130 replies to this topic

[Skeleton Jelly]

Roll the Bones, on Tuesday, May 24th, 2011, 9:11 AM, said:

That picture is awesome.

[Roll the Bones]

Skeleton Jelly, on Tuesday, May 24th, 2011, 11:41 AM, said:

I think it's interesting that people say they feel stress at hearing someone pray. I'm not sure I understand where that comes from.

So you wouldn't be uncomfortable if you went to a town hall meeting and suddenly everyone in the room started praying to Allah? Even a little awkward?

[Roll the Bones]

This is the Jessica banner.

[Skeleton Jelly]

Roll the Bones, on Tuesday, May 24th, 2011, 9:13 AM, said:

So you wouldn't be uncomfortable if you went to a town hall meeting and suddenly everyone in the room started praying to Allah? Even a little awkward?

Well, I feel awkward around people in general, so yeah. My feeling of awkwardness would come from wondering if I'm expected to join in. Do people feel that way at a graduation ceremony when somebody up front says a prayer? Is the entire class reciting a prayer together or was it just the girl at the podium? I think I tuned out my entire graduation ceremony, so it's hard for me to imagine stress from anything that took place up there. My stress came from hoping I wouldn't trip when I got my diploma.

[Roll the Bones]

Some of what isn't said. After the article hit the paper a bunch of people started calling his parents and complaining. they had the preacher and his entourage come to the house and try to convert him. When he basically ignored them when he realized that no rational conversation was going to happen his parents took his phone and computer, money, etc. People trashed their yard and he received numerous death threats. Kids in town were organizing groups to find a way to kick his ass. All this out of love for Jesus. All this despite the fact that these loons don't read their own bible because if they did they would see quickly in the New Testament that Matthew 6:6 calls out those that feel the need to publicly pray as a sin.These people don't give a rats ass about what the bible says, morality, laws or common decency. Those used their faith as a sword instead of armour. They used it to attack. A moment of silence is not enough to pray to their sky fairy, it was more important that they use it to form a witch hunt.And lol @hblask for saying that only 1% of Christians are actually affected by anything the bible says and that it doesn't harm anyone. As for the scholarship, Damon being 19, and having no money, and (thankfully) his brother that escaped the small town and is in college himself, is taking him in. Damon is a smart kid but now he has become a hero of sorts and the athiest community wanted to help him out. The fund was over $14K yesterday. Also, it was pretty touch and go there for a while when Damon went silent due his parents taking his phone and computer and I was close to organizing a rescue operation involving beans and his plane, sidekick shane and a bunch of guns and porno leaflets, but thankfully his sister got through to let us know he was okay in the nick of time.

[Roll the Bones]

Skeleton Jelly, on Tuesday, May 24th, 2011, 12:21 PM, said:

Well, I feel awkward around people in general, so yeah. My feeling of awkwardness would come from wondering if I'm expected to join in. Do people feel that way at a graduation ceremony when somebody up front says a prayer? Is the entire class reciting a prayer together or was it just the girl at the podium? I think I tuned out my entire graduation ceremony, so it's hard for me to imagine stress from anything that took place up there. My stress came from hoping I wouldn't trip when I got my diploma.

Yeah, the stress from actually participating and walking up is enough. Would it have killed him to sit through this, kept his mouth shut and just moved away after? Sure. Then the next athiest kid would have to do the same and that's how this keeps carrying on. He had the courage to be the one to take the stand. That is why he has "hero" status for many. He wasn't being a shit brat kid. He was making a point,he was in the right, the law was on his side and it took courage. He debated about the letter for a while, seeked advice and rewrote it numerous times. He didn't have to sign it either which was a big point of contention amongst us since he knew if it got out he would face a shit storm. Some reccomended not signing it but ultimately he did what he thought was right and knew it would lend more credence to the letter.

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Well, I feel awkward around people in general, so yeah. My feeling of awkwardness would come from wondering if I'm expected to join in.

Yeah, I felt the same exact way when Ron Mexico put his hand on my knee.

[Roll the Bones]

Skeleton Jelly, on Tuesday, May 24th, 2011, 12:21 PM, said:

Well, I feel awkward around people in general, so yeah. My feeling of awkwardness would come from wondering if I'm expected to join in. Do people feel that way at a graduation ceremony when somebody up front says a prayer? Is the entire class reciting a prayer together or was it just the girl at the podium? I think I tuned out my entire graduation ceremony, so it's hard for me to imagine stress from anything that took place up there. My stress came from hoping I wouldn't trip when I got my diploma.

