Theocracy In America

Recently I entered a video called "Theocracy in America" into a contest sponsored by The Richard Dawkins Foundation For Reason and Science. The video was to take a look at the growing desire of some in the United States to make America a theocracy, ignoring the Constitution and the separation of church and state.

I thought, since it is still a relevant topic given the tone of the Republican Presidential nomination race, that I would post it here for you to watch and read. There is a little more content in the script than in the final video.

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

The United States constitution and the subsequent Bill of Rights are not only important documents for America, but have had a great influence around the world.

One of the great achievements of America's founding fathers was that, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof”: the founding fathers wisely established a separation of church and state. Despite what some in America(an alarmingly large some) choose to believe, This is clear not only from the wording but also from the words of its authors themselves.

"I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should “make no law respecting establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,” thus building a wall of separation between church and state."

- Thomas Jefferson

"An alliance or coalition between Government and religion cannot be too carefully guarded against......Every new and successful example therefore of a PERFECT SEPARATION between ecclesiastical and civil matters is of importance........religion and government will exist in greater purity, without (rather) than with the aid of government."

- James Madison

"I beg you be persuaded that no one would be more zealous than myself to establish effectual barriers against the horrors of spiritual tyranny, and every species of religious persecution."

-George Washington

The founders of the United States were creating a secular society based on reason. A society where people were free to have faith in any god, if they so chose, or no god, without any interference from the government. There would be a separation of church and state.

Over 200 years later, one could be forgiven for assuming that the United States would now be the shining example of a secular society. But that is not the case. America has in many ways become a more fundamental religious society. Religious groups (lets be honest, Christian groups) have warped the ideas of the founding fathers and increasingly we see the wall of separation between church and state being eroded. America is, as Sean Faircloth put it, under Attack of the Theocrats.

"I believe that God wants me to be president."

- George W. Bush

"Our greatness would not long endure without judges who respect the foundation of faith upon which our constitution rests."

- Mitt Romney

"The first job we have as Americans is to reach out to everybody in the country who is not yet saved, and to help them understand the spiritual basis of a creator-endowed society."

- Newt Gingrich

"I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God."

- George H. W. Bush

"I think it's time for us to just hand it over to God and say, “God, You're going to have to fix this.” ... I think it's time for us to use our wisdom and our influence and really put it in God's hands. That's what I'm going to do, and I hope you'll join me."

- Rick Perry

"God will wash this nation with blood if he has to."

- Glenn Beck

"Within the covers of the Bible are all the answers for all the problems men face."

- Ronald Reagan


"The idea that the Crusades and the fight of Christendom against Islam is somehow an aggression on our part is absolutely anti-historical."

- Rick Santorum

"I think we should keep this clean, keep it simple, go back to what our founders and our founding documents meant. They're quite clear that we would create law based on the God of the Bible and the Ten Commandments. It's pretty simple."

- Sarah Palin


"We need common-sense judges who understand that our rights were derived from God."

- George W Bush

These are all people that have been or are in political power or who's views have influence over a large number of Americans.

Many of them continue to beat the drum, incorrectly, that the founding fathers of the United States based the constitution and the bill of rights on Christian values and the ten commandments. This is blatantly untrue.

"During almost fifteen centuries has the legal establishment of Christianity been on trial. What has been its fruits? More or less in all places, pride and indolence in the clergy, ignorance and servility in the laity; in both, superstition, bigotry, and persecution."

- James Madison


"Christianity neither is, nor ever was a part of the common law."

- Thomas Jefferson

"When a religion is good, I conceive it will support itself; and when it does not support itself, and God does not care to support it, so that its professors are obliged to call for the help of the civil power, 'tis a sign, I apprehend, of its being a bad one."

- Ben Franklin

"Strongly guarded as is the separation between Religion & Govt in the Constitution of the United States the danger of encroachment by Ecclesiastical Bodies, may be illustrated by precedents already furnished in their short history."

- James Madison

And other more recent leaders, many who would be considered conservative, agree.

"To discriminate against a thoroughly upright citizen because he belongs to some particular church, or because, like Abraham Lincoln, he has not avowed his allegiance to any church, is an outrage against that liberty of conscience which is one of the foundations of American Life."

