Bill Donahue
October 15, 2010
The miraculous rescue of all 33 Chilean miners is difficult to understand from a purely secular perspective. In this day and age of militant atheism, coupled with relentless assaults on Roman Catholicism, it is refreshing to read about the central role that Catholicism played in helping these courageous men survive, and of their enormous gratitude to God.
To those who cling to the superstition that there is no meaning to life beyond sheer material existence, we ask them to reflect on the following testimonials. Just as there are no atheists in foxholes, there are no atheists in trapped mines.
http://www.catholicleague.org/release.php?id=2005
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This twaddle is so ridiculous that it barely deserves recognition, but it mentions a couple incredibly common misconceptions that I'll take a few minutes to address. Funnily enough, the entire piece is one misconception trailed by another. From any other source I would be upset or indignant, but one does not expect Donahue to think before typing. I'm fairly certain that his next reasoned thought will be his first.
a) "The miraculous rescue of all 33 Chilean miners is difficult to understand from a purely secular perspective."
I'm not entirely certain what miraculous event occurred during the rescue. I know that I saw equipment and men, I know that many serious calculations were being done for weeks, and I witnessed a government step in and work hard to get these men out alive. Perhaps I missed something, but I'm not sure that christ was the one drilling the rescue tunnel or passing down food, water, and cots.
And just what was the "secular perspective?" Humans worked hard to save humans. No religious perspective needed.
b) "In this day and age of militant atheism, coupled with relentless assaults on Roman Catholicism, it is refreshing to read about the central role that Catholicism played in helping these courageous men survive, and of their enormous gratitude to God."
I love the term militant atheist. It is one of those few terms that shows, up front and immediately, just how ignorant and often false the next words will be. Relentless assaults? I think those have been done BY the church, not to it. This lying, disingenuous pope and the culture of paedophile protection that he supported and enforced before he became pope is why the church is facing criticism, and rightly so. The murders of millions of Africans by forbidding condoms, or withholding aid unless the government stood with them on the topic, is why the church is facing criticism, and rightly so. The misogyny and prejudices of the church is why it is facing criticism, and rightly so. It's stand on gay rights is a reason that the church is facing criticism, and rightly so.
All of that said, could someone tell me what role the church played in the rescue? Distracting the families with prayer while people worked hard to get the men out is the only act that seems to have been undertaken by "Catholicism" at the rescue. The majority of priests there claimed to be the only one talking to god and, unsurprisingly, the messages were quite different from one another. One even claimed that the miners were rescued because he sung them out with gods help. To all of these I can only respond with the thought that they should all be sealed in the mine. The priest that prays(or sings) himself out or has a divine intervention gets credit for the miners rescue.
Why do so many people think that, in the extremely small chance that a god exists, this sadistic freak would be worth worshipping? Let me do something I rarely do; lets pretend that god exists and this is all him working. HE TRAPPED 33 MEN IN A MINE FOR OVER TWO MONTHS. Not as a punishment mind, just so that he could get credit for being nice and rescuing them. In America we punish people that injure others wantonly, even those rare psychotic nurses and doctors that do it in order to mend them. We punish firefighters that light fires to maintain employment. Why then do you want to praise a god that is doing nothing more?
c) "To those who cling to the superstition that there is no meaning to life beyond sheer material existence, we ask them to reflect on the following testimonials."
Superstition? Does billy even know the definition of the word?
Superstition:
1. An irrational belief that an object, action, or circumstance not logically related to a course of events influences its outcome.
2.
1. A belief, practice, or rite irrationally maintained by ignorance of the laws of nature or by faith in magic or chance.
2. A fearful or abject state of mind resulting from such ignorance or irrationality.
3. Idolatry.
http://www.answers.com/topic/superstition
He feels that a magical fairy godfather had part in this rescue, reasoning people know that it was science and mechanics, wielded by men, and used in accordance with the laws of nature that rescued the miners. Considering that catholics worship idols, pray for god to influence the world around them, and purposely maintain "A fearful or abject state of mind..." in order to gain favour from this god; how the hell can he call people that don't do these things superstitious? By not knowing what the word means.
