Muhammad Rasheed's Blog, page 220

Bad Science Example: The Ridiculous Return of Eternal Universe Theory

Muhammad Rasheed - Look at this craziness: No Big Bang? Quantum Equation Predicts Universe Has No Beginning

In other words, it's a recipe for "How to transform the old, pre-Big Bang eternal universe model into the evolutionary theory model."

Ingredients (from Bad Science grocer):

#1 Sensationalized Headlines
#5 Speculative Language


Directions:

Combine ingredients. Stir. Serve luke warm with a fake-ass smile and a sly look at your friends.

TIPS:
Repackage leftovers with label "not just a theory." Have a true-believer charismatic asshat present to the gullible and develop a cult following. Insert in all popular speculative fiction and have all characters casually refer to it as "real" to indoctrinate masses.

The Uncomfortable Price of Freedom

Andre Owens - [shared link]


Keena Alfinito - Sickening!
Brian Steward - Maybe instead of "Whites" we go with "assholes", "scumbags" or even "monsters" . Not a fan of the whole "whites" "blacks" thing.... They refer to ISIS as a group name not "browns". I get the point but think this race stuff can flow two ways sometimes...
Andre Owens - As a 'white" you have the privilege to be "Not a fan" however, the rest of us live daily with "this race stuff." And I dont know what you mean by "can flow two ways"? Are you trying to say that after 300 years of slavery, 100 years of segregation and Jim Crow, somehow talking about the true American history of past atrocities committed by whites should somehow be overlooked. Do you tell Jews that this Nazi thing can flow two ways?And I dont know where you've been but they refer to Isis as ISLAMIC all the time, and we know what that is shorthand for.
Brian Steward - In THIS particular headline statement from years ago, WE ALL know sorry, disgusting people did this. NO discussion. I just don't understand why at least SOMETIMES we (black or white) could manage to not be lumped together. I will NEVER say i understand how it feels to be anyone but me. I don't I couldn't. BUT I DO think at some point people might want to get onboard with the idea that NOT EVERY white person feels entitled and not every black person is a criminal. Not every white person is a Republican and not every black person supports Obama. Again, I'm only able to know how I feel but, if we don't TRY to look beyond color we will stay where we are. I knew if I commented it would draw ire but i'm tired of being lumped in as "privileged white asshole" for simply existing. You were never a slave, I was never a slaver. Yet, somehow there is still a stigma & a wall this many generations removed that so many struggle with. I guess i really don't know the answer. Maybe humans are just stupid. All of us. I mean, we don't even have enough sense to leave the supercollider alone do we?
Brian Steward - I guess what I mean is, there are good and very, very terrible people of every color, nationality and sex. But, so many otherwise good people still seem to need to define so many boarders and those boarders, whether it be sex, religion, race, politics or whatever will never all fit on the same map. I guess if we were all smart enough to fix it we would have by now. I mean, some slaves were sold by their own people. The Nazi's killed EVERYTHING that wasn't them, native Americans killed Native Americans. White people owned slaves and invaded the Native American lands.... It seems like we are all just wired as a species to not find balance. I think there are bright shining stars in every time in ever colored body in every nation but they are lost in a sea of stupidity and selfishness. I'm amazed we have gotten this far out of caves and into the light as a species and not just eaten each other as fundamentally dumb as we all are.
Trey Noë - @Andre… I think you are raising an important point and it is important to remember that the horrors we see today are in the context of a history filled with horrors. Is it fair to suggest that while it is important to recognize that not all white people participated in the atrocities just like all Muslims are not participating in the scenes we see in the middle East, it is also fair to suggest that both all whites and Muslims are complicit if they do not specifically decry and disavow these acts as not representative of their race and creed?
Andre Owens - One cant simultaneously celebrate one's heritage (like Monument Ave. in Richmond) and at the same time tell others to "get over" the past. But I hear that sentiment all the time from folks, especially those in the south.
Brian Steward - I'm not celebrating anything if that's what you are getting at. If so, I was obviously not clear.
Muhammad Rasheed - A lot of talking heads are mad at the president for pointing out that ISIS doesn't represent Islam, no more than the Crusaders, the Inquisitioners, nor the KKK represented Christianity. The critics are trying to say that ISIS does represent all of Islam, and that no Christian has ever done anything as horrific. 
Andre's post illustrates the president's point. White Christians did this, just as "Brown Muslims" did that other thing. Those who decide not to get defensive hopefully are able to see the actual point and add to their folio of wisdom.
Brian Steward - Well stated.
Trey Noë - ^^ Muhammad has it almost perfectly right but I might add one point of analysis. There is room for the uninformed to strike out at what they see as a hypocritical stance. If they have only consumed the soundbites, they might see a president who was happy to mention Christian atrocities but demurs from calling ISIS a Muslim Extremist Terrorist organization. (Understand, not my opinion and I cite this as an explanation not an excuse and I believe there is a difference)
Muhammad Rasheed - I would counter with the fact that being the reason why he's comparing them to the radical Christians groups named... they are all extremist terrorist organizations, with individual members claiming to subscribe to these different faiths, yet their actions as members of the organizations do not reflect the tenets of those faiths of the members. 
He's mentioning the one precisely because they reflect the other. Why does he have to call them anything when he's pointing out the actions reveal them all to be the same?
Brian Steward - ANY organized group of people who kill innocent people who look or think differently are a Extremist Terrorist organization and need to be erradicated. They have no place in society.
Brian Steward - We will never move forward as a species with so much hate and violence. The problem with that is HOW ELSE do you deal with violent people except with violence. It's never an easy win.
Muhammad Rasheed - As a species, we're as successful as we've ever been, and our hate/violence levels are consistent throughout our history.
Brian Steward - Probably true. We are consistent. i'm still surprised we have gotten this far. I'll be the nerd and say I'd still like to see that "Star Trek" level of human society evolution.
Muhammad Rasheed - I wonder what that would look like realistically? It seems like it would have to be a loss of personal freedoms, in some kind of scientistic dictatorship, in which we would all be forced to conform to some arbitrarily chosen standard by elitists.
Brian Steward - Darn logic messing up my cool idea.....
Brian Steward - Elitists.....ugh...
Muhammad Rasheed - lol
Brian Steward - Being a poor artist, I'll never know what being elitist feels like. I don't even go to Starbucks...LOL
Muhammad Rasheed - If our population has grown to a 7 billion by being our normal, consistent, hate and violence prone selves, what would it look like under the star trek system?
Obviously some form of eugenics concept would need to be in place, for one...
Muhammad Rasheed - I would rather be free.
Muhammad Rasheed - Human violence is just one of the Natural Disasters of planet earth that touch our lives regularly. Efforts to control nature will only cause more problems. Dying free is superior to dying in a state sponsored eugenics quota lab.
Muhammad Rasheed - To me.
Brian Steward - You are probably right....We all see how Kahn turned out. He did have some ripped ass abs tho....
Muhammad Rasheed - lol

Slimy Residue from the 'Peculiar Institution'

Muhammad Rasheed - [posted quote] "Like many liberals, I will go to my grave believing that if every person who went to the polls in 2000 had succeeded in casting the vote s/he intended, George W. Bush would never have been president. I supported Gore in taking his case to the Supreme Court. And, like Gore, once the Court ruled in Bush’s favor — incorrectly, in my opinion — I dropped the issue.

"For liberals, the Supreme Court was the end of the line. Any further effort to replace Bush would have been even less legitimate than his victory. Subsequently, Democrats rallied around President Bush after 9/11, and I don’t recall anyone suggesting that military officers refuse his orders on the grounds that he was not a legitimate president.

"Barack Obama, by contrast, won a huge landslide in 2008, getting more votes than any president in history. And yet, his legitimacy has been questioned ever since. The Birther movement was created out of whole cloth, there never having been any reason to doubt the circumstances of Obama’s birth. Outrageous conspiracy theories of voter fraud — millions and millions of votes worth — have been entertained on no basis whatsoever. Immediately after Obama took office, the Oath Keeper movement prepared itself to refuse his orders.

"A black president calling for change, who owes most of his margin to black voters — he himself is a violation of the established order. His legitimacy cannot be conceded."

Not a Tea Party, a Confederate Party

Richard Sherman - It was NOT about color. That ship has sailed. It was about him being a democrat. That and the fact that he had ZERO qualifications or management experience, as his presidency has demonstrated actually matters.

At least Bush (for the endless multitudes of his faults) had management experience.

