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trotsky

(49,533 posts)
Wed Feb 13, 2019, 03:58 PM Feb 2019

AZ Atheist Lawmaker Gives Invocation, Then Gets Mocked by Christian Colleague

https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2019/02/13/az-atheist-lawmaker-gives-invocation-then-gets-mocked-by-christian-colleague/

In 2017, Arizona State Rep. Athena Salman, an openly atheist legislator, delivered an invocation to open up the day’s session. It was a perfectly respectful speech, referring to “the humanity that resides within each and every person here.” Yet it offended Republicans who insisted all invocations needed to invoke a “Higher Power.” One Republican was even given permission to deliver his own prayer to effectively “correct” the one Salman gave.

It was disrespectful, rude, and a reminder that Republicans care more about Christian superiority than religious freedom.

Now, a version of that whole scenario just happened again.

On Monday, Salman delivered another invocation. This one was more tailored to her personal atheistic views, but it was hardly demeaning to anyone else. Yet watch what happens after her speech in the video below. Republican State Rep. John Kavanagh asks to speak, then proceeds to mock Salman by invoking his personal God in what can only be described as a Christian attempt at humor.


You can read a transcript at the link. It's pretty sad what Rep. Salman has had to endure.
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AZ Atheist Lawmaker Gives Invocation, Then Gets Mocked by Christian Colleague (Original Post) trotsky Feb 2019 OP
Recommended. guillaumeb Feb 2019 #1
But this wasn't about politics, it was about religion. trotsky Feb 2019 #4
Are you arguing with your own post? guillaumeb Feb 2019 #5
You think he would have reacted differently if... Act_of_Reparation Feb 2019 #6
Nope. trotsky Feb 2019 #12
It's almost as if there's something of a choir Major Nikon Feb 2019 #11
You don't say. nt. Mariana Feb 2019 #16
I thought her invocation was wonderful. The Velveteen Ocelot Feb 2019 #2
Am I the only one who had to google "asscarrot?" OneBro Feb 2019 #8
He can't have it his way without acknowledging that she can have it her way. Mariana Feb 2019 #14
She should have asked Kavanagh to have his ""guest" step to the mike and address the legislature. nt Atticus Feb 2019 #3
We see the same behavior here. Voltaire2 Feb 2019 #7
Indeed we do. n/t trotsky Feb 2019 #13
Yes, we do. nt. Mariana Feb 2019 #15
Unable to let someone speak freely, they resort to MineralMan Feb 2019 #9
Privilege in the action phase Major Nikon Feb 2019 #10

trotsky

(49,533 posts)
4. But this wasn't about politics, it was about religion.
Wed Feb 13, 2019, 04:26 PM
Feb 2019

A Christian was upset that someone gave an invocation that didn't acknowledge his god appropriately.

Much like a Christian getting upset because people are posting about the RCC sex scandal too much in an open Internet forum.

Religion.

guillaumeb

(42,649 posts)
5. Are you arguing with your own post?
Wed Feb 13, 2019, 04:40 PM
Feb 2019
It was disrespectful, rude, and a reminder that Republicans care more about Christian superiority than religious freedom.

Now, a version of that whole scenario just happened again.

On Monday, Salman delivered another invocation. This one was more tailored to her personal atheistic views, but it was hardly demeaning to anyone else. Yet watch what happens after her speech in the video below. Republican State Rep. John Kavanagh asks to speak, then proceeds to mock Salman by invoking his personal God in what can only be described as a Christian attempt at humor.


Okay.

Act_of_Reparation

(9,116 posts)
6. You think he would have reacted differently if...
Wed Feb 13, 2019, 04:58 PM
Feb 2019

...the atheist delivering the invocation had been a Republican?

trotsky

(49,533 posts)
12. Nope.
Thu Feb 14, 2019, 08:32 AM
Feb 2019

I've stated what I meant, and you're now trying to distract. It's how you deal with failure, obviously.

The Velveteen Ocelot

(120,154 posts)
2. I thought her invocation was wonderful.
Wed Feb 13, 2019, 04:06 PM
Feb 2019

Literally.

If someone wishes to believe that the wonders of nature were created by God, or a god, that's his right; but what this asscarrot didn't have a right to do was interject his personal belief into someone else's statement. She has the same right to express awe for the natural universe without invoking God as he does to do otherwise. I wonder what would happen if, following an invocation by Rep. Kavanaugh in which he mentions God, Rep. Salman had stood up and objected to his mention of God because it was contrary to her beliefs? He can't have it his way without acknowledging that she can have it her way.

OneBro

(1,159 posts)
8. Am I the only one who had to google "asscarrot?"
Wed Feb 13, 2019, 06:53 PM
Feb 2019

Here’s what I found:

From the Urban Dictiinary: A complete fucking loser who tries to act cool and makes him/ herself look even dumber than they actually ... (i.e. republicans)

A band named Ass Carrot Chefs:


Mariana

(14,965 posts)
14. He can't have it his way without acknowledging that she can have it her way.
Thu Feb 14, 2019, 03:17 PM
Feb 2019

Well, that's not how Christian see it, an awful lot of them. Did Rep. Kavanaugh's Christian colleagues jump up and take him to task for his shitty rude disrespectful behavior? No, they did not. Why would they? They approve of what he did.

Look at how some Christians have reacted the the very existence of the Religion Group on DU. We have a whole bunch of groups that absolutely do not tolerate any disagreement with, criticism of, or awkward questions about religion. Then, there is this one lone group where that kind of discussion is permitted, and that's just too much to bear.

Atticus

(15,124 posts)
3. She should have asked Kavanagh to have his ""guest" step to the mike and address the legislature. nt
Wed Feb 13, 2019, 04:07 PM
Feb 2019

MineralMan

(147,334 posts)
9. Unable to let someone speak freely, they resort to
Wed Feb 13, 2019, 07:39 PM
Feb 2019

mockery - the refuge of fools. I would expect nothing different.

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