Attention Infidels!

Part 1 of the "Show some goddamn respect people!" series

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Recently I saw someone trolling a post in one of the Atheist Communities, they made the claim that the US constitution does not provide protection to atheists, because “it's freedom of exercise, if you don't have a faith, then it doesn't apply.”

This perplexed me; many religions don't follow all practices, so the protection is that those practices are not enforced, right? To the internet!

I found many references in the writings of our founding fathers, in respect to the first amendments freedom of religion. Some included the famous Jefferson quote of a “wall of separation between the church and the state.” Surprisingly though, was the number of references to the Muslim religion.

Historical context tells us that the Muslim world was universally hated by much of Europe. They had achieved domination over much of the worlds trade, their interest in science and mathematics had given them a leg up on technology, and their religion spread like wildfire, primarily in peaceful interactions with the known world.

To the founding fathers, the true test of a nation exercising a freedom of religion was the freedom of Muslims to practice their religion. Franklin suggested building a temple that would be open for people of all religions to worship in their own way (whether or not this was sarcastic is up to the interpreter, because let's be honest, it was Benji Franklin after all.)

What caught my attention was the number of references to “the infidel.” A quick search revealed that historically, and in context, infidel means one without faith. So it was agreed by the founding fathers that the freedom of religion, should also apply to those without faith, or Atheists.

I started thinking of Jim Jones. A self proclaimed apostolic Marxist, atheist/agnostic who was responsible for the greatest loss of American lives, prior to the attacks on September 11^th. Jim Jones used religion to achieve his desire to spread his warped concept of Marxism.

Then my mind started to wander to other such evil peoples, who used god, superstition, religion and fear to spread their destructive ideals.

The problem isn't religion, it's that some religious people tend to reward extremist beliefs, and that that Pavlovian reward system makes those extremist more vocal. Take the Westbourough church, in the context of toddlers. To a toddler, negative attention is still attention, and giving a toddler negative attention encourages them to continue to act out, so that they continue to get the attention they so desire.

Truly, as I see it, atheists and theists have a common enemy. Religious extremists. The attacks of September 11^th, were not performed by every Muslim, it was performed by a few Islamic extremists. The Holocaust was symptomatic of a centuries old distrust carried out under the guise of “for god and country.” Jonestown was an atheists using religious fear to exact control.

Which brought me back to the founding fathers of the US. Did the founding fathers intend for the first amendment to exist in a vacuum? An ideal utopia, where no one would ever dare to load a u-haul with explosives and blow up a federal building, in the name of God and country? If so, then freedom of religion is flawed, and should be considered as an unachievable goal. Or, Did they take into consideration, seeing that they came from the oppressive rule of the King, and Church of England the evils that religions are capable of? If that's the case, then the freedom of religion is still flawed, since it was written to protect extremists, and religious oppression.

I believe that it was written as an important part of being a civilized people. That the free exercise of religion is something that need be upheld by it's people. Therefore it is in the best interest of the people to regulate the crazies. To stop the cycle of abuse within religions. To know how to protect ones worship, while preventing tragedies committed in the name of god. It is all peoples responsibility, atheist, theists, Baptists, Evangelical, Catholic, Shi’ite, Buddhists, Zoroastianists, Janists, and Pagans. We are not each others enemy, we are fighting the same battle. It's about time that we started acting like it.

As atheists, we should know better. Coming from a place, where we are treated poorly, we shouldn't actively attempt to treat others in the same way.  

Where were all the funny people?

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Last night the wifely-one and I were discussing Amy Yasbeck, and how she was absolutely brilliant in Men in Tights and Wings, but her choice of rolls beyond that were mostly, meh.  It was a shame, considering she really stands out as one of the better comedic female actors, that her talent would would be used for one off bit parts in terrible sitcoms.

The conversation quickly turned to the funny ladies of hollywood.  I realized that I can sit and name a never ending list of some of the most brilliant women working today... and a very sizable list of those from the 50s 60s and 70s, but not so many from the late 80s through 90s.

Generally speaking it wouldn't phase me, I would just go to bed, and not give it any thought beyond that, but I woke up the next morning and racked my brain trying to figure out why that is.

