Comments on: Cruel Prayer in the Senate http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/12/23/cruel-prayer-in-the-senate/ by Hemant Mehta Mon, 28 May 2012 12:50:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: John Windsor III http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/12/23/cruel-prayer-in-the-senate/#comment-419907 John Windsor III Sat, 09 Jan 2010 02:46:09 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=19736#comment-419907 If all WV christian love is the cause of, Senator Robert C. Byrd, I think he should be shoot. I went to Trinity Assembly of God, from 1983-1988, went to Pocahontas County, WV volunteering at, WVMR for seven weeks. I then moved back to Fairmont, WV until April 1994, going Graceland, and later moving to Morgantown, WV in July. The last christian church I attended was, First Presbyterian in Morgantown, WV on Spruce Street for about 2 years, and then I got interested in Wicca/Witchcraft after attending a Pagan ritual of CUPPS at, the Unitarian Chruch, Morgantown, WV If all WV christian love is the cause of, Senator Robert C. Byrd, I think he should be shoot. I went to Trinity Assembly of God, from 1983-1988, went to Pocahontas County, WV volunteering at, WVMR for seven weeks. I then moved back to Fairmont, WV until April 1994, going Graceland, and later moving to Morgantown, WV in July. The last christian church I attended was, First Presbyterian in Morgantown, WV on Spruce Street for about 2 years, and then I got interested in Wicca/Witchcraft after attending a Pagan ritual of CUPPS at, the Unitarian Chruch, Morgantown, WV

]]> By: martymankins http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/12/23/cruel-prayer-in-the-senate/#comment-414817 martymankins Mon, 28 Dec 2009 02:03:46 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=19736#comment-414817 Seems prayer works both ways for the ultra religious. They pray for death when it best suits them. For shame. Seems prayer works both ways for the ultra religious. They pray for death when it best suits them. For shame.

]]> By: satanhimself http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/12/23/cruel-prayer-in-the-senate/#comment-413951 satanhimself Thu, 24 Dec 2009 19:15:07 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=19736#comment-413951 Don't forget that Byrd is no friend of atheists. I was in the Capitol in September with Mike Newdow, when who is rolled in by us? Byrd himself. 1999: Mr. BYRD. Mr. Chief Justice: I think my country sinks beneath the yoke, It weeps, it bleeds, And each new day, a gash is added to her wounds. I am the only remaining Member of Congress who was here in 1954 when we added the words `under God' to the Pledge of Allegiance. That was on June 7, 1954. One year from that day we added the words `In God We Trust' to the currency and coin of this country. Those words were already on some of the coins. But I shall always be proud to have voted to add those words, `under God' and `In God We Trust.' They mean much to us today as we meet here. -------------------------------- 2002: In an impassioned speech on the Senate floor just before the resolution vote, Sen. Robert Byrd, D-West Virginia, said he is the only remaining member of Congress who voted for the addition of "under God" on June 7, 1954. He warned the judges who declared the Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional to never come before him because "he'll be blackballed." "I wonder if that judge would hold the Declaration of Independence unconstitutional," said Byrd. "I hope the Senate will waste no time in throwing this back in the face of this stupid judge. Stupid, that's what he is." ---- Can it be that we, too, are ready to embrace the foul concepts of atheism? Somebody is tampering with America's soul, I leave it to you who that somebody is. -- Robert Byrd, in response to the US Supreme Court's verdict in Engle v. Vitale Don’t forget that Byrd is no friend of atheists. I was in the Capitol in September with Mike Newdow, when who is rolled in by us?
Byrd himself.

1999:
Mr. BYRD. Mr. Chief Justice:

I think my country sinks beneath the yoke,
It weeps, it bleeds,
And each new day,
a gash is added to her wounds.

I am the only remaining Member of Congress who was here in 1954 when we added the words `under God’ to the Pledge of Allegiance. That was on June 7, 1954. One year from that day we added the words `In God We Trust’ to the currency and coin of this country. Those words were already on some of the coins. But I shall always be proud to have voted to add those words, `under God’ and `In God We Trust.’ They mean much to us today as we meet here.

