What’s this blog about?

I’ve never entered anything in the “About Me” section of the blog. When I started, I wanted to leave it open, and since over time my emphases have shifted quite a bit I believed there wasn’t enough consistency to characterize the blog as being “about” this or that. It’s also difficult to estimate how much attention you’ve paid to various subjects over an extended period of time – you tend to be more aware of recent interests.

But I’ve just discovered that Blogger has a handy feature that tells you how many times you’ve used each tag, and it turns out I haven’t shifted topics so much as expanded on them, while the core subjects – to be sure, there are several - have stayed largely the same.

Across more than 900 posts, these have been my main emphases:

• social movements

• human and animal rights (this is really one category – animal rights – of which human rights is a subset; I’ve had a surprising emphasis on whales)

• the US and the Americas, with a focus on Honduras and Venezuela

• science, research, and technology

• ethics

• women, gender, and sexuality

• atheism and religion

• corporations

• health, with an emphasis on biopsychiatry (for which I don’t have a tag) and humanistic alternatives (especially those of Erich Fromm and Karen Horney)

• law

• spin (mostly corporate and government)

• art, film, and music

• history, with an emphasis on the Holocaust and the Cold War

Other major topics have included:

• nature and evolution

• the media

• academics and education

• skepticism

• race

• photography and poetry (mine and others’)

• veganism, food and drink

I’ll probably summarize the information for the “About Me” page, or maybe I’ll just link to this post.

I am (still) Charlie: anti-racist

In January and early this month, I wrote here and elsewhere about the murders at the office of Charlie Hebdo in Paris and the public reactions to this violence:

• “Tragedy at Charlie Hebdo”

• “Before the massacre”

• “Theocrats of all stripes”

• “Interview with Charlie Hebdo cartoonist Luz”

• “I wasn’t consulted about that faith compromise, and won’t respect it.”

• “Global dog-whistle politics and words we should do without”

I particularly challenged a tendency among some on the Left to rush to accept claims about the racism of CH, to refuse the identification with the victims and survivors of the massacre implied in “Je suis Charlie,” and, when presented with evidence that their initial beliefs were mistaken, either to engage in mental gymnastics to try to uphold those claims in some form or to go silent and let the claims stand:

• “A bad epistemic approach is anti-humanist, unwise, and unkind”

• “Guest post: The problem with ‘Je ne suis pas Charlie’”

• “Guest post: The community of the potentially mockable”

• “Preparing the ground for future crimes”

I noted at the time that while I thought this approach was unfair, disrespectful, and harmful, in most cases I believed the motives behind it were good. Some on the Left, sadly, just aren’t strong supporters of free expression and the right to blaspheme, and so had little compunction about suggesting that the people at CH were irresponsible or callous. But many others, cognizant of the reality of anti-Muslim bigotry and violence in Europe, (rightly) felt responsible to decry this racism and violence at the same time as they stood for free expression and the right to blaspheme, and (wrongly) saw calling out CH’s alleged racism in these terms.

So my posts at the time were directed at the people on the Left – arguing that for too many the fear of contributing to racism was leading to a failure to follow sound procedures for reaching and defending conclusions. I suspected at the time that some on the Right would take advantage of this episode, using it as an opportune moment to proclaim that (large segments of) the Left defend Islamism or that the vast majority of leftwing claims of racism are unfounded. And they have. (So be it – I’m not interested in their cynical and disingenuous games.) I expected that many would use the defense of CH to advance a racist agenda, dishonestly joining CH to their hateful movement. And they’ve done this as well.

So the Right have fulfilled my low expectations. But I want here to reiterate that my own support of and identification with the staff at Charlie Hebdo was based on a shared commitment not only to defending free expression and blasphemy but to opposing racism. This doesn’t mean I think they’ve been immaculately correct in every possible way; neither has anyone. But they’ve seen these missions – to oppose systemic racism, to fight for social justice, to defend and demand free expression and blasphemy – as generally compatible, while recognizing that this can be complicated in practice and trying to be careful not to set back one of these goals while advancing another.

My support for CH was never just about free expression and blasphemy, but about their real and longstanding anti-racist actions. When I first put the “Je suis Charlie” logo up here in the hours after the attack, this was what I had in mind - a commitment to anti-authoritarianism, real skepticism, anti-racism, social justice, and free expression. All of it, at once.

