Watch this news story. When you listen to the words of the CNN commentator, replace terms like "religious," "Christian," and "faith" with, oh let's see, how about "African American," Black" and if you like, the "n-word." Or, if you don't want to do this with race, you can do this with a religion. Replace "Christian" with "Jewish." Or "Female" and "woman." See how that plays. See if you can tell what is missing in this picture.
Kaye Hagan, you see, is declared in this commentary to be OK because she's a Christian, not an Atheist as accused. The problem with this should be obvious.
All the news stations are reporting this in a similar way. Dole is getting hammered for her "false accusations" but NO ONE is saying that the 'accusation' of someone being an atheist should never be considered a valid insult. The idea that "you are an atheist" is a form of denigration is itself an insult to all free thinkers, and in my view, the front line reporters, commentators, and anchors who fail to note this should be called into the office to get their knuckles slapped.
Here is my solution and I hope you join me. Dole has a problem that Hagan is taking "godless money." Here is my godless money:
Anybody who does not want this can just give me the gas, groceries, TV political ad time, whatever, for nothin. If you want "godded" money (which I guess is the opposite of godless money) you can't get it from me because I don't have any.
I'm telling you, if I was in North Carolina, I might just pull back my support of Democrat Hagan if she does not come out with a clear statement in this regard. A clear statement that does not, in essence, violate my rights as an American.
More:
There was a time when "nigger" was an insult. Or to call someone a "jew" was deemed appropriate if you had certain negative feelings about them. Now it's "atheist."
Bill Bennett and Self Righteous Black Lady with No Sense of History or Shame: You can both get in line to kiss my ass.
Comments
Absolutely outrageous.
What do you think it will take for this country to take "In God We Trust" off our currency?
Posted by: Serena | October 30, 2008 9:56 PM
It freaks them out even more if you cross out 'god' and put 'Allah' instead. :-)
Posted by: RobertThille | October 30, 2008 9:58 PM
Or Kaiiiliiii!!!!!
Posted by: Greg Laden | October 30, 2008 10:05 PM
Watching that second video, I had to resist the urge to punch the screen. The guests' arrogance is just astounding. Feckin' ejits.
Posted by: Stephen Moore | October 30, 2008 10:42 PM
Only our CASH trusts in God. I barely use cash anymore... I use credit and debit and none of my cards say anything about God.
Posted by: Doubting Foo | October 30, 2008 10:45 PM
Kaye Hagan was criminally slandered.
Also, why would God give Elizabeth Dole “a Special Privilege” to condemn anyone?
Posted by: Joe W | October 30, 2008 11:15 PM
"I use credit and debit and none of my cards say anything about God."
Yeah, but what is your plastic saying about you? And who might it being saying it to? At least with cash, only jehovah knows where you spend it!
Posted by: Moopheus | October 30, 2008 11:55 PM
Hey, on some of the bills, there's enough space to make it say In Godel We Trust.
Posted by: Moopheus | October 30, 2008 11:59 PM
The other nonsense in that first video is the bit where they make it out like "all politicians" are doing this, and this is just one particularly bad example, and the extortion for "all politicians" to stop making such vile ads. Methinks there is a pattern in exactly which politicians are consistently using vile ads. They mostly come from one particular party.
Posted by: Kevin | October 31, 2008 12:00 AM
Wow.
Donna Brazille says there is "strong evidence" for a god's existence. Care to point to out much? That'd be helpful in your attempt to "convert" me. Really helpful, in fact.
Wow. These people are pathetic. Is it so wrong to be an atheist in America that are we placed on the same level as domestic terrorists? Are we that badly misunderstood?
This is why I say I am an atheist: most people will never change until you tell them that their friends, family, and co-workers who are atheists are decent, hard-working, passionate people who share the same concerns and the same worries that theists do. It's pretty hard to be a racist when your friends are black...it should be just as hard to be prejudiced against atheists if you know any.
Maybe one day these bigots will have some sense knocked into them. I have to say, Blitzer didn't do an entirely bad job, though. It's probably his producers who are responsible for bringing the two idiots on the program...who just refused to answer Blitzer's question as to whether it's okay to associate with atheists. Their evasion definitely showed me what I needed to know, and what I already suspected: the pair is bigoted.
