Romanticide

Change of account

Mon, 30 May 2005 06:21:09 GMT

Right-o.

This account expires next month and I'm cheap, so I'm going ot be moving back over to my moodpoisoing account. Please friend it if you haven't already done so and you're interested in my LJ whining.

Thanks.

Waxing nostalgic

Mon, 30 May 2005 04:59:29 GMT

I miss the Buzz and all my old friends there.

I miss that kind of fun, light-hearted and absolutely divine RP. *sigh*

Someone save me from crappy roleplay!

Today, things suck.

Sat, 28 May 2005 02:39:43 GMT

Ever feel like you can associate with song lyrics?

Try Sarah McLachlan's "Fallen" on for size.

EDIT: For Star Wars fans who saw Episode III, this is some funny, funny stuff!

Post Mortem: Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith

Mon, 23 May 2005 01:44:50 GMT

OMG.

I'm so totally fangirling!

More details on my thoughts about the film after I'm certain more people have seen it.

More CoH (mostly for knightforge

Fri, 20 May 2005 04:40:28 GMT

For those who read my last City of Heroes post, I deleted a few characters and added a few more in there stead.

SUBARU'S NEW CITY OF HEROES "PHOTOGRAPHS"

Vana Queen, obviously, a Viking chick. All the Norse names I knew were already taken. She's magic Defender, defeating crime with the power of purple 'wah-wah' bubbles.

And a closer shot of her angry face.

This is Soushi. She's a mutation Scrapper (Dark/Dark) loosely based on a character I wrote named Soushi Bluesummers. Of course, that name was too long. So I just used Soushi. (Pronounced like "So She").

Here's a close up of Soushi. I tweaked out my favorite of the new Asian faces to make her look (I think) a little better than the standard face.

And here's the back of her hair. This style is rather nifty, though the origial Soushi didn't have fan blades nor some poor guy's tie stuck in her hair.

Bishounen Boy, a natural Scrapper. Those of you who know me, you all knew this was coming. Dig his opened school uniform. He's such a porker-of-boys. Woot!

Of course, I again modified the "gayest" of the Asian male faces to make him look as femme as possible. All you anime fans, what say you?

This is Tankerbel. She is (obviously) a technology Tanker. I was originally going to make fun of all the people making tiny and/or skinny chicks with the hugest boobs they could... But instead opted to confrom her to my sense of beauty.

I was originally going to make fun of all the people making tiny and/or skinny chicks with the hugest boobs they could... But instead opted to confrom her to my sense of beauty. A lot of my male friends have commented on how pretty she turned out. I hope you like her Adam-kun.

Stupid, out-dated internet.

Thu, 19 May 2005 02:50:27 GMT

Let it be known that I am most vexed!

A curse upon all dumb people who NEVER UPDATE LINKS ON THEIR WEB SITES! *huff*

Right.. so there used to be this site on souhi.com or .net, I can't recall which but neither exist now, called "Digital Escape." It was a shrine to Ran (Lan) of Clover and it had a single picture I am now trying DESPERATELY to find.

Can anyone help me? *pathetic*

Snatched from tzi

Wed, 18 May 2005 03:24:16 GMT

Why am I on your friends list?

Comment and tell me. Then post this in your journal.

More on un-American American politics (Real ID Act)

Fri, 06 May 2005 00:18:12 GMT

H.R.418

Title: To establish and rapidly implement regulations for State driver's license and identification document security standards, to prevent terrorists from abusing the asylum laws of the United States, to unify terrorism-related grounds for inadmissibility and removal, and to ensure expeditious construction of the San Diego border fence.
Sponsor: Rep Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr. [WI-5] (introduced 1/26/2005)
Related Bills: H.RES.71, H.RES.75, H.RES.151, H.R.1268
Latest Major Action: 2/17/2005 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Here is Title II of the Real ID Act:
Improved Security for Driver's Licenses and Personal Identification Cards - (Sec. 202) Prohibits Federal agencies from accepting State issued driver's licenses or identification cards unless such documents are determined by the Secretary [of Homeland Security] to meet minimum security requirements, including the incorporation of specified data, a common machine-readable technology, and certain anti-fraud security features.

