1. Girl, 17, killed in Iraq for loving a British soldier

Comment #171586 by JayLee on April 28, 2008 at 3:32 pm

al-rawandi,

I understand your position and I hope that you not remove your posts. You should continue to debate here. If people want change, an open dialog will help all.

This forum has a lot of disagreement and discussion. There is a lot of smugness here. The brush is very broad. But, it is worth being a part of it.

Your brush is pretty broad as well. Characterizing female posters as "feminist" in a perjorative way doesn't help your argument.

Does it anger you to have to argue on equal footing with a "woman?" If it does, I think that should make you pause.

2. Soldier Sues Army, Saying His Atheism Led to Threats

Comment #169670 by JayLee on April 26, 2008 at 2:08 pm

As a Vietnam veteran U. S. Marine (and an atheist from day one) I never experienced any of this pressure to be religious. Most of the comments here seem to be from people who imagine the worst and have little direct experience and knowledge. The dogmatic tone of this blog is just as bad as the silly religious stuff people don't like.

Most of the posts here read like, "I had a friend who knew a dude..." The US military is full of all kinds just like anywhere else. Paint with a broad brush and you're often wrong.

3. Teacher Expelled Over Religion

Comment #161764 by JayLee on April 15, 2008 at 4:19 pm

I've noticed that the movie trailer has been running for Expelled Exposed. What happened to the lawsuit re the plagiarism? Was there some talk that the lawsuit might delay the movie opening?

The movie trailer that I saw featured Ben Stein and mentioned little about the content. People could easily be misled about the nature of the movie.

When I asked other professors what they knew about the "Ben Stein movie" none of them had heard anything. Hope it flops.

4. Teacher Expelled Over Religion

Comment #161691 by JayLee on April 15, 2008 at 2:06 pm

Tezcatlipoca,

My bad. I forgot "educated and enlightened" can't possibly be associated with Texas. It isn't politically correct and certainly doesn't fit in the dogma associated with this website.

I apologize. I had forgotten that comments are only welcome from the converted. I will never, ever post again in fear of your rapier wit and powerful intellect. Please post a website where I can purchase a compilation of Tezcatlipoca's Thoughts on Everything.

5. Teacher Expelled Over Religion

Comment #161627 by JayLee on April 15, 2008 at 1:09 pm

The title of this news blurb is not accurate. Comer was NOT fired for not teaching ID. She was fired for forwarding an email that suggested she wasn't neutral about the issue. Being fired under the circumstances is bad enough. Texas does not advocate ID or require it to be taught anywhere. Please get your facts straight. Advocates of ID are attempting the same stupid things they try in other states re education. This is certainly an attempt to influence the educational system but it wasn't an attack on a teacher. For accurate information see:

http://www.texscience.org/

"The Mexican government has failed to establish any public system of education, although possessed of almost boundless resources, the public domain, and although it is an axiom in political science, that unless a people are educated and enlightened, it is idle to expect the continuance of civil liberty, or the capacity for self government."

Texas Declaration of Independence
March 2, 1836

6. The religiosity test: Doubters need not apply

Comment #106726 by JayLee on January 3, 2008 at 10:38 am

"True, true. But mayhap he's smart enough to not believe his own propaganda? We can but hope, more in faith than certainty. "

So, a liar is better? Hope in faith?

None of the candidates are great choices. I'll decide who I'll vote for based on what their policies look to be.

As for this continual American bashing in comparison to Europe in these comments, wearing your atheism on your sleeve for every choice and judgement is very much like religious dogma. It does seem to be the way many posters define themselves. It really is tedious. I know many believers, even in the piney woods of East Texas, who are less dogmatic and more open-minded than many of the "atheists" that post here.

I've spent a lot of time in Europe and the UK and am not particularly reassured by politicians and their religious or political views in either of those places.

7. Sorry to disappoint, but it's nonsense to suggest we want to ban Christmas

Comment #101994 by JayLee on December 21, 2007 at 11:07 am

The link works fine. Could be the loose nut on the keyboard. Happens to me all the time.