Some assembly required
It seems that President Bush's nominee for surgeon general is of the "Tab A fits into Slot B and there ain't any two ways about it'' school of human sexuality.
James W. Holsinger, a cardiologist, wrote a paper in 1991 with the wonderfully loaded title, "Pathophysiology of Male Homosexuality” in which he pointed out that males and females are built to fit together in ways that two men aren't, and when you start fitting square pegs into round holes disease and injury can result. And therefore, well therefore I don't know...the four horsemen of the apocalypse come riding in or something.
What a paucity of imagination this guy has! And how few tools for foreplay!
In the first place, there's a whole lot of heterosexual sex that can result in disease and injury. Speaking of heterosexual sexual injury, anybody remember John Wayne Bobbit? And hey, have you ever seen one of those sex swing things? A chiropractor's wet dream those things are.
In the second place, there's plenty of heterosexual activity that doesn't necessarily "Tab A into Slot B.'' Anybody remember Monica Lewinsky?
Doesn't the Surgeon General have enough to worry about without sticking his nose where it most certainly doesn't belong?
James W. Holsinger, a cardiologist, wrote a paper in 1991 with the wonderfully loaded title, "Pathophysiology of Male Homosexuality” in which he pointed out that males and females are built to fit together in ways that two men aren't, and when you start fitting square pegs into round holes disease and injury can result. And therefore, well therefore I don't know...the four horsemen of the apocalypse come riding in or something.
What a paucity of imagination this guy has! And how few tools for foreplay!
In the first place, there's a whole lot of heterosexual sex that can result in disease and injury. Speaking of heterosexual sexual injury, anybody remember John Wayne Bobbit? And hey, have you ever seen one of those sex swing things? A chiropractor's wet dream those things are.
In the second place, there's plenty of heterosexual activity that doesn't necessarily "Tab A into Slot B.'' Anybody remember Monica Lewinsky?
Doesn't the Surgeon General have enough to worry about without sticking his nose where it most certainly doesn't belong?
posted by Michael Riley at 9:47 AM
29 Comments:
I am trying to recall the name of another big fan of the "Tab A fits into Slot B" school of thought. Help me out here, Reverend Riley. Who was it that once said, "Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female, and for this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh?'"
Hmmm. Now if I could only recall who said those words.
gee, we know who it was papinian..
Those words, like the rest of the Bible, are the words of men.
...Inspired by God.
Margaret
Re: ..a man shall leave his mother..."
PS - They are beautiful words
"Hmmm. Now if I could only recall who said those words."
I'm willing to bet that it wasn't the guy that once said, "Thus, the Word of God is whatever you want it to be."
"...Inspired by God." -- Margaret
Indeed. And in some instances, some of the words contained in the Bible were also spoken directly by God (e.g., anything said by Jesus Christ).
margaret wrote:
"...Inspired by God."
Actually, inspired by the words of men who created God in their image.
Pat/Papinian/Papist/Whatever wrote:
"I'm willing to bet that it wasn't the guy that once said, "Thus, the Word of God is whatever you want it to be."
Yer durn tootin'!
BTW, not only is the word of God whatever you want it to be, but so is God, and so is the truth whatever you want it to be.
Ray, some of the words you say are outright blasphemy for me, and painful to read. I have to remember that you're atheist (if I recall).
No matter what, you will always interject something anti-God.
I am resigned to it, but it makes me sad, not because I have to have my opinion as number one here. We are all such different folks.
I guess, atheism is as foreign to me as the South Pole, and maybe twice as cold.
I do not wish to convert anyone...nor do I suspect that you would ever wish to be converted.
However, you purport to have much knowledge about my faith. You have inspired me to study the lack of yours.
We can agree on some things, which you think means it's the end of the world :) I think it's good. Even polar opposites (in religion, anyway) can agree on some things, and that gives me great hope.
Margaret
Blasphemy means nothing to me. It's part of a belief system and trying to extend it outside of that belief system is pointless as the word has no meaning there.
Besides, the definition of blasphemy has changed over time so what you consider blasphemous is the result of the times in which you live, not any inherent aspect of religion. Hence, the arbitrariness of belief.
margaret wrote:
"I guess, atheism is as foreign to me as the South Pole, and maybe twice as cold."
That's why the conservatives are trying to melt it.
BTW, there's nothing anti-God about noting how arbitrary belief is. It's just a different way of looking at the world. Do you consider yourself to be anti-Zeus, or anti-Allah because you believe in God? If you say yes then I hope you'll make it a point to learn the consequences of such from history.
God is God. Doesn't matter which name is used.
The conservatives are trying to melt the South Pole? I guess the liberals are trying to save what's left and bring it to the US of A.
Especially if Hilary gets into office.
Margaret
I guess we'd be going out of the 8 yr frying pan and into the 4 yr BLIZZARD.
Margaret
margaret wrote:
"God is God. Doesn't matter which name is used."
That's just your belief system talking.
You are incorrigible but that is acceptable given your belief system :)
Margaret
You should have realized by now that I have no belief system at all.
"You should have realized...I have no belief system at all." - Ray
I can't fathom it.
When I was a teen I had a boyfriend who was atheist. Conversations went in circles.
