capsaicin67

CBS Evening News had a brief spot on tonight regarding the Pledge controversy, and I assure you that the great liberal conspirator, Dan Rather, did nothing to bring greater understanding to the topic. Once again, they allowed the misinformation to rule the day. The old, "the Pledge is being ruled unconstitutional" shlock. No challenging nor insightful journalism. Pathetic.

Anyhoo, there is a discussion area over there regarding the issue:

http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/even...main3420.shtml

I warn you, there is dirty work afoot and the postings are heavy with "get out of our galdurned country" nonthinking. But if anyone else is up for the goodfight you might enjoy posting some sanity over there, too, just to keep it a little more balanced.

Rhaedas

Wow. After reading those, I'm convinced E Pluribus Unum is dead. So much for christian tolerance...they never do get it that the idea is to not support any religion, period, not to purposefully drive out christianity and replace it with another belief.

I would reply there, but there's so many fallacies...and so little open mindedness. I hope this is just a limited CBS group, and not an accurate reflection of the nation as a whole.

Jewel

No kidding, Rhaedas. It doesn't give you much faith in humanity, does it?

I, for one, would love to see some education of the people come out of this. I think that many more people (religious and non) would support the restoration of the motto and pledge if they understood why they were changed (and just how recently) and why the current versions don't belong.

Unfortunately, it is the nutcases that get most of the air play -- although the pro separation folks could do a better job of educating people when given the chance and the microphone...

capsaicin67

Oh, I agree, it's messy stuff over there--- a swarm of fundies and really wrongheaded thinking. Just a lot of misinformation floating around but if you go over with the frame of mind of simply doing a bit of intellectual skeetshooting it is good exercise. They lay out so many factually false statements that it's kinda a good exercise just to knock a cpl of those off as they obviously don't get challenged very often.

Many folks in this country [USA] aren't far from that sort of rot. The fact that the newsmedia is complete and total chickenshit [or equally ignorant?] is a big part of the problem as I see it.
The problem is at least as much----probably much moreso-- cultural as it is legal and that is the arena that nontheists have to become vastly more effective in.

atheist_in_foxhole

Speaking of the news media, did anyone else see Anderson Cooper talking about the Pledge on CNN? He whined about all the attacks on America's "cherished beliefs" and said that he was afraid the atheists might come after the IGWT on the currency next. If this is what we get on the "liberal" network then I don't even want to think about what they're saying over at Fox.

Shake

Wow! I could barely stomach going through just the first page of that idiocy. The good counterpoints were being ignored, of course.

I've got wonder if 'Renee' over there is really a US citizen or perhaps english is not her first language. Examples of why I think this: (emphasis mine)First, the all caps is annoying as hell. Next, just look at this grammer ... or lack thereof. Perhaps what we have here is an agrammerist bashing atheists (and not even realizing what an atheist is or believes). "We better get that athiest!" (misspelling on purpose) I find it especially amusing since she probably doesn't know about the following quote: OK, I just went back and skimmed the rest of the replies. There are a few good ones mixed in there, promoting actual facts. I'm going to reply, and add in the above quote from Franklin.

capsaicin67

There is some scary writing and thinking. But yeah, the more the merrier, I don't think Rome will be built in a day or anything, but we can do a bit of sporting outreach and at least try to float some useful info amongst the flotsam and jetsam of the situation. Besides, I need the company!

Grumpy

That would be grammar.

In fairness, most people who bash atheism don't deal with it on a daily basis. It's not a word most people use regularly enough to have memorized. Just like I'd have trouble spelling Mahometen... er, Mohhamedan... er, Mohamidden....

Muslim. Moslem. Whatever.

Jewel

Or they're remembering that "i before e except after c" rhyme of which "atheist" is one of the exceptions.

However, the person that Shake quoted has many many more things wrong with their statement than just the spelling of atheist. That level of grammar, in a grown human no doubt, makes me cringe. My grammar isn't perfect, but damn!

capsaicin67

It's kinda like a group home for backwards fundies with various, cognitive and educational deficits. Strange mix.