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February 22, 2007Religion & haters, abortion, Jamil and moreOkay, real quick because there’s so much stuff out there and so little time: Read Bill Maher’s recent remarks about religion and those eeeevil evangelicals. Then read the sneering comments below this piece. Then read this: (excerpted) Jerry Taylor of the Cato Institute tells a story about Julian Simon, the late and great economist. He was at some environmental forum, and he said, “How many people here believe that the earth is increasingly polluted and that our natural resources are being exhausted?” Naturally, every hand shot up. He said, “Is there any evidence that could dissuade you?” Nothing. Again: “Is there any evidence I could give you — anything at all — that would lead you to reconsider these assumptions?” Not a stir. Simon then said, “Well, excuse me, I’m not dressed for church.” I love that story, for what it says about the fixity of these beliefs, immune to evidence, reason, or anything else. And then read Ed Driscoll’s clever round-up of secular/green religionism, and this too, on the same subject. Jules Crittenden has sensibly reduced the whole debate to a single descriptive: Nerd Fight!. I have noticed that 2007 has been - so far - the year of aggressive secularism and aggressive global warming goose-stepping. I mean, there have been noticable, almost palpable pushes from both fronts since January. I’m assuming they want something to be in place for 2008-9 when they presume they will have their people in desireable political seats. I mean…what else? Why else? Complicating things, as it has for 35 years, the subject of abortion, Roe v. Wade and its effects on society simply won’t go away, dammit, like it’s been told to. Read Shrinkwrapped’s exceedingly thoughtful and important two-parter on this issue, on how abortion has affect us socially, psychologically and spiritually, and then say the ruling should not be revisited. Or, if you cannot say that, go read Siggy’s very personal and exquisitely moving post on the subject. Read it all. This is a man who has been hurt by abortion but still understands as he says here: Ask any infertile couple, trying to have a child and they will tell you a fetus is not ’tissue.’ That is enough for me. By the same token, I do believe an individual has a right to choose what is right for them. Siggy is correct that there is a useful tension attached to the issue. This dialogue is not over, and that is why RvW needs revisiting. Constitutionally, perhaps the issue always belonged to the states, and perhaps that is where it should be returned. But I had to post the links to Siggy’s thoughts because once again…it’s the terrible conservative (classically liberal) folk who are willing to keep debating, willing to keep talking, who are still struggling with the issue and looking for clarity. Despite the stereotype we see constantly promoted by the Bill Mahers of the world, the right is not the side saying, “sit down, shut up and fall in line.” Meanwhile…should we start worrying about how far Bush Derangement Syndrome is pushing people? Or press double standards that are so glaring they’re almost farce? OR press double standards that are so glaring they almost dare you to mention them? Or press double standards that are so glaring they move beyond farce into something that suggests intrigue? And if all that isn’t enough to think about, the Jamil Hussein story is still ummm…not over. And ummm…maybe airport security is nowhere near as tight as you think? And I think I will continue to decline all invitations to do radio. And honestly, how sad is it that Glenn Reynolds even has to deal with this stupidity and the transparent motivation behind it? You know what? That’s enough noise. Go read neo-neocon’s thoughts on making music. http://theanchoressonline.com/2007/02/22/religion-haters-abortion-jamil-and-more/trackback/ 8 Responses to “Religion & haters, abortion, Jamil and more” |
February 22nd, 2007 at 1:46 am
Watched Mr. Maher on the Tonight Show, and wondered how someone lacking such talent, intelligence, insight, could have gotten so much air time.
It is pretty sad, but no surprise these days, in a world where something called the Grammys gives awards to MIlli Vanilli, Hillary Clinton, and the Dixie Chicks.
It is concerning, the partisan democrats have undermined this President severely, and feel vilifying this Man is now an accepted fashion.
February 22nd, 2007 at 6:17 am
Went to a hockey game and a Dem Primary broke out
Powerline observes that the Obama vs. Clinton grudge match has begun to boil over. David Geffen — who once raised $18 million for Bill Clinton — pillaged Hillary’s campaign in a manner reminiscent of Genghis Kahn…
February 22nd, 2007 at 11:03 am
Seems many of the sneering comments were from Catholics who found his post offensive…I wonder why- when you did not.
February 22nd, 2007 at 11:40 am
#3. There are always those Catholics who are incredibly quick to tell other Catholics they ashamed they are of them. They routinely come around here and shove my head in a toilet, too. For some Catholics, only canonization will do!
February 22nd, 2007 at 3:11 pm
This dialogue is not over
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Yes, but it is clear that some folks have abandoned all pretence to reason with respect to abortion and have embraced an irrationality that approaches a psychotic detachment from reality. Can any dialogue with them be fruitful?
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As for such people, let us never again hear them complain when they are called “pro-abortion” and let them now be honest enough to admit that their position has nothing to do with “freedom of choice.”
February 22nd, 2007 at 11:41 pm
Oh, and in case anybody didn’t know it… Anna Nicole Smith is still dead.
February 24th, 2007 at 8:22 am
Can somebody tell me what parish Katie Couric belongs to? It must be a dissident one; the last time I looked, Vatican teaching was that women can’t be deacons. Has that changed?
February 24th, 2007 at 10:58 am
I don’t think Katie is a Catholic, JMC.