When the Coronavirus Pandemic Ends There Will be Less Tolerance for Evangelicals Who Endanger Public Health and Democracy

The coronavirus pandemic is a major test for the nations and religions of the world. This virulent disease tests the legitimacy of our faith: whether we act rationality in accordance with common sense and the advice of physicians, scientists and lawmakers and practice social distancing or we endanger the lives of our neighbors by congregating in our places of worship.

Most places of worship have abided by the laws instituted by governors and the advice of physicians not to congregate in crowds larger than ten people. However, there have been scofflaws, notably fundamentalist religious organizations, whether they be evangelical Christians, Orthodox Jews or conservative Muslims.

These selfish religious fanatics believe that their parochial beliefs supersede the laws of man, even those put in place to protect society in a pandemic. Proving once again that religion is the greatest threat to democracy, science and the rule of law.

Most churches, synagogues and mosques have opted to put the health and wellbeing of their communities over their desire to worship God together by streamlining their worship services without the congregation in attendance. I’m not especially religious, but I say “Amen!”,

Other churches hold drive-in services, which do not violate social distancing rules. Typically, the church has a raised platform for speakers, with attendees remaining in their parked cars to listen to the music and preaching through an FM transmitter.

It seems like a perfect compromise for conducting a religious service in the time of a pandemic, but in most of these drive-in services the attendees honk their cars in lieu of shouting “Amen” and thereby disturbing the peace of nearby residents. Proving once again that many people of faith have little respect or consideration for people who don’t share their beliefs.

The coronavirus pandemic has exposed the conflict between the rational requirements of health and science and the oftentimes irrational requirements of religion. When this pandemic ends there will be a realignment of social customs (no more handshakes?) and a reassessment of the role religion plays in society. There will be less tolerance for evangelicals who are an existential threat to democracy and public health. And to that I say: Amen!

Donald Trump’s Tepid Response to New Zealand Massacre Proves He’s a Racist

Racist-in-Chief

When tragedy strikes whether in the homeland or somewhere else in the global village, the president in his role as comforter-in-chief soothes our anxiety and fear with soothing words.

President Donald Trump has the best words, but in times of turmoil his tweets and comments always inflame rather than soothe the national psyche.

When White Nationalists, Nazis and assorted racist scum paraded their racism for all the world to see in Charlottesville, instead of uniting our country with words of condemnation for bigotry and racism, Trump made things exponentially worse with his despicable “good people on both sides” rhetoric.

In the aftermath of the horrible massacre in New Zealand when a white nationalist gunned down dozens of Muslims while they were worshipping in a mosque, Trump once again failed to call out white nationalism.

Here`s Trump`s tepid response to the abominable act of terrorism, via a tweet:

“My warmest sympathy and best wishes goes out to the people of New Zealand after the horrible massacre in the Mosques. 49 innocent people have so senselessly died, with so many more seriously injured. The U.S. stands by New Zealand for anything we can do. God bless all!”

Later in remarks in the Oval Office, he said:

“I spoke with Prime Minister Ardern of New Zealand to express the sorrow of our entire nation following the monstrous terror attacks at two mosques.”

Trump didn`t express empathy or solidarity with the Muslim community in America and around the world, and he didn`t explicitly condemn white nationalism. Granted Trump is a psychopath incapable of empathy, but he should have forced himself to fulfill his responsibility as comforter-in-chief.

Less than 24 hours after the terrorist slaughtered 49 Muslim worshippers at two mosques in New Zealand and posted a manifesto online citing the “invasion of France and the West by nonwhites” our fearless leader had this to say:

“People hate the word `invasion,` but that`s what it is. It`s an invasion of drugs, criminals, & people…in some cases, they are killers.”

Trump boldly echoed the rhetoric of white nationalists by referring to hardworking immigrants as “invaders.” Trump utterly failed to moderate his language given the rise in violence and terrorism by white racists all over the world.

You don`t need to be a member of the “Southern Poverty Law Center” to deduce that Trump is an implacable racist. By word, deed, executive action and policy Trump has proven that he is racist to the core, and it is incumbent upon all Americans who hate racism and bigotry to remove him from office by any means necessary.

What a Farce! Saudi Arabia Opens Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology

President DonaldTrump on Sunday participated in the opening of the Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology in the Mecca for extremist ideology, Saudi Arabia. The kingdom`s major export after oil is radical Wahhabism, Saudi Arabia funds madrassas (religious schools that teach hatred toward Israel and the United States) in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and even in the United States.

