Dole Versus Hagen - atheism as third rail of politics
As further proof that being a non-theist is a perfect bar to holding public office, witness the controversy over Elizabeth Dole's smear campaign against Kay Hagen in the North Carolina race for U.S. Senate. A desperate Dole evidently felt that connecting her opponent to a group called Godless Americans would be a knock-out punch, but then Hagen out-Christianed Dole by pointing to her years as a Sunday school teacher.
How I wish we lived in a country where Hagen could have said -- as Colin Powell said about Muslims -- "I'm a Christian, but even if I were an atheist, so what?" The following link shows Dole's smear ad and part of Hagen's response ad:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EfvTIJU5bU
I hear there's a slander suit over the ad.
Imagine that. Being unjustly called an "atheist" is grounds for a slander suit.
I agree with what you said. I'd like to live in a world where "atheist" is no more a dirty word than any religious affiliation, where preference over gender is seen the same way as preference for blonds or brunettes, or where it's simply expected that the electorate will be color-blind and we don't congradulate ourselves for it.
I do too because I see where it is how you take care of life here n this planet and others that really makes a difference.