NONE of the Presidential candidates of that cycle had ever managed anything, except for Sarah Palin who had actually governed a State, but had no clue how to do politics.

Obama's Presidency is only about color to those who try to defend a man who was disqualified by his own lack of experience and training to begin with. Most people who are stuck on the Race issue tend to forget that his mother was white.

That being said, is he Black, white or both?

I suggest is none of those things: He was simply unqualified because he had no experience.

Jeremy Travis - Um, no, Richard, the birther movement and all of the Confederate flag-waving goons were because of race, not lack of experience.

Muhammad Rasheed - Richard Sherman wrote: "It was NOT about color. That ship has sailed. It was about him being a democrat."

Tell me when the Republicans locked arms in a "party of 'no'" against another Democrat, and said that their mission was to keep that democrat from getting a second term.

Richard Sherman - That may be YOUR take on it, but there is no denying that neither he, nor Hillary, nor Paul, nor McCain had never managed a thing. NONE of them were qualified to lead a country.

The Birther Movement simply asked stupid questions for the sake of obfuscation.

Muhammad Rasheed -Richard Sherman wrote: "That being said, is he Black, white or both?"

He's black. Only exceptionally successful blacks get asked that question.

Richard Sherman - Muhammad Rasheed wrote "Tell me when the Republicans locked arms in a "party of 'no'" against another Democrat, and said that their mission was to keep that democrat from getting a second term."

Clinton, Johnson, Roosevelt, Truman, et al,...

Muhammad Rasheed - Integrity check: Fail.

Muhammad Rasheed - Congrats.

Richard Sherman - Muhammad Rasheed wrote "He's black. Only exceptionally successful blacks get asked that question."

He's neither Black nor White. He is the President. NOT the BLACK President or the WHITE president, simply THE President.

Get off the racist soapbox and own his actions: Ignore your bias and see him as simply a MAN>

Character check: FAIL.

Richard Sherman - Way to go.

Jeremy Travis - Didn't an old white lady at a townhall meeting ask John McCain if Obama was a Muslim? Haven't people STILL been calling him a Kenyan Muslim terrorist?

Muhammad Rasheed - Barack Obama is the president of the United States who is a black American. Those who voted for the McCain-Palin/Romney-Ryan tickets resented that.

Jeremy Travis - Do I NOT see guys in t-shirts that say "It's called the 'WHITE House' for a reason"?

Muhammad Rasheed - Richard you are the one on the racist soapbox by trying to minimize that aspect of this political conflict.

Richard Sherman - I don't vote Party or color. SOME do. I think it counterproductive and simply stupid to make so narrow a choice for so broad a position.

I vote for the one who is most qualified for the job. I don't care what race, religion or creed he/she may be. That shit is for the narrow-minded and simple.

Either the candidate is qualified or they aren't.

NONE of them were, and this President, despite his experience still leads like a rookie.

Muhammad Rasheed - Richard Sherman wrote: "I don't vote Party or color. SOME do."

Then what do you want? To deny that those do you admit do it don't?

Richard Sherman - Barack Obama is the President of the United States, who is an American.

Nuff said.

Muhammad Rasheed - That's "Nuff said" in an ignorant fantasy land in which the country hasn't been polarized by race for centuries.

Richard Sherman - You are simply perpetuating the ignorance by buying into it as being valid. As long as you see him as being anything other than simply our President, you remain in the Ignorant column.

Muhammad Rasheed - Will racism simply vanish if the members of the disenfranchised class ignore it?

Muhammad Rasheed - Nothing is more ignorant than that opinion, Richard.

Richard Sherman - I cannot speak for the 'disenfranchised', only for myself. Just as you can only speak for yourself.

As long as people remain separated by their own ignorant biases, we will not have unity. As long as you continue to see our president as a Black American, you will be limited in that scope and looking for separation. Choose the smarter and more narrow path of true open-mindedness and stop following the herd. Come into the 21st century, my friend: Baraxck Obama is simply a man. YOU have decided his color denotes his worth. Not me.

Jeremy Travis - Richard Sherman wrote: "I don't vote Party or color. SOME do."

'SOME DO'!

That was all the 'Nuff Said' you needed.

Richard Sherman - I am hoping, Jeremy, that you are not part of that SOME.

Muhammad Rasheed - If racism was nothing more than a wisp of an abstract concept that didn't have the country tipped over into vast economic power gap, then that could have some truth to it. But in the real world, racism actually negatively effects peoples' lives, and to continue to not talk about it and address it will only continue to drag out the problems it cases. Covering your ears will not fix it. That's only what cowards wish would happen.

Jeremy Travis - I am hoping, Richard, that one day you will realize that that 'SOME' is a lot more prominent than you think.

Case in point, since 2009 the FBI has noticed a marked increase in the actions, recruiting, and rhetoric of white supremacist groups. Now what, if anything, changed in 2009? Perhaps the race of the President?

Richard Sherman - Not covering my ears. We ARE talking about it. I am talking about MY opinion, you are talking about a nebulous "Everybody' opinion.

YOUR personal statements smack of unreasonableness and prejudice. I am inviting you to drop the bias and simply see people as people- their value coming from The Almighty, not their color; their color being of no consequence except as a means for the ignorant to divide and categorize.

I do not see you as a religion or a color, I see you as a bright, capable, creative and talented man; a PERSON of value and substance because you ARE one. IF you see me as a socio-economic statistic, or a color or religion, then shame on you. You are smarter and better than that. We BOTH know that.

Richard Sherman - Jeremy, it starts somewhere. Prejudice is learned. Just as prejudice has a starting point, so does acceptance. It begins, right here, right now, with the three of us. I opt to be reasonable and a part of the Human race. I extend to you that same invitation- Join the Race against Racism. it starts with you and me.

Jeremy Travis - Richard, are you suggesting that recognizing that racism exists and has an effect on how people behave and treat others is somehow equal to giving in to it and becoming a racist?

Muhammad Rasheed - Richard Sherman wrote: "YOUR personal statements smack of unreasonableness and prejudice..."

Your personal statements sound like your head is in the sand, or you are being deliberately offensive.

Ken Peck - George W. Bush indeed had "management experience" having led several companies to bankruptcy prior to becoming president and bankrupting the nation.

Ken Peck - Barack Obama's principle opponent, John McCain, never managed anything either.

Muhammad Rasheed - I would imagine he managed to keep his POW cell clean... or nah?

Jeremy Travis - Not with those T-rex arms.

Ken Peck - Yes, Barack Obama's mother was White. The fact that she was an American citizen, quite apart from the PLACE of his birth, makes him a "natural born American citizen." (The same is true of Ted Cruz, who was in fact NOT born in the United States.)

It is also true that, like many mixed race individuals, Barack Obama was identified as Black and self-identified as Black. He could not "pass" as White due to his color and other physical features.

Tcapr Washington - This is how your beloved liberals put the spin on things:

http://radaronline.com/.../the-queen-...

They are mad as hell that Barack Obama is married to an impenetrable Black woman

Ken Peck - Huh? I associate with a lot of liberals. I've never heard anything but the highest praise of our First Lady. These are people who have no qualms about criticizing our President for being too far right.

Richard Sherman - It would seem that I have given you WAY too much credit for having the ability to comprehend what is written.

Good luck with your tunnel vision.

Jeremy Travis - OR, you either have poor comprehension yourself, do not know what you're talking about, or are terrible at expressing yourself.

Richard Sherman - I am far from terrible at expressing myself, as my being published regularly for my writing prowess demonstrates. My reading comprehension has always been at the top of the class, and I know very well the subject matter. I am not, however, one of those people who sees things from an "Us and Them" perspective. That, to me, smacks too much of a lazy kind of paranoia bordering on plain old martyrdom.

I am instead, proactive when it comes to changing my surroundings, so I'll start with this one. Good night and good luck.

Jeremy Travis - ...and good riddance.

Richard Sherman - My thoughts exactly. I have no appetite for racists.

Jeremy Travis - LOL

NEITHER DO WE!

Richard Sherman - We?

Jeremy Travis - We here whom you seem to disagree with.

Say, what happened to you leaving?

Richard Sherman - Lots of speaking for others going on here. Safety in numbers? Can't stand on your own opinion?

Richard Sherman - Unable to formulate an independent thought?

Jeremy Travis - I'm fairly sure that I have been speaking for myself this whole time. But tell me, what have I said that you disagree with?

Richard Sherman - That's the problem with the herd mentality- no courage to stand alone.

