Fanaticism Rides Again!

OK. I'm watching, or rather listening to, once again the powerful documentary 'Jesus Camp'. I don't want to believe that there are so many people that are living in the United States, who actually believe that indoctrinating their children into hardcore religious belief is a good thing. One of the main people focused upon, a children's minister by the name of Becky Fischer, believes that her focus should be on the children because the enemy focus on the children. Huh? What enemy? She then goes on to mention Islam. Oooohhhhh I get it! Islam is the enemy of Christianity, or rather her particular sect of Christianity. I could get into the whole turn the other cheek argument, but someone would likely shoot holes in it. Seeing as how I'm not very 'up' on the bible, I have to wonder if God has proclaimed Islam to be an outlawed philosophy. After all Ms. Fischer seems to be into following Gods word.

Another thing that gets me about the documentary is the whole Harry Potter debate that she brings into the sermons at the youth retreat (AKA Jesus Camp). Apparently he's a warlock. Now I had to look it up in a dictionary to be sure, because the popular definition in Pagan circles says a warlock is an oath breaker. The Oxford dictionary I picked up says the archaic term means sorcerer or wizard, but also goes on with the old english definition of traitor. So she's half right, but I'm arguing semantics. The point I was alluding to is this: with all the fire and brimstone she was spouting for a fictional character, what would she do if she found an actually occultist in her midst? Would she start "praying in tongues" as she does in the video? Not only that some of the praying that they do seems rather like casting a spell. After all they do ask for the presence of the Holy Spirit (summoning) to cast out the Devil (banishing) from their AV equipment. Not only that but near the end of the film their standing outside of a building in Washington DC (I confess not to know what it is, just that it seems to be federal in nature) praying to influence the minds of lawmakers towards a pro-life stance on abortion. Now if influencing the events of the physical world through occult methodology such as psychisms and summonings isn't extremely similar to spell craft, I don't know what is.

There's also a point in the film where a Mother and her two sons are at the table engaging in homeschooling. OK. Sure. Homeschooling is becoming a more popular idea in North America, and all the resources to effectively teach our children are available. But wait. The Mother states two things that are in her teaching resource material: 1) Creationism is the only thing that can explain everything. 2) She refers to a part in her material that states science doesn't explain anything. What? Well how did the semi-conductor come about? It must have been divine intervention. That scanning electron microscope? Delivered by Angels. ABS and the waffle iron? Sent to man to help him become more righteous! No. Last time I checked someone conceived these things in their own mind, creating them with their own thoughts before putting the information down for others to help develop. Something complex usually becomes a collaborative effort, including religious philosophy. Now inventions aside, the whole creationism thing, which is a religious theory to explain the beginning of existence. How could this possibly explain how all these thing came about in 6000 years? Dinosaur fossils, preserved plants, trilobites, and a plethora of flora and fauna all left here for us to discover and ponder. Did God decide that this was a test of our faith by leaving these things here for us to find? How did everything change? The flood that Noah survived with 2 of each creature wiped out everything, but he didn't save the dinosaurs...... hhhmmm. They must have been dead before the flood then, and he saved all that was left. And if that's the case what killed them, according to modern Christian teachings that is. Just food for thought.

So how is it that Ms. Fischer justifies indoctrinating children into a hardcore belief system? She believes that her religion has 'the truth'. I my mind that's inherently dangerous to tell a child. Truth after all is an absolute, and how can you apply truth to such an abstract thing as religion? Most children would believe what she says because she's an adult for starters, and for seconds she's extremely confident in her beliefs and she exudes that. The kids are going to look to her and say "Hey, she's knows what she's talking about!" But even with these things in her favour, is she right? Are her beliefs a universal truth meant for everyone? It's my belief that she is wrong. Both in concept and morally for dragging children into this 'war' as she calls it. Something so complicated as a belief system is (once again my personal belief) is an intensely personal experience meant for the individual only. Personal faith means nothing without self examination, and internal journeying. You have to ask the questions you are afraid to ask yourself. For instance I was a Catholic, and was raised on its value system. After I turned to Paganism a few years back I began to explore other faiths, including Satanism. Even with my former religious indoctrination, I could still identify with some tenets of the Satanic faith. Now that's not to say I believe in Satanism, far from it. I do have my own belief system that I apply to the Pagan idea of multiple Gods and Goddesses. I let my conscience guide me, as well as my heart, and not some book written by an individual who was likely not me. I walked my own path, not someone else's, and my journey still continues so I continue to evolve my personal beliefs. Part of the problem with Christianity/Islam/Judaism is that any evolution that occurs with them is generally into radicalism and fanaticism. Again dangerous.

