Asia Bibi – Finally Released!! Time to get rid of obnoxious Blasphemy laws!!

Posted on by Opher

Asia Bibi has finally been released after 8 long years in prison for nothing!

It is a clear case of Religious Persecution. Asia was threatened because she is a Christian!

She was working with Muslim women in a village in Pakistan and drank water from a cup. The Muslim women refused to drink from the same cup because she had defiled it! HOW RIDICULOUS!!! They then turned on her telling her to convert to Islam!! She refused and it developed into a big row. She was harassed and told she had to convert. She was supposed to have made comments about Mohammed. That evening they beat her up and she was subsequently arrested and charged with blasphemy. Incredibly this charge carries a DEATH PENALTY!!!

Asia Bibi was locked up for 8 years under threat of death!

A politician who spoke up for her was murdered!!

In my opinion if Pakistan wants to be considered as a civilised country it has to do a number of things:

a. Repeal its disgusting blasphemy laws

b. Become more tolerant towards other peoples’ views and religion

c. Become less violent

d. Control its mad fanatical extremists

I hope that Asia Bibi and the courageous judges who have released her are now properly protected from the barbaric religious fanatics.

I also hope that those extremists are arrested and dealt with. Their barbarism needs firmly putting down.

Anyone who advocates violence needs locking up.

If Pakistan wants to be a civilised nation it has to start acting like one. It is a hotbed of repugnant extremism!!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-46040515

 

Why we need a universal controlling body.

Posted on by Opher

You know who’d you get with world government? People like Soro, Gates and Bezos.

I think it is precisely to control those bastards that we need a universal controlling body. If you would only look at it in a different way you’d see it is the only thing that makes sense.

Those elites are controlling government right now. They are above any law and control. They, and people like them, are stripping the Earth bare, exploiting everyone and lining their pockets with billions. They have all the politicians in their pocket.

They play nation against nation. They lobby, bribe and get the legislation they want – tax cuts – you got it! No health and safety – you got it! No environmental restrictions – you got it! No blocking tax evasion loopholes – you got it!  Take away worker rights with a gig economy – you got it! Reduce wages with threat of austerity – you got it! Put out a Union scare – you got it!  Distract the population with immigration, terrorism and Muslims – you got it! Deny all the environmental damage – you got it!  Deny global warming and the extinction rates – you got it!

Your worst nightmare is already going on in front of your eyes.

You think it might happen with a world government – it is already happening!

What we need is a universal controlling body to stop them getting away with it.

Freedom – a Poem

Posted on by Opher

Freedom

 

Freedom is solitude.

Even the breeze must follow

The contours of the hills;

The trees roots obey

The pull of gravity;

The mighty seas be thwarted

By the cliffs.

Even the planets are held

In place by laws.

Nothing is truly free

Unless utterly on its own.

And nothing is free

Of the universe.

 

Freedom is being at peace

With where you are.

Freedom is nothing more

Than a state of mind –

A coming to terms

With compromise.

 

Opher 28.7.2018

 

 

I wrote this in response to a bunch of American right-wingers on a site I contribute to. They believe they stand for freedom yet they represent the most conservative and conforming bunch of people I’ve ever encountered. They believe they are maverick and unrestricted yet they are so tribal and stereotyped that their minds are completely closed. They are unable to see any other viewpoint.

They believe tax is robbery and government should not interfere with peoples’ lives without seeing that giving a small elite of the strong and powerful power and control is merely bullying. They believe it is alright to do whatever they like without regard to law, the environment or others. I think they confuse licence with freedom.

They talk of freedom but become belligerent and abusive if you express a view different to their own. They will beat you to a pulp for being a communist, gay or Muslim. They wish to take away the rights of people to decide on contraception, abortion, religion and gender.

They believe in God, Country and the gun and despise equality and those who are different.

Their freedom is being exactly in line with everyone else.

Their freedom is everyone else’s terror and subjugation.

Perhaps they need locking up for their own (or our own) good? I think they could be free in solitary.

Open Your Eyes – A Poem about all Possibility!!

Posted on by Opher

Open Your Eyes

 

We open our eyes into a wondrous place;

Close them and it is gone.