Richard Sherman - No, you have been speaking as if you represent more than just you. The Klan does that a lot. The other racist groups do that as well. Anyone who swims in the ideology that they are either superior because of their race, or a victim because of it usually does so with the group in mind, and writes and speaks as if they are simply one of many of like mind. That's not only illogical, it's fallacious and intellectually dishonest.

Richard Sherman - I disagree with your point of view as you have represented it and invited you to drop the pretenses and act and think like a grown man. Tolerance of others, and love for each other is the ONLY thing that will change the world. The good Dr. King, and Malcom X knew this to be true, as did Ghandi, the Dalai Lama, and many other peaceable and noble men.

Muhammad Rasheed - It sounds like you are calling all of the children of Israel illogical, fallacious and intellectually dishonest.

You should be careful with that.

Jeremy Travis - So if I say that there is a system in place that affects me and others like me based on our race, and this system has even had an effect on Pres. Obama, then there is no regard to whether what I say is true or not, just the fact that I'm speaking about something that pertains to a group of which I belong, I am speaking from a group mind perspective, my argument is fallacious, and I am being intellectually dishonest?

Are you saying that racism does not exist?

Richard Sherman - The Children of Israel. That you go there simply shows that you are blinded not only by unreasonable racism, but religious hatred as well. I thought much better of you than that, Muhammad. MUCH better. I suppose I cannot expect peace from hatred. It's the polar opposite.

Richard Sherman - Jeremy, I am saying that YOU choose to think and act as a separatist. YOU are therefore responsible for your own hubris and fear.

Jeremy Travis - *scratches head in confusion*

When did I type ANYTHING that even remotely smacks at intolerance of others? What I posted was that there are people who hate the current President because he is not a full-blooded white man. Where you got the rest is far beyond me.

Jeremy Travis - How am I acting like a separatist by stating the facts about people who take issue with the President's race?

Are you high or something?

Muhammad Rasheed - So are you honestly saying that the children of Israel don't act/write as if they represent more than just their individual members? Really?

And me pointing that out means I'm demonstrating "hatred?"

Jeremy Travis - Muhammad, where do you FIND these people?!

Richard Sherman - What do YOU care what other people think? What do YOU think? Are you of that separatist mindset, or are you man enough to eliminate the prejudice and walk among the human race as a man, rather than a circumstance?

Muhammad Rasheed - Jeremy Travis wrote: "*scratches head in confusion* When did I type ANYTHING that even remotely smacks at intolerance of others?"

It's a nonsense misdirection tactic in the guise of a high-minded intellectualism.

Richard Sherman - No, it really isn't.

Richard Sherman - It is an honest plea for you to grow up.

Jeremy Travis - Is THIS a product of MY intolerance as well?


Muhammad Rasheed - Jeremy Travis wrote: "Muhammad, where do you FIND these people?!"

lol I collect them for the variety and "pop."

Richard Sherman - The interjection of 'The Children of Israel' was pure misdirection and dishonest as hell.

Jeremy Travis - What about this?


Richard Sherman - I could care less what a bigot writes. I have no time for lunacy, nor a desire to lend credence to it.

Muhammad Rasheed - Richard Sherman wrote: "No, it really isn't. "

Yes, it absolutely is.

Richard Sherman wrote: "It is an honest plea for you to grow up."

So you... in your '"if we just BELIEVE racism doesn't exist everything will magically be okay and all the ills of the world will vanish without us having to do anything!" mentality are pleading for ME to grow up, eh?

Richard Sherman - I do not suggest that if YOU grow up the world will change. That's pollyanna and borderline insane.

I am suggesting that if YOU change how you think, YOUR world will change.

Muhammad Rasheed - Richard Sherman wrote: "The interjection of 'The Children of Israel' was pure misdirection and dishonest as hell."

Pointing out that the children of Israel demonstrate the very trait you typed in a perfect analogy means I'm dishonest. lol

No, Richard, it means I won.
Jeremy Travis - Aight, Muhammad, I see that this is going nowhere, so I'LL make the great journey out of here like SOMEONE was supposed to do a few minutes ago.

Peace out!

Richard Sherman - Peace. You USE the word, but you do not UNDERSTAND the word.

Richard Sherman - If winning is that important to you that you would overlook reason to achieve it, then by all means, you win, and I hope that is able to feed you well through your years. I call that simply arrogance, but you call it winning.

Muhammad Rasheed - Richard that 'children of Israel' thing just demonstrated your complete lack of credibility. You can stop now.

Richard Sherman - That children of Israel thing is your Straw Man attempt to dislodge the REAL issue.

Muhammad Rasheed - Richard Sherman wrote: "If winning is that important to you that you would overlook reason to achieve it..."

You just overlooked reason with that whole "children of Israel" thing (see: above).

Richard Sherman - YOU can stop now.

Richard Sherman - Most likely, though, you cannot. Ask yourself why that is.

Muhammad Rasheed - Richard Sherman wrote: "That children of Israel thing is your Straw Man attempt to dislodge the REAL issue."
No, it was me pointing out the nonsense hypocrisy you uttered, and you got butthurt over it.

Muhammad Rasheed - Richard Sherman wrote: "YOU can stop now."

This is my thread, genius.

Muhammad Rasheed - Richard Sherman wrote: "Most likely, though, you cannot. Ask yourself why that is."

I'm collecting data and building this Note. What are YOU doing?

Richard Sherman - Muhammad Rasheed wrote: "No, it was me pointing out the nonsense hypocrisy you uttered, and you got butthurt over it."

I did not bring Israel into a conversation about Obama. That was entirely YOUR fiction.

Richard Sherman - Muhammad Rasheed wrote: "This is my thread genius."

Understood. Doesn't make it any less unreasonable.

Muhammad Rasheed - Richard Sherman wrote: "I did not bring Israel into a conversation about Obama. That was entirely YOUR fiction."

You typed something, I pointed out that you must be talking to the children of Israel because they do it too, and you got mad.*

Just admit it.

*(and interestingly are attempting to manufacture some kind of 'anti-semite' defense to somehow nullify my victory. Slimy & dishonest much?)

Muhammad Rasheed - Richard Sherman wrote: "Understood. Doesn't make it any less unreasonable."

Do all arguments immediately cease just because you say they should stop? Where do you live?

Richard Sherman - Muhammad Rasheed wrote: "You typed something, I pointed out that you must be talking to the children of Israel because they do it too, and you got mad. Just admit it."

I have no idea what you're talking about. We were discussing you and your friend's need to speak as if for many, and how that is illogical, and somehow, Israel enters the conversation. A bit paranoid, if you ask me.

Richard Sherman - This comes down to reading comprehension, I think.

Richard Sherman - And with that, I am going to bed.

Muhammad Rasheed - Richard Sherman wrote: "I have no idea what you're talking about. We were discussing you and your friend's need to speak as if for many, and how that is illogical, and somehow, Israel enters the conversation. A bit paranoid, if you ask me."

So you are really going to sit there and pretend every Jewish scholar in the universe (except you) doesn't talk about their collective group and speak for the many? Especially the secular Zionists?

You lack integrity, Richard. Congrats. You win the intellectually dishonest badge, too.

Muhammad Rasheed - Richard Sherman wrote: "And with that, I am going to bed."

Good night! Be good.

Stephanie Radakovich - Best not to under-estimate the beautiful, tenacious, brave gift of his blackness to this country.

Muhammad Rasheed - (i wonder if the jews would've simply stopped talking about hitler's racism if that whole thing would've magically cleared up the way richard suggests?)

Muhammad Rasheed - Richard Sherman wrote: "What do YOU care what other people think? What do YOU think?"

I guess that only has value as long as it doesn't involve individual research and critical thinking into the children of Israel, eh? Then you demand a group think sheeple attitude of uncritical obedience, right?

Richard Sherman - Generalized negative statements about a specific group of people- Children of Israel. That meets all the earmarks of bigotry and racism. How do you SLEEP at night with that kind of hatred in your soul?

Muhammad Rasheed –


Muhammad Rasheed - I sleep fine considering this fictional "hatred" is only something Richard Sherman is attempting to saddle me with from his intellectual dishonesty baggage. No thanks, Rick. You can keep it.

Muhammad Rasheed - Keep building up evidence against yourself regarding the whole hypocritical "My historical atrocity is magically more sacred than yours" thing you are so fond of. That foolishness is the very opposite of "intelligence," "scholarship," and whatever else you would like to project yourself as. Keep it up.

