X is…

I really don’t care for pop culture and try to avoid all the hoopla as often as possible.  People whore themselves our for publicity constantly and it’s not anything that interests me.

This becomes tougher for me as my daughters get older.  At 12 and 10, I have to be ready to discuss and approach most topics that catch their eye or that their friends are discussing.

Such is the case with Miley’s back.  Yes, the 15 year-old daughter of a country music singer and Disney’s most cherished possession recently took off her shirt and they took a picture of her back.  I’m indifferent.  She didn’t show anything that would truly upset people.  It’s more what she didn’t show.  The public has become worked up over what is not seen in a picture and that seems poor.

My oldest daughter said that she thinks it’s wrong.  The picture.  I asked her why and what ensued was a rather lengthy discussion about when others determine what is wrong and right for us- the public.

We covered language and who determines what is proper for us to say and what isn’t.  How the trouble she can get in at school is based on some crazy meeting held years ago.  I asked her to tell me the difference in meaning for the following four statements.

• God Damn It
• Holy Fuck
• Holy Crap
• Wow

Based on when they are used- nothing.  Two of those, though, will get her in trouble.

We discussed television and how it’s perfectly fine to show murder, dead bodies, and violent acts against people.  Yet, it’s not fine to show any ounce of nudity… or Miley’s back.

We discussed the fine line that is created by society regarding art vs. pornography.  This discussion began with Renaissance era artwork.  Michelangelo was a great artist, yet much of his work involved unclothed people.

We even discussed prohibition briefly.

It was a great springboard into a discussion of socialized norms.  Of course with cautionary words regarding the consequences of breaking those accepted norms- no matter how conservative the rules we break seem.

I would like to thank our conservative Christian nation for have such terrible norms.  For making a ridiculously unappealing picture such as that one become such a great controversy that I was able to have a discussion of such great magnitude with my daughters.  That I was able to discuss with her how we are seemingly unable to make up our own minds and that we are often expected to accept that society’s judgement regarding most issues.

It was also a perfect opportunity to remind her to think for herself and ask questions.

Popularity: 42% [?]

Apparently this is news.

Churches Must Address Packers

Are you kidding me?

I’ve written about the whole deity supporting one team over another before- maybe too much, but it’s really annoying to me.

It ends like this.

“The spirit of God gives us power not just to be ordinary people, but extraordinary people,” the priest said. “You give it your all. Don’t just try to survive. You thrive.”

The Rev. John Becker of Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church just a few blocks south of Lambeau Field said he has seen the Packers Prayer, too, but never read it.

Certainly, he said, some of his parishioners will be praying for a win Sunday. Children in the church’s school offered a special petition last week during a Mass, praying for a Packers victory.

Privately, the priest admitted, he would, too.

“I am very strong supporter of the Packers. I will say, ‘God’s will be done,’ but please may it be that the Packers win,” he said, laughing.

We’ll see how that goes for them.

Popularity: 45% [?]

“I’d like to personally thank God for giving us the gift and the opportunity to share our music with the world,” said Daughtry after winning the Breakthrough Artist award on the AMA.

At least he thanked the fans first. Realizing that it doesn’t matter how much of a gift he has unless people are dumb enough to purchase his nonsense is a good move.

Of course he should thank all the random luck over the years that has afforded him the opportunity over every other act in the world that may be more talented.

The Rascal Flatts thanked their god as well, but not the fans. I won’t speak of the Rascal Flatts anymore. They are country and I don’t know a goddamn thing about country music artists.

Neither should think that they “god-given” abilities are the reason they are performing and selling millions of records. It’s meeting the right people. It’s performing on American Idol. It’s getting the opportunity to reach millions without any real right to.

I can guarantee you that there are hundreds of very good singers and writers and artists without recording contracts. Daughtry was one just a few short years ago. Oh the stories of him and his wife and his kids holding on to every note he sang and all the pomp and circumstance that surrounded the events that season. Good thing god had his hand on Daughtry guiding him every step of the way.

Daughtry should take some credit. He got himself noticed by the judges and worked his way onto the new Gong Show. He lasted long enough that all he had to do was make an album and millions of zombie music listeners would flock to purchase the CD.

Quite honestly, if Daughtry’s god handcrafted him as the music to make millions, then it is all the more reason that I cannot believe.

Popularity: 43% [?]

I sometimes simply search for news on ‘atheist’ for ideas on what to write about. Today turned up a gem.

KELO in Sioux Falls had this today.

We are looking to interview people who don’t believe in God. Atheism has been gaining national attention with best-selling books like “God Is Not Great” and “The End of Faith.” Air America is launching a nationally-broadcast atheist radio program.

And it went on. They wanted to interview people who do not believe to find out “more about your beliefs and the challenges that you face in a society that places high importance on religion.”

Put the atheists on television? Must be a pretty conservative region. I wanted to know more. To the right of the article was a link to the forum with 85 posts when I saw it. I was dying to find out what they thought. The first post told me everything about this community.

Can’t wait to see the story and see who some of these freaks are.

OK. We’ve set the tone from the Christian standpoint. If you’re not Christian, then you’re a freak. Somebody did have the sense to post a pretty impressive list of atheists. If you’re reading this, then you are probably already pretty familiar with any list of atheists.

One person did stand up and admit to being atheist. Here are some of the lines to this person.

(to another believer) At least you and i know where we are going when we die.

Then hurry the fuck up! You’re taking up too much space here on Earth and you’re wasting too much of my time. The frustration of you living and breathing is too much. If the only reason you are living is to die, then get on with it.

What do you need morals for…whats the point if you dont believe in God. You can do whatever you want. Go ahead…lie, cheat, steal…Why not…You dont believe in God or the 10 Commandments. Just as well get some prostitutes and abuse your body with drugs.

Dipshit. The only reason this guy is moral is because his god instructs him to be. If it weren’t for his god, he’d be a perfectly happy sinner. Isn’t there any sense that people are good for the sake of being good. Since the beginning of time, people have come up with rules and standards. Does this idiot think that Christians are the first to create socialized norms?

You can dispute the existance of God, but are you disputing what is written in in the Bible?

I will dispute that what is written in the Bible was written by a god or higher power. Just because somebody says it is so, doesn’t prove that it is.

Anyway, I was entertained by the arguments that so many Christians use. The fact that they “know” where they are going to be when they die or that they “know” the truth. Evidence is powerful and blind faith is weak.

I hope you were as entertained by some of these posts as much as I was.

From the song Jerk-Off by Tool

Consequences dictate
our course of action
and it doesn’t matter what’s right.
It’s only wrong if you get caught.
If consequences dictate
my course of action
I should play GOD
and shoot you myself.*
I’m very tired of waiting.

Popularity: 26% [?]