Update to this story… looks like this kid was aggressively proselytizing, ergo, he should be voted off the island..

A Nova Scotia student suspended from classes for five days for wearing a T-shirt with the slogan “Life Is Wasted Without Jesus” returned to school today wearing the same garment, but he was quickly taken home by his father.

William Swinimer, who’s in Grade 12, was scheduled to attend a session for all students on how to express their beliefs in a way that is respectful to all.

But John Swinimer said he wants Forest Heights Community School in Chester Basin, Lunenburg County, to only teach the basic courses, leaving religion out of it.

Students said William Swinimer has been preaching his Christian beliefs, making them feel uncomfortable, and the shirt was the last straw, so they complained.

IF this is the full story, then that school in Nova Scotia should give its politically-correct head a shake!

Now y’all KNOW that I’m a grumpy ol’ atheist. Always have been and will be… BUT COME ON PEOPLE!

Unless the message on the shirt is racist or otherwise offensive, the kid should be free to wear it… regardless of how silly I think the message might be.

I guess, however, it depends on what one classified as “offensive”, doesn’t it?

If the kid was handing bibles or the Koran, or the Manifesto of the Leprechaun Lordships, then he should cease and desist. But a T shirt? Naw. Whatever.

Trashy,
Ottawa, Ontario

And sent by an iPhone!

Trashy,
Ottawa, Ontario

HahaHaHahaHaHahaHaHahaHaHahaHaHahaHaHahaHaHahaHaHahaHaHaHahaHa

Sorry.

Had to post this guy again… needed a laugh after I bashed my middle toe on the leg of my desk!

But hey! I’m not the only one laughing! How about good ol’ Leviticus of Old Testament fame!

The Bible warns us against tattoos in Leviticus 19:28 (Amplified) which says, “Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print or tattoo any marks upon you: I am the Lord.”

Well. There ya go. Yer gonna be stoned for that little sin, buddy!

Thanks to the Squid Dude for putting me on to this1

Trashy,
Ottawa, Ontario

I had fully intended on writing something about the whole MERGER-MANIA that is currently sweeping the #cdnpoli Twitter stream. Much wringing of hands! Woot!

You betcha!

Didja realise that merger and murder are separated by but one letter?

Think about it…

“Redrum. Redrem.” “Redrum. Redrem.”

OK. Two letters.

Still!

But! That will have to wait… cuz, and I’m sorry if I got some hopes all drive high-like… I have found something much more entertaining than the organizational thrashings of those of us to the left of Vic “hang ‘em high” Toews.

Namely, the proposal that atheists be registered with the State of Florida. Yup, the The Christian National Registry of Atheists.” is his goal.

Brothers and Sisters , I have been seriously considering forming a ( Christian ) grassroots type of organization to be named “The Christian National Registry of Atheists” or something similar . I mean , think about it . There are already National Registrys (sic) for convicted sex offenders , ex-convicts , terrorist cells , hate groups like the KKK , skinheads , radical Islamists , etc..

This type of “National Registry” would merely be for information purposes . To inform the public of KNOWN ( i.e., self-admitted) atheists . For example , let’s say you live in Colorado Springs , Colorado , you could simply scroll down ( from the I-Net site /Blog ) I would have , to the State of Colorado , and then when you see “Colorado Springs” , you will see the names of all the self-admitted atheist(s) who live there ( e.g., if an atheist’s name happened to be “Phil Small” ) . The individual’s physical address , and other known personal information would NOT be disclosed ( though , perhaps a photo could be ).

Crazy. Oh Yes.

Scary? Even more so.

I’m traveling to D.C. next month. I have already had some trepidation about this given my posts ranting against the public funding of religious education, war, conquest by imaginary characters, etc. And this makes me even more nervous.

Border dude: “Excuse me, Mr. Marshall? Do you believe in God? Do you have faith that your soul will be saved by Jesus?

Me: “Um. Seriously, sir? Don’t you want to look in my carry-on for the BC bud I’m trying to sneak across the border?”

Border dude: “No sir. Need to confirm your spiritual mindset.”

I’m screwed.

Trashy,
Ottawa, Ontario

… should not be funded from the public purse!

I, uh, seldom… no, wait – NEVER use any of the rags in the Sun media group as a source for stories. I might get desperate for ideas from time to time but never THAT desperate! But this article was floated my way about the use of a cafeteria in a Toronto middle school as a mosque on Fridays to be used by Imams for prayer sessions.

“It is a safety issue,” the Toronto District School Board spokesperson Shari Schwartz told The Toronto Sun’s Tom Godfrey. “Students were leaving for the mosque during the day and some weren’t returning.”

That’s uh, lame… so count them as absent and it goes on their record, right?

Let me be clear – and if you ever read a single article I have posted – you will know that I am in no way, no have I ever been – anti-Islam… anymore than I am anti-Christian, anti-Hindu, anti-Semitic or anti-Scientologist. I am baffled by all religions equally and will never understand why other seemingly intelligent people buy into these belief systems…

Annnnnywayyyyyyy…

This is not a ” left” or “right” thing. This is about the separation of church and State. Sadly, the right will blame the left about being too accommodating and the left will call those on the right a bunch of racists. And this is really too bad because many of us in Ontario would like to see a real public debate on the public funding of non-secular schools and programs prior to this Fall’s elections.

