Monthly Archives: July 2011
Religious Tolerance Ethics: Con
A reasonable accommodation for an employee’s religion should not require that a business pass up legitimate income sources because that employee finds them offensive. Vegetarian baseball players don’t get to veto sales of hot dogs in the ballpark; religious sit-com stars don’t get to choose which TV commercials air during their shows, and veto the ads for mini-vibrators and that super-duper orgasm-launching lubricant. Continue reading
Religious Tolerance Ethics: Pro
All—literally all—religions may seem insane to those who do not believe in them, and the passion with which devoted practitioners exercise their right to freedom of religion will strike many as irrational. I, for example, have thought from a very young age that for people to occupy several hours out of their precious weekend listening to deadly boring and repetitious sermons in uncomfortable pews is certifiably nuts. (I feel the same way about watching football.) That’s my opinion only, however, and it is not my place to penalize or denigrate my neighbors who feel otherwise, or to conclude they are clinically mad because of their religious fervor. Neither is it the place of the government. Continue reading
Unethical Thought of the Month: Me
Where do unethical thoughts come from? Are they examples of creativity, themselves “thought experiments”? Are they randomly generated scenarios, like dreams? Are they subconscious hints of the beast within, warnings of the consequences of not having solid ethical values? Do ethical people have unethical thoughts? Continue reading
Filed under Daily Life, Religion and Philosophy, Science & Technology
Did Amy Winehouse Cheat the World?
I think of a gifted artist (including in the term performing artists) as being like a trustee, with an ethical duty to the beneficiaries—the audience, the community, the nation, civilization—to protect and use his or her unique talents to bring joy and inspiration to the world as long as possible. By this analysis, squandering those talents on recreational drugs and other reckless behavior, like Amy Winehouse, is wrong, the equivalent of a crime against humanity. Continue reading
Texas: Resisting Creationism, Embracing Enlightenment
The fact that the argument of “intelligent design” zealots has been lost by any logical and rational standards is irrelevant to their determination, because their argument has never relied on logic or reason. They continue to work tirelessly to load school curriculums with religious indoctrination to the detriment of knowledge, and only the most courageous, professional, responsible and unbiased decision-makers can resist the assault. The Texas Board of Education proved it was one of these. Continue reading
Ethics Quote of the Week: Edmund Burke (1729-1797)
“…If the local constituent should have an interest, or should form an hasty opinion, evidently opposite to the real good of the rest of the community, the member for that place ought to be as far, as any other, from any endeavour to give it effect.” Continue reading
Rep. Wu and the Scourge of Government by Ventriloquist Dummies
I am fighting, unsuccessfully, the conclusion that the U.S is probably doomed, and Rep.Wu’s current scandal is just a convenient example. He had a history of irresponsible and possible illegal sexual conduct, but his constituency didn’t care about his character, values or judgment…after all, he voted their way. Then he seemed to be mentally ill. Never mind: he was still well enough to vote the “right” way. Now he may be mentally ill and displaying old bad habits. But in the minds of his constituents, most of whom only follow the issues in grossly simplified and slanted form, if at all, Wu is preferable to a stable, experienced, open-minded moderate capable of seeing both sides of an issue and engaging in compromise. Continue reading
Haboob By Any Other Name
Welcome, haboob; glad you’re here. And don’t mind the small-minded boobs trying to run you out of Arizona. They’ve always been part of the American experience too, but when the nation is healthy, they are nothing to worry about. Continue reading
Filed under Around the World, Popular Culture, U.S. Society, War and the Military
Comment of the Day: “Dear God: Stop Calling”
Glenn Logan,a blogger who covers the University of Kentucky Wildcats for their most discerning fans. Glenn’s comments here regarding the post about politicians announcing that they have been “called” to run for office. Here is his comment on “Dear God: Stop Calling!”, putting to good use his expertise regarding competition of all sorts. Continue reading →
3 Comments
Filed under Comment of the Day, Government & Politics, Leadership, Religion and Philosophy, Sports
Tagged as calling, cheating, competition, fairness, God, honesty, politicians, prayer