Sets forth minimum issuance standards for such documents that require: (1) verification of presented information; (2) evidence that the applicant is lawfully present in the United States; and (3) issuance of temporary driver's licenses or identification cards to persons temporarily present that are valid only for their period of authorized stay (or for one year where the period of stay is indefinite).

(Sec. 203) Requires States, as a condition of receiving grant funds or other financial assistance under this title, to participate in the interstate compact regarding the sharing of driver's license data (the Driver License Agreement).

(Sec. 204) Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit trafficking in actual as well as false authentication features for use in false identification documents, document-making implements, or means of identification.

Requires the Secretary to enter into the appropriate aviation security screening database information regarding persons convicted of using false driver's licenses at airports.

(Sec. 205) Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to assist States in conforming to the minimum standards set forth in this title.

(Sec. 206) Gives the Secretary all authority to issue regulations, set standards, and issue grants under this title. Gives the Secretary of Transportation all authority to certify compliance with such standards.

Authorizes the Secretary to grant States an extension of time to meet the minimum document requirements and issuance standards of this title, with adequate justification.

(Sec. 207) Repeals overlapping document provisions of the IRTPA.

(Sec. 208) States that nothing in this title shall be construed to affect the authorities and responsibilities of the Secretary of Transportation or the States under existing laws governing the establishment of a National Driver Register.

What does this mean?
Congress is on the verge of passing a plan that could discourage illegal immigration by requiring applicants for state-issued driver's licenses - roughly 70 million people a year - to produce four types of identification at motor vehicle offices.

Most who apply for new licenses - and presumably, those seeking renewals - would have to prove that they are in the USA legally, document their Social Security number and home address, and show a photo ID. Motor vehicle department employees then would have to verify the documents with federal databases, a potentially lengthy process that could mean an end to same-day license renewals.

States now typically require new drivers to produce proof of age and one or two other forms of ID, usually including a photo. Less is required of those renewing licenses; Maryland and a few other states allow renewals by mail. That could change under the Real ID Act, which along with extra security at airports and workplaces could represent the most significant differences in daily lives to stem from post-9/11 security concerns.

The act is likely to be passed by the House today and the Senate next week as an attachment to an $81 million emergency spending bill for the military in Iraq and Afghanistan. If states did not comply within three years, their driver's licenses could not be used as ID to board a plane or to enter certain federal buildings.

President Bush has expressed support for the act, which has created an uproar among state officials and civil liberties groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union. The National Conference of State Legislatures estimates that it would cost states more than $500 million. "The number of documents is staggering," says the conference's Cheye Calvo. "You're not going to get your license in one day anymore. Over-the-counter driver's licenses will no longer exist."

The ACLU says the act threatens Americans' privacy by creating links between databases that could be used to make licenses into de facto national ID cards that could be used to track residents' activities.

The Congressional Budget Office says it would cost states $100 million over five years. The act's author, Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., says, "If somebody has to stand in line a few minutes more (for a license), that's a small price to pay than having thousands or tens of thousands of people die in a terrorist attack."

This article was published today 05 May 2005 in the USA Today. All emphasis was added by me.

What does this mean for you?
Big brother is watching.

And something nice

Tue, 26 Apr 2005 23:39:50 GMT

If there is at least one person in your life whom you consider a close friend, and whom you would not have met without the internet, post this sentence in your journal.

You know who you are.

Misconceptions

Tue, 26 Apr 2005 23:04:22 GMT

I found a very awesome site with tips for dancers. I bookmarked it and was very pleased to have found it. However, in doing a google search for "stripper tips" I have found some rather distasteful things. Allow me to share a few quotations.

People are urged to plan ahead when ordering strippers for parties. Under that heading is this line:
"What exactly do you want to see? Please don't let the law cloud your judgement here. Breaking the law at a bachelor/bachelorette party is par for the course."
Mmmhmmm.

Another heading urges those hiring strippers to get something in writing. It reads:
"Remember, you are dealing with questionable folks here. If they were reliable, responsible folks they would have a real job."
Never mind all the girls who dance as a second job... They're nurses and carpenters 30-40 hours a week. Or college girls who dance because no other job is flexible for their schedule or offers as much pay. Obviously, we're all seedy.

