Atheism

from Pharyngula

"He could show me a religion that is nothing but sweetness and light, happiness and good thoughts and equality for all, and it wouldn't matter: the one question I would ask is, "Is it true?" It wouldn't matter if he could show empirically that adopting this hypothetical faith leads to world peace, the voluntary abolishment of crime, the disappearance of dental caries, and that every child on the planet would get their very own pony — I'd still battle it with every fierce and angry word I could speak and type if it wasn't also shown to be a true and accurate description of the world. Some of us, at least, will refuse to drink the Kool-Aid, no matter how much sugar they put in it."

Death Penalty

Gusto na namang patayin ni Senador Zubiri ang mga sa tingin niya ay karumal dumal na kriminal. Pero sa isang banda, sinasabi ni Senador Enrile na ang mga pulis natin ay madalas mag-tanim ng ebidensiya.

Kailangan muna siguraduhin ni Senador Zubiri na walang corrupt na pulis na magtatanim ng ebidensiya o lahat ng pulis sa Pilipinas ay perpekto at hindi nagkakamali para sigurado tayo na walang inosenteng tao ang mabibitay bago niya buksan ang diskurso sa death penalty.

Steve Hughes - Offended

He censored Mark Twain

BBC News - Furore over 'censored' edition of Huckleberry Finn

Editing a book, specially Hucklebery Finn to avoid offending readers is more offensive to Mark Twain and book readers than burning a book.

update:

was reading reddit and saw this letter by Mark Twain when Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer were removed from the children section of a library because it was too coarse.

"Dear Sir:

I am greatly troubled by what you say. I wrote Tom Sawyer & Huck Finn for adults exclusively, & it always distressed me when I find that boys and girls have been allowed access to them. The mind that becomes soiled in youth can never again be washed clean. I know this by my own experience, & to this day I cherish an unappeased bitterness against the unfaithful guardians of my young life, who not only permitted but compelled me to read an unexpurgated Bible through before I was 15 years old. None can do that and ever draw a clean sweet breath again on this side of the grave. Ask that young lady - she will tell you so.

Most honestly do I wish I could say a softening word or two in defence of Huck's character, since you wish it, but really in my opinion it is no better than God's (in the Ahab & 97 others), & the rest of the sacred brotherhood.

If there is an Unexpurgated [Bible] in the Children's Department, won't you please help that young woman remove Tom & Huck from that questionable companionship?

Sincerely yours,
S. L. Clemens

I shall not show your letter to any one - it is safe with me."