However, I can't entirely blame them for not being able to overcome the set of beliefs which were probably introduced to them as children...however, as adults they should question their beliefs once in a while, and not just accept by default what they've been taught. It'd be really nice if critical thinking were more of a value in American life right now.
Posted by: Alex | October 31, 2008 3:00 AM
Posted by: RobertThille
You mean like this?
Posted by: The Science Pundit | October 31, 2008 4:28 AM
Alternatively, you can just erase the D on the note and pretend that American currency contains a tribute to 70s supergroup Go.
Posted by: DrFrank | October 31, 2008 4:34 AM
"NO ONE is saying that the 'accusation' of someone being an atheist should never be considered a valid insult."
We need somebody of the calibre of Colin Powell. He was the first to basically answer the "OBAMA IS A MUSLIM" smear with "and if it were true...".
@ Moopheus: You should buy an umlaut, it's 'Gödel' not Godel.
Posted by: ospalh | October 31, 2008 4:51 AM
@Moopheus: O.K. I see the problem with the umlaut.
Posted by: ospalh | October 31, 2008 4:53 AM
You know the fun part of this -- we now have video of Bill Bennett saying "There is no God." :)
I love that guy in the O'Reilly excerpt, whoever he is.
Posted by: Nemo | October 31, 2008 4:57 AM
Sounds like I am not part of a (oppressed) minority.
I did not see that coming.
Posted by: Vincent | October 31, 2008 5:38 AM
We should get the e-mails of CNN's "Best Political Team on Television" and start a barrage of complaints until they realize the error of their ways... and stuff.
Posted by: Keith | October 31, 2008 5:44 AM
But PZ, you ARE an ATHEIST.
Posted by: Goldstein | October 31, 2008 6:51 AM
And, if atheists like PZ, Dawkins, Harris, Hitchens, ad nauseum were not telling believers what scumbag, moronic, Child Abusing, losers they were all the time, there would not be this misunderstanding that, I can't imagine why, a lot of atheists are bigots.
I mean, I am just saying that perhaps some people take the insults and smears the wrong way.
Posted by: Goldstein | October 31, 2008 6:54 AM
ha ha Goldstein doesn't know whose blog he's commenting on.,
Posted by: Matt Heath | October 31, 2008 7:30 AM
Godless money - I never leave my house without it. :-D
http://www.lava.net/~hcssc/godlessmoney.html
Posted by: EvilPoet | October 31, 2008 8:17 AM
Glad I don't live in the US. Replacing "God" with "The Flying Spaghetti Monster" on every dollar bill to pass through my hands would be hard work.
Posted by: csrster | October 31, 2008 8:20 AM
"Strong evidence for the existance of God"?
I wonder how bad the U.S. economy would be if there wasn't a God? :)
Posted by: Bad Albert | October 31, 2008 8:47 AM
I live in NC, they will both be getting letters from me. For what it's worth.
Posted by: jake | October 31, 2008 9:30 AM
I proudly am an atheist;
I do not share your views.
Imagine how insulting,
When I watch the evening news
And I see you point at folks like me
Indignantly, with rage,
As if we were the lepers
Of a less enlightened age!
No need to watch your language
Or to treat us with respect—
Because demonizing us is still
Politically correct.
You’d never talk like this regarding
Blacks, or Gays, or Jews,
But with atheists, just look at all
The language that you use!
“Obama is a terrorist”—of course
The claim’s obscene;
But “Hagan is an atheist”?
The worst you’ve ever seen?!?
Comparing her to me is now
The lowest of the low?
It’s good I don’t believe in Hell—
I’d tell you where to go.
I proudly am an atheist
I proudly am a Jew
I proudly am a Christian,
And I’m proudly Muslim, too.
I’m proud to be both Gay and Straight
I’m proudly Black and White
I’m proudly Man and Woman
And I’ll proudly join the fight.
I proudly am Humanity,
Whatever that is worth;
There is no group below me,
Or above me, on this Earth.
http://digitalcuttlefish.blogspot.com/2008/10/i-proudly-am-atheist.html
Posted by: Cuttlefish, OM | October 31, 2008 10:00 AM
For me it's just a quick scribble of a pen.
