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for exposing bigotry towards atheists in America.
by csquared on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 02:01:05 AM PDT
she is a state Rep., not a US Rep.
Ignorant as she is, it probably won't hurt her politically.
John McCain - Like W. Only Older.
Funny McCain Pics archive updated regularly
by InsultComicDog on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 02:07:05 AM PDT
[ Parent ]
But I doubt Obama will need to distance himself from her bigoted comments as he did from Rev. Wright.
It just shows the double standard in America when it comes to bigotry towards atheists.
by csquared on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 02:12:01 AM PDT
This has nothing to do with him.
And sadly this is not the first or last really stupid thing that will be said by an Illinois Democrat in the state capital.
FDR to Obama: Why HOPE matters
by modemocrat on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 02:18:48 AM PDT
My last comment was more about the double standard in the way atheists are treated in America.
I agree that this has nothing to do with Obama. In fact, I think its ridiculous that he was forced to apologize for Rev. Wright's comments.
by csquared on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 02:26:08 AM PDT
Nirvana
Where do bad folks go when they die? They don't go to heaven where the angels fly They go to a lake of fire and fry See'em again 'till the 4th of July I knew a lady who came from Duluth Bit by a dog with a rabid tooth She went to her grave just a little too soon And flew away howlin' on the yellow moon Where do bad folks go when they die? They don't go to heaven where the angels fly They go to a lake of fire and fry See'em again 'till the 4th of July People cry and people moan They look for a dry place to call their home They try to find some place to rest their bones While the angels and devils try to make their own Where do bad folks go when they die? They don't go to heaven where the angels fly They go to a lake of fire and fry See'em again 'till the 4th of July
Where do bad folks go when they die? They don't go to heaven where the angels fly They go to a lake of fire and fry See'em again 'till the 4th of July
I knew a lady who came from Duluth Bit by a dog with a rabid tooth She went to her grave just a little too soon And flew away howlin' on the yellow moon
People cry and people moan They look for a dry place to call their home They try to find some place to rest their bones While the angels and devils try to make their own
"It's the planet, stupid."
by FishOutofWater on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 06:01:48 AM PDT
Lake of Fire is a Meat Puppets song Nirvana covered in their MTV Unplugged show.
by dmd76 on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 06:11:43 AM PDT
Damn atheists.
by FishOutofWater on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 06:19:53 AM PDT
can be found here.
fouls, excesses and immoderate behavior are scored ZERO at Over the Line, Smokey!
by seesdifferent on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 11:23:35 AM PDT
by PhotogHog on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 02:24:14 PM PDT
This devil has to go.
by leema on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 04:25:21 PM PDT
by RavinDave on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 03:17:36 AM PDT
There would have been a wild contrast between highly abstract lyrics, interspersed with explicit and gag-inducing imagery. For example:
she eyes my like a pisces / when I am weak
huh?
versus
I wish I could eat your cancer when you turn black
urp!
1001000 -- it's code!
by slippytoad on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 06:24:10 AM PDT
:)
Evidence that contradicts the ruling belief system is held to extraordinary standards, while evidence that entrenches it is uncritically accepted. -Carl Sagan
by RF on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 12:12:19 PM PDT
I took it that Cobain was describing Courtney Love exhibiting the supposed characteristic of the sign (creative, artistic, highly romantic) at some moment when he was feeling vulnerable.
The other one was gag-inducing, but again I think this was just more of him pouring out his love for her: he would even devour her tumor were she to suffer from cancer.
by LisainNYC on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 02:36:06 PM PDT
Thank you for the correction.
McCain = Death. "I'm tired of being afraid." -- Michelle Obama
by Pris from LA on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 08:09:46 AM PDT
"Any dictator would admire the uniformity and obedience of the U.S. media." -- Noam Chomsky
by ratmach on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 12:43:05 PM PDT
the day theocrat authoratarians cease and desist their constant and perpetual assault upon MY countrys Constitution in their blatancy to infuse it with their psuedo beliefs, i will be here with my nonbelieving ass in amazement of super self sanctified ignorant dumbasses such as Monique Davis. todays Worst Person
impeachment-it does the body good impeachment-it isn't just for blow jobs anymore impeachment-i can say no more i expect no less
by playtonjr on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 06:50:08 PM PDT
Or are they both a little too stupid and gullible to meet your superior intellectual standards?