Reflect on testimonials? What the hell good are testimonials? People give testimonials that they hear voices, are visited by aliens, saw bigfoot, know that lizardmen have infiltrated the government, etc. . Keep the testimonials and provide evidence.
d) "Just as there are no atheists in foxholes, there are no atheists in trapped mines. "
Ah yes, the old, tired fallacy that morons love so much. There are indeed atheists in foxholes. The military has a higher rate of atheism/agnosticism than American society at large. This isn't because they don't understand killing is wrong due to non-belief in fairies, it is due to the fact that most people in the military know that they need to protect themselves and each other while relying on the weaponry and defences that were made for them by their fellow countrymen. It is also because reconciling the horrors and brutalities of war with a loving god is very difficult. http://maaf.info/
Is the mine thing because god likes killing any atheist that enters one? There are thousands and thousands of mining deaths worldwide every year. Perhaps billy thinks that the miracle there is that god could identify and justly murder each one for their unbelief?
Humans work damn hard to rescue humans using science and every available resource and all these twats can do is claim "godunnit." Bullshit. For more on this visit here: http://friendlyatheist.com/2010/10/18/there-are-no-atheists-in-trapped-mines-says-bill-donohue/
(as always, read the comments)
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Friday, April 9, 2010
How to know when you are TRULY repugnant
I found this on PZ Myers blog, Pharyngula. I'd say that when the Klan
disassociates itself from you, your group, or your message, you have
truly found the bottom of the dungheap.
http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2010/04/they_get_no_respect.php
Everyone knows that this church and it's attendees are complete trash
and wastes of oxygen, but wow! The Klan actually has higher standards
and practises!
disassociates itself from you, your group, or your message, you have
truly found the bottom of the dungheap.
http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2010/04/they_get_no_respect.php
Everyone knows that this church and it's attendees are complete trash
and wastes of oxygen, but wow! The Klan actually has higher standards
and practises!
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
i suck at blogging
I keep trying to write in my blog and end up writing in everyone elses. After I spend so much time formulating and using arguments, I'd like to regurgitate them here but I have no evidence that anyone has ever even seen this site. If you see my writing, whether or not you agree, please speak! Let me know! Converse!
Remember that we need not agree, discussion is enough, even if it's written.
Remember that we need not agree, discussion is enough, even if it's written.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Saturday, December 26, 2009
I am interested.
Everything intrigues me. From the method of molecules to combine, to the vastest expanses of space; I am interested. Biology, chemistry, geology, genetics, water tables, the aborigines of Australia, the composition of asteroids, tidal flows, diamond distribution, human rights, Shakespearean tragedies, the breeding habits of piranha; all of this I will study and learn.
My wife asked me why I need so many textbooks. "You aren't even taking these courses!" She says.
"But there is so damn much I don't know yet!" This is the only reply that I can give.
I wish I could share this enthusiasm with everyone, and I will indeed try, even if only with one person at a time. The other night I was talking with my wife about a scientist with a theory regarding black holes and the possibility of them jump-starting new universes with the singularities that form inside of them. As I explained some of the prevailing theories and the physics behind them, I felt myself becoming flushed with excitement. This is life! Discussion, learning, theory, application of intellect; these concepts are the best of human capability and what every human should be pursuing. There are people that refuse to allow you the option to learn and grow, however.
Whenever I see a perfectly good mind wasted on religion, I feel a deep and abiding sadness. These people voluntarily surrender their intellectual capacity; nothing is more anathema to investigation and learning than the idea "I already know what I'm supposed to know." The established religions know this and have throughout recorded history insured an ignorant and enslaved membership primarily through demonising knowledge and those that pursue it, while simultaneously creating all sorts of "hells" and "eternal punishments" that a person will enter if they violate dogma. The whole of the dark ages was held forcefully back from innovation in medicine, culture, mechanics, science, etc., the most common method of enforcement being the murder of the intelligent or those who associated with them. Sadly, there is a rise in these ignorant and disgusting theists that seek to keep others in the dark. Many point to Islam as the example when I say this, and yet American fundamentalist Christians are equally bad. There is a group -not exactly a group as each faction has them, but yet similar in stupidity- that is referred to as creationists. the most despicable of these being the "young earth" variety. I despair my children ever knowing scientific curiosity outside the home if these people get their wish to replace science textbooks with the superstitions of bronze age goat herders.
