Ophelia puts her finger on it. There is something ineffably mad, sad and bizarre about groups of men bonding under some misguided belief that what they are doing is righteous and holy. It is, as she says, stupid guy stuff. Ptuii.
Category: Society
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Reverse-Engineering Religion
Who designed the cow? That’s the question that Daniel Dennett posed when he began his address to the audience at this year’s TED conference. He uses it to examine the memes of religion. It’s worth watching and pondering. I was pleased to see that the lancet fluke manipulating the ant made an appearance.
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Spot-On, Marina!
Marina Hyde, in this piece for the Guardian’s Comment is Free, muses about the reports that terrorists have not only been training in far-off Pakistan, but also on Beatrix Potter’s doorstep, in England’s Lake District.
I share her view that really, there is something risible about these narcissistic losers bonding in the daffodils on the shores of Lake Windermere. But her point is absolutely to the point:
It does not belittle murder to admit that that murder is being planned by a bunch of intense, lost, silly boys. But it should absolutely affect our response. Is it truly worthy of us to dismantle long-cherished legal freedoms for this lot?
Absolutely not, is of course my reaction. And I totally agree with her when she writes:
This should not for a moment suggest that the danger from such people is not real. But being unable to laugh at it is a danger itself. It implies a critical lack of self-belief, suggesting virtues and values to be so tenuous that they can be shaken by Mittyish socio- or psychopaths, when the reality is that we will never be able to fully protect ourselves against some kinds of ingenuity.
Er, Tony, are you listening?
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Granny Gets a Vibrator
May I just draw your attention to a blog: Granny Gets A Vibrator. It’s written by a woman who is by no means a spring chicken or in the best of health, but who is seizing life by the throat and shaking it heartily. You go, girl!I can’t recall now whose blog I read with the pointer to granny, but thank you, whoever you were. -
Terrorism and Irrational Fear
Jonah Lehrer, over at The Frontal Cortex, makes some interesting points about people’s reaction to terrorism. We do seem to be irrationally afraid of it (and this irrational fear is of course well exploited by terrorists themselves). Statistically, as he points out, the numbers of people killed in terrorist acts in a year is not much more than the number of Amercians who accidentally drown in their bathtubs each year, and yet there is no Department of Bathtub Security.One person who comments on the piece writes that the difference is that in one case there is a human agency (the terrorists) actively working to kill people, while in the other, the causes of death (car crashes, bathtub drownings) are pure chance and random events. But as Jonah retorts, while the basis of the fear may be valid – terrorists do blow up trains and planes – the fear itself remains irrational, simply because it is so very unlikely to happen to you (I am talking about a "you" who lives in a capital city in the West, of course – statistically speaking, a "you" living in Baghdad is much more likely to suffer a terrorist act).I think he’s right, we do behave irrationally over the risks – and this is a fact exploited not only by the terrorists, but by the authorities who seem to be more intent on amplifying the fear than damping it down. I really do feel that we are beginning to live in the world of Terry Gilliam’s Brazil. -
Fietstocht
Today, Martin and I went on a "fietstocht" – a bicycle tour – organised by our nearest neighbours (200 metres away across a field). It’s apparently an annual event, when someone in the neighbourhood volunteers to plan a seven-hour bicycle ride through the local countryside with stops for coffee, lunch and tea.This was our first time of joining the fietstocht, and this morning, 42 of us – of all ages – set out at 10:00 am to cover a route of about 40 kilometres. We both thoroughly enjoyed it. Gently cycling through the Dutch countryside, chatting with neighbours that we know, and getting to know new neighbours.Sometimes the simple things in life are the best. -
Enlightening The Future
Spiked has been running a survey these past couple of months, asking a selection of scientists, philosphers and commentators what they think the key challenges will be for the next generation. I’m coming late to this, so there’s a whole pile of reading to catch up on – some of it looks thought-provoking, and no doubt some of it will be dross. -
