Before you begin reading this, I ask only one thing: Read the entirety of this article as it is. Do not get to a point that may offend you or that you may not agree with and instantly begin formulating arguments. Read from beginning to end and take in everything I'm saying here. First, I have to make a few points that many people may already know:
- I am not a man of religion.
- I believe in evolution.
- I claim no affiliation with any political party.
- I do not support any form of government, not even my own.
- I do not believe in corporate America.
- I have little to no faith in humanity as a whole.
- I am a heavy believer in one's complete right to one's own opinions and beliefs.
- I crave the betterment of humanity.
- I support our troops, regardless of a lack of faith in this country.
- I believe in human rights.
- I believe in the corruption of religion.
- I do not believe in censorship.
- I do not believe in celebrity glamour.
- I believe in the good of the individual.
This post contains much of my attitude on these topics and many justifications for said views. If you can't accept a person's right to hold and express his opinions, then navigate away from this page and push it out of the confines of your bubble of stubborn ignorance.
Religion
As a child, I was occasionally taken to church with my grandparents. I reluctantly sat through "Sunday School" while eagerly awaiting its end that I may go back and be with them instead of being surrounded by all the strange children I didn't know and who made no attempt to change that fact. I was told of Moses, Sodom and Gamorrah, Adam and Eve, Lucifer's fall from Heaven, and an uncountable number of other stories of biblical origin. From the same mouths, I was told of Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy.
The ignorance and innocence of childhood, coupled with a selfishness wrought from knowing nothing but one's own feelings, led me to fear that Santa would not bring me presents, the Easter Bunny wouldn't leave me candy or that the Tooth Fairy would simply leave with my lost teeth without any monetary reward. Just the same, the fear of pain planted in me a terrified necessity to express belief in an all-powerful being. This was not a belief instilled by faith, love, the desire to live a good life or help others that they might better themselves. This was induced by the manipulation of a child's innocent, uneducated, inexperienced fear.
When I was in second grade, I lost my best and only real friend to a house fire. I was bombarded from innumerable sources with "God works in mysterious ways." which was not something that I could wrap my mind around. God wants everyone to be good and love him and yet when we're faced with a tragedy, we're supposed to be thankful for it? Taking away my only friend and his mother's only children, one of which wasn't even old enough to be in school yet, was supposed to be a deeply positive sign of his love for them and for her? I couldn't see any logic in this. If I care about someone, the last thing I want to do is hurt them, rip away their closest relations that they will never be able to express the love and appreciation felt regardless of the two knowing that each was the other's best friend.
As I grew older, I watched the curtains close for Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy. The ingenious development of fictitious figures in attempts to cull undesirable behavior from children has continued across centuries, mostly ineffective as the children of these families quickly realize that regardless of any atrocious behavior over the past year, they still receive presents, candy and money for their teeth. To me, the idea that people who would swear to the truth of these lovable lies also testified to me the necessity of faith in God, whose love for us was undying.
In high school, I was introduced to the incredibly intelligent works of George Carlin. His words went above and beyond my feelings, and I finally found someone astute enough to break down these points into amusing, humorous narratives. Several albums later, I was finally at peace with my views on the world around me, finding that I was not the only one with a lack of faith in humanity, corporate America and the spiritual scene. Before Carlin, I assumed that my lack of faith in things made me a bad person; I thought that my constant questioning and disapproval of the methods and mannerisms of the world was something I should be ashamed of. People can say what they will of his material, insult and degrade him for lacing his shows with profanity and even declare him as "stupid" because "he's wrong."
Evolution
Rather than trying to see the logic in evolutionary theory, many of those devoted to a branch of the tree of religion approach this topic as though it could not have been dreamed into existence by anyone other than the best science fiction writers. Rather than taking into account details, disbelievers of evolution assume that each step in the evolutionary chain of a creature and its descendants occurred suddenly as if, for example, the parent generation of a family of apes suddenly started giving birth to humans.
The theory of evolution covers more than simply apes becoming man or dinosaurs sprouting wings and taking flight; it covers more than a few hundred or a few thousand years; it takes into account more than a single detail leading to the spread of a dominant mutation that triggered the eventual evolution. Those who argue against the theory will often cite, as examples, wrongly answered questions of ignorant members of the community who are uneducated or misinformed, blaming their mistakes or mere stupidity on the assumption that these people only think such outrageous nonsense because that is what they were taught by "experts."