Another line about the law:
"The law doesn't allow anything fun: This is a problem. It is not unsolvable however, you just have to do some more work. Find someone that knows someone that can get the real thing. Find out which strip clubs are breaking the law these days. I'm sure one of them is."
What this means to me as a stripper is "we want someone we can touch." I call you pigs, be you male or female.

More on touching:
"Any strip club has regulars, they know what you can touch. They have tattos. They sit near the stage. Watch them."
Let me re-iterate this right now: it is illegal in the state of Ohio to touch dancers in ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM. Clearly the person who wrote this site has a skewed idea of what a dancer does.

On Strip-o-grams:
"Any place cute enough to call it a strip-o-gram, isn't cool enough to show anything hot. Do you really want to shell out a couple of hundred bucks and then not see any genitalia?"
Again, I say pigs. I have done private parties and I DO NOT show genetalia. In fact my thong never comes off. To those who get hot and bothered by genitalia I bid you take a good close look. They call it bumping UGLIES for a reason.

This one I don't know how to catergorize:
"What is it with her body guard?"
Um... HELLO?!?!

On paying in advance:
"If these people were honest in business they wouldn't be exploiting people. If the stripper didn't have a cocaine problem they wouldn't be dancing for a living. Scum bags and coke-heads aren't the kind of people you should trust to make good on a promise. If you have to pay 1/2 in advance do so. Don't expect much if you pay everything up front."
I'm good enough to spread my legs for you but not worthy of any respect. That's nice to know. I'm either a "scum-bag" or a "coke-head." How nice.

Ah, how I love people who buy into stereotypes. I would love to see this person hire a stripper only to find a close friend on their doorstep.

Just for danaeaphreal

Mon, 25 Apr 2005 10:09:26 GMT

Because I promised her pictures of me in work clothes. There are no graphic pictures, only three rather tasteful shots. Possibly not work-safe though for implied nudity. (Don't worry, Ruri-chan, there are no boobies!)

Because she makes me laugh...

Tue, 19 Apr 2005 21:12:25 GMT

I wanted to repost here what I think to be moon_doggy's funniest CLAMP related post.

This was written by Moony in October of last year when I was having difficulty getting work:

This is dedicated to you, Subaru. After you dishearten comment about working behind a "McCounter". What if Fuuma worked at McDonald's?

"Our Mission Statement, According to Fuuma"

It is our mission to serve you food. But, unlike out competitors who use pricey sales advertisements, we do not serve you your food "Your Way". We will always serve it, "My Way", whatever the hell I feel like. So, if I feel like cooking your hamburger extra rare, I will. If I feel like burning your McNuggets, I will. Hell, I will slap a frozen chicken patty on a bun and serve it to you if I feel like it.

We do not guarantee fast, friendly, and or helpful service to our customers. We also have the right to serve whoever we feel like. Because, we have that kind of power. After all, you humans are but parasites and will be completely annihilated from this earth. So, looking in retrospect, whining about how your soda is flat or if your were jipped out of a few chicken nuggets dose not amount to a hill of beans, now does it?

We welcome any and all comments and complaints. All comments will be followed up by a complete shake-down and relocation to our back lot to be fed to our tree. All complaints about food will not be tolerated. Because, we cook all food ourselves and were damn good cooks. Besides, we have the power of the "Dark Kamui", and seriously, do you wish to question that?

Thank you and we look forward to taking you money again.
Fuuma Monou: McDonald's Sales Manager

*snicker* This is why I love you Moony - your astounding sense of humor! ^______________^

Geekness!

Tue, 19 Apr 2005 10:05:08 GMT

And now - for those of you who care (or wish to be amused) - I proudly present... *drumroll*

SUBARU'S CITY OF HEROES "PHOTOGRAPHS"

This is my first chara. He's a technology Tanker called Panzer Mensch. I found that hysterically funny since that means "Tank Man."

Here is Panzer Mensch with his "big" brother and protector, Panzer Schutz. While Panzer Mensch is the brawn, Panzer Schutz is the brain and works to defend and protect the meat shield. Yes, Panzer Mensch is cheering over being in the soap bubble.

This is my second chara. She's a mutation fire Blaster named Cherry-Bomb. Rather appropriate since she's fond of garishly bright pink and setting things on fire.

Poor, poor raver girl mourning the loss of the candy machine in a gutted building used by... one of Paragon City's many gangs.

