1. Comment #392038 by Ubiquitous Che on June 29, 2009 at 4:11 am

I'm Brian!

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2. Comment #392042 by skip on June 29, 2009 at 4:16 am

I guess I am a militant atheist too!

Hi I'm Jeff.

http://jeffolsson.blogspot.com/

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3. Comment #392045 by Enlightenme.. on June 29, 2009 at 4:21 am

The last two links have "malformed video id"

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4. Comment #392061 by CaptainMandate on June 29, 2009 at 4:40 am

hell yeah, I'm a militant atheist

I'm an atheist fundamentalist

I'm a New Atheist

I'm every kind of atheist that religites like to call me, hell they can use more offensive ones if they like

I'm a fucking atheist prick who deserves to burn in hell for denying the lord

I'm filthy atheist scum who deserves beheading because I refuse to bow down before allah

I'm a nasty little atheist who'd happily watch a child crying because they think they'll never see a dead relative/pet ever again just for the sake of being "right"

I'm a smug know-all atheist who ridicules the ancient arts of healing that have existed for millenia because my precious "science" just doesn't understand it

now we have the name-calling out the way, let's see what ya got...

nice video, great message, loved the photography

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5. Comment #392069 by keddaw on June 29, 2009 at 4:50 am

I am no more an atheist than I am an aracist, or an apsychic (or aastrologer???) The term only exists because theism is so strong and common.

I am against all irrational choices and beliefs we have and point them out even when it is me that is doing it, e.g. I want Scotland to win at football (and England to lose).

Irrational acts would tend to be less harmful if people knew they were irrational before/while committing them. It is the belief that what you are doing is right and logical that gives you the ability to take things way too far. Who would throw stones at an adulterer without the absolute knowledge that what they were doing is right? Who would mutilate their child's genitals without believing it is in the best interests of the child?

While irrationality can be fun and occassionally inspirational (the inventor who carries on despite people telling him it won't work) we need to let people know when they are being irrational to tone down the worst excesses of human self-rightiousness.

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6. Comment #392076 by AshtonBlack on June 29, 2009 at 5:15 am

Nice vid.

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7. Comment #392085 by /Mike on June 29, 2009 at 6:09 am

Last 2 links fixed.

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8. Comment #392105 by locutus7 on June 29, 2009 at 7:23 am

Superb video. Christians can intrude on our personal space, confront us in the public square, and preach fire and brimstone on TV (every Sunday morning), and are merely called devout.

Atheists simply question the existence of magic man and they are called strident, vitriolic, and militant, even by other atheists and, get this, EVEN ON THE RD FORUM!!!

Un - freakin' - believable.

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9. Comment #392108 by MarcCountry on June 29, 2009 at 7:39 am

I'm a monotone atheist...

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10. Comment #392109 by pkruger on June 29, 2009 at 7:41 am

Some good points made here. I liked how the video was assembled. His narration however suffers greatly from extremely amateurish delivery.

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11. Comment #392113 by moniz on June 29, 2009 at 7:56 am

Gee, guess then I'm a militant atheist too, and damn proud of it!

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12. Comment #392116 by Steve Zara on June 29, 2009 at 8:18 am

Comment #392105 by locutus7

Atheists simply question the existence of magic man and they are called strident, vitriolic, and militant, even by other atheists and, get this, EVEN ON THE RD FORUM!!!

Can you give one example of where someone has been called any of those terms simply for questioning the existence of God, by an atheist, on this forum?

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13. Comment #392117 by Delsolar16 on June 29, 2009 at 8:19 am

I'm guilty of being one of those silent and mute atheists he mentions in the end. I have such strong opinions on the issue of god but my non-confrontational demeanor does not allow me to converse with theists about these things. Anyone else have this problem?

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14. Comment #392118 by Tyler Durden on June 29, 2009 at 8:23 am

Comment #392117 by Delsolar16

I have such strong opinions on the issue of god but my non-confrontational demeanor does not allow me to converse with theists about these things.

Ever been to Texas?

:)

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15. Comment #392119 by CaptainMandate on June 29, 2009 at 8:26 am

Locutus7

you raise an intereseting point

I'll rephrase, I'm a Devout Atheist!

Delsolar16

I kind of get what you mean. I do often find myself avoiding contact with theists simply because there's no way to get them to engage in a grown up argument. they get angry, then shout at you for being such an angry atheist

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16. Comment #392121 by huzonfurst on June 29, 2009 at 8:33 am

I still remember people calling blacks "uppity" when they demanded equal treatment.

