first amendment, dawkins, richard, oklahoma, legislation, free speech, atheism, atheist, investigation
But it certainly doesn't apply to me.
I'm an atheist, you see. And as PZ Myers* pointed out, that makes Richard Dawkins, and me, criminals worthy of investigation by the Oklahoma legislature.
Sure enough, I just received confirmation today in a letter from the Open Records Office at the University of Oklahoma. The letter confirms that on the day of Dawkins' speech, Oklahoma State Representative Rebecca Hamilton requested substantial information relating to the speech from Vice President for Governmental Relations Danny Hilliard. Representative Hamilton's exhaustive request included demands for all e-mails and correspondence relating to the speech; a list of all money paid to Dawkins and the entities, public or private, responsible for this funding; and the total cost to the university, including, among other things, security fees, advertising, and even "faculty time spent promoting this event."
Rick Farmer, the director of committee staff for the Oklahoma House of Representatives, also wrote the University on March 12, requesting confirmation that Dawkins had indeed waived all compensation for the speech.
I wonder what the total cost of investigating a completely legal exercise of free speech will be?
You know what? Fuck it. If every homophobe in the country feels free to bother Vermont legislators on their vote, let's all hound the Oklahoma legislature about this aggregious waste of funds and antiAmerican suppression of free speech.
Oklahoma House of Representatives
Oklahoma Senate
Please, even if you hate Dawkins, even if you hate atheists, please let Oklahoma know that the First Amendment is for everyone, or someday, you may find that it isn't for anyone.
*I have such a crush on this man's brain.
a needle's sympathy / the kindness of a gun / the monster in your head / the truth from which you run
Monday, March 23, 2009
The First Amendment May Apply to You
Labels:
atheism,
atheist,
dawkins,
first amendment,
free speech,
investigation,
legislation,
oklahoma,
richard
8 comments:
Comments are for you guys, not for me. Say what you will. Don't feel compelled to stay on topic, I enjoy it when comments enter Tangentville or veer off into Non Sequitur Town. Just keep it polite, okay?
I am attempting to use blogger's new comment spam feature. If you don't immediately see your comment, it is being held in spam, I will get it out next time I check the filter. Unless you are Dennis Markuze, in which case you're never seeing your comment.
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I thought you were smart until I saw the atheist logo.
ReplyDeletei forgot about this.
ReplyDeleteQuery: is OK one of the states where it is illegal for an atheist to hold public office? i know that there are some states that DO have a "religious test" for a person to be elected to office.
Query: how much would the fundies be screaming if a state government "investigated" one of their own? i mean, look at the fits they throw over us Ohioans not want to PAY A CLOWN (literally!) for teaching abstenece education!
A clown? seriously? a clown? apparently, not even the religious right takes abstinence seriously.
ReplyDeletei forget if OK is one of the states that is not okay with atheist politicians. there are 6 of them, i think.
oh, and pevensie, i allowed your comment to prove a point- you have the right to say that. i have the right to disagree. you enjoy your right to be stupid and insulting, why shouldn't richard dawkins enjoy his right to say what he pleases?
I wish i got more trolls. All I ever got was Fitz.
ReplyDeleteI love having trolls! It's so awesome. I don't think I should like it quite this much, but at least I'm happy.
ReplyDeletetroll farming?
ReplyDeletepassing out now lol
btw, rather late, but yeah, there's a clown (with a "bachelors in FUN!") who received a $250,000 grant to teach abstinence only ed here in ohio. he juggled machetes, and said that that was what pre-marital sex was like.
ReplyDeletei think i first saw it at Feministing, or Feministe.
Apparently, I need to take up juggling machetes!
ReplyDelete