04 May 2004
Billboards in Missouri

We're back, and a grand trip it was, too - there'll be another post detailing the Moot in a bit. But I just have to mention the most disturbing part of the drive - across the great State of Missouri.

Missouri, for those of you not privileged to have visited, is a very beautiful place. The Ozark Mountains rise in the southwestern portion, most of the state is heavily forested and that which is not is covered by rolling green pastures ... and billboards. Missouri is truely the "Buckle of the Bible Belt".

Coming into the Missouri from the west, the first thing one sees is a very stark (white letter on solid black background) announcing that:

And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery. Matthew 19:9

Before you get into the state from the east you'll run into the home of The Cross Foundation. It really sets the tone for what's to follow.

There were plenty of the "God" series:

You think it's hot here? - God

C'mon over and bring the kids - God

We need to talk - God

Have you read my #1 best seller? There's going to be a test. - God

Either side of St. Louis has a very interesting piece: a smiling baby, sitting up and asking: "Who's my Daddy?", followed by the tag line for a DNA paternity testing service. I guess there's some "fun" in "fundamentalism", after all. Especially if one counts the number of porno shops by the highway.

It seems as though every exit had a little store selling porn and "adult novelties" - mostly catering to long haul truckers, I imagine. This just has to drive the local churches crazy - and they've decided to do something about it. Outside of every single one I saw was a billboard (usually two, one facing the highway from either direction) decrying the bad effects of "pornography addiction", usually urging the reader to seek salvation in Jesus. There must've been at least 50 of these sites along I-44 alone: some group of church puppies spent a tremendous amount of money to get their point across.

Now, the libertarian in me says "Well, fine! We have free speech in this country, and they're welcome to buy the ads to get their viewpoint across!". But the Asatrurar in me remembers a old folks saying, something to the effect of "What's good for the goose is good for the gander!". He wants to win the lottery, and buy a billboard next to every church in the state, saying "Warning: Christianity can be hazardous to your health!".

Imagine the howls that would go up from the churches then.

00:00 /Home | 2 comments | permanent link

Pigs in the Park

On the Heathen path, the boar is considered to be a sacred animal, a sign of prosperity and wealth, not to mention good eats. Christians don't object much to porkers, either. But, of course, some other religions don't have any such fond feelings for pigs. So of course, we have to get rid of them:

Demands are growing for a historic statue of a boar to be replaced in Derby's Arboretum - despite claims that it will offend Muslims in the area.
(link) [This Is Derbyshire]

But of course, when it comes to Muslim traditions and customs, we're supposed to be totally accomodating!

Next month, Hamtramck will become one of the few cities in the United States where the Islamic call to prayer is broadcast onto public streets. The impact of that decision is reverberating across the nation.
(link) [Detroit News]

This whole "movement" towards "tolerance" for Muslims is much wider than just pigs and loudspeakers:

A statue of St James the Moor-slayer is to be removed from a Spanish cathedral to avoid causing offence.
(link) [BBC News | World | UK Edition]

Not even national heros are safe from eviseration in the name of polity! Where is Islamic "tolerance", or is that an oxymoron? Is this just an attack of overly zealous political correctness? Or could it be a "fear factor"?

Terrorism may not be winning, but cowardice is.

00:00 /Asatru | 0 comments | permanent link

Have sex, save the planet

The dawn of "socially conscious" porn. It was bound to happen.

Rainforest needs you - so get naked

(link) [The Register]

00:00 /Humor | 0 comments | permanent link

Peru coca growers march on Lima

These poor, simple folks just don't understand that they're just one of the casualties of the current "War on Drugs" ...

Demonstrators chanted slogans such as "we are farmers, not criminals" and waved flags and banners painted with the names of their regions.

Thousands of Peruvian coca growers march on the capital to protest at government plans to eradicate their crop.

(link) [BBC News | World | UK Edition]

00:00 /Agriculture | 1 comment | permanent link