In practice, of course, this means different things for different people in different contexts. For me, today, in this context, it means:

• bringing attention to rightwing (Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, atheist, nationalist, imperialist, racist, patriarchal, corporate, neoliberal,…) ideas, practices, and policies in those areas about which I have some knowledge;

• refusing to focus almost entirely on one form of rightwing ideology;

• analyzing the cultural, political, and economic roots of rightwing movements;

• examining the shared bases and common core of all forms of rightwing thought (including, importantly, speciesism);

• promoting liberation and social justice struggles;

• challenging faith and deference toward faith in general and in liberation movements specifically, and encouraging good epistemic practices;

• supporting blasphemy that isn’t hateful, demeaning, or aligned with rightwing projects;

• trying as best I can to do all of this in a spirit of humility, compassion, and fairness

Morgan case update from the Orca Coalition

The coalition's Twitter feed (@orkacoalitie) linked to this update earlier today:

First of all we would like to thank you for the wonderful support we have received from the moment Morgan was taken from the sea. This has meant a lot to us but also to Morgan. This support is what keeps us going and gives us the extra energy to keep up the fight day after day.

We would also like to give you an update on the current situation. Unfortunately we cannot go into the details on some parts, but hopefully this gives more clarity.

This last week the Orca Coalition has been writing and collecting additional documents that we could submit to the Ministry following the hearing on 9 September. These documents serve to support our arguments for Morgan's release.

In the near future it should become clear what the Ministry will decide. Will it be Loro Parque in Tenerife, or will they finally decide that Morgan can return to her family in the wild? Because we certainly take into account a negative decision, we are preparing ourselves for a possible subsequent lawsuit. Also raising funds to cover the legal expenses is badly needed.

Of course we hope that the Ministry will make the right decision, allowing Morgan to finally begin her rehabilitation and a life of freedom in the prospect, from which much can be learned. If the Ministry decides to release Morgan we will continue to work on her rehabilitation and we will give support where needed.

We hope to be able to give you more information soon.

The Orca Coalition

Sites I like: reproductive rights and health

As I develop HYDRA (almost 350 sites!), it continues to be heartening to see the networks being built and work being done on important fronts. Here are a few more resources:

The European Pro-Choice Network: a hub with news on reproductive rights not just in Europe but in South Africa, Pakistan, Argentina,...

ANSIRH (Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health) blog: intelligent commentary and research from the Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health at UCSF

Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health

Sites I like: health, politics, and fishing

HYDRA* is now up to almost 250 sites, and I’m enjoying finding new links from recommended sites and being reminded of resources about which I’d forgotten. Here are a few I’ve added recently – focusing on the corporate influence on health, rightwing politics, and sustainable local fisheries – that provide bountiful information and analysis:

Healthy Skepticism (see especially “What’s new?”)

Corporations and Health Watch

In addition to the mainstay Right Wing Watch, there is Political Research Associates, providing analysis of rightwing movements.

Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance: news and resources for sustainable fisheries rooted in fishing communities (including Community-Supported Fisheries)

* Once again, any suggestions for sites you’ve found to be good resources in your area of interest or expertise would be appreciated.

HYDRA - launch and request for suggestions

I’ve become increasingly annoyed with the fact that my searches don’t turn up the news and information I’m interested in, so I’ve begun my own leftwing search engine, HYDRA, which can be used by anyone. (Heartfelt thanks to strange gods for the help.)

It’s just to the left, and you can give it a try. So far, it includes only slightly more than 100 sites, but I hope to expand it greatly. Please suggest sites – news, organizations, blogs (including your own) – that you’d like to see included. I plan to update it regularly, and I don’t think there’s a limit. I’ll include any sites in any area, geographical (including local) or topical, as long as they offer a smart, skeptical, and (preferably as-far-as-possible-)leftwing perspective and don’t irritate me.

I hope people find it useful.

Linkage Love, Awesome Female Atheists, Sabina Guzzanti

It’s in the air. Already mine is the Quote of the Day! Thanks, Rational Rant. I’ve looked through some of your earlier posts, but I don’t really know you well at all, so please don’t be anything bad. I’d hate to link to anything bad.

In that warm spirit, I’ll belatedly draw more attention to Blag Hag’s Large List of Awesome Female Atheists.*

(By the way, how’s that database coming along, Dr. Dawkins?)

Well done, Jen. I thought at the time that Sabina Guzzanti should be added, but couldn’t find clear evidence that she’s an atheist (though she certainly appears to be). Regardless, this should be watched:

Here it is in English, but it appears to be only her narration that is translated, so it misses a lot.

