What to Say?
I haven’t posted much this week, and I’ll tell you why. I’ve been busy watching the 24 hour a day Hurricane Katrina show. When I posted about it on Monday afternoon, in reference to the article at Jerusalem Newswire, no one had any idea how bad it had been except for the people who were there. It seemed like New Orleans had dodged a bullet, and that’s all anyone was talking about. Three days later, we know very well how wrong that was.
I think I’m watching every minute of coverage because I can’t make myself believe what I’m seeing yet. It can’t possibly be the United States. It must be Rwanda or Banda Aceh, Indonesia. Millions of people are homeless and without jobs. Countless lives have been erased, and thousands have ended. There are bands of American refugees numbering in the tens of thousands, and more groups of survivors that no one expected are showing up constantly.
Louisiana’s Governor Blanco had this to say:
“As we face the devastation wrought by Katrina, as we search for those in need, as we comfort those in pain and as we begin the long task of rebuilding, we turn to God for strength, hope and comfort.
“I have declared August 31, 2005, a Day of Prayer in the State of Louisiana.
“I am asking that all of Louisiana take some time Wednesday to pray. Pray for the victims and the rescuers. Please pray that God give us all the physical and spiritual strength to work through this crisis and rebuild.
“Please pray for patience for those anxiously waiting to hear from family members or to get word about their homes. Pray for the safety of our hard-working rescuers and those they are bringing to safety.
“I know, by praying together on Wednesday, that we can pull together and draw strength we need; strength, that only God can give us.
“In my prayers, I will also thank God for the strong and resilient people of this state and how they are working to meet this challenge.”
Well, I have this to say:
Shut the fuck up. Where is your god, Governor? Where is your benevolent, omnipotent being? Is he busy being thanked by the starving survivors who sit on their rooftops as the odor of their rotting neighbors wafts over them? Is he busy being thanked by the critical-care patients who avoided the bullets of the snipers that tried to kill them as they were being evacuated today? Is he busy being thanked by the evacuees who have returned to southern Mississippi to pick through the piles of matchsticks and memories that cover the ground their homes used to occupy? He must be busy, because he’s nowhere to be found. It’s not god providing the cots and MREs for 45,000 refugees, it’s the city of Houston. It’s not god picking people off rooftops, it’s the Coast Guard. It’s not god stopping the floodwaters from Lake Pontchartrain, it’s the Army Corps of Engineers.
In the worst case, god is culpable. In the best case, he’s powerless to help. In actuality, he doesn’t exist. He’s not testing you. He’s not punishing anyone. He’s just not there.
I wish more than ever for the last couple of days that he were. I wish there were someone to hear the faint cries for help in the pitch-black night. I wish the brave and selfless rescue workers who are risking their lives to save total strangers were securing their places in an eternal paradise. I wish I could trust that he’s taking care of fellow blogger vjack in Mississippi, who’s either without power or…
Oh, the wishes I’d wish if wishing made any difference.
I’ve singled out Governor Blanco here, but she’s just a symbol of the problem. To every politician, I say stop posing for the camera and making silly, empty statements about god to secure right wing votes in your next election. Spend those extra ten seconds doing something to help. When there are this many lives hanging in the balance, ten seconds more effort from a single person might just save one. Even if you can’t save a life, save your breath. The absence of god is so staggeringly obvious in the wake of Hurricane Katrina that hearing you even say the word makes me sick to my stomach.
~I AM~
September 1st, 2005 at at 10:13 pm
I am so glad you said that. It should be said more often. It should be shouted from the rooftops. I get so sick of this crap from people who are suppose to be our leaders. Damn, it is just simply disgusting.
September 1st, 2005 at at 10:14 pm
Why the hell is it acceptable by the American public for government officials to say things like this?
And it occured to me that if vjack is “…” we might never know. Until we all meet up in hell.
September 1st, 2005 at at 10:40 pm
I’ll bet that the survivors are praising God that they were “mercifully saved” from the disaster of Katrina. I really wish that America would wake up. Beautiful post I Am.
September 1st, 2005 at at 10:58 pm
I was worried about vjack as well, but if anyone has a decent chance of surviving something like this, it would be an atheist who values self-preservasion above most else.
