1. Get out of here, atheists!

Comment #156801 by eric711 on April 8, 2008 at 9:22 am

A diary at daily kos on this issue has made the top of the recommended list. Over 700 comments and counting...

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/4/8/44434/81944/166/492064

2. Get out of here, atheists!

Comment #156561 by eric711 on April 7, 2008 at 9:46 pm

This is my letter to Rep. Davis. I tried not to be too shrill and just get to the point;). I doubt she will honor my request but it's important to raise awareness about this outrageous crap and not just blog about it. Ditto on suggestions to send letters/email to Chicago Tribune's op-ed, especially any high profile atheists or atheist organizations...

"The Audacity to Hate"

Dear Rep. Davis,

I recently read about the exchange that took place between you and Rob Sherman during his testimony before the Illinois General Assembly on April 2, 2008. I was appalled and outraged by your hateful and bigoted comments regarding Mr. Sherman's atheism.

In your angry rant against Mr. Sherman, you said he was "dangerous" and told him to "Get out of that seat!". Then you had the audacity to say to him, "You have no right to be here! We believe in something. You believe in destroying! You believe in destroying what this state was built upon."

Below are some more offending statements by you taken from the transcript:

"I don't know what you have against God, but some of us don't have much against him. We look forward to him and his blessings. And it's really a tragedy -- it's tragic -- when a person who is engaged in anything related to God, they want to fight. They want to fight prayer in school."

"What you have to spew and spread is extremely dangerous, it's dangerous--"

"It's dangerous to the progression of this state. And it's dangerous for our children to even know that your philosophy exists! Now you will go to court to fight kids to have the opportunity to be quiet for a minute. But damn if you'll go to [court] to fight for them to keep guns out of their hands. I am fed up! Get out of that seat!"

You had no right to make these accusations against Mr. Sherman. You also had no right to deny him his right to free speech. As and atheist myself, I am calling on you to publicly apologize to Mr. Sherman and renounce the abusive statements you made to him as wrong and against what America stands for.

Sincerely,

Eric S******

3. Disquiet over schools' moment of silence

Comment #103146 by eric711 on December 24, 2007 at 11:08 am

Eric, check out my #38. Shh... it's a Trojan Horse for secularism.

You can't be serious. In what country? Pff... don't get played for a fool Neil.

4. Disquiet over schools' moment of silence

Comment #103129 by eric711 on December 24, 2007 at 10:43 am

I think we agree that we should be able to assess the desirability of a proposal without overly focusing on the motivations of the proposer.

Should the inhabitants of Troy not have been overly focused on the motives behind such a lovely gesture as the Trojan Horse?

5. Disquiet over schools' moment of silence

Comment #103052 by eric711 on December 24, 2007 at 8:57 am

As part of an effort to help teachers across Illinois gain control of their classrooms, state Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford said, lawmakers tweaked the measure's wording. It went from saying educators "may" observe a moment of silence to saying that they "shall."

This is a war of attrition being waged by the churches. The people who are pushing this don't consider this a trifling detail and neither should we.

6. 'Atheistic fundamentalism' fears

Comment #102299 by eric711 on December 22, 2007 at 9:16 am

Dr Morgan said: "All of this is what I would call the new "fundamentalism" of our age. It allows no room for disagreement, for doubt, for debate, for discussion.

Dr. Morgan wants to "debate" though he has no evidence or reasonable case to make. This false debate is a tactic used by people who don't have truth on their side, like the people who want to create a "debate" about global warming or evolution. They don't need to win the debate per se, they "win" by muddying the water and creating doubt where there is clarity.

7. THE FOUR HORSEMEN - Available Now on DVD!

Comment #98937 by eric711 on December 15, 2007 at 12:20 am

This is definitely one for the ages. Thanks RDFRS!

8. Bankrolling Ali's Asylum

Comment #91150 by eric711 on November 27, 2007 at 12:16 pm

I'm a little curious as to why our misgivings are bothering so many, here. Do some of you think that any critique of Sam Harris is disloyal, or some kind of tactical error?

I understand a few questions for clarity are reasonable. I'm bothered because I feel the "misgivings" expressed have exceeded reasonable questioning and have turned to reactionary badgering. As I pointed out, this has been an ongoing thing here and it's unwarranted and shameful. Do you find Harris' donation request insincere? My guess is that since Sam Harris' AAI speech some people have just had it in for him, one prominent atheist blogger even called Harris "confused". As I've pointed out, some of the comments here have been quite nasty. No one is under any obligation to donate to this cause. But he's just asking for goodness sake, because there are those of us here who will, gladly. I find all the badgering of Harris petty and embarrassing.

