In the same vein, is the subway incident true? Certainly could be true, but I don't recall seeing any news coverage, and the facts are awfully neat for propaganda purposes, including the Muslim rescuer. True? Real incident modified to make it better? Entirely made up? Does anyone know? Quoting Susan Freiman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>:
This just came to me from an atheists' list. Is it true? Susan ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~` *PRESS RELEASE* *FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE* *The Council for Secular Humanism Chides Congress for Disrespecting Religions * (December 14, 2007) -- Experts from the Council for Secular
Humanism
noted with alarm the passage of H. Res. 847 in the House of Representatives. This unnecessary, unwarranted, and bigoted law, under the misleading title "Recognizing the Importance of Christm
as
and the Christian Faith" passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support It effectively undermines the sort of religious tolerance necessary in these changing times. Just days ago in the midst of the Jewish Festival of Lights, four Jewish men in New York City were attacked on the subway for
replying
to a group of ten people who wished them a "Merry Christmas" with a
similar greeting: "Happy Hanukkah. For this, these men were first insulted, then beaten. It was a Muslim man who came to their
physical
defense. The actions of the Congress, by passing the resolution
and
thus expressing preference to the Christian faith over all the
others
represented by the diverse population of these United States , encourages this sort of behavior. The First Amendment's guarantee of religious liberty, and of the nonestablishment of religion, was devised to create a secular state
in which all religions would be equally tolerated and none given preference. The language of the House resolution effectively undermines the design of the Founders, and creates an atmosphere where non-Christians will continue to be targeted, treated like second-class citizens, and even become victims of violence like
those
four Jewish subway riders in New York . Paul Kurtz , CSH chair, stated, "It is deplorable that in this day and age and in light of violence against religious minorities here
in
the United States that the Congress would stoke those flames with preferential language in support of a single religion." David Koepsell , CSH's executive director, noted, "Te First Amendment Guarantee was designed to prevent the sort of religious intolerance
that resulted in violence in Europe, and our Congress should
respect
the intent of the Founders." We call on the Congress to reject this resolution, to stand up for religious freedom, secularism, and pluralism, and to foster a
climate
in which all believers and nonbelievers alike are treated equally. __._,_.___
Douglas Laycock Yale Kamisar Collegiate Professor of Law University of Michigan Law School 625 S. State St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1215 734-647-9713
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