Comments on: Quote of the Day http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/04/15/quote-of-the-day-2/ Atheism with Positivity Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:58:50 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Xeonicus http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/04/15/quote-of-the-day-2/comment-page-1/#comment-153468 Xeonicus Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:52:57 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/04/15/quote-of-the-day-2/#comment-153468 If you ask me, by misquoting Sherman, this is simply a way for the religious movement to paint all atheists as racists to discredit them. We're all aware of Peter Stark's poor reputation, and he's the only openly atheist representative in the country. Not exactly the poster boy for atheists everywhere. Honestly, it's kind of sad. There are so few prominent atheists with any sort of power that are active in public politics. I can't help but imagine that this is part of a larger conspiracy by the religious movement to suppress the incursion of atheist viewpoints into the government. What better way to keep people from voting for them than to get voters to associate atheism with racism. If you ask me, by misquoting Sherman, this is simply a way for the religious movement to paint all atheists as racists to discredit them. We’re all aware of Peter Stark’s poor reputation, and he’s the only openly atheist representative in the country. Not exactly the poster boy for atheists everywhere.

Honestly, it’s kind of sad. There are so few prominent atheists with any sort of power that are active in public politics. I can’t help but imagine that this is part of a larger conspiracy by the religious movement to suppress the incursion of atheist viewpoints into the government. What better way to keep people from voting for them than to get voters to associate atheism with racism.

]]> By: Josh Spinks http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/04/15/quote-of-the-day-2/comment-page-1/#comment-153346 Josh Spinks Wed, 16 Apr 2008 16:06:28 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/04/15/quote-of-the-day-2/#comment-153346 Someone asked before if "nigger" might be derived from "negro". The OED says <blockquote>[Prob. an alteration of NEGER n., after classical Latin niger (see NIGER n.1); cf. earlier NIGRO n., NIGRITE n.1 Cf. post-classical Latin niger black person (1582 in a Spanish colonial source). Cf. also Swedish {dag}niger (1758), prob. a borrowing from English (although this may perh. represent a borrowing of NEGER n.). Some early examples of the form niger (esp. in learned use) may perh. represent a direct reborrowing of classical Latin niger black (see NIGER n.1).</blockquote> Someone asked before if “nigger” might be derived from “negro”. The OED says
[Prob. an alteration of NEGER n., after classical Latin niger (see NIGER n.1); cf. earlier NIGRO n., NIGRITE n.1 Cf. post-classical Latin niger black person (1582 in a Spanish colonial source). Cf. also Swedish {dag}niger (1758), prob. a borrowing from English (although this may perh. represent a borrowing of NEGER n.).
Some early examples of the form niger (esp. in learned use) may perh. represent a direct reborrowing of classical Latin niger black (see NIGER n.1).

]]> By: Josh Spinks http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/04/15/quote-of-the-day-2/comment-page-1/#comment-153345 Josh Spinks Wed, 16 Apr 2008 16:01:48 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/04/15/quote-of-the-day-2/#comment-153345 From THE POLITICIZATION OF CHANGING TERMS OF SELF-REFERENCE AMONG AMERICAN SLAVE DESCENDANTS. By: Baugh, John. American Speech, Summer91, Vol. 66 Issue 2 77% of African-Americans ages 12-17 consider "negro" disrespectful. 92% ages 18-34 68% ages 35-55 30% ages 56+ From THE POLITICIZATION OF CHANGING TERMS OF SELF-REFERENCE AMONG AMERICAN SLAVE DESCENDANTS. By: Baugh, John. American Speech, Summer91, Vol. 66 Issue 2

77% of African-Americans ages 12-17 consider “negro” disrespectful.
92% ages 18-34
68% ages 35-55
30% ages 56+

]]> By: stogoe http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/04/15/quote-of-the-day-2/comment-page-1/#comment-153307 stogoe Wed, 16 Apr 2008 13:16:32 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/04/15/quote-of-the-day-2/#comment-153307 Sherman worded it poorly, I'll give you that, <strong>but his point stands.</strong> Rep. Davis' foremothers and forefathers fought tooth and nail to get a seat at the table, and now that they have some modicum of power and influence, what do they do with it? They work to deny others a seat at the table. This isn't just atheists, mind you, it's homosexuals, too, and to a lesser extent latino immigrants. Sherman worded it poorly, I’ll give you that, but his point stands.

