Friendly Atheist

You’ve got a point there.

Not only maligned, your comment about calling someone a Jew made me think about how a veiled anti-Semetic remark cost D’Amato to lose the election to Schumer. I remember being for Schumer and discouraged by the polls. (D’Amato was well ahead in them.) I woke up to the news of this remark and cheered. I knew as soon as the idiot opened his mouth, he had cost himself the election. What was he thinking? With the Jewish population we have in NY?

Would that we could see the day it’d mean the same thing for someone like Harris. Even better, would that we could see the day religion is left out of it all together.

Alright I’m still in touch with both these guys. Mr. Barbour has asked if I might mention something on his behalf, I’ll let him speak for himself…

You might mention in the blog that I’m self funded, and I could use some donations to defray my costs for the election.

Thanks,
David

I am posting this as a courtesy to Mr. Barbour as he has been so agreeable in our correspondence and agreed to allow our email exchange to be aired publicly. Please do not consider this as me endorsing Mr. Barbour as I don’t really know much about him, I neither support nor oppose Mr. Barbour my only interest in him is that he was the subject of the bigoted leaflet sent out by Mr. Harris. It sounds to me like he could use some cake, so if you are so inclined pop out the old checkbook and help a brother out…or not, whatever floats your boat. But here is an idea, someone mentioned that perhaps a visit to Mr. Harris’ swearing in ceremony by a contingent of offended atheists might be in order and could provide an opportunity for Mr. Harris to make a public apology. Perhaps Mr. Barbour could be of assistance in this matter,( I have not broached the subject with him) if we replenish his exhausted funds he may be able to support this endeavor and assist in logistical support. This is something that could really happen and not just idle chatter. What say we Hold Mr. Harris accountable for his actions? I know Albuquerque is an outpost but surely some of us are close enough to get there and there must be atheists, (not to mention offended UU folks) in Albuquerque who are justifiably offended. So any thought on this… do tell.
Vas

Siamang Try following this

http://davidvbarbour.com/donate.htm

Yeah David seems like a nice enough guy to me, but then again I’ve never met him. However it does seems beside the point, I agree with your last statement.
V

Siamang, that’s about as perfect a letter as I can imagine being written for these circumstances. It’s completely respectful and civil, yet it pointedly and clearly explains both why this sort of tactic is ethically wrong and why it’s (at least potentially) a bad idea for tactical reasons — the latter being a matter for strong consideration by any politician, whatever his personal opinions may be.

If you don’t mind, I may borrow heavily from that letter for future letters to politicians on this and related topics.

~David D.G.

Today’s email to Mr. Harris.
Mr. Harris,

I hope you have had a chance to visit the friendly atheist website and read a bit. Please realize that not everyone in any group is civil and polite, just as you have made ill-informed public statements so to do some in the atheist community, I’m sorry if you found some content and comments offensive but the simple fact is you have angered many people with your bigoted leaflet. Try reflecting on your own religious teachings on the subject of forgiveness and loving your neighbor as yourself and let’s not continue down a road of further divisions. Also keep in mind that any vitriol directed towards you is completely independent of your actions, which is to say, just because others are nasty and rude this does not give you lenience to be nasty and rude yourself, your misdeeds are not affected or excused by the misdeeds of others.

I understand that your election was yesterday and as such I imagine you were quite busy celebrating your victory. I appreciate your taking time from this important day to write me personally. As the dust settles and the confetti is swept up it is now time to get back to business, and I believe you have some unfinished business with the atheist community to attend to. Your leaflet continues to be a subject of much discussion and many are awaiting your public response whatever that may be. We do not yet understand why you think your leaflet was a mistake or what you are apologizing for. A few questions come to mind for example what the genesis of this leaflet was, was it your idea or someone else’s idea that you indorsed? When and why did you realize it was a mistake? Do you continue to hold the opinion that atheists are somehow to be held up as examples of bad people or radicals? By perpetuating false stereotypes you actually contribute to a climate of bigotry towards your fellow humans, you pour fuel on the fires of hatred. Please follow this link to help you understand exactly what we are talking about, it’s not from a radical website it’s from about.com a mainstream website and explains just how dire our situation in America is. http://atheism.about.com/od/atheistbigotryprejudice/a/AntiAtheism.htm . Many of us, (myself included) have suffered personal loss, loss of jobs, eviction from housing, harassment, many have literally been forced to move from the towns in which they live, our children have been made to suffer, been kick off sports teams, suffered physical assaults, outright suspended from schools or harassed until they had to withdraw for no other reason than the fact we are atheists. . Imagine that had happened to you or your children because you were Christians, ( I don’t know if you are Christian but if you are not just substitute your personal religious beliefs and you get the point). These are but a few of the indignities atheists suffer each and every day in America. Many feel compelled to hide their lack of faith for justly founded fear of very real and often violent persecution. Imagine how you would feel towards those who publically advocated against you, those who stoked the fire of hatred against you and your family based on nothing more than your religious beliefs. Would you just let it go? Would you simply hide your faith? Would you inform your children that they should hide their faith for fear of public ridicule? Or would you instead press the issue with the offender? Do you desire to be among our oppressors? Do you desire to sow the seeds of discontent? You already have done this, if you ignore this issue these seeds you sowed by your own hand may someday grow and bear fruit. If you were to find that an unstable person decided to take violent action against your political opponent based on the false information conceived and distributed by you would you feel at all personally responsible, (personally responsible not legally responsible)? Please Mr. Harris make a public statement and defuse this potential time bomb you have rolled into the town square.

Thank you,

[Vas]

Keep the pressure up, force his hand. If he ignores this issue he is actively working to cause all atheists harm. Keep the emails flowing into his inbox. if he is not responsive maybe we can think about taking out an ad, an open letter, in the local paper. I’m not ready to let his slide.
V

Ideally, our representatives should hold to a higher ethical standard than the average person. Unfortunately, it seems all to frequent that representatives fall below average ethically (Harris being the latest example). The fact that Harris won in a landslide means that he put that pamphlet out for nothing more than spite (and hate). I wouldn’t be surprised if some in his party try to groom him eventually for higher office.

I sent him an e-mail and got the canned response everyone else did.

Gareth — Fantastic that you got a response. I’ll post something soon