Archive for politics

Freedom Rings (But Sounds Better Autotuned)

© alykat
Dear United States of America,

Today is the day we recognize your childhood rebellion against the overbearing parental units of foreign power. May it be a lovely time to recognize that you don’t actually know everything and can be a bit of an obnoxious twat once in a while, but you’re still totally awesome and I love you to bits.

–GG

In honor of the beloved values of liberty and freedom, I’ve chosen to feature three of my favorite songs by The Gregory Brothers. They adapted, mixed, and autotuned three pivotal speeches from the 20th century–making them more memorable than ever. I hope you love them too!

  • “Martin Luther King Sings” samples the civil rights leader’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech given in 1963.
  • “John F. Kennedy backed by band from the future” brings new life to possibly the most stirring inaugural address of our history–given by former President John F. Kennedy.
  • “Winston Churchill backed by band from the future” (yes, a non-American!) is my favorite of the three adapted from the former British Prime Minister’s 1941 Great Declaration against the Nazi threat.

The mp3s are available for free download.
View a playlist of all three songs is below the cut:

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July 4, 2009  |  history, politics, society, videos  |  No Comments

Take Action: In God We Trust

From The Secular Coalition of America:

Before the August recess, a resolution will be voted on by the House of Representatives that will require the Architect of the Capitol to engrave the words “In God We Trust” and the post-1954 Pledge of Allegiance onto the walls of the Capitol Visitor Center (CVC). References to religion and faith are already included in several of the permanent exhibits, and the words “In God We Trust” are even present in one such exhibit. But that’s not enough for Rep. Dan Lungren (R-CA) who is pushing for a larger, bolder display. Let your Representative know that you oppose his efforts.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that this additional engraving could cost tens of thousands of dollars. Tell your Representative that it is inappropriate for taxpayer money to be spent promoting a distorted image of America that undermines The First Amendment, and alienates the millions of nontheistic Americans who neither “trust in God” nor pledge “under God.” This legislation will most likely pass the House with a large majority vote; however, members of Congress must be educated about why appeasing the Religious Right is offensive to millions of Americans who value our nation’s secular heritage.

Even if this is a superficial decoration, I think it’s important that we secular citizens not let the little points slide by without our voices being heard. Every little bit helps.

You can contact your representatives here.

June 25, 2009  |  news, politics  |  2 Comments

Joe the Plumber’s 15 minutes and 59 seconds

Joe (Samuel Wurzelbacher), please stop touring, writing, doing interviews, and basically ramming your bigoted, uneducated nonsense all over the media. I can’t believe anyone gives this guy the time of day anymore, but at least it’s fodder for serious *headdesk* and *facepalm* moments.

Check out what he says to Christianity Today in one of their little “timely” interviews to appear current. Too bad their version of  “current” is months too late.

On gay marriage:

I personally still think it’s wrong. People don’t understand the dictionary—it’s called queer. Queer means strange and unusual. It’s not like a slur, like you would call a white person a honky or something like that. You know, God is pretty explicit in what we’re supposed to do—what man and woman are for. Now, at the same time, we’re supposed to love everybody and accept people, and preach against the sins. I’ve had some friends that are actually homosexual. And, I mean, they know where I stand, and they know that I wouldn’t have them anywhere near my children. But at the same time, they’re people, and they’re going to do their thing. [emphasis added]

This whitewashed bigot really cracks me up. Read the two bold parts next to each other and explain to me how in the hell the actions in the latter fit the statement in the former. That’s right; they don’t. Typical.

Oh, and note how his interviewer Pulliam just skips from topic to topic without challenging him on any of his poisonous ignorance. Perhaps the interview had to be edited to avoid “controversy” or perhaps she didn’t find his drivel as offensive to the brain as most of the folks in the comments did. Or if we’re lucky, perhaps she secretly wanted him to hang himself with his terrible views dangling out in public like that. That actually worked.

On politics:

…I think that all needs to be taken out of the federal level and give it back to the states. We’ve lost our American history. Every state has “In God we trust” or “With God’s help” in their constitution. God is recognized as, if you will, America’s religion.

JTP seems to love the new US motto “In God We Trust” which was adopted in 1956. I suppose he wouldn’t support the historical motto, “E pluribus unum” (“from many, one”) since he’s all about the individual states and no central government to keep the unity for which we fought so hard in the Civil War. And I didn’t even mention the Deist Founding Fathers (not Christian).

I like Sarah Palin a lot, actually. I just don’t know if that’s where God’s leading her. I just know the Republican Party’s done its best to blackball her. I don’t know what her agenda is. If she ran, would I vote for her? Absolutely.

Meet the poster boy for voter ignorance. Follow JTP and you don’t even have to know what the candidate plans or stands for! No critical thinking–as easy as American Pie!

When politicians start talking about being a Christian, I just worry, because a lot of them don’t really follow through. I like to see real action in that area. … I would love to hear our leaders actually check with God before he does stuff.

Wait, wait. He wants them to check with God before God does stuff? Don’t move a finger, God! They need to check with you first!
But seriously, I’d rather they check with reliable resources and use their reasoning skills, experience, and education before making decisions, thanks. Talking to their imaginary friends aren’t what I call admirable qualities. I know, I know, it’s a freethought daydream.

Many of the comments are silly, hilarious, or simply bear repeating, so after the cut I’m going to quote some of my favorites.

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Don’t Silence the Christians

I believe in free speech for all, no matter how bigoted one's beliefs. I may hate that you think what you do, but I want you to have the right to shout it from the rooftops--or preach it from the television--if it doesn't break any laws. The freedom to speak your mind is the same freedom that lets me speak mine. Let the ideas stand freely on their own. To borrow a phrase: let the best idea win.

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