What is happening in this particular school is wrong. Pubic funds built and operate this school and those funds should in no way be used to facilitate religious activities of any kind. What. So. Ever.

BUT – what the article steers clear of completely and what is so obvious is that the public already DOES fund a school system that carries out religious teachings each and every day. To me, the Sun makes a valid point (that was hard to type) about the use of the cafeteria but they also have to acknowledge that this is not a lot different from public tax dollars funding the discriminatory Catholic school system in Ontario. In this, they are being hypocritical. It is not right to ignore and validate the existence of one school system that has as a raison d’être the teaching of the Catholic system of beliefs while simultaneously lambasting the Toronto School Board for allowing Imams into a public school’s cafeteria.

Neither is right. And neither should be tolerated.

Religion matters to some but it should be practiced in homes, churches, synagogues, mosques and temples – not in schools that public tax dollars support.

Trashy,
Ottawa, Ontario

and thanks to the Squid-dude, I had a good laugh that I want to share.

Check out his post.

These freaky über-Christians say that the “rapture” is coming soon! And the end of the world this Fall!

Woo-hoo!

I’m glad I locked in my mortgage! No telling what will happen to interest rates once the whole rapture thingy goes down!

And yeah, speaking of raptures, Deborah Harry was smokin’!

Trashy,
Ottawa, Ontario

Found this at challenging the commonplace

I’m moving to Québec!

Trashy,
Ottawa, Ontario

The Toronto City council just released previously secret guidelines on canceling tickets.

Some of the exemptions are perfectly reasonable, taxis, nursing agencies, security companies, tour buses… all are permitted a bit more latitude than your average Joe.

But, the more religious among us are granted a kind of immunity not afforded to non-believers…

16.0 RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE GRACE PERIODS – REX

Parking consideration is given to religious groups by Toronto Police to afford members of congregations to attend worship. This consideration is granted for worship services only.

Exemptions are granted for parking in prohibited areas or at meters

1 – Park at expired meter

5 – Park signed highway during prohibited (times/days) (excluding rush hour)

6 – Park signed highway in excess of permitted time

The religious group must provide a letter from the Minister/Pastor/Holy Man or a copy of the bulletin.

Trashy,
Ottawa, Ontario

The Harperite social conservatives are crowing with glee over the Con’s refusal to recognize that access to inexpensive and safe abortions are key factors in maternal health. And so is the American anti-choice lobby.

“Under President Bush, we had the Mexico City policy, which prohibited exporting abortion. As you know, with President (Barack) Obama, he repealed that policy,” Janet Morana, founder of a pro-life group called Silent No More, told reporters in Ottawa on Thursday morning.

“And so we’re very pleased to see that Canada is taking that pro-life stance, meaning they’re not going to export dollars overseas for abortion.”

Stevo must be grinning from ear to ear with the news that the U.S. christian fundamentalists are in his corner!

Despite this, support for the DeceptiCons is staying rather stable according to the new EKOS poll.

What I can’t figger is WHO THE HELL ARE THESE PEEPS??? I mean, who are those idiots are are saying to the pollsters that they would actually VOTE for Harper or one of his robot minions! I just don’t “get” that!

In other news, Cons are saying that the big bad ol’ MotherCorp is waging what they call a “faith war” against the ReformCons.

In a memo to supporters, the backroom operatives note that this is just the next step in the CBC’s “ongoing campaign against the Conservative Party.” At issue is a story about the rise of the right-wing religious groups and their connections to the Stephen Harper’s government that ran on The National last night.

The piece – which, as Tories armed with stopwatches note, ran “a full eight minutes in length” – was inspired by the release of a new book, The Armageddon Factor by journalist Marci McDonald, in which she investigates the right-wing religious movement in Canada and its ties to Stephen Harper and his government.

*Snicker* – “backroom operatives” I love that term. I wonder what they look like?

Yeah. Something like that, I would imagine. ‘Cept he needs to be wearing a crucifix and holding a stopwatch…

Anyhow, isn’t the CBC just stating the painfully obvious?

Of course the Reformatories are in bed with the religious right! Fundamentalists believe that an old guy with a beard lives in the clouds – ready to judge and smite all of we infidels! And really, does anyone with an IQ over 100 think that most of the Con caucus has the elementary intelligence to understand that believing in such things is about as legitimate as believing in leprechauns?

Of course not.

Stop the anti-CBC rants, Cons… outside of your wacko base of support in the west, you’re not going to gain much support because, well, most folks LIKE the CBC!

Trashy,
Ottawa, Ontario

This is pretty self-evident, isn’t it?

Look at the christian fundamentalists for crap sake… not the reddest apples in the barrel!

I mean, they watch Fox News, believe that dinosaurs and humans shared the same ‘hood, think that Sarah Palin would make a good President and believe that Stephen Harper really is

This is sure gonna spark some fodder on the conservative talk shows!

It

Trashy,
Ottawa, Ontario