Holy Chemtrails Batman!

Paul Seaburn at Mysterious Universe blogs about plans to exorcise demons from the air:  Holy Chemtrails! Exorcist Attempts to Purge City’s Demons From a Plane

Chemtrail: a visible trail left in the sky by an aircraft and believed by some to consist of chemical or biological agents released as part of a covert operation.
 
Holy chemtrail: a visible trail left in the sky by an aircraft and believed by some to consist of holy water released as part of an exorcism operation. [Seaburn, Mysterious Universe]

Seaburn has pithy things to say about this, and I agree.

US Judge Refuses to Bow Down to Shariah Law, Slaps Down Muslim Woman's Insane Demand

US Judge Refuses to Bow Down to Shariah Law, Slaps Down Muslim Woman's Insane Demand: Under Pennsylvania law, oaths must be sworn on the Bible or be non-religious in nature, but still considered binding.

The woman is now challenging that law, arguing that it discriminates against her religious beliefs. 

The husband, meanwhile, swore his oath on the Bible without incident— perhaps because under Islam, oaths sworn on books other than the Quran are not considered binding.

Well, we have: a religious fanatic, self righteous and not getting what culture they're in. We also have the crazy contradiction of supposed religious freedom in this country, yet, state law mandates one choose an either or set-up. You're either a Christian -- swear on the Bible -- or you're basically an atheist, because state law also mandates you swear on the Bible or swear on something "non-religious in nature." Which implies that if you're not a Christian, your religion doesn't count.  Screwed up on all accounts.



So what is the agenda of the unnamed Muslim woman? Obviously political as well as shoving her religious beliefs upon others. Still, the state is wrong as well. It's not a Christian versus everyone else world, as much as many would like it to be so. The good that can come of this is that the state if found to be wrong.

Ohio homeowner told to take down his zombie nativity scene | Fox News

Fox news

The Religious Taste Police in Ohio are highly offended:

Ohio homeowner told to take down his zombie nativity scene | Fox News: An Ohio homeowner was ordered by town officials to remove a Nativity scene in front of his house that featured zombies instead of wise men and a baby Jesus.

Town officials will take "legal action" if owner doesn't take it down. Not sure what legal action that might be; freedom of speech and all that.

Muslims Object to Easter Eggs | Todd Starnes

Yep, these Muslims were offended that Easter Eggs, and the Easter Bunny, are afoot in American culture. Apparently not quite understanding the concept of the U.S. Constitution and "freedom of religion" they find it offensive a Christian church would be promoting Easter with eggs and bunnies and such. Sigh. Muslims Object to Easter Eggs | Todd Starnes Although, the point is taken that the church and public school relationship should not have been made. On that, I agree.

NY Times:"California first-grader barred from distributing candy canes with religious message" and a Rant

   

     In California, a first grade teacher throws a religious message in the trash. Family is considering a lawsuit, the expected debate rages on. In this case however I have mixed feelings. While the teacher's actions seem harsh and the whole thing could have been handled differently, and better, it could be the teacher was concerned with the class as a whole -- all the students, and was trying to adhere to state and federal rules concerning the promoting of religion. "Jesus is not allowed in the school" the teacher is alleged to have said, and, the teacher is correct.It's fine if this child and his family believe what they believe, but giving a non-Christian this kind of message, well, for myself, it would annoy me. Let's turn this around; just how do you think the majority of parents would react if a child handed out a Pagan themed item? Oh the shit would fly! The parents knew the public school's policy and did their thing anyway.  So in this case, it isn't close to what the Buddhist student in the south (see post below) experienced. Teachers (as an educator, I have sympathy!) are expected to do so much that goes beyond teaching academics, and are always walking that blurry, ever changing line of what's politically and legally correct at the moment. On the other hand, it could be the teacher was a smug atheist asserting their brand of critical thinking and educational correctness.

California first-grader barred from distributing candy canes with religious message- NY Daily News: California first-grader barred from distributing candy canes with religious messages. Robert Tyler, of the Advocates for Faith & Freedom, is threatening legal action against the West Covina Unified School District on behalf of Isaiah Martinez, a 6-year-old who said his teacher threw his gifts to classmates because they contained religious messages. Tyler alleges the boy's teacher said 'Jesus is not allowed at school,' and the district says it tries to maintain 'religious neutrality in the classroom.'

