Never changing your mind when presented with opposing facts; or what the religious right loves about Sarah Palin.
This is my first attempt at a diary, and it is basically just an expansion on something that came up in conversation last night.
Basically I wanted to point out that not changing your mind when presented with facts that should change your mind, shouldn't be thought of as a positive trait. Yet again and again we see certain large segments of our population acting like it is. Granted, part of being a Christian is accepting that there are a lot of facts you will be forced to ignore or 'wait for your answer in heaven'. That is the nature of believing in a magic man in the sky. But why does that have to spill over into things that aren't directly related to the bible?
more after the jump?
Abstinence only education does not work: it doesn't prevent pregnancy, and it sure as hell doesn't slow the spread of HIV. We have seen the studies, and we can all think of an issue close to us that illustrates this point. So why on earth would someone with direct evidence to the contrary continue to stand by abstinence only education?
Global Warming/Climate Change/Greenhouse Gasses: I know why she is doesn't think this is a man-made issue and so do you --> Oil. There, I said it. But just because you make money from oil doesn't mean that burning it is good for the planet, or our country, or your state. This has been debated ad nauseum, and I know why people falsely argue against it, I have yet to find a good reason for someone to falsely argue for it, no matter what kind of ridiculous things Michael Crichton writes fictional stories about.
Creationism: Look, you stopped believing that God lived in the clouds when we started flying through them, maybe it is time to let this one go as well. I have nothing new to add here, and there is nothing I can do or say to persuade someone who has made this part of their identity. I hope one day we can all agree that teaching our children to ignore science because it doesn't jive with your worldview is a bad idea and will lead to the decline of our country.
Discrimination: How on earth is this acceptable, how can at least half of our country be complacent, or even energized in using discrimination as a political platform? Seriously, this is what bothers me most about 'these people'. I am no longer willing to accept any thoughts from the right as valid, in the same way that I don't ask the KKK for their thoughts on the economy. Once they move past direct discrimination I will be much more open to listen to their views on other things.
So that was my little attempt at a diary. I know I didn't stick to a point as I rambled over my little list.
Here is hoping we can return to a time when we actually can discuss things that matter to our families and our country as a whole (LIKE ****ING HEALTHCARE).