I Can't Believe I'm Willfully Rushing to the Defense of Tom Vilsack
Now I'm used to hearing attacks on Sec of Ag (and former IA Gov) Tom Vilsack (D), but very rarely do I feel the need to defend him. Today just happens to be one of those rare occassions.
Today Sec Vilsack is being criticized by Tom Flynn, the executive director of the Council for Secular Humanism (yes, that's an actual title) for his prayers of seeing an end to the devastating draught Midwest farmers are currently struggling through.
Flynn attacked Vilsack, saying he's "...praying for rain? That’s not just government entangling itself with religion, that’s government publicly practicing it, and wallowing in superstition.”
(Sheesh, can we try a little harder to be offended next time?)
Contrary to what you may or may not believe... Unicorns cannot save your soulHe then continued...
“It sends the wrong message to distraught farmers when the Agriculture Secretary suggests that the best response is to pray,” said Flynn. “For a Cabinet official to recommend prayer as a solution or call attention to his own devotions may violate the Constitution’s prohibition against establishment of religion. Most important, though, is that prayer doesn’t work. But if you want to test the power of prayer yourself, consider this. Apparently Secretary Vilsack’s been praying for rain every day; how’s that working out?”
Well Mr Flynn, I don't believe Vilsack ever once pushed prayer as the "solution", nor did I see the Council for Secular Humanism put forth their own "solution" to a midwestern drought. Did Tom Flynn really want a solution, or merely an opportunity to go off on a hateful, anti-faith rant?
Like many Midwesterens, Vilsack was merely expressing his faith (is that still legal?) in a time where people are struggling with their crops and finances. It won't just be farmers affected by this. It will also affect normal Americans and even dimwits like Tom Flynn (executive director of the Council for Secular Humanism) who will be seeing a drastic increase in their grocery bills, now and into the future.
Many Americans will be praying just to make it through these tough times Tom Flynn, so try not to wallow in the disdain you have in them doing so.
Permalink | tagged Atheism, Atheist, Atheists, God, Religion, Secular Humanism, Tom Flynn, Tom Vilsack
Reader Comments (10)
Militant evangical atheists are as obnoxious as militant evangical people of any major religion.
There are non-believers who harm no one, practicing the philosophy of live and let live. Then there are the angry atheists who insist upon being obnoxious. I don't understand why they're so angry. No one is preventing them from believing in nothing, so why do they feel the need to insult and belittle those of faith?
Lol, you gotta admit, praying for rain is pretty effing stupid though. By Redbeards "logic" perhaps we should sacrifice a goat too? Or how about an Indian rain dance? And throw some salt over our shoulders......that'll surely make the rain come.
Come on, if Vilsack is reduced to prayer perhaps he should step aside and let someone with a scientific (rather than farm subsidies) background take over. This is the second time in recent memory Vilsack has shown himself to be imcompetent. The first was a year or two ago when he asked Shirley Sharrod for her resignation after another Brietbart/Okeefe smearjob.
It's really too bad Vilsack doesn't have the brains or guts to talk about the real problem which is a massive drought accross large portions of our country caused by global warming. Vilsack should be telling farmers to prepare for more and more of this as our planet heats up. We were warned by scientists years ago and have yet to take any major action.
Well, well, well. Talk about loudmouthed angry atheists who live to ridicule those of faith, and here's Choy/Brent to give us an example of the disrespect and hate. Funny, in a deranged sort of way.
Choy smears religion but turns around and exponds on his belief in the the "Church of Global Warming err... Climate Change."
Tom, seems like the angriest of the angry atheists are the ones who rely upon pure faith in nothing (figure that one out) in pursuing their agenda.
Choy/Brent has devoted, or wasted, a great deal of time in running an angry atheist website. I believe it's now defunct, probably because he and his followers ran out of bile and need time to recharge.
As an atheist I can say it comes from years of being belittled and insulted by believers. I used to be the same way but then I started reading Vonnegut who once said 'If you can't understand how a perfectly useful religion can be based upon a pack of lies, then you won't understand this book."
Whatever makes you feel better on your several dozen trips around the sun, so be it.
Vilsack is a paddle-footed moron, but who cares if he does a little praying.
President Obama prayed today for the victims of the Colorado shooting.
There is some precedent as the President also prayed for Whitney Houston. Link here.
He might even pray during some of his games of golf, who knows.
Kwawk, I got friends that are simply happy being atheist and acquaintances that are vitriolic towards religion in general... I suppose that's why one set is considered "friends" and the other merely "acquaintances". ;o)
Wow, I guess I have you beat by.... well, a lot then.