It reminds me of an old joke:
This guy lived in a two-story house beside a riverbed that was beginning to flood. The first day of the flood, a boat came by and the driver yelled to the guy “Get in the boat, I’ll take you to safety”. The guy replied “No thanks, the Lord will protect me”. The second day the boat comes by to find the guy standing in front of the second floor window. The driver yells “Sir, get in the boat! We’ll take you to safety!”. The guy again replies “No thanks. The Lord will protect me”. The third day the boat appears and finds the guy on the rooftop clutching his bible. The driver yells “Sir, this is the last time we’ll be able to stop here! I suggest you get in the boat now!” The guy just looks at the driver and says “No, I told you the Lord will protect me”. That night the guy drowns.
The guy finds himself in heaven in front of God. The guy says ” Lord, I worshipped you all of my life and never doubted you. Why didn’t you help me?” God looks at him and says ” What do you think the three boats were for, dumbass?”
September 1st, 2005 at at 11:30 pm
There was a very good article (that I can’t seem to find) raising the same point after the tsunami.
September 1st, 2005 at at 11:38 pm
As I’m sure you have probably heard, there are already Christians out there claiming that this hurricane was God’s punishment on NO for it’s toleration of homosexuality. This inevitably comes up with every natural disaster. What I don’t get is, if God has a problem with homosexuality, why doesn’t he just kill the homosexuals? Why does he feel it necessary to kill hundreds of innocent heterosexuals to teach us a lesson about homosexuality? Obviously, I don’t really believe this crap, but I never understood how Christians reconciled the punishment of innocent people by a benevolent god for the sins of others.
This reminds me of a quick story. A few weeks ago, I hear my co-worker saying that “God must be looking out for me”. I ask him why. He had sold his house about a year ago. He went by there recently to talk to the current owner and it turns out that the foundation is slipping and it is going to cost a ton of money to fix it. So, in his view, God made it so that he was able to sell the house before this problem was discovered and thus he didn’t have to pay for it (it is the current owners problem now). So yeah, God was looking out for him. Of course, the current owner just got bent over and reamed by God.
September 1st, 2005 at at 11:51 pm
What sickens me more than the religious bullshit is the charming people who completely misremember the US’s aid after the Tsunami (we apparently gave a gazillion dollars 10 seconds after it occurred) and demand to know why every nation in the world hasn’t offered help us. (Ignoring of course the sizable and growing list of nations that have offered assistance or aid).
September 1st, 2005 at at 11:52 pm
The alabama state director of Atheist. Has a post at nogodblog.com. What is really happening by someone who is there. Man this just breaks my heart. These politicians are pathetic. Vote them all out next elction. We all have to take care of ourselves. Prepare for a disater in your own area because the gov’t can not help. The soviet union imploded because of their wars and bad money decisions. We are going the same way. Is your town/county prepred for a disaster? What happens when they say NO-ONE”S coming. These people have been praying too much and doing too little.
I am
I agree with your evaluation on what the gov’t needs to do. Shut the fuck up. And keep your god out of my neighborhood. JIM
September 2nd, 2005 at at 12:35 am
I have declared August 31, 2005, a Day of Prayer in the State of Louisiana.
You have GOT to be fucking kidding me. I hadn’t heard that. And I kinda wish I still hadn’t.
We all have to take care of ourselves. Prepare for a disater in your own area because the gov’t can not help. The soviet union imploded because of their wars and bad money decisions. We are going the same way.
That’s the truth. It’s pretty damn sad how quickly the whole thing seems to be crashing down, isn’t it?
September 2nd, 2005 at at 1:12 am
I saw that news conference live, and my blood felt as though it were boiling. It’s a sad state of affairs when the best the government can do for its constituents is tell them to “pray”, and that bullshit about “thanking god for getting through it alive”… yeah, that’s right. It would go like this:
God, hey, thanks. I mean, my wife floated away from me, our dog is dead, my kids are missing. I have no house, no money. Hell, I don’t even have any way to prove who I am. But thanks god, cuz I’m alive. I have you to thank for that. It’s okay that you killed my wife, and all of our neighbors, god. I know you have a plan for me. Right now that plan entails sitting on the roof of my house, waiting for rescue since the flood waters are 15 feet high and I can’t swim. Right now that plan means that I’m thirsty and hungry and haven’t eaten in three days… but you made it rain today, so thanks god, for the water to drink. Oh, and thanks god that I haven’t yet gone into a diabetic coma, since my medication floated away in that grand flood you created after you broke the levees. Thanks for that, too god. I know you’re testing me, and I’ll just sit here on this roof until you send someone to rescue me. Take your time, though god. I want you to witness my incredible blind faith.