So where does that leave us? Generally with a nation of youth's growing up to become leaders in their communities (at least some of them will) and possibly have enough potential to guide a nation. According to Ms. Fischer her faith doesn't really interfere with her political leanings, although in one part of the film her cohorts have a life size cut out of President Bush, and they're telling the kids to pray over him for a more righteous nation under God. So now these religious leaders are generating a group of not only zealots, but extreme right religiously motivated political activists. Wow. Were these kids ever kids to begin with? From the sounds of it they were born to be soldiers of Christianity, with no reasonable choice to believe what they want, or from the sounds of it, any real inherent trust given to them freely by their own family. The child is given an indoctrination which says 'this is the truth', rather than an education which says 'go find the truth'.

I refused to have both my kids baptized into the church, just as I don't talk to them about my religious practices. Once again it's my personal belief that faith is intensely personal, and must be examined from a personal standpoint. I will not teach my kids about Paganism unless they ask, nor will I teach them about Christianity unless they ask. Objectivity would also be required to allow them to understand the pros and cons of any faith they inquire about, which would force me to learn more.

So to help conclude this loooooong entry, I will make the statement that I did not write this to tell the world that I hate Christianity, for I don't. I did write this in response to the social problem of fanaticism, which is one of the worst sicknesses facing our world, and the documentary 'Jesus Camp' shows how pervasive it is.

Freeman

Friggin' Christmas

Christmas time. *SIGH* I can't stands it much longer. I've only got a few days left before the end of the yearly shopping frenzy to complete my gift buying, and my heart just isn't in it. All the virtues Christmas was supposed to impose on man; peace, goodwill, and the like, are pretty much lost when competing for the next Hannah Montana tea party set, or the latest in a the series of Pokemon toys. I have yet to see a fist fight, but just walking into my local mall I can feel the tension. I'm not even a Christian and I still go through this crap every year. If I didn't have kids I would likely be the Scrooge in my neighbourhood, not bothering to put up a tree or lights, I wouldn't bother to buy anything for anyone, and I certainly would not engage in any kind of gift exchange, even if something was being given to me. Nothing says awkward when receiving something you don't like, and you have to fake liking it. We've all done it once or twice. Don't lie.

The ideals that Christmas past used to have are pretty much trashed. Or the big box stores put them on sale for low low prices in the form of the Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer DVD. If Santa Claus were real, even he would dread the one day of the year he makes his deliveries to a bunch of ingrates. Because we've lost the concept of goodwill towards each other, we had to find a way to fill the void. These days getting drunk and making an ass of yourself at the company Christmas party seems to have regrettably done the job. Since spending a Christmas in a foreign land with which we were at war a couple years ago, I can safely assume that peace was virtual fantasy. And what of love? Well nothing says love like seeing your childs disappointed expression on get them the wrong toy, and then considering an act of child abuse because you had to stand in line for almost an hour and a half convincing yourself that this was going to be THE ONE. It's no wonder that most parents start drinking early on Christmas day. Even I started drinking early. Yeah. Around November 12th.

