If you don't have your own house in order, don't comment on the homes of others.
While a sounding a little corny and fotune cookie-ish, the statement above is both common sense and sound advice that could be logically applied to whole cultures and cultural issues. For example, as it stands in American culture, gay rights is a charged and extremely complex issue based interpersonal interests and perspectives that are interpreted differently across region, subculture and even various workplaces. One could say, in spite of certain progress, in the US, we still don't have our own house in order when it comes to homosexuality. Thus, common sense would dictate that us Americans should probably should keep our mouths shut when it comes to homosexual social issues in other cultures.
...but unfortunately, one if there one thing the US has no shortage of is religious fundamentalists, and if there is one thing I've learned from religious fundamentalists over the years, it's that common sense is not their strong suit: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/world/africa/04uganda.html?fta=y
Yes, that's right kids, it was one year ago today that I defiled X-mas week by starting this blog and I have ever since been cynically and inconsistently reporting examples of human behavior that makes our species a little more comically asinine each day. In commemoration of Zombie Darwin's first birthday, I've decided to start a tradition of looking back. I took a look at the various categories of the past year's entries and I decided to take the top 4 most frequently posted categories and re-share my personal favorite example from each one...
As much as I would love an excuse to re-post pictures of the beauty queen who was accused of gun running, I've gotta give it up to the stupidity that is the two drunk burglars who, back in October, actually thought permanent maker would make a good disguise. With an incredibly backwards sense of Halloween spirit, these mugshots have since become viral gold and an online masterpiece testament to the depths of amazing criminal stupidity.
Another one from the Halloween season, this is a news story examining prominent fundamentalist Christians in America basically trying to ruin people's fun in late October by making all manner of bizarre supernatural claims. Why can't we all just get along and have some good old fashioned pagan fun once and a while?
I know that attacking the news (particularly in America) on the grounds of stupidity and the spread of cultural idiocy is like shooting a barn door at point blank range, but when you look back at raw facts versus how they were presented to the culture at the time, the H1N1 scare is a disappointing example of social failure.
As much as I want to be surprised that 'music' made the top four categories, I tend to recall posting about things like Klenginem and Russian rap music. Last year, I presented this video a little late for X-mas, but today the sentiment will be on time. Overlapping with the categoriesdouchebag, euro trash, and hot chicks, I'd like to finish by wishing everyone a Happy Holiday season with a little love from Gunther.
Once again, far be it from me to knock someone's personal beliefs... but... according to the sanity-deficient fundamentalists featured in the news story below, among other things, now we've got to check our gummi bears and make sure they aren't really vampires? WTF?!?
*sigh*
In the end, all I can say to this story is a thank you to Reverend Lynn for offering a glimmer of sanity on the topic of a growing subculture somewhat responsible for over 40% of my country being convinced that evolution is elaborate fiction. :(
While not quick to knock anyone else's culture or beliefs, I can't help but to recall that at one point in history the Russian people did try to get Ivan the Terrible canonized as a Catholic saint. What do you think their criteria is for a reborn messiah?
Well, I recently came across this bizarre story on Derren Brown's blog about a cult-leading ex-cop in Siberia who claims to be the second coming of Christ. So, decide for yourself, I guess.
