Poem – Bombs and Guns – A poem about terrorism and its inevitable end.

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Bombs and Guns

You can destroy people with bombs and guns but you cannot destroy a spirit that lives in their hearts.

The need for liberty, equality and tolerance is bigger than any medieval text. It has been fought for and won over centuries; it will not be relinquished.

Democracy, even in its partial form, is always better than theocracy.

I believe in a pluralist society based on tolerance and equality.

The terrorist have a narrow view of their religion based on medieval texts. There is no room for rational thought or pragmatism. There is no love, mercy or room for doubt.

The indoctrination is complete. They really believe they will bring about the apocalypse. They really believe they will murder and rape their way to paradise.

They are deluded.

 

Bombs and Guns

 

Bombs and guns

The terrorist way

Targeting civilians

Everyday

For daring

To believe

The wrong

Ideology.

 

Righteous

Blindness

Converting profanity

Into

Religious insanity.

 

Intolerant

Fundamentals,

Who are always to blame.

Behind them

Powerful leaders

Seeking fame.

 

Gunmen

Spraying

The innocent

With lead.

Medieval

Callous brutes

Who’ve

Gone wrong

In the head.

 

Opher 25.11.2015

France, Paris and Terrorism – A response.

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The terrorist attacks in Paris are in line with the Islamic doctrine of fundamentalism that pervades in ISIS. Their views are extreme. They believe that all the doctrine of Mohamed has to be taken literally. The wish to return to the exact dogma of the seventh century, institute Sharia law, and practice Takfir. Takfir is a stringent application of apostasy that states all Muslims who have different views of that medieval version of Islam should be slaughtered or used as sex slaves, all infidels – kuffars – unbelievers should be converted, slaughtered or, in the case of Christians, subjugated. They wish to impose Sharia Law and bring about the Apocalypse.

There is nothing moral or tolerant about this doctrine. It is not rational or open to moderation.

Most religious people, including Muslims, are not fundamentalists. They do not take every word literally. They apply morality and rational thought to the words. Christians no longer believe they have to smash babies heads against rocks. Most Muslims do not believe they have to wear medieval costume.

I do not believe there is a god, afterlife or that any holy book is holy. I do not want sharia law imposed on me.

I stand with the people of Paris against the inhumanity of terrorism. Against those who wish to force their views on us. Their doctrine is pernicious.

I believe:

  • Religion is the cause of much evil
  • People should be tolerant of each other
  • We should look after this world
  • We should protect wilderness, forests and wild-life
  • We should educate everyone
  • We should insist on equality
  • We should be prepared to struggle for freedom
  • We have to stand up for what we believe
  • War creates hatred
  • ISIS should be defeated by exposing its cruelty, intolerance, and psychopathy.
  • ISIS should be defeated by starving it of funds.
  • ISIS should be defeated by educating people against all aspects of fundamentalism.

ISIS and all religious fundamentalism hates tolerance, equality and freedom. I am opposed to all they stand for.

I want to live in a world of love, harmony, democracy and peace where all people and all plant and animal life are respected.

I want a positive Zeitgeist.

 

 

Poetry – Religious Apes – a poem about fundamentalism.

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Prose Cons and poetry cover

Religious Apes

I wrote this following the terrible terrorist attacks in Paris. I express my solidarity with all people who stand for tolerance and freedom.

 

People love a cause. They want to believe.

These terrorists are fundamentalists. They believe there is a god, there is a paradise and that every word that Mohamed wrote is true and to be enforced verbatim.

They believe that if they martyr themselves they will wake up in heaven.

They want to die.

They want to return the whole world to the order and systems laid down by Mohamed in the seventh century.

They wish to kill huge numbers of people – more than Hitler ever dreamt of. These include all apostates – The Shia, Yazidi, etc. then Jews, atheists and Christians (who do not convert or subjugate themselves). What their plans for Buddhists, Hindu’s and other religions is probably death as unbelievers.

They are instructed to kill apostates, enslave young girls for sex, to kill kuffars and establish Sharia law. Takfiri is a medieval doctrine that calls for true Muslims to ‘cleanse’ the world. It is a primitive and evil, intolerant doctrine.

There is no reason or morality involved.

To that end they are setting out to battle humanity.

But they do not care that they cannot win.

They want to die.

They believe that their establishment of a Caliphate will bring forward the ‘end of day’. The apocalypse will culminate God’s will.

