I couldn't believe this particular email that was sent out to the listserv.
The spark that began the listserv flamewar was the president of this particular state's psychology advocacy organization's accidental forwarding of a piece of GodSpam focused on how "great" McCain is and how America should adhere to the religious principles that McCain embodies. This is a listserv that's supposed to be for professional purposes only. The president did not declare onlist that this was an accidental posting until after the flamewar erupted, and then settled.
When I and a couple of other people objected to the Ameri-centric, Christian nature of the GodSpam on a professional list, boy did the junk start to fly.
One guy talked about how he agreed with the court decision that the Pledge with 'under God' was indeed unconstitutional, and the posting was jingoistic. A woman wrote and said that anyone who objected to the post was 'whiting out American history' and "certain minorities" (atheists) as needing to just STFU already because they are minorities, and Christians are the majority.
I got the brunt of it all, because I told the 'white-out' poster that she was free to take her opinions about God, spirituality, patriotism, pro-tyranny of the majority, et al elsewhere because there were certainly enough channels dealing with that, and I wasn't interested in hearing it.
This completely rabid red stater posted (spelling mistakes his - he has a doctorate by the way):
Who care if you agree with a lower court decision or are we only supposed to follow what you self proclaimed saviors of humanity on the left think is moral. What is objectionable is not the posting but your ad hominem attack of the president of the [organization]. Maybe the message might have been inappropriate for lists, maybe not...However if you are so offended by what you call a "jingoistic, God-bless-America message..." why should so of us not be as offended with your anti-American left wing hysterics? Your issue [person] and those we were so upset by the message is that you can not accept that there are a number of psychologists that are not all atheist haters like you.
He then berated me off the list calling me a baby and a whiner and accused me of stomping off because I was having a tantrum.
I said:
(I quoted what he said above) Your Honor, the plaintiffs rest our case.
I find it interesting that atheists, even in psychologist circles, are the most reviled minority in the US. And for some reason, here on the list as it is in society, it is socially acceptable to say such things about a group that simply doesn't believe what the individual above does. Accordingly, I stand by everything I said, up to, and including resignation from the [group] if necessary. Not because I'm tantruming like a "child," but because the principles of non-discrimination because of an individual's religion (or lack thereof) I believe in are being violated.
Oh, and by the way, I'm not an atheist. I simply have a problem with psychologists hating on minority populations.
He posted this:
If you "have a problem with psychologists hating minority populations" than you should feel "ethically bound" to speak against your own statements. The minority in our profession NOT are secularists and atheists but those of us who express any type of belief in a higher power.
You led the attack and threatened to resign because one member by accident sent a message that expressed a belief you did not agree with. You are the bigot. Why to you think you and those with your beliefs are the only ones ethically bound to speak there mind. Obviously you sense of worship is reserved for self worship.
Here's what he sent me off list, at 11:30 pm:
What were the "such things" said about atheists who by the way are NOT a minority in our profession. The minority you feel free to attack are those with any type of traditional religious belief especially Evangelicals and Catholics. If [firstname] last name were not [name]or some other ethnic name associated with one of those two groups, one wonders if your outrage would have reached the same level. So once again, who is the bigot? Prejudice against those with a religious belief is no virtue as your note below indicates even you understand at one level. Yet, if you belief that, why were you so quick to attack, judge and threaten?
I should add that I threatened no one, unless he's referring to my 'threat' to leave a supposedly secular organization that allows Christians to cram Christianity down my throat, and there were no personal attacks on the president of the organization. I'm not an athiest, but I'm not going to allow vilification of them, because chances are they don't like what I believe in either.
Everything ended with this guy giving me his office number along with baits to call him at his office so that he could continue berating me. Needless to say, I ignored it.
I love the fact that some of these people have learned the current administration's habit of trying to turn everything around so that the prosecutor is the victim. It is so disturbing. I really find it easy to believe that some of these people would cheerfully round up and shoot liberuls and intelektuals.
I think this is all testimony to how deep the chasms between conservatives and liberals have gotten, and how this country desperately needs leadership that can bring us together again.
While the whole thing was incredibly uncomfortable for me, I believe it is so important to call people on their bullshit. I got slammed backchannel for not 'letting it drop' and not just trying to 'play nice' and 'get along.' No way. These people get their way when people who disagree with them are quiet because they don't want to make waves.
Please stand up for what you believe in, no matter where wrongness occurs, because I can't do this by myself.