Category Religion
Bookmark :              

Well, the continuing saga of the attack on atheist activist Rob Sherman by Rep. Monique Davis during legislative proceedings in the Illinois state legislature has finally come to its final chapter. After a week of moderate yet steady pressure by the media and internet bloggers - culminating with Keith Olbermann's naming of Rep. Davis as the "Worst Person in the World", Rep. Davis has finally issued an apology to Mr. Sherman. According to Chicago Tribune's Eric Zorn, Mr. Sherman has reported that Rep. Davis apologized to him by phone. From Mr. Zorn's blog:

UPDATE --- At his Web site, Sherman is reporting (and I have not confirmed since Davis has not returned several phone calls from me) that he has accepted an apology that Davis offered to him over the phone:

Davis said that she had been upset, earlier in the day, to learn that a twenty-second and twenty-third Chicago Public School student this school year had been shot to death that morning.  She said that it was wrong for her to take out her anger, frustrations and emotions on me, and that she apologized to me.

I told her that her explanation was reasonable and that I forgave her.....she thanked me for forgiving her .....

This probably closes the book on this little incident for most; however I must admit that I am still concerned that there is someone like Rep. Davis serving the public while carrying such fervent hatred for a group of people based upon their religious beliefs (or lack thereof). Now instead of her publicly showing her true colors, Rep. Davis will simply continue to unfairly judge atheists without letting her true colors show. And while we can still watch her actions to determine if this is the case (since everyone knows she needs watching now), I fear that this episode will simply serve as a cautionary tale for others who believe as Rep. Davis does - and they will simply continue to judge and treat atheists unfairly, without going public about their true feelings.

I guess we have a long, long way to go as a society, whereby we can all simply judge one another by our actions and the content of our character, rather than unfairly judge someone other by their religious beliefs.

Rock