Almost as bad, are the segments of society that treat intelligence as weak or unwanted in their members. The current wannabe "thugs" and gang member cultures are a prime example. Constantly they decry racism, sexism, social status, income limits, etc. as things unfairly imposed upon them. And yet, whenever a member of their group shows intelligence or a leaning toward a higher education, they are verbally and physically abused and punished for daring to make the others in the group appear stupid. This creates a situation in which the oppressed oppress themselves; where it is indeed a slavery, but a slavery of the mind and a self imposed one at that.
Both of these groups have the same root cause: a powerful few knowing full well that an educated group of people will not remain subservient to the corrupt leadership that those in power wish to maintain. The social and racial component are being oppressed in reality, just not in the manner they believe. Politicians of both sides in the political divide here in America profit from the "lower classes" remaining flat stupid; the democrats most of all. This last year, the Obama administration used tax money to make sure that television converter boxes are available to people in the middle and lower classes. Not only is this an absolute waste of money by the federal government (especially considering how cheap the boxes were to begin with and how expensive after counting the "administrators" of the program), it actively insures an ignorant populace. Nothing is more stunting to the intellect than sitting for hours each day staring at a box that provides the least information possible packed into 2.5 minute segments... when the people even bother to watch an informative program which is rare in these days of "Bachelors", "Survivors", "Simpsons", and Oprah.
There is little hope that people will throw off their shackles, as the "need" for these shackles is pounded into us from infancy. There are only two important actions that I see being successful, even showing immediate results. The first is to turn off your televisions and get moving, into anything. discover interests by actually doing and you have the ability to mentor and spark a child's interest by doing. Activity is an extremely important factor in education and gaining knowledge, a factor that all too many people never learn about growing up with a television as a baby sitter.
The second is also easy and is an equally crucial step that every thinking non-zombieist (and even most zombieists) needs to undertake immediately: vote against superstition being taught anywhere but a mythology/theology course! It doesn't even matter if you happen to be a theist, you MUST oppose the attempts to add any religion to any class in school other than those specifically designed for teaching/comparing mythology and religion. If you are shortsighted enough to want your own religion taught in school, please realise that it won't be the only creation myth taught and that eventually your children will lose any hope of learning the basic mechanics of maintaining our society. They will be far too busy learning about how wrong every other group is to understand even basic mathematical and scientific concepts, which by the way is close to the current state of America.
Hopefully more people will take both actions and this country and world will move forward, out of the new dark ages that so many politicians and creationists hope to force upon us. Even the simplest and most devout followers of either group can make a difference, just ask "how" once in a while.
My wife asked me why I need so many textbooks. "You aren't even taking these courses!" She says.
"But there is so damn much I don't know yet!" This is the only reply that I can give.
I wish I could share this enthusiasm with everyone, and I will indeed try, even if only with one person at a time. The other night I was talking with my wife about a scientist with a theory regarding black holes and the possibility of them jump-starting new universes with the singularities that form inside of them. As I explained some of the prevailing theories and the physics behind them, I felt myself becoming flushed with excitement. This is life! Discussion, learning, theory, application of intellect; these concepts are the best of human capability and what every human should be pursuing. There are people that refuse to allow you the option to learn and grow, however.
