I just came across this exchange between an Illinois state Representative, Monique Davis (D-Chicago) and Rob Sherman, a dangerous, scary, scary, eeeeevil atheist:
Davis: 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.
I don’t see you (Sherman) fighting guns in school. You know?
I’m trying to understand the philosophy that you want to spread in the state of Illinois. This is the Land of Lincoln. This is the Land of Lincoln where people believe in God, where people believe in protecting their children.… What you have to spew and spread is extremely dangerous, it’s dangerous–
Sherman: What’s dangerous, ma’am?
Davis: 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!
Sherman: Thank you for sharing your perspective with me, and I’m sure that if this matter does go to court—
Davis: 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.
Davis was testifying before the House in opposition to Illinois Governor, Rod Blagojevich’s, plan to fund a Baptist Church, or somesuch.
Sometimes I forget that such raging bigotry and blind fear of ideas and discourse still exists.
The Pilgrim Baptist Church (an Louis Sullivan- designed, historic landmark, built as a synagogue, but now African-American church)burned down. The Governor pledged a million bucks of state money to help rebuild it. Church/State-separation people cried foul. Though I agree with C/S separation in this case, Rob Sherman, the most public atheist in the state, is a bit of the self-publicizing wingnut himself.
It’s enlightening to click up the link and read the entire Eric Zorn article followed by the commentaries of readers that follow. Taken as a whole,there’s reason to hope that more people want to take a more non-personalized approach to religious vs secular issues. Hopefully, we will have a live catylist in the White House encouraging a more balanced, informed perspective to all issues after next election?
I always read Eric Zorn when I lived in Chicago,so it was nostalgic to be referred again to his articles.
On a related note that million dollars was “accidentally” sent to a school that had met in that curch instead.
I had a problem with it from the other direction. I don’t want the state messing around in my business as a pastor. Also my church carries fire insurance for just in case something bad does happen; just like I carry insurance on my home. The fire at Pilgrim Baptist was accidental; caused by a roofing company using a blowtorch. Why aren’t they paying for thier mistake?
And people wonder why there are times I slip into Militant Atheist mode. People like this make me forget there are good religious people out there (with whom I may disagree but at least I know they don’t think I should be muzzled and bound from ever speaking).
And she calls herself a Democrat, too. That sort of attitude seems more welcome in the Republican party.
When things burn down, doesn’t insurance pay to rebuild it? They did have insurance… right?
I’m all for preservation of landmarks. But if this currently being used as a church, or a business, or whatever, the user should have insurance, as should anyone doing work on the building.
Otherwise, my garage needs new siding. Maybe I can declare my Prius a diety and have Illinois kick in a few bucks. I would assume that believing my car is a god would suit this nitwit legislator more than not believing in any supernatural entities at all. I don’t want to be a danger to the children.
“And it’s dangerous for our children to even know that your philosophy exists!”
Wow! Her faith must be REALLY strong.
This is one of those areas in the Democrat party that is just simmering below the surface. Maybe one day it will explode like a volcano.
African Americans are highly religious. A good portion of the white, educated Democratic electorate is not. Not even close.
When they come in contact like at this commitee meeting, it ain’t pretty.
Now, generally African American leaders like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton sell out their peoples’ religious positions for political favors.
I guess Rep. Davis didn’t get the memo!
WWJD:
WWJD
The democratic party will not simmer because religious Blacks are sitting next to intellelectual ‘atheist-type’ Whites and multi-racial younger people with varying backgrounds in religion. This is a very compatible grouping and will be powerful and stable.Religion is not the common denominator; constitutional civil rights inclusion is..
Blacks have always been a group to be controled politically by religious social conservatives types , by religion specifically ,if necessary.Both Whites and Blacks had to live in the same Southern culture but with 2 different sets of civil rights,so religion was never a common unifier,quite the contrary.
It’s kind of ironic,because when one goes into a Black church or White Evangelical church both worships are clearly emotion-based. Nothing so utterly divides and demoralizes people as religion can,even if on the surface the religion seems similar.
We truly need lots of dialogue on church-politics in this country. We’ve all kind of been raised in our own catechism,and I include the atheist cathechism and others.
True, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton are the types of Black leaders that have been frightening to Whites because their emotional victimization dialogue doesnt sell well in the White World. But it sells well in the churches,as long as churches remain divided racially.
Jack Daniels, not water, will soothe that stigmata(r).
I haven’t seen that kind of rhyming since Steve Miller rhymed “taxes” with “facts is”.
“His crown of thorns would bleed red, white, and blue” is also nice.
Is Buzzcut expecting a “Holy Racial War” ?
Is Buzzcut expecting a “Holy Racial War†?
One day, African Americans are going to have to choose between their faith in God and their faith in the Democratic Party.
Right now, oftentimes, they put their faith in God behind their faith in Democrats.
But if white, secular Democrats keep throwing things like… well, whatever it is that Sherman wants, into the religious faces of African Americans, there could very well be a schism, pun intended.
Not a war, just African Americans making their vote available to both parties. Having the African American vote become competitive would really put a hurting on the Democratic Party.