Yeah, that’s how it must go. How the hell anyone can go into a situation like this a believer and come out an even stronger one, I will never understand. How this doesn’t turn every single fucking person watching into devout atheists is beyond me.
And you know… it doesn’t just make me angry. It also makes me sad. Until we take responsibility for ourselves, we’ll never stand a chance of providing for ourselves.
September 2nd, 2005 at at 1:34 am
Oh god that kind of stuff really bothers me. I would absolutely love it if some politician would take a reasoned stand against all this bullshit and would speak out against it. With these kinds of horrible natural disasters it’s amazing that anyone remains christian and believes that god pays attention and controls events in our world. To think that god would help someone sell their house while he lets others die is such a sickening belief that it really is beyond words.
September 2nd, 2005 at at 1:35 am
And yeah, hopefully we hear from vjack soon. I’m not sure how far inland he is.
September 2nd, 2005 at at 6:53 am
Ouch.
Everybody pray for me. I fear that I am slipping out of consciousness from repetitively bludgeoning the desk with my head after reading this post.
This, combined with the continued reports of malevolent, inhumane actions from people in the face of mounting hopelessness, is not conducive to repelling this perpetual mental siege by an overwhelming sense of misanthropy. My already slippery grip on the idea (pipedream?) of the mere humanity of humans is weakening.
When cornered, or even merely given an opportunity, we lunge for each other’s throats, blinded by self preservation and/or greed. Can’t we see one another in the mirror and in that recognition gain some semblance of compassion?
But, then again, why bother? If we refuse to believe in our own strength, and shell out credit to invisible forces outside of and separate from us when given concrete examples of both the existence of our own, and complete absence of any supernatural, benevolence, then where is a need for responsibility?
Why bother helping another human if it’s ultimately not of your own will and ability? In the face of their own cowardice, ineptitude, and lethargy, people will readily give credit to a god instead of a fellow human who possessed enough intestinal fortitude to overcome those same dilemmas. The viable choice is to continue in self-denial and delusion, choosing an omnipotent god, rather than admit one’s own shortcomings. As for those who actually do care enough to help yet still heap recognition in god’s lap? I suppose they do so on two accounts: a) fear of damnation/hope for eternal reward, and/or b) they’d prefer to believe their own strength and conviction was bestowed upon them from the unknown rather than acknowledge the complacent negligence of fellow humans.
The prevailing thought seems to be that all the ills of humanity string from within, and any graces of humanity are granted to us. Furthermore, tragedies that fall upon us spring forth from those very self conceived ills, and any fortune is a merely a blessing, usually gained from shunning those who ill.
It shouldn’t be so difficult (and rarely tangibly rewarding) to just do right for right’s sake.
I apologize for taking up your space, ~I AM~.
September 2nd, 2005 at at 8:57 am
Well said, DUB. And you know, the ones behaving badly are probably all believers. I doubt most of them would say they were atheists, if someone were to ask.
September 2nd, 2005 at at 10:26 am
addict_no_more…
Speaking as an ex-con, former drug dealer, and all-around-thug who so very frequently associated with those who most would refer to as the dregs of society, I will assure you that you’re 100% correct.
I’ve known some cold-blooded people, and it never ceased to amaze me how quickly they would throw the name of God around. The prisons are rampant with religion. Hell, when I was engaing in such activities, I myself claimed to be Christian.
One of the results of turning my life around was my affirmation of atheism.
September 2nd, 2005 at at 11:40 am
From the NY Times
On the receiving end in Houston, though, the Astrodome looked at times like a squatters’ camp in a war-torn country. The refugees from Louisiana, many dirty and hungry, wandered about aimlessly, checking bulletin boards for information about their relatives, queuing up for supplies and pay phones, mobbing Red Cross volunteers to obtain free T-shirts. Many found some conditions similar to those that they left behind at the Superdome, like clogged toilets and foul restrooms.