Here's my vanity chara, Shawna the Dead. Jeremy had made her originally on his account and picked her power set. She's a dark-dark Defender (natural, of course!) She's so Goth. *snerk*

And she's apparently as indecisive as I am. What movie to watch is a very important choice for a super hero.

This is Tallgeese. "She" is in fact a gellatinous (sp) alien in a (roughly) human shaped suit. I get dork points for my first anime reference with this science energy Blaster.

And here "she" is again with Kell'Ogg, another Gellan. That's my buddy Dan's chara and it was after Kell'Ogg that I modeled Tallgeese... only in a chick suit.

This is ChocoCat, my magic claw Scrapper. She's posed out dramatically for that shot. I wanted to make a "Hello Kitty" but the name was not available on Liberty Server. To my dismay, I learned one cannot have a tail and a belt. Since the browns didn't quite match, I opted for the belt. The cat ears are cute enough, right?

ChocoCat is ready for some action!

Sakurazukamori, my magic illusion Controller. BUWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! I have sooooo many goofy shots of him. This was the most serious pose I could get. Severe dork points for him.

And here is Sakurazukamori preparing to lead a Satanic ritual. Well, actually, he just whooped a lot of badguy arse and I thought it would be funny to pose him at the Alter of Evil.

There are so many folks with absolutely atrocious costumes, that I went out of my way to make one with the help of a few friends. And thus came to be The Dorkest Knight (pictured on the right, in the trash can helm). That dashing fellow next to him is a new acquaintance, Mr. Dorkus.

And my final chara, The CommonCold. Jeremy suggested it, since NPCs walk around saying things like "The Rikti have no chance against [hero's name here]" or "So-and-So was defeated by [hero's name here]" He thought seeing someone felled by "The Common Cold" would be funny. So, The CommonCold, an ice controller. The coloring is a little odd in this shot as the sun was setting and it was getting to what I call "the purple time of day."

The CommonCold at work, beating on some unfortunate gang banger who is frozen to the wall. And now I see why people have been constantly hitting on her... I thought this game was PG-13.

Neopets!

Mon, 18 Apr 2005 06:51:52 GMT

So... I finally figured out my password for my old NeoPets accounts from 2001ish. I'm trying to find out if any of my old friends still play on NeoPets. If so, I'm sure they're woefully ahead of me in the game now. I'm also trying to figure out a way to move Rikugou the Return over to the same account as Rikugou, Subaru, and Emma Fufu. Anyone know how?

And this, snagged from zaganthi (whoops!):

If you could upload ONE mp3 from your music collection to President Bush's iPod, what would it be? Copy this list to your own journal and add your song.

1. "Tuesday Morning" by Melissa Etheridge
2. "Sorrow" by Bad Religion (it was either this or "April 29, 1992" by Sublime; maybe I should've chosen Sublime for the minority angle...)
3. "I Touch Myself" by The Divinyls (puh-leeze... I HAD to)
4. "The Story" by Skittle-sama (and I hope he CHOKES on it)
5. "Melody" by Legolgel, from Pet Shop of Horrors (with translations and a background on the storyline, so he GETS it)
6. "Christfuck" by Wumpscut (upon hearing this song he will promptly state that all germans are terrorists and blow up germany.)
7. "Gasolina" by Daddy Yankee (al presidente le encanta la gasolina!)
8. "Soccer Practice" by The Gay Pimp (Because someone had to add this one.)
9. "Why Does It Hurt When I Pee!" by Frank Zappa (Hey! Why not?!?)
10. "I Wanna Be A Homosexual" by the Screeching Weasels
11. "Jack's room" by Katie Melua
12. "I'm Afraid of Americans" by David Bowie and NIN

Your Dominant Intelligence is Linguistic Intelligence

You are excellent with words and language. You explain yourself well.
An elegant speaker, you can converse well with anyone on the fly.
You are also good at remembering information and convicing someone of your point of view.
A master of creative phrasing and unique words, you enjoy expanding your vocabulary.

You would make a fantastic poet, journalist, writer, teacher, lawyer, politician, or translator.

What Kind of Intelligence Do You Have?