Silly
by Jagger on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 09:46:44 PM PDT
Just ask Virgil.
Happy little moron, Lucky little man.I wish I was a moron, MY GOD, Perhaps I am!-Spike Milligan
by polecat on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 06:35:12 AM PDT
Vergil wasn't Christian, but Dante admired him greatly, so who better?
I have heard, but cannot confirm, that the common English spelling of Virgil was a riff on Virgin, though I have no idea what he wrote that could be tied to Christianity.
Single payer universal healthcare coverage saves money and saves lives.
by freelunch on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 07:00:19 AM PDT
. . . as a prophet. One of his Eclogues (the fifth?) describes the birth of a child who will usher in an era of peace.
by lgenespears on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 07:23:26 AM PDT
When civilizations clash, barbarism wins.
by Allogenes on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 07:35:41 AM PDT
as "The Poet", just as they and the Islamic scholars referred to Aristotle as "the Philosopher".
Don't forget to read Virgil's Aeneid, his Roman 'embellishment' (none dare call it a rip-off) on the Illiad and the Odyssey, creating (not merely transcribing and communicating as Homer had) a total mythical history of Rome, tracing the history of Rome (falsely) back to the Trojan side of the Trojan War via Aeneas, a Trojan hero.
-7.88, -6.72. "Wherever law ends, tyranny begins."--John Locke IMPEACH THE BASTARDS!!!
by caseynm on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 08:30:49 AM PDT
...high-school Latin teacher made me memorize the first ten lines of the Aeneid. Still got 'em.
Rubus Eradicandus Est.
by Randomfactor on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 10:57:43 AM PDT
Italiam fato profugus Laviniaque venit litora...
Oh, the memories.
Omne malum nascens facile opprimitur, inveteratum fit plerumque robustius. - Cicero
by Dauphin on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 02:16:00 PM PDT
de gustibus non disputatum est
true for taste and religious beliefs
by Renie on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 08:55:27 PM PDT
is much more than a "rip-off" of Homer. Readers will find a more nuanced and ambivalent stance toward war and power-seeking in Virgil than in Homer. Aeneas seems to lose his humanity in the quest to essentially found Rome, and the cry of Turnus at the end seems to echo through the ages as the cry of those who have been conquered.
War is the statesman's game, the priest's delight, The lawyer's jest, the hired assassin's trade Invictus
by Valtin on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 11:14:38 AM PDT
The Aeneid is much much more than just a rip-off, and it's one of the most beautifully written works of literature ever. But I'd argue the Iliad is much more sophisticated than Vergil when it comes to war.
Saint, n. A dead sinner revised and edited. - Ambrose Bierce
by pico on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 01:51:54 PM PDT
They are both great works. I was surprised when I read the Aeneid, because I felt that Virgil's sensibilities were closer to that of our time. But that's purely subjective, I know.
by Valtin on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 05:43:56 PM PDT
I have no idea what he wrote that could be tied to Christianity.
Oddly enough, I happen to know that. (My motley education, scraps and odds and ends...)
Medieval scholars, looking for an excuse to cover the fact that they rather liked Virgil, came up with the idea that some lines in one of the Eclogues could be construed as a prophecy about the birth of a miraculous boy. Dante would have been familiar with this consensus.
Before the modern era scholars and educated people were often scrambling for some excuse to enjoy pre-Christian writing, and would contort surviving works if necessary with far-fetched interpretations. It was better than refusing to copy them, and letting them be lost, I judge. We can jettison the interpretations now, and replace them with, well, with interpretations hat our grandkids will doubtless consider equally spurious in some other way. Somebody said every generation has to re-translate Homer, and that's one of the reasons.
