Bookstore - Update

Last night, I sent a copy of the complaint letter over to Hemant Mehta at Friendly Atheist. As a daily reader of his blog, I have to admit it's kind of cool to be a part of it. People have, so far, had some interesting opinions on the matter. You can check out the responses here. As you can see, I replied to some and I'll copy that reply below. I'll keep you posted on what develops.

Hi, I’m the “guy” that wrote this letter. Just a few points:

1. I wrote the letter because it indeed DID stick with me long after it happened. My reasoning being; If I can’t feel good about my experience there, why should I keep quiet?

2. The reason I sent it to the executive branch was simple: They’ll move on this. The store manager can shrug it off very easily because it really doesn’t affect him/her. But when you get to the heart of a business, things are dealt with much more effectively.

3. What do I expect out of this? Nothing really. I just wanted Borders to know this had happened and I wanted to get the whole situation off my chest. I feel much better about the situation. And NO: I’m not a very sensitive person, I CAN take a joke, and in fact I usually don’t get upset about anything.

4. The reason I put this on my blog is because it is an Atheist matter and my blog is primarily Atheist. Makes sense, right?

5. I am in no way calling Borders out or demanding a boycott. Go to Borders. Shop at Borders. I was just there yesterday, that’s what got me thinking about sending a letter. I love going there, sitting in the cafe’ with my fiance and friends, drinking coffee and reading books and magazines. (I do buy what I read though, it’s not a library… okay, sometimes I read a magazine and don’t buy it) But seriously, there is no call to arms about any of this. I just thought it was interesting and a viable topic for an Atheist blog and apparently it is because you read it here.

6. I will not be taking any ‘legal’ steps in this at all. No, I won’t be taking the matter to the BBB or anything, I simply wanted them to take the letter seriously and any ‘complaint letter’ should include such information. Take a look at Consumerist.com.

7. I didn’t know so many people would have such opinionated viewpoints on the whole thing. I figured it was just some info to share. Any updates, I’ll post them to WhatWouldRayDo.blogspot.com

I hope that helps clear some of this up. Thanks!

Abstinence Sweats? Isn't That Redundant?

Those wonderful people at your local K-(Why hasn't this company gone bankrupt yet)Mart have started carrying a wonderful line of Abstinence Sweats for girls. Because nothing says "stay away from sex" better than writing it on the ass of a teenage girl! Here's what they have to say about the product:

These athletic pants boldly proclaim just where she stands by pointing out that "True Love Waits" in a large screen print on the front and back of these pants.

• Drawstring waist
• Bold abstinence screen print
• Elastic cuffs. Cotton/Polyester blend
• Machine washable
• Imported

Bold.... Abstinence... Screenprint. I never thought I would read those words together.

A Great Secular Song (And One Of My Favorite New Bands)

Frightened Rabbit is a great band from Scotland. While this is technically the single from their second album, "Midnight Organ Fight" just out a couple of months ago, this is the first album that seems to be getting any attention over here in the states.

Hope you enjoy the song, I love it.

Lyrics:

Jesus is just a spanish boy's name.
how come one man got so much fame?
to enemy, it's pointless to anybody
that doesn't have faith
give me the cloth and i'll wipe my face.

when it's all gone
SOMETHING carries on
and it's not mod at all,
just when natures had enough of you...
when my blood stops,
someone else's will not.
when my head rolls off,
someone else's will turn.
and while i'm alive, i'll make tiny changes to earth.

so you can burn me
cause we'll all be the same, the same way...
dirt in someone's eyes flies down the drain
i believe in a house in the clouds
and god's got his best friends round
he's painted all the walls red
to remind them they're all dead

you know when it's all gone, something carries on...
and it's not mod at all -
just when nature's had enough of you.
when my blood stops
someone else's will not.
when my head rolls off
someone else's will turn.
you can mark my words, i'll make tiny changes to earth.

while i'm alive
I'LL MAKE TINY CHANGES TO EARTH.

