I can't help but feel as if I've been harping on at the Abrahamic religions for too long and think I ought to turn my attention towards some of the more contemporary, though no less ridiculous beliefs held by a good number of people. It has become fashionable to throw away old beliefs without so much of a 'by your leave' and look to other superstition to fill the void.
I have again chosen the above words with care, I personally have had a long hard struggle to get to where I am in my journey of discovery, many hours of research and inner searching have lead me to the conclusion that the supernatural is nothing more than a hoax. Personally, losing my faith was a long, hard road, biut one that has been all the more worth it in the end.
Scientology
Before the christians, jews and muslims start sneering, I'd like to point out that Scientology has no more bizarre beliefs than you. Fuck, at least they don't have a talking snake or a burning bush, (though I still think Moses just had a case of the Clap). Claiming a weird affinity to science, which any scientist will deny, scientology tries to fit everyone's ideas of god into one neat bundle. The major problem being that 99% of religions are exclusive. John 14:6 - "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me." It's not exactly a new idea and one can find examples in almost every religion in the world.
One of the problems that I have with scientology is the cult like overtones. much like the mormon church, it becomes nigh impossible to leave once your life is intertwined with the church. It's not as bad as islam which demands death for the sin of apostasy, but there are multiple accounts of people whose lives have been ruined because they decided to take their journey another way. Another problem with scientology is it's obvious falsehood. I mean com'on, the crafty fucker wrote (bad) science fiction before he decided to start his own religion.
Buddhism
Another religion that seems to be popular at the moment, buddhism at least has the credit that it's a couple of thousand years old. Most people who follow "buddishm" follow a more than half bastardized version of it, barely touching the surface of the true intricacies of the religion, though seemingly admiring it's views on reincarnation. I'd not like to degrade the struggle of the Tibetan people with the Chinese government, but let's be honest, it's easy for you to to tell the poor that in the next life their going to be millionaires when you have everything now.
At first glance, buddhism seems harmless, "do good and good will be done to you". Where it all starts to go awry is when we start to incorporate previous lives. No matter how one looks at it, the idea of learning lessons from previous lives is sinister at best. I don't remember any of the previous lives that I've lived, so how the fuck am I meant to remember the lesson that taking taking advantage of an elderly person is wrong. I don't remember any lesson's in my next life, so how the fuck is the future "me" meant to avoid the same pitfalls on the road to nirvana as me?
Naturalism
I may have the definition of naturalism worng but I'm pissed enough on a Friday night not to care. What I mean by naturalism or naturalists is the group who can't stop talking shit about mother nature, as if nature is a conscious entity that makes decisions. Nature has no conscious, it is incapable of giving a shit what we do to this planet. It doesn't send plagues to wipe mankind out in an effort to rid the world of overpopulation, nature just is. If you want to know what nature really is, do a little research on evolution. It's simply process that all living, and for that matter non-living, matter experiences on a daily basis. Nature not only doesn't care, it lacks the ability to care. If all life on this planet was extinguished, nature wouldn't have the capacity to care.
Ok, I'm going to leave his one here as I'm struggling to make sense of what I'm writing. I may or may not come back to this post later to clarify thoughts but hope that I'm being understood. the video od the day is again from Tim Minchin.
Please remember that I own none of the material, visit Tim's site to download the origionals.
Well, that's me for the evening, I hope tat my drunkenness hasn't marred quality too badly, I figure I'm going to read this in the morning and cringe, but regardless, I hope I've been entertaining and that you've had a good time. please remember to like, subscribe and follow the blogs.
So as you may or may not have deduced from the title, today's post is all about drugs, more specifically my opinion in terms of the legalization, legislation and control thereof. It's a difficult subject to be sure, my initial thoughts are that adults have the right to do with their bodies as they please, provided that their actions do not infringe on the rights of others (suicide bombers and rape come to mind). Though as anyone who has had an addict in their lives will attest to, drug addiction is not quite that simple. Addicts have an unfortunate knack of pulling those close to them into their drama, whether it be theft to maintain their addiction or drug dealers showing up uninvited to collect outstanding payments, through to the agony of having to watch a loved one spiral downwards on their road to overdose and death.