I poked around looking for a list of the funny ones from that 15 year period, and was distraught to find a reoccuring theme, actors such as Julia Roberts, Jennifer Aniston, Meg Ryan, Mia Farrow, and such.  Each and every time that a blogger would say why they were queens of comedy the reasons were: She is so beautiful, and her (physical trait) is so unique, and OMG when she wore that (sexy garment) in (that one film).  Oh yeah, and they were funny once.   So to distinguish from actors who did a comedic roll and some one who is funny, the one brings nothing to the part, just reads the lines and thats it.  The latter is someone who has a fundamental understanding of what works, why it works, and brings a significant amount of themselves to the part, enhancing the humor.

Years ago my screenwriting teacher gave a lecture about women in comedy.  His theory was that because of a major shift in what is considered politically correct, leading to a period when the comedy styles of Lucile Ball, Penny Marshall, or Goldie Hawn would no longer be acceptable as it would be seen as being contrary to the feminist movement.  Unfortunately that style of comedy was what was popular in Hollywood for that time.

When I told the wifely-one about his theory she... well... agreed, but only somewhat.  She had a separate theory that comedy in general was pretty awful during the 80s and 90s, sitcoms, dumb empty humor, failed slapstick.

Either way, I don't know, but the one thing I do know it's not because women are inherently not funny (a suggestion I received on two separate occasions, by two different people)  So what went on?  Where were the Madeline Kahns, the Jane Curtains of the 90s?

Someone suggested an evolutionary psychological reason, being women prefer men who are funny, and the opposite is not the case.  Specifically whenever a man talks about a woman having a good sense of humor it translates as she laughs at my jokes... for a small crowd, this is probably true, but doesn't explain why it would kick in in the late 80s and dramatically change in the early oughts.

  *Tangent*
When I was younger, I was awkward, not very well liked by the opposite sex, and was generally a bit of an outcast.  I became the funny guy, not because I was a natural, but because it helped me fit in. Something that is echoed by many of the funniest people alive.  (If you get the chance read Bossypants by Tina Fey, it's brilliant and gives a nice insight into the life of one of the funniest people of our time)

  *we're back*
I've come to the conclusion it's probably the combination of everyone's input.  Something that comes to mind is movies in which someone is "hollywood ugly" (see: Uma Thurman in the beginning of Batman and Robin, Sandra Bullock in Love Potion Number 9, She's All That, anything starring Janine Garofalo) Their seems to be a period where actors were cast because they were beautiful, and they'll make them fit the character later.  So you have actors who understand the art of comedy less and less.  People who grew up being worshipped by those around them, who never had to try.  Pair that with generally terribly writing and you have a long dry spell.

The change then?  Geek Chic.  The increasingly grey area of what makes a little girl, a little girl, and a little boy, a little boy.  Girls playing video games or sports, reading comic books and action oriented novels.  Young girls who grew up in a society where those behaviors were still considered tomboyish.  While they still might have been worshipped for being omg so pretty, they were still exposed to the awkward ostracism that comes from being not quite normal.

Though, as I get older I understand more and more that what I believe and what I know is probably wrong.  So I welcome any opinions, no matter how different they might be, even if you have a crazy conspiracy theory, go ahead and share, or if you have a favorite female comic actor from the 90s, I'm always looking to expand my comedic influences, some of my favorites are: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Tracy Ullman, Alyson Hannigan (though I admit How I Met Your Mother has really been her only time to really shine, as most will think of her in American Pie, and Date Movie, but she has an amazing sense of timing), Sarah Silverman, Mary Lynn Rajskub.  

My own religion, or FU people!

Being an agnostic, I am accused by both sides of not believing in anything.  However I believe this is not true.
I do believe in a higher power, this higher power is all knowing and benevolent.  I go to this higher power whenever I need guidance, answers, or just feel lost, lonely and needing assistance.  I call this higher power Google.
Now I am not a monotheist in my beliefs.  No, no no.  I also believe there are helper gods, or lesser gods.  Some offer me assistance with the cinematic arts, especially regarding film and television.  I call this god imdb.
Others give me guidance on what to wear on a daily basis, and whether or not I should bring an umbrella, I call this god weatherchannel.
Still others seek only to please me, and I give them much thanks and praise back.  Lesser gods such as addictinggames, puzzles, and porntube.
So yes, though I am an agnostic, I do believe in higher powers.  I go to them daily, and they help me daily.  Amen.