 

What gives it meaning?

 

‘Curing the sick,’

Says the physician,

Operating on the tiny child.

‘Giving life to the dying,

Hope to the parents,

Relief to those in pain.

That provides the meaning.’

 

Understanding the universe,’

Says the scientist,

Solving the problems of the world.

‘Finding what makes the atoms tick,

Where we came from

And the secrets in the depths of space.

That provides the meaning.’

 

‘Making something beautiful,’

Says the artist,

Creating something unique.

‘Crafting a scene so wondrous

That it moves the soul

And opens the heart to love.

That provides the meaning.’

 

‘Caring for those in need,’

Says the nurse,

Smoothing the hair from the troubled brow.

‘Providing comfort

From the stress and strain,

From pain and fear.

That provides the meaning.’

 

‘Worshipping God,’

Says the Bishop

On her knees in prayer.

‘Giving thanks for our lives,

The wonders of the universe

And hope for all eternity.

That is what gives life meaning.’

 

‘Living in the wonder of the moment,’

Says the atheist.

‘Taking pleasure in the awe

Of each and every moment

And wanting nothing more.

That is what gives life meaning.

 

We open our eyes into a wondrous place;

Close them and it is gone.

 

What gives it meaning?

 

Opher 25.7.2018

 

 

Sometimes it is important to reflect that life is short and means different things to different people.

Perhaps there is no meaning other than what we give it?

All I know is that we are born; open our eyes into a place of wonder; live our lives, and then close our eyes and it is gone.

What takes place in between is a product of our desires, our cultural perspective, our indoctrination, our free will and our experiences. Perhaps nothing more.

We live in a moment. We can choose what we make of that.

So What Are You Happy With Oph?

Posted on by Opher

So what are you happy with Oph?

I am happy to believe that humans are capable of using their intelligence for the good of all living creatures and themselves.

I am happy when I see people smiling, helping one another and caring for other living things.

I am happy when I hear of people opposing cruelty, conserving nature, and using their intelligence.

I am happy when I see beauty, hear beauty, taste beauty and touch beauty.

I am happy when I love and am loved.

I am happy when we are in harmony with the world.

I am an extremely tolerant easy going individual. I do not want everyone to think like me. I am appalled by the mess we have made in the world and I hold religion, politics and greed to be the worst culprits.

Adjunct to Who Am I? – Some of what I believe.

Posted on by Opher

Of course all that basic philosophy requires pragmatic conditions:

I believe in people having medical care but there are limits to the costs.

I believe that sex is good and healthy but not coercive sex, violence or irresponsible sex.

I believe in sex education – teaching children to respect, have emotion empathy, be responsible about disease and pregnancy and be able to talk openly about sex.

I believe a female has the choice on abortion but should behave responsibly and use contraception. Every child should be wanted and abortion is not a form of contraception.

I believe that what two consenting adults want to do is up to them, that homosexuality is natural and that nobody has the right to restrict their freedoms.

I believe all religions are manmade. All the holy books are full of cultural baggage that is often stuffed with racism, intolerance, homophobia and misogyny. A person should be free to believe what they like and not impose that on others – particularly children.

I believe that all people deserve good education and that this should be creative, investigative, child centred and not merely stuffing facts into heads for examinations.

I believe that people like the founding fathers of America are interesting but I take them with a pinch of salt. They came from a different age where racism, slavery and misogyny were intrinsic to society and could have no idea of what life now would be like with such huge numbers, polluting cities, pluralistic societies, television, phones, automatic rifles, plastic explosives, women’s rights, cars, planes and fast travel, social media and computers. They wouldn’t have a clue. We live in a vastly different world.

I believe that our dramatic increase in numbers is creating mass poverty, mass migration and destroying the natural world. I believe it is the biggest problem facing mankind.

I believe our pollution is affecting ecosystems across the planet, we are destroying habitats and we are driving many species towards extinction. We are affecting the climate of the planet and disrupting local weather.

Fake Memories – a poem about the truth.

