Stick to the program!

I cannot understand why so many people, especially in the U.S., insist that religion has to take on the role of explaining the physical world and its workings. We have a much better, very successful methodology for this: it’s called science. It’s self-correcting and it provides verifiable results that have measurably improved our quality of life.

Even though I don’t necessarily agree with the results for certain creeds, I can well understand religion as a means of establishing a moral code, a set of precepts and values to live by, and a metaphysical explanation for our purpose that takes us beyond the confines of our basic survival, wants, and needs. In fact, I think it’s good for everyone to reflect on these matters. Why not stick to what religion can do and leave it out of what it’s not good at?

Because religion is not, in fact, good at explaining the material world. There isn’t a single disease we have eradicated religions’ explanations for the material world, not a single labour-saving device we invented, nary a space mission we have launched.

People who take religion to arenas where it’s not successful are forced to become anti-science, anti-rationalist, and ultimately anti-reality in order to contort their minds to a bizarre shape. They do the greater public a grave disservice and set their children, their communities, and their country back far more than they are able to comprehend thanks to their willful ignorance.

Get a grip

OK, people. Time for a short rant on nonsensical comparisons.

Back in 2000, during the American presidential election, I would have voted Ralph Nader of the Green Party if I had been able to vote at all (I’m not a citizen here so I can’t vote.) At the time it looked to me like Bush and Gore can from the same kind of background and money and represented the same interests, and Bush merely seemed unqualified. Naturally, I rapidly learned that the two men were very different, that Bush was far worse than unqualified, etc. The point is, in my mind I had lumped together flaws and offenses that were simply not comparable.

Within a year, Democrat voters started complaining that the Greens had given the election to Bush and were virtually traitors. That was equally nonsensical and a cop-out. Then we saw the post-September 11 “patriotic” craze — actually self-righteous pricks wrapping themselves in a flag to call anyone raising any kind of mild objection a terrorist, a hater, a traitor, etc. Again, lumping together offenses that were completely disproportionate.

From 2001 through 2008 I observed more despicable acts from those in power and their cheerleaders, in a race to the bottom, than I ever imagined possible in this place and this age.

In late 2008 Barrack Obama was elected with a comfortable margin on the promise of change. After just under a year in power, his progressive supporters now feel disappointed, abandoned, betrayed, and complain bitterly that there has been no actual change.

Let’s review, shall we?

Bush’s first acts in power: renege on the Kyoto treaty, appoint industry lobbyists and religious right loonies to all key positions. Obama’s approach by comparison: launch major R&D into alternative energy sources and energy conservation, appoint scientists and experts to key positions, take the U.S. back to the table to tackle global climate change, launch a reform of the disaster Americans call a health care system.

Yes, there are still industry lobbyists in key positions, but the balance has shifted dramatically. Cap-and-trade does not go as far as we environmentalists would like, but it’s at 180 degrees from the previous free-for-all. Guantanamo has not been emptied yet, but the work has started. The health care reform will probably be sadly incremental, but there will be a reform.

Seriously, folks, how can we complain that there has been no change? Did you think that once people had gotten off the couch to vote a Democrat in power there would be lemonade, chocolate chip cookies and ponies for everyone? Did you think the fight was over? No, dammit, if you want reform you have to fight tooth-and-nail for it all the fricking time.

Look at the Loonies of the Right: even when they win, do they ever stop asking for more? No! They keep demanding, and demanding, and advancing upon the liberties of all. Yeah, it’s a bummer and a pain in the ass that we’ll always have to march and petition and call and give and stand up and protest and, for those of you who can, vote. It’d be nice if we could call in our order and wait for the 30-minute guaranteed delivery, but we’re outside the delivery area.

Obama has already initiated (not finished, yet!) more good than the Bush administration ever did (that’s on account they did none, but who’s counting.) It’s true that the Dems in the House and Senate are infuriating. Call them, for $#%^* sake! It’s very nice that you signed that petition the other day; now call again! You’re not done! And stop whining that this administration is no better than the previous one. It’s a goddamn lie and it’s defeatist.

Christmas and the holidays

I don’t believe that it’s Jesus’ birthday, but I do like Christmas nonetheless.

I don’t believe that a baby was born to a virgin travelling to Bethlehem. Moreover, even if Matthew (or more likely a later compiler and translator of Matthew’s work) had not added this bit to tie Jesus to messianic traditions but instead had been reported a true (or true-ish) story, it would still have taken place in the spring, not at winter solstice.

I don’t believe that fir trees, chubby white-bearded men in red costumes, flying reindeer, or hard-working elves, have anything to do with Jesus either.

But I like that just about every culture and tradition has created some way of celebrating hope in darkness, the time when nights are at their longest but start getting shorter again (which in the southern hemisphere happens in June, not December, of course). I like that we can celebrate during the same period Christmas, Solstice, Hanukkah, Rohatsu, Bodhi Day, a slew of other “Christian” holidays that used to be more important until the 20th century (St. Sylvester, Epiphany, etc.), and nowadays Kwanzaa (and Muslim holidays when they roll around to a convenient date along the lunar cycle).

I wish we took more advantage of this to celebrate together rather than fight, but we’re not so good at sharing, least of all sharing peace and good will. But every year those of us paying attention can get a glimmer of it, “if only in our dreams” as Bing Crosby would croon.

I like giving presents, especially those I can make myself. I like putting thought into something I hope will make a loved one happy. I like the symbolic light in the middle of the night. I like people genuinely bringing good cheer and children genuinely marvelling at the season. Yes, I hate the fakery, the commercialism, the too-worldly and mercenary children, the feverish hope that people will spend “enough”, but I’m not willing to let these dictate how I should feel about the holidays.

Happy holidays! I’ll be thinking of you.

Review: Mouse Guard RPG

(Cross-posted to RPG.net and Emerald City Gamefest.)

The Mouse Guard Roleplaying Game is based on the on-going comic book series Mouse Guard and a streamlined, simplified version of the Burning Wheel system, in which you play the protectors and warriors of a medieval society of sentient mice.