On A Personal Note: Borders...

I went to Borders recently and well... The letter below can explain. I just sent this off to just about EVERY executive at Borders and we'll see what they have to say. (It's amazing what a little research on the web can get you) At first, I laughed the whole thing off, but as time went on, I realized just how much that comment bothered me. Again, it's that fun game I like to play where you replace Atheist with any other group of people and suddenly the dynamic shifts. Let's hope I get a reply. (I'm blocking out my contact info as I don't really want it posted on the internet):

Ray Harrington

XXXXXXXXXXXX

XXXXXXXXXXXX

Borders, Inc.

100 Phoenix Drive

Ann Arbor, MI 48108

To Whom It May Concern:

Recently while at your XXXXX, Maine store, I purchased two books. One of which was The Portable Atheist, a collection of Atheist writings over the last few centuries. As a very loyal and regular customer, (I shop at your store almost weekly and always make a purchase) I was shocked and offended when the woman ringing in my books commented on the book; “Atheism, eh? Well… I guess I’ll keep my comments and thoughts to myself.” This was said with such arrogance and blatant mockery that I stumbled over my words as I paid for my books and left.

At first, I was surprised at what she had said, was that REALLY what just happened? As the days went on, I realized just how insensitive and downright offensive that statement was. In fact, some might construe that to be an affront to my religious beliefs and I am inclined to agree. If the woman had referred to a Bible or the Qur’an in this manner, I’m sure you would be hearing from a religious group on the matter as an attack of Civil Liberties. As it is, I have only one recourse, and that is to contact you personally. The matter has left me feeling so insulted that I must ask myself if I can feel confident in being a Border’s Books customer any longer.

To be honest, I don’t know what may reinstate my confidence in Borders. I only ask that you do as you see fit. This matter is gravely important to me and I will be very much interested in seeing it resolved. As a loyal customer, I hope I can retain a sense of dignity when shopping your stores. I look forward to your reply and a resolution to this problem, and will wait until June 9^th to report this matter to a Consumer Protection Agency, The Better Business Bureau, and any other avenues that deal with these issues. Please contact me by e-mail, the above address, or by phone at XXXXXXXX.

Sincerely,

Ray Harrington

Trip Prep. Part 1 - God and Politics in Lynchburg, Tennessee

Getting ready to drive down to New Orleans next week, I'm preparing myself for the trip through The South including the Carolinas and Alabama by catching up with the Southern view on God and Politics... I'm going to get shot. I'll be sporting a custom "Atheist: A Non-Prophet Organization" shirt that Kat is being nice enough to make for me. I'll be sure to pose for pictures while I'm in Alabama wearing the shirt!! (Please send all hospital bill donations to my home address)

So... Let's find out what some of the views are in the South!

A few things on this video:

1. Huckabee lost. You lose, America wins.

2. The whole qu'ran thing is absolutely wrong and bigoted.

3. Saying one thing and doing another? Like "No Child Left Behind" and that whole "Mission Accomplished" thing?

4. The country wasn't founded on the bible.

5. Their faith and not our faith? I can't begin to tell you how wrong that is.

6. He DID do the pledge, he didn't sing the anthem. Get it right.

7. No one 'pulled' God out of the government, he was never there. Some people are trying to PUSH it into government.

8. Why is a young teenage girl weighing in on Politics? That just shows that she's spouting anything she hears from her family. Brainwashing is pretty neat.

9. The whole Obama thing is so overtly Racist, it's hard not to see it as they get angry. I have to wonder if they've ever met someone opposed to their structure of belief or if they just assume the 'evil' in them.

Abstaining From Reason - Part 1 - Overview

There seems to be so much to talk about when it comes to Abstinence Only programs that are being taught all over the country. Regardless of what some groups may say, nearly ALL of these programs' core ideology come from their Christian roots. In fact, I don't know of a single Secular sex education program that teaches Abstinence Only. Why? BECAUSE IT DOESN'T WORK!!

