Cam Gets Mightily Annoyed

[misscam]

OhNOES, those Godless Europeans! (Link from maureenlycaon, who also commented on it in her Lj.)

But some who do see the emergence of a post-Christian era in Europe that has profound consequences for the continent and perhaps is an ominous portend for the United States. Where Europe has gone, America could be going - and that is a prospect that is frightening (...)

So Europe is abandoning religion, growing older, shrinking and slowly killing itself. These are signs of a society in eclipse - the Roman Empire writ large. Is this any model for America?

... Yeah, peace, general prosperity and atheism is baaaaad, dontcha know? We must all at once become like the US or we're doomed, like the Romans. Just think, we let gays get married! Women have careers and not just babies! (Because what this world really needs, is more people. Oh yes. Because the poor planet is not strained enough as is.) People have sets of values not based in religion! What horror! That clearly is suicice, nevermind offering evidence of how!

*gets out trout*

It's A-Smacking Time!

You know, I ain't denying Europe got some issues to work out, but sod you, Mister Happy Death Warrant. It's possible to have a decent set of morals without religion too. And it's possible to pick another path than the American one and make a decent go of it. If you get your head out of your ass long enough to take a breath of reality, maybe you'd realise that needn't be such a threat to you. We're not forcing you to follow.

And if your country does feel like following some of these things, maybe you should have a hard, long think about why.

Twat.

Also, whoever injured my cat? Sod you too.

Comments

[tathrin.livejournal.com]

HEAR HEAR!!!
...says the yank. Exactly as you say!
America certainly isn't all some people like to pretend. Look at who's running us. Not the example you want to follow, I'm sure.
I do hope god is dead in Europe. And I hope it's contagious.
Good for Europe.
_{If you start to run low on trout, let me know, and I'll see what I can do to add my part to the supply.}

And I hope your cat feels better soon!

[misscam.livejournal.com]

I live in Norway, trout-fishing country extraordinaire, so I doubt I'll run out any time soon. But the offer is appreciated :)

A lot of people can be blind to the faults of their own country, alas.

[sinneahtes.livejournal.com]

In his 2001 book, The Death of the West, conservative commentator
Patrick Buchanan argues that a European-style "de-Christianization of America" is the goal of many liberals - and they are succeeding. ... It is not the right path for America.

*fumes and throws things* Oh, for crying out loud--read a history book and read the First Amendment. America isn't supposed to be a Christian nation, and Europe seems to have had more problems with religion than with atheism. And good gravy. If your faith and morals are such that you serioiusly need the government to cater your religion specifically, you have issues. (Dear, God isn't going to smite us just for not having his name on our coins.)

*sends your kitty some Get Better yum yums* :(

[misscam.livejournal.com]

If he was going to, you'd think he'd gotten around to the smiting part laready, yes. Or he's going to have a backlog from hell.

Thanks :)

[aervir.livejournal.com]

I think I've heard all this guy's "arguments" before, and much better expressed, too.

First of all, the fact that he keeps harping on the dechristianization of the Czech Republic is sort of misleading because the decline of religion there is due to the several decades of Communist rule: Religion was oppressed by the regime and wasn't able to offer an alternative national identity to Communism, either.
In Poland, for example, Catholicism was seen as a viable alternative to the state-sanctioned doctrines, and it's still one of the most conservative and most pious countries in Europe today.

So, Czech Republic != all European countries.

Admittedly, he does mention several Middle European and West European states later, but without ever commenting on their perculiar national character and the possibly different reasons for a decline in religion.

Then, he never addresses the question whether it's possible to reconcile the acceptance of a secular state with a strong personal faith; after all, that's what liberty of conscience and freedom of religion are for.

And last but certainly not least, yes, Europe does have a major demographic problem. No, "be fruitful and multiply" is not the solution to it.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

*nods* I know in Norway, faith is considered extremely personal and asking someone what they believe can be considered very rude. It's simply a private matter- And what's wrong with that, I say?

No indeed. Our problem is not lack of people as such - we are cramped - but rather that we're living longer and longer.

[dune-drd.livejournal.com]

Oh. Yeah. They know how Europe ticks, don't they?

Time to kick out Darwin's theory of the Origin of the Species out of the schools completely.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Time to get Darwin away of school and out bashing idiots indeed.

[anti-nation.livejournal.com]

I'd rather be a Godless heathen over here, then have to live over there.

*hugs kooky, crazy, diverse, wanky Europe*

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Europe lovefest!

[wildecate.livejournal.com]

Nutter. And more importantly, hurt cat? What happened? Hope he or she is OK.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Barbed wire happened.

