May 31, 2002
From the desk of Jane Galt:I can't be the only
I can't be the only one who noticed this um. . . misunderstanding over at Tapped:
Among religious conservatatives, it's long been a popular claim that there are "no atheists in foxholes." In other words, only those possessed of deep religious beliefs are capable laying down their lives for their country. For an atheist, the logic goes, the fear of death would simply be too overwhelming.The trouble is, the facts quite obviously belie this argument. Indeed, the atheist Kurt Vonnegut fought in World War II and wrote a famous book about it, Slaughterhouse Five. Those who blithely repeat the "atheists in foxholes" mantra -- like that congressional pariah Rep. James A. Traficant, Jr. -- are really slandering the memory of atheists who fought and died for this nation.
Okay, raise your hand if you thought that the phrase "There are no atheists in foxholes" meant that only the religious could fight for their country? Hmm. . . you there, with your hand up, leave. You're having a bad day. The rest of us knew that the phrase refers to the blossoming of religious belief -- or we might call it "hope" -- in those who are afraid they are about to die.
Tapped. Debunking the undebunkable since 2002.
Posted by Jane Galt at May 31, 2002 5:35 PM | TrackBack | Technorati inbound links