Tragedy and loss.

When people talk about religion, often the same theme emerges: "I just can't not believe there isn't something greater out there." People just can't grasp that life is made up of random events, that our decisions are not premeditated or that we aren't living out a pre-made plan, created for us by a higher power. 
So when I hear those words, "I just have to believe there is something greater, that someone created us and is listening to us and has designed our life", I cringe. Because I whole-heartedly disagree.
I am the opposite. I can't live in a world, thinking that there is a higher power filling lives with tragedy. I can't live in a world and think that my 34-year-old cousin died today because "God must have had a plan for her". Really? People can actually look you in the eyes during a time of tragedy and sadness and tell you that their "God" had a better plan? "He" took a mother from her 2 young kids for his plan? "He" took a wife from her husband for his better plan? You know what I would say to this so called "God"? FUCK you. FUCK your plan. If there is a God, which I highly doubt their is, then he a is selfish bastard. 
And if this offends you in some way, then please don't read my blog. Please do NOT try to save me and tell me to find Jesus, because trust me, I gave up that charade a good long time ago.
Missy, I don't know why you were taken from your husband or your kids today. I just know that your family loves you and will miss you. From the time we were kids, hiding from the video camera and swimming at grandpa's, to playing Scattergories at my mom's birthday sleepover this year and hanging out at the cabin...you always made us laugh and filled our hearts with light. Thank-you for being you.

Missy, her husband Bryan and their kids, Brayden and Laney at my wedding.

Orange is the New Black

Recently, I began watching "Orange is the New Black". It is one of the new Netflix series. I have to say, I absolutely fell in love with it. It a show based off of the memoir written by Piper Kerman about the year she spent in prison for laundering drug money. Her sentence was served ten years after the incident occurred. I just started reading the book and it's hard to put down. The TV show is fun and witty just like the book, and very addicting. I highly recommend it. 

Bob also loves the show. And I think that both he and I fell in love with Piper when she declared herself to be a Secular Humanist. Why? Because it's rare to find humanists in the world, especially in pop culture. (Wikipedia definition of secular humanism: "The philosophy or life stance of secular humanism (alternatively known by some adherents as Humanism, specifically with a capital H to distinguish it from other forms of humanism) embraces human reason, ethics, social justice and philosophical naturalism, while specifically rejecting religious dogma, supernaturalism, pseudoscience or superstition as the basis of morality and decision making.")
I guess a fancy definition of "atheist". 
Anyways, if you like shows like Breaking Bad, Weeds, and like shows with darker humor and vulgar language, then this is the show for you. And if you watch it, this next picture will make total sense:

"I believe in science. I believe in evolution. I believe in Nate Silver and Neil deGrasse Tyson, and Christopher Hitchens. Although I do admit he could be a kind of an asshole. I cannot get behind some supreme being who weighs in on the Tony Awards while a million people get whacked with machetes. I don't believe a billion Indians are going to hell. I don't think we get cancer to learn life lessons, and I don't believe that people die young because God needs another angel. I think it's just bullshit, and on some level, I think we all know that, I mean, don't you?... Look I understand that religion makes it easier to deal with all of the random shitty things that happen to us. And I wish I could get on that ride, I'm sure I would be happier. But I can't . Feeling aren't enough. I need it to be real." - Piper Chapman, Orange is the New Black
Thank-you, Piper, for summing up in one paragraph how I feel. Amen...or something.

Day #274: The world confuses me.

I find the world to be a confusing place, especially lately. The senate voted down a bill directed at gun control. Basically, from what I understand, the bill would make assault weapons illegal and make it harder for those with mental illness to get ahold of firearms.
Okay. While all of this makes sense, will it really end the violence? Criminals will find a way to shoot people, or hurt people, or bomb people. Illegal or not, gun violence will not go away. Violence will not stop. Drugs are illegal, yet millions of people everyday purchase and sell them. During prohibition, alcohol was illegal, yet people still found places to go drink. Instituting stricter gun laws will not bring back the kids who died at Sandyhook. Or those who died at the movie theatre in Colorado. Or those at Virginia Tech. Or Columbine. I understand that people think these laws might have prevented these tragedies...but I remain skeptical. 
And don't misunderstand me, I am not advocating that everyone should be able to go buy an assault rifle like an AK-47 or a M-16. I'm just saying I don't think stricter gun laws are going to solve the problem.

Another source of confusion for me is the Westboro Baptist Church. I hadn't heard of them before, which is surprising because I now see the churches name everywhere. Probably because of ignorant comments like:

Uh, are these people for real? Thanking god for people getting hurt..."god" sent the bombs to punish Massachusetts because gay marriage is allowed? Does that make sense? Uhm...not in my brain. 

Now I realize the Westboro Baptist Church is an extremist christian group, however, I have to say this is one prime example of why I parted ways with religion and gave up on the idea of god. How can you believe in a god, who would put innocent people through tragedy? And then to picket at the funerals? These people picketed at the funerals of the kids who were killed at Sandyhook. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

F-ing crazy.

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Day #252.1: I support equality.

If you have been on social media outlets the past few days, you probably have seen profile pictures being changed to a red box with a pink equal sign in the middle, symbolizing support for equality in America. 

This is stemming from the Supreme Court (aka SCOTUS) opening the floor on whether or not the federal government will recognize gay marriage. 
Since this is my blog and this could be (potentially) history in the making, I am making my opinion known. First, you should know a couple of things about me:
1. I am a humanist ("Humanism is a group of philosophies and ethical perspectives which emphasize the value and agency of human beings, individually and collectively, and generally prefers individual thought and evidence (rationalism, empiricism), over established doctrine or faith (fideism)"- Wikipedia (click here)") So, yes, I guess you could also say I'm an atheist. 2. I walk the line closer to conservative, however I don't agree with the standard conservative views on stem cell research, abortion or gay marriage.  (Yes, not ALL conservatives are Christians). I'm a fairly liberal conservative...does that make sense? 3. I believe that anyone should be allowed to get married. 
If this offends you in any way, I guess you should leave now. I am not trying to "convert" you to believe what I believe, I whole-heartedly respect your opinions, I just politely agree to disagree.
I believe that everyone in America, no matter your religion, your race, your sexual orientation, should have the same rights. No more, no less. We should all be EQUAL.
I also don't agree that the fact that gay marriage isn't recognized in America, falls on the shoulders of the right wing conservatives. Let's not forget:
In 1992, President Clinton campaigned that he would fight that anyone should be allowed to serve in the military, including gay people. This leads us to 1993, when "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was enacted as a policy. So, the policy prohibited military personnel from discriminating against or harassing closeted homosexual or bisexual service members or applicants, while barring openly gay, lesbian, or or bisexual persons from military service.
Also, 1996 President Clinton signed into law the "Defensive Marriage Act", that restricts federal benefits and inter-state recognition to only opposite-sex marriages in the United States. Under the law, no state legislature is required to recognize a same-sex marriage from another state.
By the way, President Clinton was a democrat.
It's both parties people, this shouldn't fall on one or the other. We need to learn to love one another and let everyone live their life, no matter what.

I hope Americans can simply choose to get along...and let everyone live their lives equally.

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