Digitally Born

… I want to be big and strong. Unforgiving. I want to stand tall, look people in the eye, and proudly declare who I am. I want to be like Representative Pete Stark.

Rep. Pete Stark (D-Calif.), a member of Congress since 1973, acknowledged his nontheism in response to an inquiry by the Secular Coalition for America (www.secular.org ). Rep. Stark is a senior member of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee and is Chair of the Health Subcommittee.

Stark is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with a degree in engineering and the University of California, Berkeley with a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA).

This is MASSIVE for atheists (nontheists). Many of you theists may actually not realize this, but atheists are the least trusted group of people in the world. Seriously, a Jewish Hispanic woman has a better chance than an athist of getting elected to the presidency. We (atheists) need more publicity. We can’t afford to allow to stay misunderstood and demonized.

So, I did what ever good American should, and wrote him an email. Here it is:

Dear Rep. Stark:
I wanted to take just a moment to thank you for being an inspiration for nontheists in America, especially those in positions of authority. I am only recently openly nontheist and understand the misrepresentation that is often associated with the term without further investigation into one’s character.

Truly, we need more nontheists to share your strength in order to break down these walls of fear and misunderstanding.

Again, thank you.

[Me]

Maybe one day I’ll be that grown up. I am putting my ketchup and bbq sauce on the side. (Thank you, Mr Kuss)

Sources:
Quote 1: http://www.secular.org/news/pete_stark_070312.html

Quote 2: http://www.house.gov/stark/contact/biography.htm