The simple fact of the matter in this case is that those seemingly misinformed people are either A)really that stupid, B)remembering something incorrectly or C)unaware of the right answer in the first place. These same people who argue against the theory often claim that it was created by scientists to give them a reason to deny the existence of God, while failing to realize that there are a great number of devoted worshipers among respected departments in the scientific community.
Politics
In school, I recall being taught about the voting process used in America: the Electoral College. Rather than voting for who will be our president and vice president, Americans vote for electors. These electors are free to vote for anyone at all who is eligible to hold the office. Typically, the electors will vote for who they are intended to vote for. I'm sure there has been the occasional deceptive stray who said one thing and did another. I can't prove this point, I don't intend to research it, nor do I care. What's done is done, and what's done has had no effect whatsoever. Every 4 years, people line up at the polls to cast their ballots, thinking that they know what's best for the country and who is best to accomplish these goals. Shortly after the elections are over, the results are in and the president is sworn into office, there begins the next wave of "Fuck this president." and the newest generation of complaints about the progress (or lack thereof) coming from the current administration, as if the bulk of those whining actually believe that, because this one person holds the office of president of this country, that person can simply snap their fingers and "make it so."
In the voting process, "the majority wins," which is what supposedly gets these individuals elected into their positions in the first place. From there, they accomplish nothing themselves, acting as merely another part in the governing body, and at the end of their term, whatever happens happens. Once bills and acts are in motion, if they are not stopped by the heads of the country voting on them, there is nothing that we can do as citizens of this country. Congress wants a 30% pay increase which will dip into each and every one of our pockets and not a single member votes against it, guess what? Your wallet just got emptier.
This country was, according to undisputed academic lessons, founded on morals such as honesty and rights. Yet all too common is the story of the bribed congressman and the lying president. Regardless of what came to pass under any individual's holding of office, there is an endless supply of both praise and degradation toward that one person to whom these changes (or lack thereof) are attributed, most commonly without even the slightest pause to recognize or acknowledge the actual method that allowed or prevented such changes. The process of voting for someone else to cast their vote takes the ability to actually affect the outcome right out of the voters' hands. And yet that is the great, undisputed system in place in this country.
I am not a conspiracy theorist nor do I allow myself to believe in the quality of anyone who holds any position of power or recognition over his fellow man. Merely acknowledging the inherent corruption and desire for self-improvement at any cost (including the security or well-being of his brethren) that originates from our animal instincts to survive is enough to make it painfully obvious that these elected representatives are, in the end, only out to better themselves through any means necessary. Blind faith to one's country, without taking the time to investigate or probe the motives behind such dedication, is merely a variation of the trust test common throughout support groups. Closing your eyes and allowing yourself to fall back while expecting your fellows to prevent injury can unexpectedly lead to a headache and missing cash.
Government
The discussion here of politics leads to my views of governing presences on a larger scale. Whether you proudly fly the flag of democracy or cower underneath the iron fist of a censorship-heavy dynasty, you are nothing more than a statistic for those above you. Refusal to admit this is no different than having blind faith in your country. As long as there are governments, each full of differing opinions on how to do things yet all sharing the opinion that everyone else is doing it wrong, the world will never truly improve and governments and countries will remain at the throats of others, watching like hawks for a moment of weakness that they might strike. This all stems from the simple fact that the incorrigible mass that is humanity will never be able to wrap their simple minds around as elementary a concept as respect for his fellow man.
Corporate America
Operating along the same level as politics, we have corporate America. Where the higher up the ladder of employment you climb, the harder you have to pucker up to please the man above you. Turning around and descending the ladder, each step lower puts us more in touch with the real face of America. Those in charge of individual stores or a small collection of stores, and not just stuck in entry-level positions, view those working for them as numbers to be added to the database and forced into compliance with even the most ridiculous and outrageous rules, rules which stem from an inexperienced, self-righteous executive fairly far up the ladder of employment who has no idea exactly how unnecessary or problematic his ideas might actually be on a functioning level.
Overall, the primary reason I cannot respect corporate American boils down to two things:
- There is absolutely no concern beyond the entry-level positions for anyone other than those higher up the employment ladder.
- Each pointless requirement in presentation and preparation of any product is just one more way for those higher up the ladder to pad their own pockets.
