(*e.g. the desire to control over their bodies - see news report that follows)

Fascism lives on in Spain   . . . www.piperpost.net - 05.03.10.
 
General Franco and his henchmen have long departed the Spanish scene but many of the Christians whose religion is shared with the late Generalissimo have been acting like little fascists.

Big rallies have reportedly been held in over 100 Spanish cities to protest a new law that allows women the right to choose an abortion. A 'March for Life' has called on the Spanish government to revoke the law, due to come into force in July 2010. Under the law pregnancies can be terminated up to 14 weeks after conception. The law especially outraged protesters because it set the age of majority for women at 16.

Many - but fortunately not all - Christians have what I have described over the years as the fascist attitude - the notion that they have the right, even the duty, to force their at times doubtful morality upon the rest of us. This is the attitude of the fascist and the Spanish people who have been protesting are reminiscent of the Franco-Catholic regime that forced their particular viewpoint on the citizens of Spain. In those unhappy times many laws were issued that - in fascist style - forced conformity on the country's citizens. One such law saw young Protestant soldiers persecuted and punished if they did not attend the Catholic Mass.

In recent times the Catholic Church has sought forgiveness for its support for Franco (who in turn supported the Nazis). But the attitudes of Spanish Fascism are resurfacing in today's Christian fascists.

[COMMENT: Hopefully the Spanish government will not be intimidated and will not back down from this much-needed legislation protecting women's rights.]


Another setback for creationists  . . . www.piperpost.net - 05.03.10.
 
Believers in the unscientific and primitive notion that the account of creation in the Book of Genesis has some validity have received another setback.
 
South Australian education authorities have acted to remove what proponents describe are 'biblical perspectives' in the teaching of science in non-governmental schools.
 
The South Australian Non-Government Schools Registration Board says it 'does not accept as satisfactory a science Curriculum in a non-government school which is based on, espouses or reflects the literal interpretation of a religious text in its treatment of either creationism o intelligent design.'
 
The chief executive of the Christian Schools Association, Stephen O'Doherty, has criticized the board's actions.
 
 
Whipping for Allah - more joy of religion . . . www.piperpost.net - 05.03.10.
 
A sentence of six strokes of the cane, handed down to a Malaysian female model in July 2009, has not yet been carried out. Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno, then aged 32, was accused of drinking beer, forbidden to Muslims but not forbidden to other Malaysians.
 
With this sentence hanging over her head Kartika reportedly said she would not appeal and wanted to hasten the punishment so she could get on with her life. 'I will accept this earthly punishment, let Allah decide my punishment in the hereafter,' said Kartika, who is a mother with two children. However, the case has dragged on for many months while human rights activists around the world have denounced the actions of Malaysia.
 
This month, it is reported, Kartika is to have a royal audience where her fate will be discussed.
 
[COMMENT: Personally I think alcohol is the source of an immense amount of misery and harm in the world but I still believe people should be free to choose to drink or not drink and should not submit to man-made religious dogma. As for whipping the woman - this is yet another indication of the cruel nature of the faith to which Kartika devotes herself.]
 
 
British PM claims palliative care brings 'good death' . . . www.piperpost.net - 02.03.10.
 
The British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, has bought into the debate over voluntary euthanasia and assisted suicide, telling people they should accept 'palliative care' and not attempt to end their lives. Mr Brown thinks being kept in a semi-comatose drugged state, being fed, bathed, toileted and cleaned by strangers, is 'a good death'.
 
In recent times the debate has flared in the United Kingdom following legal action in cases of assisted suicide (see earlier issues of Piper Post). In an article in The Telegraph (London), Mr Brown claims that 'people are drawn to support for assisted suicide because of fears about how they will be cared for when they are dying.'
 
The debate was entered recently by author Sir Terry Pratchett, 59, who is suffering from a rare form of Alzheimer's disease, says medically-assisted death is an option for people battling the degenerative disease. Over 45 million copies of Pratchett's books have been sold. Pratchett is regarded as one of the most significant English-language satirists of our time. He has won numerous literary awards, was named an Officer of the British Empire in 1998, and has received four honorary doctorates from the Universities of Warwick, Portsmouth, Bath, and Bristol.
 
He says, 'My view is that when there is clearly no 'me' left, whatever else might be left, then painlessly disposing of the remnants would be a sensible idea.' Pratchett is calling for euthanasia tribunals to give sufferers from incurable diseases the right to medical help to end their lives. Pratchett insisted in a lecture broadcast on the BBC that 'the time is really coming' for legalizing assisted death.'
 
The tribunal panels would include a legal expert in family matters and a doctor with experience of serious long-term illness. 'Choice is very important in this matter,' said Pratchett. 'But there will be some probably older, probably wiser GPs, who will understand. The tribunal would be acting for the good of society as well as that of the applicant - and ensure they are of sound and informed mind, firm in their purpose, suffering from a life-threatening and incurable disease and not under the influence of a third party.'
 
  [COMMENT: Mr Brown is obviously in thrall to religion like so many politicians and is peddling the usual line of those who believe human life is in the hands of a deity to whom they must answer. Mr Brown, you do not understand the essential fact that those of us who cherish our humanity also cherish our independence. We have no deity to answer to, we are thinking, reasoning beings who know there is a time when 'enough is enough'. I, like so many of my friends, have no wish to languish in so-called 'palliative care' - more dead than alive. There is nothing to stop you, Mr Brown, embracing such an end-of-life choice but don't force others to do so. Shame on you for writing this article and shame on all the politicians in my own country who fail to act to set up legal assisted suicide facilities.]
 
 
Natural forces strike again. www.piperpost.net - 28.02.10.
 
Nature has struck again - Chile and Argentina have experienced earthquakes. As this is being written the news is filtering through, with massive damage reported, especially in Chile, along with the threat of tsunamis.
 
The believers will be out in force again, peddling their silly interpretations of natural events. The primitives in ancient times did the same. They saw the gods active through the forces of nature - fire, flood, earthquake - and interpreted what they saw as signifying the approval and/or wrath of the deities. Ancient superstitions live on! [See my comments about the Haiti earthquake below.]


Atheists and other nonbelievers at White House . . . www.piperpost.net - 28.02.10.
 
In a major move towards greater acceptance, White House officials have met with a delegation of atheists, freethinkers, humanists, rationalists and other nonbelievers. The event was led by the Secular Coalition for America.
 
With recent surveys showing an increasing proportion of Americans turning away from traditional religion and embracing various forms of outright atheism or agnosticism the event was warmly welcomed by American Atheists. Speaking for the organization, Dr Ed Bruckner, the President, praised the Obama Administration for 'giving us our rightful seat at the table in discussions over public policy.'
 
Predictably the Religious Right has attacked the Government for allowing this meeting. Bishop Council Nedd, of the organization In God We Trust, claimed the administration was sitting down to talk with 'some of the most hate-filled anti-religious groups in the nation.'  Countered Dan Barker, President of the Freedom from Religion Foundation: 'Christianity is an enemy of humanity and the antithesis of freedom.'
 
Predictably the de facto Christian Right mouthpiece Fox News rushed into the debate with the Catholic broadcaster Sean Hannity expressing alarm at the development.
 
[COMMENT: There is hope for the USA yet! With over 13 percent of the population now describing themselves as 'nonreligious' atheists and their fellows in the country should now be more assertive and willing to 'come out'.]
 
 
News in Brief . . . www.piperpost.net - 08.03.10.