In this article from the N.Y. Times, recently elected Asheville city councilman Cecil Bothwell is being harangued over his lack of faith:
"The question of whether or not God exists is not particularly interesting to me and it's certainly not relevant to public office," the recently elected 59-year-old said.
His opponents raise question on his being fit for office:
"My father was a Baptist minister. I'm a Christian man. I have problems with people who don't believe in God," said Edgerton
...
who cite a little-noticed quirk in North Carolina's Constitution that disqualifies officeholders "who shall deny the being of Almighty God."
The lawsuit they are threatening to remove Bothman from office will inevitably be overturned:
Bothwell can't be forced out of office over his atheist views because the North Carolina provision is unenforceable, according to the supremacy clause of the U.S. Constitution.
But the federal protections don't necessarily spare atheist public officials from spending years defending themselves in court. Avowed atheist Herb Silverman won an eight-year court battle in 1997 when South Carolina's highest court granted him the right to be appointed as a notary despite the state's law.
This sort of petty religious bigotry in a country that prides itself on being one of the most free countries on the Earth really annoys me.
Damn. When this country was founded on the premise that church and state were different. This is going too far, in my opinion this guy is doing the right thing, standing up for his beliefs (actually his lack of beliefs) i would vote for him but i dont live there and if i did i woulnt be old enuph
States had much greater power at the time and I frankly don't see a problem with is. Of course if it were under a Muslim state I would totally disagree. To be in Ireland where abortion is illegal...
I was trying to point out the bias that would arise from different people on the matter. And it will get thrown out so fast that it won't make any dent into taxpayer money.
Well, sucks, truefully. Isn't this country supposed to be about freedome of religion? That involves lack of religion... It makes me want to punch those **** who are trying to get a man out of office for lack of religion...
Well, then, the North Carolina constitution needs to be changed. That is clearly breaking the law which states religion must be separated from state. Screw Edgerton, whoever he is. I don't have a problem with religious people, it's just that when they act superior and shove their religion in your face, it gets annoying. A lot of my friends are Catholic, Christian, or Mormon, and we get along fine. In fact, I don't think any of my rl friends are atheistic or agnostic. Yeah...kinda petty and dumb.
It probably will be however I think that the federal government should not mess with certain laws. States need to have their own authority. For example overturning the Texan law against sodomy. If their people saw fit to pass such a law I don't see how it is proper for the feds to overturn it.
The US Constitution overrides any state constitution, for obvious reasons.
We can not have some states go against the body especially with such important issues.
It probably will be however I think that the federal government should not mess with certain laws. States need to have their own authority. For example overturning the Texan law against sodomy. If their people saw fit to pass such a law I don't see how it is proper for the feds to overturn it.
Because...the government (State or Federal) has no say over the sexual preferences or acts of it's citizens, pedophilia/raping notwithstanding. In my eyes, that was nothing more than a blatant "We hate 'em gays. Let's make sure they can't be gay." decision.
Then what is wrong with the pedophiles? Its just a law that suppresses them in the exact same way.
And this is why the human race is full of people who deserve nothing more than the sweet agony of death. I know it is off on a different tangent buuut: Enlighten me. What is fine and correct with, let's say, a 30 year old man doing what he wants with a 13 year old?
Then what is wrong with the pedophiles? Its just a law that suppresses them in the exact same way.
You're seriously comparing an adult raping a child to an atheist holding public office? Incredible.
The difference is that forcing something onto another person (in this case, an adult forcing sex onto a minor) is very different from an adult being allowed to do their civic duty; in which they aren't forcing anything on anyone - people still have to vote them into office. It's the right of any citizen - any religion, any colour of skin, man or woman, and any sexual orientation.
No I am comparing Pedophiles to Sodomites. My last post didn't go through. The abomination that is homosexuality is just as bad as child molestation. Nothing is fine and correct with the 30 year old and the 13 year old and nothing is fine and correct with 2 queer 30 year olds either.
No I am comparing Pedophiles to Sodomites. My last post didn't go through. The abomination that is homosexuality is just as bad as child molestation. Nothing is fine and correct with the 30 year old and the 13 year old and nothing is fine and correct with 2 queer 30 year olds either
You seriously think a 30 year old man forcing intercourse on a 13 or 5 year old child is just as good as two men who happen to love each other. I have to say your religion has got the best you.