Muhammad Rasheed - Richard Sherman: "The very mention of 'the Jews' in any context outside of pure reverence is fundamentally insulting to the spirit of the Jewish soul and reveals 'the hatred within your heart' I just made up. But any mention of your people's historical atrocities is a weak victimhood mentality that you should stop talking about."

Richard Sherman - As far as intellectual dishonesty baggage goes, it was YOU who brought up Jews. Not I. I am not defending paper tigers, nor creating Straw Men to argue about. The racism is obvious without your bringing Israel into it. That simply compounded, then confirmed the implications as fact. Now there can be no doubt. That's too bad, really. We have had good discussions in the past, and they seemed pretty clear-headed; no unction to filet anything but ideas. Now the elephant in the room is unavoidable. I hope you get help for this spiritual maladay, as only The Creator can remove the blight of a heart bent on maligning his fellows. You will be in my prayers for a deep and lasting peace with ALL people, not just those like you.

Muhammad Rasheed - lol smh

Richard Sherman - show me where I err, please. Specifically. You like to post my words as quotes, so please post here where I brought up the Children of Israel or the Jews as anything but an answer to your missives.

Muhammad Rasheed - 1.) You claimed that it was weak-minded to "speak for the group."

2.) I pointed out that the children of Israel "speak for the group" all the time so you must be talking about them, too, thus securing my checkmate.

3.) You got mad (think 'Gump' from the movie 'Legend' after losing the bluebell flower riddle), and dishonestly began obviously fishing for some way to slap the ole 'anti-semite' label on me for DARING! to mention the Jews while checkmating you in grand fashion.

4.) Now I'm 'smh' and 'lol' at your tantrum.

You would've been better off just retiring from the thread and graciously accepting defeat rather than revealing your intellectual dishonesty for all of FB to marvel at. I thought YOU were better than that. Now we both know, eh?

See Also:  Praying for the Sins of the Faithful

FANTASY MATCH: Iron Mike Tyson vs Sonny Liston

Muhammad Rasheed - Between Iron Mike Tyson and Sonny Liston, both men came from criminal backgrounds, and both of them used a bullying intimidation factor to great effect on many opponents; fight fans are well aware of how effective it is when you are able to get into your opponent's head like that. Notice that both fighters lost to men (Douglas and Ali) who were not intimidated by them and were able to stick to their game plans.

Using that same bullying/intimidation technique against each other, Liston would clearly be the alpha-dog with the advantage. Even at the peak of his powers, Tyson only used the same techniques as Floyd Patterson -- who was also known for his speed -- and Liston smashed him with ease. I find it difficult to believe he would have any kind of problem with Mike Tyson. In order for Tyson to pull that off it would really have to be one of those those great boxing flukes that make the sport so exciting.

Brett Barton - This depends on the Tyson.

Right training, right frame if mind. I think it would be a lot more difficult for Liston than you think.

Also, nobody in the world could have beat Buster that day, and it was a slacking Tyson at the time.

Didn't Buster just lose his mom or something and promise her he would win?

Muhammad Rasheed - Yes, that was a big factor in why he wasn't intimidated by Tyson, and put on the best performance of his career.

Muhammad Rasheed - And I really don't think it would've been difficult for Liston.

Brett Barton - I'll never underestimate Tyson. He is one of my all time favorites to watch. The speed, power, technique.

Peek a boo, slip, slip, Booooom

Muhammad Rasheed - I'm a Tyson fan, but he was an intimating force to a different generation. That stuff wouldn't have worked on a guy like Liston, who lived a level of "hard knock life" Mike couldn't have even imagined. And the speed, power, technique he displayed was previously duplicated in his former-champion, training camp older sibling, who ran into Liston like the immovable object of legend. I can't see how Tyson would've fared any better.

Brett Barton - Just part of me thinks the right training and right mind Tyson was nearly unstoppable.

No doubt on Liston being a tough sob though

Psy Kyomynde Yobutishyne - Tyson punched a dude in the chest so hard I saw his fistprint in the dude's back. He punched Berbick so hard that he fell down three times from one punch. I could never count him out...even against Liston.

Zodicus Zu'ul - These days Mike Tyson has turned his life around. Running his own detective agency with his daughter. And the ghost of the Marquise of Queensbury. And a talking pigeon.

Gerald D Boney - Mike had a video game therefore he would win.

Abayomi Allen - Have to go with young Mike Tyson. He had a great team and was unstoppable

Muhammad Rasheed - Psy Kyomynde Yobutishyne Tyson wrote: "punched a dude in the chest so hard I saw his fistprint in the dude's back. He punched Berbick so hard that he fell down three times from one punch. I could never count him out...even against Liston."

Tyson: 50 wins, 44 by KO
Patterson: 55 wins, 40 by KO

Both Tyson and Patterson had phenomenal stopping power, were famous for being quick-handed heavyweights, and when they were at their best, they had the same trainer. lol

Muhammad Rasheed - @Zodicus - I can't wait to binge watch that entire show.

Muhammad Rasheed - Abayomi Allen wrote: "Have to go with young Mike Tyson. He had a great team and was unstoppable"

Everybody's unstoppable until they get stopped. lol I hope Floyd retires (and stays retired) undefeated.

Zodicus Zu'ul - Dude, it's the funniest thing I've seen since at least 2013

Praying for the Sins of the Faithful

Chris Suess - [share photo]



Muhammad Rasheed - A thousand years ago. Hm.



Chris Suess - Nobody cares about a Democrat Convention Photo

Muhammad Rasheed - Hey!

Richard Sherman - True, that. In order to be a member of the KKK, one had to be a card-carrying Democrat.

Muhammad Rasheed - My how times change.  ;)

Richard Sherman - And these knuckleheads wouldn't know Jesus if he walked up and stabbed them in the ass.

Richard Sherman - Times change? Now you have me laughing out loud!

Richard Sherman - The joke is that jesus wouldn't stab anyone in the ass.

Muhammad Rasheed - Richard Sherman wrote: "And these knuckleheads wouldn't know Jesus if he walked up and stabbed them in the ass."

That's true of every single radical-extremist group on earth that claims to follow a religion.

Muhammad Rasheed - Richard Sherman wrote: "Times change? Now you have me laughing out loud!"

Oh? Do you somehow think the modern white supremacist votes Democrat?

Richard Sherman - I don't know any white supremacists, so i have no idea how they vote. I don't CARE to know any supremacists, whether white, tan, gray, brown, orange, lavender, red, yellow, chartreuse or violet. NOT my cup of tea, that way of thinking.
What i DO know, Muhammad, is that the KKK was populated by Democrats at one time. Politics and Party affiliations may change (Ha!), but people don't. Bad apples will always find other bad apples to hang around with to tell them they're right about their insanity.

Muhammad Rasheed - Richard Sherman wrote: "I don't know any white supremacists, so i have no idea how they vote. I don't CARE to know any supremacists, whether white, tan, gray, brown, orange, lavender, red, yellow, chartreuse or violet."

You forgot to throw "green or even purple" in there.

Richard Sherman wrote: "NOT my cup of tea, that way of thinking. What i DO know, Muhammad, is that the KKK was populated by Democrats at one time."

So you're saying you are an expert on how white supremacists USED to vote, but lost interest in the topic up to the modern day. Should I take this at face value? lol

Richard Sherman wrote: "Politics and Party affiliations may change (Ha!)"

"Ha?"

Richard Sherman wrote: "...but people don't."

No, they don't. The descendants of the people who cheerfully hung my people from trees are currently upset that they personally missed out on that savage era. And they currently vote Republican.

Richard Sherman wrote: "Bad apples will always find other bad apples to hang around with to tell them they're right about their insanity."

Hence you, Chris [edit] and Steve.
Richard Sherman - Damn. I am willing to bet that Joseph Goebbels could have learned a few things from you about how to twist words and propagandize.

Richard Sherman - Joseph Goebbels

Muhammad Rasheed - lol

So how am I propagandizing but you aren't?

Richard Sherman - Nope. Not gonna bite on your poisoned fruit, Muhammad. Your own pointy hat is starting to show again.

Muhammad Rasheed - 1.) Chris posts a cartoon that criticizes Obama's speech regarding not equating ISIS with Islam, and reminding us that Christians also committed atrocities outside of their faith's tenets. The cartoon suggests that Christians did such actions so long ago that it is unfair to even make the comparison.

2.) I post a photo of the Christian knights of the Klu Klux Klan to illustrate the president's point.