*This has nothing whatsoever to do with the fact that I’m on it.

Shut up.

Indefensible

I’m writing a longer post about argumentation, but I’m going to leave this one first.
The following (not entirely consistent) insinuations and allegations have been made by Greg Laden in recent days:

Much of your commentary together with this statement could lead some people to assume that you have some serious antisemitic issues to deal with. I'm not saying that, but I just want you to know that it could look this way. (I don't happen to think it is the case.)

This is not about appeasement. It is about not being a racist slob.

I honestly believe that SC's commentary and other commentary on other blogs (on SB and NN) looked dangerously like antisemitism, telling the loud jew to shut up, a bit of victim blaming.

I also honestly believed that this was nothing like the intent of those who were making the comments.

Greg has been asked numerous times, in a variety of manners and tones, by a number of people to point to the specific “commentary” he’s talking about and how it can reasonably be seen this way in context, and to explain his bizarre reading of the one sentence he did single out. (Of course some people could read my comments any way at all, but they could be deluded, willfully misinterpreting, or stupid; only reasonable interpretations are material here.) He has explicitly declined to do so, as has his sidekick.

So far, the people who have preferred to quietly abide or defend these accusations, often disingenuously and callously suggesting that they’re irrelevant to some broader point he was supposedly making or of no particular significance, have also failed to cite anything specific or attempt to make any substantive case on his behalf. If anyone wants to do so, this thread is open to your comments. If you cannot produce anything in support of these insinuations/allegations but continue to ignore them and defend Greg’s “argument,” then be aware that you’re condoning Greg’s making the worst sort of charge about another person* – and one whom he called a friend – casually and baselessly, and refusing to retract it and apologize when he couldn’t defend it. You should think about how you would feel in my place.

*And let's be very clear here: the insinuation is obvious to anyone reading honestly. But even assuming he was "merely" talking about how my comments could be read by objective others, no evidence has been presented in support of that, either.

I heart PZ Myers and Greg Laden

Thank you both.

PZ brought thousands of people here. It may well have called some people's attention to what's happening in Honduras. This is hugely important. (And yes, I'm utterly thrilled that more people are now aware of my blog.) PZ rocks.

And Greg Laden, well...

I'm so glad to have discovered the Salty Current blog, BTW.

...and I must say, that Salty Current has exhibited an admirable degree of professionalism, grace, and aplomb throughout this whole incident.

Oh, and Jadehawk's

see? this is what happens when you take a Pharyngulite out if its natural environment and allow it to invade other blogs.

Invasive species are such a pain, aren't they?

was perfect. It's funny, because it's true.

Pie hole? Are you kidding me?

Well, Isis, I'd like to know what you'd like me to do. I started this blog primarily because of what was happening in Honduras, but it's been dedicated to movements from below around the world. Any suggestions? Any you or your readers have are most welcome.

Butterflies and Wheels, Sokal, and National Rum Day

I see that Butterflies and Wheels has linked to my recent post, "Alan Sokal, science, and politics." Many thanks to Ophelia Benson, whose persistent challenging of Mooney and Kirshenbaum I noted admiringly in another recent post. And welcome, B&W readers!

As I said at the end of the Sokal post, I plan to develop several of those ideas in more depth in the upcoming weeks. I'll be traveling today, but hope to respond to comments and put up a few more posts this evening.

In the meantime...

As some people may be aware, I am a devotee of Gosling's Black Seal Rum from Bermuda.






I learned from their mailing list [!] recently that today is National Rum Day! (I assume that means in Bermuda, but today we are all Bermudians.) Here are some recipes for rum cocktails. They also recently teamed up with Polar Beverages here in Massachusetts to make their own ginger beer, as used in Bermuda's national drink, the Dark 'n Stormy.

Gosling's outlets tend to follow the sailing/sea-trade circuit, so a lot of places in the Boston area carry it (also the great Bar 89 in New York, where cool bartenders fix nice, strong drinks). Here's help finding a supplier near you (possibly).

Happy Rum Day!

Thanks, PZ!

My deepest gratitude to PZ Myers of Pharyngula for linking to my fledgling blog! A post about a mermaid fatwa seems a completely appropriate introduction to the site.

And thanks to everyone else for visiting! Hope you stay a while, take a look around, and stop back soon!

WELCOME!

Welcome to my blog!

(Donations also most welcome. :))