Thieved ferrets, murdered Norwegian, spoken Huckabee-ry, sucking NSB

[misscam]

Taleban attacks hotel where Norwegian delegation with foreign minister is staying; Norwegian journalist killed.

The delegation and press core included people I know, though I wouldn't call them friends as such. There is something very surreal and unsettling about this. UN claimed it was an attack on Norway, some Taleban sources agree, some disagree, Norway says no. Sure feels like one either way. Makes me feel oddly protective of everything and everyone I know today.

Stay safe, people. All of you. The world is poorer without each of you.

My deepest condolances to the family of the murdered.

Meanwhile, Huckabee continues to unsettle me deeply.

... that's what we need to do -- to amend the Constitution so it's in God's standards rather than try to change God's standards so it lines up with some contemporary view...

Yeah, Huckabee, rule your country by religion's standards. We see what a smashing job the Taleban or Iran's clergy does with that, don't we? And if someone claims that's just because Islam is 'bad' and Christianity is 'good', I direct you to exibit A: Europe's history. Or exibit B: Fred Phelps. (I'm sure people of my awesome flist could supply more.)

Fantaticism is bad. And that can disguise itself with any religion it wants - or without it.

(Also, seperation of state and church - essential aspect to the very founding of the US of A, hello?)

The Cassie Edwards plagiarism continues - now made the media. Bonus article by ferret thieved nature writer.

I have discovered I do in fact own one of her books, which I apparently picked up on my visit to the US so many years ago to read on the plane home, and intend to skim it in case I find something. A report will follow if I do.

Finally, NSB (Norwegian railways) managed to once again have serious problems with their signalling. I was late for work and don't know when I'll get home today. Joy. The massive rain is blamed, but since NSB manages to suck and blow in good weather as well, this does not satisfy me. (Even if the rain almost drowned a buss (!) today.)

NSB must be some sort of karma revenge on Norway for our Viking sins. Or something.

Comments

[cbackson.livejournal.com]

Ahhhhh Huckabee. His popularity makes me think dark thoughts about my fellow Americans. HELLO, AMIABILITY IS NOT A GOOD QUALIFICATION FOR THE PRESIDENCY.

W/r/t the church and state thing, he's drawing on a longstanding line of argument from the conservative Christian wing of the GOP. Essentially, they think that our conception of the separation of church and state doesn't reflect the understanding of the founders and the drafters of the Constitution. It's not a well-grounded argument, in terms of history, but is a strangely popular one.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Why wouldn't the constitution reflect the understanding of the founders when they bloody well wrote it? (IIRC, some of them were atheists or agnostic, too.)

I suspect I'll never understand the religious right of the US, but then, they probably find me a weirdety as well.

[cbackson.livejournal.com]

Well, the text of the Constitution says that you can't create an established church (like the Church of England in the UK) and that you cannot restrict free exercise. But whether, say, putting a menorah in a town square would have been considered establishment or restraint on free exercise by the founders is a more difficult thing to say.

Jefferson is often used as the example of an "agnostic" founder, but he's more appropriately classed as a Deist; he clearly believed in the existence of God. And he was in France when the Constitution was written. Ben Franklin was also a Deist. But the rest of them were primarily, if not exclusively, Anglican.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

I sometimes am struck by the irony that the US, which has no state church and a principle of state and church seperation, manages to be supremely more religious than Norway, which has God all over the constitution and a state church to boot.

Which I guess goes to show sometimes it is less about what's written and more about how you choose to read it.

[skybound2]

Meanwhile, Huckabee continues to unsettle me deeply.

... that's what we need to do -- to amend the Constitution so it's in God's standards rather than try to change God's standards so it lines up with some contemporary view...


Yeah, I can't tell you how much the idea of Huckabee being President scares me. I really don't think it'll come to that. But, then again, I didn't think that Bush would get a second term (or be President in the first place for that matter). Hopefully my country isn't so far gone as to elect him (in the event that he manages to win the Republican slot), but the fact that he is EVEN an option is extremely distressing for me...

[misscam.livejournal.com]

I shall cross my fingers and toes for avoiding this fate.

I never got how Bush was elected in the first place. It just baffles me.

[skybound2]

I never got how Bush was elected in the first place. It just baffles me.

I think part of the problem is that you are trying to understand how he was elected, which is the problem. Cause he really kind of wasn't *shakes head* There is honestly very little to like about our system of election.

[jvgymnast.livejournal.com]

I recently wrote an article about this book and interviewed the author, who made some interesting points about religion and fanaticism.
I saw the thing about the Norweigians being attacked yesterday-- so very sad.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Looks interesting, thoughI'm a little sceptical to how he deals with atheists. But these days, some bridge-building between the different religions sure is needed.

[tilly-stratford.livejournal.com]

A wonderful article by the original "ferret" author. It's such a relief to see someone who responds with humour when they have been wronged.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

And a donation drive for the ferrets has also been launched and raised several thousand dollars already. That rocks.

[silvery-lass.livejournal.com]

The only republican that actually scares me is Rudy Giuliani, when he smiles I just want to run for cover.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Heh.

Huckabee himself does actually seem quite pleasant and aimable - it's just his opinions that gives me hives. Shudder.

[nnwest.livejournal.com]

It shouldn't be as funny as it is, but the ferret-thieved nature writer's article is hilarious this morning.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

I do love a man with a sense of humour.

[kippurbird.livejournal.com]

... that's what we need to do -- to amend the Constitution so it's in God's standards rather than try to change God's standards so it lines up with some contemporary view...

Twat. It's the only thing I can say to that. Beyond the fact that by adding God to the Constitution it completely defeats the purpose of the Constitution.

I liked the article by the Ferret author. Especially how he points out that it's not the plagiarism that we should be worried about so much as the ferrets themselves.

Even if the rain almost drowned a buss

How'd that one happen?

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Like so.

[padawanpooh.livejournal.com]

Fantaticism is bad. And that can disguise itself with any religion it wants - or without it.

Here here! I do still have some faith in humanity: I had a group of students who follow Judaism, Zorastrianism, Christianity, Islam and Hinduism all discussing evolution/creation the other day and they listened to each other and respected each others' POVs - there are still some religious people out there with compassion - I just wish my various students were running their countries instead of the fundy and/or power crazed loonies...

[misscam.livejournal.com]

One of the nicest things I saw after 9/11 was after the Brisbane mosque was torched - several students helped the rebuilding and they were across all faiths. After all the shit, it was nice to see some hold out against fear and distrust.

[wiccagirl24.livejournal.com]

change the word of the living god?????

The Hell????? Just because you believe in god it doesn't make him/her alive. Until such time as you can subpoena god to come to court and argue for a change in the constitution, shut your mouth about matching the governing documents of my country to your fundamentalist view of god, Huckabee.

*sigh*

[misscam.livejournal.com]

I would believe in a God just to see the spectable of him smacking down on the US Congress and Senate. That would be a right hoot.