And now, for some good news

Wed, 13 Apr 2005 07:11:43 GMT

This brought a smile to my face today. It's good to see that open-mindedness and fairness can be found in it's most needed place - religion. Huzzah to the Lutherans for this bold step!

And this is fucking hillarious... Particularly since I got two'd at work and came home bitching about "Monopoly Money".

Do we really want people like this leading our nation?

Tue, 12 Apr 2005 07:06:54 GMT

In Contempt of Courts

C'mon kids. Let's get off our asses and do something about these theocrats! It's not only presidential elections that count but all of them! Be active!

The stupid is winning here in the U.S.

Mon, 11 Apr 2005 21:03:24 GMT

And now for more retarded news:

Monopolies Good, Breasts Bad - an article discussing media monopolies and indecency.

DeLay Under Fire from Fellow Republicans - About damn time! It's nice to see that some of the Republican Party realize how bad this man is making them all look!

Gas Price Hits Record for Fourth Week - No, really?

Apology

Mon, 11 Apr 2005 18:04:54 GMT

I'm very sorry ifI begin neglecting LJ in the near future. I've got City of Heroes on my own computer now (so I took my characters off Jeremy's account) and I'm addicted.

See you all in the game! ^_^

Why I stopped reading the news....

Mon, 11 Apr 2005 07:18:21 GMT

Because ideas like this piss me off... violently.

"One of the major arguments in the abortion debate is that a woman has a right to choose what happens with her body. I totally agree.

I support a woman's right to choose, sex or no sex. I know that there are instances due to rape or other issues that this statement does not apply to, but for the most part women make the choice to have sex and then do not want to accept the results of that choice."

That's right, ladies... It's completely OUR fault if we get pregnant. No fault on the sperm donor. And no thought is given to your circumstance should you pop up pregnant. Never mind if you were on birth control and taking St. John's Wort unaware that is reduces the pill's efficiency. If your'e pregnant you'd better pop that baby out into the world. Never mind that you're only 21, barely making ends meets, in school for 17 credit hours a quarter, working 30-40 hours a week, and practically starving for it.

Who cares! Pump those babies out girls! It was your fault anyway. Suffer.

>.< Some fuckers need to keep their moral opinions to themselves.

I call bullshit!

Mon, 11 Apr 2005 06:41:06 GMT

The Arizona Legislature approved a proposal to give pharmacists the right to refuse patients abortion-related medications if doing so conflicts with the pharmacists' moral or religious beliefs.

GRRR!

Sun, 10 Apr 2005 18:38:18 GMT

Why is my Moony's comment screened in my last post?! RAWR!

Fandom type stuff

Sun, 10 Apr 2005 07:14:39 GMT

1) DragonLance
Dalamar because (a) he's an Elf, (b) he's Goth (c'mon... all that BLACK!), (c) he's sek-say (goes back to the Elf thing), and (d) unlike Raistlin, Dalamar has absolutely no redeeming qualities! Guessed by Jingle Hopper!

2) Shoujo Kakumei Utena
Tenjou Utena because she's boyish in attitude and in speech. She's a characters that follows her own sense of right and wrong no matter what others think of it. Guess by Jon!

3) The X-Files
Alex Krycek. He was the first bad guy chara that piqued my interest and I've tended to like the baddies every since.

4) Rurouni Kenshin
Soujirou because he's severely cute and even more severely fucked in the head. Guessed by Moony!

5) Harry Potter
Sirius Black, oddly enough, and not he's played by Gary oldman in the film but because I misread a line in the wee hours of the morning of the book and he got me into HP slash. And he reminds of myself in terms of personality and temperment. Guessed by mein Bruderlein (Spiel mit Mir)!

6) Star Wars
Kyp Durron... sadly, my first RP ever was an OC in SW. And a boy on the BBS played Kyp... our charas hit it off shortly after we did and so I have fond memories of him from the books and the RP. Guessed by Jingle Hopper!

7) Yami no Matsuei
Kijin for no better than reason than that I dig blue hair. Just kidding. I thikn he has a sweet temperment, though he's another of those characters that gets it on when it's crazy-go-nuts time. Guessed by Moony!

8) Peacemaker
Okita cos he's my favorite person in ALL HISTORY! Guessed by Moony!

