The enemy of my enemy

Pagans and atheists tend to have a pretty good, if not a bit weird, working relationship. After all, we have a lot in common, since we are both enemies of the Right. The Right will change tactics sometimes and after years of going after one will switch to the other. Sometimes they bring in a third party (Islam!) and surprise everyone, but as a rule pagans and atheists are always on the chopping block.
So, we tend to get along. And as long as the extreme elements of each side don't get involved everything works out great. Each side has it's nutters. We have the really vocal element which is made up of newbies, the martyr complex people, and the older people who have been doing this so long they don't care. The latter people are actually pretty cool, and frankly I wish they would speak up more but they tend to get drowned out by the first two. As a rule pagans are passive people, and the more aggressive elements tend toward the martyr complex side.
Atheists have a group that do want to try to phase out religion, not as bad as the Right seem to want us to think, you know no thugs or anything, seems like a long term, wouldn't it be nice, kind of thing. And good for them, who knows what will happen in the future? They also have the "religious people are stupid" group (their answer to martyr complex people). They are hard to deal with, just like our guys are, so we just avoid them. Honestly, most pagans do just ignore what those people say because they want to fight.
So both sides, like any group of people, have crazies, and yet as a rule we get along. I have yet to be part of a large pagan group online that doesn't have at least 1 atheist in a place of moderation. So how can we get along, other than the fact that one side of this relationship is really passive? Because we have to. When you get routinely attacked for any period of time you take all the help you can get. You do what you have to.
You may have noticed that the Right isn't too keep on taking support for other, more liberal, elements within the faith. This is their own faith and they don't help. When you can go it alone you probably aren't under any kind of serious attack. If you guys were honestly afraid that us pagans and atheists are going to come after you and take away Christmas or Jesus or Easter or whatever you probably would be joining forces with someone. Anyone. Safety in numbers.
One more reason why I don't buy the whole idea that Christians (Religious Right Christians, that is) are being oppressed in any way.
Spare me, people.

Coming out stories

CNN has an interesting piece on bloggers "coming out".
I don't reveal my real name on this blog. I don't post pictures of myself, or my daughter. I have a few reasons why, my employer freaked out when I mentioned work on my Facebook account (specifically when after a hard had I mentioned I had been humiliated. I had been.) I am not "out" as a pagan in most aspects of my life. I don't hide it, I just also don't flaunt it.
While I wouldn't care all that much if someone came on here and said who I was, I would be pissed that I would get fired over it. On the internet you can not express an honest opinion if you expect to keep a job. It's a shame, since you can go anywhere else and bash the hell out of people, but you can't say it on the internet.
This is an evolving new culture, and I really hope we get the kinks out of this. I'm sure we can work it all out, but in teh mean time it's useful to read things like the stories above and remember what happens when you get outed.

I'm back, and I bring books!

This vacation was a book vacation. I finished a couple of books, but I really wanted to mention two.
The first is Are You Somebody? by Nuala O'Faolain. This was a birthday gift, and it was a brilliant one. O'Faolain was a BBC producer and a columnist for The Irish Times. This book is her autobiography. If you're Irish, a working woman, or a feminist, I would recommend this book. It's an excellent look at a how we don't view ourselves as others view us, and how when we are muddling through our lives looking at one thing we may be doing something extraordinary somewhere else.
The second is Wicked Plants by Amy Stewart. This one is a gardeners dream regarding poisonous plants and how to recognise them. The stories in the book about each plant are awesome, short and wildly entertaining. It's more of a reference that a straight through read, but if you do read through like I did it is certainly fun.
So go read people! Don't tell me you don't have time. You're looking at a single mother who works full time, if I can find the time anyone can!

Vacation time!!

I'll be taking a break from blogging while I go on vacation. Don't worry, I will be thinking deep thoughts to share with you when I return. In the mean time, enjoy drunk Monorail kitty.

See you all next Wends!!

This has nothing to do with anything

Aside from the fact that I LOVE the "Most Interesting Man in the World" commercials...

I watch cartoons after my kid goes to bed...

Yeah, I admit it, I do. Mainly I watch Phineas and Ferb on Disney, because it is funny as hell. It is one of the few kids cartoons that really is made for adults too (The Fairly Oddparents is another. It is the only current cartoon that referenced the death of Archduke Ferdinand. If you don't know why that is important go back to school). Phineas and Ferb has referenced the trend of LOL Cats, mentioned Bastille Day, makes fun of the whole super villain/secret spy genre, and is also goofy enough to keep the attention of a little kid.
Essentially I keep looking for a replacement for the Bugs Bunny cartoons, which were sharp and intelligent while also being slapstick and goofy. They were good viewing for kids and adults. Lots of the really great cartoons out there that are knows for being intelligent aren't so hot for 4 year olds to watch (i.e. The Simpsons, which remains #2 on my list of favorite cartoons, right after Bugs).
I wish they made more cartoons like Phineas and Ferb and the Fairly Oddparents. If anyone knows any other kid appropriate cartoons like them, please let me know. I'm always on the look out for something other than Spongebob, even if it does have Clancy Brown in it.

Bueller?

Rest in peace John Hughes. I will forever love you for giving me Ferris Bueller's Day Off.