The Kind-Hearted Smart Aleck

While I refer to myself as an agnostic or a humanist, I still fight for everyone's right to believe as they so choose without governmental persecution. In saying that, however, there are still times I have to chuckle when hearing another talk about their religious beliefs. One example of this is when celebrities thank God for a victory, an opportunity, etc. "First and foremost I have to thank God, the creator, for giving me this opportunity to succeed doing what I love to do." What's funnier yet is how I don't hear anyone else chuckle at such statements. Think about what these celebrities are saying for a moment... "First and foremost I have to thank a man I've never seen before, never heard speak, someone I can't even prove ever existed, yet know he created the world and sent his perfect son to die on the cross for our sins, only to rise from the dead three days later. Anyway, I have to thank him for giving me this opportunity to succeed doing ...

I read a letter-to-the-editor today which was titled "Some trust the government too much." While I can understand this statement in isolation, I have trouble understanding it when in conjunction with the words, "Put all your trust in God." Many people whom claim to believe in limited government (or no government at all) and that we shouldn't trust the government very much, will also say that we should place all our trust in a higher power. While this may make sense to them, it makes absolutely no sense to me. Let's look at this for a moment. With government, while it has been known to slip up a time or two, it's still physically present. We have physical evidence to prove that the government exists and that it can benefit people. With God, there is no such physical evidence. When I attempt to find God, I see nothing. When I attempt to talk to God, I hear nothing. When I attempt to reach out to God, I feel nothing. So while I can understand not ful...

It cracks me up to hear people whom are certain of God's existence claim that global warming is a hoax. The following two scenarios will better illustrate just how I see such individuals. Experiment #1 Scientist Mike Theory: "So, you don't believe in global warming, correct?" Donald Dump: "Of course not! It's nothing but a hoax!" Theory: "So why are the polar ice caps melting then?" Dump: "It's all part of God's plan apparently." Theory: ::takes an ice cube out of a freezer and places it on a table:: "Do you see this ice cube?" Dump: "Yes..." Theory: "I just took it out of the freezer. Notice how it's getting smaller?" Dump: "Yes..." Theory: "Why is that do you think?" Dump: "Because it's warmer in here than in the freezer! Duh!" Theory: "Very good. So, take that knowledge and apply it to what we talked about earlier. Why are the p...

Over the past couple weeks or so, I've several people - the president included - whom have claimed that the Republican Party have attempted to create an imaginary Barack Obama. This theory really came to fruition when actor Clint Eastwood spoke at the Republican National Convention and pretended to have a conversation with Obama courtesy of an empty chair. To that which the empty chair could attest - the GOP has definitely created an imaginary Barack Obama. Let's take the chain e-mail fact-checking site, Snopes.com , to further illustrate this. President Obama hasn't even been in office for four years and there have been, at one point or another, 125 e-mails spread about him. Of these 125, only 17 are true (13.6%). As four have been undecided as far as how much validity they contain, that means 104 of the 125 e-mails are, on some level or another, false (83.2%). If the four undecided e-mails are false as well, that would mean that 86.4% of those 125 e-mails are false in s...

The Invisible Man To thou whom I speak, To thou whom I pray, To thou whom I listen, Every minute of every day, When I rise in the morning, Go to sleep at night, I know you’re wit me, My guiding light, I look to you for answers, Look to you for love, To look after my children, Look after myself, With me when I drive to work, When I return home, With me at every waking moment, With me until I’m gone, One day I will rise to be with you, See my family and friends, Be rewarded for my everlasting faith, Be forever saved, I’ve never seen your face, Nor heard your voice, Yet I adamantly declare, To know of your presence, I don’t believe in ghosts, Yet hold no doubts of your existence, Having never seen either, Absent of any evidence, The invisible man is coming, Believe in him or else, He will strike ye down to the fiery pit, A ghost sending you to hell.

Via the new social-networking site I joined, Wattpad, I've posted some excerpts from two of my books, Seasons Come, People Grow and The Kind-Hearted Smartass. I received a comment on one of my poems ("One Voice") today and it is as follows: “I read all the three poems you posted but especially liked “One Voice”. You have beautifully portrayed the helplessness and agony of the person behind the voice and the apathy of the world as a flowing poetry. It actually compels the reader to sit back and retrospect. I applaud your talent!” "One Voice" A whisper in the distance, From a far off place, Unknown is the source, Unknown is the time and place, A voice in the distance, Unable to make it out, Only a few others notice, The rest go on and walk off, Screaming with all his might, Unable to get the words out, Feeling that all is hopeless, Feeling that all is lost, I scream for the world to hear me, But only one voice am I, Caught in a crowd of bill...