I am an American. I am also a Christian. I am not a fundamentalist, and I do not believe it is appropriate or somehow necessary to force others to follow what I believe. I may discuss my beliefs at times with people who are interested, when it is appropriate, but I do not believe in coercion.
There is something that I have found disturbing in US politics, and specifically among a certain subset of Christians, who have very strong beliefs (not a bad thing), who are very vocal (not always bad, but needs to be done in an appropriate manner and in an appropriate location), and who are very pushy and insistent that others follow their beliefs (that’s what I’m ranting about).
I lived outside of my home country for seven years, and it is only upon my return that I have noticed this, although looking back, I can see quite clearly that this is a movement that has been growing in strength for many years.
Many of these presumably well-meaning people like to make the claim that America is a Christian nation and was intended to be one by the men who founded her. Remember, I am a Christian as I say this; I don’t believe this belief has any foundation in reality. History does not back it up, and most of the time directly contradicts this claim.
Many of the Founding Fathers of the United States were Christians. Some were Catholics, some were Protestants of various traditions, and still others were Deists or essentially non-religious. What they all agreed on was that they didn’t want any of the others in their group to be able to tell them what they must believe, how (or if) they should worship, and who (if anyone). They all agreed that the State having any control over such things was dangerous and only caused division, strife, and persecution.
None of them seemed to think that religious beliefs should have no place in the public discourse, only that those beliefs should and could not be allowed to coerce anyone else into following their tenets.
I find it hard to believe that any of them would have a problem with someone saying, “Merry Christmas,” or “Happy Hanukkuh,” or “Eid Mubarak Sa’id.” I do believe all of them would have had a problem with the State demanding that everyone say, or support, any one of them.
Thomas Jefferson spoke his mind very clearly when he said, “I am for freedom of religion, and against all maneuvers to bring about a legal ascendancy of one sect over another.”
I happen to agree. I don’t want you to tell me what I must believe or follow any more than you want me to do so.
Even if they were to push an agenda that I might agree with from a standpoint of religious doctrine, I cannot agree with those who would try to force a religious based political agenda on the masses, at least not one that is based solely on an ethic birthed in a faith that is not shared by all who are to be affected. This is true whether being pushed by Imams in Iran, hard line Rabbis in Israel, radical Hindus in India or the Religious Right in the USA.
Obviously, some laws are based in religious concepts, but that does not make them religious laws. Truth is truth, whether it is spoken by a religion you agree or disagree with, or by someone with no religious affiliation. Pretty much all of us, at least in the statistically important sense, would agree that murder and theft are generally bad things. These have foundations in religion, but may also be argued from other standpoints like logic and respect, and are not the sole domain of one religious viewpoint. In a pluralistic society, that is reasonable.
What is not reasonable is saying to an entire society that your viewpoint is obviously the one on which the society was founded, even though your viewpoint didn’t exist as recently as 30 or 40 years ago (to be generous), especially when history itself requires a rewrite to support the idea.
If people who subscribe to a strong religious viewpoint want others to take them seriously, it would behoove them to look into ways in which they may engage their culture in a conversation, respectfully sharing and giving reason for why their way is better, rather than trying to force that way upon the masses through legislation, thereby causing great alienation, anger, and making people run as quickly and as far from these viewpoints as possible.
October 12th, 2008
The Ubuntu Forums are blessed with an amazing and wonderful group of staff members. This time around, we have the privilege of hearing from one of the younger and newer additions, a wonderful guy named Joeb454. Be sure to check out his personal blog as well.
1) Tell as much as you’re willing about your “real” life — name, age, gender, location, family, religion, profession, education, hobbies, etc.
Well my name is Joe, and if you look hard enough, you’ll find my last name too 
I’m 19, from Leicester UK where I go to University (Software Engineering) which is great, as I recently found out one of my lecturers uses Ubuntu too! Hobbies are basically, computers, music & Xbox 360.
I’ll also provide a Desktop (well…laptop) screenshot of what my Desktop currently looks like (I’m using the DustTheme):
Joeb454's desktop
2) When and how did you become interested in computers? in Linux? in Ubuntu?
I became interested in computers somewhere around 2003, I’m not too sure. We got our first PC in 1997, a Win95 machine with 16MB RAM, a 133Mhz Pentium & a 1.9GB HDD 
We then didn’t get another PC until around 2003, which is when I really got into them. Ubuntu came about around Hoary (5.04?), I have no idea how I found it, but it looked good even then, but I couldn’t get it to run. I finally got around to installing Feisty (7.04) around May 2007, and have been running Ubuntu ever since 
3) When did you become involved in the forums? What’s your role there?