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17. Comment #392125 by CaptainMandate on June 29, 2009 at 8:54 am

#17

yes that's what you get for being vocal

the experiences of blacks and gays demanding equal rights is very telling.

My memories of hearing adults talking about the news was always "oh why can't they just keep quiet". this from people who would not consider themselves racist or homophobic but are always disturbed by a shift in the status quo.

nowadays we have the same attitude from the "don't know/don't care" agnostic magority. many of them writing in columns and jumping on the Dawkins-bashing bandwaggon.

I think the answer to "why don't they just keep quiet" is the same in all cases; because they're not being heard

I even remember my mother complaining about how uppity Nelson Mandella was after being released and talking as though he should just be grateful for his release and go retire quietly somewhere, and yet he remained uppity. and then became president

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18. Comment #392137 by jackybird on June 29, 2009 at 9:42 am

Delsolar16 -
My sister has a similar problem as. She says that when someone talks to her about God she sees them about the same as she would if they were talking about the Easter Bunny. Consequently, she says nothing. When I engage people while she stays silent, I'm the disrespectful one. If they only know what she really thought.

I agree with the comparison several people have drawn with homosexuals. I think it's more apt than the comparison with the civil rights movement because no one told people not to let anyone know that they're black.

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19. Comment #392142 by The Hogfather on June 29, 2009 at 10:18 am

"Militant Atheist"? Well, since I do pretty much the same thing as the guy in the video, I guess that makes me a "militant" Atheist as well. It really is remarkable how little one has to do to, when he/she is a non-believer, to be to be branded as "militant"!!!!!!

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20. Comment #392144 by pkruger on June 29, 2009 at 10:27 am

Delsolar--

I think often it's just the ominous prospect of having to deal with such an enormous task of having to undertake explaining the steps one must implement when challenging a particular belief that inevitably has been embraced by one who has a very weak knowledge of critical thinking. At some point the believer will inevitably know himself that his own beliefs were arrived upon with oodles of slothful cognition and self-deception prompting him to resort to frequent emotional outbursts as his only defensive-tool whenever the entire history of his own thought process is being challeged. In most cases I can sympathize with you entirely--I don't even bother. I just smile to myself and am glad I'm not like him.

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21. Comment #392152 by BlueCollar8theist on June 29, 2009 at 11:00 am

Much to my family and friends ire, I too am an outspoken, confrontational atheist (antitheist, etc). I challenge anyone and everyone who tries to preach the 'wisdom' of a(ny) god. I regularly 'pick fights' with the Mormon missionaries and have angered one to the point of tears. I will never back down from a debate with anyone. In many ways this has alienated me from my friends and family, who dont like the so-called 'militant' attitude. Its a lonely life, at times, but I wouldnt have it any other way.

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22. Comment #392155 by mordacious1 on June 29, 2009 at 11:08 am

I'm burned out on trying to rationally discuss religion with family and other people whose minds won't be changed. I just state firmly, "Do not annoy me with that superstitious nonsense!" and leave it at that. If someone seems sincere and open-minded, I will discuss it with them (this is rare).

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23. Comment #392159 by Rational_Skeptic on June 29, 2009 at 11:20 am

I don't have much problem with militant christians in my social circle - I live on Canada's west coast - notoriously liberal here. No my problem (living on Canada's west coast) is with other kinds of woo: yoga's apparent ability to "massage the internal organs," "energy" work, chiropractic, acupuncture (which sadly just got put on our health plan while the cervical cancer vaccination is not - oh don't get me started on that). I nearly got shouted down during breakfast with my running group the other day talking about chiropractic - geez those people are really into their chiropractors! There was one other guy on my side - but I shut up after it got too heated.

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24. Comment #392161 by mbscience on June 29, 2009 at 11:26 am

very good man and also brave¡¡
he knows how to stand up for beliefs and how to transmit the idea

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25. Comment #392171 by Dark Matter on June 29, 2009 at 12:46 pm

I'm in.

Call me a militant new whatever as long as it's clear that I don't believe in Bronze Age bullshit.




Dark Matter.

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26. Comment #392186 by RightWingAtheist on June 29, 2009 at 1:36 pm

Also he has a dog, so you can tell he's a nice guy.

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27. Comment #392195 by Quiddam on June 29, 2009 at 2:23 pm

I object to the term - unless the target is indeed being militant i.e. offering physical violence to further his agenda.

