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.
Showing posts with label dawkins. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dawkins. Show all posts
Monday, March 23, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Free Speech Is Only for Christians
persecution, atheism, atheist, atheophobia, richard, dawkins, darwin, evolution, oklahoma, university, thomsen, god, jesus, religion, christian, free speech
Apparently, that whole thing in the First Amendment about freedom of speech only applies if you're talking about Jesus.
Oklahoma Representative Todd Thomsen proposed a measure to force the University of Oklahoma to disinvite Richard Dawkins from speaking at the University at an event celebrating the 150th anniversary of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.
Despite the sound and fury, Dawkins went ahead as scheduled on March 6, packing in an audience of several thousands. Case closed, right? Not so fast.
I have received indication from numerous sources that the Oklahoma legislature is pressing ahead with an investigation of the event, probably to divine if any state funds were used. Dawkins, for his part, adamantly denies accepting a single cent for the speech. He specifically waived his normal honorarium, because this would be a mainly student audience. Even if he had taken money, however, the University department that invited Dawkins would have been perfectly within its rights to pay him. If this investigation is indeed taking place, what the state legislature needs to understand is that in court cases dating back to the days of the House Committee on Un-American Activities, even investigating clearly protected speech on the basis of its viewpoint violates the First Amendment.
Think about it: If every time a student or faculty member invited, say, Rick Warren to speak on campus, they knew they would be subjected to a thorough and time-consuming investigation by state officials, you can all but guarantee that schools across the country would think twice before inviting Rick Warren. This would be a great way for state legislatures to chill speech they dislike without ever having to find the speaker guilty of a single thing.
Talk about your un-American activities.
So, free speech is fine if you're preaching Jesus or condemning gays, but dare to say that there may very well be no god, and you need to shut the fuck up.
I again invite Christians to explain to me how persecuted they are here in the US.
Apparently, that whole thing in the First Amendment about freedom of speech only applies if you're talking about Jesus.
Oklahoma Representative Todd Thomsen proposed a measure to force the University of Oklahoma to disinvite Richard Dawkins from speaking at the University at an event celebrating the 150th anniversary of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.
Despite the sound and fury, Dawkins went ahead as scheduled on March 6, packing in an audience of several thousands. Case closed, right? Not so fast.
I have received indication from numerous sources that the Oklahoma legislature is pressing ahead with an investigation of the event, probably to divine if any state funds were used. Dawkins, for his part, adamantly denies accepting a single cent for the speech. He specifically waived his normal honorarium, because this would be a mainly student audience. Even if he had taken money, however, the University department that invited Dawkins would have been perfectly within its rights to pay him. If this investigation is indeed taking place, what the state legislature needs to understand is that in court cases dating back to the days of the House Committee on Un-American Activities, even investigating clearly protected speech on the basis of its viewpoint violates the First Amendment.
Think about it: If every time a student or faculty member invited, say, Rick Warren to speak on campus, they knew they would be subjected to a thorough and time-consuming investigation by state officials, you can all but guarantee that schools across the country would think twice before inviting Rick Warren. This would be a great way for state legislatures to chill speech they dislike without ever having to find the speaker guilty of a single thing.
Talk about your un-American activities.
So, free speech is fine if you're preaching Jesus or condemning gays, but dare to say that there may very well be no god, and you need to shut the fuck up.
I again invite Christians to explain to me how persecuted they are here in the US.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Why I Don't Have to Watch Dawkins
So, now I know why it's never my turn to watch Richard Dawkins: it's this guy's job!
Unfortunately, he's not content with watching Richard Dawkins, he also has to make ridiculous guesses as to why people are atheists (hint: none of the below)
Sometimes these problems can be easily solved yet we lack the motivation or even the motivation to get at the heart of the problem now I an going to ask you why you are an atheist? this presupposes that atheism is a problem. it's not. i'm not affecting you at all. get over it.
- You read the works of Voltaire and became a convert? i converted to the group of people who never want to read voltaire again.
- You are a secret Luciferian Satanist? posing as an Atheist. why not pose as a theist? nobody really likes atheists more than satanists.
- You are a Communist? who is a pinko in this day and age? i've never met one, not in real life, not on the internet. where are all these commies?
_ You went to church when you were younger but never experienced God? the great childhood trauma of not experiencing god?
- You want to make yourself God and do not like competition? BWAHAHAHAHAHA
-You are a postmodernisand you believe that that there is no ultimate truth? what is a postmodernisand?
-You read the works of Charles Darwin and are writing manuscripts of the next “My Atheist Struggle”? is he referencing mein kampf? bad form, that
- A Catholic Priest made a pass at you and you blame God? what? is he making light of child molestation?
- You are secretly in love with Richard Dawkins and have not told your parents that you are not like other men? i'm not man. and if i were, that would make me like lots of other men- gay ones.
- You are not convinced evil exists. sure, right there in the hearts of men. satan, not so much.
_ You believe the ten commandments are harmful to the well being of human kind. who thinks that "thou shalt not kill" is harmful to people?
_ You are following a trend? yes, the great atheism trend of 2009, hitting malls this summer.
This is your turn to speak, I will comment on what you have to say. and tell you how wrong you are.
Unfortunately, he's not content with watching Richard Dawkins, he also has to make ridiculous guesses as to why people are atheists (hint: none of the below)
Sometimes these problems can be easily solved yet we lack the motivation or even the motivation to get at the heart of the problem now I an going to ask you why you are an atheist? this presupposes that atheism is a problem. it's not. i'm not affecting you at all. get over it.
- You read the works of Voltaire and became a convert? i converted to the group of people who never want to read voltaire again.
- You are a secret Luciferian Satanist? posing as an Atheist. why not pose as a theist? nobody really likes atheists more than satanists.
- You are a Communist? who is a pinko in this day and age? i've never met one, not in real life, not on the internet. where are all these commies?
_ You went to church when you were younger but never experienced God? the great childhood trauma of not experiencing god?
- You want to make yourself God and do not like competition? BWAHAHAHAHAHA
-You are a postmodernisand you believe that that there is no ultimate truth? what is a postmodernisand?
-You read the works of Charles Darwin and are writing manuscripts of the next “My Atheist Struggle”? is he referencing mein kampf? bad form, that
- A Catholic Priest made a pass at you and you blame God? what? is he making light of child molestation?
- You are secretly in love with Richard Dawkins and have not told your parents that you are not like other men? i'm not man. and if i were, that would make me like lots of other men- gay ones.
- You are not convinced evil exists. sure, right there in the hearts of men. satan, not so much.
_ You believe the ten commandments are harmful to the well being of human kind. who thinks that "thou shalt not kill" is harmful to people?
_ You are following a trend? yes, the great atheism trend of 2009, hitting malls this summer.
This is your turn to speak, I will comment on what you have to say. and tell you how wrong you are.
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