I joined the forums August 2007 (the 31st if you want specifics), and I didn’t post too much at first, except when I started University in September, when I had long breaks (2-3 hours) I used to browse the forums. It was then I started to realise “hey, I think I know how to fix that” so I started helping. In December, I joined the Ubuntu Forums Beginners Team, who are a great group of people, we just generally try and help out the new guys.
By the beginning of March, I’d accumulated 1,000 posts, which I thought was quite good, however the next thing I knew, I’d got 2,000, then 3,000 and it was only May. I guess that may have helped to decide whether or not I got asked to be Forum Staff in July, which I was offered, and gladly accepted. I enjoy doing it, though it’s not all fun and games.
4) Are you an Ubuntu member? If so, how do you contribute? If not, do you plan on becoming one?
I am indeed, I got accepted around the middle of August this year. I contribute mainly to the forums, as I mentioned above, however I also recommend Ubuntu to people within the community, and make it known that no - I don’t often use Windows. This usually raises some questions which allows me to talk about it a little. I’ve had some luck with getting other people looking at it too. Sometime soon I may be going to a LUG meeting, as recommended by the lecturer I mentioned earlier Hopefully I’ll enjoy it!
5) What distros do you regularly use? What software? What’s your favorite application? Your least favorite?
I only use Ubuntu. I do have Windows Vista installed, but it rarely sees the light, I just think it’s a good idea to remember how to use Windows while all my family still use it (I’m the go-to guy). I use Firefox, Xchat, Thunderbird & Amarok quite a lot, they all work just as I want them too. I don’t think I have a favourite application, though my least favourite is definitely Ekiga…It’s the first thing I do on a clean install (apt-get purge ekiga)…I mean, who uses it?!?!
6) What’s your fondest memory from the forums, or from Ubuntu overall? What’s your worst?
There’s been so many fond memories, I can’t even choose, I liked the fact that I got a thread made about whether I was a human or a dog, that was rather funny (my avatar is normally Brian Griffin from Family Guy). The worst memory I have, is probably when I banned a member of the doc team, who made 17 duplicate threads, which I deleted all but 1. I then received a PM which basically declared war on the forums… :p
7) What luck have you had introducing new computer users to Ubuntu?
Some, I’ve got a friend running an Ubuntu dual boot on his desktop. He also bought an Eee PC from a forum user (I acted as the middle man, my friend isn’t registered). I’ve also got some people looking at it just by mentioning things it can do - the Live CD is a good example, I recovered all of somebody’s documents using the Live CD
8) What would you like to see happen with Linux in the future? with Ubuntu?
I’m not sure whether I’d like to see it become overly popular, I kind of like being 1337 On a more serious note - it’s great to see it spreading, I’ve noticed a lot of people at University using Linux in some form. I hope Ubuntu (and Linux in general) both continue to grow and improve - I’m looking forward to seeing what happens.
9) If there was one thing you could tell all new Ubuntu users, what would it be?
Don’t be shy, ask questions! There’s IRC for instant support (it can get crowded in there though, the Beginners Team have an IRC group to help too), there’s also the forums, they’re a great place for support, often with quick replies too.
Basically, what I’m saying is - “Don’t give up, just because there are obstacles in the way…stop and think if Windows has never caused you problems, but you want to stick with that??”
October 9th, 2008
I am certain that my fellow Americans expect that on my induction into the Presidency I will address them with a candor and a decision which the present situation of our Nation impels. This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly. Nor need we shrink from honestly facing conditions in our country today. This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself — nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory. I am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days.
From Franklin Roosevelt’s first inaugural address, March 4, 1933
Fear, uncertainty, and doubt, also known as FUD, are the driving forces in American politics today. They are pervasive in the advertising-revenue driven “news.” They can be found in the recent panic to “do something” about the current economic chaos. They can be heard in the last several years’ constant drone about “terrorism” and the need to quell civil liberties in the pursuit of a mystical idea of security through control.
FUD are a horrible basis for doing anything.
Don’t let fear run your life. Seek out truth. Use logic. Find the facts, and don’t listen to the Chicken Littles of today who are running around shouting, “The sky is falling!”
Don’t trust the fear mongers, the doubt peddlers, and those who spread division.
Politics never changed the world. Neither has fundamentalism or zealotry (religious or otherwise). However, truth sets people free. Yes, facts matter. Grace, mercy and forgiveness change societies and individuals. Freedom, a lessening of the reins, yields as its reward the gratitude of the majority and order through voluntary cooperation toward a mutually beneficial objective.
