Comment

Comment by Richard H. McCargar on November 30, 2010 at 11:46pm

I traveled from South Florida to Birmingham for the debate and to make the presentation to Hitch. I spent time with Hitch and David Berlinski at the luncheon, the reception then watched the debate from the front-row, aisle seat. Hitch finished up the night at the bar, leaving with a bag including his diploma, which he loved, an AntiTheist shirt and hat (he put on display earlier that evening at a public book signing, quipped that it should hit some papers, which it did. Next day was seen around the world.
So yes, Hitch accepted his diploma at the exclusive luncheon, after I traveled to meet him. It was not a meeting of coincidence.

This week, Dr. Krauss is accepting his from Peter Primavera in D.C. They are meeting specifically for this purpose.

Dr. Terence Meaden, no book signing either. Same for PZ. Same for Peter Primavera.

I know it kills you, but you're wrong.

When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.

I'm having no difficulty with you whatsoever. Your criticism is based on guesses and lack of knowledge. And you haven't made any real point.

The site is meant to motivate atheists into one-on-one discussion made possible by shocking the faithful in public into questioning the heresy. It works well. Thousands are unafraid to do it.

You don't keep yourself covered "a bit." You are completely hidden.

Here I am in public, as an atheist meeting believers:
http://www.doctorofdisbelief.com/blog/today-i-planted-another-seed-...

I have plenty more pictures of me in public, making it possible to be approached by those of faith. You see, John, while you sit afraid, at your computer, telling other atheists to do something, I'm actually out meeting with believers, talking to them about science, reason and logic, and why they must prevail over superstition and myth.

Privacy is wise for all of us. This comes at a great cost to me personally.

Here's the rub, unlike you John, I'm not a paper tiger.

You may call me Richard. That is my name. I call you John. I can only assume that is at least your first name.

Comment by peter primavera on November 30, 2010 at 11:46pm

John D - Thanks for your time and thoughts, which I do appreciate.
You got what you gave, from the first email you attacked me with insults then accused me of rolling in the mud, so there you have it. Understood. I should have never responded and we would both be better men for that. I wish you the best of luck in you endeavors in the cause we both share. While we could not disagree more, I hope you success and ask that any further comments you make on my postings be a bit more considerate, but you are certainly free to do as you wish. I might mention that beyond your emails, the responses has been numerous (in the hundreds) uniformly positive and very encouraging. All the best to you.

Comment by Richard H. McCargar on November 30, 2010 at 6:16pm

By the way, John. I can prove you are a frightened man. Not just the weak attacks you make, no something much more obvious.

No last name nor photo of you on your account. You are so bravely fighting the good fight Mr. "D" with no photo. How very brave of you to take such a strong stand without even the balls to show your face or provide your name.

Bravo! Well Done. You are such a warrior.

I've explained it to you, but cannot understand it for you.

Comment by Richard H. McCargar on November 30, 2010 at 6:04pm

John, you will be saddened to hear that Dr. Terence Meaden, recently accepted one of our lame, face $2 diplomas. He is following Christopher Hitchens who thought it was a fantastic idea, PZ Myers (Cool more perks), and this week, a presentation will be made by Peter Primavera to Dr. Lawrence Krauss, who also thinks it is a great idea.

I guess we are all wrong, and it is you who are right. Good for you.

By the way, all the manly talk about you and how we need to get some legs etc. I've known armchair warriors like you since I was a Marine. An openly atheist Marine in the late seventies, so you'll have to excuse me if I remain unimpressed by your false bravado, while safely ensconced behind the firewall of your computer.

Funny how men never talk the way you do to me in person. Just never happens. Could be the class of individual with whom I typically associate, then again, it could be that those who brag online about "battling" the christians, are usually the more tender of our gender.

Comment by peter primavera on November 29, 2010 at 11:33pm

John D - Greetings my friend. You seem pretty angry today. It's the Pompous Whiner here. Now let's talk and see if you can hold you own. I will gladly accept being called arrogant from the likes of you, sort of a badge of honor considering the quality and lack of substance in your responses. Since you call me a name, I'll call you Little Man, is that OK with you? So now we have finished name calling and we can return to the adult world, have you every been there?

1. I don't claim to know it is a waste, I argue it is. Big difference Little Man.

2. I don't claim to be "so smart" I do claim to have 35 years as a professional anthropologist whose expertise is contemporary cultures, including American and abroad. How about you Little Man, was that part of engineering school?

3. "Every fight not taken up is a fight lost" We are in a war, not a battle, and not a fight. If we choose to fight every fight, we lose. Every military general and every freedom fighter knows that. But, apparently you don't, so I can send you some reading materials if you would like. At what grade level do you read Little Man?

4. I apologize, I just realized how sophisticated your strategy is, "if we smack a Christian (logically) over the head then good for us" Now that is some real fine thinkin' Is that based on some philosophy you advocate or is that something from our joint reptilian past? I am sure those billions of Christians are just frightened of your logical attacks!

5. This one I love, beyond all the grammatical mistakes, "pseudo-intellectual pompous apologist lightweight." I would love to hear you explain what that is, but you may need an adult to help you. So intellect has no place in the war? Apologist? What? For whom? Lightweight, hey sounded good, almost effective if it weren't completely fatuous and childish! It was completely wasted in the cloud of angry and empty argument you tried to make, but it sure sounded good angry Little Man.

6. When you get out of high school you should read about the civil rights movement, the gay rights movement, the women's movement. Then you will understand some of which you speak about. I understand though, reading is not something that is promoted in engineering school.

Do you know what happens now? The Little Man gets more angry, throws the F Bomb and the discussion is over, but then again it never started because you know better and you really shut us down, right Little Man?

Next time try substance over anger and you might get a response. I said "substance over anger," if you missed Richard's point and mine. You are fortunate that I even wasted my time with you, but I always feel badly for the under "privileged." The more folks like you that we educate the better the movement will be and the greater our chance of success.

Waitng for that F-Bomb Little man. You know you can not stop yourself.
Sincerely, Your Own Pompous Whiner

Comment by Richard H. McCargar on November 29, 2010 at 11:26pm

Well John, nice to see you keeping the discourse civil.

The difference between our struggle and the civil rights struggle, is that African-Americans were christians. That made them natural allies with other christians.

Most christians detest atheists, and I'm afraid people with your attitude only make it worse, not better.

There is quite a distance between "taking their crap" as you so eloquently put it, and standing up for ourselves in a meaningful fashion.

Mocking them with a tree of knowledge, is not meaningful.

If we say that the government should have no right to place religious symbols in public places, then we are hypocrites to add our own.

Obviously, this is nothing more than a grandstanding effort for publicity. It is certainly not meant to teach others about our ethics.

For example, not only should we not place our symbol alongside theirs, we should not have petitions wherein people are told that they need to remember to not only sign, but that you can only sign once with an email address, ala Carol Roper. Completely unethical.

Well done.

Comment by Richard H. McCargar on November 29, 2010 at 6:57pm

Hello John, I think his point is that as much as some atheists think planting a tree is a win, it loses the long-term battle by creating an opponent that is much more aggressive. This is born-out by the current "battle" being waged.

While a few christians may back the effort, far more, the vast majority, resent us even more.

That is a losing strategy.

We cannot fight a supermajority of the christians in this country. We may win a few unimportant legal battles, but will definitely lose the war.