He was angry over his parents recently divorcing. Perhaps he wasn't a true atheist, just really angry.
When we didn't talk about religion or lack of it, things were pretty good.
I still think about him now and again, and wonder how things turned out for him. Hope he's well.
Margaret
I make no distinction between believing in deities and believing in visitors from outer space, Bigfoot, Chupacabra, the Loch Ness Monster or ghosts. Belief is belief. One is as good as another. I don't know what your boyfriend's problem was but I choose to reason rather than to react emotionally. I'm willing to say, "I don't know" when asked questions about which I have no answer rather than to invoke a deity just to soothe myself. "God did it" is not a rational answer to any question.
To borrow from what someone once said about opinions, "Beliefs are like assholes, everybody has one." It takes courage to not follow the crowd and to shun belief in a search for rationality. Most people don't have that kind of courage and wouldn't know what to do if they did.
It takes courage, also, to believe, especially when mocked for one's beliefs.
I am old enough for my faith not to be motivated solely by what I learned as a child.
To me, Jesus Christ was a good and holy man, and I do believe Him to be divine. this is based on New Testament readings, and other events in history.
Holy people and their words and actions motivate me in my faith in God - John Paul II and Blessed (Mother) Teresa are just two people whose faith and incredible kindness inspire me in this faith.
Jesus' words have been twisted by many who use them. These actions can make Christianity appear quite ugly. And there are hypocritical acts taken by those who claim to be Christians that exacerbate the ugly perception further, making people want to apply it to all Christians. This saddens me.
I have invoked "I don't know" too when the answers are not clear for me. What I do not invoke is "God did it" in regard to everything I cannot explain. There are just some things that are beyond understanding for the human mind. But I do expect that when I am gone from this world, God will make everything clear for me. That is my faith.
I know it's not yours. You were kind enough to explain where you're at, hence, my sharing.
Margaret
So what's worse, Margaret, being mocked for your beliefs or mocked for your biology.
Ray, I like to show this poem for people who would love to believe but can't:
http://www.bartleby.com/121/43.html
Margaret:
"It takes courage, also, to believe, especially when mocked for one's beliefs."
Nah. It's the easiest thing to do. Safety in numbers, you know? No effort, no risk, no loss. Try going against the grain and see what it's like. You have to defend yourself against the bigotry and hatred of the religiously correct crowd. Please don't portray yourself as being put out by this stuff. That would be like when George W. Bush, et al, call veterans who oppose the war in Iraq unpatriotic. Only those who know really know.
"I am old enough for my faith not to be motivated solely by what I learned as a child."
Yet Miracle of Miracles you believe exactly the same things! How lucky for you that you didn't have to change your mind and find a different course!
anonymous:
"Ray, I like to show this poem for people who would love to believe but can't:
http://www.bartleby.com/121/43.html"
You misunderstand me. I have no desire to believe. In fact, one might say that I don't believe in belief.
BTW, poems are not going to convince a person who thinks for himself. Mere poems are feel-good fluff, the stuff of emotional masturbation. No thanks.
Still hurtful in your reflections of my words, Ray. So be it.
How on earth would you know what thought processes I have gone through to be where I'm at with my faith? You presume too much, really.
And, it IS hard to stand for what I believe in. Because this label Christian is an odd crowd. Many purport to be Christian and look at you cross-eyed when you actually defend the values Christianity stands for...this is within my own "safe group" you think you know about.
Not every Christian thinks alike. I submit to you that in your group of atheists, you all agree on the tenets or lack thereof of your sytem. LUCKY YOU.
Margaret
"system"
Margaret
Anon 740pm June 16 - "beliefs or biology"... not sure what prompted the question, but being mocked for anything is certainly not fun. Biology means what? Gender?? Not sure of your meaning.
Margaret:
"How on earth would you know what thought processes I have gone through to be where I'm at with my faith? You presume too much, really."
I've said nothing about your thought process. I commented on the inevitable outcome.
"And, it IS hard to stand for what I believe in. Because this label Christian is an odd crowd."
You're telling me?
"Many purport to be Christian and look at you cross-eyed when you actually defend the values Christianity stands for...this is within my own "safe group" you think you know about."
First, the differences among Christians are much smaller than between Christians and other groups, especially freethinkers, of which I am one. So what you see a problem within your "safe group" is overblown when compared to the big picture of things. Consider: in poll after poll, the overwhelminmg majority of Christians respond that they wouldn't vote for an atheist or an agnostic. Your "safe group" experiences no such problems. Atheists and agnostics, OTOH, have never tried to marginalize anyone.
Second, you've made my point for me, namely, that religion is arbitrary. The 'truth' is whatever floats your boat and makes you feel good.
Atheists never tried to marginalize anyone? Does Madelyn Murray o'Hare ring a bell with you?Rest her soul...
Margaret
Religion and faith are two different things, Ray.
Margaret,
I meant "mocked for biology" as pertains to sexuality, specifically for being deemed immoral for just that.
Ray,
You might be the first person in human history to call Thomas Hardy "fluff" of any type. The poem is an answer to people who believe disbelief is easy. I added the "want to believe" to make your case a little more sympathetic.
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