9) D.N.Angel
Hiwatari Satoshi. That poor kid has got it bad. I kind of associate with having two parts of the self that conflict with each other. Plus, he's not only a sexy blue-hair bish... he also wears glasses. And glasses are sek-say!

10) X
Sumeragi Subaru. I had to put at least one obvious character in here, didn't I? Again, Subaru is a character I greatly associate with. He's naive and innocent then becomes slightly jaded, depressive, and suicidal. Guessed by Ruri-chan!

And this one is from nataku_chan:

a. List 5 - 10 fandoms.
b. Have your friends list choose a character from each (or any) fandom that s/he thinks most resembles you (or reminds them of you) and justify why.
c. Post in your own LJ.

1. Tokyo Babylon
2. Yami no Matsuei
3. Star Wars (films or books)
4. Peacemaker
5. Harry Potter
6. Shoujo Kakumei Utena
7. Rurouni Kenshin
8. X
9. Saiyuki
10. Other (you choose the fandom and the character)

Fandom meme.

Thu, 07 Apr 2005 03:42:42 GMT

Blame anyathe for this.

a. Post a list of 10 fandoms. (tv shows, musicals, movies, books, etc.)
b. Have your friends list guess your favourite character/person from each one.
c. When guessed, bold the line, include the character/person name, and write a sentence about why you like that character/person.

1) DragonLance - Dalamar because (a) he's an Elf, (b) he's Goth (c'mon... all that BLACK!), (c) he's sek-say (goes back to the Elf thing), and (d) unlike Raistlin, Dalamar has absolutely no redeeming qualities! Guessed by Jingle Hopper!
2) Shoujo Kakumei Utena - Tenjou Utena because she's boyish in attitude and in speech. She's a characters that follows her own sense of right and wrong no matter what others think of it. Guess by Jon!
3) The X-Files
4) Rurouni Kenshin - Soujirou because he's severely cute and even more severely fucked in the head. Guessed by Moony!
5) Harry Potter - Sirius Black, oddly enough, and not he's played by Gary oldman in the film but because I misread a line in the wee hours of the morning of the book and he got me into HP slash. And he reminds of myself in terms of personality and temperment. Guessed by mein Bruderlein (Spiel mit Mir)!
6) Star Wars - Kyp Durron... sadly, my first RP ever was an OC in SW. And a boy on the BBS played Kyp... our charas hit it off shortly after we did and so I have fond memories of him from the books and the RP. Guessed by Jingle Hopper!
7) Yami no Matsuei - Kijin for no better than reason than that I dig blue hair. Just kidding. I thikn he has a sweet temperment, though he's another of those characters that gets it on when it's crazy-go-nuts time. Guessed by Moony!
8) Peacemaker - Okita cos he's my favorite person in ALL HISTORY! Guessed by Moony!
9) D.N.Angel
10) X - Sumeragi Subaru. I had to put at least one obvious character in here, didn't I? Again, Subaru is a character I greatly associate with. He's naive and innocent then becomes slightly jaded, depressive, and suicidal. Guessed by Ruri-chan!

Alright... some of those should be pretty obvious... Others might not be. Have at it!

Hint: For the Star Wars thing... look more to the books. ^_~
New Hint: For Yami no Matsuei... look to the manga. =^.^=

Should I go ahead and post the others since no one has guessed them yet?

Interesting article from "The Nation"

Thu, 07 Apr 2005 01:20:08 GMT

Pro-Death Politics
William Greider
Sat Apr 2, 9:18 PM ET

I was astounded to read an E.J. Dionne column in the Washington Post about a baby boy in Texas who was denied life support by hospital officials over the objections of his mother--astounded because this act of euthanasia was authorized by a state law passed by then-Governor George W. Bush. Or should we call it "murder," as some Republicans fervently insist in the death of Terri Schiavo? I wanted to know more about Bush's role, but the Post never returned to the matter. I wanted to know more about the circumstances surrounding the death of Representative Tom DeLay's injured father (the doctors pulled the plug on him with the family's consent).

I also want to know who makes these godlike choices for the Hospital Corporation of America, the 191-hospital chain built by Senator-Doctor Bill Frist's family. Does HCA follow the end-of-life logic suggested by Bush's law, or do the hospitals subscribe to Pope John Paul II's dictum that providing food and water to sustain brain-dead mortals is "morally obligatory"?

