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Using special cameras, Getty photographs the president’s usually-invisible advisor

If you’ve been paying to the ongoing return of the Enlightenment, you know the name Richard Dawkins. Dawkins is a famous evolutionary biologist who, of late, has been spreading the message of atheism.

Dawkins’ primary book that has been the subject of a great many counter-opinions is “The God Delusion”. Lauren and I both noticed that RD was doing a book-signing at BookPeople downtown ( although I’m very thankful to live in a town where BookPeople exists ) and we resolved to attend…but then we found out there would be an ancillary lecture that evening at my alma mater. As such, we decided to drop the commercial endeavor and head to attend the lecture that night at The Hogg Auditorium.

Dawkins delivered his “standard message” wherewith it is understood that the reader can make himself familiar via youtube. It generally falls into the summation that:

“Religion is a bronze aged explanation of an exceedingly complex and beautiful world around us — we would appreciate the world more sans the notion of an interventionist diety. Oh yeah, and evolution isn’t random you twats. And don’t call children ‘Christian’ or ‘Muslim’ they’re obviously the children of Christian or Muslim parents, if we’re honest about it.”

Either side of the question that you stand on, you’d do well to see if you can refute Dawkins’ reasoning whilst remaining intellectually honest. I admit, I have a very hard time refuting his argument.

The four compelling questions Dawkins gives falls into this.

Reductio ad unum absurdumque

Dawkins (imaginary interlocutor): “List all the gods you think are false. “
Christian / Muslim / Jew / Zoroastrian: Done.
Dawkins: Now just one more.

More exactly spelled out at Friendly Atheist.

And this puts us into the very odd place of grade-school anthropology. That is, what was up with Santa coming? My Santa came and brought his presents on the day of the 25th and my familial presents had been opened the night of the night of the 24th. But, as school playground discussion will attest, some other infidels were brought both familial and non-visible third-party spectre’s presents on the morning of the 25th.

{{Aside One: For the record, I think my method is more sound in keeping the illusion alive }}

{{Aside Two: Isn’t it odd that my language for defending my way of having a personal relationship with Santa has already taken the language of holy war? }}

And what about kids born to Jewish, Muslim, or Persian parents? Does the hospital given them a sheet with the birth-certificate “NO, WE WOULD NOT LIKE SANTA TO COME”.¹

And what about the tooth fairy? Some kids got more loot under the pillow than others? Did I happen to lose my teeth with a great number of others and thus my tooth’s value on the fairy market was devalued such that it only merited a meagre dollar versus ten ( or, in foreshadow to the My Super-Sweet Sixteening of American Culture, $20 )? Or was the alternative explanation that my teeth were less desirable?

Even in my before 10th birthday I knew that something shifty was afoot.

And as Dawkins says, isn’t it a amazing that everyone who has one god is sure they’ve picked the right one.

Atheism destroys the magic of living, you cold, cold person

Well, first of all, this is simply baloney.

Is the magic of The Parthenon diminished because you understand the that it’s composed by Golden Sections? Dawkins makes the compelling case that the world of religious tales is less beautiful than that promised by religion. Consider the root of Abrahamic religion: God grants insert-patriarch-here some bloodthirsty right to slay some tribe, some right to stone some barbarian tribe to death, some right to farm some dusty tract of land in Mesopotamia.

If these men were in contact with the supreme force why were they quibbling over land usage and not discussing scientific or intellectual leaps forward like:

• The Cat’s Eye Nebula
  
  It should be noted that this was taken by the Hubble telescope; for showing the primitive grandfather to the Hubble, Galileo was almost burnt alive by Catholic nutjobs
• The function of the recursive mechanism of 4 simple codons in an acid as data storage mechanism that allows for all protein sequencing in the animal kingdom
• Economic behaviors that would enable buyout of the Egyptian oppressor without requiring bloodshed
• The Tampon

Dawkins argues that instead of the limited and quaint world offered to chieftains in dusty books by their interpersonal god, it is science that gives us a much more beautiful world to live in.

Burden of Proof

Many religiously minded people put forth the argument that “since one cannot prove X does not exist, it is just as reasonable to take the counter-position, X does exist”. Dawkins handily dismisses this claim using the “Russell’s Teapot” story. By this same reasoning, the aggrieved Kiwi in the article below has just as much right to be trusted as the police that locked him up:

SYDNEY — A New Zealand man has been sentenced to community service after telling police he was raped by a wombat and the experience had made him speak “Australian”.

Arthur Ross Cradock, 48, from the South Island town of Motueka, called police on February 11 and told them he was being raped at his home by the wombat and he needed help, The Nelson Mail newspaper reported.

Source

Well, as we can’t prove the man wasn’t raped by a wombat, we’ll have to not hold him accountable for his actions subsequent thereto ( “speaking Australian” ).

{{Aside: Although, I can think of a certain world political leader whose horrible rhetorical talents might be helped by meeting the Henry Higgins wombat. }}

The defense is simply nonsense. If we were to accept this argument then “The Devil Made Me Do It” would have to be made a valid legal defense ( and surely in this Christian nation of ours, that would occur overnight, right? ).