The sad part is is that we have good way to break the cycle of Christmas despair. People take for granted the things they are lucky to have. You don't need those new golf clubs to survive. And that shiny new dress that you're going to wear New Years Eve? Yeah that won't taste good if you try to eat it. The money that someone spent on you this year to accouter you in decorative garb, is probably more than some dirt farmer in Tajikistan has seen in a decade. It costs about as much to keep a school house in Central America well stocked as it does to buy that iPod you so desperately want. And that gym membership someone bought you? It would have been better spent on making a micro loan to a Mexican drug lord than putting your fat ass on a treadmill when walking doesn't cost a thing. Let's face it. Going one time to lift weights so you can feel good about your up coming New Years resolution is about as wasteful as it gets, when that money could have done something good for someone else, because you aren't worth it yet.

We have to earn our way in this world to be worthy of the things and relationships we want. And that means putting yourself out there for the benefit of everyone. If a person decides to work a soup kitchen line a few times in a month, or volunteers a little bit at a youth drop in center, then they are at least doing something. Most people are so wrapped up in themselves that they can't be bothered with other peoples problems. Maybe we should all take the time to realize what we do have, and be thankful that we're alive another day to spend with each other. Some of us don't have much time left, and the gift to give is your time. Call up an old friend, go see your Great Aunt, buy a homeless guy a lunch because it's just time.

And time is likely the most precious gift we can offer.

Freeman

Burn Hollywood Burn

Alright. So I did it. I went to see the remake of "The Day The Earth Stood Still". I can't really put into words my disappointment. Oh I knew that this was going to suck, but I had to see it anyways. Originality in scriptwriting seems lacking the last few years. There's been plenty of good movies come out over the last while, but the remakes are generally a travesty. This latest one just shores up that last point.

Now I'm a fan of old cheesy 50's sci-fi flicks because they are... well... cheesy. They represent a lot of base ideals, like progress, hope, vision, and various others. The original TDTESS had a simple message: clean up your act. We know your race has potential, but if you keep going this way, we're going to fix the problem... permanently. The original Klaatu had a semblance of emotional content which Michael Rennie displays throughout the entire film, but Keanu Reeves comes off as a cold fish, lacking one quality one might think the messenger has. After all this is a significant event the character is about to undertake, so why not show a little bit of emotion? It must have been the whole impartiality scientist thing that you might see in someone who was enacting a purely academic experiment. But now that I think of it when scientist hit that 'Eureka!' moment they're usually pretty excited.

Now admittedly the original movie is not as action packed as the remake. The glitz and special effects is regrettable in most newer movies, as bigger explosions and blue screens replace story content. Why spend the money on developing a complex character when you can have some pretty lights do something eye catching on the screen? The remake of this movie is chocked full of explosions, flying machines, and cool looking CGI. Even the robot (and I use that term loosely for the remake) Gort is rather cool looking and imposing, but in someway over the top.... but wait! This ties in with my next comparison....

In the original movie Klaatu comes to the Earth to deliver a message to the leaders of the world, and Gort is there to protect him, and do whatever Klaatu needs him to do. The remake changes this simple dynamic drastically. In the remake Klaatu comes to talk alright, but the message is something like "Hey you guys. Yeah you, stupid. You're finished. Don't bother packing your bags, I'll take care of everything." He's not really there to deliver a warning as in the original, but instead tell the leaders of the world that they're a failure, and now he's going to destroy them all. Wow. So instead of an interstellar ambassador, you now have Hitler about to commit genocide. Nice. Oh, and did I mention that Gort: the robot and protector, is now GORT: the acronym and doomsday machine? Yep his sole purpose is to commit the heinous act of wiping out all human life on the Earth. Again. Wow.

If I was to see this remake on it's own with no prior knowledge of the original I would likely be singing a different tune right now. But knowing what I know, I really wish they hadn't done this to a science fiction classic. I can say that all was not totally lost. The message that the original purported wasn't completely lost, although it was changed, and the method of delivery to the audience of said message was brief. Like I said to my wife in the theatre "Blink and you might miss it."

See it if you must, but please keep your disappointment contained to throwing popcorn at the screen.

And just for effect, I'll end this post like the remake ended: abruptly.

