Daily Blend: 05/01/13

Kiera Wilmot

How the hell can it be this hot this early in the year? This can’t bode well.

Animal liberation activists in Milan, Italy, heroically sabotage years’ worth of mental health research by releasing scared and helpless lab animals that cannot survive on their own.
(via Pharyngula)

Who made the “bad choices” here: the model high-schooler ^[pictured] who created a tiny pop in a bottle by mixing chemicals in an experiment* (To be fair, not generally a good [or safe] idea unless you know what you’re doing, which it didn’t sound like she did), or the dumbass school and police officials who got her expelled, arrested and are dragging her to court for “possession/discharge of a weapon”?
(via @radleybalko)

• Better yet: The school then respond to criticism by declaring that “there are consequences to actions”. Indeed, and those consequences are that students will refrain from ever exhibiting any curiosity or scientific interest at Florida’s Bartow High School in order to avoid violating their ridiculous zero-tolerance policy.
  (via Pharyngula)

Wait, hydrogen peroxide doesn’t work? Dammit, Cracked, stop exploding my beliefs.

And finally, happy decaversary to MythBusting! Even though I only started watching in 2005 (“Steel Toe-Cap Amputation, Bottle Rocket Blast-Off”)
(via @MythBusters; RT: @JamieNoTweet)

Daily Blend: Wednesday, February 08, 2012

Laurie Higgins

Housekeeping: I added a new myth (A18: “Atheists/Evolutionists believe in social Darwinism”) and also cleaned up the hundreds of excess post labels that I never use anymore. (Some older posts may be oddly or even non-tagged as a result.)

Disgustingly predictable: Illinois Family Institute’s head bigot Laurie Higgins ^[pictured] manages to twist the heartbreaking Rolling Stone exposé on gay teen suicides into an attack on those poor, maligned homophobic conservatives.

Excellent: Animal rights extremist Camille Marino finally faces some sort of comeuppance.

CONT’D: Part 2 of Radley Balko’s series on the war over prescription painkillers. (Part 1)
(via The Agitator)

Media Matters debunks Right-wing lies about electric cars.

If you have any story suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments or send them in.

Tags: atheists • evolutionists • social Darwinism • Laurie Higgins • Illinois Family Institute • Sabrina Rubin Erdely • Rolling Stone • Anoka, MN • Camille Marino • Negotiation Is Over! • Donal O'Leary • painkillers • opioids • CDC • DEA • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention • Drug Enforcement Administration • electric cars • right-wing media • conservatives • Media Matters • Media Matters for America • MMfA

“Draw Muhammad Day” cartoonist forced into hiding

Cartoon of Muhammad with a bomb-turban, by Kurt Westergaard

Last May 20 was “Everybody Draw Muhammad Day”, an event created originally as a farce in response to thinly-veiled death threats from radical Muslim group Revolution Muslim that led Comedy Central to censor South Park’s 200^th episode, which purportedly featured the Islamic prophet Muhammad, any depictions of whom are expressly forbidden under Islamic law. (Never mind the fact that Muhammad has already been in South Park back in July of 2001 and that no-one so much as raised an eyebrow at the time.)

Of course, “Draw Muhammad Day” served as an occasion to send a peaceful and creative message to Muslims, particularly the radicals: that their laws forbidding them from depicting their beloved prophet does not apply to non-Muslims, and that everyone else can very well wipe their ass with Muhammad-themed toilet paper if they wished. Muslims do not have the right to force others to obey their own silly rules, just as no-one else has any right to impose their own religious customs upon Muslims.

But then, try telling that to a group of people whose mindset dictates that any offense towards their prophet or beliefs, no matter how trivial, must be met with outrage and violence and death threats. So, naturally, the cartoonist who originally launched “Everybody Draw Muhammad Day”, Molly Norris, received the treatment reserved to blasphemers like Kurt Westergaard and Lars Vilks with clerics calling for her death and so on, even though she tried to remove herself from the event once it began gathering steam.

So now, there is no more Molly Norris. Oh, not that she’s been killed or anything – she’s just decided to follow the urgent advice of FBI security specialists and is now “going ghost”, similar to entering a witness protection program: changing her identity, moving and basically wiping her slate clean. Erasing her entire life and social history – because of some reactionary, religion-fueled fanatics who can’t handle the fact that other people have no obligation to respect their superstitions and ridiculous rules and customs.

Sharron Angle’s “Second Amendment remedies” threats now part of the political mainstream?

In case you were in need of today’s dose of “things that make you wonder just how bad things are about to get in the US”, here’s a Rachel Maddow segment that shines light on how the rhetorical threats of Senate candidate Sharron Angle (R-NV) for conservatives to resort to “Second Amendment remedies” should they lose the vote in November now appears to be considered mainstream, as though calls to armed insurrections had become part of the political norm [video below the fold]:

Gary Bauer insanely equates progressives to terrorists

Gary Bauer [source: Top of the Ticket | Los Angeles Times]

There’s a piece over at Human Events by über-wingnut Gary Bauer that may just be the single most insane screed against liberals (or, as they’re known by conservatives these days, “progressives”^[1]) I’ve ever read. Even intellectual swamps like the WorldNetDaily seem to avoid employing the sort of rhetoric and above-ridiculous comparisons present in this thing. The whole thing is about how President Obama supposedly has both a “strong affection” and “such an affinity” for Islam – because merely vying to uphold the inalienable rights and freedoms of adherents of a faith that may number anywhere from 1.3 million to 7 million Americans^[2] is akin to “Islamophilia”. (Also, it makes you a secret Muslim.)

