The Taliban has arrived in Kentucky. Thanks to the Fundies.

[Whovian]

http://www.alternet.org/belief/year-jail-not-believing-god-how-kentucky-persecuting-atheists

A Year in Jail for Not Believing in God? How Kentucky is Persecuting Atheists

In Kentucky, a homeland security law requires the state’s citizens to acknowledge the security provided by the Almighty God--or risk 12 months in prison.
November 21, 2012 |

In Kentucky, a homeland security law requires the state’s citizens to acknowledge the security provided by the Almighty God--or risk 12 months in prison.

The law and its sponsor, state representative Tom Riner, have been the subject of controversy since the law first surfaced in 2006, yet the Kentucky state Supreme Court has refused to review its constitutionality, despite clearly violating the First Amendment’s separation of church and state.

[CherokeeDem]

1. Unfortunately....

I live in Kentucky at the moment...only because my parents are in their mid-80's, and I returned here to look after them. I am very ashamed of some of the Kentucky citizens but thankful there are some sane people here as well. The problem is sanity is not news-worthy.

For crying out loud, would these idiots just go away...

[Whovian]

2. I can relate.

I live in a red state with parents also at that age. When they are gone I think I'll move to Norway.

[CherokeeDem]

6. LOL...

I was considering Maryland...anywhere that is solid blue...but Norway doesn't sound too bad.

I have a very dear friend who lives in Paris, France (as opposed to Paris, KY) and she has an efficiency apartment attached to her main residence. I told her to keep ready for me...just in case.

[brewens]

3. I guess I don't see how a citizen is required to affirm belief in God or risk being

locked up. That could apply to the citizen charged with installing the plaques if he refused to do it I suppose. Not that I'm in favor of even that, I'm not. The headline makes it sound like just anyone could be thrown in jail for not signing some affirmation of belief in God or swearing so.

[Whovian]

5. It's a "slippery slope" kind of thing.

In that one: The law wants plaques on certain public buildings,

And two: If they get away with it, they are going to want more. Do I need a crucifix hanging by my door and if not do I get one burning in my lawn?

[brewens]

7. Yeah. That's why I would be against it even just as far as it goes. You can

infer how if one guy went to jail for defying them, you might be next somehow.

[JHB]

4. What's the mechanism for this?

The article mentioned plaques outside a state HS building and the 12 month jail penalty for noncompliance, but wasn't clear about who would have to comply with what.

In one sense that does't matter because its unconstitutional, but it would be useful when talking with people whose reaction won't get past "ha ha, those damn atheists are getting the stick" without other points that push them past their initial vicarious bully-thrill.

[Loudly]

8. Tom Riner is apparently a Democrat!

[Whovian]

9. A wolf in sheep's clothing if he is behind this. n/t

[Jim Lane]

10. The headline is false.

If you read the full linked article, and the comments, you'll see that the law doesn't require anyone to believe anything and doesn't impose a one-year sentence for anyone's action or belief.

What it actually does is to make a purported legislative "finding" about God and then direct the posting of some pro-religion plaques on some public buildings. Even that much is silly enough without the phony headline making it sound much worse.

[RomneyLies]

11. sounds like much ado about nothing to me

It's never been enforced, so nobody has any standing to take it to court.

It's bullshit, but unenforceable bullshit.

[RagAss]

12. ...imagine living in that shithole ?

[Ya Basta]

13. †