Freeman

Inspiration

Inspiration is something that is internal to ones own mind and soul. Some people can put things down on paper, other can write music, or paint a beautiful picture, but in some way they have to be inspired by something.

The last few days I've been listening to a remixed song by Teddybears called 'Still Alive', originally written by Lisa Miskovsky. The original song is the theme for the new game 'Mirrors Edge' by EA, and let me tell you that the song coupled with the dynamic imagery of the game is something I find inspirational. Now lately that's a rarity for me. Unfortunately I mostly find inspiration internally, and usually keep it that way hidden from the rest of the world. Opening up your soul for the world to see is a difficult act for an introvert such as myself. I don't particularly like human beings because of all the problems associated with them. I really find no value in what we produce because most of it is self serving, or meant to distract someone else from the goings on of the world around them. I find no real solace in the average trappings of the human social constructs. At one point I was a social animal, going to parties, hanging out with friends, and being a generally happy cat. Since starting a full time job, I've become more withdrawn, secluded, and less than happy. I haven't really discovered what it is I want from life, or at best I've ran out of goals I set out for myself. I have a decent job ( that I dislike thoroughly), a family (whom I do love deeply), a home (as messy as it is), and enough money to do most of the things that I like. So what's the problem? There's not a whole lot that's kept me inspired. The last time I really felt truly alive is when I was driving an armoured patrol vehicle in a war zone. The prospect of dying usually keeps one engaged in keeping alive. So why can't I have this level of engagement at home. After the tour the Army headshrinker said I was going to experience a bit of boredom, but I honestly didn't think it would last this long. So I need to find a way to become inspired once again. I have this feeling that individuals who become suicidal start out this way, loosing their lust for life as it were. Don't misconstrue that statement though, for I am far from suicidal, just bored.

So where to find inspiration? It's out there waiting, but it seems to be running from me, just out of my grasp as it were. Sometimes I'll drive fast in the city to get my blood pumping, and occasionally I'll feel the need to get into a fist fight with someone, but those are both inherently dangerous and menacing not only to myself but to the general public as well. I really don't need to watch my kids grow up while sitting in a jail cell. I've thought about writing a book, but my thoughts are like a TV with it's channels being changed quickly. I'm surprised I can concentrate long enough to get through writing a blog. So a book is out, although I'll likely keep trying. My religious practices are most private, and anything inspirational from that is kept wholly attributed to that. I do a minute amount of volunteer work, but time is a precious commodity in my life, so I can't do that as much as I would like.

So what? Where is the spark at? I need to feel alive again and break out of this rut, because I'm already feeling the effects of boredom seeping it's way into my soul. I'm tired all the time, and listless. I have a short temper which I'm learning to reign in once more, but that's taking a lot. And any patience I had for people has pretty much been lost.

If anyone out there has an idea about how to get out of this rut, please let me know.

Freeman

Online gamers and why they suck

OK. I'm one of those guys that's into the FPS's (that's "First Person Shooter's" for those of you who don't know), and I like to play online quite a bit. Now generally being an older guy from the average age group that plays these games I'm a bit more reserved. I go to play, not to win, because I consider winning a side bonus. The thrill of killing a computer generated character is what I like, and if I happen to win then all the better, but the fighting is what gets me fired up. After all if you win then it's over.

So I try to keep a somewhat more mature attitude while online, and I reserve trash talk for the only the most obnoxious people. This is because when you play games online, not everyone is 17, still living at home with mommy and daddy, and used their allowance to buy the newest version of Battlefield or it's ilk. There are varying levels of age and skill, so it makes the online gaming experience that much more fun. If everyone was super awesome with a sniper rifle, and had the ability to gank like nobodies business, then it would be BORING! Just because you're good doesn't mean you're the best. Chances are there is someone out there with a slightly higher level of skill, or luck that's waiting to take you down a notch. So why trash on people who are just their to play? After all do you know them? Likely not. If I'm playing a game next to someone, then I'm all about the trash talk, because they're there with me. That and chances are I've been drinking heavily, but if you knew me then you would know that alcohol just adds to the range of facial expression I generate. But then again drinking while playing is a rarity. Usually it's more pop and chips, or even better: coffee. I love to game and drink coffee.

