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
