Governor, Mayor Refuse to Offer Official Welcome to Atheist Convention

[Freddie Stubbs]

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) - Gov. Bill Owens and Mayor Lionel Rivera declined to extend an official welcome to the Atheist Alliance for its national convention this weekend, and attendees said they felt slighted.
Rivera said he thinks the group's request for a letter of welcome was the only one he had turned down in his 11 months in office. Terry Sullivan of the Colorado Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau said the governor rarely declines requests for welcome letters.

Rivera said he refused to offer a letter of welcome in part because the group scheduled its convention during Easter and just days after Passover.

"Anybody in the United States is welcome to express their beliefs and opinions," Rivera said. "I just think it's bad timing."

more: http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGAD5G13TSD.html

[soleft]

1. I wonder if the NRA got a letter after Columbine

[roguevalley]

2. I just think its fascism myself.

[stopthegop]

5. how is this facism?

I mean really...people need another word for things they don't agree...'facism' is getting worn out...save it for something important..and no, I don't think this is important either way

[JNelson6563]

29. No, you're right

the fact that an entire swath of people in this country who don't hold mainstream religious virews are being openly discriminated against isn't "important".

Ugh.

Atheists, the only people that it is ok, even encouraged, to openly discriminate against. It is clear we still have a long way to go in regard to the evolutionary process.

Julie

[PartyPooper]

3. So, what would Jesus say?

:eyes:

[SemperEadem]

40. He'd say "whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers....

... that you do unto me.."

Seems his message continually gets crucified.

[CaptainClark23]

4. WTF?

Is he pissed because observing Jews and Christians will not be able to attend this Athiest shin-dig because of the "bad" timing?!

what better time to have it, Was there anything ELSE booked this week for the convention center?

fucking idiocy.

[Kolesar]

6. Embracing Atheists can be political suicide

It happened to an Ohio politician who lost by a few hundred votes after someone asked his religion and he replied that he did not believe in god. I am looking forward to that changing, but it is going to take some time and some doing.

[arcane1]

8. 21st century technology

and 1st century mentality

it's no wonder the world is in the shape it's in....

[mediaman007]

18. You'd think that they were Gay!

I'm embarrassed to be represented by these "official" Christians. Its not like they are trying to convert people.

[SemperEadem]

41. what will force the change to happen

is to force them to tell us what they will do to those who refuse to convert or believe if Christianity becomes the official religion of the U.S., like the fundamentals want. Do not let them off this hook---that way, they are forced to expose themselves, which they will do because they won't be able to resist putting themselves in the limelight to advance their prideful cause.

Keep putting that question in their face. And record their response for all of posterity.

[Dufaeth]

7. What difference does the timing make?

eom

[trotsky]

9. On the contrary, it's excellent timing.

Making use of a city's convention resources when they otherwise probably would have sat idle due to the "holiday."

Religious bigotry, plain and simple.

[Freddie Stubbs]

10. I really wonder how many Governors or Mayors have actually sent welcoming

letters for their past conventions. I doubt that there have been many.

[Voltaire99]

11. Well, I'll welcome them

In a nation beset by the ogre of radical Christian fundamentalism, atheism is looking like a bright light indeed.

I only wish they could convert our ignoramuses to reason. Alternatively, maybe Christ could come back and tell people to get over themselves.

[FlaGranny]

12. There can be "bad timing"

for freedom of speech and religion?

[stopthegop]

13. on the 'timing'

there are 2 weeks in a year, and their convention just happens to fall on Holy week?....they certainly have the right to meet whenver they like, but it's hard to believe it's a co-incidence

[truthspeaker]

36. it's not a coincidence; they always do it Easter weekend for low rates

Hotel rooms are cheaper. American Atheists does the same thing. It's a financial move, not an insult.

[leesa]

14. And wasn't there some talk recently here about atheists never being

discriminated against? Happens all the time.