The premise may be about Obama’s supposed connection with Islam (and I forewarn you: he fucking has none), but the rest is tellingly disjointed, jumping from Obama to random British politicians and spending much time trying to equate liberals (er, progressives) with Islamic extremists. No, seriously; he actually compares American (and generally Western) liberals with bomb-lobbing terrorists. Check out this necrotic start where he presents this incredibly absurd viewpoint:

Obama’s left-wing progressivism varies with Islamism on many issues. But their adherents find common cause in a common enemy: the Judeo-Christian worldview at the heart of Western democracy.

At first glance, it would seem an unlikely alliance. Progressives theoretically want to move us forward, while Islamists wish to take us back to 7th Century-style theocracies. Progressive politicians push for marriage for homosexuals, while the Islamists push brick walls on top of them. Cultural progressives celebrate sexual licentiousness; Islamists punish it with death.

So … you’re saying that liberals and religious extremists aren’t the same, not by a planet-sized margin?

But such differences between the left and radical Islam fade to irrelevance in the face of such common enemies as traditional Christianity, Judaism, Israel, free enterprise and the very idea of America itself.

“Burn a Koran Day” church says Islam is violent; Islamists respond with threats of violence

Burning Koran [source: Orlando Sentinel]

If there’s one thing that’s amusing about religious fundies, it’s how incredibly predictable they always make themselves out to be. Open a reproductive health clinic, watch the Christian anti-abortionists come out in droves.^[1] Attempt to fight the peddling of Creationist nonsense in schools, watch the calls of “religious discrimination” go up. And, perhaps most ironically of all, whenever someone decries a certain group for being violent extremists, they shall inevitably respond with … well, love and peace. What do you think?

Such is the case with the non-denominational Dove World Outreach Center church out of Gainesville, Florida, who recently launched what you may know as “International Burn a Koran Day”. Because nothing speaks of modernity, compassion, acceptance and outreach (which is in their name, no?) like hosting a worldwide burning of a religion’s sacred book.

The Dove World Outreach Center says it is hosting the event to remember 9/11 victims and take a stand against Islam. With promotions on its website and Facebook page, it invites Christians to burn the Muslim holy book at the church from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

"We believe that Islam is of the devil, that it's causing billions of people to go to hell, it is a deceptive religion, it is a violent religion and that is proven many, many times," Pastor Terry Jones told CNN's Rick Sanchez earlier this week.

As much as I am all for pointing out and ridiculing religious silliness and opposing dangerous fundies and radicals, there must be a point being made that contributes to society in a meaningful and productive manner, such as upholding free speech and the right to criticize religion (which is what such things as “Blasphemy Day”, held on September 30, and “Draw Muhammad Day”, are all about). Launching an event based on calling an entire religion “of the devil” will accomplish absolutely nothing other than to rile people up for no good reason. It’s plain intolerance and nothing more.

Lars Vilks attacked again, house set on fire

Lars Vilks caricature depicting Muhammad as a dog The crappy quality is more offensive to me, as an artist myself, than its content can ever be

Just last Wednesday, I commented on how Swedish artist Lars Vilks, known for his (rather bad) cartoons depicting the Islamic prophet Muhammad as a lowly dog, was attacked as he gave a lecture (on free speech, as irony would naturally have it). Things got even worse today: presently unidentified arsonists attacked his home and tried to burn it down while Vilks himself was absent. (No word that I can find on the extent of the damages.) Here’s an translated version of the original Swedish report.

Look, I understand that what Vilks did in drawing intentionally derogatory depictions of a religion’s beloved prophet was assuredly provocative and in bad taste (especially with drawings that bad … okay, I’ll stop beating that dead horse, now). Personally, I’d say that he shouldn’t have done it unless he expressly intended to prove a point; his caricatures were very politically charged yet lacked any real aim, serving only to offend a base of believers already known to be both easily offended and prone to violence. But, that doesn’t change anything. Vilks made a few crude drawings; in response, they physically attacking him and even set his freaking home on fire. This goes far beyond any sort of proportional response, no matter how you slice it. If someone calls you bad names or insults your momma, you don’t retaliate by beating them to an inch from death or nuking their home. You either find even better insults to hurl back, or better yet, you ignore them.

Lars Vilks Doesn’t he look like he’s about to set you on fire?

What these vandals should have done is perhaps respond to Vilks’ provocation in kind: by mocking him in caricatures. Hell, make it an entire campaign devoted to smearing him if that’s what you want; anything goes, just as long as it’s legal and non-physical. For Pete’s sake, just look at the man [pictured, right]; he already looks like he’s just a few scotches and a wig short of a Doc Brown from hell. Not exactly the most difficult persona to lampoon.

