From: sdoe@nmsu.edu (Stephen Doe)
Subject: Re: FLAME: atheists should mind their own damn business
Organization: New Mexico State University
Distribution: world,public
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 18:04:38 GMT

In article <1992Dec13.182905.23540@timesink.chi.il.us> harry@timesink.chi.il.us (Harold Platypus) writes:
>In article <1992Dec12.202025.810@abo.fi> MANDTBACKA@FINABO.ABO.FI (Mats Andtbacka) writes:
>>
>>      WARNING: the following is 100% napalm, and it's ablaze. Not
>>recommended for sensitive readers.
>>
>The whole thing was rather mild IMHO... Yawn...
>
>>In <1992Dec12.071137.16343@timesink.chi.il.us> harry@timesink.chi.il.us writes:
>>
>>> I don't have anything against atheists really... just leave me and
>>> my world alone.
>>
>>      THIS, you're posting on OUR newsgroup?!? Look who's talkin',
>>asshole! Matter of fact, if I hadn't seen that one line on top of all
>>this drivel, I never would have responded - but you asked for it!
>>
>Oh, I'm so sorry to spark a controversy in alt.atheism... I didn't
>mean to get y'all excited... NOT!

I don't think you have actually sparked a controversy.  On the basis
of your posts so far, calling you an asshole seems to be as
non-controversial as one can get.  "Oh, the sun rises in the morning?
No shit. . ."

If I walk up to someone and slap them in the face, should I be
surprised when they get irritated?  If I went on
soc.religion.christian and spouted the atheistic equivalent of the
drivel you spout here, would I be sparking a "controversy," would I be
starting an interesting discussion?  No!  I would just be an asshole.

If you just want to flame people, check out alt.flame.  That's what
it's there for.

I fail to see the logic of saying "leave me alone" to someone while
you're shoving your belief systems down their throats.  Are we
atheists not citizens?  Do we not have the right to express ourselves,
just as those of the theist majority do?

>>> If you don't like "In God We Trust" on US Currency,
>>> don't look for it - ya know it's there.
>>
>>      Whaddeheck you talkin' 'bout - "don't look for it, because it's
>>there"? Do look for the logic in that statement, 'cos it sure ain't
>>there!
>>
>Hmmmm... Shoulda refined that one a bit more...
>
>>> If a religious symbol in a
>>> municipal seal is offensive to you, don't seek it out... After all
>>> it's not a blinking neon sign in your face, you have to look for it.
>>
>>      I take it you don't support the separation of church and state. I
>>recommend you pack up your stuff and move to Iran.
>>
>I support it wholeheartedly... I simply loathe those who pick it up as
>a battle cry and stir up trouble where none existed before. Sort of like
>me... I'm stirring up trouble here where y'all are complacent and happy
>in yer little niche. Ya know what? Y'ALL DON'T LIKE IT...

Had you lived in fifties, you probably would have similarly loathed
those who stirred up trouble in the name of racial equality. . . 

>>> If a book or movie or anything in my environment offends my
>>> sensibilities, I try to ignore it. Why do y'all have to stir up shit... 
>>
>>      Why do YOU lot have to put it there for us to stir up? If you
>>wanna spend your lives in it, go do so; but get it out of OUR lives!
>>
>I WILL NOT! I like it here. It's now my mission to disturb your
>sensibilities and make you think about other peoples feelings besides
>your own... I happened to like the seal of the City of Zion, Illinois.
>It gives me great pleasure to know that, after the court ruling, the
>new seal was emblazened with the motto "In God We Trust". That'll show
>you to what lengths the majority will go to foil your "Bah Humbug"
>attitude towards the beliefs we hold dear...

As a rule we atheists have no problem with those who believe.  When is
the last time you heard of an atheist disturbing a church service, for
instance?  On the other hand, we are constantly harassed by theists
who do not respect our beliefs (like you).  I do not want theism in my
life and will actively resist those who try to FORCE it down my
throat. . .but I will not force my beliefs down the throats of others.

I am a little disturbed by the majority rule theme of yours.  If the
majority supported racism, would you?  "Majority" != "morality."

I notice that despite your suppose "respect" for us, you seem to be
drooling all over yourself at the thought of theists who "foil" our
"attitude."  Funny kind of respect. . . 

>>> Most of us kinda like "In God We Trust" on the currency. It's kinda
>>> folksy and quaint, whether you believe it or not. Just look at it
>>> as if it were saying "When things are going down the toilet, and we
>>> can't stand to blame ourselves, we trust in God...
>>
>>      When things are going down the toilet, I prefer to put my trust in
>>things that EXIST, thank you.
>>
>Oh ye of little faith... :-)
>
>>> 'cuz if there
>>> ain't one, we're all fucked!". That should put a new face on it...
>>
>>      There ain't one. That makes me an independent, adult human being -
>>and you a big child who can't stand on his own legs. Yes, that was meant
>>to be insulting. So was this whole posting - because so was YOUR
>>posting.
>>
>Boo hoo... he called me a little child. Sniff... but I didn't mean to
>be insulting to everyone. I despise the militant, activist atheist not
>for his beliefs or non-beliefs... but for the ridiculous lawsuits they
>file and the living hell they put their kids through. Like the stroke
>that sued the Boy Scouts of America for crying out loud... like his
>little boy is going to be made welcome now... bullshit! He will be one
>alienated little boy who will be the target for all sorts of abuse at
>the hands of his peers. But his dad can hold his head up high, 'cuz
>he stood up for what he believes in. What a load of self-serving crap!
>- Harry

My impression of this case is that it was the CHILD who wanted to go
through with the lawsuit.

Why shouldn't atheist children be allowed in the BSA?  It *is*
discriminatory.  Oh that's right, you believe in majority rule. . .
Hope you find comfort in that when the majority decides that people
with last names like "Platypus" belong in concentration camps. . .:)

SD

Newsgroups: alt.atheism