Herb Silverman
President, Secular Coalition for America

Herb Silverman

Silverman is Founder and President of the Secular Coalition for America, and Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Mathematics at the College of Charleston.

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Herb tea party

Delaware GOP Senate nominee Christine O'Donnell this weekend attended the annual conservative Values Voters summit in Washington, DC. There, she emphasized that although she is backed by the Tea Party, she is also a politician who "toiled for years in the values movement," alluding to her longtime work as a Christian activist.

What is the Tea Party? Is it "a recession-era version of the religious right?" Is it something else? And if the Tea Party is not a religious movement, why is it raising up candidates like O'Donnell who has a strong background of religious activism?

I went to the Values Voters website www.valuesvotersummit.org, glanced at their positions, and quickly realized, "That's me." They want to protect marriage, champion life, strengthen the military, limit government, control spending, and defend our freedoms. Perfect. Here's what I mean.

Protect marriage: Allow people to marry any adult they want, whether they love someone of the same or opposite sex.

Champion life: I oppose capital punishment and most wars. To reduce the number of abortions, we should promote sex education in schools, contraception for teens and adults, prenatal health care and day care programs, and other support systems for women wishing to give birth.

Strengthen the military: War should be for defensive purposes only, never preemptive. To get the best-qualified men and women in the service, repeal the discriminatory "Don't ask, don't tell" provision. I support a strong national defense, which can be achieved primarily through education and grounding students in critical thinking, not a reliance on pledges and prayers. Our country's strength must be maintained by killing illiteracy and innumeracy.

Limit government, control spending: Legalize all drugs. The war on drugs is as much a failure as the war on alcohol during the prohibition era. Some of the money for taxed drugs could be used for drug prevention and treatment programs. Violence would be significantly decreased, and we wouldn't waste so much taxpayer money on prisons. For similar reasons, legalize gambling and prostitution.

Defend our freedoms: Rep. Mike Pence won the Values Voter presidential straw poll with a program demanding "religious liberty without apology." That's for me. A high wall that separates religion and government, where people can practice or not practice as they please without government interference or support.

Just as I was about to sign up with the Tea Party, and all it stands for, I read their program more carefully. To my surprise, they oppose whatever I support and support whatever I oppose. They definitely are not my cup of tea.

So I'm toying with the idea of starting my own political party and naming it after myself: the Herb Tea Party. I would welcome all freedom-loving promoters of religious liberty, even coffee drinkers. My party would have such a big tent that it likely would include one of the most liberal and one of the most conservative congressional members we've ever elected: Rep. Pete Stark, the only acknowledged atheist in Congress; and the late Barry Goldwater, known as "Mr. Conservative."

Here's a portion of a Goldwater speech, which can be found in the September 16, 1981 Congressional Record: "I'm frankly sick and tired of the political preachers across this country telling me as a citizen that if I want to be a moral person, I must believe in 'A,' 'B,' 'C,' and 'D.' Just who do they think they are? And from where do they presume to claim the right to dictate their moral beliefs to me? And I am even more angry as a legislator who must endure the threats of every religious group who thinks it has some God-granted right to control my vote on every roll call in the Senate. I am warning them today: I will fight them every step of the way if they try to dictate their moral convictions to all Americans in the name of conservatism."

My party platform contains self-evident truths that a modern-day Thomas Jefferson could espouse, which would lead to an age of reason that a modern-day Thomas Paine could promote.

By Herb Silverman  |  September 21, 2010; 1:54 AM ET Save & Share:  Send E-mail   Facebook   Twitter   Digg   Yahoo Buzz   Del.icio.us   StumbleUpon   Technorati  
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The Herb Tea Party--Here, here! Long overdue!

Posted by: FarnazMansouri2 | September 28, 2010 4:41 AM
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correction: ".. ! So BE PROUD Soldier!

Defend our O.U.R. NEw-FAiTh! (better than Religion) Aye?

Note: O.U.R. means: the "O.ne U.niversal R.eligion" on S.pace-S.hip Earth (for HUUMATE iNtrovisionations) a/k/a The "Religion of Everything Before The Science of Everything" and more.

WE[i] APOCALYPTari-ON's art "SPACE-FORTH" ready & as well as "FUTURE-BOUND" proof. And the HUMAN's on S.S. Earth are being Left Behind! Sadly enough,

BEWARE Their Pre-Apocalyptic JEALOUSY(s) & their Satanic-versUS addictions, a/k/a "Religious Jealousy Psychosis"s and or "Pre-Apocalyptic SiNDROMES".

PS: They [Pre-Apocalyptic-OFF's] think they have "Money" as if be Power over Minds & Matter. Hint: They have S---! They Have GOD(s) DELUSION" and more fatal MEMETiC (from Past) HEURISTICa/o (SOUL he or she, never both) conditions. Soo

BEWARE Them "NICOLAiTANS" (Pre-Apocalyptic-OFFs: i.e, ABRAHAMICS & VEDICS & wannabe jealous CO.).!

