In the midst of our collective good cheer...

... a minute to consider that, as the country moves toward respect for diversity of all kinds, that atheists, who are also Americans, are still considered fair game as political punching bags, as exemplified by the North Carolina Senate race.

At least, it's good to see that the tactic employed by Elizabeth Dole failed. However, it will be nice to see a day when someone will step up and say, as Colin Powell did with his reminder that it's possible to be both an Arab and a "decent family man," that it's possible for a Senate candidate to stand in the same building with professed nonbelievers and not walk away with political cooties.

These 2007 statistics suggest that such attitudes ignore our present reality:
Pew Research Values Study: Percentage of people identifying themselves as atheist, agnostic or "no religion" by year of birth:

• Born after 1946 : 5%
• 1946-1964: 11%
• 1965-1976: 14%
• 1977+: 19%