“…in order to really be a martyr…you have to have a religion first.”
This is what The Varsity, a University of Toronto-based campus newspaper, proclaimed today in its Editorial section. The comment was made in reference to an attack on Justin Trottier, president of the Freethought Association of Canada. Details of the attack can also be found on the Varsity as well, in a somewhat less scathing article. Unfortunately, the Varsity requires registration to view their website, so I’ll pluck a few choice words from their comments.
First, a background: Justin was attacked at Ryerson University while putting up posters for an event titled “God: The Failed Hypothesis“. The locals have been unfriendly in the past — legitimately approved posters and banners get torn down almost immediately. However, this was much more than simple vandalism. After a short exchange of words (as detailed in the article) Justin was struck and headbutted in the face (I’ll leave the Zidane comments to others). To me, this seems like a hate attack: if Justin were a Christian putting up posters for an evangelical event, most people would have little problem construing it as such. However, Justin happens to be an atheist, promoting a non-religious event.
As the Varsity puts it, “Justin Trottier says he’s a victim, too. He insists we should feel indignant over his story of woe. But should we?”
YES! Yes, we should! In any other situation, this would be considered a hate attack. But of course, as an atheist, he should expect to be assaulted in public: “As a “secular advocate” seeking the same protection and rights accorded to religious beliefs, he very much wants to have his cake and eat it, too.”
They close with these remarks, cryptic as they are astounding: “But we’ll give him a word or two of advice: if you’re going to crack wise to just anybody on the street in the dead of night, start working on your left hook, and leave the Charter defense to the real victims.”
You heard it here first, folks. If you’re an atheist who walks around in the dead of night, expect a suitable punishment.
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Mattherobot 
Oh, that’s it. I’m letting the monkeys out.
Comment by Geekwad April 2, 2007 @ 4:21 pmGreat blog.Continue with this great writing
Comment by inspirio March 20, 2009 @ 5:38 am