The following is from Robert Ingersoll’s “What I Want For Christmas” (1897)
If I had the power to produce exactly what I want for next Christmas, I would have all the kings and emperors resign and allow the people to govern themselves.
I would have all the nobility crop their titles and give their lands back to the people.
I would have the Pope throw away his tiara, take off his sacred vestments, and admit that he is not acting for God, is not infallible, and is just an ordinary Italian.
I would have all the cardinals, archbishops, bishops, priests and clergymen admit that they know nothing about theology, nothing about hell or heaven, nothing about the destiny of the human race, nothing about devils or ghosts, gods or angels. I would have them tell all their “flocks” to think for themselves, to be manly men and womanly women, and to do all in their power to increase the sum of human happiness.
I would have all the professors in colleges, all the teachers in schools of every kind, including those in Sunday schools, agree that they would teach only what they know and not palm off guesses as demonstrated truths.
I would like to see all the politicians changed to statesmen:
- Men who long to make their country great and free
- Men who care more for public good than private gain
- Men who long to be of use
I would like to see all the editors of papers and magazines agree to print the truth and nothing but the truth, to avoid all slander and misrepresentation, and to let the private affairs of the people alone.
I would like to see drunkenness and prohibition both abolished.
I would like to see corporal punishment done away with in every home, in every school, in every asylum, reformatory, and prison. Cruelty hardens and degrades, kindness reforms and ennobles.
I would like to see millionaires unite and form a trust for the public good.
I would like to see a fair division of profits between capital and labor, so that the toiler could save enough to mingle a little June with the December of his life.
I would like to see an international court established in which to settle disputes between nations, so that armies could be disbanded and the great navies allowed to rust and rot in perfect peace.
I would like to see the whole world free — free from injustice, and free from superstition.
This will do for next Christmas. The following Christmas, IÂ may want more.
(via)
Wonderful – if only…
Superb. The more things change..
That’s terrific. I wholeheartedly concur.
It’s a far more moving and hopeful sentiment than anything I have ever heard from a theist.
… after, of course, the extended 31-day orgasm, to be brought about slowly by Rosanna Arquette and that model, Paulina somebody…
Ingersoll’s visions might be possible yet. I’ve just watched the Zeitgeist movies (on google video) and will continue to educate myself and become more involved to work towards this better world vision. I highly recommend watching both videos. Even if they repeat themselves a lot, it’s worth it to watch them to the end, especially the “addendum” because they start suggesting actual proactive solutions and actions one can take.
Zeitgeist is fucking stupid. I wish people would stop listening to that rubbish,
in my opinion,this might put the world in a state of hassle and anarchy
Anarchy, in the true sense, and non-violent, would be a good thing. Check out Chomsky.
Non-violent anarchy is both an oxymoron, and just plain fucking moronic. Do you really think that government creates serial killers, religious nutjobs, racketeers, rapists, sadists, etc.?
Did you ever consider why government began in the first place?
In the society we live in, yes. Social maturation and cultural development however would not preclude such a society developing. However it takes only a brief glance at the world news pages to realise that a co-operative, self regulating utopian society of fellowship is perhaps many millenia beyond the grasp of humanity.
Utopia…
but still, we need to know what we want, and not to remain half asleep all our lives content with the world we have, and the world we inherited.
As long as we know what we want our world to be like, I see there’s at least some little tiny hope…
Elaine, if Ingersoll had anything to teach, it was to be skeptical of all things. Zeitgeist is not only based on flimsy evidence but outright lies as well. Check out some of its listed sources for yourself; they really don’t hold up to scrutiny.
Robert Ingersoll is adorable!
Idealists no longer impress me.
Kate, I know that’s you! Adorable, and yet mayyybe the cure to my dogged misanthropy! Such gems come so few and far between….
Honesty is the gist of this…If we could just be truly honest with ourselves in our choice of beliefs and, of course, not try to make others follow us we could make life more livable for all. What happened in Israel today? Why?