In most nations, what most of us consider illegal drugs have traditionally been criminalized, with hefty jail time attached to anyone caught in possession of them, though the worlds opinions have slowly started changing. The Netherlands have had a relatively lax attitude towards drugs since the 1970's, with cannabis being legal in designated areas, magic mushrooms enjoyed the same conditions up until 2008 when they were completely banned due to a sharp increase in accidental deaths related to the drugs hallucinogenic effects. More recently, various American states have legalized cannabis, some strictly for medicinal purposes and others to include recreational use. Uruguay has also recently legalized the recreational use of cannabis, though the law itself has not been implemented due to legal requirements regarding suppliers.
The fact that current worldwide drug policies are at best ineffective and at worst a black-hole that authorities throw money into is well documented, in America in 2009 the feral government spent over $2 billion housing drug related prisoners, with a total bill to fight the war on drugs reaching an astonishing $15.9 billion annually. A massive 46% of Americans today admit to having used illegal drugs, most saying that it is now easier to buy purer, cheaper drugs than it has ever been despite the record amounts being spent to curb them. The war on drugs has failed, and it is without a doubt time for change.
My suggested solution is not by any stretch of the imagination popular, but what you have to remember with the worldwide drug problem is the fact that the problem actually has little to do with the drugs themselves, but rather with the actions that addicts take in order to maintain their habit. Most drug users steal because they have prior convictions for drug possession and are unable to fulfill their potential earning capacity. Ending the prohibition on drugs would not only free up the money that is currently being spent on fighting the war on drugs, but increase revenue as governments are able to tax the drug trade. Conservative estimates say that in the US alone, the federal government could add an additional $80 billion annually to it's coffers over and above the savings it would make.
This additional money could then be pumped into education and healthcare of addicts. This tactic has proven it's effectiveness with tobacco as more and more people come to the conclusion that the negative consequences outweigh the benefits. With not a single cent being spent on prohibiting tobacco, the number of adult smokers in the US has been cut almost in half thanks to campaigns aimed at education.
The additional benefit to legalization, legislation and control of the drug market is quality. The average gram of cocaine or heroin found on the street contains astonishing amounts of other substances that dealers cut the drugs with in order to increase their profits. It is more often than not these other substances that lead to the medical conditions that are so often fatal.
Most of the research I've done for this bit has been from a NPO in America called LEAP, (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition), for more info please feel free to have a look at their website: http://www.leap.cc/
The funny clip of the day comes from Australian comedian Jim Jefferies explaining what a coke wank is (yes, it's exactly what it sounds like)
Per usual, I don't own the content, though the man is funny as all hell, so please feel free to check out his other stuff. I've linked his official page below:
Well, I'm
the sad sack sitting at home trying to think of a first topic, and why not dive
right in to something that affects every South African, discrimination. I've
chosen to label it that specifically because I intend to touch on more than
just racism, though being an obvious point, I'll take the easy way and start
there.
Racism:
I think
it's fair to say that every South African faces it on a daily basis, though
rarely overtly, (the fucking morons who were been charged with forcing one of
their workers to rape their dog comes to mind). Whether it's the white man
turned down for a job because of his race, (please note that I am by no stretch
of the imagination against affirmative action, though that's a topic for a
later discussion) or the innocent black domestic worker who is accused of
stealing and fired because her boss refuses to admit to himself that his kid
has a drug addiction, we all experience it every day in some form or another.
Before I
continue I feel I need to clarify what I mean when I say discrimination.
Discrimination is an act, not a thought or vocalization, I
agree wholeheartedly that Penny Sparrows opinions are vile and
that we, the people of South Africa should boycott any business that even
vaguely associates itself with her.
