New Pope gets down to it!

Ah, Benedict. Busy tackling those pesky problems like, what, pedophilia among your preisthood? Finding ways to halt the rapid decline of your flock? Taking on Islam, the fastest growing religion in Europe? NO!

Bene boy is going for the throat!! The full-nelson smackdown of the fundamental problem in all the world!!!!!!

He has publicly denounced both J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter for (get this) "undermining the soul of Christianity". Hehehehehhehehe

Here's the linkaroo!
http://www.hollywood.com/news/detail/article/2439745

Now, here we have an authentically benevolent view of the Harry Potter series. Courtesy of the Ayn Rand Institute:
http://www.aynrand.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=8621

TheocracyWatch & a philosophical dilemma

Theocracy Watch has set up a link of news items concerning the Conservatives war against the judiciary. There are simply too many fine articles to list individually here, so I'll list the link to their news page, instead...

Theocracy Watch's "What's New?" page:
http://www.theocracywatch.org/new_links.htm

Here's a dilema of sorts that maybe can generate some discussion among Objectivist bloggers:

Some liberal bloggers are smearing the political theory of republicanism by calling conservatives/theocrats "republicans", when clearly, republicanism is the political system of individual rights and limited goverment.
Granted, theocrats want a "limited" secular arm, but only because they want "The Church" to have total power. This hardly constitutes alignment with republicanism, as we can see by Bush's massive expansion of the welfare-state and other government regulations.
Are the liberal critics right then, to cast a wide net over America's original political principle of Individual Rights begun as a tribute to Man, and to the fading Enlightenment?
Today's 'liberals' fail to gleam this crucial distinction, because they are altruist's too. As objectivist's, we know epistemologically, that socialism, communism, welfare-statism, fascism, theocracy... are all variants of the same altruist/collectivist/religious coin.
I once asked my fellow objectivist's here where I live, which one aspect of Miss Rand's philosophy is most desperately needed in today's America. I held it is the spread of her epistemology, which will lead to an understanding of her ethics and politics, which will accelerate the establishment of a freer society. They held it was her ethics alone which would ignite this acceleration. What do you think?
Either way, it's a long, tough battle we're engaged in.

Interview with Terry Goodkind

The 'Objectivist' fantasy author was recently interviewed on SciFi.com. Here's the link...

http://www.scifi.com/sfw/advance/18_interview.html

Enjoy!

New Pope Elected

Call me cynical, but with this new Pope, religion's war against America will only increase in intensity.
Reason and reality, however, are on our side!

April 24: "Justice Sunday"

In a press release, Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, states that:

"Our goal is to reach as many people as possible and to engage values voters in the all-important issue of reining in our out-of-control courts and putting a halt to the issue of fillibusters against people of faith."

Here is the link to the full press release:

http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=PR05D09&f=PR05D02

Looks like an all-out smear campaign to me. Who was it, now let me think a moment....who was it described something called, "The Argument from Intimidation"? Must've been Ayn Rand.
The above press release is no 'argument' at all, but a concerted smear campaign. The next salvo in the relentless drive of theocrats to wipe-out all things secular.

Here's a related article from the New York Sun: (Probably good today only).

http://www.nysun.com/article/12357

Related web site: Family Research Council
http://www.frc.org

One Year Anniversary

On this day last year, I started The Secular Foxhole. I've been pretty darn happy with this blog so far, and I know I've got more to learn, about myself, and about writing.
A sincere thanks to those of you who have visited this blog more than 3600 times in one year. It is truly appreciated.

Purpose-Driven Strife

Andy over at The Charlotte Capitalist has a ten-part critique of "The Purpose-Driven Life" a book that has sold over 15 million copies in a short timespan.
These critiques are short and to the point, and they are worth your time to read.

Here's the link. He's provided an index of all ten parts, so it'll be easy to find and study.

http://www.charlottecapitalist.com

Thanks, Andy.

Republicans Step Up Attacks on Judiciary

Not to be outdone, looks like conservatives now have their own 'Goon Squad'. May I introduce the "Judeo-Christian Counsil for Constitutional Restoration"!
Here's the link to the related news story...


http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=584&e=1&u=/nm/20050408/pl_nm/politics_judges_dc

Senate about to eliminate the Filibuster?

TheocracyWatch's email listing sent me to this site, where the author discusses the possible ways in which Senator Frist (spit) and Vice-President Cheney (who should know better) will end the filibuster over judicial nominee William Meyers, and possibly kill filibustering altogether.

http://thenexthurrah.typepad.com/the_next_hurrah/2005/03/nuclear_option.html

There are several posts on this subject. Go. Read. Gus, maybe you can sift through this and post something on this yourself?

Fire in the Engine Room!

That's the first sentence that popped into my head when I read this horrifying piece of news, coming out of Washington. Really, the Richard Thompson song by that title and this story may not have anything in common, but it is ALARMING just the same...

Of course, some conservatives are still fuming over Schiavo. Apparently holding grudges is what they are best at, since they cannot seem to hold onto, or never learned principle(s)...
Although I do not have the relevant link to the actual statement made, Tom DeLay (R-Tex) said the following, concerning the judiciary over the Terry Schiavo case..."they will answer for their behavior."

Enter stage right, Senate Bill S.520 (the ominously named) Constitution Restoration Act of 2005, which:
Amends the Federal judicial code to prohibit the U. S. Supreme Court and the Federal district courts from exercising jurisdiction over any matter in which relief is sought against an entity of Federal, State or local government or an officer or agent of such government concerning that entity's, officer's, or agent's acknowledgment of God as the sovereign source of law, liberty, or government.
Now isn't that just peachy!!! The bill has five sponsors in the Senate, so far. Haven't checked out the House version, as I'm hunched over the toilet at the moment.

May I suggest anyone who is still remotely sane, contact your local representative and express strong displeasure at this obviously naked power grab.

Here's the link for the Senate Bill:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:SN00520:@@@L&summ2=m&

May I also suggest searching Google for 'Dominionism'.
Goto http://www.theocracywatch.org, as well.
Two essays by Ayn Rand come to mind, "Don't Let It Go" and "What Can One Do?"
Andy over at The Charlotte Capitalist has an excellent overview of the popular book, "The Purpose Driven Life". He shreds it!!! Good work Andy. Really good.
Also see my own post of March 22: Know Thy Enemy II

Aristotle & non-contradiction.com

Adding a new web site today on Aristotelianism. Looks like a great resource.
[One of these days I'm gonna alphabetize all my links. Won't that make you happy!]

The Undercurrent

The Undercurrent, a new "newspaper" founded and directed by college students who are dedicated to the philosophy of Ayn Rand is now in print and being distributed to college campuses across the country. I'm adding this site to the Blogroll and posting it here. Go there now!!!!

http://www.the-undercurrent.com

This is great news! Keep up the good work!