Obligatory Introduction Post



The first post for any blog is apparently obliged to be an introduction of some sort, apparently.  Far be it from me to break the tradition.
I am the Mantis Shrimp, and this is my thrash. I’m exhausted with what I am seeing and want to yell at it. I hate what people are doing to each other and want to stop it.

But I’m just a Mantis Shrimp. I live in my little world bubble, and while I can be strong, relative to my size, I’m just a smallish creature with a massive attitude.  But I can see what is happening, and I am pounding my claws and thrashing around, desperate to get someone who can do something to actually do it.  I have no power, because to have power is to use it to try to effect change.  
I’ve marched. I’ve donated. I’ve called the congress critters and signed the petitions. I’ve listened and shared and tried to attend when possible.  But in my aquarium there are walls, most of which are related to my job. I have to pay for the stuff we all pay for: food, shelter, transportation, and clothing.  I have a husband that I want to keep happy, pets, friends, and obligations (just like everyone else).  And like you, this ties my hands in so many ways.

But I’m still angry.

Let’s get some stuff out there:  
I am an atheist.  This means that after much examination, I do not find any evidence for any god.

I am a feminist. This means that I believe in the equality of the genders and want equality for all.

I am a progressive.  This means that I want to see progress that makes it easier for people to live and enjoy life.

I am a rationalist. This means that I try to use reason to arrive at my conclusions.

None of these statements should be particularly offensive, but it is amazing how many of them are.  You tell people that you are an atheist, and suddenly every religious zealot comes out of the woodwork to tell you that you are going to go to their version of the afterlife for bad people. You tell people that you are feminist and they accuse you of hating men. You tell people that you are a progressive and they accuse you of wanting the government to control everything.

About the only one that doesn’t get push-back is being a rationalist.  I think that it is because it is the only one that does not have another side – yet.  We already have a Republican platform (Texas – where else?) that rejects critical thinking.  We have political leaders that reject science – science!

And these things are what are making me thrash.  I’m tired of listening to idiots that don’t understand how the scientific process works. I’m tired of people living in fear and hatred and thinking that their hatred is as legitimate as my friend’s compassion.  I’m tired of people I love being othered because they are different.  And I am tired of the fact that I cannot talk to my own family because of religious and political differences.

Welcome to the Mantis Shrimp Thrash.
  • MS

PS: I reserve the right to update the introduction if something becomes important enough to edit it with.  

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