——————————–
2002:
In an impassioned speech on the Senate floor just before the resolution vote, Sen. Robert Byrd, D-West Virginia, said he is the only remaining member of Congress who voted for the addition of “under God” on June 7, 1954. He warned the judges who declared the Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional to never come before him because “he’ll be blackballed.” “I wonder if that judge would hold the Declaration of Independence unconstitutional,” said Byrd. “I hope the Senate will waste no time in throwing this back in the face of this stupid judge. Stupid, that’s what he is.”
—-
Can it be that we, too, are ready to embrace the foul concepts of atheism? Somebody is tampering with America’s soul, I leave it to you who that somebody is.
– Robert Byrd, in response to the US Supreme Court’s verdict in Engle v. Vitale

]]> By: Tea baggers praying for Senator Byrd’s death | Rationality Now http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/12/23/cruel-prayer-in-the-senate/#comment-413939 Tea baggers praying for Senator Byrd’s death | Rationality Now Thu, 24 Dec 2009 18:05:51 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=19736#comment-413939 [...] a quick note to highlight a post by Jesse Galef on The Friendly Atheist [...] [...] a quick note to highlight a post by Jesse Galef on The Friendly Atheist [...]

]]> By: Ron Brown http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/12/23/cruel-prayer-in-the-senate/#comment-413938 Ron Brown Thu, 24 Dec 2009 18:05:26 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=19736#comment-413938 I'm as much of a progressive as anyone, but I think it's overboard to just assume that this Republican-delivered prayer was any kind of a wish for death or ill-health toward Byrd. The Republican himself said that his intention was that something along the lines of a person's alarm clock failing to go off occur. I find this explanation to be completely believable. I'm all for calling out any politician, regardless of Party or policies, for inappropriate political behaviour. But in the interest of civility and trustworthy political communication, I think it is better that in cases such as this, we give people the benefit of the doubt. Is it fair to point out that this message was perhaps a poorly chosen one given Byrd's health? Sure. But lets not assume that this comment was intended to be deeply cruel. It's far harder to have political discussion between politicians and bases when both sides assume the worst of the other. Now, maybe I'm missing something. If I am, then perhaps I would be more on the side of progressives taking this very incriminating interpretation. I’m as much of a progressive as anyone, but I think it’s overboard to just assume that this Republican-delivered prayer was any kind of a wish for death or ill-health toward Byrd. The Republican himself said that his intention was that something along the lines of a person’s alarm clock failing to go off occur. I find this explanation to be completely believable. I’m all for calling out any politician, regardless of Party or policies, for inappropriate political behaviour. But in the interest of civility and trustworthy political communication, I think it is better that in cases such as this, we give people the benefit of the doubt. Is it fair to point out that this message was perhaps a poorly chosen one given Byrd’s health? Sure. But lets not assume that this comment was intended to be deeply cruel. It’s far harder to have political discussion between politicians and bases when both sides assume the worst of the other.

Now, maybe I’m missing something. If I am, then perhaps I would be more on the side of progressives taking this very incriminating interpretation.

]]> By: Ed http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/12/23/cruel-prayer-in-the-senate/#comment-413726 Ed Thu, 24 Dec 2009 02:55:52 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=19736#comment-413726 Jesse, I read that block quote as well as the whole Washington Post piece. Colburn made his comment at 4pm. You can see or read it in full <a href="http://www.c-spanvideo.org/congress/?q=node/77531&id=9084941" rel="nofollow">here</a>. Durbin made his comment at 5:11pm. Senator Byrd was wheeled in around 1am the next morning for the early morning vote. I still see no evidence that Colburn was refering to anyone in particular with his comment. I am quite certain he would have been very pleased if ANY democrat had failed to make the 1am vote. It is unfair to put words in Colburn's mouth. Even if Colburn went home and prayed all night long that Senator Byrd die he never said such a thing or even suggested it. Jesse, I read that block quote as well as the whole Washington Post piece. Colburn made his comment at 4pm. You can see or read it in full here. Durbin made his comment at 5:11pm. Senator Byrd was wheeled in around 1am the next morning for the early morning vote. I still see no evidence that Colburn was refering to anyone in particular with his comment. I am quite certain he would have been very pleased if ANY democrat had failed to make the 1am vote. It is unfair to put words in Colburn’s mouth. Even if Colburn went home and prayed all night long that Senator Byrd die he never said such a thing or even suggested it.