- Theodore Roosevelt

"The great decisions of government cannot be dictated by the concerns of religious factions... We have succeeded for 205 years in keeping the affairs of state separate from the uncompromising idealism of religious groups and we mustn't stop now. To retreat from that separation would violate the principles of conservatism and the values upon which the framers built this democratic republic."

• Barry Goldwater

Since its founding, the United States has had a great influence around the world. People everywhere look to it for guidance. So when the values, the secular and free values, change to be exclusive and based on the ideology of one religion, it worries the rest of the world.

Perhaps it is easier to see when you live outside of America. When you can see the way the political tone in the U.S. Is making its way into other countries.

When you see religious extremism in other countries react in violent ways to policies of the United States that appear to be based on religion.

If even one American soldier occupying a Muslim country is allowed to have Christian prayers inscribed on their guns, it gives the appearance of a religious crusade.

When you see religious groups denying science and insisting that creationism be taught in schools, it makes you worry about the education of future generations.

It is worrying when you see a state governor resort to praying to the supernatural for rain to end a drought while denying climate science.

When children are denied medical treatments because the religion of their parents forbids it, you worry.

The same when you see people discriminated against because of their sexual orientation because someones religion says its okay.

All of this worries the rest of the world and it should worry America.

If you believe in a free secular society that is based on reason, facts and science and not religion, hucksterism and bigotry, then I encourage you to think about these things. Get involved, talk to people. Talk to politicians. Let them know what is important to you. Lets hope that we can return to the brilliant guiding principles that inspired the writers of the Constitution of the United States.

An Early Spring Hike

I do enjoy a good hike. This hike took place on April 7th, 2012 on a very nice early spring day.

I hike in the Rouge Park a lot. So much that I know the place like the back of my hand, or perhaps even better. Although I hadn't been for a hike there in a couple of months. But a bright, sunny and warm spring day is to enticing to pass up. So off I went for a short hike in the Rouge Park.

For those of you that do not know, the Rouge Park is the largest urban park in the world. It is an area of natural space on the Eastern border of Toronto and Pickering. It naturally follows the watercourse of the Rouge and the Little Rouge Rivers. It is also going to be the first urban National Park. The park is home to 762 plant species, 225 bird species, 55 fish species, 27 mammal species, and 19 reptile and amphibian species.

The hike that I took started at the Rouge Park campground along Highway 2. From there a trail runs through wooded meadows, then up onto a forested ridge and then down to follow the river. It loops back to the campground. It is a fairly easy hike with only a few steep sections. It really shouldn't be a problem for most people to do. In wet weather or winter it can be more of a challenge. I would recommend this trail to anyone visiting the park for the first time.

This day, I decided to document my hike on video (which you can see below). As on any nice day you will run into many other people enjoying the trail. There are sections that have been closed off due to erosion or because areas are being allowed to naturally regenerate. It is a good idea to respect these closures. For the most part, people do respect the park when they visit, although unfortunately I do often see people doing destructive things. Remember that this is a natural area that while there for your enjoyment is also there to be protected. Do not pick plants or catch wildlife. I do see people harvesting fiddle heads and catching crayfish for food. While these might be good to eat, the park cannot sustain constant pillaging of its resources. Also remember that the trails are there for you to hike on. The are not meant for mountain biking. Mountain biking is fun, but the bike severely damage the trails especially when it is wet. The tires create huge areas of mud forcing people to go around thus widening the trail and damaging the local environment.

So enjoy the park, but please respect it.


VIDEO:
A Spring Hike in the Rouge Park
(Warning: Video contains course language)

I Unfriended Someone

Yesterday, I did something that I had only done maybe once before. I unfriended someone on Facebook. The previous time I had unfriended someone was because they were just always posting chauvinistic and sexist stuff, and it got irritating.

But this time it was someone that, for apparently ideological reasons, kept attacking me personally. Now I don't friend or unfriend at a whim, so this was a big deal for me.

Let me tell you the story...

