More stupid drivers; Dylan Moran, Sex God; and Evangelical Christians

[grrgoyl]

If stupidity has no consequences, what will motivate people to get smarter? This weekend, on two different days, at two different locations, I saw two different drivers fail to notice they were in an exit lane and expected the more observant, intelligent members of traffic to come to a grinding halt to allow them back in. I don't know how much clearer the city can make it: right turn only signs, short dotted line between the lanes, big overhead yellow exit sign -- all failed to make an impression. It should go without saying they were both SUVs, who we all know are above the law. No, I say. Stupidity should have consequences. This is why the definition of defensive driving is assuming that everyone else on the road has a big bowl of avocado dip where their brains should be until they prove otherwise. Fortunately this is the assumption I make about most of the human race on a daily basis anyway. Does that mean that I live defensively?

~*~

My new icon is a result of my latest Christmas gift, which arrived last week from JeffyJeff. It's okay -- did you know that Britain celebrates Christmas in February? Jeffy assures me of this and I have no reason to doubt him. At any rate, my present was 3 BBC comedies on DVD. Big Train, which is kind of hit or miss but does feature Simon Pegg; The Mighty Boosh, which is bizarre, surreal, and at times pretty funny; finally, Black Books starring Dylan Moran, which is fabulously funny. True, he played a real tosser in Shaun of the Dead, but on his own he's deliciously dry, snarky, misanthropic and gorgeously Irish. So much so that I was inspired to buy the rest of the series, plus another show How Do You Want Me? plus a standup performance, Monster. A Dylan Moran extravaganza! I'm not saying he's taken Alan Rickman's place (yet), but I've expanded my Bandwagon of Obsessions to a King Cab just for Dylan.

~*~

The other day my doorbell was rung by someone who looked far too much like Sylar for my taste, so I didn't answer it. I then congratulated myself on avoiding a potential serial killer attack. He even came back a few hours later, but I again didn't answer. Sorry, Mister Man -- it will take more than an Office Depot clipboard prop to fool me. And if you're just taking a poll or collecting money or something, I don't want to talk to you either.

~*~

We watched one of the scariest movies I've ever seen: Friends of God, Alexandra Pelosi's roadtrip documentary of Evangelical Christians. Let me tell you, these people are TERRIFYING. It's receiving criticism on IMDb because it "only shows the extremists" and crazies. Maybe so, but it's not as though Pelosi built the drive-thru prayer service (no joke), or the Christian theme park that recreates Biblical locations in miniature dioramas and features a Christ lookalike strolling about wearing a Jabra headpiece to preach. She just filmed what she saw.

The Evangelicals don't even listen to themselves talk. One preacher had a solution for people trying to get into Planned Parenthood through picket lines who complain that the Christians are imposing their beliefs on them. "Explain that you're just telling them the rules of living as set down by the Author of Life, our Lord Jesus Christ." Yes, that's entirely different from imposing your beliefs. Is there any point arguing semantics with a religious extremist?

The most disturbing part was the elementary age victims of "intelligent design" classes, who now believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that man and dinosaurs lived side by side and that evolution has no supporting evidence. I weep for the future.

They only touched briefly on gay marriage, but by then my blood was boiling so badly it didn't matter. Just these people and their pigheaded obstinacy and their singleminded determination to "reclaim America" and drag us all back to "basic Christian values." GRR. I've held a great optimism in the upcoming generation being more openminded about gays, mostly based on what I've read on LJ...perhaps stupidly surrounding myself with likeminded people has created a skewed view of the world. But this documentary shows massive youth rallies with teens chanting ominously in the name of Christ. The comparison to a cult is unavoidable. I took brief comfort in the fact that I was raised Catholic and look at me now! But back then homosexuality wasn't an issue. I never even heard the word, never mind that it was wrong.

I guess I need some reassurance. What do YOU think the trend is? Are the majority of kids today more tolerant because of greater exposure to gays, or are they being brainwashed by all the religion being thrown at them as a result? Please people, give me my hope back....

Comments

[swankyfunk.livejournal.com]

I have Black Books in my Netflix queue! And I caved in and upgraded to the two-at-a-time subscription. Let's see how that works out.


Are the majority of kids today more tolerant because of greater exposure to gays, or are they being brainwashed by all the religion being thrown at them as a result?

I think the America in general has become more polarized, more extreme on opposite ends in the past couple of years. There are the extreme liberals and the extreme religious right, I guess, both as a result of each other. So this is making its way into schools, where religion and science are at odds with each other. And this is scary. This is where something very bad will start, if religion is presented as fact.

Have you seen a documentary called "Jesus Camp"? I haven't yet, but I've seen the trailers. It's about a camp for children out in the middle of nowhere, where they train them to be in Jesus's army. Seriously. It's pretty damn frightening, what with these young kids speaking in tongues and whatnot. The camp actually got shut down a couple of months ago.