What I
disagree with on a fundamental level is the South African governments attempt
to criminalize hate speech. Incitement to violence is a very different animal
all together and is and should be grounds for a criminal conviction.
Criminalizing hate speech on the other hand is censorship at the very least.
South Africans enjoy, (or endure, depending on your point of view), the fact
that our government is bound by one of the most progressive constitution in the
world, a constitution that specifically protects freedom of speech.
Comparatively,
if we are happy to criminalize Penny Sparrow because of her personal
convictions and utterances regarding race, we open the flood gates to include
the religious right for speaking out against homosexuality. I admit again that
not all of the religious right are outspoken against homosexuality but let's be
honest, that's a pretty hefty majority.
Note that
the constitution specifically excludes the right to freedom of speech should it
constitute advocacy of hatred based on race, ethnicity, gender or religion, AND
that constitutes incitement to cause harm, (I will point out the glaring
absence of the mention of sexual orientation). The point is that Penny Sparrow
cannot be effectively accused of inciting to cause harm. Are her views backward
and idiotic? Of that I have no doubt, but I for one believe that she is entitled
to her opinion, and to express he opinion in whatever medium that she chooses,
provided that she doesn't also incite others that share her opinion to cause
harm.
I've used
a few choice words and I hope that by reading the above, the reader gets a good
idea on what my point of view regarding racism is. Something that I always try
and do is back my opinions up with a few hard facts and/or case studies. I've
recently had the disconcerting experience of being subjected to the kind of
vitriol that one often encounters, sadly enough, particularly in older, white
South Africans and realized that, much like homophobia and sexism, is VERY
difficult to debate from a logical point of view with people who hold to the
irrational ideas of yesteryear. Having said that, I do feel it's my duty to
try:
There is not a single study
using the modern scientific method that links race with a propensity
towards violent crime. Indeed, a study conducted between 1995 and 2002 in
America found that far and away the biggest contributing factor towards a
life of violent crime was socio-economic circumstances. (https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/www/external/labor/seminars/adp/pdfs/adp_ajph.pdf)
The idea that particular
races are either superior or inferior is simply absurd. Humans have
studied the genome to the point where we can tell individuals within our
species apart and have come to the following conclusion: "IT'S JUST
FUCKING SKIN COLOUR!!!" There is NO reason on a genetic level to
believe that a Nigerian is all that much different to a Thai. Indeed, the
Thai may well have more genetically in common with an Ethiopian than the
Ethiopian to the Nigerian, (or German, or Indian, or Native American) Race
is indeed nought more than a human construct. For a more in depth look at
research pertaining to this:
(http://www.nature.com/ng/journal/v36/n11s/full/ng1435.html)
In
short, there is absolutely no scientific data that correlates the feelings
and opinions of those who discriminate based on nothing but race with reality.
Onto a
lighter subject, though no less frustrating for me, smoking;
Is it
just me, or do we smokers seem to be driven further and further away from the
rest of society? I've noticed, (in Gauteng particularly) that there seems to be
less and less smoker friendly restaurants, and when they do have a smoking
section, (I'm looking at you Wimpy in Centurion Mall), it's absolutely tiny,
and stuck next to the children's play area. It used to be that you could enjoy
a smoke and some nice peace and quiet, now, not only do you have to put up with
being squeezed in like sardines but also have to endure the eardrum popping
squeals, crying and shouts of, "mommy, look at ME!" that comes with
being seated next the play area for the spawn of others.
Here's a
tip for restaurateurs, yes, we may be in the minority, but I'd be willing to
bet that if you properly looked at it, your smoking section generates more
money for your business than any other section of equivalent size. And yes, we
get it, smoking is harmful, I'm not saying that we need to be able to sit in
the non-smoking section and puff away, but we as consenting adults have decided
to continue smoking despite knowing the consequences. It's essentially the same
as deaminizing overweight people because of the choices they make. In short,
discrimination.