There is a man, I'll call him Gordan, to protect his real identity. I had met him a few years ago to discuss the possibility of producing some video for an event he was arranging. Nothing came of it. Later he requested to be a friend on Facebook. No problem, as it is a great way to keep in touch with people and network.

I heard very little from Gordan until fairly recently, I would say over the last six months. He commented on a link I had posted to a story in the news. He obviously has very strong ideological opinions about things and his comment turned into a mini debate (although I hesitate to call it a debate). He made some sort of comment calling me radical and extreme. It became clear that he really didn't know what he was talking about. I asked if he had read the article that I had posted. He said, "No". I ask you, how can you debate something without having read what we are debating about. I let it go.
But the same thing happened on a few more occassions. Again, Gordan would comment on a link I had posted and start a debate without actually reading the article. I had been called extreme, radical and now Big Brother (BB). Although his definition of Big Brother is really bizarre.

Anyway this all culminated last night. I had posted a link to an article about the sad state of afairs at NASA. NASA, due to budget cuts is abandoning certain robotic Mars missions and is suffering in other areas as well. Now I believe that pushing the boundaries of science and exploration is an extremely important endeavor for the human race, and that is what NASA does very well, benefitting all of humanity.
"NASA is a force of nature on the hearts and minds of a nation." - Neil deGrasse Tyson

Gordan commented on this post as well. Now I would be happy to debate the merits of science, of exploration, and of NASA. No problem. People are welcome to have different views. But as usual this thread of comments was far from a debate. It again was a bizarre personal attack on me and my views. It began with him commenting that if I think it is important then I should fund NASA. I told him that that was ridiculous. And that as a government agency, it does not accept donations.

This is what followed. I ask that anyone reading this let me know what they think of it. I like to think that I am a reasonable, rational person. In my view, Gordan, was rambling all over the place. I am curious to know if I am wrong or right on this. And so here is the conversation...

14 hours ago

GORDAN

so fund rasing is out then for you?

BEN

it is not bad to raise funds, but it is an important government organization that deserves to be properly funded

GORDAN

well, fund it then

BEN

the government is, they need to give it more

GORDAN

why

BEN

there is very little that is more important than expanding the frontiers of science

GORDAN

so fund it then

BEN

the government IS, they need to give it more

GORDAN

why dont you fund it with your own money if you believe so much in it

BEN

don't be a dumb ass (I admit this comment was out of frustration, but I was not calling him a dumb ass, just not to act like one)

What would you do?

GORDAN

Your calling me a dumb ass because I think you should give money to things that you believe in?

BEN

Obviously no individual can fund something like NASA

GORDAN

and by the way,, have I ever used that kind of language with you? Have I ever called you a dumb ass?So, what are you gonna do about it then if you believe in NASA?

Why not get others involved in Raising money for NASA if you believe in it so much

Ben, are you typing using only two fingers?

Well Ben, I can't wait for you to post.. Gotta Go. I do think that if you believe in somthing so much that you should help it financially. Its only fair to do that if you really believe in it.

BEN

You have accused me of being a radical, big brother, extreme etc.

And complaining about my typing.

There are certain government programs that are important. There are probably some that are important to you but have no meaning to me. Everyone benefits from science and exploration, and throughout the history of exploration, all of the big things have been done by government funding first.

I wish you wouldn't just talk in circles.

GORDAN

Its seems that you do type slow

BEN

By the way, if I had the money I would love to fund something like NASA

GORDAN

I am not talking in circles. I do know that big projects cost money. So, if you believe in a Big Project ,, then dont you think that you should help financially?

Well, your a smart person.. Raise some

BEN

If I was an American, I would be through my taxes

GORDAN

What did you give to NASA last year?

But your not American

Why should Americans Pay for it and not you?

You said its important for you

BEN

It is an American agency

GORDAN

So

BEN

It is important to the world

GORDAN

Well , Shoot them some of your money

BEN

I would if I had some. What the hell is your agenda?

GORDAN

Send them 1000 bucks then

BEN

Do you like to just provoke people?

I don't have the money

GORDAN

sent them 10 bucks then

you have 10 bucks dont you?

BEN

What is it that you want?