A Republican is a person who says we need to rebuild Iraq but not New Orleans. - Temple Stark
by Christopher Walker on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 07:25:18 AM PDT
Does anyone have a recommendation for a translation for the eclogues? I haven't read Vergil since high school and have no intention of reading it in Latin.
by freelunch on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 07:43:34 AM PDT
I'm pretty sure this one was the translation recommended by my classics teacher. It's not real recent, and I can't assure you that it's a splendid translation because my Latin isn't good enough to make me a credible judge. However, I remember it as perfectly readable:
The Eclogues and Georgics of Virgil / translated by C. Day Lewis. Garden City, N. Y. : Anchor Books, 1964.
by Christopher Walker on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 08:03:20 AM PDT
I've heard of Lewis and think I may have his translation of the Aeneid (sadly, I still have a copy of my HS Aeneid, too, but doubt that I could understand more than 15% of it).
by freelunch on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 08:08:58 AM PDT
Father of Academy Award-winning actor Daniel Day-Lewis.
Cecil was also a poet and critic, and eventually was named Poet Laureate of England.
Amazing family, that.
And PS -- Daniel is married to Rebecca Miller, daughter of award-winning playwright Arthur Miller. Daniel starred in one of the big-screen adaptations of Arthur Miller's The Crucible.
Family dinners were either wonderful or scary.
by Brooke In Seattle on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 09:21:11 AM PDT
What I've heard is that Christians changed Vergilius' name to "Virgil" because it was Latin for "rod", which was understood to be a reference to the cross...
by Abou Ben Adhem on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 01:52:22 PM PDT
n/t
by Robobagpiper on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 07:08:50 AM PDT
I had to 4 it.
by freelunch on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 07:14:53 AM PDT
...in the whole Divine Comedy is Limbo, where you get to hob-nob with the great philosophers. If I'm bound for there I'd be happy.
by Pris from LA on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 08:14:38 AM PDT
for one excellent contemporary translation.
by Creosote on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 02:19:56 AM PDT
Cain slew Abel, Seth knew not why For if the children of Israel were to multiply Why must any of the children die? So he asked the Lord, and the Lord said:
Man means nothing, he means less to me Than the lowliest cactus flower or the humblest Yucca tree He chases round this desert cause he thinks that's where I'll be That's why I love mankind
I recoil in horror from the foulness of thee From the squalor and the filth and the misery How we laugh up here in heaven at the prayers you offer me That's why I love mankind
The Christians and the Jews were having a jamboree The Buddhists and the Hindus joined on satellite TV They picked their four greatest priests and they began to speak
They said, "Lord, a plague is on the world, Lord, no man is free The temples that we built to you have tumbled into the sea Lord, if you won't take care of us won't you please, please let us be?"
And the Lord said
I burn down your cities--how blind you must be I take from you your children and you say how blessed are we You all must be crazy to put your faith in me That's why I love mankind
You really need me That's why I love mankind
by manumoka on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 07:24:56 AM PDT
Frank Zappa wrote a good one too.