Whenever I see a perfectly good mind wasted on religion, I feel a deep and abiding sadness. These people voluntarily surrender their intellectual capacity; nothing is more anathema to investigation and learning than the idea "I already know what I'm supposed to know." The established religions know this and have throughout recorded history insured an ignorant and enslaved membership primarily through demonising knowledge and those that pursue it, while simultaneously creating all sorts of "hells" and "eternal punishments" that a person will enter if they violate dogma. The whole of the dark ages was held forcefully back from innovation in medicine, culture, mechanics, science, etc., the most common method of enforcement being the murder of the intelligent or those who associated with them. Sadly, there is a rise in these ignorant and disgusting theists that seek to keep others in the dark. Many point to Islam as the example when I say this, and yet American fundamentalist Christians are equally bad. There is a group -not exactly a group as each faction has them, but yet similar in stupidity- that is referred to as creationists. the most despicable of these being the "young earth" variety. I despair my children ever knowing scientific curiosity outside the home if these people get their wish to replace science textbooks with the superstitions of bronze age goat herders.
Almost as bad, are the segments of society that treat intelligence as weak or unwanted in their members. The current wannabe "thugs" and gang member cultures are a prime example. Constantly they decry racism, sexism, social status, income limits, etc. as things unfairly imposed upon them. And yet, whenever a member of their group shows intelligence or a leaning toward a higher education, they are verbally and physically abused and punished for daring to make the others in the group appear stupid. This creates a situation in which the oppressed oppress themselves; where it is indeed a slavery, but a slavery of the mind and a self imposed one at that.
Both of these groups have the same root cause: a powerful few knowing full well that an educated group of people will not remain subservient to the corrupt leadership that those in power wish to maintain. The social and racial component are being oppressed in reality, just not in the manner they believe. Politicians of both sides in the political divide here in America profit from the "lower classes" remaining flat stupid; the democrats most of all. This last year, the Obama administration used tax money to make sure that television converter boxes are available to people in the middle and lower classes. Not only is this an absolute waste of money by the federal government (especially considering how cheap the boxes were to begin with and how expensive after counting the "administrators" of the program), it actively insures an ignorant populace. Nothing is more stunting to the intellect than sitting for hours each day staring at a box that provides the least information possible packed into 2.5 minute segments... when the people even bother to watch an informative program which is rare in these days of "Bachelors", "Survivors", "Simpsons", and Oprah.
There is little hope that people will throw off their shackles, as the "need" for these shackles is pounded into us from infancy. There are only two important actions that I see being successful, even showing immediate results. The first is to turn off your televisions and get moving, into anything. discover interests by actually doing and you have the ability to mentor and spark a child's interest by doing. Activity is an extremely important factor in education and gaining knowledge, a factor that all too many people never learn about growing up with a television as a baby sitter.
The second is also easy and is an equally crucial step that every thinking non-zombieist (and even most zombieists) needs to undertake immediately: vote against superstition being taught anywhere but a mythology/theology course! It doesn't even matter if you happen to be a theist, you MUST oppose the attempts to add any religion to any class in school other than those specifically designed for teaching/comparing mythology and religion. If you are shortsighted enough to want your own religion taught in school, please realise that it won't be the only creation myth taught and that eventually your children will lose any hope of learning the basic mechanics of maintaining our society. They will be far too busy learning about how wrong every other group is to understand even basic mathematical and scientific concepts, which by the way is close to the current state of America.
Hopefully more people will take both actions and this country and world will move forward, out of the new dark ages that so many politicians and creationists hope to force upon us. Even the simplest and most devout followers of either group can make a difference, just ask "how" once in a while.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
4 cops dead
On Sunday morning, when most of us are getting our coffee and preparing to watch an NFL pregame show, 4 officers of the law were executed by a rapist...ooops...excuse my horrible and evil language...ummmm...sex offender... ummm ya....
anyway, he was out of jail on bail.
Three men and a woman were murdered in cold blood, an assault that was very clearly planned out.
