Religion
Related: About this forumDoes this candidate have a prayer?
Posted at 04:26 PM ET, 05/31/2012
By Herb Silverman
South Carolina is too small for a republic and too large for an insane asylum, observed Congressman James L. Petigru, shortly after South Carolina seceded from the Union in 1860 and declared itself a republic. Ive lived in South Carolina since 1976, and stories about our politicians no longer surprise me. The comedy group Capitol Steps takes its name from the escapade involving our former congressman John Jenrette, who had sex with his wife on the steps of the U.S. Capitol in the late 1970s. More recently, our former governor Mark Sanford was intimate with his soul mate in Argentina, which he mistook for the Appalachian Trail. Perhaps South Carolina is not too large for an insane asylum.
Some might argue that Im also a candidate for this asylum. After all, why would a liberal, Yankee, Jewish atheist like me run for governor of South Carolina? Well, it wasnt through blind ambition or unrealistic expectations, and certainly the devil didnt make me do it. In 1990 a colleague at the College of Charleston, where I was a math professor, pointed out that the South Carolina Constitution prohibited atheists from becoming governor.
Since the U.S. Constitution bars religious tests for public office, I asked a local ACLU lawyer how this obviously unconstitutional provision could be removed. He said that to mount a legal challenge, an open atheist would have to become a candidate. And he added with a smile, The very best candidate would be you-in a race for governor of South Carolina.
After giving this surprising suggestion much thought, I agreed to run as a write-in candidate. I assumed, in my political naïveté, that state officials would consent to bring South Carolina into compliance with federal law. They didnt. Governor Carroll Campbell said, The South Carolina Constitution was fine as it was because this country was founded on Godly principles. .
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/guest-voices/post/does-this-candidate-have-a-prayer/2012/05/31/gJQAKLf14U_blog.html
The answer is no.
elleng
(131,077 posts)this country was NOT founded on godly princples.
longship
(40,416 posts)The guy's got a good sense of humor.
dimbear
(6,271 posts)Santa Muerte, Santeria, FSM, Cthulhu, Xenu. Just not nothing.
dmallind
(10,437 posts)...but believers here keep telling us we are inventing the wholesale anti-atheist bigotry and discrimination that makes it so.
rug
(82,333 posts)dmallind
(10,437 posts)When 50% of voters say they would never consider voting for an otherwise well-qualified atheist candidate, it's hardly likely such candidates can attract the votes of every single non-bigot voter and win.
cbayer
(146,218 posts)dmallind
(10,437 posts)or quibble about exact wording etc? Not worth it without some change in your entrenched believers-do-no-wrong opinion.
cbayer
(146,218 posts)Your presumption that I have a "believers do no wrong" opinion is false. Lots of believers do wrong.
But I do read this group pretty carefully and I have not seen the position you describe voiced by any members:
"believers here keep telling us we are inventing the wholesale anti-atheist bigotry and discrimination".
If it is so, I would like to see it.
dmallind
(10,437 posts)but it's worth ten minutes ONCE. Never ask me for back up cites again though when you do pretend these don't apply.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=1284685&mesg_id=1289635
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=214&topic_id=29616&mesg_id=29677
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=8022732&mesg_id=8023017
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=214&topic_id=65251&mesg_id=65424
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=214x97059
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=2095917&mesg_id=2096305
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=1284685&mesg_id=1289635
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&a mp;topic_id=1284685&mesg_id=1289635
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=1284685&mesg_id=1289635
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=54552
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=2095917&mesg_id=2096127
cbayer
(146,218 posts)I do appreciate you finding them, though.
dmallind
(10,437 posts)or even acknowledge it exists. Blinkers go with theism in other ways too I guess.
cbayer
(146,218 posts)cbayer
(146,218 posts)You went to the trouble to do this and deserve a more thoughtful response.
Let me try to explain my issue here.
While there may be exceptions, I think most of the believers that post here hold no animosity towards atheists as a group. There may be some individuals from all groups who are consistently negative towards other that see things differently or towards other specific members, but I don't think its generalized for the most part.
When blanket statements are made about theists or atheists or agnostics or whatever, and when those statements are aimed specifically at DU members who participate here, it is divisive and damages the overall tone and quality of discourse. Why this happens, I am not completely sure, but I have my own theories.
So I do have a negative reaction and do sometimes ask for something to back up those claims. You did find some instances which lend credence to what you claim and, again, I appreciate your making the effort to do that. Fortunately, most of those instances can be attributed to people that do not currently participate here and I am hopeful that the tone has changed or is changing.
There is no question that atheists suffer some level of discrimination and prejudice. Anyone who claims that is not true is either misinformed or is being intentionally provocative. What is important is that we not allow that prejudice to flourish here, but try to address it and be able to discuss our differences without rancor.
We may even find areas in which various groups can form alliances and work towards shared goals.
cbayer
(146,218 posts)He's got at least 4 strikes against him, but his candidacy may lead to some progress.
Good for him.