Donald Trump, Egypt`s president Abdel al-Sisi, and Saudi Arabia`s Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud hovered over a glowing orb. When the men placed their hands on the mysterious orb, a runway lit up, revealing men (women may be allowed to polish the glowing orb but they aren`t allowed to work in the Center) and computers in cubicles.

The center will monitor extremist activity online, and the men in the cubicles will probably encourage radial Islamic propaganda online, while Saudi leaders publicly denounce ISIS.

You don`t need a glowing crystal ball to foretell that the Saudis will continue to finance international terrorism. Shame on Trump for participating in this farce.

Follow Robert Paul Reyes on Twitter: http://twitter.com/robertpaulreyes

Outrage: Danish Man Charged With Blasphemy for Burning Koran

“A Danish man who posed a video of himself setting fire to the Quran on Facebook has been charged with blasphemy in the first such prosecution for 46 years.

The 42-year-old suspect put the clip, entitled `Consider your neighbour: it stinks when it burns` to a group called YES TO FREEDOM – NO TO ISLAM in December 2015.

Jan Reckendorff, from the public prosecutor`s office in Viborg, said: It is the prosecution`s view that circumstances involving the burning of holy books such as the Bible and the Quran can in some cases be a violation of the blasphemy clause, which covers public scorn or mockery of religion.”

Independent

If an individual was charged with blasphemy by a Western government for setting a Bible on fire the backlash would be intense and immediate. The hashtags #burnthefuckingbible and #separationofchurchandstate would be trending on Twitter, and there would be mass protests in every major Western city.

That said, burning the Koran is an incendiary act (pun intended) that only serves to sow discord and violence. Religion shouldn`t be exempt from criticism and ridicule, but burning the Koran doesn`t bring to light the excesses of Islam, it only exposes the stupidity of the person burning the holy book.

The Koran is treated with reverence by Muslims and any act of desecration of the holy book is perceived as a grave insult worthy of the death penalty. In a democratic country non-Muslims shouldn`t be bound by the prohibitions of Islam. I would never burn a copy of the Koran as a protest against the Neanderthal mindset of Islam, but if I performed such a foolish act it would be constitutionally-protected free speech.

I have written dozens of articles criticizing the abhorrent treatment of women and religious minorities in Muslim countries like Saudi Arabia and Iran, the written word is the best way to fight intolerance and religious fanaticism.

By the way, I have also written dozes of articles criticizing the homophobia and sexism of evangelicals, although I`m not drawing a moral equivalency between the two major religions. When Islam is criticized or mocked too many Muslims react violently, whereas when Catholics or evangelicals are attacked, they write a letter to the editor or post a rebuttal on their blogs.

In a secular democracy whenever we hear hate speech citizens must condemn it in no uncertain terms, but it`s anathema for the government to punish free speech. Denmark is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy, not a theocracy, for God`s sake.

Read More:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/denmark-man-burned-quran-koran-video-blasphemy-facebook-islam-prosecuted-charged-46-years-a7594796.html

Follow Robert Paul Reyes on Twitter: http://twitter.com/robertpaulreyes

The Real Huma Abedin

huma-abedin

Huma Abedin recently announced that she was separating from her husband, former congressman Anthony Weiner (aka Carlos Danger) who resigned under pressure in 2011 after sending dic pics to strange women he met online.

 

Abedin didn’t leave her disgusting husband until a newspaper reported that Weiner had sent a pic of his crotch last year while his toddler son was curled in the bed next to him.

 

The FBI is investigating Weiner because he sent pornographic material to a 15-year-old girl.

What took so long for Abedin to ditch her pedophile pervert husband? Glad you asked! Indeed why would an Islamist marry a Jew from New York City?

 

Abedin has been constantly by Hillary’s side since 1996 when she was an intern for the then First Lady. It is the least well-kept secret in Washington that Hillary is a lesbian, and naturally everyone assumed that Abedin must be Hillary’s aide/lover.

 

Weiner was Abedin’s beard plain and simple, it was politically-expedient for her to pretend that she was heterosexual. Abedin also had to give the illusion that she was straight, because if it became common knowledge that she’s a lesbian it would only be a matter of time before she was killed by an outraged Islamist.

 

Abedin also needed Weiner as a babysitter. Abedin is constantly travelling with Hillary; she simply has no time or desire to be a mother.

Only after the sickening photo of Weiner in his underwear with an erect penis with his innocent son sleeping next to him was published, did Abedin finally kick him to the curb.
Weiner may be a pedophile pervert who deserves to be imprisoned; But Abedin is wretched mother who cares more about Hillary than she does her own son.