1207 Intelligent Design and Flag Burning

Folks, there's a reason all the verbs we use with money are also used with time--they are flip sides of the same pancake. First, they only matter on this side of eternity--neither time nor money exist after you are gone. Second, what you do with either or both can improve your life here, or make your life an early entry into Hell.

Spend
Save
Invest
Commit
Gain
Use
Redeem
Waste
Squander
Fritter away

Two of the biggest time wasters with no payoff at the other end, are 1) defending a vague spiritual concept known as "intelligent design" and 2) the freedom of expression of political thought known as flag burning.

I've had about 18 years of formal schooling, and probably 2 more if I added up all the required workshops and classes needed to hold down a job (another post: the non-formal education system is larger than the formal one, so if you want job security, go there).

I can't think of a single endeavor in my life, other than answering questions on a biology test, for which I ever needed the theory of evolution. Can you? And I worked in a medical library and an agricultural library for over 20 years. The ID theory pales to nothingness when compared with the first few chapters of Genesis, so why are you wasting time and energy? Goodness, get a life and open your Bible. Millions of Christians and Jews live perfectly wonderful, satisfying lives without ever thinking about either evolution or intelligent design. And we are sooooo tired of the squabbles and you guys making us all look like ignorant rubes.

I am a 6 day creationist myself, but that's a theological solution because death doesn't enter creation until after the first sin. Billions of years of deaths just doesn't fit the template for a really dynamic faith, in my opinion. Look around. Do you see anything but entropy and decay--have you seen the human race getting better and better? We've been at war my entire life time! Let them have their little favorite theories if it gives their lives meaning. Please don't send me websites and book titles. I've seen them all and been shouted at by the best.

I wouldn't ask a college of "Evolutionary Biology" to teach my faith, but I do expect you Christians to stop telling your kids to "just praise the Lord" in 7/11 songs (7 words repeated 11 times) and provide them with a few basics about sin and why it is everywhere and what the solution might be when they're sitting in a college course with an evolution-fundy-professor.

My suggestion for response to flag burners is ignore them, just like you had to do with your toddlers' temper trantrums. They are pushing your buttons and you're falling for it. I heard a former soldier call in to the Glenn Beck show and describe the training he had to go through to learn to deal with terrorists, rowdies and kooks. They had to stand by and watch the flag urinated on, used as toilet paper, spit on, stomped on, etc., but learned to show strength and realize it was a symbol. They had to know their core values, and those weren't the cloth and design. The flag stands for something that can't be destroyed by petulant weirdos. Burning is the only proper way to dispose of a damaged flag. Apparently those who burn a flag in public protest are already a bit mind damaged, but throw water on them by ignoring them into oblivion. Stop giving them prime time MSM coverage with your silly and harmful counter protests and proposals for amendments. I personally find t-shirts, motorcycle jackets or underpants made to look like US flags much more offensive. They equate being a good American with consumerism.