[BiggJawn]

15. Poor, persecuted Christians....

Just goes to show how far this country has fallen when you can't even get a letter of welcome.....Oh, wait....this was an ATHEIST convention that's being shunned?

Oh, well, can't have THOSE people feeling like they're welcome in our Godly nation, can we? I mean, if we allow Atheists, next thing you know, they'll want to work and live here, and get married and (gasp) REPRODUCE!!! And then we'll have MORE atheists! and they'll start running for public office, and (gasp) then we'll all be COMMUNIST!!!!

And if the Alliance had booked in Hallowe'en week? More objections, I'd bet...

Yeah, Christians "get discrimminated against" all right.

[daleo]

16. It wouldn't matter what the timing was

No politician would officially welcome them. Too many people have a weird fear of atheism, like it is contagious and evil, rather than a considered opinion that some people come to after much reflection.

[SemperEadem]

43. the brainwashing was begun back in the 50's

when they made the association between atheism and communism.

[hatrack]

17. Slightly off-topic, but I just can't resist

A great link from Infidels.org, featuring an MST3K version of a Chick Tract.

http://www.angelfire.com/geek/csmitty/tcg.html

Brilliant! Now, if I could only find the Cthlhlhu-themed Chick parody, "Who Will Be Eaten First?"

[BiggJawn]

19. Bu..Bu...But how come First Responders wear latex gloves...

If they're USELESS against HIV?

Oh, what do you expect, he got his "facts" from "Focus in the Family"

[KamaAina]

20. Um, why would atheists hold a convention in the Springs?

i.e. fundie hotbed from hell: Focus on the Family and dozens of others.

Was it like the time the Southern Baptist Covention held its convention in Salt Lake City? No foolin'! They chose it specifically so they could go out and evangelize the Mormons...

[cprise]

21. I'm an atheist, and this no big deal

Atheism is just a very specific form of skepticism. It does not offer a belief system or a set of values beyond that single one. As such, it doesn't by itself offer an attractive forum for politicians to associate with.

OTOH Buddists, Unitarians, and Humanists are attractive belief systems that are compatible with atheism. Refusing to extend a welcome to a large conference from one of the above would concern me much more.

[msmcghee]

25. Yeah, but . . .

. . isn't a governor's (or mayor's) job to welcome any large organization that chooses to hold a convention in their state (or city) - unless of course, the group is the KKK or the neo-Nazis? '

In this case he places atheists in that onerous category by implication.

I can't see what offering a belief system or set of values has to with it. Does the National Association of Fast Food have a belief system or set of values that is more deserving of association by politicians?

[truthisfreedom]

22. he's exactly right. atheists should only gather on atheistic holidays

like groundhog day and such.

[Freddie Stubbs]

23. How about Festivus?

http://www.tvacres.com/ceremonies_celebrations_festivus.htm

[Lisa]

24. what, they had the chance to say "God bless you all" to that group ...

.... and they turned it down?!

Pity. Most of the Christians I know have quite a good sense of humor.

[Sandpiper]

26. Atheists will always be the one group

Against whom it is socially acceptable to discriminate. No surprise here.

And the nerve of those people to show their faces during "Holy Week."

It's just like Poppy Bush said:

I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God.

[Freddie Stubbs]

27. Don't forget what Senator Robert Bryd (D-WV) said

"If they (Atheists) don't like it, they can go some place else." Senator Robert Byrd on the issue of the current Pledge of Allegiance (30-Jun, 2002).

http://members.aol.com/nogodperiod/SHALV.htm

[Kolesar]

28. The James Watson quote there is brutal

``The president unfortunately was brought up by parents who taught him to believe in God. He's handicapped.'' -- James Watson (Nobel Prize winner - double helix) - Time Magazine's Future of Life Summit - Winter 2003

Of course, Watson should be pissed, seeing how Bush is playing god with DNA science.

[Freddie Stubbs]

31. Why would he be pissed?

I hought that Atheists didn't believe in God?