I always find this a compelling question, most religious folk would naturally say they believe in jurisprudence and fair trial. But if they likewise assert they believe in a supernatural, persoally-involved diety, “Possession” would have to become a valid defense. The science of equity i.e. “law” or belief in non-visible, singularly personal motivations beyond rational control: you can’t have both.

And one might say, that’s well and good, but who’s it harming, this ill-considered religiosity? Allow me to retort, er, report.

Non-interventionism == Death

Police: Girl Dies After Parents Pray for Healing Instead of Seeking Medical Help

Source

If a parent were to say that non-present, invisible voices told them to rape their children repeatedly and keep them in a cage in the basement it’d be called monstrous or attributed to mental illness.

What do we make of a person praying for help instead of turning to science? Let me note that in the history of modern times there are 0 recorded miracles, but medical treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis has long history reliable treatment vectors. Parents, let me ask you, when the chips are down are you taking your sick darling to the hospital or the church? I should suggest if you choose the latter, it would be convenient whilst there to make funerary arrangements.

Note further that this is not an edge case:

• Heaven’s Gate Cult
• Jim Jones
• Massada

In any case, I found it a very interesting lecture and it’s certainly provided me questions over which to meditate. I hope that you do the same.

I was listening to this bit of political discussion from “Meet The Press”.

Obama said something along the lines of “Reagan put America on an entirely new track, the Republicans had once been the party of ideas etc.”

At the end of that clip, it was natural to show Hillary and Edwards pillorying ( Hillary - Pillory, I like rhymes ) Obama for saying that Reagan had changed the game, had moved into new directions, had presaged a change in the zeitgeist. As Edwards wound up for his swing I mentally muted him. I didn’t care. Hillary then did the same thing winding up about, well hell, honestly, I don’t even remember anymore.

My point being is that Obama was looking gracious ( to say nothing of fresh and clean, Mr. Biden ) and, as noted in the commentary, gracious, of a superior cut of material; while Clinton and Edwards looked like cat squabbling outside of a rowdy bar where back-alley where a lit patron makes a makeshift bathroom behind a trash can.

And here is the secret, if he stays cool and collected, he may not have to get dirty in the tumble. He may turn out to have a coat of teflon or he may prove to be like Bre’r Fox: he can present a tar baby that the more mercurial can take several big old swings at, get mucked up in, and prevail in the tussle without so much as having gotten the sharp snap of the crease in his slacks weakend.

This is a popular sentiment, but as I sit here reading and translating my Latin homework I’m always struck by how applicable these lines are ( I think my translation is right, but you may want to go to the source for yourself, I’m also reading a watered-down version for beginners but…)

Livy:

Nec vitia nostra nec remedia tolerare possumus.

“We are able to tolerate neither our vice nor its remedy.”

Cicero:

Ubi l?g?s valent, ibi populus l?ber potest val?re.

“Where the laws are strong, there the free population thrives.”

Those Romans sure could write magnificently about rapid declines.

Wow.

• Adam riding a saddled dinosaur.
• WMD’s actually being found in Iraq.
• Evolution being denied for the sake of creationism, er, “Intelligent Design”.

Welcome to Idiot America. Where intellectuals are mocked and expertise is suspicious. The organ of wisdom is the gut, the organ of elimination.

Idiot America

My blog-friend Daniel has posted numerous times citations, references, quotes, speeches of the representative of the 14th district of The Lone Star State: Ron Paul.

Yet I can recall being a freshman with The Social Bobcat during one of Mr. Paul’s re-election cycles. The ad was the typical attack ad; judging by Paul’s attendance record, it didn’t do much to derail his career.

In any case the ads were along the lines of

• “Rrrron Paul, mumbledy mumble badda badda. “

or

• “Who approved mumbledy mumble, blah blah? Rrrron Paul.”

There was the implication of a rolling “Rr” and when it was said the picture on the screen would inverse expose ( look like a film negative ) and it became clear that Paul was the negative (ho-ho!) choice.

Every time I see Paul’s name I think “Rrron Paul”

I wish I could find that ad on youTube.

At a farewell reception at Blair House for the retiring chief of protocol, Don Ensenat, who was President Bush’s Yale roommate, the president shook hands with Washington Life Magazine’s Soroush Shehabi. “I’m the grandson of one of the late Shah’s ministers,” said Soroush, “and I simply want to say one U.S. bomb on Iran and the regime we all despise will remain in power for another 20 or 30 years and 70 million Iranians will become radicalized.”

“I know,” President Bush answered.

“But does Vice President Cheney know?” asked Soroush.

President Bush chuckled and walked away.

Source: TPM

“You know better than I do that many Americans feel that your administration has not been straight with the country, has not been honest. To those people you say what?” Pelley asks. “On what issue?” the president replies. “Like the weapons of mass destruction?” “No weapons of mass destruction,” Pelley says. “Yeah,” Bush says. “No credible connection between 9/11 and Iraq,” Pelley says. “Yeah,” the president replies. “The Office of Management and Budget said this war would cost somewhere between $50 billion and $60 billion and now we’re over 400,” Pelley says. “I gotcha. I gotcha. I gotcha,” Bush replies. “The perception, Sir, more than any one of those points, is that the administration has not been straight with…,” Pelley says. “Well, I strongly disagree with that, of course,” Bush says. “So I strongly reject that this administration hasn’t been straight with the American people. The minute we found out they didn’t have weapons of mass destruction, I was the first to say so.”