But in Houston, there were hot showers, crates of Bibles and stacks of pizzas, while in New Orleans, many refugees scrounged for diapers, water and basic survival.
CRATES OF BIBLES! Now that will help.
September 2nd, 2005 at at 11:50 am
roofdeck5:
Don’t be so cynical. I think the knowledge, contained in the Bible, that god has been slaughtering the innocent for thousands of years will certainly make some of the refugees feel better. They’ll know they’re not alone.
DUB:
If you’re giving us good stuff like that, you take as much space as you want.
September 2nd, 2005 at at 12:08 pm
Actually, bibles make an excellent flotation device.
September 2nd, 2005 at at 12:15 pm
That depends. I think the King James may be too heavy. Some of the fluffy new versions, though, are very buoyant.
September 2nd, 2005 at at 12:48 pm
I can’t believe an elected official would call for prayer rather than calling for food, water, safe places to sleep, medicine, etc.
You can send the Governor your thoughts here: http://www.gov.state.la.us/govemail.asp
September 2nd, 2005 at at 1:09 pm
YEA!!! You tell ‘em, I AM!
Fuckin ay! That was well said. I am sooo right there with you.
I am horrified by the amount of disaster and the degree of human tradgedy this hurricane has caused. And I am doubly horrified by the calls to prayer and the praise given to God in a time like this. They have it completely backwards!
They blame humans for the hurricane, and credit God for the rescues! WTF????? They need to BLAME God for the hurricane, and credit humans for the rescues! Why dont they pray to God to undo the hurricane?
These Christians are very hypocritical too, and they are borrowing from the materialist worldview when they thank God for being spared. Why does a Christian want to be spared from being taken to heaven by a Godly divine hurricane? Why does a Christian fear for their life when a natural disaster is headed their way? Are they afraid of heaven? Why run for shelter if you are a devout Christian? Arent you defying Gods will? He sent that hurricane after YOU! To take YOU up to his kingdom!
Its just insane to see human beings so steadfastly clinging to these sickeningly inhumane superstitions, especially in a disaster such as this one. And its maddening to see these people champion their ridiculous boogeyman beliefs. I mean, if their religion was true, then it would make their God incredibly evil! Assuming that a conscious entity caused the hurricane, how can it possibly be deserving of praise and emotional pleas for assistance? If God were real, he should be condemned right now by his followers! Im really glad at times like this that there really IS no God.
Evil. Pure fucking evil.
September 2nd, 2005 at at 2:07 pm
“I am asking that all of Louisiana take some time Wednesday to pray. Pray for the victims and the rescuers. Please pray that God give us all the physical and spiritual strength to work through this crisis and rebuild.”
Prayer does not help flood waters recede, it does not rebuild homes, hospitals, levees (ahem!), or historical buildings. Prayer does not fill bellies, it does not heal wounds, it does not resurrect loved ones. Prayer is lip service to a deity that does not exist. Prayer is a waste of time. Prayer keeps people lazy, ignorant, and gullible.
September 2nd, 2005 at at 4:44 pm
Sooo many people rely on two simple ideas:
(1) Problem? Well, I’m just gonna have to pray harder!
and…
(2) God works in mysterious ways.
Both of these ideologies is what leads to such bullshit lines coming from elected officials and people in general. I mean, I realize people need hope, but you can get that from anything. Why must we prescribe things to a god that we could simply just start HANDLING.
It really irks me that a faith in god will hold people back from reacting and responding to situations. And besides, have you seen the delayed response to helping those poor people in New Orleans? Oh right, they’re black and poor… forgot that America doesn’t seem to give a danm unless its old white corporate CEO’s who are in trouble.
September 2nd, 2005 at at 6:56 pm
Okay, i said i was deleting your bookmark because of the upcoming theist postswapping… but after today’s post i must swear eternal friendship. Love it! Am going to reprint it. LOVE IT.
September 3rd, 2005 at at 12:11 am
Thank you, Aaron (my name too). I feel like throwing my hands up and screaming AMEN!!
Here’s the scenario:
Some poor, desparate person has been holding out – against all odds – for over a week. Dehydrated. Injured. Starving. Some would say it’s a miracle. The rescue efforts (ha!) have finally made it to the area. Every single second is crucial. The life force is literally slipping away from our “miracle” survivor. No time is left. The rescuers are getting closer. The clock is ticking. Closer. Almost there. The rescuers…
…stop to pray.
