How often do you get microphone from the steps of the state capital, right?
Here is a link to the recordings wherein our governor, Rick Perry declared ‘spiritual warfare’ against secularists and atheists.
http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/perry-christian-warriors-spiritual-warfare-satan-separation-church-state
Nice rah, rah, Ra!
I especially liked the line “the one thing atheists may have more of is diplomas”. (Assuming we are talking about real diplomas)
Science doesn’t know everything, it just knows and publishes everything that we as humans can objectively know about the natural world.
Nothing in the natural world is excluded from the study of science. Scientists, in a free, peer reviewed, evidence based environment, are the most curious, intelligent, detailed, thorough, and objective observers of the universe and our own humanity.
Oh my, do my eyes and ears deceive me? Is that Aron Ra temporarily flustered speaking in front of an audience? I didn’t think it possible! Good speech.
Good to hear the recording was done right. So many videos before where the sound was.. less than preferable.
Glad you didn’t have my luck. While recording Dawkins I got distracted and wandered off. When I came back someone had knocked over the camcorder and set it facing the monument it had been resting on.
Brilliant speech AronRa. Bravo!
Good speech and I agree whole heartedly.
But I do not underestimate the power of human stupidity.
The majority (85% religious)will continue as before.
It may be age-ism but until most of the over 30’s die off, not much will be changing.
But we must carry on the fight.
Great speech Aron. I feel embarrassed that our education system truly sits on the back-burner of issues regarding the U.S. I’m from Illinois and we are of the top 10 states with lowest funding for education. A metropolis like Chicago should be a wealth of opportunities for young people and instead its an oppressive uphill climb to try and make a dent in one’s educational success. It can be done, but the limitations set forth are not welcoming.
Great speech.
Or, as my oldest grandson would say: Word.
rich millionaires with their heads up the arses
graveyardofthegods.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=12060&sid=26f0a5c500368d711809b150d358821d
Following on from Aron Ra’s speech, it is worth re-reading this article from Free Inquiry magazine called “Fascism Anyone?”. It was written in 2003, four years before the Tea Party movement really got started, but is even more relevant and chilling today.
In particular, check out the fourteen defining characteristics of Fascism: http://www.secularhumanism.org/index.php?section=library&page=britt_23_2
Do any seem familiar?
The fourteen defining characteristics of Fascism – No.14:
Fraudulent elections. Elections in the form of plebiscites or public opinion polls were usually bogus. When actual elections with candidates were held, they would usually be perverted by the power elite to get the desired result. Common methods included maintaining control of the election machinery, intimidating and disenfranchising opposition voters, destroying or disallowing legal votes, and, as a last resort, turning to a judiciary beholden to the power elite.
Coming back to today in the U.S.:
Texas attorney general threatens to arrest monitors observing US election: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/oct/24/texas-attorney-general-arrest-election-monitors?newsfeed=true
L. Long @ 6
Would you prefer that I go fuck off and die early then? Demographics have an effect but listen sonny, some of us over 30s are raising the next generation of humans who will be running the country and supporting you in your old age. Luckily for you I am teaching her not to engage in ageism, sloppy generalities and to be kind to people who sometimes say stupid things.