i'll get off my soapbox if you clean up your act

I know i shouldn't let this bother me, but it does.

I recently got into a "debate" with a friend of a friend over Islam. Now the original discussion on the friend's page was about some new bill being passed (i forget which one) and the hidden dangers that were written into it - ie. things that could be used in the future for something OTHER than what they were intended. The person in question brought up that Obama is a secret muslim and only has an ear for muslim interests... yadayadayada muslims are terrorists.

i am not muslim.

i'm an atheist that was raised southern baptist, realized that wasn't right for me and then explored/searched vastly different religions trying to find the right one. a lot of my dad's family lives in the middle east and many ARE muslim though. unlike this man, i've actually read the Koran (and have a copy of it sitting in my bookshelf next to the atheist's bible, what the bible didn't say, and my wicca books). he was spouting fox news propaganda about how "all muslims are terrorists" or "their religion is so backwards and outdated they can't live in modern western society"

all i can say to that is BULLSHIT.

the religion itself is actually beautiful. as is the christianity and judaism and hindi and tao and zen and every other religion out there (except perhaps satanism). the purpose of religion is to bring people peace in this chaotic world, give them something to fall back on in dark times and strength to DO THE RIGHT THING when the course of action is unknown. it is basically a morality system with a built-in rewards structure - you do good, you get eternal life/72 virgins/happy gummy bear funland with the spaghetti monster feeding you its noodly appendages. you do evil, no cookie for you/burning fire pool/stabbed in the ass with pitchforks forever.
the problem with religion is when a person or group becomes in control of that religion and it becomes more than just a belief system but an ingrained way of life. a pope/osama/leader of a communist country setting themselves up as a deity can (and usually do) bend what the religion itself says, the basic ideas, and twist them into messages of hate. and no i didn't just compare the pope to osama bin laden or little kim. i lumped them into the same group based on behaviors i've seen (past popes included in the pope reference - shall we say crusades anyone?)
these groups use religion to propagate hatred and intolerance of others. crusades - lets go invade the holy land and conquer it and take it back from these heathens that control it because we're the only right religion even though these other guys have been here FAAAAARRR longer. muslim extremists - lets blow up buildings and kill the infidels because we're the only right religion and they're infecting us with their western ideals and ruining our control over the poor illiterate poppy farmers. fred phelps clan - god hates soldiers/fags and will kill them all because we're the only right religion (Even though there are only about 20 of us and we're all related by inbreeding). far right pro-life extremists - killing children is wrong so we're going to kill the providers and blow up clinics and clinic workers to ensure the life of the child (life is only sacred in the womb?)
i know i seem to be making a lot of generalizations here, i don't have time/energy/space to write the multifaceted views floating in my head right now. it just bothers me that this person is sending me msgs now (after i've asked him to stop msging me and infecting me with his hatred) saying how ignorant and stupid i am and at the same time spouting that ISLAM WILL TAKE US OVER AND CUT OFF THE HANDS OF ALL WESTERN INFIDELS WITH OUR NEW MUSLIM PRESIDENT. seriously? you REALLY believe that?

and on a side note, i know people can't tell from my facebook page, but a little thing that pisses me off is assuming i'm an idiot because i have drunken pictures i take of myself in different makeup styles and geeky links and generally airhead-sounding status updates sometimes. but assuming that my daddy paid for my life is kinda ridiculous all the same.

JUST in case anyone were wondering - i started college at almost 16 years old through an early admissions program. i'm ADD and couldn't decide on a major so switched from computer science to physics to theatre. i have a BS in physics and a BFA in theatre, both of which i graduated magna cum laude; and am about 3 classes shy of getting a math degree and 4 from getting a russian degree (as if i wanted either). and i paid for the entire damn thing myself/with loans that i'm now repaying. and i worked 40-60 hours a week WHILE going to school, going to rehearsals, making costumes, teaching astro labs, designing shows, doing karaoke every week, spending my 20th birthday doing an take-home quantum mechanics test due the next day, and generally getting less than 4 hrs sleep a night for almost 10 years.
i do not mooch off my parents like many people of my generation. i hate having to live at home while saving money to move, but i wouldn't be able to save enough if i got my own place without a roommate right now. i don't rely or even like daddy to buy me things (which is good, cause he usually doesn't). i hate birthday and christmas presents from friends and family because i don't feel like i actually EARNED them. i don't even like dates buying me things or opening doors for me. yeah, i'm strange. but i'm also strong, smart, capable, creative, and motivated (sometimes). just because i have large breasts and pretty eyes, don't assume i'm a daddy's girl bimbo with no worries destined to be a trophy wife. stop calling me "my dear" unless i really am your dear. don't treat me like a petulant child and condescend with every correspondence.

oh, and read a fucking book OTHER than o'reilly's latest biography sometime...