The Resistance

I just sent this e-mail to the Star Tribune supporting the proclamation:

Ventura’s “Indivisible Day” was non-religious

Ventura’s “Indivisible Day” proclamation was perfectly timed for the fourth of July. It is a perfect testament to the true intentions of our founding fathers to have a country where all citizens have equal protection regardless of their religious beliefs.

There is nothing religious about the proclamation. It simply reaffirms that one of the founding principles of this country is to keep religion separate from our government, “give equal protection for all our citizens,” and maintain vigilance against those who wish to “establish a narrow orthodoxy.”

What’s religious about that? How is Ventura, as Aaron Hall states, using his “official capacity and resources of our state to attack religion”? Is Aaron Hall’s religion offended by a proclamation reaffirming the virtues of a secular, which is different from atheistic, nation? Is Ventura really, as Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer states, “appealing to a fringe element? Is respect for our nation’s diversity really only believed by a fringe element? According to Ventura’s proclamation, our diversity has “made our nation the strongest and most productive in the world.”

Did Hall or Kiffmeyer even read the declaration? Or did they hear that the proclamation was suggested by the Atheists of Minnesota for Human Rights and not look beyond that? It is not who suggested the proclamation, but the content, which decides whether it is atheistic.

What is really telling that there are few, if any, Christian groups that would propose a proclamation that would celebrate one of our most basic freedoms on Independence Day.


I'm going to miss Ventura.

Starspun

Gov. Body rocks! With balls of steel and he doesn't give a rats ass what the sheep want.
I would love to see him whip Dubya's ass.

Blinn

Here's the <a href="http://www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress/news/politics/3597407.htm" target="_blank">full text</a> of the proclamation.

beachbum

Jesse Ventura for King!!!

eowynn

Does anyone know what Ventura's religious preference is? Does he have one?

I personally think we need to get more people who are sympathetic to atheists (or are atheists) in office. It would help quite a bit, in my opinion.

Grumpy

I'm not sure about Jesse's religion, but IIRC he does believe in reincarnation. Because he told Playboy he wanted to come back as a <a href="http://www.channel4000.com/news/ventura/news-ventura-990929-213428.html" target="_blank">38-DD bra</a>.

[ July 05, 2002: Message edited by: Grumpy ]</p>

capsaicin67

Ventura is probably my favorite politician, one of the few that I trust to speak his mind and utter *genuine* common sense. If he leaves politics entirely, I can't think of anyone left that has any hope of challenging the status quo and leading the development of a viable new party, or reforming one of the current 2 [1 actually, but that's another topic]. Popular culture is where the meanings and story get created and digested by the masses. Enlightenment fans [those that believe in the search for knowledge, diversity, liberty and justice for ALL] are going to have to get really creative and dynamic to stem the tide of historical revisionism and xian hegemony. Ventura is a force of nature culturally, and even he has been packaged as a whacko by the dominant media voices. I think that is significant that nearly no one in the popular media has the courage to applaud him when he does the right thing. In fact I would not have heard about this at all if it were not for this site! After the Pledge ruling, CNN [which I previously thought was somewhat less hysterical and more credible than the FOXNC strain, did everything but pray and order a jihad. Scary!

pz

Speaking as a resident of Minnesota...

Ventura is commendably outspoken. However, he is an incompetent governor -- he has done a very poor job of running the state. His recent histrionics and grandstanding on the state budget was an example. It's nice to have a politician who doesn't weasel words, but it would be even better if that were coupled with some management ability and some skill in politics.

capsaicin67

"Ventura is commendably outspoken. However, he is an incompetent governor"

Mmmm. The latter is unfortunate. The former is what I was focused on though, you're right. I really don't know nor hear a whole lot about his day to day performance. I mostly see his commentary and interviews and he sticks up for a lot of politically uncommon ideas and ideals. And he's enough of a cultural icon that he gets visibility somewhat. Thanks for the insider lowdown.


"It's nice to have a politician who doesn't weasel words, but it would be even better if that were coupled with some management ability and some skill in politics."

THAT would rock. That may be a huge topic [and maybe one for the Politics FOrum?] all its own. Is that even possible? People with management ability tend to have been in management and are more corporate than populist or whatever. People that are political tend to not risk courageous leadership, or cutting edge policy. I am very interested in this problem though, as I see the corporate parties continue to dominate and ride the crest of wave after wave of scandal betraying the public [populist?]trust and frolicking in bed with special interests. And now they seem to be thoroughly merged with religious fundamentalists. It's getting harder and harder to envision an "effective" non-corporate candidate-----if you're outside their game, they keep you ineffective. In your opinion, was there anything Ventura could have done, really, or was he simply froze out?