Comments on: Albuquerque City Councilor Don Harris Attacks Opponent for Being an Atheist

By: Atheism, Albuquerque, And “Weird Al” Yankovic « Camels With Hammers

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:39:16 +0000

[...] Hemant Mehta did an excellent job of mobilizing criticism of Albuquerque city councilman Don Harris for creating campaign literature that attacked his opponent for, among other things, being an atheis…. Harris, to his credit apologized for trying to exploit his opponents views on religion in the [...]

By: Atheism, Albuquerque, And “Weird Al” « Camels With Hammers

Atheism, Albuquerque, And “Weird Al” « Camels With Hammers — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:36:09 +0000

By: khal82

khal82 — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 01:48:00 +0000

I am a New Mexican, though not from Albuquerque, and I left him a voice message advising him of my status as a nonbeliever and my disappointment in his narrow-minded attack. I also alluded to the fact that, if he is interested in furthering his political career, he needs to consider the diversity of his state and not make such insults to the educated, voting citizens of this state.

All of New Mexico is not so bigoted, Santa Fe and Albuquerque are more liberal in general, but my town and others are bastions of conservative xtian tunnel-vision, unfortunately.

By: Spurs Fan

Spurs Fan — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:31:11 +0000

A R by your name in the polling booth is pretty much all it takes in Texas unless you live in Austin

Or the Valley, San Antonio, Houston proper,Dallas proper, or El Paso! We are making a comeback TXatheist. The Lone Star state will be quite progressive in a few years.

By: Colin

Colin — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 06:19:46 +0000

Well, its over. Harris won with 79% of the vote.

http://www.bernco.gov/upload/images/clerk/City_09/output.htm

Proving that the above pamphlet isn’t simply offensive, it was also completely excessive overkill!

By: Heidi

Heidi — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 03:26:05 +0000

Is New Mexico really as bigoted as Harris implies? If he hates atheists, and is apparently dismissive of Unitarians, who else does he have on his “those people” list? Native Americans? Mexican-Americans? Obviously anyone who promotes peace makes the list. I’m kind of horrified by his blatantly open prejudice.

I like Barbour’s style, though. And the apparent fact that he at least has positions on the issues. Harris reminds me of McCain. Don’t say anything about yourself, just spend all your time attacking the other guy. You know, “that one.”

By: Gareth

Gareth — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 03:15:55 +0000

Thought i would add my email to the growing list.

Dear Sir,

I am writing to say that I disagree profoundly with your characterization of a recent political opponent. Your grossly unfair and unfounded descriptions of Mr David Barbour highlight the inherent problem of our political system. That you would be willing to attempt to assassinate the character of an individual who seeks office indicates that you are a man of poor character and of questionable disposition. Moreover, to attempt to use the word atheist as though it is a derogatory term, when all it indicates is that a person asserts that there is no evidence for believing in a supernatural creator, speaks of your intellectual and cultural vapidity. I hope you will display a greater sense of morality should you regain the office you seek.

Yours sincerely,

Gareth Lennox

Really excellent to see the community reacting to this type of crap that is thrown at atheists in the US. It really is utterly mind numbing that the term atheist can be used to denigrate a person. Keep up the fight guys!!!

By: H

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:49:14 +0000

Its my understanding that Mr. Harris is a fundamentalist Christian, and it appears that to him, anyone outside his particular sect is a Godless radical.

So he’s guaranteed to get elected then.

By: Vas

Vas — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:34:22 +0000

As if I had not made enough comments in a row… I have been in touch with Mr. Harris as well on this matter. He informs me that his apology was not automated and he is reading the emails being sent to him. I suggested that he may like to issue a more public apology using the friendly atheist as a forum. He has indicated that he would seriously consider the offer of an apology on the friendly atheist web site. I hope he comes to this site and reads some of the postings, not just on this thread but others as well. Perhaps this whole ordeal will serve as an object lesson and Mr. Harris will emerge with a more enlightened view of atheists in general. I for one will reserve judgment on Mr. Harris for the time being and give him ample time to decide if he would like to own up to his mistake without any more backhanded snipes directed toward atheists. There may be hope for you yet Mr. Harris, everyone makes mistakes, and right minded people acknowledge them and do what they can to right the situation. Mr. Harris, you are half way there, take these last few steps, I for one hope to hear from you soon.

By: Stephan

Stephan — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:22:33 +0000

I got the same stock response as other people…count us as ignored.