     Somewhat related, many years ago, when I was lead teacher for a pre-K program at a public institution, one of the assistants wanted to do an art project involving the peace symbol. This was during the Gulf War and the emotions and political climate was intense at the time. I liked the project very much but had to say no to it. I told the assistants that it could be misconstrued -- we had some very gung ho families with spouses and family members, parents of students, overseas -- and so to avoid any outrage and hassles with parents and the institution I worked for, I didn't allow it. A couple of days later, I was out of the classroom for meetings, when I returned, I saw that another assistant had given each student a postcard with the American flag splashed over it and pro-war slogans. I was pretty furious; she shrugged and said "We all have our opinions." That was a nasty thing she pulled and wrong, and yep, it pissed off some parents who were anti-war. And, of course, I was the one who got the shit storm. So teachers are often in a no-win situation, trying to please everyone, and follow the rules mandated by the feds, the state, their district or institution, and their principals. And your own beliefs and values often get swallowed up in the dance of trying to do the right thing. Let alone the original thing, which is to teach, not play games.
     And on another tangent, here in Oregon, it was recently voted into law that all schools must have their classes stand up and say the Pledge of Allegiance one day a week. Ridiculous and I'm surprised it is legal, hopefully the ACLU will get around to that one. There is the limp disclaimer that those students who find saying the pledge, or at least the "under God" part, may refrain as long as they are respectful. But what about the teachers? They have no choice. One might argue that teachers are at work and being paid and as such, need to follow the rules. Sure. But at what point does the infringement of personal beliefs, (let alone dignity) interfere with the right of the government to tell an individual what to believe, and, regardless of that belief, disseminate political and religious opinion?

Student Expelled for Casting a Spell - ABC News

This showed up in my Facebook page. It does not seem to be a spoof. It's dated 2000, over ten years ago. Time marches on, but we're talking a decade, not centuries. The Inquisition has been over for awhile; wonder if Oklahoma knows that? Yes, Oklahoma. This didn't happen in an African country, or a Middle Eastern country, or some Eastern European village amidst mist and ruins, but here in the United States: Student Expelled for Casting a Spell - ABC News. Nicely juxtaposed with my previous post on the would be Satan statue, also in Oklahoma. Whatever is in their drinking water? Here's another article.


I keep thinking this has to be a satire piece from The Onion or The Daily Current. Has to be. If it weren't so goddamn frightening for its surreal and supreme ignorance, it's be funny.

But it isn't.

In the article, it is admitted that school authorities (dear sweet fucking goddess, these people are educators!) have nothing to go on, except, you know, the purest form of idiocy.

Satanists unveil proposed statue for OK state capitol

An in your face bit of performance religious theater:

Satanists unveil proposed statue for OK state capitol: Will Satan be celebrated on the lawn of the Oklahoma State Capitol?
A devilish group based in New York believes it should be perfectly OK.
The group, which calls itself "The Satanic Temple," today unveiled its proposal for a monument it intends to erect next to another religious statue: a depiction of the Ten Commandments.
According to The Satanic Temple's application, the proposed monument features a large pentagram and “a 7-foot tall goat-headed Baphomet that sits cross-legged flanked by a child on both sides. The lap will serve as a seat for visitors.”

"The Cleansing" :Iran confiscates Buddha statues from shops - Yahoo! News

Iran confiscates Buddha statues from shops - Yahoo! News: TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Buddha statues have joined Barbie dolls and characters from "The Simpsons" TV cartoon as banned items in the conservative Muslim nation.

Authorities are confiscating Buddha statues from shops in the Iranian capital, Tehran, to stop the promotion of Buddhism in the country, according to a report Sunday in the independent Arman daily.

Iran has long fought against items, such as Barbie toys, to defuse Western influence, but this appears to be the first time that Iranian authorities are showing an opposition to symbols from the East.

The newspaper quoted Saeed Jaberi Ansari, an official for the protection of Iran's cultural heritage, as calling the Buddha statues symbols of "cultural invasion." He said authorities will not permit a specific belief to be promoted through such items. Ansari did not say how many Buddhas had been seized, but that the "cleansing" would continue.