(This, by the way, is perfectly legal to do, and does nothing to destroy the value of the money. I do it with every bill that passes my way. That's not many, but it's enough.)
Posted by: Icelander | October 31, 2008 10:21 AM
Dole and Hagan are both despicable atheist-bashers. The choice for those of us in NC is obvious: vote for the Libertarian, Chris Cole. Like most Libertarians, he argues for the withering away of the state, which would mean the withering away of the ability of the majority to use the force of government to oppress the minority and promote religion. Besides, you want a political party chocked full of atheists, Libertarian is the way to go!
Posted by: Darren | October 31, 2008 10:53 AM
Theocrats insist that God appear on all the money so that He will be involved in every act of prostitution and every drug deal. Those are things most people don't want showing up on their credit card statements.
Posted by: Virgil Samms | October 31, 2008 11:03 AM
Don't know if I've mentioned this, but...yeah, I'm pretty tired of being told that because I'm a logical, rational, thoughtful human being who just can't believe in an invisible puppeteer in the sky, I'm also crazy, delusional, and evil. The next person who says he or she will pray for me or who tries to 'bring me to God' is getting my foot right up his or her ass.
Fuck you both, Elizabeth Dole and Kay Hagan.
Posted by: Dark Matter | October 31, 2008 11:20 AM
Virgil - they use cash money because that is their way of spreading the Word of Jesus. Now, they couldn't just talk to the drug dealers and prostitutes (especially the homosexual drug-dealing prostitutes), they have to pass on something physical that would show God's love for them, like an unmarked $20 or $100. And it would be sinful, obviously, to just give it away, since that teaches them that God is valueless, so they have to take the drugs or the quickie. See. Makes sense.
Posted by: Badger3k | October 31, 2008 11:24 AM
I just sent this letter to Brazile.
Posted by: Greg Laden | October 31, 2008 11:56 AM
CNN did a good job in exposing the Dole commercial as being a lie. To whine they didn't go far enough by calling it an "insult" of accusing someone an atheist who is trying to take religion out of the public eye is silly.
Kay Hagan on the other hand, doesn't care what you all call her, or upset with, because basically liberals in her state are going to vote for her anyway including atheists. She is fighting for votes to put her over the top.
Posted by: Michael | October 31, 2008 2:06 PM
I just want to point out to everyone that Michael is a theist who wants to convert everyone to his religion.
Am I right?
Posted by: Elizabeth | October 31, 2008 2:24 PM
I'm also a "theist," however that does not stop me from believing it's wrong that the word atheist is used as an insult. I have no qualms about voting for an atheist if their ideas, priorities and actions most closely correspond with my ideal. The same would be true for a Jew, Muslim, Christian or other religious affliation.
I wish Hagan had stepped up and said that while she is not an atheist it is ignorant to discriminate against someone solely because they are.
Down with religionism (or whatever you call prejudice based upon religious (dis)beliefs).
Posted by: Lisa | October 31, 2008 2:56 PM
The reason your money has 'in god we trust' on it is there is nothing to trust. Hand it over to the man. Don't expect ANYTHING.
Posted by: eddie | October 31, 2008 3:43 PM
But you can't prove that he exists.
Posted by: Tulse | October 31, 2008 4:08 PM
In a democracy it's important that everyone has a voice. If a group is prevented from even talking openly to their (potential) representatives then they'll be tempted to look outside the system for ways to be heard.
Posted by: SimonG | October 31, 2008 4:10 PM
Icelander, are you sure this is legal? I thought not.
Posted by: AnnieT | October 31, 2008 4:35 PM
I'm telling you, if I was in North Carolina, I might just pull back my support of Democrat Hagan if she does not come out with a clear statement in this regard. A clear statement that does not, in essence, violate my rights as an American.
Looks like we were writing about this about the same time. And this is another outrageous defamation of this electoral season, following those against Muslims, socialists, Palestinians... in each case all sides ganging up and spitting on the minority.