GORDAN

nothing ,, I just suggested that you put up some money to assist NASA if you believe in it so much your a bright man.. go make some money.. give some of it to NASA

BEN

And I said I would if I had it, and if there was a way to do so. They need more than the average person can donate. They need long term steady funding and that comes from the government.

GORDAN

Can you send them 10 bucks?

BEN

No

Nowhere to send it

GORDAN

Do you want me to find out where you should send your 10 bucks to in NASA?

I have an idea for you

BEN

No, you are just being silly. Do you not think that science, exploration and pushing the frontiers are important?

GORDAN

I have an idea for you

My home show is coming up.. I will give you a job at it for 2 days..

I will pay you 120 bucks a day

why dont you keep 120 and send 120 to NASA?

BEN

You hire me to produce a video for the home show, and if there is a place to donate to NASA, I will donate 20% to it.

GORDAN

Why dont you do it for Free?

Do one for NASA

BEN

Video is my business. I am not a charity. I need to eat.

GORDAN

well, I will pay you 240 for 2 days.. you will work for me at my home show. you keep 80 percent and give NASA 20 percent

BEN

I do video work.

Don't want to do anything else. (do you think I should accept a job from someone like this?)

GORDAN

Does that mean you cant do any other kind of work?

ohh, well then,, send NASA 1 dollar

you can afford a dollar no?

BEN

You should have a video to promote or at least archive the show.(I figured if he really wanted to hire me then at least he could hire me to produce a video)

GORDAN

why? I dont want one

are you telling me how I should spend my money for my show?

BEN

Oh god.(frustration) No.

GORDAN

I dont feel I need that,, I feel that I need a general laborour to work for 2 days.

you can do it.. I know you can

AND,, you can keep 80 percent,, and send NASA 20 percent

Ben,, I wont twist your arm.. either you will do it or youwont

BEN

No. And you didn't answer my previous question (as usual) (If I ever asked a question related to the original topic or a followup question, he would never answer)

GORDAN

Ben,, I cant take you seriously if you dont send money for things you believe in..

BEN

Avoidance again

GORDAN

(I had in previous conversations, asked him to define Big Brother or BB)

BB ' s are people who want to spend other peoples money.. to have other people put forth effort for things THEY believe in ,, all the while NOT giving anything of their own. ,, you havent even sent in one fucking dollar to this thing you believe in and your asking me if its important?,, That doesnt make any fucking sense to me. ... If I asked you to put in some money for somthing that I believed in and you asked me ,, what did I send it, ,and I said ,, ,nothing.. WTF.. not even a nickle?.. are you kidding?Your the one avoiding.. not me.. I give to the things I believe in.

I also dont ask others to put in money If I dont

I beleive that to be retarted

This is why I dont believe in you

If you just told me that you would send in 10 fucking bucks
but no.. you wont even do that?

not even a nickle

dont you think thats embarrasing

Be a Man,, gut it up, ,and assist what you believe in

fuck,, do somthing

BEN

You have no clue what I do or do not give money to. You can donate to things that accept donations. NASA doesn't as far as I know.

Some people don't have the money to donate to things.

GORDAN

what did you give money to this past year?

Well make some,, your bright

get off your ass,, I told you I would give you a job for 2 days so you could send in your 20 percent,, and you wont even do that

BEN

Why should I tell you. It is non of your business.

GORDAN

sure sure

BB

OK Ben,, Your a non performer

your wasting my time (I'm wasting his time?! Remember, he is the one that initiated this conversation)your all talk and no action

BEN

By the way Big Brother, refers to an overseeing government or entity that peers into all aspects of people lives and controls what they do.

You have no clue. (I am geting a little more than annoyed)

GORDAN

OK BEN,, here is one.. you come up with Twenty bucks,, I will match it,, THEN ,, we can both send it to NASA.. will you do that?

BEN

What is important to you?

GORDAN

me offering to match your twenty

thats important to me

do we have a deal

BEN

No. I will not be bullied into doing anything. That is big brother

GORDAN

bullied?

Your a slug

BEN

Really, what issues are important to you?