These questions sound tasteless and insensitive, I know, but our sensibilities have been jarred by the recent melodrama mounted by the right. The Pope's death was, by contrast, a model for dying with dignity and proper mourning. The life-or-death issue goes deeper than the obvious hypocrisy of certain politicians. It leads us into intriguing, disturbing questions about what "moral people" believe in this very moralistic country. Shouldn't we have a fuller discussion about who is pro-life, who is pro-death?

The Catholic Church, for instance, is opposed to the death penalty, though the US bishops have downplayed this conviction until very recently, compared with their political efforts against abortion rights, contraception and other "life-threatening" practices. Their conservative political allies, the evangelical Protestants, find biblical authority for the state's right to kill certain citizens, yet the Catholic Church finds the opposite. How do these political partners reconcile their moral differences? I don't wish to provoke religious antagonism, but these questions ought to be asked because the American Catholic bishops and the Protestant Christian right have become a muscular political force for their shared version of "moral values," asserting their influence at the highest levels.

The Bible says simply, Thou Shalt Not Kill, but various codicils have been added over the millennia by religious thinkers. It's OK to kill people in war--lots of people--if the circumstances meet the theological test for a "just war." Pope John Paul II opposed the US invasion of Iraq, called it a "crime against peace" and a conflict that "threatens the fate of humanity." American bishops warned that Bush's war did not meet "the strict conditions in Catholic teaching." We should return to examine their position more closely, because the killing continues in Iraq, including death by torture. If you think about it, Washington's overwhelming power in the world is founded on death, the awesome arsenal for killing people.

Most people would not regard ecology as a life-or-death issue, but some conservative Christians are beginning to espouse that moral position. The relentless march of industrial despoliation--destroying ecosystems and thousands of species--is the ultimate offense against life since all life forms, including humans, are sustained by nature. Scientists have described these times as an epoch of massive extinction attributable to human activity. Can a moral people do this? Would church leaders explain the mass destruction of God's creatures as Providence, part of God's plan? Pro-lifers are, meanwhile, trying to stamp out contraception and stem-cell research.

Here is what I believe: The country has just witnessed an interlude of religious hysteria, encouraged and exploited by political quackery. The political cynicism of Republicans shocked the nation. But even more alarming is the enthusiasm of self-described "pro-life" forces for using the power of the state to impose their obtuse moral distinctions on the rest of us. The Catholic Church and many Protestant evangelicals are acting as partisan political players in a very dangerous manner. Once they have mobilized zealots to their moral causes, they can expect others to fight back in the same blind, intolerant manner.

The Republican right's religious agenda is no secret. Both the Catholic Church and numerous evangelical churches want to win taxpayer financing for their private schools. The Republican Party supports them. The school-voucher issue has been sold as help for poor children trapped in failing public schools, but the long-term objective is to secure government money to pay the tuition of all students in parochial and private religious schools. Given the strong emotions of recent events, the pro-lifers are advancing an explosive agenda--forcing other Americans (whom they regard as infidels) to pay for the propagation of their "one, true faith."

NOTE: This article does not reflect the opinions of the poster (namely Subaru). She simply found it to be a bit thought provoking.

Meme-age

Wed, 06 Apr 2005 03:51:46 GMT

Accepting the baton from anyathe!

01) Total volume of music files on my computer?
4.95 GB, or 1260 songs.

02) The last CD I bought was...
erm... A single by Wolfsheim.

03a) The last song I listened to before writing this was...
Crucify - Tori Amos

03b) Song playing right now:
I Sit on Acid - Lords of Acid

04) Five songs I listen to a lot that mean a lot to me.
Voiceless Screaming - X Japan
Ever Dream - Nightwish
Fly Away - Poe
Angel Standing By - Jewel
Elsewhere - Sarah McLachlan

05) Which 5 people are you passing this baton to, and why?
Oh boy...

knightforge because I'm curious what he and nekosandy are listening to lately.
kissingchaos because I love her more than two cups and feel we bond through music!
xslash_thatx because I really wanted to mention "Spiel mit Mir" *snerk*
moon_doggy because she would break me out of prison.
lrdblasko because we don't talk anymore at all ever...