Dumb All Over by Frank Zappa Whoever we are Wherever were from We shoulda noticed by now Our behavior is dumb And if our chances Expect to improve Its gonna take a lot more Than tryin to remove The other race Or the other whatever From the face Of the planet altogether They call it the earth Which is a dumb kinda name But they named it right cause we behave the same... We are dumb all over Dumb all over, Yes we are Dumb all over, Near n far Dumb all over, Black n white People, we is not wrapped tight Nurds on the left Nurds on the right Religous fanatics On the air every night Sayin the bible Tells the story Makes the details Sound real gory bout what to do If the geeks over there Dont believe in the book We got over here You cant run a race Without no feet n pretty soon There wont be no street For dummies to jog on Or doggies to dog on Religous fanatics Can make it be all gone (I mean it wont blow up n disappear Itll just look ugly For a thousand years...) You cant run a country By a book of religion Not by a heap Or a lump or a smidgeon Of foolish rules Of ancient date Designed to make You all feel great While you fold, spindle And mutilate Those unbelievers From a neighboring state To arms! to arms! Hooray! thats great Two legs aint bad Unless theres a crate They ship the parts To mama in For souvenirs: two ears (get down!) Not his, not hers, (but what the hey? ) The good book says: (it gotta be that way!) But their book says: Revenge the crusades... With whips n chains n hand grenades... Two arms? two arms? Have another and another Our God says: There aint no other! Our God says Its all okay! Our God says This is the way! It says in the book: Burn n destroy... n repent, n redeem n revenge, n deploy n rumble thee forth To the land of the unbelieving scum on the other side cause they dont go for whats in the book n that makes em bad So verily we must choppeth them up And stompeth them down Or rent a nice french bomb To poof them out of existance While leaving their real estate just where we need it To use again For temples in which to praise our god (cause he can really take care of business!) And when his humble tv servant With humble white hair And humble glasses And a nice brown suit And maybe a blond wife who takes phone calls Tells us our God says Its okay to do this stuff Then we gotta do it, cause if we dont do it, We aint gwine up to hebbin! (depending on which book youre using at the Time...cant use theirs... it dont work ...its all lies...gotta use mine...) Aint that right? Thats what they say Every night... Every day... Hey, we cant really be dumb If were just following gods orders Hey, lets get serious... God knows what hes doin He wrote this book here An the book says: He made us all to be just like him, So... If were dumb... Then God is dumb... (an maybe even a little ugly on the side)
Dumb All Over by Frank Zappa
Whoever we are Wherever were from We shoulda noticed by now Our behavior is dumb And if our chances Expect to improve Its gonna take a lot more Than tryin to remove The other race Or the other whatever From the face Of the planet altogether
They call it the earth Which is a dumb kinda name But they named it right cause we behave the same... We are dumb all over Dumb all over, Yes we are Dumb all over, Near n far Dumb all over, Black n white People, we is not wrapped tight
Nurds on the left Nurds on the right Religous fanatics On the air every night Sayin the bible Tells the story Makes the details Sound real gory bout what to do If the geeks over there Dont believe in the book We got over here
You cant run a race Without no feet n pretty soon There wont be no street For dummies to jog on Or doggies to dog on Religous fanatics Can make it be all gone (I mean it wont blow up n disappear Itll just look ugly For a thousand years...)
You cant run a country By a book of religion Not by a heap Or a lump or a smidgeon Of foolish rules Of ancient date Designed to make You all feel great While you fold, spindle And mutilate Those unbelievers From a neighboring state
To arms! to arms! Hooray! thats great Two legs aint bad Unless theres a crate They ship the parts To mama in For souvenirs: two ears (get down!) Not his, not hers, (but what the hey? ) The good book says: (it gotta be that way!) But their book says: Revenge the crusades... With whips n chains n hand grenades... Two arms? two arms? Have another and another Our God says: There aint no other! Our God says Its all okay! Our God says This is the way!
It says in the book: Burn n destroy... n repent, n redeem n revenge, n deploy n rumble thee forth To the land of the unbelieving scum on the other side cause they dont go for whats in the book n that makes em bad So verily we must choppeth them up And stompeth them down Or rent a nice french bomb To poof them out of existance While leaving their real estate just where we need it To use again For temples in which to praise our god (cause he can really take care of business!)
And when his humble tv servant With humble white hair And humble glasses And a nice brown suit And maybe a blond wife who takes phone calls Tells us our God says Its okay to do this stuff Then we gotta do it, cause if we dont do it, We aint gwine up to hebbin! (depending on which book youre using at the Time...cant use theirs... it dont work ...its all lies...gotta use mine...) Aint that right? Thats what they say Every night... Every day... Hey, we cant really be dumb If were just following gods orders Hey, lets get serious... God knows what hes doin He wrote this book here An the book says: He made us all to be just like him, So... If were dumb... Then God is dumb... (an maybe even a little ugly on the side)
"The meek shall inherit nothing" - F. Zappa
by cometman on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 07:51:37 AM PDT
doesn't it, and it always will!
