Comments on: How Dare You Treat Atheists Like the Rest of Us? http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/08/19/how-dare-you-treat-atheists-like-the-rest-of-us/ Atheism with Positivity Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:19:20 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Transplanted Lawyer http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/08/19/how-dare-you-treat-atheists-like-the-rest-of-us/comment-page-1/#comment-222226 Transplanted Lawyer Thu, 21 Aug 2008 04:37:49 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=4115#comment-222226 Heidi -- if the fair were a purely private endeavor, it would still be a "public accomodation" and therefore subject to non-discrimination laws. Those laws protect atheists. The law (42 USC 2000e) treats atheism as a "religion" for purposes of enforcement. Look at it this way -- what if a restaurant, obviously a private business, offered two dollars off the bill to anyone who had a church flyer? Clearly religious discrimination. What if the restaurant offered two dollars off to white people? People would be screaming their heads off. Heidi — if the fair were a purely private endeavor, it would still be a “public accomodation” and therefore subject to non-discrimination laws. Those laws protect atheists. The law (42 USC 2000e) treats atheism as a “religion” for purposes of enforcement.

Look at it this way — what if a restaurant, obviously a private business, offered two dollars off the bill to anyone who had a church flyer? Clearly religious discrimination. What if the restaurant offered two dollars off to white people? People would be screaming their heads off.

]]> By: Heidi http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/08/19/how-dare-you-treat-atheists-like-the-rest-of-us/comment-page-1/#comment-222209 Heidi Thu, 21 Aug 2008 03:53:29 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=4115#comment-222209 Sure, it's a nice victory, but while you fight a propaganda war with those you consider irrational, please do not misrepresent what actually happened. In a previous comment I noted that this was unlikely to be a government-sponsored event. Here you say "government-sponsored." You know this how? I quickly found this: http://www.wilsoncountyfair.net/history.htm fair board, stockholders...this is <strong>most likely not</strong> a government-sponsored event, nor is it likely even on public land. a private concern was targeted, and that private concern chose to respond more likely to avoid controversy than to avoid a constitutional right. as far as I understand it, they don't have to. I could be wrong, but as a county govt employee on the other side of the country, I know we are too busy providing health clinics, libraries, and other essential services to run a county fair or even maintain a fairgrounds. Sure, it’s a nice victory, but while you fight a propaganda war with those you consider irrational, please do not misrepresent what actually happened.

In a previous comment I noted that this was unlikely to be a government-sponsored event.

Here you say “government-sponsored.” You know this how?

I quickly found this:
http://www.wilsoncountyfair.net/history.htm

fair board, stockholders…this is most likely not a government-sponsored event, nor is it likely even on public land. a private concern was targeted, and that private concern chose to respond more likely to avoid controversy than to avoid a constitutional right. as far as I understand it, they don’t have to.

I could be wrong, but as a county govt employee on the other side of the country, I know we are too busy providing health clinics, libraries, and other essential services to run a county fair or even maintain a fairgrounds.

]]> By: Joey http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/08/19/how-dare-you-treat-atheists-like-the-rest-of-us/comment-page-1/#comment-222136 Joey Wed, 20 Aug 2008 23:12:42 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=4115#comment-222136 Being from the area, this is typical Middle Tennessee religious jackassery. How would you like to live with these people every day? It tries my patience sometimes, but it's kinda neat to live in a place where you can get what you want just by telling people they will go to hell if they don't do what you say. Being from the area, this is typical Middle Tennessee religious jackassery. How would you like to live with these people every day? It tries my patience sometimes, but it’s kinda neat to live in a place where you can get what you want just by telling people they will go to hell if they don’t do what you say.

