Controversy sparks over meeting invocation

[braces_for_impact]

In Cape Coral, Florida. Council members are trying to censor an atheist because he started the council meeting with a secular invocation.

"I just wanted to be part of the process." said Clark.

What possible harm could have come from letting someone start one council meeting with a secular invocation?

Link to article and video (http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/readarticle.asp?articleid=2299&z=3&p=)

Note the absurd attempt by other council members to say Clark did this for political gain. Clark himself admitted that it probably wouldn't be good for his career.

[markd]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGHHHH! :banghead:

[Writer@Large]

"As you conduct this meeting may you show respect for all the citizens of Cape Coral, for your fellow council members and do what is right for our community."

Ugh! What filthy, hateful anti-Christian rhetoric!

"Keep in mind we're all brothers and sisters of the human race."

Horrible atheist! I can't believe he'd want to say that before a City Council meeting!

"I understand some of you don't agree with me, but that does not give you the right to treat me with such bigotry."

Hasn't this man ever read a Bible?!?!?

*****************

The preceeding comments may be a bit exaggerated, but that seems to be the tone some people were taking in that news clip. One wonders, did any of them listen to the content of his speech, or just pre-judge the atheism of the man who spoke them?

Ugh. Bigotry is alive and well in America.

--W@L

[braces_for_impact]

Yes it definitely makes you wonder. Without a priest, rabbi, etc. giving the invocation to bring god's wisdom upon the council, were they walking around idly, bumping into walls, acting like nitwits and making horrible decisions?

Perhaps thats business as usual at a Cape Coral city meeting.

[Worldtraveller]

Is this a rehash of an old story? It seems like this came up a long time ago, and it was even in the same place. Or is this a case of same shit different day/town/bunch of bigots?

It’s not surprising at all to me, and just confirms that many people in the US feel it’s ok to discriminate against someone who has no religion, but it’s not ok to discriminate against someone who has a different religion.

Cheers,
Lane

[Writer@Large]

Is this a rehash of an old story? It seems like this came up a long time ago, and it was even in the same place. Or is this a case of same shit different day/town/bunch of bigots? This reading happened on Monday, but he's been fighting for it almost a year. I do recall another topic last year, but don't recall if it's the same bunch of bigots.

--W@L

[Toto]

This is a new story. Previously, in 2003, Herb Silverman gave a non-theistic invocation to the city council of Charleston SC, and was treated like dirt (http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/local/5490826.htm) when members of the council walked out rather than listen to an atheist.But councilman Wendell Gilliard said the idea of an atheist giving the invocation was particularly wrong when war is going on in Iraq.

"We've got young men and young women over there fighting for our principles, based on God," he said. "I think it's about time we started standing up for something in this country."