Allow me to expound my ignorance.

Okay, so I don't even remotely pretend to have a grasp on Middle Eastern affairs, historical and current. I don't know much about the history of Palestine and the Gaza Strip. I know the gist of the establishment of Israel after the Second World War, but that's about it. So I admit that I'm talking out of my ass here. However. I have to say that I'm really not too keen on my tax dollars going to support Israel, especially in light of what's going on over there right now. As far as I can grok, some Palestinian/Hamas fools have been shooting rockets across the border into Israel and have killed 4 Israelis, probably civilians. In retaliation, Israel has launched something like 300 airstrikes so far against mostly civilian targets, killing well over 300 Palestinians, and ignoring all pleas for a truce from the EU and UN. And this, of course, is just the latest episode in a long-running soap opera with bombs and rockets and IEDs and whatever else they can lob at each other.

And it's all, when you boil it right down, more people killing each other over religion. And ironically, blowing to smithereens the land they all agree is sacred to their respective religions. I just will never understand why we haven't, as a species, moved beyond religions, or at least stopped giving them such life-altering credence. If you want to believe in God, that's fine--just quit also clinging to all the ridiculous trappings that originated in far more primitive times and keep threatening to return us to those primitive times.

/end rant

Speaking of religion..

I found this editorial on nonbelief and morality interesting. Inasmuch as I generally despise organized religion, I do believe (and have always said) that they do get some things right. I just also believe that all the good done in the name of religion can just as easily be done for non-religious reasons, while without religion we'd be free of most (if not all) of the evil inspired by religion.

I've actually quite enjoyed the occasions in my life when I've attended church--aside from the religious bits. I enjoy the community feeling of a congregation, and the opportunity to meet and connect with other like-minded people. Frankly, it's almost felt like religious people have an unfair advantage in that respect--want to meet new people of similar interests? Just go to church and mingle! There's not really a place for agnostics and atheists to do that. Not a place that isn't something like a bar, anyway. :) Or is there?

There are a few Universal Unitarian churches in the area (though none very close, methinks), which I occasionally consider checking out. I like the notion of church without most of the religious aspects, I guess. I don't know if I can talk Heather into checking it out with me, but we do often lament that we don't have enough friends nearby. Might be a good opportunity to rectify that situation.

2008 Photo Recap!

Took this one Sunday on a walk around Lake Davis in downtown Orlando. Lucky shot, and this is straight out of the camera--no post-processing whatsoever. Sweet!

Seemed like a good intro to ( cp's Best Photographs of 2008! )