"God is not on the side of the heavy battalions, but of the best shots."- Voltaire
by armenia on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 08:09:11 AM PDT
Well, they recorded it. I think Kinky Freedman wrote it:
I know you smoke, I know you drink that brew I can't abide with a sinner like you. God can't either so I know it to be true. Jesus loves me but he can't stand you. I'm going to heaven boys, when I die Cause I've crossed every T and dotted every I My preacher tells me I'm God's sort of guy Jesus love me but you're gonna fry. God loves all his children, by gum That don't mean he won't incinerate some Can't you feel those hot flames licking you WooWooWoo I'm raising my kids in a righteous way So don't be bringing your kids over to our house to play Yours will grow up stoned, left-leaning and gay Jesus told me on the phone today Jesus loves me this I know And he told me where you're going to go There's lots of room for your kind down below Whoa Whoa Whoa Jesus loves me but he can't stand you!
I know you smoke, I know you drink that brew I can't abide with a sinner like you. God can't either so I know it to be true. Jesus loves me but he can't stand you.
I'm going to heaven boys, when I die Cause I've crossed every T and dotted every I My preacher tells me I'm God's sort of guy Jesus love me but you're gonna fry.
God loves all his children, by gum That don't mean he won't incinerate some Can't you feel those hot flames licking you WooWooWoo
I'm raising my kids in a righteous way So don't be bringing your kids over to our house to play Yours will grow up stoned, left-leaning and gay Jesus told me on the phone today
Jesus loves me this I know And he told me where you're going to go There's lots of room for your kind down below Whoa Whoa Whoa
Jesus loves me but he can't stand you!
by newmexicobear on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 09:58:33 AM PDT
too often, but I love their song "Leonard Cohen's Day Job." And that got me thinking about what Cohen has to say about Christianity. I think he's got it right in this verse:
And Jesus was a sailor When he walked upon the water And he spent a long time watching From his lonely wooden tower And when he knew for certain Only drowning men could see him He said "All men will be sailors then Until the sea shall free them"
by RAZE on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 10:31:37 AM PDT
Not the content obviously, but the way he delivered this song was essentially a rap, not singing.
by CyberHippy on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 12:05:18 PM PDT
Of course it had nothing to do with Obama.
Republicans don't have 60 votes, and it doesn't seem to bother them one bit.
by dkmich on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 02:40:24 AM PDT
I wonder is she voted for him when he exposed his religious bigotry?
by freelunch on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 06:48:25 AM PDT
Exist at all in this country?
I believe in God, but I should not be judged by an entity that "trusts in god" in secular society.
I believe in God, but I should not be spending money that "trusts in god" in secular society.
I love me some Christians and I love me some atheists.
I love me some Buddhists too, but they're more like agnostics.
by interdependence on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 07:11:50 AM PDT
"I don't believe in any specific religion, but I respect all of them."
Some people just get it.
Others, like Monique Davis, simply don't.
"I'd like my country back, please. Now!"
by GrannyOPhilly on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 10:46:15 AM PDT
I don't believe that there is no god. I know that their is no evidence for the existence of a god anymore than there is evidence that the Easter Bunny or Santa exists. When religious people bring me their source, then we can discuss whether or not I believe it/them to be credibile. Until then, I don't believe squat.
by dkmich on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 02:46:57 AM PDT
Generally she's as Democratic as they come. This is a huge surprise.
60 for the Senate. Obama 08.
by bornadem on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 07:46:40 AM PDT
African American community has lots of Christianists.
click to learn about Single Payer Health Care
by DrSteveB on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 08:08:25 AM PDT
Or was there some sort of provocation leading to her response? Not to excuse her words but I would like some context.
