Friday, August 20, 2004

 
The Bush Family In the News

Laura Bush recently defended her husband's record on stem cell research with the following, "I hope that stem cell research will yield cures. But I know that embryonic stem cell research is very preliminary right now and the implication that cures for Alzheimer's are around the corner is just not right and it's really not fair to people who are watching a loved one suffer with this disease."

Well, it's not gonna get any closer anytime soon with the current Bush stance. This decision to restrict research is based wholely on their religious beliefs. This again runs counter to the seperation of church and state. So for Laura I guess it's okay that there isn't a cure around the corner as that justifies the decision but then I guess it's okay too that we may never find a cure ever too.

Then there's Hurricane Charley cutting a swath through Florida last week. Florida Governor Jeb Bush surveying the damage by helicopter said, "God doesn't follow the linear projections of computer models. This is God's way of telling us that he's almighty and we're mortal."

Hmmmm ... that's the kinda belief that irritates me the most. To actually think there's some hand of a creator creating hurricanes that kill men, women, and children, pious and other alike, well, the whole notion is ludicrous.

Tuesday, August 17, 2004

 
Canada-US Divergence Part II

Environics took a poll recently to demonstrate a continuing divide between the US and Canada on social and cultural thinking. I think it's become fairly obvious to most Canadians that this divide is growing with recent legislation allowing gay marriage and other like-minded liberal advances while the US continues to backtrack on such issues. The religious right wields great political power on the US while having really none here. I was tempted to end that sentence with "thank gawd".

The Environics poll indicates that 45% of Americans go to church every week while only 20% of Canadians say they do. Both of these are substantially down from 85% in the 1950's. 58% of Americans say that it is neccessary to believe in god to be a moral person while only 30% of Canadians agree. In perhaps a tell-tale question, Americans believe that the father should me master of the house agreeing 49% of the time to such a question. Canadians replied "yes" 18% of the time and it would not suprise me in the least if the question wasn't greated with great laughter in many households. Lastly, in perhaps an obvious note, 49% of Americans also admitted to having a gun in the house compared to 22% in Canada. Mr. Adams, Environics President, was quoted as saying, "I have a picture of Sunday morning in the US, of dad pulling out his .357 magnum saying 'Okay kids, time to go to church'."


Friday, August 13, 2004

 
Canada-US Divergence part 1

"In the United Stated, I guess you can say that there is one category of person who cannot get elected, and that's an atheist. And in Canada, there's a category of person who can't be elected and, or course, that is a person who is an ostenentatious religious person."

Michael Adams, founder and president of Environics at the God's Back Conference in Lake Couchiching

I think, as Canadians, we like to think of ourselves as having more common sense that our neighbours to the south. Right or wrong, I take comfort in my fellow Canadians' beliefs in the matter above.

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