Ms. Zahn
As you are probably aware of, your segment concerning the persecution of atheists in America has ticked us atheists off. I believe you owe us an apology for what took place on your show. The following are my reasons why:
The lack of atheists. Your show was about the persecution of atheists. Yet not one of the panel members was an atheist. The clip of Lori Lipman-Brown of the Secular Coalition does not excuse this exclusion of atheists from the panel.
Why do atheists inspire hatred. This question was displayed prominently throughout most of the segment. It is offensive. It implied, by default, that we atheists bring the hate, anger and violence directed at us by theists upon our heads. In short, your question blamed us for what theists do to us. Some examples to help you think it through:
- Why do black men inspire fear?
- Why do women inspire rape?
- Why do homosexuals inspire assault?
The bashing. Karen Hunter and Debbie Schussel were allowed to bash us without challenge from you, the host. Your “is anyone going to defend them tonight?” was lame and pitiful. You should’ve thought about this prior to and invited an atheist to be on the panel.
I personally find it hard to believe that you had no idea that all your guests were of the mind that it is theists who are being persecuted in some form.
Here’s an imaginary conservation between two people discussing the persecution of black people, based off Karen Hunter’s and Julie Schussel’s remarks to help you think it through:
Randy: We fought a war to free them. What more do they want?
Juan: I think the real persecution in America is black people against Americans who are white. We are a White Nation. I’m not a white person, I’m Hispanic, but I recognize that we’re a white nation. We’ve got cases all throughout the united states involving Mandarin being taught in public schools. You don’t see black people getting upset about that. I truly believe they’re the intolerant ones – against white people.
Randy: I think the problem is they have a horrible marketing campaign. Perhaps if Hallmark released a card just for black people, they’d feel better about themselves. Otherwise, I think they need to shut up. They need to quit crying wolf all the the time and saying they’re being discriminated against. I personally think the schools should’ve remained segregated.
Juan: Oliver Brown went all the way to the Supreme Court for his child, the child didn’t didn’t know what was going on, to get the schools desegregated. They are on the attack. I think it’s obnoxious and they do need to shut up.
Accompanied, of course, by a large banner that read “Why do black people inspire such hatred?” behind their heads.
I understand that ratings are big in your business, but would you have tried to air something like that? I don’t think so. I think you and the higher ups at CNN would’ve trampled each other to death in order to get away from such a show.
To put it bluntly, the only reason I think you did this show was for ratings. The fact that you used the real pain of real victims of the bigotry you allowed, even arranged, to go unchallenged is extremely offensive. Quite honestly, I think you should be ashamed of yourself.
Ms. Zahn, you owe the atheists of America an apology for this bigoted and hostile show. The only question that remains is:
Do you have the backbone to do it?
{ 5 comments }
Well said.
First sentence needs to be edited:
“As you are probably AWARE of,”
(the “aware” is missing, and there should be a coma after “of”)
Apart for that, it is good, although I would have added more emphasis in having this “this is a christian nation” being mentioned several time without being challenged. The founding fathers did NOT make the USA a christian nation, they were very insistant about it having to be secular, separating state and religion, and granting freedom of religion, which goes to the extent of granting a right FROM religion as well, no matter what the bigots on the show had to say about it.
This humanist bashing on that CNN segment was a clear proof of fascism in action, as far as I can tell, and it is shameful.
CNN will never show any topic which ‘upsets’ the American viewing public. It will be lightly touched upon, but only in such a way to intimate that the hosts do not approve. It will be accomopanied by a ‘giggle’.
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Excellent letter!!! It could not be said any better!
I love how you rewrote the debate to be about black people. It really shows how ridiculous the arguments they made were.
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