Posted by: woodstock-41 | September 27, 2010 9:43 AM
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A U S S I E B A R R Y:

Correction: "UN-AMERiK'n".

Note: i never knew this nice gal "erykah" (American singer) Existed i found her excerpts on Utoob. Nice sound. Note again: There is or was a band (crazy music)in Europe called "EC{LAT", NO Relationship what so ever! But i[WE] art sure the "Satanic-VersUS" Lovin Abrahamics & Vdic Leaderships would love to relate US Eklahtion's to Their Jealousy's? Soo Remember: THAT

the APOCALYPTiC-ON's meaning for [Eponymous] E-K-L-A-H

{a Name for our "IT" : Not a 'HE' nor a 'SHE', but doing what IT must, under Holyi Law(s) aka innate-Clauses, by only being "iTSELF" in and out of US all..... doing IT's Work/Job; ELSE NO Exist...} is A FRENCH Word, having logi or closest possible meaning/description expresses "IT" as

'A BRiLLIANCE' BURSTING [US] Forth". a/k/a "TRANS{FiNITY", OUR Miracle (Zero Sin, Zero Curse's) in Holyi Motion. O' Momma/Poppa NEBULA! O' [Lord; if Ye/Yo will] EKLAH-t-i-ON! O' HUUMATES of Bless'th S.pace-Ship Earth: aka S.S. GEOiD, S.S. GAiA, S.S. TELLUSnfg something and by many names since the Great EKLAH Experience!

Note thrice: Even Richard Dawkins (which is why i'm here) & Stephen Hawking's et al are adamant of 'our' "IT"!? Hint: What They claim to Know Today, WE EKLAH-t-iON's already knew long ago. IT (their findings) hath already been Written for and by US.

But, it is NOt the time nor the place/forum for what i[WE] are about to Reveal Ye/Yo's our Holyi Scriptures (of times past & now Forwards). That "THE REFRESHiNG" is Coming soon.

Secret (opposite Revealation): OUR Eklaht-iON scripture (3 sets of Books into 1) called the "ULTRA-PARA-TESTAMENT" is a NOt iMPORTED [Religion] SYSTEM. It is 100% MADE-in-AMERIK (NEW Glory)! Unlike Anti Dark Skin (i.e., Laminates) Mormon' which is 33% made-up in America (old Glory). And

Of course the Mormons 'Supplement' {King James Version New?Testament} is ALL 100% iMPORTED PRE-APOCALYPTiC (NOt APOCALYPTiC) lalala "Anti-Humanity" stuff (Written by Jealous-HUMAN's tribal Leaders and or of such Nations Religion)..

AMAZiNG. NO GRACE! Praise The Holyi NO-MON/WOMB. Praise "IT" instead!

Think of "IT" as being that inner FEELING which appears in each of US Apocalyptic-ON HUUMATE]S, Not Apocalyptic-OFF Human's. it is appropriate to call ONE-self a Believer of the "HOly COsmic FEeler's FAith'r." aka, a HO-CO-FE-FA'ian! So BE PROUD Soldier! Defend Tout NEw-FAiTh! (better than Religion)! Aye?

Posted by: woodstock-41 | September 27, 2010 8:44 AM
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Woodstock, I prefer the swahili meaning. Listen to Erykah Badu sing Ye Yo, now THAT is a religeous experience

Posted by: aussiebarry | September 27, 2010 1:46 AM
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A U S S I E B A R R Y: Chap:

iNteresting:

Ye/Yo say, "... it's just a pity it seems to be wasted on Americans."

Note: Ye-Yo Mean'th ... "wasted (UN)Ameriks!" Aye.

Posted by: woodstock-41 | September 26, 2010 5:12 PM
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RICHARDSRUSSELL I agree with you about The US Constitution being the greatest ever document, it's just a pity it seems to be wasted on Americans.

Posted by: aussiebarry | September 25, 2010 11:06 PM
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A T H E N A 4: [a HUMAN(s)]

Please excuse Us [HUUMATE(s)]: But

But Ye Yo name alone is Soo Pre-Apocalyptic faith; that is; is an 'iNsult to Us Huumate(s) iNtelligence!

Sing: Goodbye "SETH", Good bye Osiris, Goodbye "ZEUS", Good Bye BAAL et al! To Us "GODDESS(s) or GOD(s) {Dead Religion (if Any) is soo, so "PRE-Apocalyptic. Zero APOCALYPTIC faith/Belief/Religion (if any)!

