Around two weeks after the attacks, one of the first big comedy events held in New York City was the Friar’s Club Roast of Hugh Hefner. Throughout the night, as funny as it was, there was also an air of hesitation. There was still a massive white elephant in the room that hadn’t yet been addressed. That all changed when Gilbert Gottfried got up to the stand to begin what has been described by many as a career defining moment…
People displaced from Ukraine are (rightly) getting a lot of attention right now. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t other groups that are suffering around the world.
Shea and I were happy to attend this event earlier this week (though disappointed to not win one of the amazing looking cakes in the Silent Auction!)
[Edit: What a weirdly worded post – people are suffering around the world. Also, Shea and I didn’t get cake!] 😮
As Ramadan begins, it’s got me thinking about how (or if?) I balance my views about religion as an atheist with my desire to (try to) be kind and respectful and inclusive as a human being?
I mean, you’re reading a recurring theme post I do most weeks called “Secular Sunday” that regulary pokes fun at and/or heavily criticizes religion. So again, how do you square that circle?
* As a starting point, I’ve said on this blog before that I try not to think of people who are religious as “dumb” or “misguided” but more like they happen to have a giant blindspot in their lives that’s often as much a result of where they were born and the influence of their family as anything. Although I’m not religious, I’m conscious that I have my own blindspots – I like booze and fast food but know it’s harmful, I like campfires even though they’re not great for your lungs or the environment, same with meat, etc. etc. – so this is something I can identify with where we do and like and believe in things that others might think are bad or harmful.
* When I do criticize religion, I try to attack the contradictions and hypocrisies of capital-R “Religion” in the widest sense, not individuals (unless they are individuals who are being hypocritical compared to their faith’s teachings of course.)
* Generally, as long as people of faith aren’t pushing it on me or others, I’m mostly a “live and let live” guy. If your religion gives you comfort or community or helps guide your morals and you’re not actively trying to convert others or being over-the-top with your displays of religious faith, more power to you.
And I’ll be over here cooking steak over the campfire with a beer in my hand! 😉