Homophobia;
If you've been watching the news coming out of America for the past while you
will have noticed this has reared it's ugly head again, personally I hate the
word, it's not a phobia, you aren't afraid, you're just an arsehole, and I
think that some of the more popular psychological theories on the subject are
correct, homophobes are simply secretly worried that dicks are delicious,
perhaps the better word would then be sexualism?
Something
I've noticed is the prevalence of sexualism within the christian black
community. I'll be honest and say that black christians confuse the fuck
out of me for a start. You are worshipping the very god that ordered your
enslavement in the first place! IF the Abrahamic god exists, (and that's a
pretty fucking huge if) why the fuck wouldn't you tell him to go fuck himself?
Many a time I've had discussions regarding homosexuality with black people and
the bible is almost always pointed at as the reason they feel that it should be
criminalized, yet when I point out that the very same bible not only advocates
slavery but gives specific guidelines on how to practice it, I'm suddenly
taking scripture out of context.
Unfortunately
sexualism in South Africa is alive and well, from "corrective" rape
of lesbians to the physical assaults and murders of gay men, it's something
that in our country ruled by a wonderfully progressive constitution needs to be
rectified with immediate effect.
Another
thing that irks me about both sides of the debate is the heavy importance put
on choice. What difference does it make? In almost all other aspects of our
lives we are given the right to choose, provided that our choices do not have
negative consequences to those around us. I would love for someone to explain
to me how my decision as to where to stick my dick has any bearing on their
life whatsoever. In fact, there are many studies that show that statistically
speaking, homosexuals make better, more considerate citizens than their
straight counterparts.
As a side
rant to this is the flip side to the coin, I know of people, (straight guys
specifically) who have been accused of homophobia purely because they turned
down a gay man hitting on them. WTF??? You have extra parts where I don't like
extra parts, period. Just because I don't want to fuck you doesn't mean I think
you are a freak, it just means I don't think dicks are delicious!
Sexism;
Another form of discrimination based on absolutely zero evidence whatsoever is sexism.
I'd like to preface this section by saying that I am by no stretch of the
imagination a feminist, (at least not in the modern sense of the word).
Men and
women are different on a biological level, that's a fact that cannot be
escaped. Do I believe that women should be afforded the same opportunities as
their male counterparts? Of course I do, your life, your choice. Having said
that, I'd love to challenge any feminist that insists that women are the same
as men to find a female rugby team that would be able to PHYSICALLY match the
Springboks. Not gonna happen. Why? Because physiologically, men are stronger
than women.
With that
in mind, one need only look at the world of business to realise that women are
just as, (if not often more) competent as men are in their chosen field.
Religious
intolerance, (apparently there is no 'ism' regarding religion);
As an atheist,
this is something that I personally face on a reasonably regular basis. I've
been told I'm going to burn in hell if I don't repent, (the irony of which
seemed lost on the person I was speaking to at the time). My girlfriend has been
told by friends parents the same thing because at the time she held to the
wiccan beliefs, (it was only out of respect to the friend that I managed to
bite my tongue and not ask why her parents imaginary friend was any better than
my girlfriends).
As mentioned
in the bit about racism above, I have no problem with my friends parents right
to hold their opinion, sure it made dinner a little awkward, (and diminished my
view of them as people) but whatever. What I DO have an issue with is when that
religious intolerance manifests itself in real world situations, I know of
people who have been fired for "coming out" as atheists, I've seen
video footage of muslims being assaulted and we've all seen the terrible things
muslim extremists do to people of other faiths, (I've mentioned the two biggest
Abrahamic religions but you can find similar examples globally by *insert
random religion here* against *insert another random religion here*).
Another
thing I’m going to try and do is find videos that I find amusing and are
hopefully pertinent to the topic at hand, as such, I give you, Tim Minchin’s
Cont(exct).It should
go without saying that I don't own the content, and please do check Tim's other
work out, the man is damn funny.
Well, I
think I'm going to leave it there for the moment, if anyone disagrees with
anything I've mentioned above, or just wants to add a rant of their own, please
feel free to comment. If you like what you read, please subscribe and share.
