Archive for September, 2011

A New AH for 2012!

Posted in Uncategorized on September 29, 2011 by RJ Evans

Vacation is over and now I am back… hard at work preparing a new season of my American Heathen® radio show!  And what a season it is going to be!

I’m currently working closely with my Producer/Publicist, Amber Harris and my new Production Assistant, Bryce Cleek on a whole host of new ideas for the show.  I thought I’d give you a brief glimpse at what you can expect with the return of the show on Saturday, January 28th.  First, you’ll notice that we are moving the show to Saturday nights.  This should make it easier for folks to tune in.  Plus, I don’t have to compete with “Real Time w/Bill Maher”.  The truth is that I have to DVR his show when I do a Friday show, and I would much rather watch him LIVE than listen to myself babble for three hours!  But, anyway… Same time for the show on Saturdays.  8ET,  7CT.  Now, here’s a list of some of the new changes…

1) PODCASTS!   Yep.  I finally broke down and decided to offer podcasts of the show.  BUT, there’s a caveat to that… I won’t make them available until the first Friday after the LIVE show. I have been reluctant to offer a podcast for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is the fact that I HAVE to edit out all the music breaks.  The editing can be time-consuming.  Second, I am a stickler for audio quality and the idea of re-sampling the show down to save file size goes against every fiber of my being.  HOWEVER, by getting rid of the music breaks (which, btw needs to be done to remain legal in podcast land) I can feel comfortable with a voice sample rate of 64k.  Thirdly, I don’t want to lose my LIVE audience by offering a podcast they can listen to whenever they want.  I figure if I delay the release a week, most of my LIVE folks won’t abandon ship. (I hope)  The show will continue to be simulcast LIVE and then replayed, in whole or in part from time to time, on FreethoughtRadio.com.

2) NEW FORMAT! Well, sort of.  Let’s just say that there is a new method to my madness.  More segments, more humor and satire, more focus and discussion on specific issues every show.

3) NEW CO-HOSTS!  The same familiar folks will return though.  I’m just adding to the pool of tremendous talent on the show.  For starters, Reap Paden (The Angry Atheist) will be sitting in (from San Francisco) from time to time.  Additional talent will be announced soon.

4) GREATLY ENHANCED CYBERSPACE PRESENCE!  I’ve decided to turn up the volume on the show’s online activities.  I’m an old fart, so grasping all the ins and outs of cyber-connectivity is not my forte.  Fortunately, between Amber and Bryce, and my good friend over at FreethoughtRadio.com, Lauren Floyd, the show is going to have better net exposure.  As of today, a new Facebook page is under construction.  And, it is tied neatly to Twitter and this blog.  It will also be tied to our show site at AmericanHeathen.net. I have also created a new AmericanHeathen® YouTube video site.  More about that in a second.  Interactive and interlinked.  What happens here, there, or anywhere, will show up somewhere!  Oh… also look for a facelift on AmericanHeathen.net.  Lot’s of new graphics coming!

5) AMERICAN HEATHEN® YouTube CHANNEL! I’m going out on a limb here.  I’m not exactly camera friendly.  But, it is time to put my mug out there.  So, every week or so I will offer up a 2-4 minute video commentary, separate from any show commentary.  Something to tide folks over until the next show.  My production assistant Bryce Cleek will be at the helm for editing, and you can bet that the production quality will be top notch!  So, stay tuned!  The first video will make it’s way to the channel in mid-December.

6) MERCHANDISE & SHOW GIVEAWAYS!  This always seems to be an issue I keep coming back to.  Folks want something for their time.  At least, they wouldn’t mind supporting the show and the message.  So, we will be putting together a merchandise page on AmericanHeathen.net and will also have a contest or two from time to time on the show.  We have a few items on the agenda right now, but you’ll have to wait to find out more.

There’s a lot more in the works.  I can’t tell you more because that would spoil the surprises!  Let’s just say that next year’s AH Show will be nothing short of spectacular!  A lot of terrific and talented people are working really hard to bring you the absolute best show possible.  And we do it, not only for you, but for everyone who values Freedom and Liberty for All!

Stayed Tuned!

In Honor of Constitution Day, Sept 17th

Posted in Politics, Religion on September 16, 2011 by hewhay

In Honor of Constitution Day, Sept 17th, I offer the wit and wisdom of Dr Ben Franklin and the words on one admittedly not as wise as Dr Franklin.

This Saturday September 17th is “Constitution Day”. It is not as heralded as “Independence Day”, which, unlike the former, is marked with a Federal Holiday and throughout the Land many public displays of nationalism, including parades, stumps speeches, and the ubiquitous flag waving and fireworks.

