I received this via email today... sent chills down my spine, alright; but somehow I think the author had different reasons in mind.

In Washington, a House-Senate conference committee on a homeland security bill is considering whether to include a measure to protect, from lawsuit, Americans who report suspicious behavior. The so-called "John Doe" measure comes in response to a lawsuit by six imams who were booted from a plane that was about to fly from Minneapolis late last year because they were acting very suspiciously, refusing to sit in their assigned seats, asking for metal seat belt extenders, and speaking loudly and disparagingly about the United States. The imams plan to sue not only the airline but the passengers who reported their behavior -- a step that, if successful, could have a chilling effect on whether other Americans come forward to report such behavior or whether they decide that doing so isn't worth the legal fees. Without this protection, Americans would have no reason to follow the motto of law enforcement agencies: "If you see something, say something."

Separately, the "John Doe" legislation passed both the House and Senate by overwhelming margins. But key Democrats are trying to drop it from the homeland security bill, which would kill it. House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson isn't enthused about it, and Senate Judiciary Chairman Pat Leahy spoke against it on the Senate floor. The conference committee is meeting and will make a final decision on this vital legislation in the coming days.

If you agree Americans should be encouraged to report suspicious behavior, if you agree they should not be intimidated by the threat of a lawsuit that could bankrupt them, now is the time to act. Call or e-mail your own Senator and your House member. Tell them to insist that the conference committee include "John Doe" protection in this bill. And after calling or e-mailing your own Senator and House member, contact Congressman Thompson and Senator Leahy. Also contact House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and Senate Assistant Majority Leader Richard Durbin.

Don't leave Americans who do the right thing by reporting suspicious behavior out in the cold. Don't let Americans be intimidated into keeping quiet. In the war on terror, there's too much at stake for all of us.

"In the war on terror, there's too much at stake for all of us."

Wow. If there is a more over-used phrase, I don't know what it is. The level of fear mongering we are exposed to is ridiculous. The GWOT has reached epic proportions in terms of scale, expense, casualties, and time.

So now, DHS wants you to turn in random people because they are acting "suspiciously". In other words, of Arab descent. Dark skin, thick accent? Clearly, either an illegal immigrant or a terrorist.

This email was initiated by the American Congress for Truth, which you can contact by any of these methods:

American Congress for Truth
P.O. Box 6884
Virginia Beach, VA 23456
757-237-4995
member@americancongressfortruth.org
http://www.americancongressfortruth.org

I AM:

cautiousreckless apprenhensiveconfident fearfulcourageous thoughtfulthoughtless cruelcaring apatheticloving anxiouscarefree deadalive

I am afraid of what I am capable of doing, and what I have already done. I fear the future, and the pain it holds. I rejoice in the happiness that togetherness will bring.

I am the sum of what I was, what I am, and what I will become. That this number should be less than 1 frightens me.

If life is what you make of it, why am I unhappy?

All but mere rhetoric, blowing in the wind.

How many out there like puzzles? Specifically, those of the encoded variety, utilizing patterns. I've created a fairly simply one here, for a very special person; but anyone is welcome to try.

In Florida, people leave bachelors mainly undiscovered, facetiously.

This is to be a two-part segment, except I'll more than likely just end up doing both today, so it's more of a multi-faceted post... or something.

What is it with Christianity and belittling human accomplishments? Maybe it's just a Baptist thing. But everytime I go, I hear the same thing: "If God were to come back right now, he wouldn't be happy. He wouldn't look at us and say, 'Well done, my good and faithful servants.' No, he would look at us with disgust. He tells us our good deeds are as filthy rags. Completely meaningless in his eyes." Well, if that doesn't give you the warm fuzzies, I don't know what will. Helping to rebuild New Orleans? Meaningless. Buying a homeless guy a cup of coffee and an hour of your time? Worthless.

Any religion that puts down human decency has some serious issues with it. I can understand the salvation through grace bit, and not of works. But to say nothing we do is ever smiled upon by our supposed savior? I want no part of it.

And now, for something [not really] completely different.

Ah, music. The power to enlighten, to depress, to anger, and to inspire. It speaks to us on so many levels, with or without lyrics. When you're deliriously happy, without a care in the world, what do you do? Crank the music up and revel in the happiness. When you're depressed and feel as though no one cares, you softly hit play. When you're pissed off, you dime the volume and release yourself in the screaming sounds of thrash. Music is life for many, and for good reason - we understand it, and it understands us. I guarantee you, any possible emotion or situation you will ever encounter, there is a song written about it.

Because of this, I think there should be (if it's not already been created) a religion of music. If you're going to worship something, why not something that is understandable and reachable? Personally, I would much rather sit down and play my emotions than pray to an invisible deity, hoping that my voice isn't lost in the millions of other souls crying out.

