Comments on: Prez-elect wants to hear from Atheists http://atheists.org/blog/2008/11/08/prez_elect_wants_to_hear_from_atheists A Blog of Atheist Thought Sat, 20 Mar 2010 05:25:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: castletonsnob http://atheists.org/blog/2008/11/08/prez_elect_wants_to_hear_from_atheists/comment-page-1#comment-91573 castletonsnob Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-91573 I don't think there's reason to believe that he wants to hear from atheists in particular, so I think your post title is a <i>bit</i> optimistic. I don’t think there’s reason to believe that he wants to hear from atheists in particular, so I think your post title is a bit optimistic.

]]> By: TimeToStandUp http://atheists.org/blog/2008/11/08/prez_elect_wants_to_hear_from_atheists/comment-page-1#comment-91578 TimeToStandUp Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-91578 Aside from Obama's mother being an atheist, I do believe that he has leanings in that direction. If not, I would like to refer him and other blacks to atheist, Robert Engersoll who wrote these words in 1867:<br /> <br /> (google this)<br /> "An Address to the Colored People"<br /> by Robert G. Ingersoll<br /> 1867<br /> An address delivered to the colored people at Galesburg, Illinois, 1867. Aside from Obama’s mother being an atheist, I do believe that he has leanings in that direction. If not, I would like to refer him and other blacks to atheist, Robert Engersoll who wrote these words in 1867:

(google this)
“An Address to the Colored People”
by Robert G. Ingersoll
1867
An address delivered to the colored people at Galesburg, Illinois, 1867.

]]> By: Tuen http://atheists.org/blog/2008/11/08/prez_elect_wants_to_hear_from_atheists/comment-page-1#comment-91584 Tuen Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-91584 Giving Obama the benefit of the doubt, I think he'll support atheists, but very discreetly.<br /> <br /> O knows he must treat American parochialism with kid gloves. Yes, it's too bad religious pathology is so ubiquitous. But that's the way it is. I think it would be wise for him to take a more prudent tack when dealing with the handicapped.<br /> <br /> He'll use general terms that imply inclusion for all people, avoiding the specificity both atheists and theists long to hear, but for completely different reasons.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Giving Obama the benefit of the doubt, I think he’ll support atheists, but very discreetly.

O knows he must treat American parochialism with kid gloves. Yes, it’s too bad religious pathology is so ubiquitous. But that’s the way it is. I think it would be wise for him to take a more prudent tack when dealing with the handicapped.

He’ll use general terms that imply inclusion for all people, avoiding the specificity both atheists and theists long to hear, but for completely different reasons.

]]> By: Physics101 http://atheists.org/blog/2008/11/08/prez_elect_wants_to_hear_from_atheists/comment-page-1#comment-91604 Physics101 Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-91604 I wrote my suggestions down and sent them in. It doesn't hurt to mention that there are atheists out there. We can't go overboard with an agenda and expect a warm reception. I'll settle for just acknowledging we exist as a first step. I noticed he mentioned gays in his speech election night. Is that a first by a President Elect? I think it is.<br /> <br /> That's a start. Gays are ahead of us in a sense, as I believe atheists will be the last group one can openly discriminate against without fear of raising eyebrows.<br /> <br /> My suggestions were the same ones I make over and over - eliminate the budget deficit through spending cuts and consumption taxes, pass a balanced budget amendment, and keep religion out of all aspects of government.<br /> <br /> I wrote my suggestions down and sent them in. It doesn’t hurt to mention that there are atheists out there. We can’t go overboard with an agenda and expect a warm reception. I’ll settle for just acknowledging we exist as a first step. I noticed he mentioned gays in his speech election night. Is that a first by a President Elect? I think it is.

That’s a start. Gays are ahead of us in a sense, as I believe atheists will be the last group one can openly discriminate against without fear of raising eyebrows.

My suggestions were the same ones I make over and over – eliminate the budget deficit through spending cuts and consumption taxes, pass a balanced budget amendment, and keep religion out of all aspects of government.

]]> By: quantum_flux http://atheists.org/blog/2008/11/08/prez_elect_wants_to_hear_from_atheists/comment-page-1#comment-91606 quantum_flux Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-91606 I'm going to throw everything I got concerning my vision of the future at it! I’m going to throw everything I got concerning my vision of the future at it!