But, But: there is still Holyi "H-O-P-E" even for PAGANS {those pre-apocalyptarIAN'S of the Dead RELIGION(SYSTEMs) of Pre-Electric, Pre-Atomic Ages/Epochs {i.e.: War Blessings, & or War Mongering "PiSCES-AGE"s. Zero "AquariUS-Age".

Note: Pleazza. Stop trying to incorporate Ye/Yo Pre-Apocalyptic Curs'th/SiN'th Pisces-Age; With OUR [EKLAHt-iON's] AquariuS-Age. Like [Pre-aPOCALYPTIC: zERO "A-p-o-c-a-l-y-p-t-I-c-on'S" The HINDUTVA, Vatican, Tibetian's etc..

O' JEALOUSY! Being Left-Back (Apocalyptically) Yet try'n to make a Come-Back (Pre-Apocalyptically! Oye! Oye!

Posted by: woodstock-41 | September 23, 2010 11:22 PM
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iMportant N O T E:

Wherever Ye/Yo see a Highlighted "Blue" word or sentence (Black Highlights Like-Wise); THAT

IT is NOt a Link [so, simply iGnore]. But but when Ye/yo See a real "HTTP ......com" [live LiNK; i.e., http://coneyislandobservatory.com/ ] then it's O.K. to jack-hammer (via Curiosity or plain ole interest to Explore further).

Thanks for undersatindin US [EKLAHti-ON's] & onfaith.. Soo, WELCOME on "S.pace-S.hip Earth! (Of ManyMany...). Hence: i(WE) art NOt, Never A-L-O-N-E!


GOODBYE "ABRAHAMICS"! GOODBYE "VEDICS" & Pre-Apocalyptic Similar Situated!!!

HWELLO APOCALYPTiC-FAiTH! aka EKLAHt-iON" HOlyi COsmic FEekler FAith'rss (like a Religion, Belief Yet Based on REALITY (TRUTH: aka Opposite MYTHs)!

iMagine: the "REliGION of Everything Before the Sciense of Everything+ Aye??????? Soo,

GOOD Riddance 'HUMAN(s)!!! and Now (Today & Until Real "END of TiME"s, so YE/YO's; Sing: "HELLO H-U-U-M-A-T-(s)!!!!

O' [PRE-APOCALYPTiC Catholics, Mormon's etc..) O' Jealous Masn-Made SYSTEMS! Zero "IT", Zero EKLAHt-i! {NOt a "HE" nor a "SHE" but be-only-"iTSELF" Miraculously Appearing With-iN US and Out of US Animates + Inanimate s beings (Justly for a time via holyi TiME etc..) Together Forever With "SOURCE-ONE" [G_D; not G-D, NOt gods, No Allah, No Hashem, No Krishnah, No Gautama etc...)

VOTE: "YES" TO: 'APOCALYPTIC-FAITH" & or "NO" to PRE-APOCALYPTiC-Faith!

HEL{O - WORLD!

Posted by: woodstock-41 | September 23, 2010 10:51 PM
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Depends on the type of herb, Herb. :D

Posted by: Athena4 | September 23, 2010 10:18 PM
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Correction/inclusion:

"and an Annex All the Way To RUSSIA [from Lady SARA PALiN's Country {a/k/a Bless'th ALASKA!} (and John McCains Panama; that is) Together Forever W/ SOURCE-ONE (a/k/a ERKLAHti!?) and more Great Prophecy's for Holyi Continents AMERiK(s)!":

Posted by: woodstock-41 | September 23, 2010 10:14 PM
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Posted by: woodstock-41 | September 23, 2010 10:07 PM
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B O O M B A R O S S!

B L O O D C L O D!

Remember: Nation Of Islam is [indirectly: Is America's Enemy within: Note: History & 'White Crackers crackling remarks tell US lots and others big-mouth FREIDiAN-Slips Of Genuine Prophecy's; aye].] Yet,

But, But: America's Friends, (besides HAiTi: May EKLAHti Help Them Get on Their Economic Feet's again) That the RASTAFARIAN folk are our Best Friends as well {NOt N.O.I. & Foreign Ishlami/Esaui Compromisers].
___

Under Rasti's Lingo [LYARiC] that


"JAH" [aka "IT" aka a Mono-G_D or "PEACEFULL Vibrations within in contact of the out] believe in da Faith in Son Father Spirit.

Rasti's believe in "I-TAL" [Kosher, etc..].

Rasti's celebrate: 1) REASONING (via Ganga/Urb/Spliffs). and 2) GROUNDATION [aka KARMA, MITVA etc..].

Rasti know of "I-Tinually" [Ever Lasting].

Rasti's know of "OVERSTANDING" [Understanding].

And Rasti's know of "I-MAN (I-MON) aka the 'Inner Person"."

AMERICAN Easti's know of "I-YA" (Higher, than US) etc...

