Re: Choosing one's fights, was Re: George W. Bush's Speech on September 20, 2001

From: Samantha Atkins (samantha@objectent.com)
Date: Sun Sep 23 2001 - 05:15:57 MDT


"Olga Bourlin" <fauxever@sprynet.com> writes:

>
> Believers often render unbelievers (real people) to the status of
> "invisible," all the while lending reality to the "invisible." Don't ask.
> Nontheists do not HAVE to make "enemies" of believers - this is, after all,
> a pluralistic society. And believers need to "understand" that just as
> there are Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, etc., there are nontheists in their
> midst, too. Believers also need to understand that we do not just have
> freedom of religion, but freedom from religion, as well. Was it Clinton(?)
> who not too long ago came up with the brilliant quote along the lines of,
> "Just because we have freedom of religion doesn't mean we have freedom from
> religion?" Sheeesh.
>

At a time like this to be focusing on such side issues and squabbles is
simply bizarre to me. Freedom of religion includes the freedom for
a US president to mention God if God is meaningful to him/her and to
the audience in the situation. Anything less would not be freedom but
coercion to keep political speechs free from reference to religious symbols,
words, ethical systems(?) and so on. That would not be an improvement.

- samantha



This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Fri Oct 12 2001 - 14:40:55 MDT