Oh and the girl at the podium who recited the prayer went on for 3 minutes. The school is so fucked for not stopping it. It was obvious they supported it and like vb said, they violated the law big time especially in the face of full knowledge that they were being scrutinzed. The ACLU sent them a letter on Friday after their was prayer at the "Senior Night" school event the night prior, which again violated the law. They have no excuse to say they couldn't control it. And really, all this only goes to point out that their prayers weren't for getting in touch with God, they prayed to make a point that they held themselves in elite status above others. They did a Fuck You prayer that I'm sure God just loved.

[Skeleton Jelly]

Roll the Bones, on Tuesday, May 24th, 2011, 9:42 AM, said:

Yeah, I felt the same exact way when Ron Mexico put his hand on my knee.

Haha.I'm with you on all this. I was just wondering about the stress part.

[brvheart]

Roll the Bones, on Tuesday, May 24th, 2011, 11:11 AM, said:

I suppose people said the same thing about Rosa Parks.

Oh my hell.

[brvheart]

Roll the Bones, on Tuesday, May 24th, 2011, 11:34 AM, said:

Some of what isn't said. After the article hit the paper a bunch of people started calling his parents and complaining. they had the preacher and his entourage come to the house and try to convert him. When he basically ignored them when he realized that no rational conversation was going to happen his parents took his phone and computer, money, etc. People trashed their yard and he received numerous death threats. Kids in town were organizing groups to find a way to kick his ass. All this out of love for Jesus. All this despite the fact that these loons don't read their own bible because if they did they would see quickly in the New Testament that Matthew 6:6 calls out those that feel the need to publicly pray as a sin.

I mean, as you write this, you understand that the conclusions you're drawing are totally incorrect, yes? You're just doing it for effect, right? This has nothing to do with the love of Jesus, it's about tradition. These people have been praying for 200 years at graduation, and now a punk wants to change that. It's totally irrelevant what is happening or if it's even illegal. People are upset about their tradition being taken away. Using your extreme leap to the civil rights movement, do you think the KKK actually represents Jesus or the Bible? Seriously?

[brvheart]

Roll the Bones, on Tuesday, May 24th, 2011, 11:34 AM, said:

but thankfully his sister got through to let us know he was okay in the nick of time.

... so what chance were you guys giving that he was going to be publicly tarred and feathered and then lynched? 80-90%?

[Roll the Bones]

brvheart, on Tuesday, May 24th, 2011, 1:16 PM, said:

I mean, as you write this, you understand that the conclusions you're drawing are totally incorrect, yes? You're just doing it for effect, right? This has nothing to do with the love of Jesus, it's about tradition. These people have been praying for 200 years at graduation, and now a punk wants to change that. It's totally irrelevant what is happening or if it's even illegal. People are upset about their tradition being taken away. Using your extreme leap to the civil rights movement, do you think the KKK actually represents Jesus or the Bible? Seriously?

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I mean, as you write this, you understand that the conclusions you're drawing are totally incorrect, yes?

Let's compare. A minority is told to be quiet about his civil rights and accept the bigoted behavior of the majority simply because it is a long standing tradition that they don't want to abandon. Umm, no, pretty sure it's a good analogy.

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This has nothing to do with the love of Jesus, it's about tradition.

Yes, they believe because of tradition, not anything rational, I get that. Is it that hard to start a new tradition? Pass out lollipops or something.

[Roll the Bones]

brvheart, on Tuesday, May 24th, 2011, 1:20 PM, said:

... so what chance were you guys giving that he was going to be publicly tarred and feathered and then lynched? 80-90%?

Probably alot higher if he ventures out into this town unescorted and alone. Nice of you to suggest he doesn't take the death threats serious though.

[CaneBrain]

brvheart, on Tuesday, May 24th, 2011, 1:16 PM, said:

I mean, as you write this, you understand that the conclusions you're drawing are totally incorrect, yes? You're just doing it for effect, right? This has nothing to do with the love of Jesus, it's about tradition. These people have been praying for 200 years at graduation, and now a punk wants to change that. It's totally irrelevant what is happening or if it's even illegal. People are upset about their tradition being taken away. Using your extreme leap to the civil rights movement, do you think the KKK actually represents Jesus or the Bible? Seriously?

Oh my hell.Good to know illegality is irrelevant if the Christian faith is involved!While I attend my Econ 101 course, feel free to look into a Constitutional Law class. It might be useful.

[Spademan]

hblask, on Tuesday, May 24th, 2011, 5:07 AM, said:

Yeah, see, that doesn't phase me. I know all the arguments, and I just don't think Joe Suburbanite praying at school is a big deal. Should the school obey the law? Of course. Would I personally incur the wrath of a entire town to ensure they do? No. That's my only point, really. Other than that most of my interest here is theoretical.