October 2nd, 2008
I was reading my friend K.Mandla’s blog and he commented that if you type “kmandla” in the address bar of Firefox, or in the Google search page form, and hit “I’m feeling lucky,” you end up at his website. That’s cool.
Just to see what would happen, I did the same using “matthewhelmke.” Guess where I ended up?
Will it work for all of us?
September 29th, 2008
Welcome to the next installment of Ubuntu Community Interviews. Today we are highlighting John Crawford, an Ubuntu Member, a leader in the Arizona LoCo Team, one of the co-editors of the Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter, and the editor for the Ubuntu Fridge.
1. Tell as much as you’re willing about your “real” life — name, age, gender, location, family, religion, profession, education, hobbies, etc.
I’m John Crawford (johnc4510), a 55 year old male, living in Arizona. I was once married, but I have been single for so long now that I really don’t even remember it. I grew up in Missouri which accounts for what I call my “hick” accent. I’ve had several hobbies over the years, but Ubuntu seems to have replaced them all.
2. When and how did you become interested in computers? in Linux? in Ubuntu?
I got my first computer experiences in the work place, but didn’t have one for home use until 1985. It was a basic machine and didn’t have a very fast processor. I used it mostly for web surfing, email, etc. I became interested in Linux sometime in early 2005. I was just looking for a better alternative to Windows, and happened upon the DistroWatch website. I tried a few different flavors of Linux but settled on Ubuntu for several reasons. It seemed to work with my hardware well, anything that didn’t work right off I was able to make work with help from the forums. I was also very impressed with the community, no rants, or telling you how stupid you were.
3. When did you become involved in the forums (or the Ubuntu community)? What’s your role there?
My transition to helping on the forums was kind of a natural thing. It was where I learned about our operating system, and I felt I might be able to give back some of the great tips and help I had received. I’m not as active on the forums as I used to be, but I do moderate the Arizona thread, the US Teams thread, and the Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter thread. I wish I had more time to devote to the forums but other Ubuntu tasks have pulled me in other directions.
4. Are you an Ubuntu member? If so, how do you contribute? If not, do you plan on becoming one?
I am an Ubuntu Member, and very proud of that fact. In addition to the moderating of forum threads I listed above, I’m a founding member and team leader of the Arizona LoCo team, a co-editor of the Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter, and an editor for the Fridge. I’m not the most technical Linux user around, so I try to find other places that I can do something to contribute back to the community.
5. What distros do you regularly use? What software? What’s your favorite application? Your least favorite?
Ubuntu is my #1 distro! I have a partition on my desktop box that I use to play around with other distros, or alpha versions of Ubuntu, but I have never found another distro that I like as much as Ubuntu. My favorite software applications are: irssi, screen, Liferea(news reader), Deluge BitTorrent, Exaile music player, Htop, ssh, Synaptic Package Mgr. and GDebi Package Mgr. My least favorite software application is probably Thunderbird. Now, before I get flamed, you should know that I use it everyday and it works great. So why is it my least favorite, it’s because I hate email.
6. What’s your fondest memory from the forums, or from Ubuntu overall? What’s your worst?
My best memories on the forums, or with Ubuntu, are centered around the great friendships I have made. I don’t think I have ever been associated with a better group of people than the Ubuntu/Forums community. I have only had one bad experience during my 3+ year association with Ubuntu, and I won’t go into it. Let’s just say you can’t always milk the cow without getting kicked, and I figure one problem is a drop in the bucket so to speak.
7. What luck have you had introducing new computer users to Ubuntu?
The Arizona LoCo has been a very active group, so I’d have to say I’ve been lucky at introducing new computer users to Ubuntu. Our release parties, installfests, and conferences have enabled not only myself, but our team to introduce new people to Ubuntu. We have helped users from 14-65, and even a hearing impaired gentleman to experience what we all believe to be the best operating system available today.
8. What would you like to see happen with Linux in the future? with Ubuntu?
I would hope that not only Ubuntu, but Linux continue to make headway in the desktop/server markets. Ubuntu has a great product, a fantastic community, and a bright future. I would love to see less arguing over who has the best operating system, and better coordination between the many Linux distributions. I try very hard to get the point across to people that “it’s not what operating system you use, it’s that you use Linux, the free operating system.”