I don't know the rep which was a target of her ire. But if he is a neo-atheist, neo-atheists, like neocons, are always looking for a fight. Provocation and fighting is their purpose for living.
So what is the context?
by Jagger on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 08:29:16 AM PDT
Care to back it up with some evidence about legions of neo-athiests looking for a fight? Perhaps explain the evolutionary imperative behind this "purpose for living"? As far as I can tell from your comment you are the one looking for a fight.
by filchyboy on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 10:37:06 AM PDT
Those sure sound like fightin' words!
Do you honestly think those things? Was Martin Luther King provoking and fighting when he was demonstrating in Memphis? How else are minorities supposed to assert their rights other thank provoking and fighting?
People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people
by The Icelander on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 10:44:10 AM PDT
If there's anything that hasn't changed through the history of man it's Atheism. Every other religion has bent and twisted with time, though believers think their beliefs are the same as the founders of their religions. So I'm wondering what a "neo-Atheist" is? Not believing in a supreme deity is the same every day. It can't be "neo" if it's the same as it has always been.
"Somewhere. Someone's god is laughing." - Three Days Grace
by Intercaust on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 10:57:04 AM PDT
of calling enough attention to your lack of belief to get noticed and not getting killed or exiled for it.
by HiBob on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 11:14:56 AM PDT
I didn't know there were neo-atheists. Do we have fundi atheist? Recombined and reformed?
"Give me that ol' time atheism it's good enough for me"
Edwards Democrat voting for Obama would like to remind you, "Concentration Moon, over the camp in the valley" Frank Zappa knew.
by high uintas on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 11:47:09 AM PDT
Atheists throughout history have defined themselves by their disbelief in the gods of their dominant culture, which have changed over time. I have yet to meet a modern atheist who explains his stance by saying, "I don't believe in Zeus." Nor did atheists in the past generally advocate banning all religion, as a good number of modern atheists do.
As for what a neo-atheist is, I have no idea. I think Jagger probably meant a proselytizing atheist, as opposed to one who keeps his/her personal beliefs personal and doesn't try to impose or force them onto others. I've met plenty of proselytizing atheists, and they did tend to pick fights, although I wouldn't consider it fair to generalize that to atheists in general any more than to Christians in general. They were damned annoying, though...but once again, no more so than Christian proselytizers.
John McCain, John McCain
by Elsinora on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 02:26:58 PM PDT
Atheists throughout history have defined themselves by their disbelief in the gods of their dominant culture, which have changed over time. I have yet to meet a modern atheist who explains his stance by saying, "I don't believe in Zeus." Nor did atheists in the past generally advocate banning all religion, as a good number of modern atheists do. As for what a neo-atheist is, I have no idea. I think Jagger probably meant a proselytizing atheist, as opposed to one who keeps his/her personal beliefs personal and doesn't try to impose or force them onto others. I've met plenty of proselytizing atheists, and they did tend to pick fights, although I wouldn't consider it fair to generalize that to atheists in general any more than to Christians in general. They were damned annoying, though...but once again, no more so than Christian proselytizers.
You are exactly right in my references. There are intelligent, thoughtful atheists and then, there are shallow, aggessive, mocking, provocative neo-atheists. Thoughtful and neo-atheists goes together in the same manner as neocon and thougthful. It just doesn't happen. I ran across the term neo-atheist sometime back and it's use is more common with time. It is a very appropriate term.
Neo-atheists give a bad name to atheists and create some pretty bad backlash. Their tactics are very counter-productive.
by Jagger on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 03:52:01 PM PDT
I think the silence and nonconfrontational stance of traditional atheists is directly linked to their present status as America's most despised minority. The tone of a Hitchins or a Dawkins may border on the belligerent, but I think it's a useful check on a public discourse that all too often takes the centrality of religion in public life as a foregone conclusion and even an agreed upon good onto itself.
by ADamiani on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 10:13:37 PM PDT
by Aocreata on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 06:34:47 PM PDT
Rob Sherman has been a fightin' atheist for quite some time, and has litigated a fair bit. He's well known in Chicagoland (and around Illinois).
