GrrlScientist is an evolutionary biologist, ornithologist, aviculturist, birder and freelance science and nature writer. A native of the Pacific Northwest, she relocated from Seattle to NYC with her parrots after earning a BS in Microbiology (emphasis in Virology) and PhD in Zoology (Ornithology) from the University of Washington. In NYC, she was the Chapman Postdoctoral Fellow at the American Museum of Natural History for two years, pursuing part of her "dream" research project by reconstructing a molecular phylogeny of the parrots of the South Pacific islands. GrrlScientist and her five parrots are currently relocating to Germany, where she will continue writing her blog while also writing a book and learning German. (Meanwhile, her parrots will continue to nibble on her extensive personal library.) If you appreciate GrrlScientist's writing, you can help pay her living expenses by hiring her to "blog" your conference, speak at your club or write articles for your publication (or by clicking on the Paypal button below). If you read an essay on this blog that you especially enjoyed, please nominate it for inclusion in 
tags: politics, political sleeze, Elizabeth Dole, Kay Hagen, atheists, streaming video
At one time, I respected -- note the past tense of the word -- Elizabeth Dole, but after seeing this astonishing ad that her campaign aired in NC against her political opponent, Kay Hagen, I am disgusted. At the end of the ad, there is a picture of Hagen and a voice-over saying "there is no god" -- the implication being that Hagen, a christian, actually said this. Worse, even though Hagen is christian, her willingness to meet with atheists shows she is open-minded and thoughtful: since when is tolerance and open-mindedness a character flaw, especially in a politician, who is charged with representing all the people, not just those she personally likes and agrees with? [3:19].
Politics
Education & Careers
Comments
How is there a fair way to bring up being associated with atheists? How does that indicate poor judgment? This guy Alex Castellanos is just another amoral, narcissistic, bigoted religionist the "Christian" right seems to produce so many of.
I say "amoral" because these people are not actively immoral, they are not flouting their own supposed morals, they simply have no morals at all. Sarah Palin is a prime example of this kind of person, which is probably why she is so popular. Any time you have people capable of uttering sentences like "I don't want to seem racist, but I don't want a black man for president," you know you're dealing with amorality and narcissism on a grand scale.
Posted by: Dale | October 31, 2008 6:05 PM
I'm with you. Dole has lost not only my respect, but any credibility she had. She's a nobody.
Posted by: Rex | October 31, 2008 6:38 PM
I am not merely disappointed with Dole, but also with the CNN anchors and their guests. Instead of a simple "umm.... SO WHAT?" (yeah, Colin Powell said it better than I did, but I suppose it is easier to say it's ok to be "an Arab" than an atheist), they reacted with shock and disgust that anyone would stoop so low as accuse someone of being an atheist! Sorry, but this is a personal affront! I have stopped students when I overheard them complain about a stupid rule by saying "that's so gay"; the CNN talking heads, instead, affirmed the loathsome nature of Dole's ad. Sure, it would be ok to go to a gathering that had atheists... because that gives the opportunity to convert them! Thanks for the support.
If you don't mind, I will take the opportunity to post a verse I have already posted elsewhere; if you consider this spamming, please feel free to delete it.
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.
Full rant at http://digitalcuttlefish.blogspot.com/2008/10/i-proudly-am-atheist.html
Posted by: Cuttlefish | October 31, 2008 7:20 PM
I am also proud to have you on my side, GrrrlScientist. It's a defect in my character that the more people attack my liberalism and atheism, the louder I defend them. And Digital, that poem belongs everywhere. I don't think it is spamming.
Posted by: Mike Haubrich, FCD | October 31, 2008 7:54 PM
Dale - You seem to confuse, as many do, a belief in God with morality. The decision to believe in God (or not) is not a moral one. It has nothing to do with morality. It's a theological belief.
Morals, true morals, are independent of religion and can be defined outside of theology.
For example - Killing is wrong because I don't have the right to deprive someone of their life. Theft is wrong because I don't have the right to property or money that I did not earn.
These are morals. I and many other atheists believe that we need to make this world as good as possible because we also believe this is all we get, that there is no unending paradise when we die. That's also a moral choice.
So when you say that atheists are amoral it's clear that you don't understand what atheism is all about. Across the globe there are hundreds of faiths involving thousands of Gods. I just believe in one less than you do.
When you understand why you don't believe in Hindu gods or Buddhist boddisatvas then you'll understand why I don't believe in your God.
Posted by: Jordan | November 1, 2008 2:32 AM
@Jordan
Hey - I know this thread is dead (and gone to heaven ;) but in case you're receiving follow up comments:
If you re-read Dale's comment you'll see he used the word 'amoral' to describe 'another ... bigoted religionist' not atheists...
Keep up the god fight!
Posted by: Malcolm | February 17, 2009 12:20 AM