(No) Faith in Humanity
Government's shortcomings and failure to truly accomplish sprouts from failure on the simplest level: the individual. Each individual makes up part of the whole, be it a religious denomination, a form of government or even something as simple as a classroom full of children. All humans share the basic animal characteristic of the need to survive. This instinct is observed in the animal kingdom through behavior commonly called "fight or flight." When presented with a situation in which the creature judges a danger to his life, based upon present conditions, that animal will choose to flee or attempt to combat the danger. Emerging victorious, the animal's life continues. Failing, the animal ceases to survive and dies.
Through the process of making life easier with the simplest of harnessed power or creations such as electricity, cars, mass-produced clothing, the "civilized" world has merged this need to survive into their desire to maintain the least stressful and most comfortable living conditions possible. The used-car salesman omits key points that he feels may contribute to the decision against purchase of his stock, the office-bound secretary extends the highest courtesy to her employer and all whom she must deal with, thus ensuring continued monetary flow into their personal assets.
Having "progressed" through the world and recognizing the necessity to commit whatever acts required to protect one's safety and continued luxury, regardless of how quaint or extravagant, has also instilled into us the negotiating businessman's assumption that any individual we are dealing with is providing only enough detail to any situation to make it appealing to us while allowing his own certain personal gain to wait behind the scenes without mention. Thus, in our search to acquire better conditions or material goods, our minds illuminate the positive and shuffle off the negative, highlighting everything presented to us that we desire to see and casting shadows on the secondary attributes of the situation. As such, there are none who seek to help others simply out of the purity of their essence; there is always an ulterior motive, even in something represented to be as pure as religion; If a man (the "speaker") seeks to convert or convince someone else (the "listener") to trust in the speaker's beliefs, he is doing so because that is what his deity wishes; Success in his endeavors leads to further approval from the deity, his personal-gain motive to advertising a desire to better his listener.
The absence of respect or consideration toward others is just as easily observed in a school classroom as a used-car lot. The assortment of more violent, openly or covertly, children commonly referred to as "bullies" implying or displaying physically painful attacks to those they deem weaker than themselves is nothing more than a carnal desire to establish their position as an alpha among the less able who openly submit to this expressed superiority for fear of retribution or unprovoked attack. Lack of any interference with this behavior from teachers or other authority figures in the school system contributes to the continuation of such conduct. In this, the authoritative figures who remove themselves from any attempts to inhibit the superficial practice, are nurturing their own lack of personal gain from such hindrance: "I don't get anything for stopping it, so why bother?" Devoid of any positive interaction from those "in charge" toward easing their plight, the bullied continue their submissive stances, the bullying continue the expression of alpha dominance and those who should stop such behavior turn a blind eye to it.
Right to Opinion
As we are not of a hive mind, none of us are identical in our mental facilities. While some people may share views and opinions with others on a particular subject, each of those people quite possibly have completely differing thoughts on another subject. Rather than accept the right to individuality innate in each of us, too often are judgments expressed as though there is no right for anyone to feel differently about that particular situation. This is where arguments originate, this is why they will continue and this is the main reason humankind will never truly improve.
Do not mistake what I am saying in this: Disrespecting an uneducated opinion and attempting to educate based on fact in order to improve that opinion are two completely separate ideas. That said, some of the most prevalent territories in which this is a considerable problem are already mentioned here: religion and politics.
Religion and Opinion
Many members of various religious branches will use verses from whichever revered text is the foundation for their belief system in attempts to find level ground on which they can begin further affecting your opinions, ideals, morals or traits. While they will argue (or "discuss") that they are the "right" one because it is written in their sacred volume, the fact exists that every religion has its own text which, to that particular sect, is the "right" or "only" "real" one. As such, any member of any particular religion will conclude that the others are "wrong" because they simply don't share ideals. This extends from simple one-on-one debate and reaches minimally radical behavior such as the door-to-door harassment of the uninvited devout attempting to add another to their gathering building of choice as well as another heathen to their own person list of converts.
Even when conversion is not the ultimate professed goal (as many will simply offer this as "sharing the truth" or "trying to help"), the faithful will continue using material written in their "one and only" scripture in an (openly denied) effort to convince their listener of their "truth" yet any flaw or frailty presented is dismissed as misinterpretation due to the ignorance of whoever would debate the written word.
Politics and Opinion
Another key arena in which individual opinions will never be accepted or respected is the world of politics. Situations presented in the political field tend to flare with disagreement with almost as much volatility as an endeavor to debate religious views. Whether the topic is abortion or gun rights, taxes or gay rights, there will always be those for and those against the situation presented, and each side will assume the same confidence in the truth of their thoughts and feelings because, just as with religion, the opposition is wrong because they do not agree.