So...I don't really know. From where I'm sitting I don't know if very much has changed for the better, although I think there have been steps in the right direction. It just seems like the opposition is way louder and crazier and scarier.

[grrgoyl.livejournal.com]

OMG you reminded me of one other part of the movie I wanted to include (entry now edited). The whole intelligent design thing was covered in detail. It looked like Bizarro World with kids actually being taught that dinosaurs only lived a few thousand years ago, so of COURSE man existed at the same time. The Christian Right insists there's no proof that dinosaurs are any older -- guess the whole carbon dating thing is a bunch of hooey as well.

Yep, "Jesus Camp" is going in my queue.

You'll love "Black Books." I was dismayed to learn it's available in the US, but relieved to see not the hella sexy boxed set I'm getting with all 3 seasons.

We'll all be watching with bated breath to see how the two-at-a-time works out for you. Be sure and let us know!

[ridiculicious.livejournal.com]

I just watched Jesus Camp. I bet it far trumps your friends of God. Much scarier.

[grrgoyl.livejournal.com]

I'll bet you're right. It's in my Netflix queue as we speak. I'll move it up once I stop reeling from this one.

[yammerhead.livejournal.com]

I don't need to watch movies about Christian fundies, I lived with two of them for seventeen years. I used to look forward to the Rapture so I could go to Heaven...now I look forward to it so us heathens can have us some fun!

[yammerhead.livejournal.com]

Fortunately, the majority of America's universities are exceedingly liberal--even my humble state university cured me of my homophobic nature (you would not have liked me very much seven or eight years ago; I was raised in a rural, fundamentalist Christian environment). That certainly helps. I think current trends indicates increased acceptance towards gays and gay issues; while we may not be on the cusp of a Civil Rights movement-esque situation, we're certainly making progress.

Personally, I consider this whole fundamentalist Christian movement an unfortunate aberration, but I don't think we're headed for a theocracy. At worst, the United States might divide over the issue and separate into separate regions, but I think the issue will most likely either be resolved or have been supplanted by other issues before it comes to that.

In short, I wouldn't worry--things seem to be getting better. The usage of anti-gay fear-mongering in the 2004 election was the nadir, I think; and the subsequent disaster that is Bush's 2nd term (and the thumping the Republicans received in the 2006 elections) might just spell the end of complete and unconditional support of the Republican party by the hardcore evangelicals. Bush betrayed them. The Republicans betrayed them. They're pissed. Not pissed enough to vote Democratic, mind you, but they may just not vote at all next time.

Still, I won't deny it; there's probably a lot more homophobia and outright hatred of homosexuals in the United States than any of us can imagine. This is something we have to fight town by town, person by person, every day. The only way to combat ignorance is to educate, and I sincerely hope the day will come when gay people will achieve true equality in the United States. I have to believe it will, because if I didn't, I'd have to stop believing in what America is...and I don't want to do that.

[grrgoyl.livejournal.com]

I suppose I'm living proof of that. I thought I was straight before going to college (with the exception of a schoolgirl crush on my kindergarten teacher, and later on a gorgeous blonde girl on my bus). Let me say I'm glad I know you now and not before. You clean up nice. : )

I certainly hope you're right. I don't think it will come to theocracy either, but if it does we might have to flee to Canada or back to England for religious freedom.

Tery is quite fond of saying that gays are the last group it is acceptable to discriminate against and utter slurs against without incurring universal reactions of PC horror. Of course, not in the circles I travel in but just in general.

[yammerhead.livejournal.com]

I think Tery is right, with the possible exception of Muslims--although that issue isn't as bad as it could be...yet. I suspect that anti-Muslim prejudice will only increase in the United States, though, especially if the Iraqi situation continues as it is and terrorist attacks increase.

[ms-hecubus.livejournal.com]

I don't really see the religious right doing anything more or less extreme than they were doing 15 years ago when I started becoming aware of the issues. They keep yelling and some people join them, some people fight them and most people ignore them to go on living.

I do see kids becoming, somewhat, more tolerant. Kids are accepting the fact that homosexuality happens, but it doesn't stop them from picking on the gay kids. Just like they won't stop picking on the short kids, fat kids, slow kids, smart kids, shy kids, etc. Kids, as a whole, aren't the most tolerant of people anyway. Now, young adults, on the other hand, are much more tolerant of homosexuality than they were when I hit my early 20s.

It is true that the more things change the more they stay the same. Everything that was in the movie has been going on for decades and will keep going on for years to come. We'll never all agree on what is right and that's OK too. Just as they'll always be around, we'll always be around too.

[grrgoyl.livejournal.com]

Well when you put it that way, I feel like a member of the Justice League of America: "Wherever evil is, so shall we be!" *placing hands on hips iconically* Thanks for cheering me up!

[ms-hecubus.livejournal.com]

It's completely OK to get yourself a cape. ;)