micah holmquist's irregular thoughts and links |
|
|
Welcome to the musings and notes of a Cadillac, Michigan based writer named Micah Holmquist, who is bothered by his own sarcasm. Please send him email at micahth@chartermi.net. Holmquist's full archives are listed here.
Archives
Sites Holmquist trys, and often fails, to go no more than a couple of days without visiting (some of which Holmquist regularly swipes links from without attribution) Aljazeera.Net English Blogs that for one reason or another Holmquist would like to read on at least something of a regular basis (always in development) Thivai Abhor |
Monday, December 15, 2003
More Last night I watched a bit of the FOX News Channel so as to get good, clean, honest and God-fearing news about The Capture and not liberal propaganda. However, I was shocked to see Geraldo Rivera and Henry Kissinger talking about what a great day this is because Saddam Hussein was evil. I considered this to be FNC's way of saying, "we couldn't care less about democracy, freedom or human rights except to the extent that these terms can be used to justify wars." *** Brian Bennett of Time on what Saddam has said so far. UPDATE: Former Bush speech creator David Frum writes: ...while the President’s opponents have made much sport of the idea that God called George Bush to the presidency, it’s becoming increasingy difficult to doubt that God wants President Bush re-elected.Now if only God had gotten off his ass and prevented Clinton from being elected. 1:05 p.m. 12/15/03 UPDATE #2: I see that Matthew Barganier of antiwar.com has also commented on Frum's quote. Actually it appears that he did so before I did. I wonder how many bloggers will end up commenting on it. Whenever I see someone like Lawrence Eagleburger on television, read about the likes of Alexander Haig or even think about Bill Clinton, I'm in disbelief that they could actually ever have gotten into a position of power. I feel the same way about Frum. It isn't merely that they have despicable policies but rather that there arguments and presentation are absurd. Perhaps, to be fair, I am so jaded so that there charms are lost on me. *** One of the primary problems with a belief in the all powerful, perfect and singular "God" -like the one Christians, Jews and Muslims worship- is that you have to accept that this God allows a lot of horrible things and suffering to occur. (Arguably the only more significant problem is the complete lack of proof.) From the animals that may or may not have been put on Earth for humans to use to the occasional mass murder, a quick look at the world shows that an all-powerful God could do a lot to improve the world. But God doesn't do more, so what could explain this? Perhaps God isn't a kind entity and enjoys the suffering. Maybe, but I don't think there is any reason to worship such a God other than to save one's own ass. (That may be reason enough.) The other option is that God allows bad things to happen. This also doesn't sound like a being that deserves to be worshipped. I understand the free will argument but am unimpressed. A God that has created the universe and all of its inhabitants is a little too involved in the world to be able to say, "well I have to give you free will." Perhaps there is some explanation for all of this that is beyond human understanding. If that's the case, then once again this God doesn't deserve to be worshipped since they are demanding something -devotion to God- for which there is no logical reason for a person to give. The only other option is that there is not an all powerful, perfect and singular "God." 7:08 p.m. 12/15/03 |