A Note To My Readers: I Haven’t Forgotten You

It’s been a while since I’ve blogged, and so I thought I’d let you know that I’m still alive (yes, I know this pains some of you) and plan on writing more in the future. At the moment, my mother is very ill (after a full recovery from her ischemic attack, then a partial recovery from her stroke; she now has diabetes, bone disease and a host of other problems too long to list), and that’s taking up most of my time, with my own health problems, part time work, and pro bono projects eating up the rest.

I don’t really know what to say about the ridiculous “atheist/feminist/confrontationist/accommodationist war” except that there shouldn’t be one. The only thing atheism (or agnosticism or ignosticism) should be offering people is a respite from the harms of religion. We should be empathizing with those who disagree with us and apologizing for our own mistakes when we make them. It’s not hard, I do it all the time. As for those who make deliberate attempts to destroy the lives and careers of others, I want nothing to do with you. If you happen to be one of those people, you have nothing but my pity and contempt. While you may think that people dislike you because of your “lack of privilege,” you’ve misidentified the problem. People dislike you because of your antisocial behavior, cruelty, and hypocrisy.

I’d also like to extend my appreciation and gratitude (in no particular order) to John Loftus, Diane Bruce, Jeremy Stangroom, Paula Kirby, Richard Dawkins, Barbara Drescher, Ed Clint, Justin Griffith, Chris Stedman, Lee Moore, Chris Hallquist, Justin Vacula, Lawrence Krauss, Sarah Mayhew, Karla Porter,  Bridget Gaudette, Russell Blackford, Ed Brayton, Adam Freese, Miranda Celeste Hale,  Steve Zara, Sharon Hill, VJack, Ryan Grant Long, John Wilkins, Lucy Wainwright, Martin Pribble, and all my wonderful colleagues at SIN for the great work you do. Thank you. I know I’ve left out some people on accident, so thank you, too.

I plan to write more on the concept of “privilege” later, as I think many people are misunderstanding how and when the concept can be useful, and I’m also planning short pieces in support of the VAWA, mandatory support for biological children from both parents, rehabilitative maintenance, a woman’s absolute right to choose, and statutory/drunk rape. I have strong feminist positions on the first four of these issues, and absolutely no idea how to best handle the last one. I also plan to invite comedians to make silly, offensive, and off-color jokes. Because sometimes the best way to deal with society’s ills is to laugh at them. So that’s what you have to look forward to if you bear with me a for a little while longer. But first I must tend to my mother’s health and to my own well-being.

Much love to those who are trying to make the world a better and more accepting place for all.