He'll recover, it just looked nasty.

[wildecate.livejournal.com]

Aw poor kitty. Speaking as someone with two of her own who have a tendancy to get into trouble, I can sympathise with you.

[kahva.livejournal.com]

Also, whoever injured my cat? Sod you too.

{Sends over loads of cyber catnip and Fancy Feast for kitty} I'll help you thrash whoever hurt the kitty! {Huggles own fluffy crazy wacky kitty} Hopefully your furry baby is doing better and will get well soon! {Sends cyber scritches and ear rubs to kitty}

[misscam.livejournal.com]

He should get better now, all stitched up.

[ailanreanter.livejournal.com]

*snerk* I think these people have too much time at their hands if they can worry about things like that and even make it a "problem"...

Hope your cat gets better soon!

[elvea-aure.livejournal.com]

OMGNOEZ IT'S THE NON-FANATIC FREAKS!

Not going to church is not the same as not believing in (a) God(dess). Mother of Morgoth, when does the hurting stop?

[falena]

*ignores stupidity and turns to more important matters*

How's your cat?

[misscam.livejournal.com]

He'll be okay. Just needed a lot of stitches - evil barbed wire.

[wendymr.livejournal.com]

Well said! As someone who grew up in 'Holy Catholic Ireland', I can tell you that even we weren't as bad as the Bible-thumping religious right in America. And, thankfully, Ireland's changed a lot these days. I have many American friends, and that can be very frustrating sometimes. I have to watch what I say on my blog and in conversation, in terms of politics, religion and morality, for fear of offending some of them (yes, I dislike their politics/religion/preachy morality, but I like them as people and don't want to hurt them or start a fight).

But not all of us on the west side of the Atlantic are like that... cast your gaze north to Canada, where gay marriage is legal (still being fought over a little nationally, but legal), it's not considered a crime to be in favour of public provision of services and where people's morality and religion is their own business.

Cuddles to the cat!

[speshulduck.livejournal.com]

I wish I could be in the U.S. Army and live in Europe. I mean, I know I can, but I wish I could. I must go live among godless heathens, among my own kind! [clings to Europe] On the other hand, the "So help me God" part of my Army oath was optional and they didn't make me say it.

(Also, are Belgium and the Netherlands really "key countries?" Because I feel they may be lying to me.)

(OH! And good vibes to your kitty!)

[christinenj.livejournal.com]

Icon Love!!!

[speshulduck.livejournal.com]

Why thank you! Alas, I cannot claim credit for the idea, merely the making of it. I received a tshirt with that on it for Christmas and immediately wanted an icon of it.

[christinenj.livejournal.com]

My mind boggles. And the thing that gets me is that the religious right wrong hasn't figured out yet that the idiots in power really don't give a crap about religion. Well, unless it involves worshipping at the church of greed. I'm hoping at some point they'll eventually figure out they're being used and will just stay home from the polls.

[roguem.livejournal.com]

Geez, the last thing Europe needs is to start copying the US more than it already has.

It's possible to have a decent set of morals without religion too.
Exactly! And besides, in my experience religious people have worse morals than non-religious people.

Your cat's hurt? What happened?

[chunkylimes.livejournal.com]

Would he be saying the same thing if Europe had been predominantly Muslim or Jewish before, I wonder?

[losseniaiel.livejournal.com]

Somehow, when bashing European godlessness, the American Right always forgets that the principles of the American Republic were born out of the Enlightenment, and - guess what - it's religious scepticism and atheism.

*snark*

[dark-aegis.livejournal.com]

*sighs and shakes her head at the stupidity of some of her fellow Americans* Good grief, there are times when I miss when I was living overseas. And I admit it, I rarely said that I was an American when I was out of country, I just said I was a Texan. Now, thanks to Mister I'm Really Tired, it's not good to even say that anymore. And don't get me started on the whole 'We cannot teach Darwinism because it violates Creationism' debate in the school system...

[glinda-penguin.livejournal.com]

*is once again scared by fundamentalists*

They've started teaching Creationism in schools in Kansas, a school in California kicked a couple of girls out for appearing (not even being, just because the teachers decided they were) to be lesbians. Whatever happened to freedom of religion? Poor Americans...having to put up with eejits like him...

[stycaptain.livejournal.com]

Your beloved 'Bush looks tired' icons have inspired me to my own icon idea.(See userpic.)

Damn religious fanatics, the ruin the deal for the rest of us. (And I get a double helping, because I'm a white, straight man. And I'm Aussie. And I'm a gamer. And I'm a teenager!)

I'm not right-wing, though! There is some hope for me!