Posted on by Opher

Fake Memories

 

Fake memories

Fake fears

Fake News

Fake tears

 

Rousing the faithful

Feeding the lies

Inflaming the emotions

Deaf to the cries

 

False truth

False fed

False economy

Falsely led

 

Deliberately stoked

For selfish gain

Cynically oblivious

To the generated pain

 

Fake news feeding real crimes

Fake smiles for our times

Fake sincerity for personal gain

Fake compassion masking real pain

 

Real people hypnotised

Following blindly

The veiled disguise.

Ignoring all the shouts

Of the truly wise.

Led up the garden path

That’s built of where’s and why’s.

 

Opher 23.6.2018

 

 

How to pick your way through the exaggerations and lies that are trotted out to frighten us?

I think we are being manipulated for political reasons! Even our memories are fake!

We no longer believe experts and are instructed to ignore them. Now we believe the headlines of the tabloid press or choose to get our view of the world from dubious internet sources.

Truth is hard to find. Too many people have a vested interest in deceiving us.

I’m a Free Man – A poem

Posted on by Opher

I’m a Free Man

 

I’m a free man

But I’m no John Wayne

The freedom I have

Is in the depths of my brain;

I’m not subjected to anyone’s fears.

I’ve no allegiance to all that

Least of all my own cares.

I’ve realised that compromise

Is the name of the game.

I don’t need fortune

Notoriety or fame.

I’ll speak my mind

To any woman or man

Whether enemy, king

Politician or fan.

I’ll think what I like

And weigh everything up –

Listen and ruminate

While I fill up my cup.

I value freedom and justice

Not the bully and greed;

Tolerance and empathy

Is the base of my creed.

I want good education

And a fair society.

Regulation and accountability

Could just be the key.

 

Opher 26.12.2017

 

 

For me freedom is not having the right to throw your weight around and do whatever you like. It is about having the right to think for yourself, not be brainwashed by parents or society and to have the right to express your thoughts, to criticise and point the finger.

I do a lot of that.

Too many people think that freedom is anarchy. It isn’t. Freedom requires control and responsibility. It requires being aware of the sensitivities of others and not abusing them. But it also means that in order to be responsible one has to stand up against the idiot people – the fascists and fundamentalists who would take away our freedoms – the bullies and the belligerent.

Freedom requires being true to oneself, considerate of others and possessing the strength to challenge those who need opposing.

I am a free man.

I want a society that gives me my freedom and curbs the nastiness of the nasty.

Freedom is a compromise. We need some degree of regulation. We need laws and we need control of those laws. We need a say and we need to be able to make changes.

Asia Bibi and the Pakistan Blasphemy Laws – sentenced to death for drinking water!

Posted on by Opher

There is a war going on in Pakistan regarding the insane blasphemy laws. Hard line clerics have called out masses of people to protest that the laws are being diluted.

Diluted!!  They need chucking out!!  The blasphemy laws are barbaric!!

Asia Bibi is a Christian. She was out harvesting berries with a group of Muslim women. They protested about her drinking water from the same bowl as them and accused her of insulting the prophet. In 2010 court found her guilty and sentenced her to death by hanging.

She is still in prison awaiting death. Violent fanatics have threatened her family and say they will kill Asia if she is released.

This is the madness of fundamentalist religion!!

Male Circumscision – is it Child Abuse?

Posted on by Opher

We have no problem whatsoever in declaring that female circumcision is child abuse. If a parent allows their female child to be mutilated then most civilised people would shout loudly that it is wrong.

It does not matter if the parents erroneously believe that it is a religious practice.

Religious practices are not above the law.

Some religious practice declares that it is not only alright, but an absolute mandate from god, to take the life of a nonbeliever. It is never right.

Some religious belief declares that it is right for a wife to throw herself on the funeral pyre of her husband.

Female circumcision is an abuse. It is wrong. It is illegal. It never should happen.

Neither should male circumcision be allowed. It is nowhere near as bad as female mutilation but it is the same principle. A child should not be subjected to such a mutilation unless there is a sound medical reason.

That child should be free to make that decision for themselves when they are old enough to understand. I would suggest that sixteen is such an age.

Under the age of sixteen I believe that imposing religion on children is wrong; I believe that mutilating children against their will is wrong.