This is a diary in two parts; one serious and one ranty. So, the serious part. (in which your author rants a bit)
On the atheist American airman who apparently cannot re-enlist unless he swears to god. I would like to ask a question.
First, don't we kind of need as many people in uniform as are willing, since we can't seem to stop going to war? But oddly, that's not my point. On MSN's homepage, there is a (admittedly unscientific) poll asking if he should be required to say "so help me god" to be able to re-up. Over 70% say yes. I find that disheartening. No, I find that astonishingly stupid. It is forcing a man to lie, and profess a belief he does not hold, to keep his job. If that is not un-American, those words mean nothing.
If this is the intellect of the average citizen, then no wonder we are in the shitter. No wonder climate change is ignored, Citizens United stands due to the Republican party, and our overlords can get away with any thing they please. I know there are believers on Kos, but I trust that they see this as criminal stupidity. As for the conservatives who agree with this, it is hard to have anything but contempt. It does not take genius to see that this violates the intent of the founders, (no religious test for office) and further places religion above the law.
This takes place at the same time that 3 Sikhs are granted the right to wear their religiously demanded garb while in service. Now, I am fine with that. It is a reasonable request which hurts no one. But isn't it a contradiction to allow a religious waver, but not a waver for the non-religious?
Living in NC as I presently do, and knowing the tendencies of the people here, I thus conclude that I do live amongst idiots, and if that seems harsh or uncompromising, it seems at least an honest evaluation of a large part of the population here. In fact, the vote on the above mentioned poll would likely be even more extreme were it confined to this area.
Join me past the squiggle for more stuff.
One of the phrases that I hear among the good religious folk of the south is "gosh-darned". It sounds innocent enough, but it's gotten to irk me a bit. First, everyone knows exactly what is meant. I mean, we're not fracking idiots, we understand English because we don't have shoot for brains. So who are they trying to kid?
Well, that seems obvious, doesn't it? So, there's this guy in the sky, who is omniscient, all powerful and pays attention to every sparrow that falls. But he's so easy to fool. Picture it. He's listening to make sure no one takes his name in vain, and he hears someone say "Go (oh, he's going to heck for this!) sh darn it!" Oh, well, he didn't say it, so he's cool! Of course, this is the same guy who knows what's in your heart, and what you do, but no one has EVER told him what "gosh-darned" means, so all those nice churchgoing folks are safe.
I mean, imagine hanging out in heaven, and someone says "you know, big guy, when people say "gosh-darn it" they really mean...." and suddenly all these souls disappear and Lucifer has this huge influx, sort of like a bunch of immigrants cross the border all at once. Just because some big mouth shoothead fracked it up for everyone else by telling the truth.
Maybe I just need a drink. Or four.