The Point
The point is, incredibly ironically, that there is no true fact in this world. All of the minute details of any "truth" are merely opinions based on other, more widely agreed-upon opinions. When one settles on something as "truth" it is typically because they are comfortable agreeing with the points leading up to their conclusion. No matter how large or small the community agreeing on this "truth," there are always those with different stances.
The right to believe as you so desire is inherent in our free will, a right given to us simply through the act of living. No person has any right to attack his brother's views simply because they do not agree with them. Mutual consent to sensible discussion while holding the knowledge that all fact is merely opinion causes no harm but too often one or both parties involved in the discussion fail to remember this.
Bettering Humanity
While I yearn for mankind to lay down their arms and embrace their brethren as one, I know this can never happen. The obstacles of religion, varying political views and ideas as shallow as racial intolerance will never allow this to happen. Man will always view those who disagree with him as wrong; those who are different from he are inferior; those who do not help him are selfish. Yet each who would believe such things is doing just as he does not want others to do. He cannot peacefully allow the continuation of that which is not dear to him.
A man born unable to walk is pitied as a lesser being rather than respected as a brother. Drivers who don't stop to help stranded motorists are assholes. Stranded motorists who think they have the right to someone's time when that someone is not trained in automotive repair or has "more important things" to attend to are idiots. The black man who lives across the street is scum because he needs to "go back to Africa." The Sikh who frequents the local convenience store is a terrorist because he wears a turban. The Mexican who works at a fast food restaurant is stealing my job because he's not white. The fat kid in class deserves ridicule because of his size. The moron driving slower than me needs to get out of my way since I need to be behind the burger grill in twenty minutes and he's doing less than the speed limit. The group of moviegoers all dressed in attire to celebrate the release of a new widely-loved film is nothing but stupid people who need to get a life.
While I cannot say I am innocent of feeling any of these things, I can admit that I was selfish and wrong to feel that way. However, with ignorance, prejudice and greed so deeply embedded in mankind, I know the chances that, given a reversal of roles, the opposite party would have shared the same opinions are incredibly high (if not definite). Many will insist that they would gladly open their arms and minds to the differences and individuality of others on one condition. The other person has to lay down their arms first.
This bred and fermented distrust and dislike for those who are different from ourselves in any respect is what will ultimately prevent mankind from ever achieving a true peaceful existence. Insisting that only through something such as religious harmony can we ever ascend beyond the weak shells of what we are is merely withdrawing into the empty void that is wrought from a fear of change; we know change is unavoidable, yet we fear it as it ultimately leads to discomfort just as moving into a new home takes adjustment. This is why, though I desire it more than almost anything else, I know mankind will never be at peace with itself.
Support Our Troops
I don't have a lot to say here. Because I have no faith in my country, many assume that I disrespect those who have fought and died to make it what it is today. That is not the case. I have nothing but respect for the men and women who have, both voluntarily and involuntarily, lost their lives in wars. What I don't have respect for is the fact that their fellow man deemed it necessary that people die to arrive at a conclusion to a disagreement. Of course, had humanity risen above our inherited animal instincts to kill that which threatens us or be killed (either physically, fundamentally or both) these situations would have never arisen.
Human Rights
In this, I do not speak of such shallow notions as "freedom of speech" or any other of a number of ridiculous doctrines that governmental bodies feel necessary to make for or against their "laws" (yet another opinion-driven institution). Although it is ideas such as America's constantly-declared "freedom of speech" that lead to this point, a more prominent detail that leads to my expressed views here is a ridiculous notion that we know as "gay rights." After watching a video on YouTube (linked at the end of this, should anyone so desire to watch), I realized that all the times I had spoken in favor of gay rights, I had basically been no different than those speaking against them in a single, important respect, expressed brilliantly in the mentioned video: I do not believe in gay rights.
Indeed, I believe in human rights. Just as both male and female members of every religious denomination, every nationality, every disability (and an infinite other number of factors that establish individuality), gays and lesbians are no different. Laws that address issues such as gay marriage, gays' right to adopt, etc. are nothing more than the governing body subtly indicating that members of the gay community are somehow less than human. One of the sad things (yet not surprising) in this is that these laws would have never even needed to be debated, conceived or voted on had religious zealots left their fellow man and woman to their human right to exist as an individual, accepted them as they are, and left it alone. Instead, in attempts to raise their voices that they might be heard a little further around the globe, these communities which preach peace and love arose in ignorant displays of hate mongering, spouting examples of the hateful "truth" that motivated them from the pages of their holy text.
