Last Wednesday in a House State Government Administration Committee in Springfield, Illinois Rep. Monique Davis (D-Chicago) showed her true colors when she berated atheist Rob Sherman for daring to oppose giving $1,000,000 to a church. She informed him that “What you have to spew and spread is extremely dangerous . . . it’s dangerous for our children to even know that your philosophy exists!” So apparently her religion and belief is so tenuous and paper-thin that children even knowing it exists is a dire threat. She also stated that “This is the Land of Lincoln where people believe in God.” Let’s look at a quote from Lincoln: “The Bible is not my book nor Christianity my profession.” He later reinforced this position when he said “My earlier views of the unsoundness of the Christian scheme of salvation and the human origin of the scriptures, have become clearer and stronger with advancing years and I see no reason for thinking I shall ever change them.” Rep. Davis then told Sherman “”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.” She essentially told him that, because of his beliefs (or lack thereof), he was not afforded the rights given to every American citizen. This flies directly in the face of the Constitution. I think Cuttlefish summed it up nicely:
…I thought I saw an atheist, upon the witness stand
It couldn’t be! Not where I live! This is a Christian Land!
The Constitution guarantees my right to scream and shout;
As the Good Lord is my witness, I demanded “You! Get out!”
I thought I saw an atheist demand an equal voice;
I told him he could leave right now, and that could be his choice.
I said his view was dangerous–our children must not hear!
It goes against the Bible, which our government holds dear!
I thought I saw an atheist nod quietly, and sigh.
The odds were stacked against him, which no person can deny;
What happens when a person is denied his civil right?
I may have seen an atheist who’s now convinced to fight.
Starbix
“Don’t Panic.” -Douglas Adams
Tags: Atheism, Illinois, Monique Davis, Religious Bigots, Rob Sherman
