Saturday, August 25, 2012

America: The Land of Religious Extremism

Question: To which country did religious extremists in Europe emigrate?
Answer: United States of America

Question: Why did religious extremists leave Europe?
Answer: Because most Europeans wanted them to.

Question: Were Puritans religious extremists?
Answer: Depends on whether you consider genocide extreme.

Question: Did Puritans commit genocide?
Answer: Depends on your perspective. If you are Irish or a Native American your answer might be 'yes.' If you are a Puritan or can't read history your answer is most likely 'no.'

In the United States there appear to be two versions of Christianity operating. One version appears to be untouched by the Enlightenment or the Age of Reason. The other version appears to be an apologist for a soul-less brand of Capitalism.
Both versions appear to be supporters of the Republican Party. From the congressman in Missouri whose remarks on rape belong in the Middle Ages to Sarah Palin, Rick Santorum, and Michelle Bachman we have evidence of people untouched by critical thinking or analysis.
It is not surprising that Republicans in Texas want to eliminate the teaching of critical thinking and analysis in public schools. By electing people like George W. Bush and Rick Perry as governor it is evident that they abandoned reason awhile back.
Then there are the soul-less Capitalist apologists that support people like Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan. Romney and Ryan give enough lip service to religion to keep the extremists in their party happy, but what they really worship is a brand of atheistic soul-crushing amoral Social Darwinism promulgated by writers like Ayn Rand, one of Ryan's greatest influences (at least until he decided to seek national prominence).
It didn't used to be like this. Religious wackos used to keep to themselves and only abuse their own people. Capitalists like Teddy Roosevelt were opposed to monopolies and trusts. Heck, Teddy was known as the 'Trust Buster.' Couldn't call Romney that.
Everything changed when religious extremists decided to organize themselves politically. Ironically, to gain political power they allied themselves with the amoral wing of the Republican party. They made a bargain with the devil. They would give the devil control over fiscal policy if they could control social policy - i.e. impose their extremists views on society.
Bit by bit, piece by piece, law by law, policy by policy, America has lost its soul. We are now a country full of hate governed by fear. As a country we are descending into a Dark Age where reason and logic are viewed as alien and intolerance and ignorance are viewed as evidence of religious faith.
It didn't used to be this way. It doesn't have to be this way.
It took awhile, but England recovered from its Puritan tyranny under Oliver Cromwell. Most of those Puritans who fled England after Cromwell died came to the United States. Their descendants, biological and philosophical, appear to be in charge in America today.
Those of us, Republican and Democratic, conservative and liberal, who value critical thinking and analysis, and understand the role reason and logic can play in making a society work for the benefit of everyone and not just a chosen few, we're still the majority. And that matters if we're still a democracy.

Question: Is the United States a democracy?
Answer: TBD

Thursday, August 2, 2012

The Wonderful World of Sheldon Cooper

I grew up watching Saturday morning cartoons. One of the most distinctive voices in cartoons belonged to Sheldon Leonard, an actor who usually played villains in movies. But I remember him primarily as the voice of Linus the Lionhearted.
So when I read that the two main characters in the popular sitcom 'Big Bang Theory' were named Sheldon and Leonard, thinking they were inspired by the voice of Linus, I felt obliged to watch the show. It was a wise move.
The show is hilarious. Like Chuck Lorre's other hit show 'Two and a Half Men' it is well written. What Sheldon Cooper's character, played by Jim Parsons, adds is physical humor reminiscent of Buster Keaton. Together with Leonard, played by Johnny Galecki, the physical humor sometimes approaches levels reached only by Laurel and Hardy.
Sheldon is the character I most identify with on the show. I do not have a genius level IQ but I have spent a lot of time in my life explaining things in great detail to people not even remotely interested in what I'm talking about. It took me a long time to figure this out.
Sheldon is learning this, too, as the character Penny, played by Kaley Cuoco, occasionally reminds Sheldon that "you're just boring people, sweety."
Like Sheldon, I have very little patience for people who haven't figured out what I have and whose minds don't work as quickly as mine does. Sheldon's frustrations are real to me, I am convinced most of the time that most people are idiots.
Sheldon is annoying, arrogant, obsessive, compulsive, phobic and totally lacking in social skills. That anyone puts up with him is amazing. Not surprisingly, the friends he does have also have high IQs, poor social skills and similar interests (playing Halo, paintball and attending Comic-Con).
The relationship that Sheldon develops with Penny is fun to watch. Sheldon's child-like qualities seem to bring out maternal instincts in Penny, while Penny's social skills and common sense bring something approaching equilibrium to Sheldon's world.
Not surprising, some of the best Sheldon moments are interactions with Penny. One of my favorites is the Christmas Penny surprises Sheldon by announcing she is going to give him a gift, which turns out to be a napkin signed by Leonard Nimoy.
But the episode that sticks with me is one where Sheldon, struggling to be more aware of other people's feelings, notices that Penny is despondent. He asks what is troubling her. When she tells him he replies by saying that most of her problems could be solved by money.
He then proceeds to offer her money, holding it out in his hand like somebody would offer a playing card.
"Here, take as much as you want." Sheldon explains that he doesn't need it, he has what he wants.
What a wonderful thing to say.
Although I'm about five years late to the dance, Big Bang is on syndication on several cable channels, so I'm catching up at a rapid rate. Sheldon and his cohorts are a welcome reminder that television does not have to speak to our lowest common denominator to be successful. Live long and prosper!