Do not drink coffee while reading

I was a Tool of Satan BY DOUG MARLETTE

If Mr. Marlette was a programmer/project who would he be. Seriously though, as I wiped the coffee from my nose this morning I was reminded how important it is to go against the grain if you feel strongly about something.

When was the last time you spoke out against someone you disagreed with? Or did you back down? You may want to read the entire article before responding to this post. It will help you understand why I asked the questions. *and why there is coffee dripping from my monitor*

can I get some Cliff's Notes or something? I don't drink that much coffee... sorry...

Many, many thanks for that link. Personally, I think that this needs to be posted on every street corner in the country and read by everyone. It just could be that Marlette is the canary in our coal mine.


And when you're done with the paper towels, could you pass them over? I gotta wipe the coffee off my monitor.

when reading that he said he offended jewish by critising Israel, how that offend jewish people?
jewish != israelie

interesting read, some nice points, don't agree with all of it

Interesting...

I don't agree with everything he says either but that is the point he's trying to get across. It's ok not to agree with someone but that person is supposed to have the right in the United States of American to be able to express their opinion. There seems to be this unhealthy movement in the U.S. where groups target people they disagree with and try to silence their opinions by claiming this or that person is not as politically correct as they should be with regards to their views.

Great read. In the corporate IT world, the scales have tipped toward "destructive consent." Upper management doesn't want the correct answer, they want the "right" answer, the one that pleases their sensibilities. They only reward this answer, so this is what they get. Get along by going along. Don't speak unless spoken to. Don't be the bearer of bad news.

Where do I work? My post crash job is at Initech. If you saw the movie "Office Space," well, that's my company just with a different name.

As someone with a fairly large nose, this man's work offends me. He's obviously harboring a deep seeded hatred of long nosed people. He never draws anyone with a really small nose, does he? Ah ha! Proof positive of his evil bias. He should be prosecuted (or persecuted) under federal hate crime law.

I think it is much worse than this. There is an attempt to actively suppress contrary opinions by labelling them as immoral, unacceptable, evil....Tools of Satan that shouldn't be allowed into "polite" discourse. It is no longer just enough to disagree with someone, instead the opponent has to be destroyed and squashed. Just look at both Clinton and Bush. Neither of them really have what you could call a loyal opposition. Instead what we get are legions who profess to hate them and will go to any extreme to paint them in as evil a light as possible.

As a pretty religious person, I can tell you now that when someone offends your religion, it hurts like hell. I happen to be Muslim. But what one should alway do is think about what thy other party is saying and then give an intellectual answer, instead of lowering your self to violence. Unfortunately not many people put that in to practice.

What do you mean by "loyal opposition"? Do you mean loyalty to humanity and the humanitarian principles of this nation, or do you mean, "We should shut up if we disagree with the president"? While I agree that many people sensationalized the problems with President Clinton, there are many things that make President Bush an extraordinarily bad president and thus worthy of somewhat more vocal criticism. Since September 11, 2001, Bush has been leading the United States towards imperialism and ultimately destruction.

the line about those that preach tolerance are the most intolerant of all.
only too true!

practise yoga, relax, be at piece with yourself & god, or whatever path u take, life is too short to spend it hating, it gets u no where
if we all were trees we would all be different, but we would all be growning towards the light


hippie alert

but seriously, the above really

"the freedom to be ourselves, to speak the truth as we see it"

being allowed to 'call it as you see it' should be as important to those of us that think george bush is a moron as it is to those that put bush for president stickers on their pickups (american trucks).

What I mean is the ability to use the First Amendment and not be pilloried simply because you are on the opposite side of a disagreement. This is a big country and we aren't going to get complete agreement on much and if we can't disagree in a civil manner, we're in for a mighty rough ride.

Unfortunately, most of Clinton's problems were of his own making. He would have been a much more effective president had he managed to keep his pants more firmly in place.

We've survived worse presidents in the past and quite frankly, we've been much more imperialistic in the past as well. And I doubt that a few terrorists are going to succeed in destroying what much more powerful enemies couldn't. Rough us up a bit, maybe, but destroy us? Nah.

The one thing that bothers me about all of this religious fanaticism is that the truth of religion gets lost in practice (or supposed practice). The purpose of religion, as i see it, it to give humanity two things:

1. a sense of purpose, a reason for being, an end and beginning, solace in the fear of the unknown..etc. to comfort us in that which we cannot comprehend. (much like philosophy)

2. A guidebook on morality, ethics and how to behave in a civilized world.

Simple commandments or rules such as "do not kill" often get thrown out the window in defense of religious beliefs. that is absurd. Look at the holy wars, "lets go and kill people for our believe in not killing...". Religion is not a book, it is not a building, its not a turban on your head, a yarmulke for the sabbath or a cross around your neck.. it is a way of being.

Unfortunately, is has been used and abused for material, personal and political gain since the beginning of time.

Like now, crashing planes into two towers and killing innocent people as an act of piousness? The church requiring 10% of your income in the form of a weekly tithing? The ability to pay for your sins in advance through the purchase of condolences? Monasteries being erected for the sole purpose of land ownership? Churches being created so one can get a divorce (yet again)? The renunciation of our friends and family for being gay (not merry)? and so on and so on...

Where did religion go wrong, oh wait, it is a perfect system adopted and adapted by imperfect people. IMHO, your a religious person if you are mindful of your actions, take care to not intentionally harm people and show respect for others. Thats it, no need to name it. NO need to pay for it, no need to fight for it, as that all contradicts its entire purpose. So, anyone who is offended by purported slander toward their religion, and then needs to react to it, well, they need to go spend some more time with the good book of their choice and find that there is no need for that. Someone who truly believed in the word, not the letter, nor the propaganda would not even consider retaliation.

But, what the hell do i know... I'm damn near an atheist.....