Arizona State Rep. Juan Mendez (D) turned a Tuesday afternoon prayer into something much more.

The Phoenix New Times reports that Mendez, who is an atheist, changed the course of the event held prior to the House of Representatives' afternoon session. He asked lawmakers to refrain from bowing their heads and instead to view their surroundings.

"Most prayers in this room begin with a request to bow your heads," Mendez said, according to the Phoenix New Times. "I would like to ask that you not bow your heads. I would like to ask that you take a moment to look around the room at all of the men and women here, in this moment, sharing together this extraordinary experience of being alive and of dedicating ourselves to working toward improving the lives of the people in our state."

Mendez also invoked the words of Dr. Carl Sagan, the late astronomer whose words on atheism have lasted for decades.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/22/juan-mendez-carl-sagan_n_3316864.html?ref=topbar

Great article! Worth the read.

http://www.alternet.org/belief/9-questions-atheists-might-find-insulting-and-answers?page=0%2C1&paging=off

Glenn Beck unleashed a terrifying monologue Thursday night in which he claimed the federal government was protecting the person responsible for the Boston bombings and was secretly whisking that person out of the country to Saudi Arabia. Beck even issued demands that the federal government come clean.

Hannity foaming at the mouth, too.




http://mediamatters.org/

I'd say it's unbelievable, but it's FOX, so you won't be surprised.

http://mediamatters.org/video/2013/03/19/foxs-bolling-iraq-war-was-the-smartest-thing-ge/193131

Hate to say it, but I almost miss Palin's grade school humor. Actually, in her pathetic attempts to remain relevant she's almost pre-school now. The stopping to take a big gulp at CPAC was classic. The "Obama's all drama" line was clever. (see the rhyme scheme there?). A teleprompter joke. A little boob humor. And the sensational, "More background checks? Dandy idea, Mr. President -- should've started with yours."

She just kills, doesn't she? And to think, all this comedic brilliance could have been a heartbeat away from the presidency.

Almost posted this morning a remark about Rob Portman changing his tune about gay marriage after his son announced, at 18, that he was gay. This just mystifies me. I know that our children are not always open books to us, but I can't fathom how you don't know your child's sexual orientation for 18 years. This dad, in another DU post, wasn't caught unaware. The post inspired me to comment. Wonder what others think.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022511486#post26

Religion Among Americans Hits Low Point, As More People Say They Have No Religious Affiliation: Report

The number of Americans who claim to have no religious affiliation is the highest it has ever been since data on the subject started being collected in the 1930s, new research has found.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/13/religion-america-decline-low-no-affiliation-report_n_2867626.html

about the next Pope, and SO resent the media operating under the assumption that you absolutely MUST give a shit.

His Monday night meltdown was among his worst. I think something's going on with the guy. Maybe the ratings?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/05/oreilly-bull-blank-alan-colmes_n_2815481.htmlI

Hearing that our VP has an F rating from the NRA, and is tasked with working on proposed gun control legislation, just thrills me. This is exactly the right man for the job.