As this “Constitution Day” approaches perhaps it would be appropriate for our nation to take a deep breath and push away from the political table overflowing with rancor, divisiveness, partisanship, and crass assertion of certitude and rightness, divinely directed by the “gawd” imagined by certain political pontificators.

Perhaps, it is time to recognize that our “Great Charter” was not an inerrant grant from gawd, but , rather an effort to hold together a fragile, fragmented, fledgling post-war coalition of “nation states”.  It  was a “Great Compromise”.

Ben Franklin astutely captured the true spirit of this cobblestoned and imperfect document :MONDAY SEPr 17, 1787: [1] IN CONVENTION

The engrossed Constitution being read,

DOCr. FRANKLIN rose with a speech in his hand, which he had reduced to
writing for his own conveniency, [2] and which Mr. Wilson read in the
words following.

Mr. President

I confess that there are several parts of this constitution which I do
not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them:
For having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being
obliged by better information, or fuller consideration, to change
opinions even on important subjects, which I once thought right, but
found to be otherwise. It is therefore that the older I grow, the more
apt I am to doubt my own judgment, and to pay more respect to the
judgment of others. Most men indeed as well as most sects in Religion,
think themselves in possession of all truth, and that wherever others
differ from them it is so far error. Steele a Protestant in a Dedication
tells the Pope, that the only difference between our Churches in their
opinions of the certainty of their doctrines is, the Church of Rome is
infallible and the Church of England is never in the wrong. But though
many private persons think almost as highly of their own infallibility
as of that of their sect, few express it so naturally as a certain
french lady, who in a dispute with her sister, said “I don’t know how it
happens, Sister but I meet with no body but myself, that’s always in the
right — Il n’y a que moi qui a toujours raison.”

In these sentiments, Sir, I agree to this Constitution with all its
faults, if they are such; because I think a general Government necessary
for us, and there is no form of Government but what may be a blessing to
the people if well administered, and believe farther that this is likely
to be well administered for a course of years, and can only end in
Despotism, as other forms have done before it, when the people shall
become so corrupted as to need despotic Government, being incapable of
any other. I doubt too whether any other Convention we can obtain, may
be able to make a better Constitution. For when you assemble a number of
men to have the advantage of their joint wisdom, you inevitably assemble
with those men, all their prejudices, their passions, their errors of
opinion, their local interests, and their selfish views. From such an
assembly can a perfect production be expected? It therefore astonishes
me, Sir, to find this system approaching so near to perfection as it
does; and I think it will astonish our enemies, who are waiting with
confidence to hear that our councils are confounded like those of the
Builders of Babel; and that our States are on the point of separation,
only to meet hereafter for the purpose of cutting one another’s throats.
Thus I consent, Sir, to this Constitution because I expect no better,
and because I am not sure, that it is not the best. The opinions I have
had of its errors, I sacrifice to the public good. I have never
whispered a syllable of them abroad. Within these walls they were born,
and here they shall die. If every one of us in returning to our
Constituents were to report the objections he has had to it, and
endeavor to gain partizans in support of them, we might prevent its
being generally received, and thereby lose all the salutary effects &
great advantages resulting naturally in our favor among foreign Nations
as well as among ourselves, from our real or apparent unanimity. Much of
the strength & efficiency of any Government in procuring and securing
happiness to the people, depends, on opinion, on the general opinion of
the goodness of the Government, as well as well as of the wisdom and
integrity of its Governors. I hope therefore that for our own sakes as a
part of the people, and for the sake of posterity, we shall act heartily
and unanimously in recommending this Constitution (if approved by
Congress & confirmed by the Conventions) wherever our influence may
extend, and turn our future thoughts & endeavors to the means of having
it well administred.  (Madison, “Notes on the Constitutional Convention”)

Where Franklin mentions the tension between the Protestant and the Catholic, each claiming divine inerrancy, he was telling his contemporaries and warning posterity, that in the Councils of Government religious certitude had to be sublimated to the “common good”, and that each sect could, within its  own sphere, maintain its own principles, including inerrancy , but that in the enterprise of governing a vast and diverse nation of  independent people s no sect’s dogma had primacy in setting and steering our nation’s course.

In fact, Franklin and the other Framers KNEW that religious truth was UNKNOWABLE and, hence, must remain an OPEN question in an OPEN society.The Framers were certainly as well-informed, as astutely attuned to the principles of reason and logic, and as intimately involved in the political and governmental affairs of their era, as ANY policy maker, citizen or person similarly engaged in the 21st century.  Their INDIVIDUAL passion, beliefs,  truisms, and certitudes were no less important to them than those  similar attitudes possessed by 21st century mavens.

