Stop the Construction of Cordoba Mosque at Ground Zero!

Most people do not know it, but there is an organization in New York City called "the Cordoba Initiative" that is planning to build a mosque at Ground Zero. They intend to open this mosque on September 11th, 2011, the 10th anniversary of the tragedy. They claim that they are building it as a "tribute" to those who lost their lives on that day, but I think if it is intended to be a tribute to anyone, it is a tribute to the 19 hijackers, certainly not to the thousands of innocents who were killed / injured on that day.

The name of the mosque in question is to be "Cordoba House". The name Cordoba is not without historical meaning, though that meaning certainly eludes most Americans... Cordoba was the seat of the caliphate established, in what is now modern Spain, after the Islamic invasion from North Africa in the 8th Century C.E.

The occupation of Spain in medieval times is considered by many Islamic philosophers to have been an inevitable step in the manifest destiny of Islam. These same philosophers  tend to see the lengthy European "Reconquista" as a tragic, but temporary triumph of the infidels. The great mosque at Cordoba was built on the foundation of a Catholic Cathedral.

Throughout history, Islamic conquerors have built mosques on their newly conquered lands as a symbol. I don't see how this is any different. How can they have the guts to call this place a tribute? I think it is an affront, and an intellectual insult. I think the people of New York, and of the United States should stand up and offer a resounding "NO!" to the construction of this mosque. If they want to build a mosque, that is fine, but let them build it in some place less sensitive to the American public as a whole.

Pat Condell offers a brilliant monologue on the subject:

Education NOT Indoctrination!

As you have probably heard, the Republican Religious Right is trying to revise history and what kids learn in their text books. This movement is happening most strongly in Texas, where the Texas State Board of Education is making moves to make such appalling decisions as to remove mention of Thomas Jefferson and most of Slavery from history texts all together. Those are only two small examples of the revisionist History the Republicans would have our kids learn (or not learn, as it were).

Although this movement is primarily taking place in Texas right now, it is important that we all take notice and take action to stop the Religious Right. Why? Because the Texas State Board of Education is one of the largest text book purchasers in the Nation, so the decisions they make will almost certainly have very serious ramifications on the entire textbook industry. The Republicans would have us replace Science with God in the class room, creating an entire generation of ignoramuses on par with George W. Bush. If that doesn't terrify you, then I don't know what would.

I implore you, to please write not only to your own representative, but take a moment to write or call Texas representatives, and the Texas State Board of Education and tell them that you will not allow them to ruin the education of our children. Do NOT let Texas make such important decisions for our entire country.

For more information, please watch this video:


Texas threatened to secede from the union in recent years, perhaps we should tell them and Arizona that they are dismissed from the union! We'd be stronger and better without them.

Things Atheists Did Not Do...

A pedophile priest, not an atheist, claimed he was only giving his victim anatomy lessons.

Muslims in Pakistan stoned a Christian man to death.  His crime?  Drinking tea at a roadside stall that was designated for Muslims only.

When a Christian church that tortured a gay teen via an exorcism to rid him of his faggy demon was criticized for their stupidity, Dr Gary Cass of the Christian Anti-Defamation Commission slammed the critics, accusing them of intolerance.

An Oregon couple let their 15 month child die of pneumonia, refusing medical treatment and praying for her instead.  If her parents had been atheists she would be alive right now.

A orthodox Jewish couple are suing their neighbors, claiming that an automatic hall light, which is triggered by people entering the hall, imprisons them in their apartment.  This, they claim, prevents them from leaving on the Sabbath.  If they were atheists instead of idiots they could leave whenever they want.

Eight people drowned a 22 year old mother of two trying to lift a curse from her.  She would have been much better off with atheist friends.

An Islamic woman starved one of her children to death, after torturing her, because she thought she was possessed.  Her other five children were seriously malnourished.  Too bad her mother wasn’t an atheist.

Fr. Alphonse de Valk has declared that Atheism is a threat to civilization.  If he were an atheist he’d be smarter than that.  Not to be outdone, Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor has declared that atheists are not fully human.

Opening a dialog between religions may not be a good idea.  Ernest McCullough, a Christan, got into an argument about religion with a Muslim, who ended the debate by shooting him in the leg.

In Maryland, a woman starved her son to death because he wouldn’t say Amen.  She’s expecting him to be resurrected.  That hasn’t happened so far.  Yet another child who would have been much better off with atheist parents.

In India at least 50 people went blind staring into the sun looking for an image of the Virgin Mary.  Atheists are never blinded by the light.

When a woman with an atheist boyfriend asked Pat Robertson for advice about finding a middle ground with her atheist boyfriend, Pat told her to break up with him because he’s “serving the devil.”

In India a “Hindu Taliban” is attacking women for drinking in bars and dressing inappropriately, including those wearing bathing suits at the beach and t-shirts with pictures of their deities on them.  There are no reports of atheists beating up women over religion.

In Afghanistan a Mullah who spoke out against suicide attacks was murdered by other members of his "religion of peace".

In Russia two Jehovah’s Witnesses went on a murder spree killing 13 people to rid the world of sin.  (They should have just become vampires.)

In India two seven year old girls were married to frogs to prevent the disease outbreaks in the village.  Atheists don’t advocate girl-frog marriage.

A pretty sixteen year old girl was stabbed to death by her Muslim brother for listening to rock and roll and wearing makeup.  He stabbed her 26 times.  He was preserving the family honor.

What Should it Mean to be an "American"?

What Should It Mean To Be An American? from Mark Renwick on Vimeo.

Courtesy of the First Coast Freethought Society in Jacksonville Florida.

Jen McCreight | Boobquake Presentation

Jen McCreight, of Boobquake fame, gives a really good talk on the genesis of Boobquake, and her view on feminism and modern, young feminists. She seems to be very thoughtful. I feel that young people like this can give us all a lot of hope that perhaps things really are getting better all the time. The video is a bit long, but well worth it.

Jen McCreight - Boobquake Presentation from Bruce Critelli on Vimeo.