The pope is German fyi ;)
@Bernard: Yeah, but he wasn’t in 1897!
And Bernard gets an F for reading comprehension…
About Zeitgeist… Elaine, Regg is right. It’s good that you want to improve the world, but remember to be skeptical and think independently.
This is a great post. That’s what I would have liked as well.
Why all this talk of “if” or the idea would be nice? Not a matter of wishing.
A matter of creating what we will have.
Creative beings create. For what seems good or bad. It will happen.
What we have in this life is choice. So why not use it as you will?
No guessing, no hoping, just the will to do it and make it happen.
You hold far more power than you may believe.
John.
True freedom, real peace will come subtly and it cannot/will not be called anarchy. This world never needed rulers and kings, no other humans perception is more infaliable then yours. Anarchy is just a word and freedom is life.
Agree or disagree but absorb the overall message of what im saying. We better our lives and perception together as one. Nobody knows better than you, we make this world what it is and what it can be
Peace.
Nice wishes, I hope that one day it will be true and we no longer live in a real life star trek episode.
I would like to see all the politicians changed to statesmen
Amen. I think that one would probably make the rest of them come true in short order.
Robert Green Ingersoll, my personal hero… Thanks for that. I thought I had all his speeches, and so this was a new on me. But it’s vintage RGI, isn’t it?
I wish I could have heard some of his orations.
Thanks again.
AcesLucky
@James
Did you really need to make the distinction between theists and atheists in this case?
This is the most moving and hopeful sentiment i have heard, period!
ingersol rocks da fuckin shit. he’s got other writing that talks about the pleasure he gets from taking lunch. this dude loves taking lunch.
I like what RI has to say, in spirit, but I would point out that he, in his own way, is being absolutist. He’s proposing an either or. I’m not a catholic, but when he says… “I would have all the cardinals, archbishops, bishops, priests and clergymen admit that they know nothing about theology..” a red flag goes up. Do they know nothing? This sounds like anger to me. The hope is that we all humble ourselves to what we do know, and also to what we don’t know, and stop living in a world where it’s one or the other. I think that’s the lesson of the last 40 years. It’s not us or them. It’s just us now, and those who understand this quickest will be the leaders to the new frontier.
@joe:
He said they know nothing “about theology,” not that they know nothing *at all*. The implication you should have taken away from this statement (had you comprehended it) is that there is nothing to *know* about theology, and that theology should be abandoned as an abortive course of inquiry.
Who? http://www.factopo.com
Alright you ignorant atheists… if there is no god, then HOW DOES THE SUN KEEP ORBITING THE EARTH? BAM!
You see people, that’s how you deal with atheist skum. With LOGIC! Hit that bullseye and the rest of the dominoes will come down like a house of cards… CHECKMATE!
And on that note…
Dunt dun duuh DAAAAHHHH!
!!!!!!!!!MY ATHEIST STORE!!!!!!!!!
Aristotle’s Muse
This is my store. Maybe wearing an atheist T-shirt won’t change the world, but enough of them just might.
“Maybe wearing an atheist T-shirt won’t change the world, but enough of them just might.”
Yes but you’re still be a spamming arsehole won’t you?
It must be at least the third time you’ve posted this. Get lost, spammer.
Why does he spam very old threads? Googling Christmas for Atheists? I already have an atheist t-shirt – it’s blue, all it is is blue, and I bought it from Old Navy. Too subtle?
Maybe he only has a few t-shirts left.
I don’t think you can have that problem on zazzle.
Brian is stupid but funny, and who said Ingersoll is a theist? I’ve heard he is an atheist… Anyway, he was wrong the pope wasn’t Italian, he was French, yeah he was born in what in modern day is Italy but it was the French Empire when he made this letter in 1897…
I’m with you. I don’t mind it really. Spam is inherently irritating, but in this case it’s a bad means to a good end I guess. I don’t mind putting up with a little bullshit for the sake of another atheist. Especially an active one like this guy. Plus, you’re right, he is pretty funny after all.