Franklin’s words are as poignant and sage now as they were then:

“For having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being
obliged by better information, or fuller consideration, to change
opinions even on important subjects, which I once thought right, but
found to be otherwise. It is therefore that the older I grow, the more
apt I am to doubt my own judgment, and to pay more respect to the
judgment of others.”

Who among us is more mature, more seasoned, more wise than Dr Franklin?

If HE and the other Framers could put aside their certitude, their insistence that their opinion, AND ONLY their opinion, was entitled  to the primacy of Constitutional enshrinement, who are WE in the 21st Century to insist that our version of “Constitutional Truth”, and OUR version ALONE, is all that should receive the imprimatur of Constitutional dignity?

 As Dr Franklin said, “Most men indeed as well as most sects in Religion, think themselves in possession of all truth, and that wherever others differ from them it is so far error.”

It is long past time to heed Dr Franklin’s sage advice, and set aside our personal opinions, our political affiliations, our preconceived notions, and our personal agendas, and do what is pellucidly in the best interest of this Nation.

This tug-o-war  among Dems and Reps, Tea-Partiers, Libs, Cons, Neo-cons, et. al.  to grab control of the reins of government to impose, by imprimatur of law, their OWN socio-economic-religio-political agenda must STOP!

Not all good ideas belong within the province of government, and certainly not all bad ones.  So, let’s push away from the partisan bickering table, take a deep breath, and say “Happy Birthday, Constitution! I pledge fidelity to YOU and ONLY YOU!”

In Remembrance…

Posted in Politics, Religion on September 10, 2011 by RJ Evans

On 9/11 thousands of people died.  Thousands more were left without loved ones. Hundreds are left with a legacy of illness for their valor.  Millions of people across this country, and around the world, grieve.  I am one.  Although I am godless, I am NOT heartless and without feelings for ALL.  But, I desperately encourage ALL to consider the REASON this tragedy happened.  It wasn’t political ideology.  It WAS and IS RELIGION.  Make no mistake.  One skydaddy pitted against another in a battle for supremacy.  Unfortunately, these myths are created and maintained by human beings.  The wars are fought by flesh and blood.  The consequences are real and cannot be undone.

Remember the living.  For it is us that must bear the burden of senseless death.  We must remind ourselves that ignorance kills.  Think about it as you contemplate this tragedy.

Peace to all.

2 Comments »

Just Hold Our Noses?

Posted in Politics, Religion on September 10, 2011 by hewhay

To paraphrase Mort Zuckerman,  the USA needs a AAA President for our AAA Nation.  Barack Obama has failed the test.  In the Democratic field there is no, and appears there will be no, one to challenge Obama.

So, let’s look at the Republican slate.  Bachmann and Palin are dominionists who delusionally believe they are, not only divinely inspired, but that they are also charged, by gawd, with the responsibility of imposing their peculiar stripe of xtianity upon all  councils of government throughout the world.

Perry, too, is a dominionist.  Worse still, he’s a prettier but more ignorant clone of King George Dubya Bush.

Ron Paul has some good  Libertarian ideas–smaller government, ending the ongoing external wars on terrorism, etc–but, he lacks “gravitas” and will  be less effective than Obama in governing, and will be torn up by the “heavy weight” politicians here and abroad.

Herman Cain also claims that gawd directed him to run for President.  Aside from this delusion of grandeur, he has been an effective businessman.  However, he has NO experience in government, including the hurly  burly of American political parties, pressure groups,and lobbyists.  We don’t really need to trade one inexperienced in governance for another.

Newt Gingrich has much experience at the legislative level,none at the executive.  He purports to be an “idea man”, but his ideas peaked in the 1990s when he led the charge to impeach the philandering Clinton, while Newt himself is a master philanderer.  Rick Santorum, like Palin, Bachmann, Perry, and Cain, proclaims his divine guidance as well.  He also insists the USA is a “xtian nation”, he supports intelligent design, and opposes equal rights for gays and lesbians.  He compared homosexuality to having sex with a dog.  Santorum also compared consensual homosexuality to adultery, bigamy, incest, polygamy.

Jon Huntsman is a businessman, a former governor.  Thus, he brings executive experience from both the business and political sectors.  His further  conservative “bona fides”  include stints in the Reagan and George H W Bush administrations.  He even served  in Dubya’s admin as Deputy U.S. Trade Minister.  His “sin”, however, from the Republican Party perspective , is he took a job with Obama.  A further sin is he thinks climate change is a serious issue to be dealt with by humans(not gawd).  His “splinter xtianity”, Mormonism, may stymie his chances in the primaries.

