Our friends at Friendly Atheist and Daylight Atheism are in the spotlight these days. Senator Elizabeth Dole (R-NC) is attacking her opponent, Kay Hagen, simply by telling voters that Hagen, well, won’t actively discriminate against atheists. Click through for the stories, even if you read PZ’s take on it. As for me…
I thought I saw an atheist
Approach a voting booth—
Her voice was shrill, her eyes were wide
Her manner quite uncouth;
She tried to force her views on us
And exercise control—
I looked again—I’m wrong once more
Why, this was Liddy Dole.
I thought I saw an atheist
Discriminate and hate;
Deride a weak minority
Because the hour’s late—
To try to stir the masses
She’s been losing in the polls;
I looked again, and listened well—
Those words were Liddy Dole’s
I thought I saw an atheist,
So “radical” and “vile”
Wage war against America–
A villain with a smile
Promoting hate, promoting fear
For petty, selfish gain—
I looked again, and clearly saw
The Liddy Dole campaign
I thought I saw an atheist
Stand up and say “no more!”
I will not be your scapegoat
Like so many times before!
Americans, stand up as Christian
Muslim, Jew, and Pagan,
Or atheist, or anything,
And cast your vote for Hagan!
Of course, this poem expands on the original here and the first revisiting here.
Wonderful! A Sylvie and Bruno reference!
Ha! Thank you, Christopher Taylor!I actually had completely forgotten about Sylvie and Bruno–indeed, I may never have read it at all–but after your comment, I searched around a bit, and did indeed find this:”He thought he saw an Elephant, That practised on a fife: He looked again, and found it was A letter from his wife. ‘At length I realise,’ he said, “The bitterness of Life!'”… and I am absolutely certain that I had read this (at least this small verse), many decades ago. It must have been an influence on my “I thought I saw an atheist” verses (this is the third visitation to this theme); the resemblance is too close! I shall have to credit (or apologize to) Lewis Carroll, from now on, when speaking of this poem!
A thing of beauty, Cuttlefish. Kudos!
Well, regardless of who deserves the credit, it’s pretty good. Your cuttlefish thingy at the top is pretty good as well.
I’m ashamed to admit that the picture and sound that passed through my brain when reading the first line was of Tweety Bird…Apart from that, it’s nice to live in a country where this kind of thing is a complete non-issue in politics. (We have other quirks instead!)
Don’t apologise to anyone, you are the Lewis Carroll for the 21st Century.”He thought he saw a Argument That proved he was the Pope:He looked again, and found it was A Bar of Mottled Soap.”That mottled soap was actually a cuttlefish!
Excellent poem, Cuttlefish. Your creativity is impressive. Send it to our friends in NC. Both sides. ;)