Andrew Sullivan: Okay to riddicule Mohammad, but don't touch my communion cracker

Andrew Sullivan has got himself worked up (although I usually agree with him about things, we must admit he gets pretty easily worked up) about PZ Myers' plan to publicly "defile" a communion cracker.

Sullivan, the blogger who castigated the European press for not publishing cartoons with the prophet Mohammad because it offended Muslims, says this about Myers' plan:

Calling the Holy Eucharist a "goddamned cracker" isn't about free speech; it's really about some baseline civility.

Really? Free speech has to be about more than just protecting ridicule of the other guy's religion. I'll agree Myers is being crude and intentionally offensive...but would still argue it's his right.

It's not like he's burning people at the stake or anything.

Bear Facts

I've been referred to as a "bear." I don't identify as one. I do identify as gay -- why further compartmentalize my human identity?

Andrew Sullivan is into bears, identifies as one and celebrates bear-dom. Okay, whatever turns your crank. But what gives me paws pause is his insistence on holding bears as an exalted segment of the gay community. A rather typical, as I'm learning, Sullivan practice of exalting whatever activity or desire he himself likes.

For example, this from an article he wrote about bears for Salon:

Whence the name? Well, it's obvious in a way. They kinda look like bears. Big and burly and friendly, they are legions of Yogis, followed by quite a few Boo-boos. The smaller, younger ones tend to be known as "cubs." The more muscular ones go by the name of "muscle-bears." Some leaner types who aren't that hairy but enjoy the atmosphere that follows the bears are known as "otters."

Sullivan goes to hairy length to explain why all this is so much better than the gym-toned circut party boys and their focus on looks. Well, read Sullivan's passage again. Bears, according to him, are just as body-conscious.

I'm all for embracing my masculinity (fact is, I'm all for embracing masculinity, mine or otherwise)-- but why should that mean turning a hairy back on good hygiene, physical fitness and a nicely tailored shirt?

(The photo is of the bear flag, which is credited as being created by Craig Byrnes, who lives in my basement. Which he calls the "Bear Den.")

Andrew in Excess

It's amazing the influence Andrew Sullivan has on blogging. Many blogging styles, posts and substance can have their roots in what Andrew does, including this one, and many of the ones I link to. He bestrides the blogosphere like a colossus.

Which makes it all the more aggravating when he works himself up into a projectile sweat and a hissy fit to ridiculous proportions, as he is over the president's decision on the Libby prison sentence:

It is hard to think of an action more contemptuous of the rule of law - except for so many decisions made by this lawless president, acting as a monarch.

Hey Andrew, take a moment to read the U.S. Constitution, particularly Article II, Section II:

[the president] shall have Power to Grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.

Note it doesn't say he has to consult with the Department of Justice, his cabinet, his lawyer or his mom. I agree this president has acted in contempt of the Constitution with respect to habeas corpus and in contempt of international law with regards to the Geneva Conventions. But here he is acting within his rights.

Take a deep breath, Andrew. Spend a little more time at the beach or surfing the web for sites devoted to bears and beards. Bush's decision may be a miscarriage of justice, or not, depending on your viewpoint. But he is not acting above the law as you breathlessly exclaim.