I am certainly an activist atheist, a vocal, engaged and assertive one too. But I will never be a militant one. I leave that to the Christian soldiers, marching as to war. Otherwise known as the US Evangelical Army

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28. Comment #392203 by TIKI AL on June 29, 2009 at 2:47 pm

"Ever been to Texas?" (Tyler Durden@14)

Try telling rednecks in a pickup truck club that you voted for Obama and there ain't no god.

Sure is hard to type with both arms in a cast.

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29. Comment #392218 by louis14 on June 29, 2009 at 3:23 pm

16. Comment #392121 by huzonfurst

I still remember people calling blacks "uppity" when they demanded equal treatment.

I like that. I think I'll refer to myself as an 'uppity' atheist in the future. Just don't know my place. Although, like Delsolar, I try to avoid confrontation unless someone starts preaching.

Good point, well made in the video. The photography was so good, that I got distracted from what he was saying a couple of times!

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30. Comment #392222 by RightWingAtheist on June 29, 2009 at 3:54 pm

TIKI AL:

43% of Texans voted for Obama:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election_in_Texas,_2008


But the god thing might still be a problem.

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31. Comment #392224 by Demotruk on June 29, 2009 at 3:59 pm

Awesome video.

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32. Comment #392230 by Steve Zara on June 29, 2009 at 4:16 pm

I'm not a militant atheist.

I'm a militant questioner, a loud-mouthed rationalist. An annoying skeptic.

But I was all of those even when I was religious (I was kicked out of religious groups because of my militant questioning).

So, I'm a militant questioner, a loud-mouthed rationalist. An annoying skeptic. Because of these, I have ended up as an atheist.

(Sorry, I mean igtheist. Easy to slip into conventional theistic language).

I don't like the phrase 'militant atheist'.

One should not be militant about conclusions, only about questions, and that they should be asked.

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33. Comment #392246 by prolibertas on June 29, 2009 at 4:59 pm

My stock answer to the 'militant fundamentalist' label is always just, 'So the criticism of dogmatism is, itself, dogmatic? Aren't you then a dogmatist too, for criticising my dogmatism?'

Because that's all my 'militancy' consists of. I don't care if people don't agree with me on a proposition, I only care that they're not dogmatic about it, that they have the possibility of changing their minds; which requires caring about the truth. It is, after all, dogmatism that really causes harm.

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34. Comment #392247 by Goldy on June 29, 2009 at 5:01 pm

I am an atheist and a pacifist. Yet I am labelled militant. Anyway, Facebook has me down as a whateverist or something... :-)

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35. Comment #392257 by Demotruk on June 29, 2009 at 5:19 pm

I don't like the term either. Nor do I like "new atheist", and all the other terms used by the religious to describe us (which we have adopted). You don't call a Christian or Muslim militant unless they resort to violence or threats of violence, so why call an atheist militant?

There's also nothing "new" about us, apart from perhaps our less defeatist attitude than the "old atheists", who often conceded morality to theism.

But I'm no "bright" either...

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36. Comment #392258 by Styrer- on June 29, 2009 at 5:20 pm

Listening to and watching this piece make me feel a familiar sentiment - why did not I have the balls to say this in a manner even approaching the beauty of your own?

Perhaps I'm not militant enough.

This was a good one, and thanks to you, sir, whoever the fuck you are. Beautifully and persuasively done.

I salute you.

Styrer

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37. Comment #392266 by Myotis Lucifugus on June 29, 2009 at 5:49 pm

Take that Michael Ruse!!!,lol

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38. Comment #392277 by Squigit on June 29, 2009 at 6:27 pm

13. Comment #392117 by Delsolar16

My husband is non-confrontational...I am the opposite...the problem with me is that I am not very articulate and I usually end up getting drawn into a trap set by the theist with whom I'm "debating" and I just end up arguing and screaming right back...ugh

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39. Comment #392305 by Delsolar16 on June 29, 2009 at 8:28 pm

Comment #392277 by Squigit

...the problem with me is that I am not very articulate and I usually end up getting drawn into a trap set by the theist with whom I'm "debating" and I just end up arguing and screaming right back...ugh

Yes, I am the exact same way. However when I asked my friend a few weeks ago what would have to change in the world in order for her to be skeptical of god's existence she said "I will never doubt". So I guess when you are arguing with a brick wall you might as well argue loudly. This is why I admire Sam Harris so much though. He always remains calm and then comes up with some extremely clever and persuasive analogy to demolish his opponent's arguments. I always wonder if he had ever been like me when he was younger.

