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TechnographMr. Atheist goes to Springfield
By Jonathan Jacobson
Posted: 4/10/08 Section: Opinion Columns
This sentence might be difficult to digest at first, but last week, in the Illinois legislature, something interesting happened. Most people don't care about the Illinois' legislative branch, except when they are arguing about the CTA, income taxes or Barack Obama's distant past. But, fortunately, this has nothing to do with any of those things.
Last Wednesday, state Representative Monique Davis, a Chicago Democrat, berated a local atheist activist named Rob Sherman for his beliefs. Or rather, lack thereof.
Sherman was testifying before the legislature about a $1 million state grant that Gov. Blagojevich sneakily directed toward the Pilgrim Baptist Church. Couple that with the debate on Illinois' mandated school moment of silence period, which is still in legal limbo, and it's clear that bringing an atheist before some legislators was a recipe for disaster.
"It's dangerous for our children to even know that your philosophy exists!" Rep. Davis told Sherman, demanding that he leave his seat. "You have no right to be here! We believe in something. You believe in destroying! You believe in destroying what this state was built upon."
Pretty lofty rhetoric, no? Well, not surprisingly, the story has been picked up by some major media and some talking heads like Keith Olbermann, the sports-caster-turned-news-commentator who bestowed upon her the "Worst Person in the World Award" on Tuesday. She actually nudged Bill O'Reilly out of the way for that honor.
When Sherman showed up to the hearing, he came to testify that church-state separation makes the grant unconstitutional, but it is clear from the transcript that Rep. Davis had loftier concerns. While unleashing her fiery faith on him, she seemed more interested in his atheism than his argument, which is unfair.
The truth is that Rep. Davis could have tuned him out. She could have respectfully told him that she disagreed with his philosophy, and the church deserves the money to help recover from a fire two years ago. But she had no right, as a member of a public body during a public meeting, to berate Sherman's personal beliefs - even if or because he has none.
Last Wednesday, state Representative Monique Davis, a Chicago Democrat, berated a local atheist activist named Rob Sherman for his beliefs. Or rather, lack thereof.
Sherman was testifying before the legislature about a $1 million state grant that Gov. Blagojevich sneakily directed toward the Pilgrim Baptist Church. Couple that with the debate on Illinois' mandated school moment of silence period, which is still in legal limbo, and it's clear that bringing an atheist before some legislators was a recipe for disaster.
"It's dangerous for our children to even know that your philosophy exists!" Rep. Davis told Sherman, demanding that he leave his seat. "You have no right to be here! We believe in something. You believe in destroying! You believe in destroying what this state was built upon."
Pretty lofty rhetoric, no? Well, not surprisingly, the story has been picked up by some major media and some talking heads like Keith Olbermann, the sports-caster-turned-news-commentator who bestowed upon her the "Worst Person in the World Award" on Tuesday. She actually nudged Bill O'Reilly out of the way for that honor.
When Sherman showed up to the hearing, he came to testify that church-state separation makes the grant unconstitutional, but it is clear from the transcript that Rep. Davis had loftier concerns. While unleashing her fiery faith on him, she seemed more interested in his atheism than his argument, which is unfair.
The truth is that Rep. Davis could have tuned him out. She could have respectfully told him that she disagreed with his philosophy, and the church deserves the money to help recover from a fire two years ago. But she had no right, as a member of a public body during a public meeting, to berate Sherman's personal beliefs - even if or because he has none.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
Shawn Schafer
posted 4/10/08 @ 4:12 AM CST
Thank you for this. Rep. Davis' behavior is inexcusable, and the more publicity it gets the better.
Bob Healy
posted 4/10/08 @ 12:01 PM CST
Jonathan,
I agree that at first blush seeing someone use the term 'negroes' is disquieting. However if you post the complete paragraph including that phrase (put it in context) it seems to make some sense. (Continued…)
Jimbo
posted 4/10/08 @ 5:43 PM CST
I think he used the term 'negroes' in reference to 1960s parlance because he also mentioned Rosa Parks (in response to Davis telling him to "get out of that seat"). (Continued…)
Don
posted 4/11/08 @ 12:22 AM CST
I'd like to point out two things regarding this article:
"But she had no right, as a member of a public body during a public meeting, to berate Sherman's personal beliefs - even if or because he has none. (Continued…)
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