Friday, July 10, 2009

The View from Down Here

My name is Eric James Jacobson, and I am 31 years old.

I was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1977 and raised in the hills of Central Pennsylvania.

I was baptized Lutheran, and confirmed in the church when I was 13.

Yet, since I was just six years old, I have counted myself an Atheist.

No, I do not believe in God.

Despite this, the following things are true about me:

I am a hopeless romantic, and above all things, I have faith and belief in the fucked up emotion we humans call Love.

I'm a very caring person. Every chance I get, I contribute to social projects like Habitat for Humanity, or donate time and effort to charities for things like Breast Cancer and Autism research.

I try my best to be a good friend to those whom I call friend. I'm there when they need a ride, an ear to chew off, or when they need a shoulder - figuratively or literally.

Pending the results of a DNA test, there is a good chance that I am a father. And I don't plan on being one of those deadbeat dads, either. No fucking way in hell. I have every intention of being the best father I can be for Lucas, my limitations be damned.

I'm an animal lover, especially cats, if that isn't obvious by now. While I'm not some sort of PETA freak by any stretch of the imagination, I do believe that the other members of the Animal Kingdom (yes, we're members, like it or not) have every right to co-exist with us in some way, while still obeying the natural order (which we're lucky to be near the top of).

I'm the kind of guy who'll hold open a door for other folks, let them cut line, give them right of way on the road, and generally stay out of their way. I'm not here to inconvenience anyone.

I am an entertainer. I sing and perform, mostly because people like it. It brings me great joy to entertain other folks and make them happy. If they like what I'm doing and it makes them smile, then I can go home and sleep good knowing that I did my job.

I am not a bigot. Black, White, Native American, Latino, Arab, Indian, Asian, Gay, Bisexual - I don't care WHAT you are. What matters to me is WHO you are. There is only one race: The Human Race. We're all in this together, and quite frankly, we need all the help we can get from every source available.

And yet, I am one of the least-trusted people in America. I am discriminated against with insane prejudice. I am looked down upon. People would more likely fire a crass word at me and walk away fuming than say hello and ask how I am. I am trusted less than Hindus, Muslims, Bhuddists, Scientologists, and pretty much any other fringe group you can possibly think of.

Why?

The don't trust me because I'm a godless heathen.

Yes. My lack of belief in any sort of deity is the sole reason. Because I don't believe in God, I can't be trusted. I must be the enemy, because I am not with them.

Despite all the positive aspects of my life - aspects that I think make me just like a lot of other people who do the same things, regardless of faith - I am still at the bottom of the popularity food chain.

They say crazy things, like "Atheism is a religion." Um, no. Theism is practicing Religion. Atheism is literally "Without Theism," or without practicing Religion. To use an analogy that will make Christians uncomfortable: Sexual Reproduction is reproducing through the act of sex. Asexual Reproduction is reproducing without the act of sex. Yummy! Sex!

They say that we're "Agents of Satan." Um, no. If we don't believe in any sort of God figure, then it logically follows that we don't believe in any sort of Devil figure, either, sorry.

They claim that America is somehow a "Christian Nation." This would lead one to believe that they think we don't belong as citizens of this "Christian America" because we're not Christian. Well, I'd like to remind them that while I'm obviously not Christian, I'm not anything else, either. And no, the Founding Fathers, Christian though some of them may have been, had the foresight to make sure that our basic rights included Freedom of Religion, and that our Constitution made it clear that no one religion would be established as a State Religion. No "Christian Nation" for you, sorry.

And there's another thing: Why am I saying sorry so damned much? What have Atheists done throughout history that they should be sorry for? Should Abraham Lincoln be sorry because he abolished slavery, a practice abused by so many Southern Christians?

Christianity, and Religion as a whole, has a lot to be sorry for, and it's all well-documented historical fact. So, I'm done saying I'm sorry.

I won't say it until the Irish Catholic Church apologizes to the people it abused and faces justice for its actions - In the Name of God.

I won't say it until the Vatican cracks down on filth like that worldwide, and apologizes for centuries of abuse and cover-ups - In the Name of God.

I won't say it until supposedly-good people like Pat Robertson and Fred Phelps quit spewing their rancid bile and apologize for being absolute, colossal douchebags - In the Name of God.

And you know what else? I'll continue being an Atheist. But more importantly, through my words and my actions combined, I will continue to be as good a human being as I can be, and contribute positively to society as much as I can. I will continue to love, to entertain, to give, to drive, to build, and to care.

In the name of Human Kind.

Sunday, July 05, 2009

Cuts Like a Knife

Holy shit.

Found this under the Fark Video Tab (FT): Meet Machii Isao - The Modern Samurai Legend. This guy slices and dices through all kinds of crazy stuff. In this poorly-subtitled clip, you see some of the stuff he's carved up in the past, as well as several new (to that broadcast, anyway) challenges - Including a BB fired from an Airsoft gun! Witness:



That's just sick. Kinda makes Anime a little more believable. They need to get this guy on Mythbusters. Seriously...