shelby
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Post by shelby on Jul 1, 2011 15:32:32 GMT -5
www.theblaze.com/stories/atheists-to-fly-july-4-airplane-banners-in-27-states-god-less-america-atheism-is-patriotic/Get ready, America. This upcoming July 4 is about more than simply celebrating our nation’s founding. Apparently, it’s also an opportunity for Atheists to set the record straight about their patriotism.
Thus, on Monday, people in 27 states will have the opportunity to look up in the sky and see airplanes flying banners that proudly say “God-LESS America“ or ”Atheism is Patriotic.” The campaign, being organized by the New Jersey-based American Atheists, is sure to stoke the fires of controversy. CNN has more:
“I’m a patriotic American. I served my country. I get out there and celebrate the Fourth, too,” Blair Scott, who calls himself a proud atheist, proclaimed.
“This America belongs to everyone.”
Blair, the communications director for the New Jersey-based American Atheists, said atheists in the United States often feel alienated and face accusations of being anti-American because of their lack of belief in God.
To combat those notions, his group is using Independence Day to say atheists love their country, too.
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steff
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Post by steff on Jul 1, 2011 15:34:01 GMT -5
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Post by ed1066 on Jul 1, 2011 15:34:14 GMT -5
If those were conservative banners, the planes and pilots would be in danger...thank God they aren't. Liberals, and especially liberal atheists, tend to get violent...
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Shirina
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Post by Shirina on Jul 1, 2011 15:45:13 GMT -5
Really? Well, if that were really true, then there would be hundreds of millions of dead Christians, right? After all, just look around:
I see Christians hounding people at traffic lights and street corners with their fire and brimstone messages. I see Bible passages painted on boards and nailed to telephone poles. I see towering white crosses up and down the interstates (I'm not talking about the small roadside grave crosses). I see billboards with Christian slogans on them, I'm bombarded by cutesy Christian sayings on every church sign, 29 states have marriage definition amendments, there's a church at every other street corner, and Christians even have a cable channel and dozens of nationally syndicated television shows.
What do atheists have? What do they do? Virtually nothing aside from a small handful of high profile cases like having God removed from the Pledge or from our money - both of which failed.
But if Atheists hire some pilots to fly around pro-Athiest (not anti-Christian) banners, you watch .... it will be the conservatives who throw a hissy over this. Atheists are used to seeing God everywhere we look, so it doesn't bother us half as much as a conservative seeing a pro-Atheist billboard, banner, or bumper sticker.
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shelby
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Post by shelby on Jul 1, 2011 15:58:45 GMT -5
Apperantly your assertion ed is backwards A group of Arkansas atheists attempting to run ads on public buses promoting their beliefs are being asked to pay a $36,000 insurance premium because the bus company’s ad agency fears terrible Christian vandals will set fire to the buses, or something. The improbable-sounding group — “Arkansas atheist” is like hearing “Detroit real-estate investment boom” — had hoped to buy $5,000 worth of ads telling people things like, “many people enjoy a godless lifestyle just fine, like the Pope.” But probably wingnuts will be upset about this, because Jesus did not believe in free speech, and the Bible teaches followers to belligerently attack anyone who says something you don’t like about your Prophet Muhammed God. It’s okay, because public transportation is also socialist! From Reuters: LeeWood Thomas, a spokesman for the atheist group, quoted an email from the advertising agency obtained by the coalition that read: “Arkansas is the buckle of the Bible Belt and I can easily envision zealots or upstanding citizens with a strong faith acting out.” Thomas said it’s clear his group is being punished for the actions of others. “The insurance money needed from us basically says CATA and On The Move trust the atheists in this community more so than the religious, otherwise the churches that advertise would have that extra insurance premium added to their total cost,” Thomas said. wonkette.com/447318/atheists-told-to-buy-insane-christian-insurance-to-protect-atheist-bus-ads
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Post by ed1066 on Jul 1, 2011 16:01:43 GMT -5
LOL! I think you missed the point of that one...
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shelby
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Post by shelby on Jul 1, 2011 16:10:39 GMT -5
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Abby Normal
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Post by Abby Normal on Jul 1, 2011 16:23:00 GMT -5
I see Bible passages painted on boards and nailed to telephone poles. I see towering white crosses up and down the interstates (I'm not talking about the small roadside grave crosses). I see billboards with Christian slogans on them, I'm bombarded by cutesy Christian sayings on every church sign, 29 states have marriage definition amendments, there's a church at every other street corner, and Christians even have a cable channel and dozens of nationally syndicated television shows.
What do atheists have? All the other telephone poles. The rest of the area up and down the highway. The other 529 channels. The other buildings that are not churches. At least according to my athiest father.
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❤ mollymouser ❤
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Post by ❤ mollymouser ❤ on Jul 1, 2011 16:27:34 GMT -5
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Jul 1, 2011 16:31:59 GMT -5
wait, you can't be an atheist and a republican at the same time?!
