Pat Condell:
The very concept of blasphemy is a perfect illustration of the cowardly immaturity of the religious mind and the emptiness of religion itself. If religion contained any truth, it could be ridiculed, insulted, even defiled, without being diminished in any way. Its truth would shine through: undimmed, unblemished, shaming those who abused it into silence. But that’s not how things are. Religion is prickly. It’s intolerant. It’s ultra-defensive precisely because it’s brittle and fragile. It’s about as substantial as a meringue. It’s all froth and no substance. It’s had thousands of years to make its case and all it’s produced is sophistry, violence and a raft of morals that would shame a rattlesnake. And no amount of windbaggery and flim-flam from clergy can any longer disguise the simple bald fact that there is nothing there.
Saturday, January 02, 2010
Getting a meaning across
S: Women leave themselves vulnerable passed out alone in a dark alley in the middle of the night. How can anyone be so irresponsible about their own security? Unfortunately, this is a shockingly common sight in the UK, when will people learn?
Q: When will people learn?
A: After they get raped
S: Women get raped because men rape them, not because of how much they drink.
R: People get robbed because people rob them, not because of how much they drink. But if I get drunk and pass out in a dark alley, there is a really good chance I will get robbed and a portion of that blame would fall squarely on me for being an idiot.
R: I see why you say that, but do you see a distinction between a theft based on opportunity and an act of violence? I see a difference between the two crimes.
R: Fine, then substitute pouring gasoline on my head and setting me ablaze. It does not change the fact that putting ones self in a dangerous position is irresponsible and usually entirely avoidable. We do not live in a perfect world. There are rapists and robbers and murderers. Pretending that one does not need to moderate their behavior with these facts in mind is just stupid. Does it mean you deserve what you get, of course not. But to argue that while putting oneself in an obviously dangerous situation, one can still remain blameless of the outcome just enables irresponsible behavior.
Q: When will people learn?
A: After they get raped
S: Women get raped because men rape them, not because of how much they drink.
R: People get robbed because people rob them, not because of how much they drink. But if I get drunk and pass out in a dark alley, there is a really good chance I will get robbed and a portion of that blame would fall squarely on me for being an idiot.
R: I see why you say that, but do you see a distinction between a theft based on opportunity and an act of violence? I see a difference between the two crimes.
R: Fine, then substitute pouring gasoline on my head and setting me ablaze. It does not change the fact that putting ones self in a dangerous position is irresponsible and usually entirely avoidable. We do not live in a perfect world. There are rapists and robbers and murderers. Pretending that one does not need to moderate their behavior with these facts in mind is just stupid. Does it mean you deserve what you get, of course not. But to argue that while putting oneself in an obviously dangerous situation, one can still remain blameless of the outcome just enables irresponsible behavior.
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