I just see no problem with anyone using Merry Christmas. Christmas was never originally christian, up until very recently they had a problem with it in fact. I seem to recall fines being issued for the mention of it?! Happy Holidays, Merry Solstice, Merry Christmas, hell, I'll even take Happy Hanukkah or Merry Kwanzaa. There has always been a dark of winter celebration, since we were in the caves, I'll not allow the theists to think they can dominate it simply through a name. A rose by any other name....

Most of us stopped bothering to complain years ago. You're welcome to try. I did. Took me 10 years to give up. We all drink bottled. Part that's really scary is, Mississippi is a Republican's dream. Look around folks. This is what they want to turn the whole country into.

Hell yeah I feel trapped here. I've been trying to get out of Mississippi all my life. I got out once and found out why it's so hard to get out. (I had to come back because I was a minor and my mom moved back.) Life here doesn't prepare you for the rest of the world. A good education here becomes mediocre elsewhere, life is cheap here. Now, my aging family and the hubby's job keep us here. I think a lot about escaping, but at the same time why should I leave? Why shouldn't it be the nutters who go? Mississippi is smart, good people. We are the original home of the blues, we build NASA engines, we have been leaders in medicine- there is no good reason to leave my people and my state to the nutters. I do what I can to improve my state. I vote, I write editorials, I try to do where I can for the Dems and the Pro-choice people. If people like me go where does that leave the poor and vulnerable but at the hands of the Reps and religious? No. I'm like Tom Petty. I don't back down.

How is this any different than when the religious require them to sit through a sermon for their food? It's not and it ought to make the atheists crowd feel as low as the theists should when they do that. I also don't think it's lost on most of the poor that this is a privileged white western male who came up with this horrible idea. I think he deserves a lesson in what it's like to be poor. Even then he wouldn't get the difference in mindset because clearly he can approach the world on confident terms. The majority of the poor both working and unemployed though can't do that. They are minorities who have to give up their human rights and dignity at every turn. Thanks so much to this guy for throwing yet another indignity at them. That's so helpful and doesn't make him look like a fucktard at all. If I sound pissed it's because I am. I hope someone treats him with the same lack of respect he's treating others with.

You aren't trapped. You stand up and you leave. I did, many a time. Of course you don't get the applause and attention for leaving. Principles cost, having them and standing up for them costs, you can either pay or shut up. It sucks, but that's the way it is. That's the way it is whether you are atheist, gay, or simply different than those around you. As long as people are willing to continue smiling and taking this crap because they know the consequences of being different there will continue to be consequences. Have some balls and live your principles and take the consequences. This is what living in Mississippi means- you don't want to do it then go somewhere else where the ratio of tolerance to religion is better. But to expect these people in this state to give a damn that we don't want to hear their preaching is expecting too much from these creatures. Oh, and biology here is a joke. The teachers will have no problem grading religious work, it's what they'd prefer.

I'll be happy to say they are doing it deliberately. For two main reasons. A) Us all being poor creates a better, cheaper work force for the companies the Republicans bring in. It's all about the bottom line and Mississippi is the Mexico or China of the US. We are cheap, non-unionized and so poor we won't argue. Seriously, just try to get OSHA or someone to address your labor concerns here. 2) The "self-made man" myth has to be kept alive due to it's connection to religion. The underlying assumption is if you are bad off it's because you are a bad person.

I think it is important to remember that it doesn't matter how reasonable and clear we are. Just the fact that us wanting to be treated equally can ruin these people's holiday, or presents a problem to them tells the observant person what we are dealing with. They don't want to understand, they don't agree with the law to start with and don't care how we reason it, they just want us gone. I think it behooves us as a group to realize that and not do what the Democrats have done with the Reps in congress - so quickly capitulating to the enemy. I think we bend too fast, ask too meekly and explain ourselves way too often.

I think education is very important. Only with critical thinking skills can people think for themselves rather than follow what the preachers tell them. We pro choicers also have to spread the word that we *are* pro life. We are pro women's lives and children's lives because we want every child to be a wanted child. We need to push for more private or grant funding for helping the poor with birth control and abortions where wanted. We need to support our what, one clinic that does them. Unfortunately, I think the groups who do a lot of this think of America as being "first world" and don't realize how desperate the situation is here. And hey, if you want to do something personally help out a chick who has come to the city for an abortion and can't afford a hotel or doesn't have a driver. You can read about the idea here: http://abortioneers.blogspot.com/2010/09/getting-...

I get approached by people even at the gas station pump. I long ago lost any politeness about this stuff. I consider it theft. Theft of my time and attention by someone who simply cannot handle the lack of attention the real world gives them. They don't want to share squat, they want attention, they want to be seen as the good guy, they want you to acknowledge them. I don't walk around appearing as the type of person you really want to interact with. I do not smile at people I don't know, I do not make eye contact, I do nothing to appear inviting. That heads off a large portion of this kind of crap. The other portion is about being firm. "Leave my presence" is a very basic request. Most people honor it. The one time I had someone touch me I said "I know you didn't just touch me" in a very deep tone. They didn't dare do it again. Even though the truth is I'm a teddy bear who loves my dogs and will still play Barbies with my daughter I find cultivating an image of fear helps a lot. I do not try to make people comfortable, either. Unless I invite you into my presence I intend for your time near me to be as unpleasant as possible. I will find a way to make you uncomfortable enough to leave. Most people want eustress, the kind they get when they ride a roller coaster, it's fake stress. I give them actual stress, the fact that their expectations aren't met also makes them uncomfortable. If I am in a situation where there is an audience that might benefit I may engage them in the limited debate they are capable of. I once asked a preacher at the gas station if he liked that part in Psalms about bashing babies, "you know, 137?" He left. I laughed. The guy one pump over smiled at me and gave a thumbs up. But mostly just not appearing to be a soft target helps. I really feel sorry for those forced to put up with it in jobs. That's who really gets my sympathy.

I was discussing this over at the Atheist Toolbox and a friend prompted me to think of this: The Jackson Free Press might be a place more open to these types of ads and if placed there might actually reach intended audiences. Just a thought.