Religion—the root of all evil?

The perpetual turmoil in the Middle East begs the question, “Is religion, or more specifically, religious fundamentalism the root of all evil?”

Throughout history, what has caused the majority of conflicts between countries?

What has spurred “ethnic cleansing”?

Is it:

(1) Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes,
(2) Hollywood,
(3) the homosexuals, or
(4) religion?

The correct answer is (4) religion.

Of course, you might disagree with my answer.¹

Many people look to religion for all the answers in life. Let's face it. Life is much easier if you have all the answers in a book.

I think that's why some people are hell bent on converting others to their religion. That way everyone is on the same page. They must follow the rules, and then we will have order in the world.

There are several problems with this thought process. First and foremost, it is not that simple. Just deciding that everyone must convert to your religion will not make it so. Second, it is extremely presumptuous to decide that you must save other people because they do not subscribe to your belief system. Third, it'll never work. Seriously. People have been attempting to convert others for ages. Has it worked? Is there any less religious-inspired fighting in the world? Finally, and most simply, no book contains all of the answers.

And yet, this does not stop people who, in their little minds, are convinced that they are right. Has anyone been converted by the street corner morons preachers who shout witness to strangers passing by? Or better yet, by the ones who find their captive audience on the subway trains on their way home from work? How did they get the impression that this is how to "witness" to people. Does one not catch more flies with honey than with vinegar? It never ceases to amaze me how many alleged christians behave in completely un-christianlike ways. Don't they realize that people learn more from others who set a good example rather than from those who simply yell at them. But I suppose the honey v. vinegar theory means I can't simply reply, “Bitch, please.”

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¹My brother, for example, believes that the carrot— the evil root, as he calls it — is the root of all evil.

Thoughts about the ABT season

I will miss Erica Cornejo's dancing. She was hilarious as the myopic stepsister in Cinderella. Her dancing in the peasant pas de deux from Giselle was beautiful. She looked as if she could hold her balances for days. But her performance that most impressed me was the pas de trois from Swan Lake. I had seen the part danced beautifully the night before by another soloist, but Cornejo filled each beat of music when she danced. I don't know how else to explain it, but she was so in synch with the music. She gave every note its full value without distorting her phrasing. I wish her the best of luck in Boston.


I can't say enough about Alessandra Ferri and Julio Bocca. They have basically ruined Manon for me. They were so incredible together that everyone else pales in comparison and that's saying a lot because the other performers were excellent, but Ferri and Bocca's dancing had a level of abandon that the others lacked.

The level of understanding and trust between them was incredible. There were so many places where Ferri would either let herself fall or would leap towards Bocca with a a sort of free fall quality and Bocca would always be there. It just brought an added level of passion to their performance.

To be continued...

Arkansas court backs gay foster parents

Judges rebuke state’s claim that homosexuals make bad parents
Arkansas cannot ban homosexuals from becoming foster parents because there is no link between their sexual orientation and a child’s well-being, the state’s high court ruled Thursday.