I read several articles on the same subject before posting my nithing piece (usual procedure to make certain there isn’t a deceptive slant to the first piece that got my notice) and I got the same sense from all of them.

After reading your objections, I re-read the pieces and I think it’s quite clear that the intent of the AFA pronouncement is that the whale be put down – preferably by stoning – and according to scripture. Now yes, we may have misunderstood what was intended, and I realize now (as you point out) that the man who made this pronouncement is now saying he said nothing of the sort and that his words were taken out of context.

I would like to say in my own defense that first of all, I am not the only person who heard what I heard. It is possible we were all wrong, yes (I am mindful of Anatole France’s words on that score), but the AFA quoted scripture which called not only for the stoning of the creature doing the goring but the person responsible – the curator in this case. If the author simply wanted to say the whale should be euthanized and the park sued, there was no reason to quote the Law of Moses.

Either way, I think, my point stands. The Law of Moses is irrelevant. It is not the law of the land. Even his second post is headed by “Bible ignored.” Yes, and guess what AFA, we can do that, because we are not governed as a society by the Law of Moses, a law code meant for a small group of people some three thousand years ago. From my perspective, the AFA would be nithings simply for suggesting that the Law of Moses applied.

For me, other than honoring my own gods, I see nothing more important than the attacks upon our puralistic, diverse and tolerant society by Christian dominionism, represented by the AFA and others. That’s going to get a “nithing” from me every time. Have you read the blog’s in question’s other posts? I’d nithing this guy for any one of them: “Homosexual agenda or the Constitution: take your pick because you can’t have both”?

Yeah, nithing. Nithing big time. For this and for many other things.

No ones mentioned another option……what if…..

….Tilly had killed the trainer in an act of vengence due to possible mis-treatment and being pissed at having to be cooped up in a small pond of water when her natural, instinctive desire was to be back in the wild, vast oceans with her mates?!

What if Tilly had been totally pissed with her name? I mean, who the Hel calls a KILLER whale ‘Tilly’?!

No one ever mentions that creatures have their own spirit within (or so WE believe) and act in accordance to their will and/or environment…..just like we do…

I’m sure you can see the humour in which the above is written…toungue-in-cheek and all that…but it’s still an option that no one will ever consider. Well, not many people anyways.

Along this line, I would like to draw attention to the author’s update section in regards to the notion of stoning Tilly and the curator. Please take a look.

Personally, I am of the opinion that the whale should be at least removed from performance if not put down altogether. We regularly euthanize dogs, cats, mountain lions and other animals that harm or slay humans and I think this instance calls for no exception.

I am also of the opinion that, while Christians and their declarations can be an amusing lot, there are other important issues that more rightly deserve the raising of something as severe as a nithing.

Some food for thought. ~

I wish you all the best or the 11th, my friend (because that, I consider you are). Perhaps when you have recovered some, you will honour the surgeons and medical staff in a blog and; of course, to let us all know how it went!

In Frith,
Stu

Thank you, Makarios, and likewise. By the way, they’ve moved my surgery out to the 11th due to some scheduling conflict so I have a couple more days to write this week, something I won’t complain about.

Oh, and you’ll appreciate this I know: the insurance company okayed my stay in the hospital as a medical necessity (ya think???) but they say only 4 days (the surgeon says 5-7 minimum.

I asked the doctors about that and they said the insurance companies don’t have medical people on their staff and this, she thought, was just their way of maintaining some control. Great, so some actuary or accountant thinks I can be up and running faster than the expert. In the end, she said there usually is no problem and the insurance company extends your stay per doctor’s request but still – madness – and no need of healthcare reform!!

I assume that they also advocate stoning disobedient children (Deuteronomy 21:18-21).

How did that song go–”Everybody must get stoned?”

And to you, my friend (for so I think of you), health and long life.