Hemant Mehta's Blog, page 1661

What Ta-Nehisi Coates, an Atheist, Can Teach Us About Social Advocacy

Ta-Nehisi Coates is undeniably one of the strongest and most influential voices on racial inequality today. He also is one of the most polarizing. For those who have followed the career ofThe Atlantic‘s Coates — or, indeed, this blog — it’s far from a revelation that he is an atheist. This isn’t news. He’s written at length on his position, both as standalone pieces and social media posts. With the publication of his new bookBetween the World and Me, though, this element of his identity has o...

To Counter California Drought, Some Farmers Are Resorting to “Water Witches”

It’s said that desperate times call for desperate measures. In California, where farmlands have been ravaged by an ongoing drought, the desperation is certainly palpable. With government irrigation assistance cut off or strictly limited, farmers are looking for anything that will help their plants to grow. Even, as it turns out, magic:

This is seriously how some people are trying to “find” water

With nearly 50 percent of the state in “exceptional drought” — the highest intensity on the scale —...

Texans Oppose Muslim Cemetery for All Sorts of Racist, Ignorant Reasons

This is what Islamophobia actually looks like.

In Farmersville, Texas, just outside of Dallas, there’s a proposal by the Islamic Association of Collin County to build a cemetery in the town. That shouldn’t be a concern. After all, there are Catholic cemeteries all over the place and you’ll never hear a single complaint about them.

But, you know, Muslims are brown. So. Um… logic.

“The concern for us is the radical element of Islam,” David J. Meeks, pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, told The Dal...

After Coaches Repeatedly Push Christianity on Players, Georgia School District Will Pay Costly Penalty

Last year, we learned about a public high school football team that was just overwhelmingly infused with religion. And there was proof.

Like a picture of a team prayer (that included coaches):

And a Bible verse on the team’s workout log sheet:

And a religious banner hoisted up by cheerleaders during one of the games:

All of those images come from the Chestatee High School football team in Gainesville, Georgia. Last August, the American Humanist Association’s Appignani Humanist Legal Center sent H...

Pedophile-Protecting Former Archbishop Allegedly Cruised for Gay Sex in the ’80s

We’re used to the Catholic Church covering up sex scandals. So whenan archdiocese says it’s “considering” the release of affidavits about a former archbishop’s sexual behavior, you have to wonder what’s going on beneath the surface.

John Nienstedt (below) resigned his position as Archbishop of Minneapolis and St. Paul last month, ten days after Ramsey County (which includes the city of St. Paul) filed a lawsuit against the archdiocese.The lawsuit stated that the archdiocese had failed to prote...

A Compilation of Christopher Hitchens’ Best Jokes

Here’s a compilation of Christopher Hitchens‘ best jokes. And you know there’s plenty of material…

(via Agatan Fnd)

If You Want to Defund Planned Parenthood, Think Through the Consequences First

Planned Parenthood, which is constantly under fire from conservatives who treat it like a giant abortionplex, provides an incredible number of services that are not-at-all controversial. If anti-abortion advocates ever got their wish and Planned Parenthood shut down entirely, a lot of women would struggle finding health care as comprehensive and affordable. We’ve already seen that happenin certain places and the consequences are devastating.

Anyone who suggests otherwise is delusional.

Now chec...

GOP Bill Would Allow Employers to Fire Individuals Based on Their Sex Lives

The panic stricken Religious Right is at it again. Ever sincethe Supreme Court’s decision legalizing same-sex marriage, they’ve been scrambling to find ways to protect their discriminatory ways. Now, on Capitol Hill, Republicans are advancing a bill that would do just that… and more.

Rep. Raúl Labrador (R-ID), sponsor of this bill

As the Huffington Post explained:

The First Amendment Defense Act prohibits the federal government from taking discriminatory action against a person — which is define...

Donald Trump Has No Idea How to Speak to the GOP’s Religious Base

Donald Trump is a horrible Presidential candidate for a lot of obvious reasons, but I haven’t heard many people discussing just how bad he is at pandering to the religious GOP base.

Yesterday, during the Family Leadership Summit in Ames, Iowa, he tried reaching out to the evangelical crowd. It was obvious, though, that he has no idea what he’s doing:

“I’m a religious person,” Mr. Trump offered. “I go to church. Do I do things that are wrong? I guess so.”

Going to church is pretty much the least...

GOP Plans to Push Anti-Abortion Legislation Divorced from Facts

Given the tactics of the GOP in the past, it should probably come as no surprise that they’re once more seeking to restrict access to women’s healthcare based on rabble-rousing that has little connection to reality, but that doesn’t make it any less stomach turning.

As Politico reports:

Republicans on Capitol Hill are betting the secretly filmed Planned Parenthood video — depicting an executive allegedly discussing the sale of fetal organs from terminated pregnancies — will give them cover to m...