Last fall, the Illinois General Assembly passed PA 95-680, amending the Silent Reflection and Student Prayer Act (105 ILCS 5), making a brief period of silence to open the school day mandatory (rather than optional) in public schools. Though vetoed by the Governor, the legislature overrode, and it became effective on October 11.
Immediately, educators, through various organizations, virtually statewide, decided not to act on the law. Meanwhile, Mr. Sherman filed suit in federal court to stop enforcement on a constitutional challenge.
The background on why this passed in the first place is, in itself, interesting. State Representative James Meeks, an ordained minister, had made waves in 2006 when he threatened to bolt from the Democratic Party to run for governor. His threat was palpable, as a threatened schism in the Chicago AA community's voting bloc could have thrown the governorship to the GOP. He holds great sway with many AA members of the legislature.
The legislature has found themselves quite embarrassed over the publicity generated, and has been working to undo the revisions in PA 95-680, though some legislative manuvers have slowed down the current bill (passed the state house, but got hamstrung in the senate by the sponsor of last year's bill - Kim Lightford).
Rob Sherman can be a pain in the backside. His stance on tax policy is downright GoOPer/libertarian/RonPaul kinda stuff. But he's a strong ally on church/state issues like this.
The next fantasy: Obama/Dean (please let it be)
by wystler on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 11:23:11 AM PDT
It can mean both "African-American" and "Asian American". I suspect that you mean the former, although the later use is better established.
"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities" -- Voltaire
by ohwilleke on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 01:20:18 PM PDT
but the context makes it pretty darned clear, no?
by wystler on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 02:02:48 PM PDT
too, and it certainly led to puzzlement and analysis for a momement.
by ohwilleke on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 02:37:21 PM PDT
...I assumed you meant "anti-aircraft".
Sometimes it's best to not use abbreviations at all because they've all been overloaded so many times it can get confusing very quickly.
No, I'm not just trying to be PC.
PC = politically correct, printed circuit, personal computer, post cibum (after meals, used on Rx), primary care, professional corporation, polycarbonate, primate conservation, polymer concrete, and on and on and on...
"That which I am writing about so tediously may be obvious to someone whose mind is less decrepit." - Ludwig Wittgenstein
by Mad Dog Rackham on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 06:51:45 PM PDT
Which, being church-based, and constituting a relatively large bloc of the population of many urban areas ... though probably not full of voters ... but still, it is what came to mind.
Dump Steny Hoyer
by mataliandy on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 08:51:52 PM PDT
hyphenate "African-American" but not "Asian American"?
"There is no limit to what you can do if you have the power to change the rules." -Josh Marshall
by grollen on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 03:59:49 PM PDT
seen most commonly used by others in writing the respective terms for reasons that are obscure to me.
by ohwilleke on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 05:04:57 PM PDT
hyphenation can be interesting
by grollen on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 06:03:24 PM PDT
by kalmoth on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 04:43:23 PM PDT
He holds great sway with many AA members of the legislature.
...that so many members of the Illinois state legislature hit the sauce?
/snark
/International treaties? We don't abide by no stinkin' international treaties./
by sigmarthebad on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 02:15:38 PM PDT
Rob Sherman (no relation, thank God!) is now a candidate for the Illinois House, as the candidate of the Green Party in the northwest suburban 53rd District.
Expect him to get trounced on Election Day, although his name recognition may give the Greens the 5% of the vote they are looking for to expand their status as a major party in Illinois.
by Randall Sherman on Tue Apr 08, 2008 at 09:50:28 PM PDT
Rob Sherman is an election day pariah here. In 2006, he ran in the Dem primary for that seat, losing badly to a neophyte who I'd met at a local DFA meet-up. Mike was no stellar candidate either(!!!), but he outpolled Rob Sherman 3565 to 1112.
by wystler on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 08:37:41 AM PDT