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/cops_shot_dead_in_washington_coffee_J4ZcZQdFW5dY71TqX7ldWM
This fashion of crime was committed a month ago, almost to the day, in Seattle. On Halloween night a gang-banger walked up to a police car containing two officers who were in the process of protecting our children on a night when all too many are injured or killed out of pure negligence on the part of drivers. It has been shown, year after year and decade after decade, that having a marked vehicle with REAL officers has a decided difference in injury and mortality rates at times and on dates when children or pedestrians are especially at risk. Both officers in the car were shot and the male, veteran officer was a victim of murder. I, and everyone i know, are thankful that the passenger and junior officer survived with little more than uncomfortable wounds.
The truly terrible consequence of these acts are not the deaths and woundings, however. The extremely disheartening fact is that, as more and more law enforcement professionals are feeling separated from the community that expects them to magically appear seconds after requesting help, these disgusting murderers make sure that officers of the law can NOT be at ease in public. I'm not a fan of cops, and I haven't been for decades. But the most important aspect of city life -even the L.A. gangs know this- we must allow the cops to walk freely and comfortably among all of society. They may be an enemy to drug users/pushers, whores/pimps, homeless/hitchhikers, poor/minority; but there are times where anyone should feel able to approach them with problems and/or questions.
The only lasting legacy that these disgusting murderers leave is that the nation responsible for allowing freedom of assembly and speech, will allow less assembly and speech. The nation that encouraged officers to dine and socialise with "civilians", will no longer be known for such actions. Millions of Americans eat at restaurants frequented by cops...expect to be observed if not made uncomfortable. At bars frequented by cops... expect to be held up for every insult, regardless how minor and unintended.
I have respect for some officers and know they won't change, but all too many are now going to view each and every civilian as a potential murderer/target.Everyone needs to be extremely vocal in their support for local law enforcement. Even people that have had bad experiences or engage in illegal activities need to be telling cops how much they are needed; whether or not you like cops in general, they are necessary for your own comfort and enterprise.
anyway, he was out of jail on bail.
Three men and a woman were murdered in cold blood, an assault that was very clearly planned out.
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/cops_shot_dead_in_washington_coffee_J4ZcZQdFW5dY71TqX7ldWM
This fashion of crime was committed a month ago, almost to the day, in Seattle. On Halloween night a gang-banger walked up to a police car containing two officers who were in the process of protecting our children on a night when all too many are injured or killed out of pure negligence on the part of drivers. It has been shown, year after year and decade after decade, that having a marked vehicle with REAL officers has a decided difference in injury and mortality rates at times and on dates when children or pedestrians are especially at risk. Both officers in the car were shot and the male, veteran officer was a victim of murder. I, and everyone i know, are thankful that the passenger and junior officer survived with little more than uncomfortable wounds.
The truly terrible consequence of these acts are not the deaths and woundings, however. The extremely disheartening fact is that, as more and more law enforcement professionals are feeling separated from the community that expects them to magically appear seconds after requesting help, these disgusting murderers make sure that officers of the law can NOT be at ease in public. I'm not a fan of cops, and I haven't been for decades. But the most important aspect of city life -even the L.A. gangs know this- we must allow the cops to walk freely and comfortably among all of society. They may be an enemy to drug users/pushers, whores/pimps, homeless/hitchhikers, poor/minority; but there are times where anyone should feel able to approach them with problems and/or questions.
The only lasting legacy that these disgusting murderers leave is that the nation responsible for allowing freedom of assembly and speech, will allow less assembly and speech. The nation that encouraged officers to dine and socialise with "civilians", will no longer be known for such actions. Millions of Americans eat at restaurants frequented by cops...expect to be observed if not made uncomfortable. At bars frequented by cops... expect to be held up for every insult, regardless how minor and unintended.
I have respect for some officers and know they won't change, but all too many are now going to view each and every civilian as a potential murderer/target.Everyone needs to be extremely vocal in their support for local law enforcement. Even people that have had bad experiences or engage in illegal activities need to be telling cops how much they are needed; whether or not you like cops in general, they are necessary for your own comfort and enterprise.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Returning to blogs and discussion(again)
I have taken a few months break from writing and discussing on the internet. This is mostly due to a very abrupt and severe experience on a discussion group that taught me, VERY CLEARLY, that a person may call himself a free thinker, but be nowhere near the reality of free-thinking.
