Sat Nov 24, 2012, 03:58 PM

Whovian (2,866 posts)

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

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.

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13 replies	Author	Time	Post
The Taliban has arrived in Kentucky. Thanks to the Fundies. (Original post)	Whovian	Nov 2012	OP
Unfortunately....	CherokeeDem	Nov 2012	#1
I can relate.	Whovian	Nov 2012	#2
LOL...	CherokeeDem	Nov 2012	#6
I guess I don't see how a citizen is required to affirm belief in God or risk being	brewens	Nov 2012	#3
It's a "slippery slope" kind of thing.	Whovian	Nov 2012	#5
Yeah. That's why I would be against it even just as far as it goes. You can	brewens	Nov 2012	#7
What's the mechanism for this?	JHB	Nov 2012	#4
Tom Riner is apparently a Democrat!	Loudly	Nov 2012	#8
A wolf in sheep's clothing if he is behind this. n/t	Whovian	Nov 2012	#9
The headline is false.	Jim Lane	Nov 2012	#10
sounds like much ado about nothing to me	RomneyLies	Nov 2012	#11
...imagine living in that shithole ?	RagAss	Nov 2012	#12
†	Ya Basta	Nov 2012	#13

Response to Whovian (Original post)

Sat Nov 24, 2012, 04:11 PM

CherokeeDem (3,704 posts)

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...

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Response to CherokeeDem (Reply #1)

Sat Nov 24, 2012, 04:14 PM

Whovian (2,866 posts)

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.

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Response to Whovian (Reply #2)

Sat Nov 24, 2012, 04:27 PM

CherokeeDem (3,704 posts)

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.

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Response to Whovian (Original post)

Sat Nov 24, 2012, 04:17 PM

brewens (12,722 posts)

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.

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Response to brewens (Reply #3)

Sat Nov 24, 2012, 04:24 PM

Whovian (2,866 posts)

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?

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Response to Whovian (Reply #5)

Sat Nov 24, 2012, 04:38 PM

brewens (12,722 posts)

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.

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Response to Whovian (Original post)

Sat Nov 24, 2012, 04:22 PM

JHB (36,932 posts)

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.

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Response to Whovian (Original post)

Sat Nov 24, 2012, 06:49 PM

Loudly (2,436 posts)

8. Tom Riner is apparently a Democrat!

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Response to Loudly (Reply #8)

Sat Nov 24, 2012, 07:08 PM

Whovian (2,866 posts)

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

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Response to Whovian (Original post)

Sat Nov 24, 2012, 10:26 PM

Jim Lane (11,175 posts)

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.

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Response to Whovian (Original post)

Sat Nov 24, 2012, 10:29 PM

RomneyLies (3,333 posts)