Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Nostalgic Pushhead · 05-01-2003, 11:08 AM

Nah, I live in Vermont. 2nd year animation major. Whoooo!

Lovely weather today, btw.

Godless Dave · 05-01-2003, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Piscez
Nah, I live in Vermont. 2nd year animation major. Whoooo!

You don't happen to remember a Steve Teegarden in one of your animation classes, do you?

Shake · 05-01-2003, 12:35 PM

Andy, I just reread your OP and noticed that you said it was printed on 4/25. They just took my papers in the recycling on 4/30, so I don't have it anymore, but I think I remember seeing your letter! I thought, "Good letter. I wonder if that's Andy from II." My mom works in one of the local high school libraries, I'll see if I can have her get me a copy.

Nostalgic Pushhead · 05-01-2003, 02:41 PM

Quote:

You don't happen to remember a Steve Teegarden in one of your animation classes, do you?

Name doesn't ring a bell, but if he's a second year student, I must have, and if he's upperclass I probably have.

Bill Snedden · 05-01-2003, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Shake
Under God? Let's see the proof

I'm glad you posted that link. On that page there was a link to Amazon.com and Cal's recent "book": The Wit and Wisdom of Cal Thomas. When I saw it I was reminded that I picked up this book at a Barnes and Noble and read a couple of the essays therein. Of course, it was a load of c***. So, I wrote the following review:

Quote:

Should be titled "Folly and Foolishness"
The only thing that surprised me about a book titled "The Wit and Wisdom of Cal Thomas" was that it was 207 pages long. Initially I just assumed that it was either a typographical error (really 27 pages?) or that the font size must be very, very large. Instead, it appears that the disjointed ramblings of a seriously creepy man can indeed take up that much space. Thomas' opinions and polemical approach are much better suited to the read-once-then-discarded op-ed piece. Collecting them in book form only allows the reader to discern the pattern of nonsense that might otherwise remain hidden from all but the least astute reader. I would heartily recommend this book to anyone needing to level a table with one short leg, or who desperately needs reading material but is unable to find any comic books. Other than that, the only thing commendable about this book is that it's recyclable.

I hope Amazon prints it...

Regards,

Bill Snedden

Kevbo · 05-01-2003, 06:27 PM

I find it interesting to replace certain key words in such articles to see how they might be interpreted with a different viewpoint. Take this paragraph from the first article:

"Yes, the unelected and still mostly liberal federal judges continue their four-decades-old nasty habit of dismantling our institutions, symbols and beliefs for the sake of a microscopic minority. The courts demand that every religious person must accommodate a single atheist who might be "offended " at the favorable mention of God's name (unfavorable or blasphemous mentions, we are told, are protected by the same First Amendment that prohibits favorable mentions). But no atheist can be forced to accommodate a single religious person who might be offended by the atheist's unbelief, or who wants to be part of the pluralism and diversity about which liberals regularly speak, but which is not broad enough to embrace people who believe in God."

Now, replace "God" with "Hitler" and "atheists" with "Jews" and let's see how it comes out:

"Yes, the unelected and still mostly liberal federal judges continue their four-decades-old nasty habit of dismantling our institutions, symbols and beliefs for the sake of a microscopic minority. The courts demand that every Nazi must accommodate a single Jew who might be "offended " at the favorable mention of Hitler's name (unfavorable or blasphemous mentions, we are told, are protected by the same First Amendment that prohibits favorable mentions). But no Jew can be forced to accommodate a single religious person who might be offended by the Jew's Judaism, or who wants to be part of the pluralism and diversity about which liberals regularly speak, but which is not broad enough to embrace people who follow Hitler."

Hmm, do you think that people might object to that type of persecution, but not persecution of atheists?

PopeInTheWoods · 05-01-2003, 08:26 PM

Kevbo,

Very interesting. But it would probably be easier just to point out that the first paragraph bears little or no resemblance to reality, just to a fantasy world in some xian minds, where they are a persecuted but righteous folk....

Andy

PopeInTheWoods · 05-01-2003, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bill Snedden
When I saw it I was reminded that I picked up this book at a Barnes and Noble and read a couple of the essays therein. Of course, it was a load of c***.

Thomas isn't even coherent enough to commit proper logical fallacies. Sort of like an extremely unfunny Eternal.

Andy

hezekiah jones · 05-01-2003, 10:41 PM

Perfect letter, Pope.

and

I would heartily recommend this book to anyone needing to level a table with one short leg.

rofl

Shake · 05-02-2003, 01:10 PM

Nice review, Bill! I just checked on Amazon today (5/2) and didn't see your review, but two others have trashed it, and one person liked it. I voted on their 'Was this review helpful to you,' checking 'Yes' for the negative reviews and 'No' for the lone positive review.

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05-01-2003, 11:08 AM	#11
Nostalgic Pushhead Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: So. Burlington, Vermont Posts: 4,315	Nah, I live in Vermont. 2nd year animation major. Whoooo! Lovely weather today, btw.

05-01-2003, 12:35 PM	#13
Shake Contributor Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Folding@Home in upstate NY Posts: 14,394	Andy, I just reread your OP and noticed that you said it was printed on 4/25. They just took my papers in the recycling on 4/30, so I don't have it anymore, but I think I remember seeing your letter! I thought, "Good letter. I wonder if that's Andy from II." My mom works in one of the local high school libraries, I'll see if I can have her get me a copy.

05-01-2003, 06:27 PM	#16
Kevbo Regular Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: NY Posts: 212	I find it interesting to replace certain key words in such articles to see how they might be interpreted with a different viewpoint. Take this paragraph from the first article: "Yes, the unelected and still mostly liberal federal judges continue their four-decades-old nasty habit of dismantling our institutions, symbols and beliefs for the sake of a microscopic minority. The courts demand that every religious person must accommodate a single atheist who might be "offended " at the favorable mention of God's name (unfavorable or blasphemous mentions, we are told, are protected by the same First Amendment that prohibits favorable mentions). But no atheist can be forced to accommodate a single religious person who might be offended by the atheist's unbelief, or who wants to be part of the pluralism and diversity about which liberals regularly speak, but which is not broad enough to embrace people who believe in God." Now, replace "God" with "Hitler" and "atheists" with "Jews" and let's see how it comes out: "Yes, the unelected and still mostly liberal federal judges continue their four-decades-old nasty habit of dismantling our institutions, symbols and beliefs for the sake of a microscopic minority. The courts demand that every Nazi must accommodate a single Jew who might be "offended " at the favorable mention of Hitler's name (unfavorable or blasphemous mentions, we are told, are protected by the same First Amendment that prohibits favorable mentions). But no Jew can be forced to accommodate a single religious person who might be offended by the Jew's Judaism, or who wants to be part of the pluralism and diversity about which liberals regularly speak, but which is not broad enough to embrace people who follow Hitler." Hmm, do you think that people might object to that type of persecution, but not persecution of atheists?

05-01-2003, 08:26 PM	#17
PopeInTheWoods Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Rochester NY USA Posts: 4,318	Kevbo, Very interesting. But it would probably be easier just to point out that the first paragraph bears little or no resemblance to reality, just to a fantasy world in some xian minds, where they are a persecuted but righteous folk.... Andy

05-01-2003, 10:41 PM	#19
hezekiah jones Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: WI Posts: 4,357	Perfect letter, Pope. and I would heartily recommend this book to anyone needing to level a table with one short leg. rofl

05-02-2003, 01:10 PM	#20
Shake Contributor Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Folding@Home in upstate NY Posts: 14,394	Nice review, Bill! I just checked on Amazon today (5/2) and didn't see your review, but two others have trashed it, and one person liked it. I voted on their 'Was this review helpful to you,' checking 'Yes' for the negative reviews and 'No' for the lone positive review.

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