]]> By: quantum_flux http://atheists.org/blog/2008/11/08/prez_elect_wants_to_hear_from_atheists/comment-page-1#comment-91608 quantum_flux Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-91608 US Business should do this in light of Supply and Demand:<br /> <br /> Government should stop repressing the scientific process with patent protection<br /> <br /> Nuclear Power Generation and Desalination Treatment Plants<br /> <br /> Drilling for Oil in North America<br /> <br /> Replacing Chinese Sweatshops and Union Workers with Robotics<br /> <br /> Quantum Computers<br /> <br /> Flying Boatcars <br /> <br /> People Living in Biodomes (undersea/on land/in space)<br /> <br /> Methane Energy Generation from City Dumps<br /> <br /> Cultivation of South America for Biodiesel/Biopetrol Production<br /> <br /> Mining Minerals from the Sea Floor, the Moon, and on Astroids<br /> <br /> An Array of Optical Solar Rectennas for Power Production and Microwave Energy Transmission<br /> <br /> Blasting Lunar Dust with Microwaves for Water Production<br /> <br /> Geothermal/Solar/Wind/Hydroelectric<br /> <br /> Air Powered Cars (okay, hold back here, still suspicious of this one) US Business should do this in light of Supply and Demand:

Government should stop repressing the scientific process with patent protection

Nuclear Power Generation and Desalination Treatment Plants

Drilling for Oil in North America

Replacing Chinese Sweatshops and Union Workers with Robotics

Quantum Computers

Flying Boatcars

People Living in Biodomes (undersea/on land/in space)

Methane Energy Generation from City Dumps

Cultivation of South America for Biodiesel/Biopetrol Production

Mining Minerals from the Sea Floor, the Moon, and on Astroids

An Array of Optical Solar Rectennas for Power Production and Microwave Energy Transmission

Blasting Lunar Dust with Microwaves for Water Production

Geothermal/Solar/Wind/Hydroelectric

Air Powered Cars (okay, hold back here, still suspicious of this one)

]]> By: quantum_flux http://atheists.org/blog/2008/11/08/prez_elect_wants_to_hear_from_atheists/comment-page-1#comment-91609 quantum_flux Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-91609 Correction: Blasting Lunar Dust (FeO) with Microwaves for Oxygen Production Correction: Blasting Lunar Dust (FeO) with Microwaves for Oxygen Production

]]> By: teammarty http://atheists.org/blog/2008/11/08/prez_elect_wants_to_hear_from_atheists/comment-page-1#comment-91610 teammarty Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-91610 I he has Atheist leanings, why did his campaign go so far out of its way to unwelcome us?? I he has Atheist leanings, why did his campaign go so far out of its way to unwelcome us??

]]> By: NotSoFast http://atheists.org/blog/2008/11/08/prez_elect_wants_to_hear_from_atheists/comment-page-1#comment-91611 NotSoFast Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-91611 <br /> teammarty<br /> <blockquote>I[f] he has Atheist leanings, why did his campaign go so far out of its way to unwelcome us??</blockquote><br /> I'm still in the dark as to just how far they did go. Is a transcript available of Dave's talks with them?<br /> <br /> <br /> teammarty

I[f] he has Atheist leanings, why did his campaign go so far out of its way to unwelcome us??

I’m still in the dark as to just how far they did go. Is a transcript available of Dave’s talks with them?

]]> By: NotSoFast http://atheists.org/blog/2008/11/08/prez_elect_wants_to_hear_from_atheists/comment-page-1#comment-91612 NotSoFast Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-91612 quantum_flux<br /> <br /> Lots of thought-provoking ideas, but most of them would be better saved for the scientific/business experts.<br /> <br /> I'm not sure that loading down Obama's staff with tons of specific (and to them, probably esoteric) details would be the most efficient use of this feedback opportunity.<br /> <br /> Anything we say to them should be short and to the point.<br /> <br /> For example, I would urge them to take care not to let government agencies that deal in science to fall under the influence of pressure groups with anti-scientific agendas.<br /> <br /> quantum_flux

Lots of thought-provoking ideas, but most of them would be better saved for the scientific/business experts.

I’m not sure that loading down Obama’s staff with tons of specific (and to them, probably esoteric) details would be the most efficient use of this feedback opportunity.

Anything we say to them should be short and to the point.

For example, I would urge them to take care not to let government agencies that deal in science to fall under the influence of pressure groups with anti-scientific agendas.

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