From the Chicago Tribune:
Rep. Monique Davis (D-Chicago) interrupted atheist activist Rob Sherman during his testimony Wednesday afternoon before the House State Government Administration Committee in Springfield and told him, "What you have to spew and spread is extremely dangerous . . . it's dangerous for our children to even know that your philosophy exists!
"This is the Land of Lincoln where people believe in God," Davis said. "Get out of that seat . . . You have no right to be here! We believe in something. You believe in destroying! You believe in destroying what this state was built upon."
Apparently the atheist was testifying over an issue of whether or not a church should be getting a million dollar grant from the State.
Here's the bit from the transcript of the exchange:
Davis: I don’t know what you have against God, but some of us don’t have much against him. We look forward to him and his blessings. And it’s really a tragedy -- it’s tragic -- when a person who is engaged in anything related to God, they want to fight. They want to fight prayer in school.
I don’t see you (Sherman) fighting guns in school. You know?
I’m trying to understand the philosophy that you want to spread in the state of Illinois. This is the Land of Lincoln. This is the Land of Lincoln where people believe in God, where people believe in protecting their children.… What you have to spew and spread is extremely dangerous, it’s dangerous--
Sherman: What’s dangerous, ma’am?
Davis: It’s dangerous to the progression of this state. And it’s dangerous for our children to even know that your philosophy exists! Now you will go to court to fight kids to have the opportunity to be quiet for a minute. But damn if you’ll go to [court] to fight for them to keep guns out of their hands. I am fed up! Get out of that seat!
Sherman: Thank you for sharing your perspective with me, and I’m sure that if this matter does go to court---
Davis: You have no right to be here! We believe in something. You believe in destroying! You believe in destroying what this state was built upon.
As a 2nd Amendment supporting atheist I must be a real threat to society! Apparently I'm a threat to Chicago on multiple dimensional planes! I'm a danger to everything from children to the gods themselves!
I feel drunk with power. Mwahahahahaaa!!! We now return you to reality, already in progress...
At the very least you are:)
You are only a threat to those who might listen to you, Glock.
Anon... well aren't you just the buzzkill! :-)
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Glock21 Op/Ed
Glock,
I'm glad you posted on this. I saw it the other day and was aghast. I can't believe someone like this gets voted into state government. Well, I can believe it because there are a lot of stupid people out there, but it's sickening nonetheless.
I can be pretty blunt when it comes to religious issues, but I'll always defend the right of people to share their beliefs, even if I find them absurd. Her behavior here was beyond repugnant. If this was a religious leader being told that his views are so threatening that children shouldn't be exposed to them and asked to stop testifying it'd be all over the O'Reilly factor and every other conservative talk radio's "oh my god the atheists are oppressin' us!" segments.
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Glock21 Op/Ed
Yea, I thought that was pretty ridiculous. Fortunately, Rep. Davis apologized (as she should).
What the Tribune failed to mention is that Rob Sherman is also running for state representative in the 53rd as a Green! I must say, I don't agree with some of his stances, but he's mostly Green.
http://www.robsherman.com/
You should ask me about Davis at some point in a more private conversation. :)
The fool has said in his heart there is no God. Thus is Glock identified.
Anon... your gift for argument is astounding!
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Glock21 Op/Ed
I sense that this thread isn't going to have a lot of constructive discussion.
That's some Jedi Master-level sense going on there, IP ;-)
"I felt a great disturbance in the Thread, as if millions of pixels suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible has happened."
HG
Threadjack!
ASCII Star Wars: EIV - A New Hope
IlliniPundit said: "I sense that this thread isn't going to have a lot of constructive discussion."
Yeah, I have a penchant for treating serious topics with a bit too much mockery. It very well may be my ultimate downfall.
History Guy... that was just great.
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Glock21 Op/Ed
thanks Glock...and at 8:30am, too. I may have hit the highpoint of my day, better quit while i'm ahead.
and the ASCII animated Star Wars was priceless, thanks IP
HG
IP says: "I sense that this thread isn't going to have a lot of constructive discussion."
Well that'd just be right in theme with the original article then, wouldn't it? :D
Completely aside from this guy's atheism or the grant to the school, blowing a gasket and foaming it up about your opponent's personal philosophies in general rather than the actual case under discussion (or even the specifics of how your opponent's personal philosophies maybe have AFFECTED the case) is just... bad form.
Nice to see she apologized, though. I suppose we all have our bad days...
"Ive been waiting for you IP! We meet again at last! The circle is now complete. When I left you, I was the learner, now I am the Master!
Your blogging powers are weak, bleeding heart old man!"
Ok folks, this is actually Darth Vader!
I am unofficially announcing my candidacy for President of the United States. I plan on entering the Democratic race between Hillary and Obama. Hey, I know its late in the game, but I can use the dark side to influence Obama and Hillary both to drop out!
It would be really easy to beat McCain! When I become president, I will put create jobs by constructing a new and more lethal Death Star. I will finally bring law and order to the Universe.
Whats that? Oh man! Brian Dolinar is leading a campaign against me saying that I unfairly target Wookies. Ruth Wyman has announced she is representing those poor downtrodden wookies who are being harrassed and profiled by my clone troopers just because they are Wookies! Now, they are trying to implement a Storm Trooper Review Board with full subpoena power! Any advice and how to stop all of this. First Urbana, now the entire universe!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!