The black and white, total doctrine appeals to those who crave to believe.

Most religious people are tolerant, caring, moral people. Fundamentalists are irrational, extreme and psychotic.

The gullibility of humans never ceases to amaze me.

 

Religious apes

Religious apes,

Ignorant and hate filled.

Christian, Muslim, Hindu or Jew,

The fruits are the same

Just a different

Chosen few.

It is not hard

To conceive

Why I don’t

Believe.

 

Opher 15.11.2015

Poetry – Mindless mincemeat – A poem about suicide bombers

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Stanzas and Stances cover

Mindless Mincemeat

It is all a question of belief.

 

You believe in God or you don’t.

You believe there is an afterlife with Hell or Heaven or you don’t.

You believe that the Holy Books are written by God through a human mediator or you don’t.

 

I don’t believe any of that.

 

I do not believe in any God.

I do not believe there is anything after death.

I believe that all the religious books were written by men.

I believe religious belief is hard-wired into the human psyche.

I believe that humans are desperate to believe.

I believe that human’s belief is the result of upbringing, indoctrination and desperation to find answers.

I believe that converts are generally more convinced and zealous than those born into the belief.

 

For most religious people this is of no particular consequence. They might argue with me, feel sorry for me or try to persuade me to believe, but most do not see it as a problem.

For a religious fundamentalist my stance is blasphemy. I should be killed for my views.

In medieval Britain people who doubted Christianity would be tortured to force them to confess and reaffirm their belief in order to save their souls.

I don’t need my soul saving. I don’t have one.

 

The zealots of ISIS believe.

 

They believe all who do not share their beliefs should be converted or killed. They themselves are eager to get out of this world. I love this world.

 

This is why I think religion has a potential to be evil.

 

Mindless Mincemeat

Mincemeat in the wind

With imaginary virgins on the horizon.

The rise of indoctrination –

Something to keep your eyes on.

 

Islam – the darkest cloud

From today’s disease is spread.

Intolerance and stupidity

Paradise fills gullible heads.

 

Murderous intentions

To all who do not agree.

Beheadings, crucifixions

Delivered by decree.

 

Fostering hatred to harvest death,

Martyrs with no doubt,

Callous killers with no remorse

Or mercy, looking for an out.

 

15.11.2015

Hijabs, Burqas, veils, modesty, misogyny and Islam. What do you think?

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I have a dilemma when it comes to the clothing restrictions made on women in Islam.

I do not like it. I think it is misogynistic. I do not believe it is Islamic; it is pre-Islamic. I see it as a process of subordination of women that stems from the Arabic, Abrahamic tradition; straight out of medieval tribalism.

I do not think women should be treated as sex objects. I think they are equal. But they should be allowed to express their sexuality. I do not like repression in any form.

I despise the imposition of dress codes on women and become furious when I read of women being whipped or beaten for not complying.

I feel it is grossly unfair when I see men walking around free to wear what they like while their women are constrained.

I know that some women want to wear these costumes from long ago. They say it gives them confidence and they do not like men’s eyes on them. I can understand that.

I know some women feel that it is a religious duty to comply.

I know that some women wear hijabs that are highly decorative and that it is attractive.

I do not find it so. I find it a symbol of repression, control and un-emancipation. It is like a woman is being forced to wear shackles.

It stinks.

I have enough trouble with the absurdity of religion without the primitive, sexist, misogynistic overtones.

Then I hit the dilemma.

I also believe that people should be free to wear what they like, dress how they like and believe what they like.

I just wish that women in this country would appreciate the plight of their disenfranchised sisters and show a bit of solidarity! We have a culture of equality, tolerance, freedom and democracy.

I believe that costume challenges those values.

So what’s your opinion?

Opher’s Book Recommendations –

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I thought it was about time I did a little marketing. I’m producing all these books and it would be nice to have some readers for my words.

These are a couple of books about Antitheism. One is a bit of a laugh and the other a novel.

These are the Amazon UK links:

 

The Book of Ginny

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Book-Ginny-Opher-Goodwin/dp/150089074X/ref=sr_1_28?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1446400146&sr=1-28&keywords=Opher+Goodwin

 

The Antitheist’s Dictionary

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Antitheists-Dictionary-Opher-Goodwin/dp/1500821144/ref=sr_1_17?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1446400146&sr=1-17&keywords=Opher+Goodwin

 

Another aim of my blog – my writing!