Mitt Romney.  Executive experience from both a business and political perspective.  Prettier than Perry.  Experience running a national campaign.  “In rescuing the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games, which had been tarnished by scandal, Mr. Romney learned the ways of Washington and the hurly-burly of politics, mastered the news media, built a staff of loyalists and made fund-raising connections in Utah that have proven vital to his presidential campaign.”  Romney pledged, however, not to use the Olympic post as a stepping stone to higher office.  FLIP.  Romney once supported pro-choice, then abandoned such when he ran for President in 2008. FLOP.  Romney supported, nurtured, and  got passed “universal health care” in Mass., but strongly rebukes Obamacare, which was patterned to a large extent on the Mass plan.  FLIPFLOP.  Romney, like Huntsman, is a Mormon, and many evangelicals, who virtually control the GOP, may not be able to pull the lever for a “heathen”.

If  I missed any major GOP contenders, I apologize, but if I didn’t mention you, YOU AIN’T a MAJOR PLAYER!!!  So, what do we have to choose from?  An incumbent Prez who demonstrably is NOT a AAA  player, and a bunch of “pretenders” who can barely muster a “C” among them , much less a TRIPLE-AAA rating!

So, what are we to do?  Hold our noses and vote for the “lesser of evils”, or “lesser of failures”?  Perhaps, that is our only alternative this cycle. And we can find some comfort in realizing our nation, not only survived, but has flourished even after the  corruption and ineptitude, respectively, of Nixon and Carter.

But, we must begin in earnest a search for a better method of selecting our leaders and governing ourselves: we OWE posterity adequate and sufficient resources to meet the exigencies with which they will be inevitably confronted, not a national treasure depleted by ego, ambition, ineptitude and entitlement

2 Comments »

Don’t Be A Sucker!

Posted in Politics, Religion on September 9, 2011 by RJ Evans

This NEEDS to be seen.  Take the time.  You won’t regret it.  What’s more, it is so relevant even after 60+ years! And especially now!

From the YouTube site…  “In this anti-fascist film produced by US Military in the wake of WWII, the producers deconstructs the politically motivated social engineering of Germany by the Nazi regime.”

2 Comments »

Moderate Christians – A House Of Cards

Posted in Politics, Religion on September 8, 2011 by RJ Evans

There are a lot of folks who seem to think that political activism on behalf of a skydaddy is perfectly acceptable in American society.  There are also a greater number of folks who seem to think that the Religious Reich (fundamentalist christian politicos) could never have any kind of sweeping success in getting elected to major public office, thereby creating a theonomy/theocracy that would supplant our democratic republic.  In fact, I’d be willing to bet that a majority of Americans really take our democracy for granted, and bury their heads in the sands of ignorance when it comes to the domestic dangers that the christian religion presents to our freedom.  Case in point… The upcoming 2012 presidential election.

Every one of the candidates for the GOP are running on a “god and corporations” platform, with the emphasis on the “god” part of the equation.  The only candidate that is considered “moderate” is Jon Huntsman, former governor of Utah who, by 1980′s standards, would have been considered far right. The rest of the field is so far right that they would fall off the Planet if they were “Flat Earth Society” members. To them it’s all about god and money.  Rick Santorum, Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Michelle Bachmann, Mitt Romney… They all pander heavily to the Religious Reich, their heads so far up god’s ass that they can actually smell, touch and taste, jesus.  Rick Perry is currently considered by many to be a frontrunner for the Christian Nationalist Party.  The most dangerous of the bunch, this egomaniac has no qualms about putting people to death.  His conscience is clear when it comes to the death penalty. When he was asked if he ever struggled with the idea that someone who was killed via capital punishment was innocent he replied, “No, sir. I’ve never struggled with that at all.” So, Perry simply let’s the wheels of Justice turn, never the care for the possibility that innocent human beings might be murdered by the State?  Scary thought when one considers the potential for errors in our judicial system. How many people have been wrongly convicted of crimes since the country’s founding?  I guess god will sort out the innocent from the guilty huh?