3.) Richard makes a big point of the fact that the Klan used to vote Democrat.

4.) I point out that they don't vote Democrat anymore.

5.) Richard pretends that is irrelevant, and suggests that only his point has any kind of value, while saying that such things don't matter (except that the Klan used to vote Democrat).

6.) Richard then equates my opinion with Nazism, anti-semitism and "propaganda" while suggesting that his opinion is Good, Pure & Holy.

Chris Suess - "No, they don't. The descendants of the people who cheerfully hung my people from trees are currently upset that they personally missed out on that savage era. And they currently vote Republican."

^ Probably the most delusionaly racist thing I have seen in a decade.

Chris Suess - you have no proof that members of the Klan don't still vote Democrat.

Richard Sherman - Probably the most delusionally racist thing I have seen in a decade from one of the most delusionally racist people I've encountered on this website.

Richard Sherman - Chris, Muhammad takes these little snippets he does and posts them as propaganda material on his racist, antisemitic wall in order to convince others who are nearly as delusional as he is that he is clever, or something instead of just another hooded racist with a grudge against the world.
Muhammad... do your homework on the Crusades. Why did they happen?

Muhammad Rasheed - Chris Suess wrote: "Probably the most delusionaly racist thing I have seen in a decade."

More racist than stalking and shooting an unarmed black kid because he was wearing a hoodie sweater? Or shooting into a truck full of black kids because I don't like their music?

So saying that the racist descendants of racists are mad that they missed out on the coveted "Good Ole Days" is racist? Explain how, please.

Richard Sherman - See what I mean?

Richard Sherman - What was the reason for the Crusades, Muhammad? Do you have any idea? Or are you just pantomiming intelligence and education?

Muhammad Rasheed - Richard Sherman wrote: "Chris, Muhammad takes these little snippets he does and posts them as propaganda material on his racist, antisemitic wall..."

Another "propaganda" charge, eh? Please tell me what is racist about my posts, and what have I ever said that was "anti-semitic?" I'm genuinely in the dark about these, especially this last. Bearing in mind I dislike the politics of the Zionist state, but have nothing at all against the Jewish people, or the Jewish faith. So how does that make me an "anti-semite?" Because you say so?

Explain.

Or is asking for a reasonable explanation for your childish name-calling considered more "propaganda" in your world?

Richard Sherman - What was the reason for the Crusades, Muhammad? Do you have any idea? Or are you just pantomiming intelligence and education?

Muhammad Rasheed - Richard Sherman wrote: "See what I mean?"

TRANSLATION: Muhammad didn't immediately do what I told him to do, on my terms, therefore he is mentally inferior according to the way I see the world.

Richard Sherman - Unable or unwilling to answer. Which is it?

Richard Sherman - What was the reason for the Crusades, Muhammad? Do you have any idea? Or are you just pantomiming intelligence and education?

Richard Sherman - Unable or unwilling to answer. Which is it?

Muhammad Rasheed - At this point it is clear that somewhere along the way, you've decided you dislike me, and disagree with my worldview to the point of disgust. And in this thread you're picking a fight with me.

Tell you what, answer my "anti-semite" question, and I'll play this game with you about the Crusades. Deal?

Richard Sherman - The original meme is about the crusades and the President's equivocation about it, which you rushed in to defend by implying that christendom is evil by way of the KKK.
I am not going to pursue your little tantrum, but will address the meme since it is appropriate and you acting all butt-hurt is not.
So, once more, Muhammad, Keeper of the Faith, what was the reason for the Crusades?

Richard Sherman - If you find yourself either unable or unwilling to answer about the Crusades, then ask yourself why that might be, then label yourself a Troll and go home.

Muhammad Rasheed - Oh, I see. The reason you are asking me about the history of the Crusades is because you want to suddenly confine this to the cartoon Chris posted; obviously you didn't care to publicly explore my questions. lol

Okay, I'll play: The president's comments weren't about the Crusades, they were 100% about the so-called "faithful" of any faith, sowing mischief in the earth "in the name" of their religion. The Crusaders slaughtered EVERYBODY on their way to the Middle East... Muslims, other Christians, Jews, innocent men, women and children... nothing they did could be considered "in the name of God," no different than the actions of modern terrorists. So to pretend ISIS' actions are all about Islam is ignorant at best, and deliberate evil propaganda at worst.

The author of the cartoon is - like you - either genuinely confused over the nature of the president's message, or is willfully ignorant and pretending he doesn't understand it in favor of his referred stance to vilify Islam.

For him, I am willing to be generous and believe he is actually confused over the matter, though he may actually know better and is simply playing to his fan base's politics, like Ben Carson.

For you, Richard Sherman, it is clearly a deliberate deception.
Richard Sherman - Your knowledge of history is sadly lacking. Stick to propaganda and whining. I've lost interest in this.

Richard Sherman - Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah.
Boo hoo.
I'm butt-hurt.
I can't manipulate somebody into engaging me in my infantile rhetoric.
BORING.

Chris Suess - Dear Leader's comments were deflecting from Muslim Cobra's actions #BecauseCrusades and #JimCrow... also cause he favors them.

Muhammad Rasheed - Richard Sherman wrote: "I can't manipulate somebody into engaging me in my infantile rhetoric."

Is that how you interpret someone asking you to explain your name-calling? Curious.

Richard Sherman -



Muhammad Rasheed - Richard Sherman wrote: "I've lost interest in this."

Is continuing to post how you demonstrate a loss of interest, or can that reasonably be considered a lie?

Richard Sherman - Muslim Shariah Law Patrol - ConservativeTribune.com

Richard Sherman - The conquest renewed?

Steven Georgio - You guys really aren't fair the president and Muhammed are right, those nasty Christians did all kinds of horrible shit 800 years ago in the name of religion ..and if they start doing it again we should have a discussion about it.

Muhammad Rasheed - "Propaganda is a form of communication aimed towards influencing the attitude of a population toward some cause or position. Propaganda is information that is not impartial and used primarily to influence an audience and further an agenda, often by presenting facts selectively (perhaps lying by omission) to encourage a particular synthesis, or using loaded messages to produce an emotional rather than a rational response to the information presented."

@Richard - Remember when you leveled the charge of "propagandist" at me? So how is what you are posting NOT propaganda, but what I post is propaganda?

Richard Sherman - ...sniff, sniff...boo hoo hoo... I'm so misunderstood...

Muhammad Rasheed - lol You're not misunderstood at all. ;)

Muhammad Rasheed - Carry on, guys.

Richard Sherman - I refuse to dignify your twisted shit with real responses, Muhammad. You showed me, unequivocally, what you intend with any conversation you bait someone into. Your motives are suspect and not to be taken seriously or trusted at all. I will entertain myself at your expense because you showed me, in our last exchange, what your true colors are, and they are truly ugly colors: Hatred, bias, racism, antisemitism, deceit, derision, scorn, and sensationalism. You are a charlatan of the fiorst order, pretending one thing, but actually advancing your warped aganeda. I have no use for intellectual cowards, and even less use for the spiritually corrupted.

Muhammad Rasheed - Nothing you say towards me has a single fact to support it. When I quite reasonably ask you to provide such, you duck & run while pretending providing such proof is beneath you. lol

I have zero reason to ever take anything you post seriously, Sherman. You might as well keep it.

Steven Georgio - I'm confused, who are you talking about Muhammed or the President?

Richard Sherman - They're the same guy, it would seem.

Muhammad Rasheed - I'll take that as a compliment.


See Also - Slimy Residue from the 'Peculiar Institution'

The Freedom Rider - Muhammad Rasheed, Sr.

Muhammad Rasheed – [posted photo]

We miss you, Dad.
Here he is during his arrest at 19 yrs old during the civil rights sit in demonstrations. $200 fine and 4 months in jail for sitting at a Walgreen's counter in Jackson, Mississippi in 1961.