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Post by ed1066 on Jul 1, 2011 16:35:57 GMT -5
Perhaps, since just not looking seems to not be an option for you, you should consider a country that has banned Christianity, like Iran or Saudi Arabia. Or do public displays of Islam offend you, too?
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shelby
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Post by shelby on Jul 1, 2011 16:37:50 GMT -5
"wait, you can't be an atheist and a republican at the same time?! " Do you have to pass a test or go before a board of replublicans to join the party?
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Post by privateinvestor on Jul 1, 2011 16:55:37 GMT -5
A true patriot loves God and his country so how can an Athest be a true patriot?? Are Atheist then just Hybrid Patriots or are they then Untrue Patrtiots...just asking?? P.I. (True Patriot Club Member)
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shelby
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Post by shelby on Jul 1, 2011 17:14:10 GMT -5
A true patriot loves God and his country so how can an Athest be a true patriot?? Are Atheist then just Hybrid Patriots or are they then Untrue Patrtiots...just asking?? P.I. (True Patriot Club Member) Is there some kind of fight to the death cage match over who is the biggest and bestest true patriot I am unaware of? It's getting a little wierd in here.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2011 17:24:28 GMT -5
Never saw an atheist get as violent as a fervent believer.... its God most wars are fought over...
And did someone actually say you can't be a patriot if you don't believe in God?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2011 17:25:36 GMT -5
Shelby... i'm guessing since Viagra has enabled anyone to have a four hour erection, boys now need something else to to hang out there and argue over who has the better one....
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Shirina
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Post by Shirina on Jul 1, 2011 17:37:35 GMT -5
So you're saying that telephone poles, the other 529 channels, and all non-church buildings actively support and promote atheism?
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handyman2
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Post by handyman2 on Jul 1, 2011 18:18:13 GMT -5
I don't care what they believe when they are on my side in a fight. They can pray or not when the going gets tough. All I ask is they hit what they are aiming at.
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Post by ed1066 on Jul 1, 2011 18:27:00 GMT -5
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Shirina
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Post by Shirina on Jul 1, 2011 18:45:02 GMT -5
As usual, ed goes for the "usual suspects."
None of those people were "violent" in an effort to promote atheism. They were authoritarian, and dictators often find religion a threat because it takes focus away from state loyalty to church loyalty. Being anti-religion is NOT the same thing as being atheist.
Hitler for example is well known for believing in God ... or a God ... and often gave that deity credit for the miraculous escapes from death he had had over the years. However, understanding which "God" he believed in can be a bit murky, but he did believe in one.
It is quite possible (and it was often the case) that believers in God can be anti-religion and still be believers, especially those that wish to build a cult of personality around themselves (having God on your side always helps legitimize your authority).
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henryclay
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Post by henryclay on Jul 1, 2011 18:48:53 GMT -5
So you're saying that telephone poles, the other 529 channels, and all non-church buildings actively support and promote atheism? I don't have an answer you may like, but you may very well have nailed it. Since they're not showing any devotion to God OR country, they may very well all be atheists. What do you think? As an aside, let me tell you a true story. We once had a mayor here who had been a school teacher. It was a "she" and it stood about as wide as it stood tall, and some people even disputed it was that tall. They put up a memorial in front of City Hall that has a bronze soldier, (maybe it's a Marine), in a dead run, rifle in hand, cartridge belt around his waist, crossing brokem ground. In front of it is a huge marble tablet on pedistals with all the names of our war dead from back when the town was founded in 1883. They placed it in the middle of the walkway that goes from the street to the City Hall entry. It objected to the placement because "people would have to walk around it to get into City Hall", but it was overridden by the committee and the City Council. It did not attend the dedication. Then there was a letter to the editor published later about how the flag was so rarely seen in front of City Hall. The pole was right next to the memorial. It responded by making the remark that "We are all Americans here. There's no need to fly the flag every day just to prove it." As I said above, we "once" had a mayor. We don't have that mayor any more.
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kadee79
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Post by kadee79 on Jul 1, 2011 18:49:38 GMT -5
Amen! And not in the Biblical sense either!!! I'm a pretty good shot!
And over my many years....I've seen a lot more violence from "Christians" or other "religious zealots" than I have from atheists! I'm not talking about foreign dictators....I'm talking about people here in the U.S.A.!
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Post by ed1066 on Jul 1, 2011 18:51:33 GMT -5
Amen! And not in the Biblical sense either!!! I'm a pretty good shot! And over my many years....I've seen a lot more violence from "Christians" or other "religious zealots" than I have from atheists! I'm not talking about foreign dictators....I'm talking about people here in the U.S.A.! Examples? If by "other religious zealots" you mean Islamic terrorirsts, then I grant you that one...