Either way you can feel like a big man while trashing someone else, but online you can feel like a bigger man right. Chances are you probably don't know the guy you're playing with so how are they gonna settle your hash if you harass them into leaving in frustration? They won't because they don't know where you live, so trash on my friend. Really you don't sound like a complete arse while you're flaming some other player. Consider this though: You like to play online, and you had to start learning the game at some point, so do you remember what it felt like to be a 'n00b'? Forgot to reload frequently, fell off the tower once or twice, tripped the switch that sprang the trap on you.... All this and more made you look like an idiot and likely you got flamed for it, and at the time you got upset for hearing all the jibes coming your way. You hated that. Now you've been playing for a while and you're the cat's ass while online, and it's your turn to get the pokes in. How quickly your memory fades. Way to enhance the gaming experience for all those new gamers out there, you really made yourself look awesome.

So after I get off work I'll go home and game for a while, and listen to the trash talk flying across the inter-web, and think to myself 'you're time is gonna come'.

Just me bitchin.

Freeman

I cry zombie shenanigans!

Zombies man. They freak me out. I do believe from yesterday that I alluded to the fact that I was doing a lot of zombie related activities, namely playing a little known game called Left 4 Dead. Best game ever!

Not only does it have all the elements of a good zombie movie: diverse characters, shotguns, and sarcasm, but it also has the new zombie class of the 'running zombie'. Yeah. Pretty much gone are the days of the stumbling and bumbling legions of walking dead. With the later remake of such classics as Dawn of the Dead, and the newly created 28 Days Later, the running zombie is now the thing. I watched the original Night of the Living Dead a couple of months ago, and even that movie still creeps me out, because of the sheer numbers of undead that show up in a rural area. The original Dawn of the Dead was even worse what with the masses of walking deceased plodding through the mall in search of human flesh to consume. But in terms of scariness, I would rate the newer movies as more frightening just because of the running zombie. Just imagine that your caught on the edge of a riot and the crowd decides that they want to kill you. Then the chase is on. In the older films I don't understand how they didn't win the war, seeing as how the zombies were so slow you could run up to one from behind and knock it down, or even better: the major urban centers are dead. Why not start a fire and burn them out completely? After all this is where the majority of the undead are right? But in the newer films it would definitely be a fight for domination. Those guys are damned quick!

Now when I say newer films I don't really include George A. Romero's Land of the Dead because he uses the classic zombie for that one as well, continuing on his 'undying' tradition. *snicker* All in all though I loved that movie, because it was like the originals. Now don't get me wrong. The newer movie freak me out a whole bunch, but I still enjoy the classics of this genre.

Anyways Left 4 Dead. Awesome game. The only thing it's missing is a kick ass scientist with a crowbar. You know who I'm talking about. ;)

Freeman

Damn Zombies

Y'know lately I've been thinking a lot about disaster. It's a good topic for my generally paranoid mind to contemplate during the yuletide. I bought the game Left 4 Dead, which is a wonderful jaunt into the zombie movie genre, in which 4 people must cross a zombie infested landscape to escape the area. A really fun game with all kinds of thrills, and really fast zombies. But when I started playing it I got to thinking...... dangerous.

Next the other day I was eating lunch at work, and I decided to watch a British docu-drama called "Threads" from around 1983. It was about a nuclear war and the events leading up to it, and was very similar to the American made-for-television movie "The Day After". Both good films but once again I started thinking..... I really have to stop doing that.