Muhammad Rasheed - I'm trippin' over the conked hair. lol 
He's the one that first told me about the young Malcolm X having to use toilet water to get that lye/potato mixture out of his head when the water was cut off at the very wrong time. 
Young Me: "Wow! Why would anybody even put that crazy stuff in their hair, dad?"
Dad: "IKR?!"
Muhammad Rasheed - j/k.  i don't remember that convo.
Nurah Rasheed - Lmao
Gabrielle Rasheed - He looks so much like Tariq M in this pic
Sean Pecor - I don't see the resemblance.
Sarcastically Yours,
Sean.
PS. LOL
Mike Csotd Peterson - One of the giants. Much respect, my friend: You are of exalted lineage!
Marquebarry Arts - WOW. so, he was apart of the fight that gave me the freedom I have now. big props pops. big props
Theo Wormley - Much respect
Theo Wormley - $200 was a lot of money back then.. Hell, $200 is a big deal now! lol!
Mike Csotd Peterson - I just wrote about this the other day: People don't realize that the first "demonstrations" were not "provocations" and the ones who pulled them off were carefully selected, brave, disciplined, well-trained heroes who made the world see the decency of asking for human rights and the evil of denying them. They were the elite, and we really need to learn their ways.
Annette Thomlinson - No wonder you were deep..... I'm honored.....
Mike Lester - Pretty cool. This is history.
Jim Brenneman - A true Hero.
Tamara Rasheed -  

Luther Johnson - Really powerful photo. ....thanks for sharing
Michele Ward - Wow.... this is truly amazing. Thanks for sharing....wow!!
Daniel McNeal - wowwwwwwwwwwwwwww
Jeremy Travis - I think you would look GREAT with a conk, Momo! *pulls out a bag of potatoes and a bucket of lye*
David A. Le Roy - Thats so powerful. WOW. To be honest, he looks so much like you, at first glance I thought it was you. I was sayin' to myself, "here this brotha go postin jail snapshots." LOL.
Karriem Shakoor - Wow.....I never knew that about your dad. As kids we knew he was deep into knowledge of self, and always 100% serious about applying oneself. Your dad was the type that made all us kids stop playing "right away" by just a look. Things make a lot more sense now. Thanks for sharing.
Muhammad Rasheed - lol @ David A. Le Roy
Muhammad Rasheed - The Freedom Riders' Roll Call: Dad is listed at #157 
Chris Schechner - Wow! That took courage and dedication!

Bakkah Rasheed-Shabazz - My oldest son is bragging about his father's criminal record from the summer of 1961 in Jackson, Ms. Now he has to show the world his mother's 1988 arrest and conviction, too.

Muhammad Rasheed - The difference between the two is that dad's arrest was part of a well-planned strategy of the Civil Rights Movement under the Freedom Riders program, the purpose of which was to demonstrate the fundamental wrong of the racist jim crow society, drawing publicized, documented attention to it for fighting the system in court. By contrast, your arrest was an attack by small town Michigan racists who were actively attempting to run our family out of Hillsdale County.

Your arrest and conviction was based on a lie, was a great source of pain to my family, wasn't part of any greater movement, and certainly wasn't anything I would wish to brag about. When I do bring it up in discussion, it's usually to counter the assertion of some racist who thinks those types of events no longer happened to blacks, wielding the event as a weapon.

Bakkah Rasheed-Shabazz - I see my arrest and conviction on an Islamic-phobic lie during the Iranian-hostage crisis as part of an overall plan to discredit and discourage the religion. During that time (1988) Muslim businesses all up and down US12 Highway were burned by arsonists. The research should be done to show what actually happened during those several months. The reporter in the Hillsdale Newspaper called our story part of a movement like the Amish, Quakers, and other oppressed religious minorities that sought out places to establish community life.

Your dad's struggle was civil liberties while mine is religious freedom rights.

Muhammad Rasheed - You're revealing info here that I was unaware of.

It would help a lot if you would tell your own story, in your own words with as much detail as you can stand. Then we could chase down these leads and provide the sources to aid in chronicling this part of our family legacy. I can't do it without you.

The Namesake in the Mansion Across the Street

Alan Groening - Muhammad... you there?

Muhammad Rasheed - Hi there!

Alan Groening - HIYA!

Muhammad Rasheed - Cartoonist, yes?

Alan Groening - my FB page is Groening Studios
that is me.
also Alan Groening's Animation Mountain

Muhammad Rasheed - Any relation?

Alan Groening - yeah Im his mother.

Muhammad Rasheed - HAHAHAHAHAAHAH!

Alan Groening - he's totally cool

Muhammad Rasheed - I knew you would have a stock answer prepared. hahaha
Muhammad Rasheed - I started not to ask because I knew you probably get it 400 times an hour.

Alan Groening - met him multiple times at comic Con
well the other one goes like this:

"I fell through a rift in time and space and landed here on your planet.. I left behind the Sompsons in the 9th season on the FIX network... and now Im desperately trying to get back home"

Muhammad Rasheed - lol

Alan Groening - "the portal is above my head and the ladder doesnt reach that high.  Life is difficult so if we touch... its exactly like that thing that happens in the movie Timecop.... all is not good."

Muhammad Rasheed - Now you have to draw a cartoon of yourself illustrating it, and do it in Matt's signature style. lol

Alan Groening - hahh
gosh I dunno if could draw in matts style

Muhammad Rasheed - I'll do it.

Muhammad Rasheed –

Alan Groening - LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!

Muhammad Rasheed -   :)

A Cartoonists' Group to Celebrate Anti-Free Speech

One of the moderators from the Facebook group Cartoonist's Cafe reached out to me to see why I was no longer in the group.  He pulled some strings and got me unblocked.  Below chronicles my first encounter upon my return.  Notice there is still a very strong anti-Islam presence encouraged in the group, and any pro-Muslim (or even fair) pushback is immediately attacked.

****

Ruchit Pathak – [posted photo]



Muhammad Rasheed - An FBI study looking at terrorism committed on U.S. soil between 1980 and 2005 found that 94 percent of the terror attacks were committed by non-Muslims. Check it out:

FBI.gov - Chronological Summary of Terrorist Incidents in the United States 1980-2005

Ruchit Pathak - ^u forgot ur pinch of salt.

plus fbi study is restricted to USA.

Muhammad Rasheed - Ah. Sorry. Your cartoon didn't make such a distinction.

Speaking of which, did you know that the Tamil Tigers were the world's first (and largest group of) suicide bomber terrorists? They weren't Muslims.

Alan Groening - drop it.

Ruchit Pathak - ^lol its good that I'm not holding a bomb !

Muhammad Rasheed - lol

Alan Groening - @Muhammad Rasheed… @Ruchit Pathak… both of you guys just go back to posting your cartoons, ok... we're all here for the cartoons... not for this crap.

Muhammad Rasheed - Will do.

Alan Groening - thanks

See Also: Supporting Hebdo: A Cartoonist's Critique of a Critique

Judging God: The Arrogance of Disbelief

Patrick Lamb - [shares link]

Thomas Liebe-Kreutzner - If there would be God. He or she wouldn't allow what's going on on this planet. I can totally agree with Stephen Fry

Muhammad Rasheed - "If there were a God" He would judge us at the end of this finite life based on what we allowed among each other, just like He told us in the message. The point of our lives is accountability for our actions in the Golden Rule.

An amazing lack of insight among the atheist crowd. That's what happens when you confine your thinking to what your 5 senses can prove, I guess.

Marcus Santiago - If there was a God, it's offensive that he's going to judge us (not the other way round) after the fantastically piss-poor job he's done in running the place. What about the accountability for God's actions, or lack thereof? Why allow all this suffering? War, disease, famine, AIDS, birth defects? Acts of stunning cruelty, many done in his name? If I was god, I wouldn't sit around idle while all this happened on Earth, simply saying "I'll judge you for this later, but for now I respect your free will." I guess that's what happens when you confine your thinking to ancient fairytales that got taken too seriously. I'm not the one with a lack of insight.

Muhammad Rasheed - Marcus Santiago wrote: "If there was a God, it's offensive that he's going to judge us (not the other way round)"

A finite, very limited being is going to judge an eternal, unlimited being, one that established reality itself and all of its laws and rules? That does not compute. By what criterion is the finite being using to judge? The collective finite being's members are notorious for missing the point, failing to understand simple concepts, and rejecting logic because a principle doesn't reflect their preferred socio-political stances, etc. How could such creatures possibly justify believing they have the acumen to take an omniscient/omnipotent being to task, while oddly, ignoring everything that being said regarding the rules upon which society is set up? That would in fact make finite beings very good at strawman arguments, not much at judging.

Marcus Santiago wrote: "...after the fantastically piss-poor job he's done in running the place. What about the accountability for God's actions, or lack thereof?"

God keeps the system running, guiding its courses and systems in perfect harmony. His job certainly isn't to control your actions. He does His job perfectly based on the laws and rules He set. Our best and brightest are still struggling to complete the missing component of the Standard Model, and are quite unequipped to hold God accountable against any checklist, especially when they ignore what God said the reason He created mankind is for.