It isn't supposed to phase you, dumbass. If you actually "knew all the arguments" you'd have known that.I was going to address your points individually, but you've gone on and on and have been fractally wrong in this thread. BG-in-this-forum levels of wrong. Too time consuming to address everything you've said that is stupid, unsupported, fallacious, and incongruous with reality. "I know all the arguments". lol.Randy even mentioned a place where every single thing you've spouted in this thread is eviscerated for the nonsense it is. Go through the comment sections, wait for someone to spout the accommodationist bullshit you're putting out in this thread, and see how it is dismantled.Or don't and continue to pretend you know what the fuck you're talking about.

[Skeleton Jelly]

CaneBrain, on Tuesday, May 24th, 2011, 10:34 AM, said:

Oh my hell.Good to know illegality is irrelevant if the Christian faith is involved!While I attend my Econ 101 course, feel free to look into a Constitutional Law class. It might be useful.

Brv was trying to explain why they were upset, not whether they had the right to do what they were doing. I'm not sure I agree with him though.

[Spademan]

For the rest of you who are simply saying, "I don't see why a prayer is such a big deal", listen:1. It is a public school event. It is against the law to do so. I think everyone has noted that that much is clear.2. Some people may be "stressed out" by it, some may just be "outraged" at the Christian privilege illegally on display, some may be "creeped out" by it. Imagine, instead, that everyone but 3 people dawned robes, turned the lights down and began chanting in ritualistic monotone while the head speaker revealed a live chicken and went through the motions of ritualistic sacrifice for 3 minutes. This is no fucking different to me. I have literally the same reaction. What the fuck is this superstitious ritual doing being led at a public school, where there are children who don't believe in that fucking nonsense, or that particular brand of nonsense. Why the goddamn is my kid being led in this creepy fucking nonsense?Sacrifice your chickens at home, or at your church... wear your robes and chant to your gods in the streets if you like. But you keep your fucking nonsense out of public schools and other government funded/sanctioned shit. Furthermore, the fucking asshole chick in the practice one (I didn't watch the second one as I didn't want my head to explode) told everyone to stand for the school colors and the pledge... and THEN WENT ON TO GIVE GLORY TO HER YAHWEH... she had everyone stand up, then pulled a bait and switch and fucking forced people to stand for her invisible sky wizard. Fucking bitch. 3. Arguing that "it's no big deal" is fucking offensive and marginalizing. Do you know what else can't be led by public schools? Racism. The argument "well, most of the people there believe it, so you should just sit quietly" directly translates to: If a school in the deep south has a population that, in their private lives, are mostly racist... in your view not only is it no big deal if they have a student go up and speak about the tenets of the KKK and its stance on niggers for 3 minutes, but the 3 black guys and 2 white non-racists should just "sit there quietly... I mean, its not hurting them to hear it". Religion, like racism, is a personal ignorance based on bullshit cultural indoctrination and tribalistic stupidity. I don't give a shit if you don't see your religion, or another persons religion in that way because you are subject to it, or trained to see it as different. Neither of them are allowed to be promoted by a public school, your "belief" on the issue is irrelevant. Fuck you, you deluded-by-the-faux-sanctity-and-reverence-and-"love"-of-religious-privilege asshole. 4. I refused to say the pledge of allegiance my freshman year of high school. I got annoyed having to sit there while all of the other kids went through this odd brainwashing every morning, and was finally so annoyed having to hear "under god" every day that I went to the principle. I brought up the separation of church and state, and told him to shut that shit down.The pledge was dropped the next day without any pomp or circumstance, no newspapers, no ACLU. That's the way this shit should be handled.This death by 1000 cuts thing is fucking unacceptable. Our politicians use god speak, religiots have snuck God onto our money and into our pledge... they are trying, like, fucking WEEKLY to get creationism taught in schools, 10 commandments at courthouses, an explicit "culture war"...They legislate against homosexuals and women and... fucking every non-white, non-christian, non-male. Every single fucking one of these things, in matters related to separation of church and state, to include keeping that nonsense out of even graduation speeches at public schools should be opposed. As fucking vocally as necessary. 1000 small wounds can still bleed you out.

[Roll the Bones]

brvheart, on Tuesday, May 24th, 2011, 1:27 AM, said:

Camping was off by 5 months.

[Spademan]

Wow. A lot of grammatical and structural mistakes.I'm pretty livid.Heh.

[brvheart]

Roll the Bones, on Tuesday, May 24th, 2011, 12:26 PM, said:

Let's compare. A minority is told to be quiet about his civil rights and accept the bigoted behavior of the majority simply because it is a long standing tradition that they don't want to abandon. Umm, no, pretty sure it's a good analogy.

Randy, it's really crazy that you're still defending this. Blacks were being actively segregated, mocked, beaten, and kill because the majority didn't like them. That punk kid sitting in the audience isn't even being noticed. No one cares what he's thinking or what he believes. He's not being segregated, mocked, beaten or killed. It's silly to suggest multiple times that it's the same thing.