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40. Comment #392320 by superwolf on June 29, 2009 at 10:17 pm

I was visiting a friend today who is moving tomorrow literally to the opposite coast (Seattle to New York City). We sat out in the sun on the UW campus in the red square area talking about anything and everything. We broached the subject of faith vs. reason at about the very moment that I spotted a proselytizing Christian about 75 yards away. Being an ex-Christian, I can spot them from a much further distance. I mentioned to my good friend that that man would eventually interrupt our conversation.
Sure enough, about 30 minutes later he did and with the despicable, uncalled for, completely not genuine, divisive manner that I imagined.
Honestly, he said "Do you guys want to talk about Jesus?"
Normally, my blood pressure maintains when approached by the credulous. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that he was interrupting my valuable and limited time with my friend and that he didn't give any human, real greeting before, but I decided I would not be polite since he was so intrusive and loaded with trite, predictable ramblings.
"I've been talking about Jesus all my life."
"Really? That's great."
"No, it's not. I've had all I can take of him."
Cretin turns to my friend. "How about you?"
Friend says. "No, I'm in the same boat as my friend."
Cretin, "Well, I just want you to know he is who he says he is."
I say, "Do you mean a divider of families?"
With a twitch of the eye and cocked lip and eyebrow, as if thinking, and then a calm tone and sly grin. "Yes."
"Exactly. I don't want any part of it. You need to be reminded of all the violence that has taken place before, during and after Jesus that allowed you to get away with parading your certainty around. Leave us alone."
Immediately, and without missing a beat he walks a few steps away and sits down next to some students and starts blathering.
My friend asked me a few minute late if I thought I had been a little harsh with him. Before I could speak, he answered his own question.
"I guess not. He's the asshole who treated us with no genuineness. You clearly spoke with conviction and you knew what you were laying into him. Plus, who would want to believe in something like that if it divided families?"
Later he asked if I thought that man truly believed what he was spewing.
"Unfortunately, yes."
No kidding, and my friend hasn't read any of the new 'militant atheist' literature, he says "It's like a virus."
I'll miss my good friend. He's so reasonable.

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41. Comment #392331 by AfraidToDie on June 29, 2009 at 11:17 pm

23. Comment #392158 by Ian Bamlett: Rush Limbaugh just used the term "meme" in its correct context on his radio show. Just one more piece of evidence in my theory he is a closet atheist.

So instead of a 7.0, he is a 6.9 on the pompous arsehole meter.

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42. Comment #392332 by helenlibra on June 29, 2009 at 11:35 pm

When the JWs or the Morons come to my door, I describe myself as a fundamental atheist who has been radicalised. They don't stay long.

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43. Comment #392372 by Die Griek on June 30, 2009 at 3:44 am

Strident!! Wer'e all strident!

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44. Comment #392384 by mixmastergaz on June 30, 2009 at 4:29 am

Can't watch the clip at the moment; I'm in work, but here are my thoughts on this deceptive phrase 'militant atheist'.

Well 'militant' implies one who is aggressive and prepared to fight for their cause. I don't think I'm aggressive about being an atheist, or about anything much at all for that matter. I'd be prepared to fight to protect myself and my loved ones certainly. I hope if I saw a stranger in distress at the hands of violent thugs I'd come to his or her aid. I've never been in such a position so I don't know for sure if I really have the courage, but I think so. I guess that's the extent of my potential 'militancy'. I doubt whether too many others here would feel differently on this point. I think the idea of literally fighting for atheism is ridiculous and would be counter-productive. Violence won't convert anyone obviously.

I don't think of atheism is a 'cause'; it's an opinion.

The phrase 'militant atheist' is a slur, just like 'fundamentalist atheist'. Its use is rhetorical by theists. It's a sort of 'guilty-by-association' con trick they're using. I guess it's suppposed to work something like this:-

P1: Militancy is bad.
P2: Fundamentalism is bad.
C: Therefore Ditchkins and his ilk are bad.

Of course no one is spelling this out. It's just implied by the usual theist suspects. If they throw enough shit at the wall some of it might stick.

I seem to remeber Hitchens having a good response to this somewhere. Something about how easy it is to think of the names of individuals who have resorted to violence to further their religious agendas but how difficult it is to name an individual who has resorted to violence to further the 'cause' (IT'S NOT A CAUSE!) of atheism.

