Regarding Mr. Celata, Jr.
Gregory Tinkler
From: "Gregory Tinkler"
To: "Positive Atheism" <editor@positiveatheism.org>
Subject: Positive_Atheism_Letters_Section
Date: Wednesday, June 07, 2000 1:09 PM
So let's get this straight -- Mr. Celata Jr. sees a "multicolored" image on the bottom of the page and assumes that Cliff=Queer. The only item on your page that I can see associated with homosexuality is the rainbow -- FOR THE PORTLAND AREA WEATHER!!!!! If this is indeed the symbol being referenced, what does that tell you about Mr. Celata's powers of observation (or lack thereof), and why in the HELL would anyone want to take his word on something???? Pardon my French, but the guy obviously couldn't distinguish his arse from a hole in the ground.
From: "Positive Atheism" <editor@positiveatheism.org>
To: "Gregory Tinkler"
Subject: Re: Positive_Atheism_Letters_Section
Date: Wednesday, June 07, 2000 4:34 PM
He could have referred to the rulebow.gif (above) which I made to replace the <HR> (horizontal rule) HTML code. The rulebow.gif appears on most of the letters, and it appears on the page that contains the link from where he sent the letter.
If so, I used the rulebow.gif because it was so easy to make: create a six-pixel-wide image, place one of each of the colors in the color wheel, and resample it to 400 pixels wide (or however wide rulebow.gif is).
In any case, we see another case of where fundamentalistic loyalism has prompted a man to write a letter that we can both learn from and laugh at.
In no case, though, will we judge all Christians from Mr. Celata's actions. Mr. Celata is Mr. Celata. Christianity is Christianity. Christianity is but one vehicle that Mr. Celata could have used to express his bigotry: it could have easily been Islam, patriotism, or even atheism. This is the most important thing for us to remember, that atheism doesn't make us immune to the thinking style that makes up bigotry.
Cliff Walker
"Positive Atheism" Magazine
Material by Cliff Walker (including unsigned editorial commentary) is copyright ©1995-2006 by Cliff Walker. Each submission is copyrighted by its writer, who retains control of the work except that by submitting it to Positive Atheism, permission has been granted to use the material or an edited version: (1) on the Positive Atheism web site; (2) in Positive Atheism Magazine; (3) in subsequent works controlled by Cliff Walker or Positive Atheism Magazine (including published or posted compilations). Excerpts not exceeding 500 words are allowed provided the proper copyright notice is affixed. Other use requires permission; Positive Atheism will work to protect the rights of all who submit their writings to us.