Marcus Santiago wrote: "Why allow all this suffering? War, disease, famine, AIDS, birth defects? Acts of stunning cruelty, many done in his name? If I was god, I wouldn't sit around idle while all this happened on Earth, simply saying 'I'll judge you for this later, but for now I respect your free will.' I guess that's what happens when you confine your thinking to ancient fairytales that got taken too seriously. I'm not the one with a lack of insight."

You demonstrate the exact lack of insight I was referring to. We are finite beings in a finite realm; the clock of timing is continuously ticking down to the hour of our deaths. God explained that all of this is a training ground, in which you have a set amount of time to build a certain type of character, develop specific skills, and choose a particular mindset and ideology. All that you see, witness and experience along the course of this journey are the tools you need to win at life, and the most important of those tools are God's instructions to you in scripture, and your Free Will. To win you must walk along the Path of God as laid out in scripture, and if we all do so, there will be no wars, AIDs, or other human-inflicted suffering. If we do so successfully we will have no need to fear the death that may come at any time from circumstances outside of our control like disease, famine, birth defects, or death by old age.

Marcus Santiago - And how do you, a finite being, know any of this? God told you so? Or you

Muhammad Rasheed - I'm more interested in why don't YOU know this, yet somehow believe you can take God to account. What are you basing these opinions upon, Marcus, if you don't know the source of my words as a theist?

Marcus Santiago - What ARE your source? Show me some proof or admit you're just blowing a lot of hot air.

Muhammad Rasheed - Everything we know about God comes from His scripture, you don't recognize scripture in what I'm saying, yet are very passionately opinionated about what you THINK God ought to be like, and what you THINK he ought to be doing, at odds with what He actually said.

Please explain this.

Muhammad Rasheed - This stance of yours comes across as unjustifiably arrogant, lacking of any kind of insight on the topic, and is impossible to take seriously.

Why do you think this way?

Muhammad Rasheed - Why do you think you can completely dismiss God's message to mankind, yet also think your opinions about Him are somehow valid?

Muhammad Rasheed - I'm genuinely curious about this. Please tell me.

Marcus Santiago - Arrogant? You're the one that said, quote, "That's what happens when you confine your thinking to what your 5 senses can prove" as though it's an insult. Atheists are stupid for trusting reason, logic and proof? I take personal offense to that. I let people believe whatever they want but it makes me mad when religious people insult others for not sharing their delusions, and then have the gall to claim persecution when they're called on it.

If a scripture is proof of god, then Harry Potter novels are proof that Hogwarts is real. Scriptures (whether you're talking about the Bible, Koran or Torah) were written by humans back when we though the Earth is flat, and the proof offered that it was really authored by god is "because they said so." This is called circular logic, and is the kind of argument a child wouldn't fall for.
Muhammad Rasheed - Marcus Santiago wrote: "Arrogant?"

Yes. You have demonstrated a tendency for making definitive statements about a field of study that you don't know anything about. You don't consider that an arrogant trait?

Marcus Santiago wrote: "You're the one that said, quote, 'That's what happens when you confine your thinking to what your 5 senses can prove' as though it's an insult."

lol It would be an insult to me if someone leveled the charge of being incapable of contemplating concepts that I could not measure with my 5 senses. It would mean I was a dullard. Do you think Einstein, Feynman, et all could've developed the Standard Model if they refused to acknowledge anything they couldn't touch, taste, hear, see, feel? Would they be able to intelligently contemplate and explore aspects of the abstract unseen to develop the fields of science they are famous for?

btw, you don't have to type the word "quote" when you are typing, because you are actually typing actual quotes around the quote, yes?

Marcus Santiago wrote: "Atheists are stupid for trusting reason, logic and proof?"
Atheists are stupid for pretending to trust reason, logic and proof while holding onto a narrow-minded stance that rejects anything that makes them uncomfortable.

Marcus Santiago wrote: "I take personal offense to that."

I suggest you convert to an Abrahamic religion then.

Marcus Santiago wrote: "I let people believe whatever they want but it makes me mad when religious people insult others for not sharing their delusions, and then have the gall to claim persecution when they're called on it."

Have I claimed persecution or has your limited 5 senses mindset caused you to wander off topic? Tsk.

Marcus Santiago wrote: "If a scripture is proof of god, then Harry Potter novels are proof that Hogwarts is real. Scriptures (whether you're talking about the Bible, Koran or Torah) were written by humans back when we though the Earth is flat, and the proof offered that it was really authored by god is 'because they said so.' This is called circular logic, and is the kind of argument a child wouldn't fall for."

This is a strawman since we weren't discussing the fallacy-laden "proof of God" concept, but how a finite being could qualify to judge a perfect eternal being that creates universes from scratch while being ignorant of the content within that Being's message on earth. Let's work that down to its logical conclusion, and then I'll take you up on the "proof of God" thing.
Marcus Santiago - Actually, it's not a strawman, it's circular logic, just as I explained it. The Bible/Koran/Torah is true, because it itself says so? That's your proof? Seriously? It's not a "definitive statement I know nothing about," it's a perfectly reasonable, logical conclusion. You can't prove there is a god no more than you can prove unicorns, fairies and vampires are real. It's not arrogant to say fire-breathing dragons are not real, because there's no good reason to believe so. That's kind of all I was saying.

And you're making a lot of assumptions here. I spent most of my life a devoted Christian. I traveled to the opposite end of the planet to serve god as a missionary working full time for a church. I studied the Bible till my brains fell out. You have seriously no idea who I am or what I've gone through in my search for God, so I'd appreciate you down to me like I'm an idiot. I respect your POV and beliefs and am trying to be civil. But I actually DO know what I'm talking about. And no offense, but I'm guessing you don't know what you're talking about, if you don't even know the difference between circular logic and a strawman fallacy.

But all that aside: I'm actually open to any new idea and will be the first to admit I was wrong, if you can provide me any real proof that god is real. Are you open to the idea that you're wrong and perhaps, just maybe, there is no god? If not, then all we're going to do is argue needlessly.

And btw, Einstein also valued proof and evidence. It's called science: no matter how crazy it is, you have to actually, you know, prove it somehow. Otherwise, it's called making shit up and insisting it's real. This is why we know unicorns aren't real, but dinosaurs were, and this is why quantum physics isn't in the same category of science as angels and demons.
Muhammad Rasheed - Marcus Santiago wrote: "Actually, it's not a strawman, it's circular logic, just as I explained it."

What you performed was the strawman. Creating an argument based on what you think I believe, or what you think the subject is about, and then attacking it as if that is what it is.

Marcus Santiago - Cool story bro. But seriously, citing the Bible / Koran / Torah / whatever as proof of God's existence, is one of the defining examples of circular logic. Look it up. I mean, I don't even know why you're arguing this.

Muhammad Rasheed - Marcus Santiago wrote: "The Bible/Koran/Torah is true, because it itself says so? That's your proof? Seriously?"

I haven't said anything about proof. You may wish to confine your argument to what your opponent is actually presenting, instead of seemingly having a conversation with someone from your past while pretending to discuss this with me.

Marcus Santiago wrote: "It's not a 'definitive statement I know nothing about,' it's a perfectly reasonable, logical conclusion."

Is this a demonstration of the logic you're supposed to uphold? So even though your belief that holding God accountable for what humans do to each other, etc., conflicts with what God said the point of mankind's existence is, you still think you are expressing knowledge of the topic? Nothing about that was logical or reasonable, Marcus.

Marcus Santiago wrote: "You can't prove there is a god no more than you can prove unicorns, fairies and vampires are real."

Who said I'm required to?

Marcus Santiago wrote: "It's not arrogant to say fire-breathing dragons are not real, because there's no good reason to believe so. That's kind of all I was saying."

That's very different from what you were actually saying, and a separate topic altogether. What you were saying was that a finite, very flawed human has grounds to judge God and hold Him accountable for the state of human affairs on earth. Is this you officially attempting to change the subject?

Marcus Santiago wrote: "And you're making a lot of assumptions here."

I'm drawing conclusions regarding your knowledge of scripture based on what you state and what you ask.

Marcus Santiago wrote: "I spent most of my life a devoted Christian."

Then why are you ignorant of scripture? Did your sect/denomination not require you to read it for yourself?

Marcus Santiago wrote: "I traveled to the opposite end of the planet to serve god as a missionary working full time for a church."

Did you pick up any bibles along the route then?

Marcus Santiago wrote: "I studied the Bible till my brains fell out."