One final thing regarding Harris' joke. If you are worried about how people will distort it and throw it back at you, they were already of a mind to do that. They're going to take issue with anything he says. If you think its worthwhile to reason with them, say, "It was only a bit of humor, he wasn't being literal."

9. Bankrolling Ali's Asylum

Comment #91125 by eric711 on November 27, 2007 at 10:03 am

eric711: I don't think what I've said here deserves to be called "nutty". You may disagree with me but if you're going to question my sanity I'd appreciate it if you'd back it the hell up, okay? Unless, of course, it's merely a flame war you're after, in which case, carry on.

Alright, not nutty, humorless. You also said you were getting pissed off so angry also applies. Angrily-humorless then. Over a silly joke.

wednesdayguevara: it pisses me off too

He's now starting to actually piss me off.

There's something up with that guy's psychology, I swear...

OK, maybe a little unhinged. You really need to lighten up my friend.

10. Bankrolling Ali's Asylum

Comment #91007 by eric711 on November 27, 2007 at 12:01 am

I've become rather frustrated with all the reactionary nit-picking Sam Harris gets from the atheist community. I've been a lurker on this site and others for a while and I think it is a real thing that goes on. Does he really deserve all that? And if he's venting a little with his humor... well let's just say, I'd understand it. I really don't see any harm in it.

11. Bankrolling Ali's Asylum

Comment #90989 by eric711 on November 26, 2007 at 10:16 pm

Day after day, the same pseudonomynous bickerers.

This is my first one here, but thanks for making me feel welcome Neil.

12. Bankrolling Ali's Asylum

Comment #90988 by eric711 on November 26, 2007 at 10:14 pm

Right back atcha.

Touché!

Nope, sorry, I don't see any nuttiness. Jack is perfectly right.

Ahh... so, your true colors show now. YOU'RE ONE OF THEM!!!! ;)

13. Bankrolling Ali's Asylum

Comment #90983 by eric711 on November 26, 2007 at 9:59 pm

Careful there, that was kind of mean-spirited.

Try sarcasm. Some of us have a sense of humor.

If anything is absurd, it's your statement that we're throwing "one of our brightest stars under the bus". No one is doing anything of the kind, and that you think we are only demonstrates you're one of the neurotic worriers I was talking about.

Go back and read some of the comments, particularly Jack Rawlinson's, he was over-the-top nutty.

14. Bankrolling Ali's Asylum

Comment #90982 by eric711 on November 26, 2007 at 9:53 pm

No one's throwing him under the bus. We bought his book, we donated to his cause, and it's not unreasonable to ask (via forum that he may not even read) that he choose his words carefully.

I like Shuggy's idea. If Harris had said, "Rick may yet convince me that Christians are as moral and socially engaged as atheists", I'm sure everyone would have applauded!

Well I'm sure if Harris did read this, he would take his speech writers to task, or maybe he would blame it all on the writer's strike. My goodness, how touchy feely can you people be?

15. Bankrolling Ali's Asylum

Comment #90977 by eric711 on November 26, 2007 at 9:37 pm

If there's a blight on the discussion that goes on here, it's the recurring suggestion that some of the posters are either dogmatic or mean-spirited.

The angry attacks on Harris are absurd. But thanks for putting everything in perspective for us Janus, your so wonderfully above it all.

16. Bankrolling Ali's Asylum

Comment #90971 by eric711 on November 26, 2007 at 9:19 pm

...if WE can misconstrue Harris's words, then our Christian neighbors certainly will. I wonder where all of these people live, who seem to think we're making to much of this. From my perspective, in Texas, I'm surrounded by mega-churches filled with fundamentalists. The immoral Atheist is a powerful meme.

I wonder what people will think about us when we throw one of our brightest stars under the bus because we aren't grown up enough to take a little joke.

17. Bankrolling Ali's Asylum

Comment #90940 by eric711 on November 26, 2007 at 6:22 pm

I'd like to ditto what queen5102 wrote. There is some seriously humorless concern trolling going on here. Jack, I'm embarrassed for you.

18. Sunday School for Atheists

Comment #90749 by eric711 on November 26, 2007 at 8:52 am

This is great, I hope it takes off. As someone who grew up in a secular household, I can say I would have benefitted by a secular Sunday School if it were available at the time.