The discussion was on race and whether or not a person can be "proud" of their heritage and/or race without being racist. I take the opinion that one can, of course, be proud of anything they wish, without demeaning or looking badly on others that differ. This is not to say that some people can't, as evidenced by those that I once respected.
As a person that has never seen the slightest shred of evidence for gods and a person that has come to loathe the effect that religion has on people, I had thought that most people who think like i do can make arguments apart from fallacy. WOW, was I wrong!
In fact, the atheists and "free-thinkers" I once thought pretty well of, could only fall into the same bullshit, fallacy-filled arguments that theists resort to.
1) Special pleading fallacy: Where theists say in response to any argument about reality or physical law " god doesn't need to follow that cause he's different" or in response to creation when they say "The universe can't start itself, someone(god) must have caused it" and you respond "what then, caused god?" special pleading rears it's ugly head, "well, god's different and he doesn't need to follow those rules."
The same argument was raised by the atheists I once respected. I gave, literally, dozens of examples of preferences for taste, attraction, thought, and ice cream. Each time I showed that no matter how much a person was proud of, enjoyed, or preferred any certain thing, it did not follow that the person looked down on others of the type or category. Special pleading then took over with the argument "Well it's ok in all of those other aspects of life, just not race or country!"
2) Straw man fallacy: Where theists say in response to ANY argument from an atheist or free-thinker, " oh ya... well Hitler and Stalin said that and then killed millions of Jews, You must be a Jew-hater and mass murderer!"
Sadly, the people that I once held in esteem couldn't even get this much correct. They claimed I was racist and equated me with Hitler, yes, all based on their own opinion of what a dictionary REALLY meant(their definition and the dictionary definition didn't even agree). This somewhat follows with straw man fallacies, but they went too far and actually attributed their own words for mine. As far as I know, a straw man can not be created when your own words are used as the ammunition used against others. I.E.: Hitler could not say "well you want to kill millions of Jews!" as a trump argument. Being that he DID it and SAID it, it would be invalid in that sense or use. Since the only people stupid enough to equate a person's paint job with their race was on the other side of the argument, I felt -and feel- no need to argue against anything further along that line. Very simply: excess melanin is an indicator of race ONLY when joined with numerous other genetic markers. As i stated then, an Ethiopian has nothing genetically in common with a New Guinea pygmy other than melanin, and therefore are not racially similar. Sadly none of the morons I used to associate with can figure out so simple a concept.
3) Fallacy of Accident: "Because the only other white person I ever heard of being proud of their race was a racist, you are a racist." Yes, this was said. I have a child of mixed race. I have a family of mixed race. I ,quite literally, have 3 nationalities and 7 races represented in my family. I love and esteem them all and I refuse to argue this point any further than that. It does tend to paint a picture of the accusers however. How sad one must feel to be a member of their families if one isn't a carbon copy of them...
4) My absolute favourite fallacy during the moronic readings I endured during this time, some months ago, was Special Pleading to Authority.
One of the most frustrating arguments that an atheist or free-thinker must endure is: "Uh-hunh, the bible says so." or "My pastor said..." or "But according to the pope..." this is Special Pleading(Authority). Not only could the so-called free-thinker not get this right, it is after all the absolute bottom of the barrel in arguing, he used a non-authority. My argument: "I'm descended from Scots and have a pride in my forebears and the accomplishments of Scots." His argument... and no, I'm not kidding... "Oh ya? well i know a Scottish guy and he said you aren't one!!" really now? c'mon...that's an argument? Some guy who doesn't know me, my heritage, my family, my travels, my education, my research, etc., said I'm not? Oh, how can I ever reconcile my terrible misconceptions with this person's reality? Especially since such an awesome and erstwhile judge of all things Scot has decided that people he has never met, never will meet, and has no information on, are or are not whatever he decides...