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steff
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Post by steff on Jul 1, 2011 19:02:16 GMT -5
the 4th of July is a holiday for all Americans. Hopefully those trying so hard to divide the country along "good" vs "bad" political beliefs, take a few moments this weekend to remember that we are ALL Americans and this is holiday is for every one of us, not matter what our differences, our religious beliefs, or our political beliefs.
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henryclay
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Post by henryclay on Jul 1, 2011 19:03:59 GMT -5
Someone asked if any of the people in the photos used violence to promote atheism. The answer is a violent yes. Apparently the person asking has never opened a book written by one of them, Adolph Hitler. The book is titled "Mien Kampf". That translates ionto "My Struggle". He had another book prepared for his young Germans of Aryan decendancy called the The Hitler Youth Manual, (or something close to that), and it did just that. It denounced religion as a crutch that poor people used and said they should devote their energies to the state. Barnes and Nobel will sell you as many copies of either as you want to pay for.
And I think the other faces in the photographs had similar programs. If they didn't then everything I ever learned about Communism was wrong.
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billisonboard
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Post by billisonboard on Jul 1, 2011 19:13:44 GMT -5
What it Means to Dehumanize
Dehumanization is a psychological process whereby opponents view each other as less than human and thus not deserving of moral consideration. Jews in the eyes of Nazis and Tutsis in the eyes of Hutus (in the Rwandan genocide) are but two examples. Protracted conflict strains relationships and makes it difficult for parties to recognize that they are part of a shared human community. Such conditions often lead to feelings of intense hatred and alienation among conflicting parties. The more severe the conflict, the more the psychological distance between groups will widen. Eventually, this can result in moral exclusion. Those excluded are typically viewed as inferior, evil, or criminal.[1]
We typically think that all people have some basic human rights that should not be violated. Innocent people should not be murdered, raped, or tortured. Rather, international law suggests that they should be treated justly and fairly, with dignity and respect. They deserve to have their basic needs met, and to have some freedom to make autonomous decisions. In times of war, parties must take care to protect the lives of innocent civilians on the opposing side. Even those guilty of breaking the law should receive a fair trial, and should not be subject to any sort of cruel or unusual punishment.
However, for individuals viewed as outside the scope of morality and justice, "the concepts of deserving basic needs and fair treatment do not apply and can seem irrelevant."[2] Any harm that befalls such individuals seems warranted, and perhaps even morally justified. Those excluded from the scope of morality are typically perceived as psychologically distant, expendable, and deserving of treatment that would not be acceptable for those included in one's moral community. Common criteria for exclusion include ideology, skin color, and cognitive capacity. We typically dehumanize those whom we perceive as a threat to our well-being or values.[3]
Psychologically, it is necessary to categorize one's enemy as sub-human in order to legitimize increased violence or justify the violation of basic human rights. Moral exclusion reduces restraints against harming or exploiting certain groups of people. In severe cases, dehumanization makes the violation of generally accepted norms of behavior regarding one's fellow man seem reasonable, or even necessary. www.beyondintractability.org/essay/dehumanization/
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2011 19:22:21 GMT -5
Examples ed? ... Lambs of God, Concerned Christians, Army of God, Hutaree, The covenant the sword and the arm of the lord, Montana Freemen... Look up Christians and Rwanda...
There are always quotes from people like Ann Coulter, " I am often asked if I still think we should invade their countries, kill their leaders, and convert them to Christianity. The answer is: Now more than ever!"
What kind of examples are you looking for there, exactly, ed?
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henryclay
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Post by henryclay on Jul 1, 2011 19:33:04 GMT -5
We have several holidays during the year. New Year's day, Martin Luther King's birthday, Lincoln's birthday, Washington's birthday. On those days we celebrate the birth of people who have made America what we inherited because of what they did. Suppose they had never been born. What would we celebrate? Then we have some religious holidays when we celebrate and renew our different faiths. And there are some other sundry holidays where we just celebrate, period.
But what do we celebrate on the Fourth of July? What is there to celebrate on that perticular day? What was it that happened on that day that makes it worthy of Holiday status?
I remember one particular July the 5th. Everything in VietNam that would move under it's own power carried ammunition to replenish what was used to celebrate the night before.
Does anybody here know how quick a 175 millimeter howitzer can go through 50 shells? How about a 4 gun battery of them? Or how many people it takes to carry just one of those beasts across a muddy rice paddy in the rain?
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formerexpat
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Post by formerexpat on Jul 1, 2011 19:37:43 GMT -5
I've never felt that my patriotism towards my country was due to religion. I also have never been accused of not being patriotic because I don't believe in God. Stupid people trying to bring attention to themselves for no good reason. And a ridiculous media chasing down a story to try and stay relevant.
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shelby
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Post by shelby on Jul 1, 2011 19:49:28 GMT -5
Most of the founding fathers were not christian anyways if you believe our "true patriotism" is based on love for god I'm sure you don't mean the christian god only.
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