RE: Catsratz - that's me
July 6, 2016 at 8:54 am
(This post was last modified: July 6, 2016 at 9:02 am by Catsratz.)
(July 4, 2016 at 4:30 pm)mh.brewer Wrote: Welcome! (clears away regurg)
Can you please expand upon "My refusal to bow to religion has made me live in poverty"?
Sure, I guess I was being dramatic due to being "into brevity" as I did not want to torture everyone with all 66 years' worth. Actually only 50, as I began working in '66. It is pretty much about work, although getting work often involves socializing too. I was born poor and have unfortunately remained that way because of what I said in that quote. Worked at entry-level jobs (beginning with the egg-packing, which I also did at another company just 10 years ago) due to need to pay rent immediately. So many of them....
Now most non-believers are doing well because they are intelligent, born into intelligent families, where they had the luxury to wait until a good job, career stuff, came up due to not needing to pay rent. Probably getting a loan, borrowing a car, child care....So many other of my fellow entry-level were not too bright and female to boot (read: more religious) and I needed to work closely in with them and I would not "god bless" when they sneezed and all that happy crappy. And so it would become apparent. And there is a wall between me and god-believers that I feel strongly; also them with this wall towards me.
Here's one example, and I'm sure all of you have them, from one of the 'better' jobs. I was Records Clerk at a Probation office. Sat smack in the middle of everything. And who's more religious than a government employee? More government employees! At least here in the U.S. Now in July we'd already had about a month of caroling via radio for "Christmas in July" so I knew how bad it would be and requested a Personal Day on the day the Christmas Party was to take place. The Director comes out to me, with people all around, saying that I wouldn't want to be off this day, as it's the day of the party. I didn't know what to say except I'd done it purposely, saying I wasn't religious. She asks, Am I agnostic? "Atheist." Oh, that's not good, she replies. I must have got it from being on "too many wacky websites."
...and I thank everyone so much I didn't personally respond to. Such an odd (and good) feeling to be around the non-religious. Though born in the Great Satan of New York City and growing up in its suburbs, unfortunately most of the places I lived in since were extra-religious. Even including San Diego County in California, last county before the Mexican border. But the "Wild West" it wasn't. Then of course Tennessee and even here now in Northeast Pennsylvania. So this is a very good feeling indeed