Every person to walk this earth has the same rights as anyone else: to live as they will, as long as they harm no others.
Corruption of Religion
Though I use the word "religion" here, in this particular instance, I speak particularly of Christianity on a general scale. Be it Catholic, Baptist or snake-handling Pentecostal, the general presence of Christianity has been corrupted and continues to ferment more and more with each pretentious widespread act of righteousness.
Marilyn Manson comes to town for a concert. The Christians line up and picket.
An abortion clinic opens. The Christians line up to picket.
A politician speaks in favor of "gay rights." The Christians line up to picket.
A school's science class involves teachings of evolution.
That's right. The Christians line up to picket.
Those who claim to promote brotherhood and acceptance are the most outspoken, the most hateful, the most violent even, as soon as they get wind of something for which they have even the slightest dislike. There's even a church full of such vile idiots that they picket at funerals. And they still deem to call themselves human.
I can't remember the last time anyone but a Christian of one denomination or another came knocking at my door to preach something that, if I wanted to hear in the first place, I would seek out somewhere to hear it. I've never been harassed by a member of the Rastafarian movement, a Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Pagan or atheist. Always, it's Christians. Always.
I can't profess to have read the entirety of any holy text, but I am familiar with 1 Corinthians 9:16: "For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!" Seems to me like the book almost gives these people the right to harass me because otherwise woe is unto them, right?
Wrong. Feel free to preach the gospel all you wish, I wish you nothing but enjoyable sermons. But as with any "fact" (read: opinion), if you want positive results, warm acceptance and smiling faces, preach to the like-minded. Share your love with those who feel the same and stop harassing people with your religion's "right" book. (Remember: Every religion claims that their text is the "right" one.)
Censorship
I do not believe in censorship whether through media, cutting profanity out of songs on "explicit" albums or deciding that a child cannot watch a scene in a movie because there's a bared breast. Technically, if you're going to avert your child's eyes from something like that, you shouldn't be allowing them to watch the movie in the first place. Censorship only delays the inevitable shock that comes with the revelation of the impurity and filth born of living in a world full of creatures as insensitive and crude as human beings.
Celebrity Glamour
While I appreciate the effort that goes into, and enjoy the result thereof, a good movie, I can't help but be sickened by the flashy and fabulous lifestyles celebrities are constantly flaunting before the hive-minded sheep that are their devoted fans. Just because these people put work and effort, blood, sweat and tears into their roles to provide for the best performances possible does not mean they have the right to own 20 cars or fill their 9-story mansions with giant widescreen televisions in every room.
While there are countless soldiers missing in action or prisoners of war, murders, robberies, hunger, famine, homelessness and other uncountable atrocities going on in the world beyond their beefy security guards, they captivate us and draw our attention: we are the moths and they are the flame; nothing else matters.
I, for one, am sick of the undeserved fascination and praise being lauded on talentless cretins. I'm tired of knowing that while children are starving to death in other countries, endless members of the celebrity lifestyle are throwing away massive quantities of food and sleeping on 3-mattress beds. Sure, these people deserve some recognition, some praise for their ability to give us believable performances in their films. But not at a cost they don't even recognize.
The Good of the Individual
Finally, I get to what seems to be the only positive raft in this ocean of negativity. While I may not believe in religion, politics, government, humanity or censorship, I believe in the good of the individual. This does not stem from good deeds in the name of a deity or monetary donations to a charity that you will never see the results of. This is not sponsoring a picture of a foreign child and funneling your money month after month to a religious organization exhibiting good will towards men and claiming to use your money to feed and clothe that sponsored child. This is not preaching the gospel to the homeless or rudely advising him to get a job before you go on about your day full of things much more important than helping someone out. The good of the individual is not even something that should need explaining. If you can't grasp the concept of what makes someone a good person, without blindly resorting to religion or other mass opinions, you clearly do not fall into the category.
The End
I know good individuals. They do exist. They are just incredibly hard to come by.
Edit: While I may not affiliate myself with or approve of the world of religion on a whole, I do not protest those who find personal comfort in their beliefs: only those who use them as a shield.
"I don't believe in gay rights!" on YouTube.
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