Rep. Davis’ foremothers and forefathers fought tooth and nail to get a seat at the table, and now that they have some modicum of power and influence, what do they do with it? They work to deny others a seat at the table. This isn’t just atheists, mind you, it’s homosexuals, too, and to a lesser extent latino immigrants.

]]> By: SAMIZDAT http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/04/15/quote-of-the-day-2/comment-page-1/#comment-153276 SAMIZDAT Wed, 16 Apr 2008 11:54:08 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/04/15/quote-of-the-day-2/#comment-153276 Sorry to be the word police *cringe* but that should really be 'Quotation'. I looked up the science to this recently and apparently my 'conditioning' means that the feeling I get about bad spelling and grammar is the same as people get about swearing when they've been brought up to think it's wrong. Interesting, huh? Sorry to be the word police *cringe* but that should really be ‘Quotation’. I looked up the science to this recently and apparently my ‘conditioning’ means that the feeling I get about bad spelling and grammar is the same as people get about swearing when they’ve been brought up to think it’s wrong. Interesting, huh?

]]> By: Josha http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/04/15/quote-of-the-day-2/comment-page-1/#comment-153273 Josha Wed, 16 Apr 2008 11:48:54 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/04/15/quote-of-the-day-2/#comment-153273 Rob Sherman's quote doesn't make the Representative Monique Davis' statements any less reprehensible. She works for the government and should represent all Americans in her district, even if she disagrees with their philosophy. I feel like her statements have been drowned out by the poor word usage/analogy of Sherman. Rob Sherman’s quote doesn’t make the Representative Monique Davis’ statements any less reprehensible. She works for the government and should represent all Americans in her district, even if she disagrees with their philosophy. I feel like her statements have been drowned out by the poor word usage/analogy of Sherman.

]]> By: Josh Spinks http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/04/15/quote-of-the-day-2/comment-page-1/#comment-153271 Josh Spinks Wed, 16 Apr 2008 11:41:35 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/04/15/quote-of-the-day-2/#comment-153271 And, while it will be very convincing when I'm told the difference has already been explained, it will be just a little more powerful if you explain it again or refer me to the specific spot where the differences are elaborated. And, while it will be very convincing when I’m told the difference has already been explained, it will be just a little more powerful if you explain it again or refer me to the specific spot where the differences are elaborated.

]]> By: Josh Spinks http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/04/15/quote-of-the-day-2/comment-page-1/#comment-153268 Josh Spinks Wed, 16 Apr 2008 11:35:36 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/04/15/quote-of-the-day-2/#comment-153268 My grandfather refers to African-Americans as "burrheards". And you know what he tells me when I object? "It's just a word," "I've always called them that," "I've never heard it was offensive." Impressive arguments all. My grandfather refers to African-Americans as “burrheards”. And you know what he tells me when I object? “It’s just a word,” “I’ve always called them that,” “I’ve never heard it was offensive.” Impressive arguments all.

]]> By: Darryl http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/04/15/quote-of-the-day-2/comment-page-1/#comment-153160 Darryl Wed, 16 Apr 2008 03:40:55 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/04/15/quote-of-the-day-2/#comment-153160 When did the Representative's attack on an atheist get connected to racism? Hell, it doesn't matter what color she is--hell, she ought to know better--she's a Democrat! Just goes to show you, there is no sure hedge against ignorance and stupidity. I doubt whether he antipathy towards atheism springs from any reverse racism. When did the Representative’s attack on an atheist get connected to racism? Hell, it doesn’t matter what color she is–hell, she ought to know better–she’s a Democrat! Just goes to show you, there is no sure hedge against ignorance and stupidity. I doubt whether he antipathy towards atheism springs from any reverse racism.

]]> By: Aj http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/04/15/quote-of-the-day-2/comment-page-1/#comment-153131 Aj Wed, 16 Apr 2008 03:20:44 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/04/15/quote-of-the-day-2/#comment-153131 Josh Spinks, <blockquote>Good thing those are just words, which means they can’t possibly have derogatory meanings.</blockquote> Yep, you have no comprehension of what people are writing. Josh Spinks,

Good thing those are just words, which means they can’t possibly have derogatory meanings.

Yep, you have no comprehension of what people are writing.

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