I received an anonymous tip from an acquaintance living on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska in the form of the above clipping from the Kenai Peninsula Clarion, the region’s daily rag. I’ve done a little research into the area, and other than the occasional moose attack (which makes the front page of the news) it seems like a normal sort of area.
Which makes me wonder which of the local heavy metal bands has taken the newspaper hostage. Not only have they printed one of the most misguided and inflammatory letters I’ve ever seen regarding the role of religion in our county, but they’ve omitted any sort of hints of what lies beyond in the title. I almost expect to see the word strong in italics or quotes. Reader voices “strong” opinion on atheists? It was probably Korupture or Tainted Sanity.
I understand this actually did garner some response letters for which I was too lazy to register to the Peninsula Clarion’s website to read, but the fact that this sort of hate-speech made it into the printed edition boggles the mind. There’s a reason radio stations have dump buttons (for people like Don Imus), but newspapers are different-. It’s as if the editor made up a likely sounding name from the remote town of Soldotna to further his twisted religious agenda.
It seems everyone here has dropped to the same level of intelligence, since the second letter seems to want to keep on fishing until all the ….. ? Till all the fish are gone?? Sounds like a wonderful plan. Because Jesus was a fisherman, right?
Full text of the letter:
“It’s time to stomp out atheists in America. The majority of Americans would love to see atheists kicked out of America. If you don’t believe in God, then get out of this country.
The United States is based on having freedom of religion, speech, etc., which means you can believe in God any way you want (Baptist, Catholic, Methodist, etc.), but you must believe.
I don’t recall freedom of religion meaning no religion. Our currency even says “In God We Trust.” So, to all the atheists in America: Get off of our country.
Atheists have caused ruin of this great nation by taking prayer out of our schools and being able to practice what can only be called evil. I don’t care if they have never committed a crime, atheists are the reason crime is rampant.”
I agree with you here! Someone in their office went through the trouble of editing that letter, formatting it, and putting it on the page. It’s not even like she made a real argument either, that I would understand. Glad I don’t live in Alaska, that’s all i’m saying….
The argument is clearly that America is meant for the freedom of Christians, not the freedoms of crazy religions for brown people or the unbelievers — unless of course they can make textiles or trinkets and don’t mind getting paid less than 5 dollars an hour.
She’s the stooooooopidest person i’ve seen EVER!!!!!hahahaha
And nevermind that “In God We Trust” didn’t appear on U.S. coinage until after the American Civil War, or on U.S. paper currency until the 20th century. So, the author of that letter can’t exactly attribute that to the founding fathers’ decision to make religious freedom one of the cornerstones of the country.
Unfortunately most of us who grew up in America are pretty ignorant of real history, and as Jefferson noted…
“If a nation expects to be ignorant and free in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.” ~Thomas Jefferson.
I’m going to print out that letter and show it to people who try to justify some minor establishment of religion (such as a 10 Commandments monument) by saying: “Well, it doesn’t really matter. It won’t affect anyone.” Small establishments of religion will later be used to justify larger infiltration of religion into public life, and maybe even oppression or atrocities eventually.
Incidentally, “freedom of religion” basically means “freedom from being forced into a religion you don’t want to join.” Freedom from religion is necessarily included in “freedom of religion.”
Wait, is that a real letter? I think I’ve seen something like that before.
Thanks for emailing that to me alec. I can only speculate what it must be like in a country where atheism is frowned upon. Here in the UK, we have Darwin on our £10 notes, and no mention of God! I hope religious bigots like this will soon suffer the same fate as the KKK, and no longer be taken seriously.
SA
Here in the UK, we have Darwin on our £10 notes, and no mention of God
Strong atheist, you’re making me cry.
Haha. I want to go by ’slut’ from now on. Or floosie or harpie. I need to reclaim the words that tarnish my wonderful image.
And Strong Atheist, I can tell you what its like. I once heard people in my college saying ‘how can anyone believe we came from gorillas?’ in the midst of a philosophical conversation. I am not kidding.
Hey Alec, work your own deal.
I suggest “sanky panky” LOL
Guess what, the entire thing was a hoax! Someone sent this in apparently as a joke or research project. The paper printed a retraction. Search the paper’s website or see my blog for more.
