THE SOCIALIST’S JOURNAL: Raleigh, North Carolina

     *Initially I thought the headline was a joke, but then the New York Times is not known for pranking the public. Ergo there really are people contemplating filing a lawsuit because an elected official has professed atheism. Cecil Bothwell is a city councilman who is being attacked for his religious non-beliefs. What is noteworthy here is not Bothwell's atheism, but that those in opposition of him believe it a sound use of the state’s funds to hear a lawsuit regarding this matter.

      Bothwell’s situation is why the phrase “separation of church and state” was coined. Those who want to see him lose his post are not arguing that he would be overwhelmed by the job, neither are they saying he advocates things that would not be beneficial to the people of Raleigh; there is no mention of his political philosophy. Theoretically people are chosen to represent people because they reflect the political ideology of those voting. That should be the only qualification, and because Bothwell was indeed democratically elected, where is the problem?

      Likely the problem is that Bothwell’s politics are different from those who highlight his religious views, and they use those views to hopefully replace him on the city council. And ultimately David Morgan, a conservative newspaper publisher in the area, and those who support him are in the process of deciding whether to bring a lawsuit. Technically they can do this because the North Carolina state constitution has an antiquated clause that requires public servants to profess a belief in God. But even if a lawsuit is brought, any action against Bothwell would only be temporary because the clause in the state constitution is contrary to the United States Constitution. 

      If it were only Bothwell’s money that would be used in the process of fighting this lawsuit, then it might be an understandable, if distasteful part of the playing of politics. But if a lawsuit is filed, it would also cost the people of North Carolina and later the United States in paying administrative costs for the case to be heard initially and then on appeal. At the end of the day the federal government is not going to alter the First Amendment so any legal maneuvering would be in vain and a waste.

      Come on people. In a democracy, there will be times when the candidate you support will lose their bid for a post. That should not be an invitation for frivolous lawsuits.