EonBlue

The 2008 Texas GOP Platform reads like it was written by Islamic Mullahs in the heart of the most oppressed part of the Middle East:

What would the state be like if governed according to the Texas Republican Party’s 2008 platform?

· Calling separation of church and state a “myth,” the party platform would sweep away a key protection that has allowed faith to thrive in this country and permit government to promote favored religious practices over all others.

· Courts would be stripped of their authority to uphold the First Amendment’s prohibition against government officials promoting and endorsing religion.

· Government would become a powerful weapon in renewed attacks on sound science and medical research. Public schools would be required to teach religious doctrine, such as “intelligent design”/creationism, in science classes. Medical research involving embryonic stem cells, which scientists believe offers real promise for treating patients with medical conditions like cancer and Parkinson’s disease, would be criminalized.

· Public schools would be forbidden from teaching medically accurate information about contraception and the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. Instruction on only “abstinence until heterosexual marriage” would be required.

· Content in public school textbooks would be based on the personal beliefs of whatever majority controlled the heavily politicized State Board of Education. By removing prudent limits on the board’s authority, the state would reopen the door to censorship.

· The public treasury would be raided to subsidize private and religious schools through vouchers and tax deductions. Even worse, government would be forbidden from requiring that private and religious schools getting taxpayer dollars meet the same oversight and education standards that public schools must meet.

· Government would strip women of their right to make decisions regarding their reproductive health. Abortion services, with no exceptions, would be criminalized. Even access to various forms of contraception would be barred or restricted. In addition, the government would make it harder for women to divorce and escape abusive relationships.

· Legalized discrimination against gay and lesbian Texans would escalate. Government would be empowered to imprison and/or fine adults who engage in even private, consensual sexual intimacy with other adults of the same gender. Moreover, the government would not just bar adoption by gay and lesbian parents. It would also strip them of any right to custody of their own children and would restrict visitation rights.

How much longer are the good people that live in Texas and other so-called “red” states going to allow these treasonous savages to subvert our government and other cherished institutions?  How much longer before the only conclusion is that the “good” people are in league with these hate-mongers?

As religion continues to have a waning influence in our society, expect these people to grow more violent and oppressive.  Be prepared to stand up to them, using every legal means at our disposal.  Do not expect the religious moderates to help - they have been silent before and are silent now.

I would like to think that seeing this is kind of a positive thing - this is the death throes of a worldview slowing going extinct.  While I hope this is true, without a doubt they will not go away quietly, and will do everything they can to harm their perceived enemies.

Recently I drove to Orlando, Florida for vacation at a popular resort/entertainment complex.  I had purchased a GPS navigator for this trip, and it suggested that once I reached Tallahassee via interstate, take the highways down to Orlando.

I observed something during the trip that I’m sure is not just a Florida phenomenon, and is indicative of why this state, among others, is having an issue with fundamentalists attempting to subvert the school system and government.

From my vehicle, I observed no less that 50 signs for different types of Christian churches.  I didn’t see any temples or mosques, and only a small number were non-protestant (2 or three Roman Orthodox).

At the same time, I only saw one sign for a library.  Just one!  And for museums, the count is zero.  I did see a sign for a quilt museum, but I’m not going to count that one.

I pondered why this would be.  Was it just coincidence that from the major highways I saw this, and that if I had driven into the hamlets and villages I would have found more libraries and museums?

I’m afraid the answer would probably be no.  It saddened me to see so much money, time, and resources, invested in so many churches, many of the same sect right beside each other, while institutions that help us with the real world go unfunded.

Why does this condition exist?  Why is the protestant religion, and in a lot of these cases the Pentacostal sects, so anti-knowledge?  Are the people conditioned into giving their time and money to the churches above all, and at the expense of their children’s future?   With so little access to information outside of their religion, it’s no wonder that the creationists and other pious liars are able to gain such strong support.

As a side note, I also noticed almost as many liquor stores as churches.

Thanks to The Questionable Authority for this:

James Dobson is not going to vote for president of these United States. In a statement released yesterday, Dobson said that:

Should Sen. McCain capture the nomination as many assume, I believe this general election will offer the worst choices for president in my lifetime. I certainly can’t vote for Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama based on their virulently anti-family policy positions. If these are the nominees in November, I simply will not cast a ballot for president for the first time in my life.

For the first time in my life, I am imploring our fellow fundy Christian citizens to listen to James Dobson and drop out of the political scene this year. This is not a matter of fulfilling your civic duty, since we all know that your civic duty comes second to your religious dogma and beliefs. I agree with James Dobson; you cannot vote for McCain, and you will not vote for any Democrat. It is best that you voice your displeasure with the democratic process by not voting. And as an extra bonus, by not voting you give up your right to voice any criticism of the next President and his/her policies. It’s a win-win!