I feel that if I am going to start writing diaries, I should let the community know a bit about me. Some might have guessed by the title of my first diary that I am a computer programmer. They may have further deduced that I am prone to cliché. They would be correct on both points. I will try to keep the cliché to a minimum. Being sarcastic or sardonic, however, is non-negotiable.
More below the medieval torture device.
The basic facts: I am a 50 year old white male with all the privilege that confers. I am not rich, I am not poor. I am not particularly bright, nor particularly stupid. I have moments of brilliance followed by periods of profound stupidity. I am neither a highly motivated individual nor a lazy bum. I like my burgers medium. I am in the middle. 50/50. Mediocre.
But in my social, political and religious views, I am extreme. I am an extreme humanist. I am an extreme socialist. I believe there should be a Universal Basic Income. Yes, that extreme. Kind of anathema in America even for many liberals. And I am an atheist. Of the worst sort, some would say. Yes, I think it is OK to ridicule religion. If something is ridiculous, it deserves ridicule. I have nothing against the religious, unless they try to force policy that infringes on the rights of others. Religion, on the other hand, is fair game.
I would defend to my death a person's right to free exercise of their religion and the right to publicly express it in appropriate venues. which I feel gives me the right to say my peace, in whatever manner I choose, in appropriate venues such as this one. Sorry if I offend anyone, but it is ridiculous to believe that an All-Powerful, All-Knowing and All-Loving Perfect God had to rape a Virgin and send this ill-begotten Son to earth to be tortured to death so that He can forgive Humanity for the sin of a Woman who, 4,000 - 8,000 years earlier, was convinced by a Snake to eat an Apple from a Tree She knew She wasn't supposed to eat from. Hmmm... All-Powerful, All-Knowing, All-Loving... Perfect... couldn't He have just said, "I forgive you humanity"? Or even just Thought it? I've known Humans who have forgiven far more egregious sins than that with much less hoopla.
God, I am not impressed.