr. KUHL of New York, Mr. LAHOOD, Mr. LAMBORN, Mr. LAMPSON, Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California, Mr. MCCAUL of Texas, Mr. MCINTYRE, Mrs. MCMORRIS RODGERS, Mr. MILLER of Florida, Mrs. MUSGRAVE, Mrs. MYRICK, Mr. NEUGEBAUER, Mr. POE, Mr. SALI, Mr. SHADEGG, Mr. SMITH of Texas, Mr. STEARNS, Mr. TERRY, Mr. TIAHRT, Mr. WALBERG, Mr. WELDON of Florida, Mr. WILSON of South Carolina, Mr. DAVIS of Kentucky, and Mrs. DRAKE) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

RESOLUTION

Recognizing the importance of Christmas and the Christian faith.

Whereas Christmas, a holiday of great significance to Americans and many other cultures and nationalities, is celebrated annually by Christians throughout the United States and the world;

Whereas there are approximately 225,000,000 Christians in the United States, making Christianity the religion of over three-fourths of the American population;

Whereas there are approximately 2,000,000,000 Christians throughout the world, making Christianity the largest religion in the world and the religion of about one-third of the world population;

Whereas Christians identify themselves as those who believe in the salvation from sin offered to them through the sacrifice of their savior, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and who, out of gratitude for the gift of salvation, commit themselves to living their lives in accordance with the teachings of the Holy Bible;

Whereas Christians and Christianity have contributed greatly to the development of western civilization;

Whereas the United States, being founded as a constitutional republic in the traditions of western civilization, finds much in its history that points observers back to its roots in Christianity;

Whereas on December 25 of each calendar year, American Christians observe Christmas, the holiday celebrating the birth of their savior, Jesus Christ;

Whereas for Christians, Christmas is celebrated as a recognition of God’s redemption, mercy, and Grace; and

Whereas many Christians and non-Christians throughout the United States and the rest of the world, celebrate Christmas as a time to serve others: Now, therefore be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives–

(1) recognizes the Christian faith as one of the great religions of the world;

(2) expresses continued support for Christians in the United States and worldwide;

(3) acknowledges the international religious and historical importance of Christmas and the Christian faith;

(4) acknowledges and supports the role played by Christians and Christianity in the founding of the United States and in the formation of the western civilization;

(5) rejects bigotry and persecution directed against Christians, both in the United States and worldwide; and

(6) expresses its deepest respect to American Christians and Christians throughout the world.

I’m glad to see that the House will take up this important issue. They’ve done such a great job promoting renewable energy sources, solving the crappy state of science education, halting global warming, stopping illegal wire taps, bringing to justice those at the highest levels of government who authorized torture, speaking out against government leaders who use the Constitution and Bill of Rights as toilet paper, halting the politicizing of science, and ending pork barrel spending.

At last, Christmas will be made safe for Christians.

Technorati Tags: politics, H. RES. 847, Republicans

Man sentenced in bizarre diagnosing scam

MONROE, La. - A man was sentenced to more than four years in prison for bilking friends and family out of more than $800,000 by convincing them that his wife was a government agent who could arrange to have their medical problems diagnosed by satellite imaging.

This is going to be good.

U.S. Attorney Donald W. Washington said in a news release following Monday’s sentencing of Brent Finley that the couple convinced numerous people that Stacey Finley was a CIA agent and with her contacts she could schedule a medical scan of the victims’ bodies by satellite imaging that would detect any hidden medical problems.

The Finley’s convinced their victims that, if any medical problems were found, secret agents would administer medicine to them as they slept in exchange for payment, according to a bill of information filed when the Finleys were charged in May.

How do people think of these scams?  And how could someone be so gullible as to swallow something like this?  A satellite costs hundreds of millions of dollars to build and launch, there’s operations costs, data processing costs, and you think that the CIA is going to use their resources to cure your cold?  Are the Louisiana schools that bad that critical thinking and analysis is discouraged?  I’m glad the swindler is in prison, but sweet zombie Jesus, the victims are F’ing stupid.

It’s true.  There’s a sucker born every minute.