9. If there was one thing you could tell all new Ubuntu users, what would it be?
I use this phrase a lot with new users: “Don’t be afraid to get in there a try new things you’re not sure about.” I tend to find that most people are a little scared of Ubuntu, or Linux at first, but once they start experimenting with it, well you can almost see the joy on their face when they accomplish something they never thought they could do. It’s a very satisfying thing to me.
September 22nd, 2008
Preface: I realize that most of my readers are not Christians. I think this is interesting enough, even if you believe something completely different. Why? Because it is a real life example that reminds us that groups and people are not monolithic, that people who believe the same basic things sometimes choose to live out those beliefs in very different ways. If you don’t find that interesting, please feel free to ignore the post.
I just moved back to the United States after spending most of the last seven years in another country. Returning to the land of my birth has been an interesting experience, as I am seeing things from a new and wider perspective. This was especially evident over the last two weeks as I visited two churches in my new neighborhood. (more…)
September 22nd, 2008
If you aren’t currently registered, and you are qualified, here is the most comprehensive list of information I have ever seen for voter registration in the USA.
September 17th, 2008
I couldn’t post this while I was still living in the country. Now that I have moved elsewhere, I can finally say something about a problem that bothered me immensely in Morocco, a nation of 33 million wonderful people, and a few thousand evil overlords operating in the police forces and elsewhere.
Racism. It’s a dirty word and an even dirtier practice. I have no patience for people who judge others solely on the basis of something as trivial as skin color. In Morocco, I witnessed it first hand many times. One of my final and most enduring images of this country was during my last week there.
I went in to the local immigration office, the department within the police which oversees resident foreigners, to get a paper I needed to export my personal belongings as I was exiting the country. I arrived at the office and noticed a long line of people waiting, so I took my place in the queue. One of the bureaucrats in charge of the office met me in the hallway and asked me why I was waiting out there with all “these” people (who all had dark skin, in contrast to my light skin), and took me in the office. I told him what I needed, he joked with me and said it would just take a moment, and he got to work, inviting me to sit in the best seat in the office.
After a few minutes, he needed to leave the office to get a signature upstairs. He left me with his assistant. It was then that I looked around the office. The assistant made a joke with me about my previous book and we both laughed. For the first time, I realized that there was still another person in the room, a young man in his early 20s sitting on the floor behind a desk. He had a gentle smile and was chuckling softly at the joke. He also had dark skin. The assistant rose from his seat and screamed at the young man, telling him to shut up and threatening to beat him senseless with a very large stick, which the assistant was now wielding and using to poke the young man in the face.
The seated youth fell silent. The bureaucrat returned with my paper. I left with a sense of powerlessness as I realized that there was little to nothing I could do to help the young man other than make his case public after leaving the country. So that is what I am doing today.
The office was in the Wilaya of Fes, in the department des etrangers. The habit of preferring white foreigners over darker skinned foreigners is endemic and can be confirmed by talking to any foreigner resident in the city. The abusive behavior I witnessed was obviously habitual and the person (the grumpy guy who sits in the far corner from the door) thought and acted as if it was totally appropriate, natural, and normal. He moved from joking with me, to abusing the young man angrily, and back to a new joke seamlessly.
I am embarrassed by my reaction. I froze into silence, intimidated by the circumstances and a fear of not being able to leave the country or being persecuted alongside others. Instead of letting that be the end, I’ve decided to do something, even if it is small, by bringing the story to light today.
September 14th, 2008
I’ve had connectivity problems, but I think I have it under control now, so I’ll jump in with my contribution to the world’s knowledge of what Ubuntu members are naming their systems.
I use guitar models. My current and past system names include telecaster, ES335, FlyingV, LesPaul, and Explorer.
My wife’s system (and past systems) have used the theme of favorite characters from Jane Austen novels. Her current system is named darcy.
September 14th, 2008
This is great stuff! I would love to see this begin a new trend in the dissemination of knowledge. Kudos to the Commonwealth of Virginia. Click the link in the first sentence above for the whole article.
Secretary of Technology Aneesh Chopra and Secretary of Education Tom Morris today announced the release of a Request for Collaboration (RFC) to career and technical centers, school divisions, and institutions of higher education calling for assistance in the development and publication of an open source physics “Flexbook” for Virginia.
The Virginia Physics “Flexbook” project is a collaborative effort of the Secretaries of Education and Technology and the Department of Education that seeks to elevate the quality of physics instruction across the Commonwealth. Participating educators will create and compile supplemental materials relating to 21st century physics in an open–source format that can be used to strengthen existing physics content.
September 10th, 2008
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