Somebody else (A. C. Grayling was it£) suggested that a good response to those who speak of militant or fundamentalist atheists is to ask what are the differences between ordinary atheists and these (nonexistent) militant or fundamentalist types.

Edit: Simply being prepared TO ARGUE in favour of one's opinion (no matter how stridently) does not qualify one as a fundamentalist or militant.

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45. Comment #392398 by Mr DArcy on June 30, 2009 at 5:49 am

Heck, being a non-believer is bloody good fun! I love Christian baiting in particular, because I know more about that particular religion. I've done my bit as well; none of my offspring has a religious thought in them.

I can't wait for the likes of Wee Flea Robertson to come and pour some of his Christian vitriol on these boards. We need his kind to prevent this site becoming a mutual admiration society.

Militant? Well maybe, but certainly fun loving. Maybe I should place this ad in my paper:

"Fun loving materialist would like to meet swinging Christian or astrologer for mental gymnastics sessions. Whips and leather not necessary!"

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46. Comment #392407 by rod-the-farmer on June 30, 2009 at 6:44 am

Once, a year or two back, some JW's came to my front door, and I told them "Boy did you make a mistake. I am a militant atheist." I did not see a car, and my driveway is about 1300 feet long....

I very much regret saying that, now that I have had some time to think about it. I am retired (actually, just older and out of work, and have given up trying to find a job in a tough area) and thus home most days.

What I should have done, and will certainly do if the opportunity arises again, is engage them in polite conversation. There is room on my front porch for a couple of chairs, and the results of a long conversation may be as follows:

1) The more I speak to them politely, the more likely their attitudes to atheists will moderate

2) The longer I discuss their ideas, the more likely they are to see the inherent falsehoods and irrationality thereof

3) the longer they stay at my place, the less chance they will have to poison the mind of someone less prepared to challenge their religious BS.

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47. Comment #392411 by CaptainMandate on June 30, 2009 at 7:07 am

Rod you make a very good point there (number 3)

we have a duty, by virtue of the fact we're not going to be effected by their woowoo to engage with as many religites as we can, thus wasting as much of their time as we can possibly afford.

Not only do we save some poor wretch who may agree to turn up at some sort of meeting just to get them to bugger off, we may be able to sow the seeds of doubt in their own little heads

failing that we could encourage them to focus on the most nonsensical and self contradictory aspects of their arguments. sort of defuse them before sending them back to society.

I promise to take time to talk to nutjobs in future (not the ones in Clarendon Street, I only get an hour for lunch but if they come to my home I'll have the kettle on)

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48. Comment #392443 by Colwyn Abernathy on June 30, 2009 at 9:25 am

My best friend accused me of being "heavy handed" and "overbearing" about my "conversion". That, as a person, I tend to get carried away with new passions, as well as being flighty over them. However, she neglected to be specific, nor did she mention any points of contention. Perhaps I should send her this vid, as it's far more eloquent than anything I could come up with.

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49. Comment #392446 by AllanW on June 30, 2009 at 9:39 am

Comment #392407 by rod-the-farmer on June 30, 2009 at 6:44 am

Entirely agree with your plan. Well done.

Other Comments by AllanW

50. Comment #392458 by TIKI AL on June 30, 2009 at 11:26 am

It is "deeply disturbed" militant godbots like Oklahoma Rep. Sally Kern (R) that should be in a rubber room for wasting taxpayer money introducing anti-gay crap like this:

"WHEREAS, deeply disturbed that the Office of the president of these United States
disregards the biblical admonitions to live clean and pure lives by proclaiming an entire month to an immoral behavior;

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that we the undersigned elected officials of the people of Oklahoma, religious leaders and citizens of the State of Oklahoma, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world, solemnly declare that the HOPE of the great State of Oklahoma and of these United States, rests upon the Principles of Religion and Morality as put forth in the HOLY BIBLE; and

BE IT RESOLVED that we, the undersigned, believers in the One True God and His
only Son, call upon all to join with us in recognizing that "Blessed is the Nation whose God is the Lord," and humbly implore all who love Truth and Virtue to live above reproach in the sight of God and man with a firm reliance on the leadership and protection of Almighty God; and

BE IT RESOLVED that we, the undersigned, humbly call upon Holy God, our
Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer, to have mercy on this nation, to stay His hand of judgment,
and grant a national awakening of righteousness and Christian renewal as we repent of our great sin.

Signed on the second day of July in the year of our Lord Christ Two Thousand and Nine."

The whole disgusting "thing" is up at Huffpo.

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