SELEH (PEACE)!

PS: WE[i] Need to Worry and Concentrate on OUR Hemesphere! HINT: Remember the NEW (born from OLD) Holyi MONROE (pbu Them all) DOCTRINE!!! To Hel{lll With Them Foreign iMported [Zero MADE-iN-AMERIK] Jealous ,Competing For a Name For EKLAHt (G_D, if any)!! Especially: Pre-Apocalyptic-Off ISHLAMI's & ESAUites et al!

NO Excuses! NO MERCY! Only A-M-E-R-K!!!! A Prophecy Who's time via Holyi 'TiME' is Com'th: A NEW (Born From Old) "MANIFEST-DESTiNY" is Upon US. Don't Squander "IT" this Time YO!

O' BLESS'th U.S. of A ++++++ , Note: Imagine 100-Stars (plus STATES) all the Way To Panama (Sen. John McCains Country) and an Annex All the Way To RUSSIA (Together Forever W/ SOURCE-ONE (a/k/a ERKLAHti!?) and more Great Prophecy's for Holyi Continents AMERiK(s)!

Posted by: woodstock-41 | September 23, 2010 10:02 PM
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I'll join the Herb Tea Party for sure, put me down for some herb.

And coffee too, maybe french roast or some double espresso.

I've seen poll after poll made of the self-defined tea party members saying that 45% of them also identify as evangelicals.

The only America these kind of people can see is the America they own and operate, where they can pick and choose from the Constitution the same way they pick and choose the ugly parts they most like from their bible.

Oh, and you aren't included if you're not one of them.

It would be funny, considering how all the rest of us can see an America where they have every right that the rest of us has, but they can't see the same thing for us.

Maybe I'll hold off on the herb, I have to make sure some evangelical isn't snooping at my zipper or watching over my shoulder when I read.

Posted by: eezmamata | September 22, 2010 1:04 PM
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One addendum: If we're going to legalize gambling, it should be heavily regulated, with stringent caps on the profits. That's because of the ease with which the house can cheat. I've read about modern slot machines being crooked in a technologically advanced way, programmed according to research about human behavior, providing just enough payout as an incentive to keep people playing. My community had a brief experience with slot machines where some of the take was going to local charities. As it turned out, the vast majority of the money was going to interests out of the area, with the charities getting pittances.

Posted by: Carstonio | September 22, 2010 10:20 AM
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Good platform. I suspect that what Pence means by "religious liberty without apology" is a belief that America's culture and institutions should treat Christianity as the normal or default religion. There seems to be an assumption that neutrality among religions equates to hostility to Christianity.

Posted by: Carstonio | September 22, 2010 10:11 AM
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I support Dr. Silverman's political platform and would gladly join his movement. It is time that those who truly belief in freedom and justice for all, separation of church and state, truly representative government, etc. stand up and take on the neo-fascists who are using religion as a tool to impose their views and values on the rest of the country.

Posted by: bomhard | September 22, 2010 2:15 AM
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I continue to be amazed at the people who think that:
  (a) YOU should boycott movies that THEY have never seen.
  (b) YOU should burn books that THEY have never read.
  (c) every word of the Bible is true, including the ones they've never read.
  (d) the US Constitution is the greatest governmental document ever, even tho they have no idea what IT says, either.

For the record, the US Constitution really IS the greatest governmental document ever, and everybody should not only read it, they should carry their own personal copy with them wherever they go, just as I do.

Posted by: RichardSRussell | September 21, 2010 5:24 PM
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The Herb Tea Party sounds great! Put me down for a cup of coffee, however.

Posted by: jonesm2 | September 21, 2010 4:42 PM
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To my surprise & delight, the Herb Tea Party supports what I support and opposes what I oppose. They definitely are my cup of tea. I hereby proudly sign on as a coffee drinking Herb Tea Party faithful!

Posted by: HerbTeaPartier | September 21, 2010 2:25 PM
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the 'Tea Party' is just a corporate-media-deluded Astroturf racist, Dominionist theocratic lynchmob pretending someone besides the MSM believes it when they try and dress up as a 'tax protest.'

Posted by: APaganplace | September 21, 2010 2:23 PM
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Fundamentalist religious believers are always trying to force their beliefs not just into the public square, but into our laws. During the Bush Era, we had Religious Right groups like Focus on the Family and the Family Research Council among others. Today we have the Tea Party doing the same thing under the guise of an anti-tax movement.

You can read the rest of my response to this topic:
http://www.examiner.com/atheism-in-philadelphia/on-faith-the-tea-party-is-the-religious-right

I will be responding to every issue posted in the 'On Faith' section. If you would like to be notified when my new response is up, please subscribe.

Posted by: dangeroustalk | September 21, 2010 12:53 PM
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