Of God and evolution

I recently had a conversation with a friend of mine who is a devout Christian. Years ago, this man (A Republican) and I (A Democrat at the time) had a conversation about politics, in which I was embarrassingly whipped. Because of this conversation, I spent many, many hours reading and educating myself on anything and everything I could find on the subject of political theory with a particular emphasis on "left vs right" or "Conservative Vs Liberal" theories, only to find that I was actually standing on the wrong side of the issues. My ignorance was causing me to take positions I didn't fully understand, and my friend knew it. Not once did he beat me up about it or even try to teach me, but if I ever had a question, or an argument I wanted to try out, he was always ready to smack me down and direct me to the places where I could learn what I was talking about before I opened my mouth again.

Nearly ten years later, this man felt it was time to talk to me of God, and my lifelong Atheist/Agnostic position on the subject. We spoke for several hours about what he believed, and how it was different from the common Christianity that I so openly mocked. He spoke to me of words that translated poorly into the English language, and how to find proper translations. He explained that my resentment of the Christian masses was misplaced, and that it was the teachers of that faith who were to blame for the overwhelming amount of misunderstanding within Christendom. Then he proceeded to blow my mind.

When I asked about Evolution and the age of the planet, he refrained from answering. Instead he asked me a question.

"Do you believe in man made Global warming?"

"No" I replied, and listed off the reasons why I considered it to be a scam.

"So, you think that scientists across the globe are either lying or flat out wrong?" he asked

"Yes" I answered.

"SO why is it so implausible that the very same people and institutions are wrong or lying about another subject? Doesn't it stand to reason that once their credibility is compromised, that all things from the scientific community must be questioned?"

I found myself stumped. I could hardly argue with the logic my friend presented, yet wasn't evolution obvious??

It was at this time that he presented me with "Haeckel's embryos", a chart showing various embryos of various animals, used in the 60's and 70's in science books to demonstrate how evolution was not only possible, but PROVABLE by watching the development of different forms of life "evolve" from nearly identical organisms into distinctly unique creatures.

"This was taught as fact to me in High school. Now it is a hidden, dirty secret of our education system because it was proven to be not only wrong, but intentionally fraudulent." He told me, as I sat staring, jaw agape.

After stewing on this information for several weeks now, I have come to one conclusion and that is this;
The steadfast belief in science is based on faith as much as belief in God is based on faith. Those of us who claim science as our basis for our beliefs must realise that in the course of human history, science has repeatedly proven itself wrong on many issues. Perhaps someday, it will prove itself wrong on the biggest issues of life, death, or even God.

sleep deprived babbling....

"DO NOT DIE WONDERING"

This was the billboard that changed my life. I have no recollection of what it was selling, but the message had a profound impact on my life. From the moment I read it for the first time, close to a decade ago, until now, these words have always stricken me as an indisputable challenge to get out and see what this world has to offer.

As a younger man, I was unfortunate enough to experience the death of my fiance, and still bear the tattoo that will always remind me of the suddenness of death, and the beautiful girl who, at only eighteen years old, left this world before she ever had a chance to really see it. While I didn't realize it then, the death of Joanne would cause a lifelong passion in me to see and do as much as I can before I too make my exit.

This morning, I received news of an old friends passing, and it made me think. Have I begun to take this gift for granted? Am I doing everything I can to fully soak up the full benefit of this blessing called life and how can I live more completely? All of these questions led me to naturally wonder about all of my friends and family. Are you letting your life pass you by while letting the television rob you of the experiences that are out there?

As for me, I refuse. I refuse to let slip away the chance to become a good writer. I refuse to waste the moments, wherever I find them, to enjoy my son. I refuse to lie on my deathbed with a list of unfinished business. I refuse to squander away the opportunities that my friend no longer has. And neither should you. Get out there and start living.

DO NOT DIE WONDERING.

Dear Congresswoman

Congresswoman DeGette,
I recently read a press release from your office touting the Passing of the Mathew Shepard Hate Crime Act. I would like to take a moment to express my absolute puzzlement as to how you, or any other member of congress can so boldly and proudly claim victory in the passage of a bill that you chose to sneak in between pages of another, completely un-related bill.