GORDAN

nite ben

I offered you a job

no

I asked you to send in 10 bucks

no

I offered to match you 20 bucks if you came up with it,, but you still say no

and I am a bully?

your a sllug

you gotta be kidding

I offered you 20 bucks for somthing that YOU believe in and you said no

because I asked you to match it

BEN

Listen, you take an issue and you turn it around into a personal attack that has nothing to do with the issue. It would be great to debate someone on the merits of an issue.

GORDAN

are you going to come up with 20 ?

waiting

BEN

No! Because the only reason to do so at this point is because you want me to. Are you willing to debate an actual issue?

GORDAN

I dont debate with people who have no skin in the game

BEN

You seemingly don't debate at all.

GORDAN

you put up 20,, I will match it,, then we can debate..

Ben,, your the one who says you believe in NASA

BEN

I really don't understand because you were the one to comment on my post.

GORDAN

so, no to the twenty then?

BEN

Then lets debate the merits of NASA

GORDAN

Ben,, tell all your friends this,, GORDAN offered to match your twenty bucks and both of us to send it to NASA.. GORDAN said,, he cant take you seriously that you believe in somthjing if you dont put in some money of your own,, on your own volition.
Ask them ,, If what I offered was fair.. more than fair.

BEN

The offer was pointless. There is no way to donate to NASA.

GORDAN

nite BB

I immediately unfriended GORDAN

So there it is. I would really like some feedback. What would you have done? Was I unreasonable? Was I insulting?

Little Red Boots - Lindi Ortega

Today I bought and listened to the new album from Toronto singer, Lindi Ortega. I have been a fan of Lindi's music since I first met her about four or five years ago.

Over the years she has continued to write and perform. She is great to watch live. And now she has a new album out, "Little Red Boots" Now I am no music critic. I cannot tell you what song might have been influenced by what, or what style a particular tune is, but what I can tell you is that I really like Lindi's music. Lindi has a unique voice and her songs feel so personal. She has written one of my all time favourite songs, "Nothing At All" which was on her first album, "The Taste of Forbidden Fruit". This album has a number of songs that I really like. My favourites include , "Angels", "I'm No Elvis Presley" and "Dying of Another Broken Heart".

Lindi shot an excellent little video for "Angels" on her iPhone.
Here it is:

Lindi and I shot a video for "I'm No Elvis Presley" in which Lindi ran around in a cool Elvis outfit. I will have to get permission to show you the video. If I do then you will see it here.


I encourage anyone who likes music to get hold of "Little Red Boots" by Lindi Ortega. You won't be sorry.

"Little Red Boots" is available on iTunes.

Doctor Who - The Rebel Flesh and The Almost People

An interesting pair of episodes that answered some questions and raised a few more.

The Doctor wanted to drop of Amy and Rory for some fish and chips so that he could check on some things. Amy wasn't having any of that so they ended up coming along. They landed sometime in the twenty-second century at an island factory that produced a very corrosive acid. The workers had a rather unique way of dealing with such a dangerous product. They used 'gangers made from "the Flesh", duplicates of themselves controlled by them from control harnesses. But things went wrong when the factory was hit by a solar wave and the 'gangers went walk about.

Together, these episodes had a lot of the elements that I like in Doctor Who. One being that great drama can be played out on a small scale rather than the Doctor having to save the entire planet. It doesn't mean that the actions of the characters are any less important, after all for those involved in the story, it is the world to them.

I really liked the way the characters had to deal with duplicates of themselves. I mean, how would we react if we met our self. Would we accept a second version of us. I really don't know how I would react if it was me in that situation. Would I be as accepting as the Doctor was. I would hope so. But I have a feeling I would react a little more like the others did, with at best suspicion and at worst hatred. In "Amy's Choice" the Doctor realized that the Dream Lord was a version out of his sub-conscious. He reasoned, there's only one person in the universe that could hate him as much as the Dream Lord did. That would be himself. So I rather think that if we truly met our self that we wouldn't like it very much.

Of course in this case the Doctor accepted himself. It was Amy that had trouble accepting the Doctor. I am still a little unsure as to precisely when the Doctor and Flesh Doctor changed shoes. The Doctor implies that it was very early on. I suspect that it had to be before the Doctor went out in the hall with Amy and she told him about inviting them to his death.

