Archive for January 2007

Jan222007

What’s in a Meme?

Meme n. Any unit of cultural information, such as a practice or idea, that is transmitted verbally or by repeated action from one mind to another. Examples include thoughts, ideas, theories, practices, habits, songs, dances and moods and terms such as race, culture, and ethnicity. A self-propagating unit of cultural evolution having a resemblance to the gene (the unit of genetics).

The term meme often has mixed emotions that are quickly to follow. Coined in 1976 by the zoologist and evolutionary scientist Richard Dawkins, it refers to a unit of cultural information transferable from one mind to another. Examples of memes are tunes, catch-phrases, beliefs, clothes fashions, ways of making pots or of building arches. Why are so many quick to argue that a meme has a negative presence?

Jan172007

“Real” Christians

Most Christians are not real Christians according to other Christians. The questions can also apply to other religions such as Judaism and Islam. However, I will stick to Christianity since that is what this blog targets. Many “real” Christians would generally be shunned due to their immoral behaviors, if not jailed for their unlawful ones.

8 notes on 8 Questions for So-called Christians:
1. Homosexuality is not that cut and dry (i.e. bisexuality). Where it exists, it exists naturally.
2. I believe all of nature’s creatures are equal.
3. Slavery is immoral.
4. Some kids are seen as disobedient because they refuse to believe the lies their parents tell them. Killing your child is never the right thing to do, even if they disagree with you.
5. War is sometimes necessary; blanket genocide is never excusable.
6. Because your irrational fairytale is better than another?
7. Conversely, what about if a grandmother who always stole, cheated, lied, and even killed a few people? Would she go to “Heaven” for solely accepting Jesus?
8. Please refer to (2.). Rape is immoral.

Jan22007

Caring for the Earth Is a Liberal Stance?

Most people already know much about global warming. To sum up, the sun’s rays are getting trapped within the ozone enabling the polar ice caps to melt, temperatures to rise continually, storms to worsen, and species to die off. Polar bears have a very high chance of extinction in the near future; the penguin has little hope as well. Armadillos have been found in areas they never have been before, due to the increasing heat.

So who’s to blame? Plain and simple: humans. This is is due to the levels of CO2 in the atmosphere which is emitted mainly from fossil fuels. We’ve been told many times to cut back, but many Republicans have insisted on confusing the public. They plead it’s a liberal trick, plot, and/or scheme. Why on Earth would liberals make up such a threat? This issue deserves more attention before we ruin this beautiful planet. The mere thought that caring for others (whether human or not) is a liberal stance is strange to me, yet makes perfect sense. Conservatives don’t seem to want to raise the minimum wage, for example. This lack of compassion towards all humankind and animals alike disturbs me. Why do conservatives snicker at those who care? It’s rather self-defeating.