Funny political pictures

[Pico and ME]

Originally Posted by Flint

This all makes sense, the way you've described it. Doesn't sound so bad...on the surface.

But, something is bothering me, I can't help but notice. Isn't this a list full of crippling compromises? A tale of avoiding hard work and tough decisions, following the path of least resistance, and practicing intellectual weakness as a way of life?

The typical 20 year-old never learned moderation--instead they extinguished their entire value system--throwing out the baby with the bathwater. And instead of developing a workable system preserving their fundamental beliefs, they just bought into the received wisdom of a quick-fix society. The 40 year-old self was too busy to bother wrestling with difficult questions and decisions. The inertia of an object at rest was too overpowering--the complacency of a leisurely lifestyle was too tempting. Shouldn't the 60 year-old, with the wisdom of old age, be ashamed that they helped perpetuate a senseless institution of followers following followers? But, instead of slowly sliding the barrel of a gun into their mouth, they moronically chuckle to themselves and their total lack of human achievement. This story actually makes me sick to my stomach.

I guess you could say I have strong feelings about this.

Yup. Me too. Unless, she was referring to this with the 'he'll get his in the end' .

As an atheist, I dont ever see myself sucking it in and pretending to believe just to be part of the group. Yes I keep my mouth shut when in the company of believers....but thats just to keep the peace. And for one, I dont think they are ready for my world view. If they arent inquisitve enough to question their religion and the history of religion, then theres no point in me discussing it with them anyway.

[Flint]

Originally Posted by Pico and ME

Yup. Me too. Unless, she was referring to this with the 'he'll get his in the end' .

Actually I misread that to say "he'll get it in the end" i.e. once he has sold out and betrayed his beliefs, coasted along in the comfort zone for a few decades, he'll realize that playing it safe was the right choice. This would be the 'put a gun in your mouth' moment, if it had said what I read it as.

What it actually says, I'm not sure I understand. He'll get his what--his own grandson bothering him with radical ideas in 40 years?

Originally Posted by DanaC

Funny, my Brother went the other way. he was an atheist from being a teenager, but when he had kids he became much more militant in his atheism. It all mattered much more.

This. In the narrative we are referring to, once marriage is considered--I don't understand how entering into the most vital and central contract of your life would seem to be a great opportunity to make what you know to be an incorrect decision, and for all the wrong reasons. I understand this 1000% less when considering raising children. The only lasting effect you're likely to ever have on human culture and it prompts you to make a completely fear-based decision--play it safe instead of taking a stand for anything you've ever considered to be important. This is cowardly!

This bothers me intensely because I feel that the narrative laid out here is quite commonly accepted by many basically good people.