The Separation of Church and State

There is a reason our founding fathers chose (deliberately chose) to leave god out of the oaths of office, and government: coming from a country where any religion but the officially accepted religion was persecuted, the only way to make sure such an environment did not develop again was to keep “church” and state separate. Unfortunately this has not been maintained: our past few presidents have been quite vocal about their beliefs, and have even used their religion and beliefs of other religions to start or maintain conflicts against other religions and their followers.
Also, “church” meant and means all forms of religion, not just mention of god or myths from “holy” doctrine or the establishment of religion (church).
Finally, no political party is a friend to any atheist, or free-thinking individual, regardless of their belief or philosophy. The parties are after power and have lost all interest in maintaining a democracy that serves the individuals. Partisan politics is on its way to destroy, or already has destroyed what is left of the democratic system. Individuals who attempt to run for office are not taken seriously unless they are affiliated with a party, preferably one of the “Big Two.” Religion has long driven political power, political power has long used religion to gain and maintain power. Until we as a global society can fix this problem, no political system is going to keep church and state separate for long. Our country claims to do so, but that has been a facade for at least the last 8 years, probably much longer.

Again with the religion in a non-religious class

Why is it OK to share your religion in school, but it's not OK for an atheist to even exist much less try to share their opinion?

Because then the religious types would have to think for themselves in trying to defend their mythology and irrational belief in that which does not and cannot exist.

Interpersonal communications class is about learning to be a better communicator by learning to listen and be "other oriented" without compromising your own self. I actually do enjoy learning about other cultures, especially their history because it really helps me to understand where the person I am trying to communicate is coming from and how I can be sensitive to their mores and ethics. But just about every ethnic group out there seems to center their philosophy and traditions around religion (notable exceptions include: Britain, Australia, some other countries in Europe, some parts of America, Canada).

I try to be sensitive to what I know are rational traditions of religion (are there any?) but I will not allow conversations to turn toward talk about an invisible sky bully. They can talk and I will try to listen to what they are really trying to say, but I will not add my own two cents' about such an evil and malevolent thought disease. I can't say anything nice and won't just to make someone feel better: because it really doesn't help!

I really do think that everyone who is religious is so afraid of dying that they live their whole lives in fear and trying to find something else that scares them even more (the invisible sky bully that will make your life hell if you even think about thinking something naughty). Dying is a natural part of the human life.

Remembering that we have a limited time to do something that will make us feel like we have accomplished something important in improving our lives, the lives of our families and friends is something that would make this whole world a MUCH better place! Instead we have people who "believe" that someone else will take care of them and make it a better place if they just wish it hard enough. This is a failure to take responsibility for one's own life!

I am always greatly saddened to hear that someone has died (if I know them, I will miss them tremendously, especially if they have done anything to improve the human condition on this planet) but that is how life ends, eventually. Medicine is greatly improving life and the longevity of those of us who take care of ourselves, but there is a limit to the construct of the human body. Maybe someday we can enhance our bodies increasing our longevity but I hope that we do not forget our humanity. I hope that we will still eventually die at some time so that we will remember that our time is limited and we should make the most of every moment we have, live life to the fullest with no regrets!

I'm not saying I wouldn't like to live forever, because I would! Life is a wonderful thing! I just wish the religious would let me live my life the way I think is best for me without their b*llsh!t homilies to try to make me "live" better. (I'm not hurting them, OK, maybe I am hurting their feelings or making them doubt their beliefs-oh, I hope so!-but I'm not physically or emotionally hurting them!) Mostly it just makes me feel sad because of the wasted life they are living and how awful it must be to live in constant fear!

As part of the interpersonal communications class, one lady brought in a song for us to listen to that was supposed to represent her values: it was a religious song. I can't even remember anything about it, it is not the kind of music I listen to anyway. I just kept thinking about how limited this lady's life is because she chooses to live in fear and how sad she seemed. She is not from America but speaks very good English. She is taking the class to improve her interpersonal communication skills (of course) but I think she just needs to lose the religion, start thinking for herself and get some confidence. Get happy! So far I thought her skills were quite good. I'm taking the class because it is a requirement for graduation with a nursing degree (and if I had known that I was going to have a public speaking instructor I would have signed up for public speaking or small group communications, I feel like I am taking two classes in one: interpersonal communications and public speaking). I'm not the only person in the class who is a bit upset about having to get up in front of the class. I know my public speaking skills are not top notch, but they are good enough to get me through a day at work, and that's all I really need. I'm not going to try to be a public speaker.

I am now an officially registered certified nursing assistant!

Bureaucracy

Current mood: nauseated
Category: Life

I am now an official, registered, certified nursing assistant!

The story goes like this: my assigned partner and I are called (after waiting for nearly 4 hours). She had to pee and took a run to the powder room. The evaluator called her name and I told her that she had just ran to the refresher. The evaluator said, that's OK because you are going first. I thought this was odd since in all the previous groups the person listed first went first, meaning I should have been the "resident" that the candidate being tested would be caring for.
I fly through my 5 skills, finished within the 25 minute time limit. The evaluator then starts telling me to put my shoes on the floor at the head of the bed, and calls me by my partner's name. I tell her that my name is Lisa and she gets this horrified look on her face. She calls to the other evaluator who is just about to fax the score sheet in for evaluation in Texas. She erases all of the marks and I have to start over, with her marking the form that is for me. I ended up being evaluated on 9 skills instead of 5 (she did not make me demonstrate that I knew how to wash my hands a second time).
The evaluator admitted it was her mistake, but she was so distracted by other things, she didn't notice or hear me when I introduced myself to the patient for the first time after walking into the "room."
I was so relieved to be done with the first five, the second set was even more nerve-wracking. My partner had it easy since I had just performed all of the skills she then had to perform on me (the first 5 skills I did). I think the evaluator went easy on us after that.

Gotta go take another test!