Well, This should make clear my point. I will endeavor to post more often and i apologise for being absent to those of you who mailed me.
The discussion was on race and whether or not a person can be "proud" of their heritage and/or race without being racist. I take the opinion that one can, of course, be proud of anything they wish, without demeaning or looking badly on others that differ. This is not to say that some people can't, as evidenced by those that I once respected.
As a person that has never seen the slightest shred of evidence for gods and a person that has come to loathe the effect that religion has on people, I had thought that most people who think like i do can make arguments apart from fallacy. WOW, was I wrong!
In fact, the atheists and "free-thinkers" I once thought pretty well of, could only fall into the same bullshit, fallacy-filled arguments that theists resort to.
1) Special pleading fallacy: Where theists say in response to any argument about reality or physical law " god doesn't need to follow that cause he's different" or in response to creation when they say "The universe can't start itself, someone(god) must have caused it" and you respond "what then, caused god?" special pleading rears it's ugly head, "well, god's different and he doesn't need to follow those rules."
The same argument was raised by the atheists I once respected. I gave, literally, dozens of examples of preferences for taste, attraction, thought, and ice cream. Each time I showed that no matter how much a person was proud of, enjoyed, or preferred any certain thing, it did not follow that the person looked down on others of the type or category. Special pleading then took over with the argument "Well it's ok in all of those other aspects of life, just not race or country!"
2) Straw man fallacy: Where theists say in response to ANY argument from an atheist or free-thinker, " oh ya... well Hitler and Stalin said that and then killed millions of Jews, You must be a Jew-hater and mass murderer!"
Sadly, the people that I once held in esteem couldn't even get this much correct. They claimed I was racist and equated me with Hitler, yes, all based on their own opinion of what a dictionary REALLY meant(their definition and the dictionary definition didn't even agree). This somewhat follows with straw man fallacies, but they went too far and actually attributed their own words for mine. As far as I know, a straw man can not be created when your own words are used as the ammunition used against others. I.E.: Hitler could not say "well you want to kill millions of Jews!" as a trump argument. Being that he DID it and SAID it, it would be invalid in that sense or use. Since the only people stupid enough to equate a person's paint job with their race was on the other side of the argument, I felt -and feel- no need to argue against anything further along that line. Very simply: excess melanin is an indicator of race ONLY when joined with numerous other genetic markers. As i stated then, an Ethiopian has nothing genetically in common with a New Guinea pygmy other than melanin, and therefore are not racially similar. Sadly none of the morons I used to associate with can figure out so simple a concept.
3) Fallacy of Accident: "Because the only other white person I ever heard of being proud of their race was a racist, you are a racist." Yes, this was said. I have a child of mixed race. I have a family of mixed race. I ,quite literally, have 3 nationalities and 7 races represented in my family. I love and esteem them all and I refuse to argue this point any further than that. It does tend to paint a picture of the accusers however. How sad one must feel to be a member of their families if one isn't a carbon copy of them...
4) My absolute favourite fallacy during the moronic readings I endured during this time, some months ago, was Special Pleading to Authority.
One of the most frustrating arguments that an atheist or free-thinker must endure is: "Uh-hunh, the bible says so." or "My pastor said..." or "But according to the pope..." this is Special Pleading(Authority). Not only could the so-called free-thinker not get this right, it is after all the absolute bottom of the barrel in arguing, he used a non-authority. My argument: "I'm descended from Scots and have a pride in my forebears and the accomplishments of Scots." His argument... and no, I'm not kidding... "Oh ya? well i know a Scottish guy and he said you aren't one!!" really now? c'mon...that's an argument? Some guy who doesn't know me, my heritage, my family, my travels, my education, my research, etc., said I'm not? Oh, how can I ever reconcile my terrible misconceptions with this person's reality? Especially since such an awesome and erstwhile judge of all things Scot has decided that people he has never met, never will meet, and has no information on, are or are not whatever he decides...
Well, This should make clear my point. I will endeavor to post more often and i apologise for being absent to those of you who mailed me.
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