]]> By: Rayven Alandria http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/08/19/how-dare-you-treat-atheists-like-the-rest-of-us/comment-page-1/#comment-222041 Rayven Alandria Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:19:33 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=4115#comment-222041 I sent my congratulations to Blair Scott about this a while back. He and our other fellow Atheists did a splendid job. Perhaps next year the county will see fit to change the name of the "God and Country" fair. It is unconstitutional for a county fair to promote a religion. Many Christians don't seem to comprehend that though. We have a similar situation going on in Tulsa at the moment. County money is being used to have a religious dedication ceremony for the new arena. It is a clear violation of Church and State but the local religious people think we who protest are just a bunch of evil troublemakers. I sent my congratulations to Blair Scott about this a while back. He and our other fellow Atheists did a splendid job. Perhaps next year the county will see fit to change the name of the “God and Country” fair. It is unconstitutional for a county fair to promote a religion. Many Christians don’t seem to comprehend that though. We have a similar situation going on in Tulsa at the moment. County money is being used to have a religious dedication ceremony for the new arena. It is a clear violation of Church and State but the local religious people think we who protest are just a bunch of evil troublemakers.

]]> By: Kevin http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/08/19/how-dare-you-treat-atheists-like-the-rest-of-us/comment-page-1/#comment-221969 Kevin Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:03:33 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=4115#comment-221969 Isn't atheism a religion according to this particular brand of Christians who tend to complain about issues like this (conservative, fundie, etc)? And yet in issues like this atheism is suddenly not a religion? Isn’t atheism a religion according to this particular brand of Christians who tend to complain about issues like this (conservative, fundie, etc)? And yet in issues like this atheism is suddenly not a religion?

]]> By: Polly http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/08/19/how-dare-you-treat-atheists-like-the-rest-of-us/comment-page-1/#comment-221942 Polly Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:01:34 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=4115#comment-221942 My problem wasn't that they required some kind of act or pamphlet to get the discount. My problem was that it was a direct attempt to favor a specific religious act - going to church. ALL non church goers were discriminated against. Even if you're a xian and you don't like "institutionalized" churchianity, you were encouraged to participate in it anyway...by your government! (There are many of those.) Holding the "right" beliefs was not the issue. Going to a church was the issue. Why should a county event encourage church attendance? My problem wasn’t that they required some kind of act or pamphlet to get the discount. My problem was that it was a direct attempt to favor a specific religious act – going to church.

ALL non church goers were discriminated against. Even if you’re a xian and you don’t like “institutionalized” churchianity, you were encouraged to participate in it anyway…by your government! (There are many of those.)

Holding the “right” beliefs was not the issue. Going to a church was the issue. Why should a county event encourage church attendance?

]]> By: SarahH http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/08/19/how-dare-you-treat-atheists-like-the-rest-of-us/comment-page-1/#comment-221933 SarahH Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:31:33 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=4115#comment-221933 They're still discriminating against people who don't attend organizations. It really is silly... count me as another supporter of the canned foods idea, if they're going to offer a discount at all. They’re still discriminating against people who don’t attend organizations.

It really is silly… count me as another supporter of the canned foods idea, if they’re going to offer a discount at all.

]]> By: TXatheist http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/08/19/how-dare-you-treat-atheists-like-the-rest-of-us/comment-page-1/#comment-221896 TXatheist Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:42:56 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=4115#comment-221896 Thanks Bruce, love the woman voting comment. And he's actually wrong in the letter. Atheists are harmed financially by having to pay more. Yeah, yeah, I know it's only 2 bucks but it's still harm technically. Thanks Bruce, love the woman voting comment.

And he’s actually wrong in the letter. Atheists are harmed financially by having to pay more. Yeah, yeah, I know it’s only 2 bucks but it’s still harm technically.

]]> By: AV http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/08/19/how-dare-you-treat-atheists-like-the-rest-of-us/comment-page-1/#comment-221873 AV Wed, 20 Aug 2008 11:47:22 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=4115#comment-221873 Treating non-believers justly makes baby Jesus cry. Treating non-believers justly makes baby Jesus cry.

]]> By: EKM http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/08/19/how-dare-you-treat-atheists-like-the-rest-of-us/comment-page-1/#comment-221836 EKM Wed, 20 Aug 2008 06:43:28 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=4115#comment-221836 Does he object when organizations bow to the absurd demands of Christian groups? Of course, I bet he would call that "freedom". It's only "tolerating fools" when it is a group HE does not like. Does he object when organizations bow to the absurd demands of Christian groups? Of course, I bet he would call that “freedom”. It’s only “tolerating fools” when it is a group HE does not like.

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