[Kolesar]

33. my point exactly!

Actually, I was having a little fun with words there. More likely, Bush thinks he is god. Does that make sense?

[SemperEadem]

44. Pagans, Wiccans and earth religions, too are in that category

[Cooley Hurd]

30. Bad timing??? Bullshit!!!

"Anybody in the United States is welcome to express their beliefs and opinions," Rivera said. "I just think it's bad timing."

Amazing that they fail to see their own hypocrisy. What nitwits!!!

[CO Liberal]

32. Lionel Rivera Is a World-Class Idiot

And this proves it. Once again, he's pandering to James Dobson, Focus On The Family, and all the fundamentalist assholes in Colorado Springs.

[FlaGranny]

34. I actually don't

blame the Governor and the Mayor. It would be political suicide for them to welcome atheists.

But, it is a good illustration of how a certain percentage of the citizens of this country are viewed by the rest. The only place I, as an atheist, will admit to being an atheist is here, on an anonymous web site. I'm a nice person, and I don't want to be "shunned."

My Christian friends don't know I'm an atheist. They never even try to convert me - that's how sure they are that I'm Christian. No, I've never told them I'm Christian, either. They believe I'm Christian because I'm very private about my beliefs. I can, though, quote or paraphrase most of the bible, and use it to illustrate certain hypocracies. I guess that's what makes them believe what they want to believe.

[SemperEadem]

47. and that is the key

knowing their source so you can whack them with the truth of their own religious doctrines when they start obfuscating and lying about what it means to be a Christian.

If Jesus was here right now, he wouldn't have anything to do with the money-whoring wannabes masquerading as christians... a point they all seem to forget. He didn't spend time rubbing elbows with the high priets---he spent his time with those who "society" pushed out onto the fringes.

Anyone who uses the airwaves to preach worships money--because airtime costs... and you spend more of your focus on raising money rather than on living what you're supposed to believe.

[qb]

35. Gov. & Mayor are religious bigots. nt

[Freddie Stubbs]

37. Do you really think that there are ANY Governors who would have welcomed

them?

[markus]

38. Anyone with their head *not* up there, well...

Why would you not want several hundred or thousand people in your town spending money? These idiots should be recalled by the Good, Christian Citizens of their town and state for being such idiots.

If they're neither Mormon or Baptist or Jehovah's Witness, would then shun those groups because they would come and go proslytize door-to-door during their meetings?

Just plain, flat out idiocy.

[truthspeaker]

39. Ventura, but he's no longer in office

Anyway, deferring to the bigotry of your constituents is just as bad as being a bigot yourself.

[Freddie Stubbs]

45. There is a reason that Ventura is no longer in office

His mouth operated at a much faster speed than his brain. He saved himself the embarrassment by not running for reelection.

[truthspeaker]

46. Partly true; but tolerance for atheists wasn't part of that

[Freddie Stubbs]

49. That was just one piece in the puzzle

There is a time to talk and a time to shut up. He didn't understand the difference. And there was the fact that both parties in the legislature had a stake in seeing him fail.

[qb]

42. Ventura certainly would have.

The rest of them are all bigots. To paraphrase another great Minnesotan (Prince), I'm not saying this just to be nasty... they are by definition bigots.

[captain jack]

48. Thanks america for another winning governer. Go Atheists!

The debate over this story is very pathetic. Surely we know that if your not a christian you are condemned by most, in this country especially. That's why innocent people have died by the millions in this country and soooo many others are dying outside of it,right now. Some people have a lot of nerve to speak of god,jesus or anything that represents peace, rightiousness and so on. I await to celebrate the day that religion is a bad word. Religion kills always, and always will. By the way the last quote "Anybody in the...", isn't that the most hypocritcal sentence you've ever heard. I think his statement and belief is ill timed! Who's running this show, and please don't say god, he would have nothing to do with such arrogance and stupidity.