It's very easy to see why this is the case when you look at the facts: Abstinence Only teaches children to wait... and wait... and that's about it. No information is provided for these kids about condoms, the pill, etc. So, when they do eventually have sex... And they WILL have sex, it's fucking inevitable. And inevitable fucking.... When they do have sex, they are less likely to use protection resulting in higher cases of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Here are some facts to show I can do a google search:

''There is nothing in any peer-reviewed scientific journal to suggest that teaching abstinence-only is effective in getting teens to delay sexual activity,'' said one expert, Cynthia Dailard, a lawyer and senior public policy associate at the Alan Guttmacher Institute, a nonprofit organization devoted to advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights.

In contrast, Ms. Dailard has reported, considerable evidence shows that sex education promoting abstinence, but also providing information on the benefits of contraception for those who do not remain abstinent, does delay the start of sexual activity. Such programs also reduce the incidence of teenage pregnancies and S.T.D.'s, she has found.

Furthermore, she and others who have reviewed the findings of many carefully done studies are worried about the effects of the abstinence-only approach on teenagers who do become sexually active. If teenagers are given no information about birth control, or only negative information, the studies indicate that they are less likely to use any method of protection, and are thus more likely to become pregnant or contract a sexually transmitted disease than are teenagers who are well informed about condoms and other contraceptive options.

One national study, published in 2001 in The American Journal of Sociology, found that while some teenagers who promised to remain abstinent until marriage delayed sexual activity by an average of 18 months, they were more likely to have unprotected sex when they broke their pledge than those who had never pledged virginity in the first place.

And Columbia University researchers reported in March that in a national study of teenagers who pledged not to have sex before marriage, a majority did not live up to their vows. The adolescents also developed sexually transmitted diseases at about the same rate as teenagers who had not made virginity pledges.

See? Not only does it not work, it's actually BAD for teens. And you know what the best part is? YOU are paying for this to be taught to children! That's right, open your wallet and hand over some of your money to these ignorant puritans! How much money? Well, let's check. Last April, the Washington Post stated this:

The federal government spends $176 million a year on abstinence-only education, and millions more are spent every year in state and local matching grants.

That's a lot of our money spent on something that actually does more harm than good. I wonder why it's so much? Only a president with extreme religitical (that's religious and political together, clever huh?) views would allow that, right?

President Bush is asking for $273 million for fiscal 2005.

Oh.

Well, maybe he just got confused about what he was pushing. I mean, he does get confused...

President Bush, in speaking to high school students in South Carolina two years ago, said that ''abstinence works every time,''

Now why didn't your Dad say that?

SO... thats where we are on the whole subject thus far. I've got quite a few things lined up for the follow-ups. We'll see how it pans out. Stay tuned for the next installment: Condoms.

The Bible Confirmed Through Science?

This is a fun one. Here's what this man has to say about the Bible and science... Now lets refute, shall we?:

(0:00 - 0:10) Saying it twice doesn't make it true. Watch: Say it with me now, "Sarah Jessica Parker doesn't have a horse-face. Sarah Jessica Parker doesn't have a horse-face."... Did it work?... Nope, she's still all Sex And Mr.Ed.

(0:20) Oooh! He talked about me! I scoff, I scoff!

(0:28) Wrong. First off, "science" never made any announcement. Ever. "Science" is not a group, club or organization and there was never a time when "science" came out of it's lab and said "We now know... there are too many stars to count... Dr. Mathis tried earlier and said that it was just fucking crazy." I'll let you spout on before I follow up.

