I was told to look in the mirror as an answer to this.

I look in the mirror and don't see any hatred of minorities. I am a minority. I've tolerated religion all my life and still do, I don't oppress anyone, and seldom make claims without evidence. However, religion doesn't get a free pass anymore. If it makes claims that can't be substantiated, it gets questioned. No longer is faith a virtue. No longer can religion claim moral high ground. No longer can religion claim the only purpose and meaning to life. No longer can religion claim any explanation for why or how we came to be. Showing where religion is wrong is rational human growth, progress out of darkness and superstition. That isn't war, that's rational thought. That's growing out of fear and into understanding of our place in the universe. If the religious feel embattled and persecuted, they should consider the arguments they make based on ancient texts and personal anecdotes that usually are easily explained by statistics, imperfect human perception, and corruption.

I do hate. I hate mutilation of children's genitals in the name of religion. I hate stoning of women on religious grounds. I hate the child abuse that is telling a small child that they will burn in hell without proper belief in gods/Jesus/whatever. I hate the undemocratic control religion has over people with the subsequent inevitable abuse of power. Hate is not always a bad thing.

Free Speech and Feminism

Speaking Out Against Hate Directed at Women: Matt Dillahunty

"When someone expresses a concern that something is making them feel unwelcome, we need to address it. Period."

"When someone expresses a concern that something is making them feel unwelcome, we need to address it. Period."

"When you hear a complaint that someone has raised, you might think that they’re expressing an irrational, emotional, over-reaction to the situation. You might even be correct – but it doesn’t matter, and here’s why:
You don’t get to decide what someone else finds offensive.
You don’t get to decide what someone else finds uncomfortable, unwelcoming, disconcerting, stressful, harassing, troubling or painful."

I fully support Dillahunty's position here.  How to reconcile this with the value that no one has the right to not be offended?  (I'm just trying to process his words here)

• Women are being excluded from the skeptical/atheist community by some ingrained and outdated attitudes that get expressed.  Mostly there is no intent to exclude but because of a lack of empathy, there is insensitivity to what is offensive, excluding, and threatening.
• The community wants women involved and active.  Any who don't aren't really part of the community.
• If I offend someone in the community who I want to ally with, then I need to understand why.  Not take offense that they took offense.
• This doesn't mean my free speech rights are curtailed or have limits. 
• It doesn't mean women have the right to not be offended.  
• It means I need to re-look at what and how I say things.  Or reassess my membership in the community.
• Is this censorship?  Not if it is an increase in understanding and knowledge.

Feminism in Skepticism

There has been some discussion of harassment of women at skeptical events such as The Amazing Meeting (TAM).  The worry is that women will stop coming to these events, understandably, because they aren't there to get hit on.  It seems some guys can't take no for an answer.  At Cognitive Dissonance I posted the following comment to their excellent support for women: "I appreciate you position on feminism in the skeptical communities.  I think you made many great points and I hope you got through to some thick heads.  Sometimes the blunt truth is the best.  DJ Grothe's handeling of this hasn't been very impressive to me.  My 20-something daughter and I are paid up for TAM this year again before I realized this issue.  We had an awesome time last year with 40% female attendance.  I hope to hell that this year isn't an 18% female sausage fest.  If that happens I'm not going back, like you said, I'm paying a lot of money I can't really afford to be there.  I'm not there to hit on anyone (my gal would be sad), I want to listen and talk to anyone with something interesting to say.  Having the other half of the population show up doubles those chances!  I do hope that women realize staying away doesn't help their position, they have to stand up to sexism and harassment.  Make noise, make it clear why and how it is wrong.  Avoiding it won't solve it.  I'll stand with them if they are there.  I applaud you for standing with them clearly and loudly.  Thanks!"

At Skepchick I found that Rebecca Watson won't be at TAM this year and I commented: "Rebecca, at Cognitive Dissonance I posted the following comment to their excellent support for women: "I appreciate you position on feminism in the skeptical communities.  I think you made many great points and I hope you got through to some thick heads.  Sometimes the blunt truth is the best.  DJ Grothe's handeling of this hasn't been very impressive to me (I am just learning how unimpressive).  My 20-something daughter and I are paid up for TAM this year again before I realized this issue.  We had an awesome time last year with 40% female attendance.  I hope to hell that this year isn't an 18% female sausage fest.  If that happens I'm not going back, like you said, I'm paying a lot of money I can't really afford to be there.  I'm not there to hit on anyone (my gal would be sad), I want to listen and talk to anyone with something interesting to say.  Having the other half of the population show up doubles those chances!  I do hope that women realize staying away doesn't help their position, they have to stand up to sexism and harassment.  Make noise, make it clear why and how it is wrong.  Avoiding it won't solve it.  I'll stand with them if they are there.  I applaud you for standing with them clearly and loudly.  Thanks!"  I am sad you won't be there this year, I was looking forward to meeting you if I could screw up my courage.  My daughter isn't one to back down for something like this and I am sure she still wants to go.  And I understand the point you make not appearing.  It is a good point.  As a manager in a large corporation with a high percentage of women engineers and staff, harassment is NOT tolerated.  It is reenforced yearly and serious.  It is clear and no nonsense.  No wink-wink smirks and management to the top supports it.  The culture has definitely changed in the 30 years I've been there.  I didn't realize this level of tough love is necessary at TAM and elsewhere.  Rebecca, thanks for what you do and keep it up!"