Greg Laden's Blog

Why do these ignorami continue to say atheists 'hate' jesus? Why would we waste our time hating a person of dubious historical reality? I might as well hate moriarty, sherlock, or watson!

And to say that it's wrong of 'us' to use a commandment that we don't believe in to point out the hypocrisy in the theft of a sign by someone anti-atheist is epic fail! (The thief would be, by definition, pro-theist, and in the US is therefore most likely be a christian).

The other irksome element is that the 'war' on christmas is not an atheist trope - it's christian! The O'Reilly's of the world keep harping on about the devaluation of christmas. As an atheist I could care less! So long as you don't shove your proselytizing shit down my throat, I DON'T CARE!

Neither I nor any of my atheist friends, are agitating for an end to christmas! I think it's nice to have a time in the depth of winter around which to structure get-togethers for friends and family. I don't agree with the crass commercialization that tries to entice my kids to want more shiny plastic shit, but I accept that as part of living in a commercial society!

I take the time to teach my kids that crap is indeed crap, and that some things have more lasting value (books and movies and music come to mind!). We play, we dance, we sing, and we act silly. We also get some toys (because that's part of the western tradition) but we don't go nuts on everything regardless of need!

Because my son doesn't get crap - we can afford to get him much better stuff of value (he now has a semi-pro drum kit -- the shells alone cost $1200) -- but sometimes those come as multi-part gifts (his shells were birthday, christmas, and lots of chores!)

So how am I, an athiest, attacking christmas? I seem to be spending MY christmas in a perfectly american way (including the lack of church!)

Posted by: tony | December 19, 2008 2:49 PM

I guess the second requirement to be a theocrat is lack of any sense of irony.

The first requirement, of course, being lack of any critical thinking skills.

Posted by: Tom Coward | December 19, 2008 2:53 PM

In the video, Michelle Malkin advocated ignoring this particular atheist stunt. Who is that blonde journalist who objected: "But Michelle, if you let them do that, then, over time, they will have the control...If you don't stand up and fight for it, it might just disappear--I'm talking about Christianity!" (How paranoid can you be? Christianity disappear because atheists are allowed free speech?) Thus pushed to deride atheists, Malkin finally conceded: "I think making fun of them, too, and mockery is probably the second best solution..."

I can understand that a Christian who puts up a nativity scene in a public square would likely be annoyed by an atheist's protest sign. But I don't see why the dispute needs to be on national news; furthermore, it's inappropriate to generalize about atheists because of one little thing done by one person or small group.

Posted by: TL | December 19, 2008 6:52 PM

Wow, indeed! Of course, Michelle Malkin and the merry crew at Faux News apparently entirely missed the irony of an atheist sign stolen, then replaced, beside a Nativity scene with one of the Ten Commandments. . . .
Anne G

Posted by: Anne Gilbert | December 19, 2008 7:31 PM

Theyre so cute! Can I take one home, pleeeeeease?

Posted by: MH | December 20, 2008 5:17 AM