From AmericaFIRST

All I can say is I know how this country would respond.

When attacked by a clear and present danger from outer space, we must invade Iran to neutralize the threat.

Donald Vance, a 29-year-old Navy veteran from Chicago, was a whistle-blower who prompted the raid by tipping off the F.B.I. to suspicious activity at the company where he worked, including possible weapons trafficking. He was arrested and held for 97 days — shackled and blindfolded, prevented from sleeping by blaring music and round-the-clock lights. In other words, he was subjected to the same mistreatment that thousands of non-Americans have been subjected to since the 2003 invasion.

Even after the military learned who Mr. Vance was, they continued to hold him in these abusive conditions for weeks more. He was not allowed to defend himself at the Potemkin hearing held to justify his detention. And that was special treatment. As an American citizen, he was at least allowed to attend his hearing. An Iraqi, or an Afghani, or any other foreigner, would have been barred from the room.

This is not the handiwork of a few out-of-control sadists at Abu Ghraib. This is a system that was created and operated outside American law and American standards of decency. Except for the few low-ranking soldiers periodically punished for abusing prisoners, it is a system without any accountability.

New York Times

I love the way the opinion writers are examining the fall of the Bush presidency in these grand Greek tragedy arcs.

Maureen Dowd of the New York Times sees the theme of a spoiled son of privilege wrecking Daddy’s Porsche:.

Poppy Bush and James Baker gave Sonny the presidency to play with and he broke it. So now they’re taking it back.

They are dragging W. away from those reckless older guys who have been such a bad influence and getting him some new minders who are a lot more practical.

I see much more the theme of the sorcerer’s apprentice.

George, The Junior Wizard, a fictional imagining of The White House

The unworthy acolyte, full of bluster and best intentions steals daddy’s magic wand and thinks “I’ll best his work (a very Satanic impulse isn’t it?), I’ll get a second term and I’ll change that there Iraq better’n Poppy did!”

With sound and fury he pulls upon the powerful machinery of alchemy or Office of State. The lightning falls, the thunder bellows, the shock and awe. The dogs are unleashed hungry upon the desert and the battle goes well. But the peace, it turns into, what LBJ called, that ugly bitch. Mickey The Apprentice runs and finds himself scared, lost, and confused when Sunni brooms start dumping buckets of GI blood all over the place. Oddly that river runs down through the Mesopotamian sands alongside the Acheron and bubbles up in the lives of Middle America.

And the neighborhood kids, so impressed by the feat of this arcana are now scared, because the brooms won’t stop dumping!

Dickie from Montana street is gone.

“Condi where are you?” a hollow voice stammers over the plush carpets of the Oval Office.

Little Donny’s feet peek out from behind drapes in the behind the desk.

“Tenet, I gave you a freedom medal buddy for broken intelligence where are you?”

… The sloshing continues bucket by bucket.

The apprentice runs frantically and remembers the old magic spell that fixed the Arbusto energy’s bankruptcy dance.

Daddy Help Daddy Help Daddy Help!

ka-krack

We can see the wizard’s cap on 41’s head bedecked with moons and stars. A flowing beard and purple robes move in a flash to steal back the wand summoning Scowcroft, Baker, and Gates, but lo, they’re in a deep sleep and must be awakened. He looks at the apprentice and utters the words: “You know the rule of equivalent exchange in alchemy, son”. Sonny points behind the drapes where little Rummy was hiding. In a bit of black alchemy, political sacrifice is given to awaken the elders.

For political station is the only sacrifice sufficient to make the ultimate alchemical gamble: transmuting legacies of lead shit to gold.

Emerging from their slumbers the men throw back their alchemickal cloaks to reveal Brooks Brothers suits.

“Yon Baker, prepare us reports”

Yes

“Yon Gates, take control of The Department of Defense.”

Yes

“Yon Scrocrowft, help us cut-and run!”

Uh, Daddy, Karl said me-n-Tony shouldn’t say cut-and-run

“SILENCE!” “Ahem, Scowcroft, help us arrange for uh, peace with honor”

Yes

[ George slinks away ]

“And you, are in for a spanking, Son!”

Aw Poppy!

[ The Laugh Track Plays and the audience claps while the credits roll in that big-friendly Three’s Company typeface ].

— Fin —

Andrew Sullivan also envisions this battle for supremacy, in more intimate and pitched battles in Shakespearean terms.

This whole Oedipal / Freudian / Greek thing is exactly what Gore Vidal expected would come to Bush sooner or later: that other Greek word: hubris.

Apparently Newsweek’s new press run has the title: “Father Knows Best”. This has got to really smart for W.

Perhaps instead of consulting with his famous “higher father” he should have asked the one that successfully executed a war in Iraq.