It is always cool when they make references to the Doctor's history. As Flesh Doctor is stabilizing he has some trouble with previous regenerations. We get some Fourth Doctor coming through with the jelly baby comment with Tom Baker's actual voice, then "I'm the Doctor" from the Tenth Doctor and then he yells, "No, let it go, we've moved on." Great stuff.

There were touching moments too as when the Doctor made the phone call to Jimmy's son and tricked his 'ganger into an act of humanity.

I have said it before, that this season seems to be the torture Amy season, and they continued it with a vengeance in this episode. Karen Gillan is doing a remarkable job in the role. I am very impressed. In the final scene where she says, "Doctor, I am frightened. I am properly, properly scared." you can really feel her fear.

This whole double episode has led us to that final scene where we discover why Amy is pregnant and not pregnant and why she was seeing the Eye Patch Lady. We now know that Amy was a 'ganger of some kind. In her case being controlled by the real Amy without her knowing what was really going on. So we have had that question partially answered, but now we have more questions.
When was Amy captured and replaced with her 'ganger? Clearly before this season began.
Who kidnapped her?
With whose baby is she pregnant?
Is her child the one in the spacesuit?

Oh, and I have another small question. The Doctor gave Flesh Doctor his sonic screwdriver before they took off in the Tardis. He then dissolved Amy with it in the Tardis. Did the Flesh reproduce a working sonic screwdriver? Or did the Doctor have two of them? Or was this a continuity mistake? If anyone can answer this let me know.

We will apparently also find out who River Song is. (I am nervous about this.) The next episode will likely only tease us with answers as it is a cliffhanger and we will have to wait until the fall for part two. But still, I am looking forward to it.

The Amazing Sky

A couple of years ago I made a short film called, "The Amazing Sky" It was entirely made up of time lapse shots of the sky. It made me aware of two things.
One, shooting time lapse is very tricky and takes a long long time. Patience is definitely needed.
And two, the sky really is amazing.

I truly think that people don't look up enough. Everyday the sky is different. It can be totally clear and blue, have slight wisps of cloud or be very dramatic. The sky, especially the weather that comes with it, affects us daily, yet we often pay no attention to it. It is also just beautiful. Take five minutes or even just one and look at the sky. Do it right now.

We often wonder how ancient people were so good at knowing the time of day or navigation or building monuments that line up perfectly with the sun or stars. It is no mystery. They simply were aware of their surroundings. They looked up.

 Over the next few months I will be shooting some more time lapse and will make another short film. I hope to include some dramatic shots of the stars moving across the night sky (even trickier to shoot). I will also take the time to look down. There is a lot that happens beneath our feet too.

Until then, I hope you enjoy "The Amazing Sky".

The Old Squirrel

It was a beautiful day at the end of May. I was hiking in one of my favourite places, the Rouge Park. A little way off the main trail there is a pond likely created by a beaver dam. It is a place with many old dead trees standing like grave stones in and around the water's edge. The atmosphere, even on a sunny day is a little creepy.

I pushed through some brush as I made my way toward the water. Despite the dead trees, the place was full of life. Red winged blackbirds flew from brittle branch to brittle branch.

An owl chased by smaller birds fled into the forest.

On the ground were many fallen trees. On a log directly in front of me sat a small black creature. I stopped.

This thing just sat there looking at me. I didn't know what it was at first. It had the head of a squirrel but a thin body with very little hair. It turns out it was a squirrel. I realized this when it flashed its tail. A tail with only a few hairs left on it.

It was an old half starved critter. It didn't run and scurry up a tree as most squirrels would. It let me get quite close. In fact when I got too close it just walked of the log and moved behind a stump.

This little animal touched me somehow. I couldn't help but wonder what its life had been like. I'm sure at one point it was a lively young squirrel jumping from tree to tree, chasing other squirrels and having as much fun as squirrels can have. Now it was a skinny little thing, alone on the edge of a swamp. The neat thing is that it was old and still alive. It is rare in nature for any animal to die of old age. If this old squirrel could last a little longer perhaps it would die of old age. Whatever happens, I have a feeling that I will not see this squirrel again. And that is a little sad.