Laurie Higgins attacked Hemant (The Friendly Atheist) yet again. Being the attention whore she is, it wasn't going to be long before she finally had the guts to post in the comments section. This is my response to her.
If you don’t believe the school has any legal right to do anything about Hemant, then why did you have the brass balls to contact his employer? Could it be you were hoping that by being ’stealth’ about your attempt, he’d not find out? Hate to burst your bubble, but people can smell bullshit a mile away, and usually don’t like underhanded tactics. Just because you won’t do the right thing, doesn’t mean other people will follow suit.
It begs the question WHY you contacted the school board and not the parents? Are you worried that the parents may not agree with you?
Somehow, I happen to think that if given the chance, you’d gladly cause a ruckus in front of Hemant’s home in the name of your plight. Please don’t tell me you wouldn’t – you religious fundamentalists never pass up an oppertunity to spite your opposition.
I wish I had a teacher like Hemant in high school. I probably wouldn’t have been bored out of my mind, and actually enjoyed school. If he was a Christian, would you have the same issue with him being charismatic? Probably not. Even if on the random chance, reading his blog causes a teen to question his faith, is that really a bad thing? If that teen reaffirms his faith after investigating alternatives, isn’t that more powerful then someone who just blindly accepts faith without proper reason? I applaud religious people who take the time to invesitgate other religions and atheism – it shows the mind of a person who isn’t going to get pushed around by others.
On the other hand, that type of person is more likely to follow a non-Christian based religion, so thats dangerous in your mind. Can’t have people thinking on their own!
Couldn’t the same thing be said about religious individuals influencing teens? What if I, an Atheist, have a child in school where their teacher is peddling creationism as a science? Don’t I have a right to be offended then? Oh, forgot, because I’m a heathenistic Atheist, I have no right to be offended at the disgusting behavior fundies show.
Funny, aren’t you doing the equivelant of being racist at this very moment?
So you know exactly how it feels. So, one must ask themselves, why are you doing the same thing to Hemant? Are you that self-righteous and blind that you think this is any different?
I said that other parents may believe that teachers are potential influences but agree with your public promotion of polyamory, homosexuality, “sex-positivity,” and the non-existence of God, in which case they may love for you to become a role model in their children’s lives.
Only the religious fundies would find being open minded a bad thing. This coming from the same group of people who say homosexuality is a more important problem in this country then homelessness, kids not getting medical care, starvation, and murder. Now who’s got their priorities mixed up?
Do not think for a moment that you speak for Jewish or Muslim familiies. Unlike Christians, I know for a fact Jews do not have the drive to convert every person they set their eyes on. Unlike most Christians, both Jewish and Muslim families tend to have traditions they follow more closely without being as picky and choosey like you’all do. They tend to take their faith more seriously, and not just use it as an excuse to attack/hate/murder.
You need to apologize to Hemant, and retract the statements you made to the school board. Regardless, you won’t change the minds of alot of people who now see you as the raving lunatic you are.
I am not the Friendly Atheist. I’m the atheist who’s tired of the bullshit you fundies spew. I’m the atheist who will be bluntly honest about her feelings, regardless of who it offends. I’m the atheist who has no problems taking to task those who unfairly target others. I am also the atheist who supports their friends whenever and whereever they may need me. I’m the atheist who donates her time to charity every time she gets. I’m the atheist who would give her last $5 to a person on the street if I knew it would help them survive another day.
That being said, I’d not want for Hemant to do anything different. He’s a better person then both of us, and for that fact alone, I have the utmost respect and admiration.