]]> By: Jesse Galef http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/12/23/cruel-prayer-in-the-senate/#comment-413689 Jesse Galef Thu, 24 Dec 2009 01:37:20 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=19736#comment-413689 Ed - read the Ezra Klein blockquote I included. His comments were right before Sen. Byrd was wheeled in. Context matters. When you're in the process of forcing a 92 year-old man to be carted onto the floor so he can vote then say "Pray someone doesn't make it to the next vote" I don't think it's a stretch to assume that illness, injury, or death are involved. Ed – read the Ezra Klein blockquote I included. His comments were right before Sen. Byrd was wheeled in. Context matters.

When you’re in the process of forcing a 92 year-old man to be carted onto the floor so he can vote then say “Pray someone doesn’t make it to the next vote” I don’t think it’s a stretch to assume that illness, injury, or death are involved.

]]> By: Ben Hoffman http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/12/23/cruel-prayer-in-the-senate/#comment-413687 Ben Hoffman Thu, 24 Dec 2009 01:34:10 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=19736#comment-413687 Some of those religious nuts have the morals of rats. I wrote a short column about how Jesus may have been an alien from outer space and you wouldn't believe some of the comments. http://drudgeretort.wordpress.com/2009/12/23/was-jesus-an-alien-from-outer-space/ It makes more sense than Intelligent Design. :) Some of those religious nuts have the morals of rats.

I wrote a short column about how Jesus may have been an alien from outer space and you wouldn’t believe some of the comments.

http://drudgeretort.wordpress.com/2009/12/23/was-jesus-an-alien-from-outer-space/

It makes more sense than Intelligent Design. :)

]]> By: Religion and Politics … made for each other! « Thought Begets Heresy http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/12/23/cruel-prayer-in-the-senate/#comment-413683 Religion and Politics … made for each other! « Thought Begets Heresy Thu, 24 Dec 2009 01:24:33 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=19736#comment-413683 [...] Religion and Politics … made for each other! Over at the Friendly Atheist, Mehta has a depressingly unsurprising post about republican senators literally praying for the death of their colleague. [...] [...] Religion and Politics … made for each other! Over at the Friendly Atheist, Mehta has a depressingly unsurprising post about republican senators literally praying for the death of their colleague. [...]

]]> By: Ed http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2009/12/23/cruel-prayer-in-the-senate/#comment-413663 Ed Thu, 24 Dec 2009 00:37:58 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/?p=19736#comment-413663 LittleJohn in your opinion as a former journalist, if Richard Dawkins said "You had better hope too few people show up" would it be alright to report he had said "I hope Bill dies"? <blockquote>Even if all Colburn did is ask god to interfere with some senator’s ability – any senator – to arrive, are you saying that’s not mean and crazy?</blockquote> No, and I never implied anything of the sort. My point is that unless someone has some proof Colburn advocated praying for Robert Byrd to die it is a untrue (and in my opinion given the facts I have seen thus far, shocking and absurd) to claim he did. Nothing in the youtube <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kahHfIYjb90&feature=player_embedded" rel="nofollow">link</a> Jesse provided suggests anything of the sort.<blockquote>Colburn has a bit of a record regarding this sort of angry, god-botting nonsense.</blockquote> Ok, that may be true. I have never heard of the man and perhaps if I had I might be a little less surprised at how he is being treated. Regardless I would hope I would find the way he is being misquoted, distasteful. LittleJohn in your opinion as a former journalist, if Richard Dawkins said “You had better hope too few people show up” would it be alright to report he had said “I hope Bill dies”?

Even if all Colburn did is ask god to interfere with some senator’s ability – any senator – to arrive, are you saying that’s not mean and crazy?

No, and I never implied anything of the sort. My point is that unless someone has some proof Colburn advocated praying for Robert Byrd to die it is a untrue (and in my opinion given the facts I have seen thus far, shocking and absurd) to claim he did. Nothing in the youtube link Jesse provided suggests anything of the sort.

Colburn has a bit of a record regarding this sort of angry, god-botting nonsense.

Ok, that may be true. I have never heard of the man and perhaps if I had I might be a little less surprised at how he is being treated. Regardless I would hope I would find the way he is being misquoted, distasteful.

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