I like to think of myself as an opinionated, yet open-minded type of person. Granted, there are many things in this world that I don't exactly agree with (I'll post that list later) but I lien myself as a pretty understanding person. That being said, I am about to get my knicker in a knot about something that is rather controversial in this time, let alone my family situation.

Disclaimer time. Although I do not particularly subscribe to the Christian religion, I was raised with the ideals of the Christian church and have modified these ideals to most appropriately fit my life. I don't go to church, nor do I intend on going, with the exception of weddings, funerals or other rites in which others invite me to participate. I look at it just as I do every other organized religion out there. There are many good things that are a part of the church, but there are many things that I don't agree with nor wish to be a part of. I don't discount others for participating in these beliefs, unless they cross the line with their opinions and infringe on others' rights or beliefs, within reason.

There is so much talk about the Evils of Islam these days. I admit, this is not one of my areas of expertise. I don't know a whole lot about Islam or what it stands for. To be honest, I don't really have a whole lot of desire to delve too deep into a way of life that considers me to be a lesser human being merely because I can bear children. Nevertheless, there are many hundreds of thousands of people that have used this religion and its beliefs for much good in the world. That should not be discounted.

Where I get angry is when Christians go on a crusade to seek converts amid the rubble of a descimated country. The bible bangers find every opportunity to force their beliefs down the throats of others. My question is, how is this different from the contempt of the infadel that we hear about coming from the Muslims. Are these Christians not contemptuous of the unknown religion, or the religion that they were spoon fed in selected doses by those with the biggest desire for conversion? Not only that, but why shouldn't Muslims be angry at the Christians who are just perched on a branch like vultures waiting for a major country to be destroyed so they can swoop in and force people to see the light while the victims have nothing left from the destruction we imposed? How is this a righteous and peace loving religion? This is one of the main reasons why I have such a growing anger toward the hard-core Christians. There is no understanding unless it is through Jesus' words.

This leads me to the topic of terrorism. As Americans, we all agree that the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon and suicide bombings around the world are horrrifying. But what about the other acts of terrorism within our own country that gets overlooked because they are committed by one of us? What about Abortion Clinic bombings and Hate Crimes. For that matter, was the Oklahoma City Bombing treated like a terrorist attack? Not in the way we have treated terrorism from abroad and from other religions. We didn't institute the Homeland Security Advisory System after Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols killed children. Even the IRA attacks in Northern Ireland were not worthy of causing a fear in the hearts of Americans as a whole.

I also don't have a whole lot of patience for the constant milking of religious and racial inequality and bias claims because something bad happens and coincidentally or circumspectly affects a minority. But, to me, this sounds a lot like Americans treat terrorism by "Christians" on a much lighter level than the terrorism by other groups.
posted by Marney at 10:39 AM

 
I have truly begun to question the state of mental health care in this country when the state run facilities are looking for a Klingon interpreter to create documents for their patients that, of course, only speak Klingon. Aren't these doctors supposed to be discouraging their patients from living in a fictional world? I would think that to produce official documentation in a ficticious language would bring a bit of disrepute to the facility. I can appreciate the idea of supplying information in a variety of different languages, but please, let them only be the ones that are native to earthlings.
posted by Marney at 2:41 PM

 
Yesterday, I was actually surprised by something that I saw as I was walking through the streets of Midtown Manhattan. Amid establishments like Brooks Brothers and Asia de Cuba, there is a McDonald's that is trying to step up to the culture plate. At first, I thought that the door that nearly smacked me in the head was in the hands of a homeless person begging for change. Alas, no. That's right, there is a doorman, uniform and all, opening the door for patrons.

On one hand, I can't really come to terms with this dichotomy. How can a fast food chain that prides itself on their "Dollar Menu" even think that they are of the caliber of having "servants." I think I may have to go back there to see if there are other ammenities that have been added; perhaps a bathroom attendant, table linens, and maitre 'd. Maybe this particular establishment has printed menus with more than just pictures of the numbered meal specials and flowery words to describe the cuts of beef(???) and delectable sides. Would one be required to wear a jacket while squirting ketchup packets onto a cardboard container of fries?

On the other hand, this is a job. There is one less person on unemployment or welfare because of this. Granted, he probably is not be able to afford to dine at this posh restaurant on the salary that he is making by working there, but it's a job. Right now, I think there is something to be said for having any kind of job. Well, on a resume, it could at least look somewhat better than a burger slinger. He may have a future holding doors for patrons of an Olive Garden and then move up to holding the doors for the customers carrying oversized packages from Bed Bath & Beyond and maybe some day even be the one who opens the limo doors at The Plaza whil wiping the horse dung off of his feet from the carriages that pass by.

Good luck to you, Mr. McDonald's Doorman.
posted by Marney at 3:13 PM