Worst Person in the World?

Rob Sherman, enough already. Monique Davis apologized. Now it's your turn--for a real apology, not just a "Dr. King said it, so I can, too" tirade. If, as you claim, you were unaware that your word choice would be offensive (hard to believe, Mr. Sherman), then how hard is it for you to say, "Gosh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize that would come across as racist. Let me extend my sincerest apology."

But no. Through your idiotic word choice and subsequent refusal to apologize, you have turned a much-needed discussion about religious tolerance into a racism controversy that just makes you look bad. Nice work, Mr. Sherman. Really nice.

Expelled Exposed

Everyone who's thinking about watching that ridiculous Expelled movie, read this: Six Things in Expelled that Ben Stein Doesn't Want You to Know...

Are “cdesign proponentsists” so scared that their claims are obviously baseless that they resort to shameless misrepresentations of the facts to bolster their cause? Or are they really just incredibly stupid? Or both? Discuss.

Size Matters

A tale of two Hondas, mine and my brother's.

Guess which one of us has trouble with Chicago street parking.

I Heart Dyson

Seen in a women's restroom at the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport: The Dyson Airblade

It is magical, a thing of wonder. I want one in my home.

Congrats, Julie and Tomkin!

Hooray for Julie and Tomkin! Their wedding ceremony yesterday was beautiful, touching, heartfelt, perfect. I was honored to be a part of it.

Much to my dismay, my camera battery died early on. But here are a couple of shots from the day.

The happy couple. More brides should wear red.


Me and Julie.


Kerri and Emma -- Emma's first wedding!

And in closing, let me just say, "Ella, ella, ella, eh, eh, eh."

Leaving on a jet plane, as long as my flight isn't canceled

I'm off to St. Paul for Julie's wedding! Think good travel thoughts for me.

Update: Monique Davis Apologizes to Sherman

Rob Sherman reports on his website that Monique Davis called him to apologize.

That took courage, but it was the right thing to do. Thank you, Representative Davis.

My Letter to Illinois State Representative Monique Davis

Representative Monique D. Davis
1234 West 95th Street
Chicago, IL 60643
773-445-9700
773-445-5755 (fax)

Dear Representative Davis,

I was shocked, saddened, and disgusted by your recent comments to Illinois citizen and activist Rob Sherman as he testified before the House State Government Administration Committee. You stated, among other things, that because Mr. Sherman is an atheist, he believes in destroying what this state is built on.

Representative Davis, I'm writing to you as a mother, an Illinois citizen, and an atheist. I love my family, I love my community, I love Illinois, and I love America. I believe in building a better future for all of our children. And I believe in teaching my children to accept that everyone in this great nation gets to choose for themselves what they believe when it comes to God. I am appalled to discover that members of my own state legislature view me as a second-class citizen.

You're right, Representative Davis: This is the Land of Lincoln, where all citizens, even our greatest historical figures, are free to reject religion. Would you have spewed the same vitriol at Abraham Lincoln?

"The Bible is not my book nor Christianity my profession. I could never give assent to the long, complicated statements of Christian dogma." -- Abraham Lincoln

The United States was founded by people who valued religious freedom. Have we as a nation strayed so far from those values that even our elected officials think it's appropriate and just to attack those who hold a different set of beliefs?

Representative Davis, you need to recognize your intolerant hate speech for what it is and apologize to Mr. Sherman and all American atheists. Your statements prove that religious discrimination is alive and well in the Illinois legislature. Please take another look at your words, see the error of your ways, and work with us to end religious discrimination.

Sincerely,

Kelly J. Wright

Friends, if you believe in freedom of religion and reject religious discrimination, and especially if you're an Illinois citizen, please send your own letter to Representative Davis. She needs to hear this message loud and clear.

Illinois State Legislator Attacks Atheists

Friends, this makes me angry.

Metalheads

Oh, dear.