(0:40) If this is the heart of your argument, you need to check your history books. Ok, Isaiah said that, fine. But I'm an English Major and I can tell you from reading countless (almost as countless as the stars) early/ancient literature and I hate to spoil your sermon, but that's what any one who has read a book would call a "Simile". This is when two unlike things are compared using small similarities and prefaced with the words 'like' or 'as'. (You could also argue it as an analogy or, if your stretching, a metaphor)

This form of writing has existed... FOREVER. Read Gilgamesh, written around 2750 and 2500 BC. (Speaking of Gilgamesh, it's awfully familiar to Noah. Hmm.) Not to mention the birth of literature from the Greeks. you know, the guys that just about created Astronomy? (I would say they DID create the basis of what we call astronomy, however there is recent evidence that shows ancient India was working this stuff out a little earlier, but the juries still out.)

The Greeks went WAY further in this than "trying to count the stars" and created the calender that we STILL use today by calculating the earths rotation and the alignment of the planets. Not to mention early constellations and predicted solar and lunar activity. A little more 'scientific' than the 'grains of sand' theory.

Oh, and what about what Mathew has to say?

Mathew, 24:29 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light..."

So the Moon gives light? But the 'Science' says it reflects the light from the sun?? (That's just one of many references to the moon's 'light' that can be found in the Bible. Just check the first page. Yeah, the FIRST PAGE.)

(1:29) Man, the Hubble Telescope was such a waste of money! We could have just read the Bible.

(2:05) Uh-oh, there's that tricky literary stuff again! See, what was said there has been said by EVERY religion and culture (at least those who have kept written records) in our entire history. Every "creation story" has a beginning point of 'what can't be seen', that goes for the whole Earth-on-the-turtle's-back thing, too. How is such a simple form of writing being missed? Literalism, as crazy as it is, has it's limits!

(2:17) "Quite frankly", if you base your entire structure of acceptance of reality on what the Bible supports, you must find it hard to function in the world.

(2:35) All scathing responses aside, the Bible is also not meant for the following:

- Field Guide to Birds
- First Aid Response Pamphlet
- News Paper
- Annotated Index of Human Organs
- Medical Textbook
- State Legislative Text
- Piano
- Underwear
- Person
- Reliable Historical, Scientific, Archeological, Cultural, basis for ANYTHING... Especially Reality or the basis there-in.

(2:53) I think its less How to go to Heaven and more Why you're going to Hell, really.

(3:02) The only book with Authority?! Have you READ Cash: An Autobiography of Johnny Cash by Johnny Cash?!

I Really Hope This Is Fake

Answers In Genesis is quite possibly the biggest Creationist group out there. After seeing some of the stuff they put out, I hate to admit I wasn't entirely shocked that this might really be their work. But the Rational part of thinks it's a gun safety PSA with the AiG logo spliced in.

Let's hope it is a 'joke'.

If You're Going To Say Something Crazy, At Least Back It Up... Or At The VERY Least Finish What You Start!

When someone states that the Bible is without error, I automatically assume they haven't read it. I've read the Bible a few times, along with other books about the Bible and I'm sorry, but error is the best umbrella term to collectively state that the Bible has conflicting stories, mathematic and scientific error, historical inaccuracies when matched with real archeology, and just plain wrong statements. Don't 'believe' me? Check out a fun site:

http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/


As for the video, I'll respond point by point:

1 - So what you are saying is that unless I blindly accept the Bible, it won't make sense? Well, I agree! Unless I am willing to completely ignore what I know and the most basic of reality, then no, I won't be able to swallow much of anything Biblical.

If I told you that I could fly and you could, too. But only if you truly believe that you can fly and you don't ever question that you can... would you jump off of a building with me? Okay, what if I told you that I can make myself invisible, but only if you close your eyes and really REALLY believe? It's starting to remind me of when Tinkerbell dies and Peter Pan needs everyone to clap to prove they believe in the Fairy.

2 - You already said that.

3 - ... No 3? You said 10! That's not very dedicated OR accurate... and that's just ironic.

4 through 10 and any other points - Keep Clapping.

Hey, Evangelicals! Ever Hear of Manifest Destiny?

Mike posted in a comment recently about Evangelicals (the cultiest of Christians) and their thoughts on the "Holy Land". I had intended on this being my follow up post to something else, but now seems as good a time as any.