Survival is important. Very important. But part of the problem seems to be figuring out what disaster to survive. Let's face it, zombies are not going to get me, but it is one hell of a scenario, so I can't chalk up that one. But nuclear disaster? Maybe. I'd more likely have to try and survive a toppled government before either of those two, because it seems that's an ever present danger, especially now with so many of my countrymen who are disenfranchised with our current system of government. Someone out there wants power, wants to run the country, and likely is on the edge of discovering the means to do so. So honestly what does all this mean? To me I foresee complete and utter chaos. It would be the chance for the separatists to win out the day, breaking up our fine country. And don't get me wrong when I say separatists and you start thinking about Quebec, because there are just as many separatists out west and down east, but it's just that they haven't created a political party yet. So the country breaks up, there's less-than-law-and-order, and the economy drops right out the bottom. Where's this leave me? Right now, living in an urbanized area, currently unarmed, and low on long term supplies. I'm SCREWED! Or at least I believe I'm screwed. I've got to get out of the city, get armed and stock up on ammo, food, water, and other miscellany, just to get through these tough times. The wolves are on my doorstep and scratching their way in to get me!

So now that we've established my frame of mind, and what kind of thoughts I've been thinking lately, maybe someone can tell me a good spot to go. I'm thinking Ireland for any kind of major disaster from the sky, and for disaster on the land, anywheres in the backwoods would be fine. If your reading this leave me a comment on where you would go, because I'm thoroughly interested.

Freeman

Just a little upset

Well now that the month of chaos is over maybe I can blog a little more. Who would have thought that the month of November would be so busy? Certainly not me. But I'm also at the bottom of the food chain in terms of job policy.

Well I'm kinda perplexed about something. Perplexed, confused, and continuously pondering that is. I have to wonder about the basic question that most soldiers have about the media: why do they always concentrate on the negative aspects of military life? The military has its share of frustrations and tragedies just like any dangerous job, and the press doesn't help it at all. For instance I had learned this weekend that we had lost another three brothers overseas in Afghanistan. OK. Losing your life this way is a soldiers lot, and any troop worth his salt knows it. It's definitely a tragedy. I heard it on the radio first because I'm an admitted news-phile, and I like to know what's going on in the world. Throughout the day I heard the same piece on the radio, and the television, and read it on the online papers more times than I can count. I figure that's alright, after all it's just one day right? Not everyone is like me and I can't expect everyone to hear the news the same time I do, so 24hrs. to get the word out is enough.

The next night on the late night news (around 2300 local) there was a nice piece out of Afghanistan about a new air wing being setup to transport our guys around. Very nice, it's about time we got some improved capability, but wait....What is THIS!?!?! Flag draped caskets? What the hell do they have to do with the new air wing? Oh I get it. This is the ramp ceremony that happened the day before. Yeah. Well that was pertinent information that I needed to see.... again... after the fact.

So I'm upset. Just a little. I've heard the news already. In fact everytime I hear of another military death, I always keep pinned to the news until I know who's gone. After all the military is my extended family, and I usually know someone who is deployed, so I have to make sure that it wasn't someone I didn't know. HOWEVER the impact of another fallen brother is still felt, and I still feel for the families who have suffered such a grievous loss. So with that said, there is no need to splash the ramp ceremony all over the news. It's not only respectful for the families who have to deal with the loss, but it's also a morale issue. In my time overseas I attended several of these ceremonies, including one which I sent a member of my platoon home, and another which I had helped carry one of my buddies on to the plane. His flag draped casket was fairly heavy, but not as heavy as the burden I carried in my heart after his loss. Every soldier who loses a buddy carries that weight throughout the remainder of their time on earth. So why keep running it on the news? Why throw that up on the screen for a few days, when one day is enough to get the word out? Military deaths are more controversial because of the nature of war, and the politics involved with them. No one wants war, but countries get involved in them regardless of who has been elected. The news supposedly has a duty to expose the truth of things, yet truth becomes lost in sensational headlines, hot topics, and buzz words.

So now I'm upset. There's no need to drag it all out like this. Their gone, their families are grieving, and what's done is done. We don't forget their service, those who knew them, although I'm sure the general populace won't be as vigilant.

Anyways I'm out of steam. And just for the record it's 3 days after the last 3 deaths, and it's being politicized on a radio talk show I'm listening to this morning. Go figure.

Lest we forget.

Freeman