To make matters worse, congresswoman, you chose to hide this abomination inside a military appropriations bill! This makes the disdain you feel towards our men and women in uniform painfully obvious. The willingness you have shown to use our military personnel as political human shields underscores your level of corruption and incompetence in the office you so undeservedly hold. I can tolerate many things in quiet frustration, congresswoman, but the manipulation of our military to move your political agenda forward is more than I can bear. I promise to actively work against your re-election during your next campaign, and will tout this bill as evidence of the type of deceit that you are capable of.

Ryan Tuleja
Arvada, CO

hate crime legislation hidden in the military budget

Looking through the news, I have been seeing a trend in Washington that I find both appalling, and terrifying. The dishonesty and inconsideration for the will of the American people are becoming increasingly evident by the day.

In a recent move, congressional Democrats have pulled an incredibly disgraceful move, by attaching hate crime legislation to the 2010 military appropriations bill. What does that mean, you ask? Well, by putting this legislation INSIDE the militaries' budget (see division E, aka the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act), they have made it impossible for any representative to vote against the bill without being accused of standing against the better interests of Americas finest. This is political sleaze at it's most ugly and depraved, and I simply cannot see how we the people can stand to have these kinds of tactics used by either side ever again! The very concept of rider bills is so despicable that several states (including my own) have laws against such dishonest and underhanded tactics.

Things have to change. We, the people of the United States of America, can not sit idly by and watch as these bureaucrats, liars and thieves use our military men and woman as political human shields to achieve their ideological goals. Please join us here and help to make the changes that we can actually believe in.

The DOW climbs to 10,000

Today the DOW climbed over 10,000 for the first time in over a year, and Americans are understandably pretty excited about it. Reporters are interviewing experts who proclaim that the recession is over, and that we can credit it all to the stimulus bill that President Barak Obama so wisely signed into law at the beginning of his term in office, nine months ago.
On the surface, this seems like great news, and we should all be out in the streets celebrating such wonderful news. Ticker tape parades should be littering the streets and we should all find ourselves on shopping sprees that would make Paris Hilton look like a pauper...But we aren't.
We aren't, because something doesn't add up, and we the American people know it. We remember that the government printed money to the tune of a trillion dollars, a number so large that we choose to spell it, rather than use digits. A trillion dollars that largely went to the very same companies who's stock prices have been rising since. Companies that needed the money due to their own incompetence. Companies that, according to the national unemployment rate 9.8% still aren't hiring. Companies that, according to our government, saw lower that expected sales this quarter for something like the millionth quarter straight.
So how do companies that are not selling their products and show no sign of growth have stock prices climbing? You guessed it! With the stimulus money!! So before you run out and start buying stock again, think it through, because as in almost everything else these days, things arent quite what they appear.

I am the reason you are dying

Dear Media,

You dont know me very well, but I have seen you around over the years, and have become pretty aware of who you are and what you are capable of. I remember, somewhat vaguely, how you were once very powerful and influencial in all the happenings of my childhood era, but that was before.

I remember when people would repeat things that were spoken by your anchor men about the important topics of the day. I remember when your writers still had the integrity to report news as if it was...well...news. But again, that was before.

"Before what?" you may ask. Before me.Before you became so impressed with your own influence that you forgot that your job was to report the news, rather that dictate what the news should be.

I would like to take a moment to tell you a little about myself, and the reason you should care who I am.

I am the reason you are dying. I refuse to blindly accept one sided stories that only recognise one side of the political spectrum.

I am the reason you are dying. I believe that when thousands of people march on the capital of Denver, or hundreds of thousands march on Washington DC, it is a story worth covering.

I am the reason you are dying. I believe that media can and should remain neutral, but if you are going to take sides it should be on the side of the American people, rather than the side of those who come here illegaly and steal jobs and services that could otherwise go to my..no, YOUR countrymen.

I am the reason you are dying. I believe that you have become a bully and your size and age likens you to the schoolyard kid that got held back a couple times and wants to take out his anger on the nearest member of the chess club.

I am the reason you are dying. I am the generation you once deemed "X" and I dont need you.

As of the last several months, I have been on a reading tear that I think may be unmatched in my life previously. In an effort to make up for my educational shortcomings, I have been making an effort to read as many of the greatest books in history as I can get my hands on. Now the books I have chosen have been referred to me through various sources including word of mouth, press articles and by simply holding the status of "classic".

It is a very interesting thing to note how ones thought processes begin to change and the paradigms shift as the mind expands to accomidate new ideas. It is also quite interesting to note how some of the ideas that once changed the world due to their insight or originality, are now common place thoughts and it is pretty hard to see them as anything other than basics.