Atheist claims harassment by Fla. sheriff

reply to post by BubbaJoe


I too live in PC and also have friends and family not only working for the Sheriff Dept. but also LPD and Bartow PD. They say some of the same things we say...he is beyond a lunatic and thinks hes the next coming of Christ. At least a lot of people see it that way. I remember I spent a little time in jail and if you talked or was at all critical of Grady Judd you would be treated really bad, and isolated or a day or two. He's a joke and all of polk county realizes it. The man has done good things, but he is to controversial for most and is going to end up costing us a ton of money is law suit pay outs.

reply to post by Bob Sholtz

i've never heard of Kent Hovind before, and if you go back and read my posts, i never stated she was an evolutionist. what i did point out is her obvious dislike of the church getting the equipment.

From your earlier post:

it sounds like she was angry about this, but unfairly so. how much government aid goes to public schools that teach evolution?

The implication is pretty clear. If you don't care to admit to it, that's fine.

she argues its a separation of church and state thing.

I think it goes deeper than that. It's a sheriff misappropriating resources. The basketball hoops were purchased and in place at the local jail. He removed them and "donated" them to a church. Where's the oversight from someone with the best interest of the taxpayers in mind? And where do you draw the line with this kind of misappropriation? It's a slippery slope.

so she has no problem with taxpayers money (millions upon millions of dollars) going to fund what she believes (and force her beliefs on kids), yet she has issue with a few basketball hoops going to the church? hypocrisy much?

If you don't see the difference in a grassroots political movement that wants to see government focused on social services, science, and education and a sheriff on a power trip, then I think the reasonable part of this discussion is at an end. One is trying to use legitimate channels to bring change, one is doing an end-run around a system and abusing power.

get 'em while they're young in school, with my money, but don't let any of it go to counter views! "position humanism as THE rightful influential force in education"

Humanism isn't an inherently atheist position, though it is compatible with it. There are many religious humanists. In fact, the earliest humanist movement in this country was a religious one. So what, in your mind, is the counterpoint to humanism?

again. no problem with forcing her views on kids. pretty disturbing.

Is it that you find it disturbing that someone is trying to force any views on kids or that she's trying to force her particular views on kids?

some noise ordinances state that the noise(whatever it is,yard party,stereo,whatever) cant be heard outside the property line....sounds like that what happened here,but the cop carried it too far

Originally posted by Travlla
So you can be arrested in the US for having noisy sex in you own home

what a joke,but I'm not really surprised after the Janet Jackson Superbowl wardrobe malfunction fiasco,talk about making a mountain out of a mole hill or a breast for that matter,
I once read the British sent all the prudes to America,perhaps this is true

There was a couple in Britain in the papers last year for being arrested and cautioned and facing the possibility of jail time after breaking a judgment against them preventing them from having noisy sex despite their declarations that they couldn't help it.

Also, the comment about the "King of England was the head of state AND head of the church" earlier in the thread.....

If it plays any part of this topic, I'll remind you that Henry VIII started that ruling because he wanted to divorce his first wife and marry someone else but the Pope declared that divorce was illegal and denied it so Henry went off and started the Church of England so that he could divorce her and remarry.

As far as the woman in the OP, if she made those sounds on purpose to annoy then I guess she deserves it for instigating people into action but if she were having a little "busy time" and couldn't help making those noises then she has no fault.

If this guy is such a joke,or so big a threat,then why isnt he voted out?...Seems he is hated and reviled....

I dont think he will last another election...thats even if he runs for sheriff again. Word is he is planning on running for something else.

I'd have to know more about the case to make a call either way.

If the basketball hoops were just going to be disposed of, then charging it as unconstitutional is absurd and just another douchebag being overly sensitive. In that case, the charges are probably justified and this person is having a persecution complex.

If they were taken up specifically to donate to the church, then that is wrong on soooo many levels, and I hope that this harassment thing sticks and the sheriff's department gets it stuck to them big time.

how much government aid goes to public schools that teach evolution?

(and force her beliefs on kids)

Aren't most schools in the US offering a choice for kids to study creationism or evolution?
I'd say that's plenty enough as one is a valid scientific theory (you know, tons of people actually believed in "the ether" during the late 18- early 1900's because it was the most plausible theory at the time) and the other one is just bat# crazy.

reply to post by lspilot6946


I would agree he has done some good things, his stings to draw child predators out, have made national news many times, and I applaud him for that. But he is not the second coming, and not above the law.

reply to post by Homedawg


No offense is meant to anyone with this post. That being said, this county in FL is the redneck Mecca, there are still sheet and hood wearing folks in high positions in this county. I have absolutely nothing against rednecks, am one myself. I moved there in 2001 and left in 2007, so I experienced it for 6 years. It is referred to as 6 toed county, the sheriff himself is quoted as saying, "He is just as likely to reach for the bible, as a book of law." On Sunday morning, probably has the highest percentage of people going to church than anywhere in the country, 12 Noon Sunday till 8AM the next Sunday, there was no telling what the hell was going on. To LSpilot, and some of the others that have said that they live there, or have lived there, I am with you brothers, this place is the backwards ass county from hell.