True, atheist, we do. But then the £20 does have that notorious god-botherer Edward Elgar, and an image of Worcester Cathedral. Ah well, small steps…
So it’s not ok to hate on atheists, but its ok to hate on metal? Talk about double standards.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m an atheist but Metal is way more important to me.
AMON AMARTH!!! \m/
Sometimes the meanest thing an editor can do to somebody is to publish their letter. I recall one particular instance when one published a letter from a moron unedited, with all the grammatical mistakes intact. It was hysterically funny and more than a bit cruel.
I sincerely hope that’s the case here. Either that, or they just don’t get that many letters.
Clam: I’m thinking it’s that they don’t get many letters.
Rob: I’m going to start referring to people as god-botherer’s.
I hope this letter was hoax to show how crazy and hateful religion can be when it is constantly called a peaceful and loving religion. I dunno about you people but a religion (Chrisianity, Islam, etc.) that allows for slavery, is racist, sexist, homophobic, and wants to kills infidels, is not a religion I want to follow.
This is obviously satire, written by someone who is piss tired of the religious climate in America.
Alice, you ignorant slut…
Don’t call me Alice.
It’s not exactly a hoax… but that “Alice” person didn’t write it. It was written after 9.11 and published in a (shocking) southern paper. Whether it appeared in print or only online seems unclear…
This has been going around the internet for a while. I believed it was real until recently when I realized how easy it would be for someone to have made it up. Now I’m not sure. I will say that I havent heard of it coming from the South before.
I found this at Peninsula Clarion. An excerpt from a letter sent to the editors by Alice Shannon.
“While I’ve been thoroughly entertained by the overwhelming number of passionate responses to my January 29th letter, it should probably be noted that, as at least one writer speculated, it was a complete joke. I think it has run its course and at this time space in the Letters to the Editor section should be reserved for more important issues.”
http://www.peninsulaclarion.com/stories/030907/oped_0309ope001.shtml
[...] to the editor are always a treasure trove of logical and coherent arguments. I got this paper clipping of one from a friend (thanks, Chris!). Who would have thought that there are still good arguments against [...]
Soldotna, like a most of the Kenai Pen. towns, is full of crazies and wackaloons. People move up there because the lower 48 are too…whatever they don’t like, we’re too much of it. Batshit insane is the standard MO of half the populace.
freedom of speech does not mean you must talk.
it wouldnt be freedom if it were.
Freedom of religion means freedom FROM religion, as well.
As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion,-as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Musselmen,-and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.
Treaty of Peace and Friendship, signed at Tripoli November 4, 1796
Actually, if you continue your research, you’ll find that this “hoax” was a copy/paste job from a very real letter to the editor in the Augusta Georgia Chronicle on October 22nd, 2001.
http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/102201/opi_046-8549.shtml
Such ignorant hate is alive and well today, make no mistake. And as snopes.com notes on their article about the Alaska version of this note: “Given the plenitude of e-mails we’ve received over the years expressing the very same sentiments as this letter, it (regardless of the intentions of its creator and/or sender) apparently does reflect the genuine opinions of a not insubstantial readership base.”
The real problems are fundamentalism, extremism or intolerance. Whether you’re a devout Christian or a complete atheist, as long as you’re not a fanatic, then socially, everything will work just fine. People like the letter writer above are literally dangerous in their ignorance.
Just let the crazies be crazy and pay no heed to it.
It’s unfortunate that this wasn’t posted in the satire section of the newspaper..
http://jimasks.me/if-you-could-choose-how-you-would-die-what-would-you-choose-and-why
The letter might have been a fake but it sadly represented many of the feelings people do have torwards atheists. I have no religion or no god i believe something is out there but i wouldnt say it’s a god.
I don’t go to church but instead go to mexico every sunday and take clothes to poor families. I gives poor children food and when i come home i bring home a homeless animal and give them a new home.
Am I evil because of this. I believe that instead of wasting my time on praying for something to happen i instead go out and do something to help better the world. Is that a sin?
And also in the pledge of allegiance it’s not one nation under god,, it’s supposed to be one nation under citizens rule. because last time i checked it was not god who chooses our presidents, there is no divine right in our nation of america. But it is the people who run this country.
Wow i am only seventeen but i understand alot of things. And what you people are saying about this is total segregation and discrimination. they guys are the nazis and the atheists are the jews.
Do they want to kill the atheists too? i hope not.
Stop attacking other people. Just because it makes you feel powerful. People become dictators this way.
lets have peace…