Anyway… The 2012 election is primed to become one of the most important elections in our nation’s history.  High unemployment, economic collapse, extreme partisan politics, and the word “god” being used every other sentence in political conversation, is setting the tone for an electorate that’s been scarred by lack of “change” on behalf of an impotent President and the Democratic party. The people have been forced to weather the storms of all manner of social and political strife and are scared out of their mind (as if they had one to begin with).  They are very vulnerable to the whole “jesus is coming and he’s pissed”, and “turn to god and pray” mantras. But, this is crucial to a victory for the GOP (Christian Nationalist Party) and  they know it. They have been playing the fear card since Obama was elected.  Almost 4 years of their vitriol, supposition, lies, and outright obstruction has everyone reaching for god and their guns.  But, the god fearing electorate isn’t preparing to take down the purveyors of this putrid purview.  Nope.  They have been thoroughly snowed into believing that it’s godlessness/secularism/liberalism preventing them from leading happy,  prosperous lives.  The witch hunt is on!  Now, it’s all about giving the devil his due!  It’s also about begging and pleading with the skyfairy to make America number one again!  “Jesus loves me this I know, for the bible, and Rick, Herman, Newt, Ron, Michelle, Mitt, and Jon tell me so!”

“But, RJ… I’m a moderate christian.  I don’t believe in that extreme stuff.  That’s not christian anyway!”  Welcome to the “moderate” christian house of cards folks!  The number of folks who claim “moderation” in their pursuit of the christian skybaby/skydaddy is astounding.  But, on closer examination, you will find a sinister undercurrent.  What is it?  God. The skydaddy. The king (contrary to democracy btw).  Period.  The unifying love of a myth. The silent majority of America (those who claim to be moderate christian of some manner) are also the least likely to show up at the ballot box.  So, while they quietly ignore the political process, the loudmouthed, self-proclaimed skydaddy spinions, and corporate kiss asses of the GOP are bellowing their way to power, one giant sound byte at a time.  Their base is loving it!  And, they’re the ones who actually show up to pull the fucking handle at the voting booth!  So, when the smoke clears from the fundamentalist artillery barrage of skyfairy, “god told me to run”, “jesus is coming” rhetoric of the 2012 election, America will be firmly in the hands of the talibangelicals.  When that happens (and it will), anyone who believes in a christian skydaddy is going to be forced to make a choice.  You’re either with them, or against them.  Choose the poison. Their version of skydaddy justice (Rick Perry style), or their other version of skydaddy justice (Rick Perry style)?  And, like all good skydaddy worshippers, it’ll be to your advantage to simply “turn the other cheek” so to speak.  Hey, it’s all about god anyway, right?  Like a house of cards, the moderates will fall one by one.  Few will take up the cause of religious freedom for ALL.  Few will fight to protect the secular principle of Separation of Church and State. And fewer still will have the spine to question their faith in the skydaddy at all.

How do I know this?  Over the last 7 years I have asked a lot of “moderate” christians if they’d be willing to take a bullet to protect my right to NOT believe in a skyfairy.  You know how many have answered the question?  One.  A youth pastor. He claimed that he would take a bullet to protect my right to NOT believe. Everyone else didn’t answer. They changed the subject or simply smiled and looked away. And yet, I would be more than happy to defend their right to believe in a skydaddy, even at the cost of my life.  Don’t believe me?  What the fuck am I doing right now?  This is MY blog, open to the public.  MY show is broadcast on the Internet.  I use my real name.  I don’t hide.  I openly and unabashedly present myself as a target for anyone who disagrees with me. I drive around in a car with a vanity plate, issued by the State of Oklahoma, with the word “ATHEIST” spelled out clearly in black letters on a white background. I get email death threats, and the occasional veiled threats sent through my comments section on this blog.  And, no matter what, I continue to speak out in favor of freedom and liberty for ALL. Do you think I do this for myself, for my health, wealth, and wellbeing? Only one believer is willing to back me up?  WTF?

Folks, if you’re a believer… When the talibangelicals come knocking on your door, you better have an answer for them. With them or against them. Take your pick.  Chances are you already know what your answer will be.  And it certainly isn’t in favor of freedom and liberty for ALL.  Go ahead and cover your ass.  You still lose like the rest of us.

2 Comments »

For The Love Of God?

Posted in Politics, Religion on September 8, 2011 by RJ Evans

This is what is preached in a lot of churches around the country.  This kind of thinking is slowly and methodically working its way into the national collective conscience.  In many cases, this vitriol is verbally denied by christians, kept secret. But in the back of their minds, they long for someone like this to lead them to the promise land.   Who will stand and who will fall when people like this are elected?  Sobering thought huh?  Beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing.  Perry, Bachmann… anyone on the right.  Danger lurks in the shadows. Here’s Pastor Steve Anderson from the Faithful Word Baptist Church.  All for the love of god.

And if you think Anderson is “fringe” take a look at this video as he speaks at a Tea Bagger rally in Gilbert, AZ.  Fringe…what an interesting word to describe a mainstream movement.

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 160 other followers

%d bloggers like this: