As you read this, the Trophy Wife™ and I are zooming down I94, on our way to a pleasant weekend together in Madison for the Freedom from Religion Convention. Our hotel does have wi-fi, so have no fear — I won’t be out of touch. And perhaps I’ll have tales of Julia Sweeney and Christopher Hitchens to share with you all.
If you’re in Madison, too, don’t forget: Saturday, 12-2, at Brocach is the IIDB/Pharynguloid meetup.
What about Dawkins?
Oh, he despises Jews as monopolizing American Foreign Policy, according to the Guardian interview.
http://books.guardian.co.uk/news/articles/0,,2180660,00.html
I think Julia Sweeney deserves considerably more attention (/promotion) from those of us in the Uppity Atheist set. Her one-woman-monologue “Letting Go of God” is, I think, a hard-headed critique of religion–especially Catholicism/Christianity–that simultaneously manages to come off as sympathetic, emotionally resonant, and respectful. (Though the line “What I found is that Deepak Chopra is full of shit” is in there, as well.) If the reaction of my nominally-Catholic wife is any indication, Julia is an Uppity Atheist who stands a terrific chance at slicing through many believers’ emotional defenses.
To my understanding, Sweeney has now put “Letting Go of God” on film, and it will be distributed to theaters–art-house ones, I presume–sometime in the next few months.
I therefore demand that the New Atheist Noise Machine(tm) be cranked up to promote Sweeney’s show to the rafters.
Chant it with me: Swee-ney! Swee-ney! Swee-ney!
Despises?
From the quote it would seem that he admires Jews:
“When you think about how fantastically successful the Jewish lobby has been, though, in fact, they are less numerous I am told – religious Jews anyway – than atheists and [yet they] more or less monopolise American foreign policy as far as many people can see. So if atheists could achieve a small fraction of that influence, the world would be a better place.”
I assume the expensive foreign sports car PZ will driving on I-95 matches the Trophy Wife™ in her designer clothes.
Whatever you do, don’t get in a drinking contest with Hitchens. The word from the AAI convention is that he has an extra liver he got off the black market.
PZ, I wish I could join you.
I saw Hitchens last night in the debate against McGrath at Georgetown U. Hitchens certainly lived up to my expectations, and then some. That man has a very sharp tongue, a poetic eloquent manner of speech, a dry witty humor, and an unabashed mannerism.
A couple of great moments:
McGrath held out a olive branch to Hitchens by his agreement with many of Hitchens’ indictments of inhumane, immoral acts condoned by religion. Hitchens sharply responded that he was not in the mood for agreement that evening.
McGrath made the point that Wishful Thinking does not prove the existence of god, but neither does it disprove god’s existence. He went on to demonstrate the point by saying that he wished he had a drink of water to lubricate his dry throat, and then with a silly grin went to pick up his glass of water saying “See, I wished for it, and it does not it does not exist”. But to his dismay, his glass was empty. (Hitchens then brought McGrath a glass of water)
BTW: The moderator promised audio clips some time next week, and a DVD for sale.
It’s funny how anything against- or even ABOUT the actual doings of- the Israel lobby or Israel’s government is considered antisemitic in much of America. In most of the rest of the world, including Israel, it’s not a ridiculous taboo to even mention their influence, capabilities, and humanitarian concerns about them.
But hey, we don’t want to hear about that stuff! So fuck that Dawkins guy! And fuck Jimmy Carter! And fuck the international press, the Red Cross, Europe in general, the UN, and anyone else who so much as mentions the lobby OR the country OR anyone in either as anything but martyrs!
Sorry, I just … yeah. Call it a pet peeve, but American attitudes about Israel have a bad, bad case of stupid. Willful ignorance about even the rudiments of the political situation is the rule of the day.
Also, you’re in the wrong post’s comments, CT.
*sigh* Julia…
Please tell her she inspired the poem I linked to an earlier post of yours.
http://digitalcuttlefish.blogspot.com/2007/10/how-do-i-love-thee.html
Speaking of Hitchens, “God is Not Great” has been nominated for a National Book Award:
http://www.cbc.ca/arts/books/story/2007/10/10/national-book-award.html
It’s events like this that make me want to start a religion to fleece the gullible so I could afford to go…Unfortunately, as an atheist, I’m too moral to do such a thing.
Doug (#6):
Bwahaha! Proving Hitchens’ point in one step!
Delightful.
Oh awesome, I figured out where the Dawkins crack came from. Uncommon Descent has a post accusing him of antisemitic conspiracy theories relating to the Guardian article.
I shouldn’t be surprised that IDers are also willfully ignorant about the existence of the Israeli lobby, and take assertions as to its existence as signs of madness.
Oh awesome, I figured out where the Dawkins crack came from. Uncommon Descent has a post accusing him of antisemitic conspiracy theories relating to the Guardian article.