The Persecution of Iraqi Gays
I mentioned an article on the persecution of gay people in Iraq that appeared in last Sunday’s Observer newspaper. Last night, a documentary on which the report was based was shown on a British TV channel. That documentary is available for viewing over the web on this page. Doug Ireland also has more background on the situation in Iraq available via his web site here. -
Mothering Skills
I suppose this sort of thing is inevitable, but I must say I find this extremely tacky. I’d hate to be that child. We’ve obviously moved on from the days when Noel penned Don’t Put Your Daughter On The Stage, Mrs. Worthington… -
The Protection of the Law
I’ve said it before, and doubtless I’ll say it again, I have a lot to be thankful for; living as I do as a gay man at this particular time in this particular country. I have the fact that the laws of the land grant me equal rights with my straight neighbours.In many parts of the world this is not so. In today’s Observer comes a reminder that Iraq seems to be following Iran in using the majesty of the law to pursue gay men to their deaths. -
The Last Librarian of Alexandria
While I’m waiting for the photos from yesterday’s Canal Parade to be uploaded into Flickr, I’m in a somewhat reflective mood – caused in no small part I suspect from the glass (or two) of Rosé that I have recently imbibed.I came across this entry from Brent Rasmussen, over at the Unscrewing The Inscrutable blog. It’s about the Great Library in Alexandria, founded in the 3rd century BC, and which stood for centuries until it was finally destroyed in 646 AD. It also mentions Hypatia, the last librarian. She was a remarkable woman by all accounts, but in 414 AD, as Brent reports it: "a faction of fundamentalist Christians, led by a shadowy character named Peter, ostensibly endorsed by Cyril, Pope of Alexandria, dragged Hypatia through the streets by her hair, beat her to a pulp inside their Church, and then scraped the living flesh off her bones with broken tiles and abalone shells. Her remains were cremated; there is no grave. Cryril was made a Saint, a status he enjoys to this day". So it goes.Brent reflects: "We take science for granted these days, we trust that knowledge hard won will not be lost. But it wasn’t always so".I think, looking around at the state of the world today, that I would say that I am less certain than Brent. There are times when I feel that the candle of science is flickering once again in a new rise of the Demon-Haunted world. -
Department of the Bleeding Obvious
Research carried out recently indicates that churchgoers are likely to be superstitious. Well I never, cor blimey, knock me down wiv a fevver, what a surprise… I also got a chuckle out of the fact that the research team was led by a "Professor of Practical Theology". "Practical Theology" – isn’t that another example of an oxymoron, like "military intelligence" or "airline cuisine"? Jesus and Mo’s barmaid says it all, really. -
Um, How Exactly?
Seen at the Pride Parade in San Diego. One wonders at what passes for thought processes in his brain (I use the term somewhat loosely, you understand). -
History Repeats
A thoughtful piece by Brian Keenan in The Guardian today on his reaction to the current events in Lebanon. For those who don’t know Keenan’s background, here is a reminder. -
Deathworld
I am at a loss to comprehend the situation in Israel and Lebanon. This analysis over at the Smokewriting blog strikes a chord with me. The continuing saga reminds me of the central premise in Harry Harrison’s Deathworld: the positive feedback of hatred simply breeds more. I don’t see how it can end in a humane manner. -
Bill and Melinda Meet Nkosepaca
Excellent article by Sarah Boseley in The Guardian today on Bill and Melinda Gates’ visit to a South African township. Worth reading. -
Candlelight Vigil on 19 July
Almost one year ago on 19 July 2005, Mahmoud Asgari and Ayaz Marhoni, ages 16 and 18, were executed in the city of Mashhad, Iran. Their crime? They were gay.
There will be a candlelight vigil on 19 July at the Homomonument in Amsterdam from 22:00. The sun sets at 21:30. It will be a simple affair. People should bring a candle and show up. No political speeches or anything like that — just like-minded people.
Update: the starting time has been changed to 22:00 as now shown above. -
Hassan Writes Another Letter
Rachel publishes another letter from Hassan. He writes powerfully. Go and read it. -
Dutch Cities On The March
The Dutch Central Bureau of Statistics quantifies what most of us have long suspected: cities are expanding around their edges, at the expense of green buffer zones.
Geoff Coupe's Blog 