Please, Marcus. If this is supposed to be a productive meeting in which we each learn something from the other, let us agree to only express truth.

Marcus Santiago wrote: "You have seriously no idea who I am or what I've gone through in my search for God, so I'd appreciate you down to me like I'm an idiot."

What I know for sure about you in this moment is that you lack any insight into Abrahamic religion on even the most basic level.

Marcus Santiago wrote: "I respect your POV and beliefs and am trying to be civil."

Bringing up dragons & unicorns would actually be the opposite of that. I guess that's just how you were raised.

Marcus Santiago wrote: "But I actually DO know what I'm talking about."

You're saying you were holding back?

Marcus Santiago wrote: "And no offense, but I'm guessing you don't know what you're talking about, if you don't even know the difference between circular logic and a strawman fallacy."

I was talking about you and what you were presenting, not commenting on your "proof of God" circular statement. It was not yet time to change topics.

Marcus Santiago wrote: "But all that aside: I'm actually open to any new idea and will be the first to admit I was wrong, if you can provide me any real proof that god is real. Are you open to the idea that you're wrong and perhaps, just maybe, there is no god? If not, then all we're going to do is argue needlessly."

God is real, I am not wrong. In the message He established to guide mankind, God said that 'faith' is the activating component to be on His path. A path based on winning at this terrestrial realm training ground so I may proper in the eternal realms on the otherside. His scripture is the only link pin between us and the spirit realms. God does not require earthly academic institutional proofs of me in order to win; He asks only that I believe, trust Him and do as He commands. For you to insist that I provide what the Author of the game Himself does not require again demonstrates your colossal lack of insight into the topic.

Marcus Santiago wrote: "And btw, Einstein also valued proof and evidence. It's called science: no matter how crazy it is, you have to actually, you know, prove it somehow."

I don't think you actually know what 'science' is.

Marcus Santiago wrote: "Otherwise, it's called making shit up and insisting it's real. This is why we know unicorns aren't real, but dinosaurs were, and this is why quantum physics isn't in the same category of science as angels and demons."

Theoretical scientists "make shit up and insist it is real" all the time. If they didn't, they would never get to the next step of their models. The difference between what they and the theist philosophers do, compared to believers in unicorns, is they use logic, and are not afraid to follow the logic trail to its conclusion even when it goes places that don't make sense to the finite being puzzling it out. It's the idiot that throws the whole thing out because it doesn't fit his narrow-minded preconceived concept of life and his personal definition version of "science."

Marcus Santiago - Okay, plainly you're nuts and have no idea what you're talking about, be it science OR religion. You can't just blabber on about whatever you think is real and call it an argument. Anyways, enjoy being deluded and condescending, it must be working out swell for you so far. Tell God I said hi and good job on the Holocaust and cancer.

Muhammad Rasheed - Marcus Santiago wrote: "You can't just blabber on about whatever you think is real and call it an argument."

That represents everything you've said about religion in this entire thread. So I'm really supposed to believe you studied the bible when you make comments like that about the holocaust and disease?

What does "study" mean in your world?

Marcus Santiago - Believe whatever you want, yo.

You've literally not made one coherent, reasonable point all this while. Once again: give me a halfway reasonable argument for why I should think there is a god, other than "the scriptures say so". If you can't, my point is made and we're done here.

Marcus Santiago - Just pointing out: this all started because you're the one that made fun of atheists, and I called you on it. I was asking for proof your god is real. Still waiting.

Muhammad Rasheed - Marcus Santiago wrote: "Believe whatever you want, yo."

Did I give the impression that I wasn't? You have my permission to continue to believe whatever Fry and Dawkins spoon feed you.

Marcus Santiago wrote: "You've literally not made one coherent, reasonable point all this while."

That sounds like an admittance of your own mental deficiency to me. Explain to me how a finite human is qualified to take a God to task when he rejects the message of that God. I'm still interested in that question that you've been ducking.

Marcus Santiago wrote: "Once again: give me a halfway reasonable argument for why I should think there is a god, other than 'the scriptures say so.' If you can't, my point is made and we're done here."

Religion operates on faith. If having faith that God is who He claims to be is unreasonable to you, then to you be your way, and to me be mine.

Marcus Santiago wrote: "Just pointing out: this all started because you're the one that made fun of atheists, and I called you on it."

That Thomas Liebe-Kreutzner dude said something about God that made the same amount of nonsense your comments did and I addressed it. His first comment is what started it; the atheist's penchant for strawmen.

Marcus Santiago wrote: "I was asking for proof your god is real. Still waiting."

Again, why are you asking for something from me that is not required by my Lord? You don't recognize this as a trait of arrogance? You're attempting to shoehorn a concept within a narrow box it was never intended to fit in. My definition you are demonstrating a narrow-mind with this request.
Marcus Santiago - MRasheed wrote: "Explain to me how a finite human is qualified to take a God to task when he rejects the message of that God."

Because there's no proof that any of it isn't stone-age fairytales made up by people to control other people, and its adherents insist on unleashing their theocracy on everyone else. There's nothing narrow-minded about asking for proof. If you can't provide it, that's fine. I get how faith works. But then don't go mocking me for respecting the scientific method and saying I've been "spoonfed" bullshit. It's incredibly condescending, and you shouldn't be surprised when you get called you on it.
Muhammad Rasheed - Marcus Santiago wrote: "Because there's no proof..."

Again, you're not addressing the point. The point is your concept of holding God accountable for His actions based on what flaws you believe are in the world, and what you think that God should directly address. If you've studied scripture the way you've claimed, why do you fail to see the problem with this view? Please explain.

Marcus Santiago wrote: "...that any of it isn't stone-age fairytales..."

Yes, you referred to my most cherished and sacred belief system this way in the beginning, and then later claimed to be "respectful." lol

Marcus Santiago wrote: "...made up by people to control other people..."

As a believer in the One God, and a subscriber to a world religion, I operate under the Free Will my Lord gifted me, and no one controls me. This is yet another demonstration that you have no idea what you are talking about on this topic. I'm left to conclude that you became a missionary so you could pick up chicks.

Marcus Santiago wrote: "...and its adherents insist on unleashing their theocracy on everyone else."

A link was posted of an atheist saying something crazy about God, another atheist amen'd it by saying something crazy to support it, and I came to challenge what was said. It's pretty clear that the anti-religionists are the ones who insisted upon unleashing their foolishness upon Facebook, not me. I only represented the response.

Marcus Santiago wrote: "There's nothing narrow-minded about asking for proof."
Not if you are asking for proof from items in which asking for proof makes sense. Asking for proof for items that are by their nature matters of faith is illogical and unreasonable.

Marcus Santiago wrote: "If you can't provide it, that's fine."

I'm not supposed to provide it. I'm supposed to believe.

Marcus Santiago wrote: "I get how faith works."

Apparently not.

Marcus Santiago wrote: "But then don't go mocking me for respecting the scientific method and saying I've been 'spoonfed' bullshit."

I respect the scientific method more than you, as I recognize its inherent limitations and use it as the tool it was designed for on the items that are relevant to it. To insist that items that were never designed to conform to materialistic methods of study be thrown away because they can't be shoehorned into that box is a stance that deserves to be mocked. And please don't equate Fry's and Dawkin's foolishness with the scientific method.

Marcus Santiago wrote: "It's incredibly condescending, and you shouldn't be surprised when you get called you on it."

lol Marcus, please continue to "call me out' from your odd viewpoint. In addition to this, please address the other points I've asked of you.

Humor is Subjective

Racist Radio by Sasheer Zamata (Stand-up Comedy Bit)
Muhammad Rasheed - [in response to ugly YouTube comments] I thought she was funny, charming, and very insightful (I thought the dig at Perry in the end was unfair though). Humor is subjective; there is no such thing as "universally funny." Even the Top Ten most celebrated comedians only have a percentage of the populace as their fans. It really doesn't mean anything to say you don't think a comedian isn't funny. Other people do.

bestdeathfan - I hate when people like comedians make jokes about how someone is trying to have them sound or do something "black" like the stereotypes of black people talking in Ebonics is false, even when the majority of us know its true. Its in the same vein as black people ignoring the statistics of what their people do as a whole and using that as fuel to their racist america narrative. 
Muhammad Rasheed - The point of a stereotype is that it tries to say all of the people of that group are like that. Like "all white people are incestuous trailer park dwellers with bucked teeth." You can find some people like that, but it doesn't describe them all. That's why stereotypes are wrong.