The alleged war against Christianity

There is no war on Christianity, according to the hate crimes data kept by the FBI. Addicting Information reports:

The ‘war on Christianity’ is a propaganda war. It’s a war that is being waged in the minds of the people who listen to hate radio and watch Fox News. In 2013 there were 7,242 hate crimes committed in the US. In total, crimes against protestant Christians amounted to .0051 percent, a tiny fraction of a percentage point. Right wing fear and hate-mongering makes people believe that they’re under attack, when it’s clear that they’re not. It makes them believe that others are threatening them, even when the facts tell a very different story. A large compilation of research released over the summer showed that conservatives have a much larger negativity bias than other people. The research also showed that conservatives also have a greater tendency to ‘perceive threats,’ whether real or imaginary.

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Have a nice day

Ever notice the way people use the phrase, "Have a nice day"? Or "Have a great week"? Or "Enjoy your vacation"? These are all essentially wishes, secular prayers. There is no expense involved in saying these things to anyone other than the cheap breath we expend while saying them. This is definitely not paradigmatic expensive signaling explored by Zahavi. Therefore, we might as well wish BIG. Shouldn't we say, "Have a nice year"? Or even, "Have a nice lifetime"? Or I hope you live a good life for 1,000 more years"? Or, I hope that you and everyone you know, and everyone you don't know, and people who aren't even born yet, have ecstatic lives"? Or "I hope you and all present and future sentient life in the multi-verse enjoy your lives"? Or "If there is an afterlife, I hope that all of those sentient dead people in heaven and hell, and those formerly in limbo until that was abolished by the Pope, have great lives/afterlives"? There is actually more going on than vapid wish-making. Notice that the length of time chosen by those who utter "Have a nice [choose a period of time] correlates with the next time that that person will communicate with you. A good friend might say, "Good luck with that project next week," knowing that you will communicate to each other in a matter of weeks. What if you only see someone sporadically? Then you might say, "Have a great summer." What if you might never see that person again? Then you might say,"Good luck with your new job" or "Good luck with that new diet." Regarding those who actually know you, then, "Have a nice day" or "Enjoy your weekend" often signal social or emotional closeness. This is not the case with the checkout person at a big box store, who hands you your bags of purchases and utters the phrase required by her oppressive corporation: "Have a nice day." I hate that these folks are forced to work like automatons, to the extent that they are made to utter canned phrases to customers. I like to break through that script, asking how their day is going, or whether they are working a long shift. If they are reciprocating, I "wish" them that they will enjoy the remainder of their evening. At least some phrase to break through the chatter we so often encounter, and make some semblance of a connection, looking them in the eyes and meaning it, when I tell them "Thank you." But never, "Enjoy the remainder of your life, as the time-treadmill of oblivion moves you inexorably toward your demise." That, of course, is a different topic.

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In favor of non-holidays

I had a wonderful visit with a friend yesterday. She and I have been friends ever since we attended law school together in the late 1970’s. We had an engaging conversation in her living room. I couldn’t imagine a more enjoyable visit. We traded numerous stories and observations, sharing more than a few laughs. As I was traveling back home, it occurred to me that we accomplished this without any of the following: Handing each other gifts; Dressing up in fancy clothing; Blinking lights, ornaments or decorations; A television turned on; Singing or listening to ritualistic songs; Eating special food or drinks; Making unsupportable claims about events that happened 2,000 years ago. Instead, we celebrated a friendship and took an active interest in each other’s lives. This is an activity that can be enjoyed simultaneously by small or larger groups of good-hearted thoughtful people. In fact, some of my favorite moments this year have involved Recently, another friend of mine mentioned that her favorite holiday is Thanksgiving because it is the holiday most devoid of commercialism and religiosity and jingoism. I mostly agree, but even Thanksgiving has been clouded with commercialism, obsessions with spectator sports, and the perceived need to display ourselves through decorations, special clothing and special food. To be fair, I do enjoy the spread of food one encounters at Thanksgiving, but it is a secondary consideration to the occasion. What would be more meaningful as a Thanksgiving celebration: A big feast without anyone to share it with, or a room full of special people without special food? I would like to nominate Non-Holiday Spontaneous Visiting as my favorite “holiday,” because it is this “holiday” that gets even closest to the core of the most important part of what makes us humans at our best.

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On Being Primed For Worse

Haven’t we been gearing up for some kind of O.K. Corral showdown pretty much since the announcement that there would be a grand jury? Haven’t we been gearing up for some kind of O.K. Corral showdown pretty much since the announcement that there would be a grand jury? Sure looked like we expected what we got. [More . . . ]

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