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One of the aims of my blog was to publicise my writing.

I don’t do a very good job of marketing. I enjoy writing. I love writing novels and other books. I hate editing, marketing and merchandising. It takes up good writing time.

However I can see that it seems fairly pointless writing lots of books if nobody reads them. I see it as the difference between sex and masturbation. But that’s just me.

I naively thought that I’d set up a blog, write about whatever took my fancy, attract in fellow-minded individuals, and they would be turned on enough by my interests, turn of phrase and diverse mental machinations to want to purchase all my books. I would then have an audience.

It hasn’t quite worked that way.

The blog takes up a lot of my time. I write as much on the blog as I do for the books.

The followers are relatively few. The book sales are steady and undramatic and the reviews are verbally brilliant but substantially sparse.

As I am a passionate writer who believes that I have something to say and have an interesting style, some skills and produce very readable, quirky, and original material I live in hope.

If you are interested in what I write and would like to purchase a book I would direct you to Amazon (I know) where my books are all sitting comfortably awaiting new homes. They long to be adopted in either paperback or kindle.

Why not, for a small sum, give a home to an Opher book? You’ll learn to love it.

For those in the UK –

PS – If you are one of those beautiful people who have purchased and enjoyed one of my books – please leave a review on Amazon

 

Stanzas and Stances – my new Poetry Anthology will be my 28th published book!

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I actually had to go and have a count up to see how many books I had published. So far I have 27 up on Amazon in both paperback and kindle. Stanzas and Stances will be my 28th.

As I have the Blues Muse, the Nick Harper and Roy Harper books already written that will put me over thirty published books by next April (All being well).

I get very proud when I think of all my ‘babies’ out there in the world.

So far the sales have been a steady trickle – around twenty to thirty a month – certainly nothing spectacular – but the reviews and responses have been brilliant. Thank you so much for the fabulous support! It gives me heart.

Yesterday – A bit of a Landmark! My 1600th post! Thank you for your support!

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Yesterday was a bit of a landmark. It was the day I posted my 1600th post on my blog. I started blogging on May 20th 2014 so I have been blogging for 17 months. So that is nearly a hundred posts a month. It is no wonder I’m so tired.

During that time I seem to have accumulated 4600 followers on email, facebook, twitter and wordpress – had 51,117 views – 18,700 visitors – 10,290 likes – 2740 comments and not received ant abusive remarks!

I have welcomed visitors from 120 different countries! That is incredible.

Now I know that is very small change for a lot of bloggers but I am amazed. It is great to be able to speak with people all over the world. I feel I have made real friends. It feels as if we have built a community.

My head’s not empty yet – I think I might have a few more posts in me!

So thank you one and all. It is great to get your support – keep the comments flowing and like button pressed. It gives me energy.

We will not agree on everything but please feel free to tell me where I have gone wrong. I love arguing my case and do occasionally change my view. I know I am opinionated and irascible. I can’t help that. What you get is me.

THANK YOU ONE AND ALL – BEST WISHES – OPHER

Do repressed cultures create violence and misogyny?

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The book of ginny

At present there are thousands of young men streaming in to fight for the caliphate of ISIS/ISIL. They are all fired up to defend the values of Islam against the influence of the West.

So what are the things that are things that are attracting them? Well, as with all wars, there is the excitement and comradeship of fighting for a cause. There is also the desire to be seen as a hero, a real brave man, to do heroic deeds and be respected. There is the added attraction of sex. They can take their Jihadi brides, rape infidel women, and sate their sexual appetites in a way that would be impossible within the constraints of their culture.

ISIS is attractive because it is the Rock ‘n’ Roll of religion. The young men have freedoms they never dreamed of. They can kill, rape and destroy to their heart’s content. They don’t have to be content with chucking TVs out of windows, driving Rolls Royce’s into swimming pools or dynamiting toilets. They can do it for real with no limits and god not only sanctions it but gives them backstage passes in the bargain!

The only downside is that it isn’t going to last too long. Having your legs and nuts blown off, getting burnt, maimed and blown to smithereens by American, Russian, Iraqi, Kurdish, Jewish or Jordanian forces can be a slight negative.

The further shock comes later still when you see that your mutilated comrades do not die with smiles on their faces as they are lifted up to paradise by Allah to spend eternity with their allotted virgins.

What attracts the women to such a fate is a different matter.

What do you think?