Considering in these guys’ minds Jews are only in Israel to trigger of Armageddon were everyone but them dies a slow, horrible deaths at Christ’s hands (or tongue sword) I’d call that projection.
“Our hotel does have wi-fi, so have no fear — I won’t be out of touch.”
Uhhh, dude! Trophy wife, … motel room … You should have more on your mind than “keeping in touch” with us atheist slobs!
Hey, PZ, the TF and me, we’re heading out your way just now, keep an eye out, we’ll wave!
Hello, PZ,
long time reader/IIDB denizen. Looking forward to lunch and the Hitchen’s talk.
Wait, we get to meet The Trophy Wife, too? Must be a family trip.
I got to meet Lori Lipman Brown at the snackfest this afternoon (very cool), I guess you must still be driving out here as of now. C U soon!
The Jews monopolize foreign policy, per Dawkins?
Well, that what he says in the Guardian interview cited in the first post.
He is a liar.
I don’t really get all the Hitchen’s love. Sure, when he’s only slightly drunk, he’s rather amusing, but if his defense of atheism is as poorly reasoned as his defense of the Bush wars, he is not doing atheism many favors
‘Monopolize’ is an overstatement in my opinion, but it’s a very popular one, especially outside the US. It doesn’t require someone to be a liar to say it. Delusional conspiracy theory it also is not, the lobby is very influential.
The biggest mistread he makes is the seeming assumption that religious Judaism is linked to the lobby. Evangelical Christianity and ethnic identity are much more prominent factors.
But, hey, whatever, ignore me. Assume Dawkins’ considering them a prototype for successful lobbying action is some kind of antisemitic psychosis if you really want.
I have nothing insightful or interesting to say, except that I agree with Rieux of #2 re Julia Sweeney.
Oh yeah… and I’m jealous and I wish my husband wasn’t catholic. (I’m chipping away at him.)
PZ,
The principal at a local Illinois high school sent out this email today:
“Good morning !!! I have been notified TODAY that we are now required to have a brief period of silence either before or after the Pledge on a daily basis. This is an ” opportunity for silent reflection on the anticipated activities of the day. ” As of Monday morning we will comply with the moment of silence taking place before the Pledge — Thank you for your cooperation.”
After thinking, “What fresh horror is this?” I googled “Illinois moment of silence” and got this:
http://www.suntimes.com/news/education/600560,cst-nws-silence12.article
I shall use this daily work time to read, in silence, Pharyngula, while seething internally that silence daily is mandated by law of: high and grade school students and those who teach them (why, then, is this not required of ALL citizens in ALL places in the US – any place of business and also at home?)
The students are not that lucky to each have a computer available to them at this silence time, and so to choose to silently expose themselves to others’ views or not.
Similar to that: during the pledge aired on the classroom TV’s, I am either silent or saying, “I pledge allegiance to the Constitution of the United States” (period), while seething internally of the mandated institutionalism of saying the 1954 pledge.
(Will not pledge allegiance to a piece of colorful cloth, or a current government which may be interpreting the Constitution according to its own constituent majority, and/or the idea that an omnipotent being considers this nation its favourite.)
Every work day already begins with this gag-reflex usurpation of Constitutional rights, and now: we have this covert moment of prayer being mandated by law. Mandates by the majority (when either following or not following that mandate results in no physical harm) should be subverted by the minorities who do not agree with the majority premise.
(Again, why is the pledge not required of ALL US citizens daily, instead of just students and their instructors: if them, then also US citizens at every workplace and at home), so monitor it if its mandated by law.
Hope you will make this most recent daftness of legislators (this time those of Illinois) a thread.
In essence: why are these mandates put upon just SOME of US citizens but not all of them?
If these mandates are to be required just of those who are paid or otherwise benefited by public funds, then there are none of us who can be excluded.
– cyan
I’ll be there, PZ, and I’ll be bringing a friend, too.
Ahhh! There’s a fuckwit at my university! His name is Charles Voss, Jr., and he’s an emeritus professor of electical engineering at my school. He wrote an opinion letter to my local newspaper claiming ID was science, and he’s the proud author of a vomit-inducing creationist tract
Please, someone…anyone…get me out of here!!!
You know, that piece on you is still one my my favorite things I’ve ever written, P.Z.
OFF-TOPIC:
For those interested, I found an interesting blog that showcases several videos, pictures, and accounts of Planned Parenthood workers interfacing with patients and protestors. It’s ran by Planned Parenthood itself, it seems. it’s called I am Emily X, an apparent pseudonym for the workers involved. It’s pretty nifty, IMHO. Especially since the “40 days of life” started not too long ago.
Dawkins thinks Jews monopolize American Foreign Policy?
Lying bigot.
Come visit us in MILWAUKEE! C’mon, its only an hour (or so) away!
I call Poe’s Law.
I also assert that I’m retarded for continuing to respond to this.