However, the answer shouldn't be withdrawing a vote. It should be voting for the lesser evil, and then, when she is elected, protesting loudly and relentlessly. We do not elect people to give them free reign; we should demand their accountability.
Posted by: bullfighter | October 31, 2008 5:25 PM
When it comes down to it, I always vote for the lesser evil, I admit.
Posted by: Greg Laden | October 31, 2008 5:38 PM
When it comes down to it, I always vote for the lesser evil, I admit.
Posted by: Greg Laden | October 31, 2008 6:07 PM
Posted by: ospalh
ospalh,
It's funny how great minds think alike. ;-) I'm drafting a letter (hand written/sent by snail-mail) to Kay Hagan expressing my feelings on the issue where I will quote from Colin Powel and draw just that analogy. I knew I wasn't alone in thinking this way. I think many of us should do the same.
~Javier
ps--We should also find out who the programming director for CNN is and let that person know our feelings. After all, they did agree to a second segment the last time that they dissed atheists.
Posted by: The Science Pundit | October 31, 2008 6:17 PM
And Colin Powell could say that because he's not running for office.
Posted by: The Ridger | October 31, 2008 7:38 PM
Robert Thille:
I actually had a stamp made that says "In Mammon We Trust". Haven't had anyone refuse my godless money yet, in Bible Belt Georgia, but nor have I found any of it recirculating.
Posted by: phantomreader42 | October 31, 2008 8:34 PM
I like the sound and idea of Godless-American.
Where can I get the T shirt?
Posted by: ralph137 | November 1, 2008 8:03 AM
Here, of course.
Posted by: Stephanie Z | November 1, 2008 11:00 AM
Dear CNN,
I am appalled at the openly discriminatory stance against Jews taken on a recent segment in which Wolf Blitzer asked, "Is it a problem Bill, to associate with Jews?"
To which Bill Bennett responds, "It would have been sensible for Kay, or Kay Hagan's advisers to say, let's just pass on this one."
Oh, wait, it wasn't Jews.
False alarm.
It was only atheists.
Oh well, gee, that makes it all OK.
It's not like they were villifying a group of people who are actually protected under the constitution or anything.
Posted by: tguy is now dguy | November 1, 2008 5:24 PM
Heh. Now you know how 'pit bull' owners feel. They get slandered and libeled all the time but it's 'freedom of speech', don'tcha know. Funny thing, that, because they're right, too.
What's funny is that these wankers don't believe any of it either - or they wouldn't behave the way they do.
"I believe it." "I believe it." "She doesn't believe it, so she's evil."
It's complete insanity. If there is a future, this will be good for a lot of laughs.
Posted by: Caveat | November 1, 2008 11:20 PM
Maybe if someone gave me enough dollars with In God We Trust on them i'd become a believer. Anyone care to help me test that hypothesis?
Posted by: Brian's A Wild Downer | November 2, 2008 4:55 PM
I am an Atheist in North Carolina. I vote.
Elizabeth Dole,
On the back window of my truck, in big white letters is, "DOLE IS A BIGOT!"
Let me tell you that it gets ALOT of attention from the folks running I40 / I85 between Greensboro & Raleigh. I can run 200 miles a day and that isn't including the extra-cirricular I WILL be running.
It will stay there until you either LOSE the election or you remove your 2nd add and apologize to the American people for being a Bigot, Hypocrite, & and Ignoramous.
Atheist voices NEED to be heard.
Posted by: RiverOtter | November 2, 2008 7:35 PM
I am an Atheist in North Carolina. I vote.
Elizabeth Dole,
On the back window of my truck, in big white letters is, "DOLE IS A BIGOT!" right under my Darwin fish.
Let me tell you that it gets ALOT of attention from the folks running I40 / I85 between Greensboro & Raleigh. I can run 200 miles a day and that isn't including the extra-cirricular I WILL be running.
It will stay there until you either LOSE the election or you remove your 2nd ad and apologize to the American people for being a Bigot, Hypocrite, & and Ignoramous.
Atheist voices NEED to be heard.
Posted by: RiverOtter | November 2, 2008 7:38 PM
God and Cash we believe in God and Work for cash
Posted by: Los angeles hard money | February 2, 2009 1:04 AM