Still believe in miracles? This is asinine on so many levels.
September 3rd, 2005 at at 12:51 am
Aaron = atheist
September 3rd, 2005 at at 11:23 am
From an article in the September 3 Dallas Morning News:
“With all the rapin’ going on, the drug dealin’, the murderin’…look at the kids shooting up the schools. The good Lord is just tired of it. He’s just letting people know he’s ruling this world.”
–Billy Mac, a 55-year-old security guard sitting in the Mississipi state Fairgrounds Coliseum, the state’s largest shelter.
Two pages prior to that was a picture of woman outside the New Orleans Convention Center, arms raised in the air with great relief on her face. “Praise Jesus” she says at the announcement that meals would finally be passed out.
I know that you should always try to find the good in a situation, but finding good in an imaginary being who, if existing, caused or allowed such destruction in the first place is nuts. I used to understand that mentality when I was a christian. Now, I just don’t get it.
September 3rd, 2005 at at 12:26 pm
I decided this morning, after listening to the news of please for help in housing refugees from Katrina’s aftermath turned away from the AstroDome in Houston, to find a Blog that speaks for the way I feel. I think that this might be it.
It will be very interesting to see how many of the thousands of distitute people will be taken into the Texas community on a one to one basis. Poor African Americans living and eating in white born-again-christian basements and garages.
My guess, very few. Most that make it to an individual family will be in black homes. I know of a large (1,600 acres) ranch in Texas where a large number of these homeless families can be sheltered by a very wealthy, born again, First Family. Some of those southern white “Christian” politicians should lead by example, but dont bet the farm on it.
Lets see if Texas Christian’s really walk the walk when mixing skin color is involved.
September 3rd, 2005 at at 9:50 pm
I’d just to know why there is some sort of taboo on the word death. I understand the vjack is in great danger, but writing “…” or just not finishing your sentence won’t helphim or anyone. Forgive me for stereotyping, but it seems that “death” in the region is like “Lord Voldemort” in Harry Potter.
Again, I am a foreigner, and this might be a huge social faux-pas, so forgive me.
September 3rd, 2005 at at 10:14 pm
Nauticashades:
It is a huge social faux-pas. Talking about it won’t help any more than avoiding the word will.
I’ve never met vjack, and I don’t even know his real name, but I consider him a friend in whatever sense that’s possible in the anonymous online world. Unless you know him at least that well, I think you should probably remain silent on this issue.
September 4th, 2005 at at 4:22 am
I saw a recent article online trying to explain how the hurricanes effects were “god lifting his protection from the western world” because we just stood by while the Israeli settlers were forced from Gaza.
The same settlers that have been in direct violation of international law since 1967? Yes, the same. But they are god’s chosen people, so I guess they hold the trump card on this one.
To recap… NO is being punished by the ever merciful (if nonexistent) god for:
1.) Harboring fags
2.) Tolerating fags
3.) Tolerating “permissive” lifestyles
4.) Jazz (remember that jazz causes the “darkies” to be uppity)
5.) Not sufficiently supporting the cause of the Zionists (doesn’t this one seem a little out of place?)
If that’s all it takes, where is the plague of locusts for S. California? I can attest to the fact that we don’t have enough jazz, but I’m feeling a little left out. This being the apocalypse and all.
September 4th, 2005 at at 7:39 am
Carnival of the Godless
Welcome to the 22nd Carnival of the Godless, where some of the more interesting writings from a godless perspective are listed, discussed, and promoted. We have a very interesting collection of posts here this week that deal with a wide…
September 4th, 2005 at at 9:42 am
JJ:
There was an excellent post about that article at my favorite blog.
September 5th, 2005 at at 7:57 am
OK, I get it, thanks.
September 6th, 2005 at at 3:49 am
HAHA! So… I’m busted that I don’t read your blog often enough
Damn good site though… You know, for a heretic.
Though I stand by my principals that there is not enough jazz in So. Cal., and there are not nearly enough zionists in New Orleans (recently anyway).
September 9th, 2005 at at 12:23 am
My sense of irony requires me to say, “Amen, brother.”