Staff
Oklahoma City Councilman and mayoral candidate Ed Shadid held a campaign event this week exclusively for atheists, The McCarville Report has been told.
The Tuesday night event was held in conjunction with an organization called Atheists of Oklahoma, whose motto is “A Non-Prophet Organization.”
Shadid is challenging incumbent Mayor Mick Cornett in an election scheduled for March 4th.
The campaign event was called “A Disbelief Discourse with Mayoral Candidate Dr. Ed Shadid,” and was staged in Edmond on the campus of the University of Central Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Atheists website reported that “49 atheists” were expected to attend. The invitation described Shadid as “a member of the Oklahoma City Council and a community organizer.”
Shadid has courted atheists before in his campaign, as reported previously by The McCarville Report (http://mccarvillereport.com/archives/15237).
In his campaign, Shadid has been critical of Christians in Oklahoma City for making atheists and non-Christians feel unwelcome. He told the Red Dirt Report in November that Oklahoma City has a national reputation for having a “lack of tolerance” (http://www.reddirtreport.com/red-dirt-politics/chat-mayoral-candidate-dr-ed-shadid-part-2).
Shadid told the Red Dirt Report:
“Are we tolerant?” asked Shadid. “Are we tolerant of diversity here? Is that the message we’re sending out to the rest of the country? Is that the message we’re sending out to our own populace? If you’re Sikh or Hindu or Buddhist, or – God forbid – Muslim, or – God forbid – you don’t believe in a religion, I mean, how comfortable do you feel? Do you feel you might have reprisals at work? Or does everybody just basically get judged on their job performance?”
When challenged about that comment at an appearance in front of the High Noon Club in November, Shadid responded that if Oklahoma City would prioritize attracting atheists and non-Christians to the city, it would lead to economic development, according to a report by The Okie (http://www.theokie.com/shadid-admits-marijuana-addiction-declines-to-reject-abortion-agenda-21-principles/).
According to his Facebook page, Mayor Mick Cornett made an appearance Monday night at Putnam City Baptist Church. Cornett’s campaign web site says, “Mick attends Skyline Church and Crossings Community Church Bible study.” In the online video announcing his re-election campaign, Cornett called Oklahoma City “a faith-based city that works hard and dreams big.”
It’s hardly a bad thing when a professed Christian seeking votes, wants to come talk to a group of people who represent nearly two thousand members in the community. We do not care that he is a Christian. He cares that we are people that are wanting to make a change in this city.
Our government is supposed to represent all of its citizens, not just the most popular ones, or the biggest group. It is a place where two people of radically different backgrounds–white or black, male or female, religious or atheist, OU or OSU fan–can go and expect to be treated fairly. My vote will always go to the politician who reaches out to understand minorities, and knows the kind of impact the government has on everyone.
Thanks, Mr. McCarville for helping spread the news of this Shadid event.
There really is nothing like earned media coverage.
Dr. Shadid is bold in professing his Christian faith; far bolder than any elected official in recent memory. In fact, while Oklahoma pulpits and horseshoes fall silent, Dr. Shadid speaks out against corruption and greed and on behalf of those marginalized in society who have no voice. I am proud to know a Christian like Dr. Shadid whose faith is not threatened by opposing views and beliefs. I’m glad he is seeking the office of mayor. The spin you put on things are little more than withering grass.