I don't know how someone controlled you
They bought and sold you
I look at the world and I notice it's turning
While my guitar gently weeps
With every mistake we must surely be learning
Still my guitar gently weeps

-While My Guitar Gently Weeps (The Beatles)

He sewed his eyes shut,
because he is afraid to see.
He tries to tell me,
What I put inside of me.
He's got the answers,
to ease my curiosity.
He dreamed a God up,
and called it Christianity.

God is dead,
and no one cares.
If there is a hell,
I'll see you there.

He flexed his muscles,
to keep his flock of sheep in line.
He made a virus,
that would kill off all the swine.
His perfect kingdom,
of killing, suffering and pain.
Demands devotion,
atrocities done in his name.

God is dead,
and no one cares.
If there is a hell,
I'll see you there.
Your God is dead,
and no one cares.
If there is a hell,
I'll see you there.

God is dead,
and no one cares.
If there is a hell,
I'll see you there.
Your God is dead,
and no one cares.
(drowning in his own hypocrisy)
If there is a hell,
I'll see you there.
(burning with your God in humility)
Will you die for this?

-Heresy (Nine Inch Nails)


I've been listening to a lot of NIN recently. It's the type of music where you have to read the lyrics just to figure out what's being said; the vocals being rather distorted. Brilliant stuff, though. Quite powerful. Anyway, this sums up my feelings quite well.

The Fundies cry, "God is being pushed out of the schools, out of the workplace, out of life!" No shit. Welcome to the 21st Century. Ihr Gott ist tot, und keine Obacht.


Bitter, much? Yes, I am; thanks for asking.

What have I become?
My sweetest friend
Everyone I know
goes away in the end
You could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt

-Hurt (Nine Inch Nails)

When you hurt someone you love more than anything in the world, what does make you? A liar? Surely if you cared, you wouldn't have hurt them. And what can be done for the hurt? Should you hurt yourself? Wallow in misery? Apologize endlessly?

It has been said that the most important question that can be asked is "Why?". I believe this to be true. However, it is also the most painful question that can be asked; be it of yourself, or another.

I apologize for the angst. Not usually my style. But, y'know... every once in awhile, it's the only mood that fits.

Now this is just one heckuva moral dilemma. [Repeat] burglar discovers evidence of child molestation during burglary. Burglar [anonymously] turns it in. Police arrest child molester. Police later arrest burglar on another charge. Burglar requests clemency, citing his assistance in catching the child molester. What to do?

Human instinct would be to laud the burglar for helping with the capture of a scumbag, for lack of a better term. However, he still did commit crimes, and continued to do so after turning in the evidence; which he did anonymously. Where's the heroism in that?

Personally, I say reduce the burglar's sentence. One good deed does not undo twelve (in this case) bad ones. It does help, however. And as far as karma is concerned, I would say a deed such as this would balance out a great many grievances.

As to the child molester... I'm torn between two options, both of which would have the same result: either give him a prison sentence (where he would be subsequently beaten to death by the other inmates upon their learning of his crime), or give him to the girl's parents. However, this also goes against my feelings on capital punishment. Granted, the state would be in neither case actually killing the man. Since the latter is not going to be a reality, the only real way to avoid his death in prison would be to put him in solitary. Some might argue that would be far worse than death.

Does everyone deserve a second chance? Even people such as that? Or are some crimes so heinous that death is the only morally sound choice?

He took something from that girl which she can never have back. It will very likely affect her life in a negative way. Where's the justice if he only gets a prison sentence (assuming he survived)? "An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind," said Gandhi. An admirable maxim to be sure, and one that flies in the face of human justice. Should the girl and her parents forgive and forget? I've heard of parents being able to forgive their child's murderer, which is arguably worse than molestation; so forgiveness is possible in even the most extreme cases.

While on this subject, I've a related topic: that of forgiveness by God; or more specifically, Jesus. Christianity teaches that no matter what, a truly repentant person will be forgiven. There are no exceptions (well, except for this one - and it's open to debate), no matter how repugnant the sin. It's a beautiful idea to be sure, but again lacks human justice. A fitting analogy is the story of the thief on the cross. A thief is perhaps not the most horrible of criminals, but is by no means innocent. And yet at the last moment (quite literally), by believing the man hanging next to him could save him from eternal damnation, he is lifted into paradise (which may or may not be heaven: again, subject to debate). So where is the recompense to the people who were stolen from? Somehow I doubt God is cutting checks to the victims. In a more interesting case, let us use the original story. What if the molester were to become a Christian? From the Bible's standpoint, he is forgiven, and will be in heaven. So Gandhi goes to hell, and a child molester goes to heaven. Yeah, that's fair. And again, where is the recompense for the girl or her parents? It's not as though time will be reversed, and innocence restored. Biblical morality falls short, methinks.