If you’re so offended by a caricature, or any other work, that you feel you must respond in some manner, the mature and civilized way to deal with it is to return the favor, or write an angry letter, or start a freaking blog about it containing nothing more than rants. Whatever. When you respond to offensive but legal material in a criminal and violent manner, you lose any and all credibility and respect. You’re nothing more than a reactionary barbarian, and the only thing you deserve is more offense.

(via Pharyngula)

Something to be proud to be #2 in: religious extremists

Bill Maher lays it out plainly: however bad our religious nutjobs here in America (or Western society in general) may be, even the worst of them pale sharply in comparison to the sort of war-mongering religiously-fueled monsters in certain other parts of the world. What is terrorism to us is merely a way of life to them – and that may be the scariest thought of all.

Here’s a quick transcript of the first part:

MAHER: Though America likes to think it’s number one, we have to admit that we’re behind the developing world in at least one thing: their religious whackos are a lot more whacko than ours. When South Park got threatened last weak by Islamists incensed at their depiction of Muhammad, it served, or should serve, as a reminder to all of us that our culture isn’t just different than one that makes death threats to cartoonists. It’s better. Because when I make a joke about the Pope, he doesn’t send one of his Swiss Guards in their striped pantaloons to stick a pike in my ass. When I make a Jewish joke, Rabbis may kvetch about it, but they don’t pull out a scimitar and threaten an adult circumcision. And when I insult Scientology, the worst that happens is – [power cuts out comedically]

I loved it all until his derisory mention of Garfield. Now I must hit him.

Aaaand that’s a wrap.

(via Friendly Atheist)

When your worst enemy is the one you created

Except, for kiddies [source: Samuel at Gilgal]

If you ever wondered how or why the intense militant Islamic movement in the Middle-East could have spawned so relatively quickly over the course of only a few decades, it turns out the US may need to shoulder some of the blame, if not even a large part of it. According to this March of 2002-era report from The Washington Post, the US apparently had a policy during the Cold War era where they spent many years, and many millions of dollars, supplying Middle Eastern schoolchildren with textbooks that incorporated propaganda about jihad and Islamic fundamentalism and filled with war-themed imagery such as guns and tanks. Apparently, the government (or whatever small faction – that is, I’m hoping it was a small one – that launched this campaign) thought that this would be a good idea in the long run as it would increase the area’s anti-Soviet resistance efforts, all in the US’s best interests, of course.

What could possibly have gone wrong?

The primers, which were filled with talk of jihad and featured drawings of guns, bullets, soldiers and mines, have served since then as the Afghan school system's core curriculum. Even the Taliban used the American-produced books, though the radical movement scratched out human faces in keeping with its strict fundamentalist code.

As Afghan schools reopen today, the United States is back in the business of providing schoolbooks. But now it is wrestling with the unintended consequences of its successful strategy of stirring Islamic fervor to fight communism. What seemed like a good idea in the context of the Cold War is being criticized by humanitarian workers as a crude tool that steeped a generation in violence.

Last month, a U.S. foreign aid official said, workers launched a "scrubbing" operation in neighboring Pakistan to purge from the books all references to rifles and killing. Many of the 4 million texts being trucked into Afghanistan, and millions more on the way, still feature Koranic verses and teach Muslim tenets.

There is so much that is purely and utterly wrong with this story that I scarcely know how even to react. I don’t know which is worse, here: that the geniuses in the government actually thought this was a good idea; that such an insane measure was actually green-lit, presumably by top-ranking government officials, and carried out; or that apparently, no-one in charge realized how very badly such a strategy would invariably turn out and put an end to it before it was too late. After all, filling impressionable kids’ heads with pro-war, pro-violence and pro-radical Islamic teachings when the region was already about as peaceful and stable as, well, the Middle East – yeah, great idea!

There’s a quote I often use, from Lisa in The Simpsons: “You can’t create a monster and then whine when it stomps on a few buildings.” I do believe the bitter irony, here, has just exploded to astronomical levels. In dealing with terrorism and Islamic extremism, all we’re doing is trying to mop up a mess that, as it turns out, is largely our own. Brilliant.

(via @ahtripp)

More peace between religions in Pakistan

There've been deadly riots in the Middle-Eastern wasteland as an extremist group of Muslims launched attacks against the tiny minority of Christians in the area. And why (other than them being bloodthirsty savages)?

Because the Christians are being accused of "desecrating pages from Islam's holy book", the Koran. A charge that is apparently false to boot. The result? Hundreds of homes burned down and six dead (so far), including one child.

Television footage from the scene showed houses burning and streets strewn with debris and blackened furniture as mobs ran at each other. Local media also reported gunfights had broken out between Christian and Muslim communities and that rioters had blocked the local railway line.

But Islam is a religion of ... (Oh, fuck it, I'm sick of saying it, even sarcastically. Every time I hear "Islam" and "peace" in the same sentence, a strange bilious lump forms in my throat and threatens to coat my screen in ... well, whatever foul substance it's made of. 'Tis what happens when I hear the same patently and demonstrably false bullshit over and over again by fucking apologists.)