Thank you for taking to time to write to me.

Don Harris

I must say I am very heartened that Mr Harris has said that he has learnt a great deal from our emails to him. Hopefully we can enlighten many more people who, in my opinion through a lack of understanding, see atheism as something it is not and something by definition it can’t be.

Great work everyone!!

Without any further understanding of who Harris is, I don’t assume he was trying to do anything but beat his opponent. Now, it may have been that he was doing some lumping of lots of liberals together as his enemy, but that’s not my complaint. My complaint wasn’t that he used Barbour’s political opinions against him, and in that attack “liberals” get lumped in… I think that’s just normal political discourse.

But what Harris needs to hopefully learn from this is that while that tactic is totally normal when we’re talking about political views, it’s not the same when applied to beliefs about religion, where unrelated and unparticipating people are lumped in as collateral damage.

But I really don’t think Harris was aware of that. And I’m willing to give him the benefit that he was merely trying to win an election and the reaction is unanticipated.

By your attack, you attack others as well. There’s a lot of ‘collateral damage’ that a number of your constituents and fellow citizens suffer, which I know was not meant by you.

My initial reaction was to think that you’re giving him too much credit, that it is not a matter of Harris not realizing that he would be collaterally insulting and hurting the public image of non-believers. I don’t think that he “didn’t mean it,” I think that he
just
did
not
care,
and
still
doesn’t.

The only evidence we have to determine Harris’ attitude is the despicable mailer, and his vague and non-committal “apology,” saying only that it was a “mistake.” Why it was a mistake, he does not say. An ethical mistake or just a political one?

Since he got so large a majority of the vote, I will not be holding my breath while waiting for any detailed statement of contrition.

As a skeptic, I try not to slip into cynicism, because that is a prejudicial viewpoint that can cause me to not view evidence with an open mind. Sometimes I need my friends to point it out when I get too bitter or pessimistic.

So, am I being cynical about Harris and so many other politicians who try such tactics, or am I reasonably skeptical about his having good character because of the evidence that we have on hand so far?

I hope you have had a chance to visit the friendly atheist website and read a bit. Please realize that not everyone in any group is civil and polite, just as you have made ill-informed public statements so to do some in the atheist community, I’m sorry if you found some content and comments offensive but the simple fact is you have angered many people with your bigoted leaflet. Try reflecting on your own religious teachings on the subject of forgiveness and loving your neighbor as yourself and let’s not continue down a road of further divisions. Also keep in mind that any vitriol directed towards you is completely independent of your actions, which is to say, just because others are nasty and rude this does not give you lenience to be nasty and rude yourself, your misdeeds are not affected or excused by the misdeeds of others.

I understand that your election was yesterday and as such I imagine you were quite busy celebrating your victory. I appreciate your taking time from this important day to write me personally. As the dust settles and the confetti is swept up it is now time to get back to business, and I believe you have some unfinished business with the atheist community to attend to. Your leaflet continues to be a subject of much discussion and many are awaiting your public response whatever that may be. We do not yet understand why you think your leaflet was a mistake or what you are apologizing for. A few questions come to mind for example what the genesis of this leaflet was, was it your idea or someone else’s idea that you indorsed? When and why did you realize it was a mistake? Do you continue to hold the opinion that atheists are somehow to be held up as examples of bad people or radicals? By perpetuating false stereotypes you actually contribute to a climate of bigotry towards your fellow humans, you pour fuel on the fires of hatred. Please follow this link to help you understand exactly what we are talking about, it’s not from a radical website it’s from about.com a mainstream website and explains just how dire our situation in America is. http://atheism.about.com/od/atheistbigotryprejudice/a/AntiAtheism.htm . Many of us, (myself included) have suffered personal loss, loss of jobs, eviction from housing, harassment, many have literally been forced to move from the towns in which they live, our children have been made to suffer, been kick off sports teams, suffered physical assaults, outright suspended from schools or harassed until they had to withdraw for no other reason than the fact we are atheists. . Imagine that had happened to you or your children because you were Christians, ( I don’t know if you are Christian but if you are not just substitute your personal religious beliefs and you get the point). These are but a few of the indignities atheists suffer each and every day in America. Many feel compelled to hide their lack of faith for justly founded fear of very real and often violent persecution. Imagine how you would feel towards those who publically advocated against you, those who stoked the fire of hatred against you and your family based on nothing more than your religious beliefs. Would you just let it go? Would you simply hide your faith? Would you inform your children that they should hide their faith for fear of public ridicule? Or would you instead press the issue with the offender? Do you desire to be among our oppressors? Do you desire to sow the seeds of discontent? You already have done this, if you ignore this issue these seeds you sowed by your own hand may someday grow and bear fruit. If you were to find that an unstable person decided to take violent action against your political opponent based on the false information conceived and distributed by you would you feel at all personally responsible, (personally responsible not legally responsible)? Please Mr. Harris make a public statement and defuse this potential time bomb you have rolled into the town square.

Thank you,

[Vas]

Keep the pressure up, force his hand. If he ignores this issue he is actively working to cause all atheists harm. Keep the emails flowing into his inbox. if he is not responsive maybe we can think about taking out an ad, an open letter, in the local paper. I’m not ready to let his slide.
V

If you don’t mind, I may borrow heavily from that letter for future letters to politicians on this and related topics.

~David D.G.

Dear Councilor Harris,

I read your flier attacking a political opponent of yours for being an “atheist” because he belongs to a Unitarian Universalist Church. I feel this kind of discourse, where politicians attack opponents for their religious beliefs is a new low in politics. Would you have done the same if he were a Jew, instead of a Unitarian?

Please understand that in doing so, you aren’t merely attacking your opponent, who for other reasons may not be the best person for the job. By your attack, you attack others as well. There’s a lot of ‘collateral damage’ that a number of your constituents and fellow citizens suffer, which I know was not meant by you.

Also, I personally am an atheist, the head of a household, a father, and a taxpaying, law-abiding American citizen. I resent that you seem to think it’s an insult to call someone an atheist, or that it’s a valid reason why someone like me shouldn’t hold public office. In my place, I would not attack a Christian as being unfit to hold office merely because his beliefs about God differ from mine.

I may not understand what it means to be a politician. And I get it that you feel you need to win because you feel you have the best ideas for your city. But remember that some day a doctor saving your life, or the soldiers or firefighters or police officers you support, or any number of other very good, very vital Americans are atheists too.

I think that this action reflects poorly on Christians. I think your actions have harmed them in reputation more than atheists.

I read that you won your election. Please seek to serve all the citizens of Albuquerque, and please seek to better the tone of civic conversation by your own improved example.

Sincerely,

…