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Wednesday, October 21, 2015

"RICHARD DAWKINS and me..." 'Bettejo Dux' (Vintage Bettejo)

Bettejo Dux has lived on the cosmic Garden
 Island of Kaua'i for over 40 years.
Bettejo is a regular opinion writer in the Garden Island news
 and is the author of the famed novella, "The Scam." 
 Her latest fiction"Children of extinction"
 is now  released and available on Amazon!
Bettejo has a gift of mingling
 the present, the past, and the future. 
RICHARD DAWKINS and me




Many of us, I'm, sure, hold someone so completely in awe that the very idea of meeting him, dining with him, takes our breath away.How could it happen? If it did, wouldn't we be struck dumb? Turn  loose a tsunami brain wave that washes all our cognitive thinking out the door? We'd mutter. We'd stutter. We'd falter. We'd faint.


Well, it wasn't like that. It wasn't like that at all. Richard Dawkins, my seating companion at the table, was, as David Silverman, president of the American Atheist, Inc., said, ".... sometimes funny, sometimes fascinating, and always interesting..." But, more than that, a delightful host. He made me feel welcome, comfortable, at home. All of them did.


It was a small group at the table. Several brilliant women, three Turks, one who played polo, a guy from Australia, a lawyer from Texas--hope I've not left anyone out--I didn't count, I listened and talked and had a great time.

The experience, I suppose, was something like it might be for you Christian guys having supper with Jesus. We didn't drink blood or eat flesh, but we did wine and dine.  Richard didn't wash anybody's feet. Good thing. I was wearing a pair of Haines Barely There panty hose which would have turned foot washing into a rather awkward feat at the table.

The introduction by the others was impressive. Lot of letters before and after names, degrees in fields of science I didn't know existed. But there was a human quality there.  No chest pounding or me me meing. They were almost humble. Richard's introduction was,    "I'm Richard Dawkins."


When my turn came, I said,"I'm Bettejo Dux. The lady from the provinces.  I'm an atheist. No buts about it." It was an 'inside' joke and Richard grinned. That made me happy and set the stage.

Sometimes the banter became a little hefty but all of it fascinated me. Held my interest. I could have sat at that table for hours listening in.

I think the women were a bit more interested in the awful ways in which atheists were  treated. I told my story about guys on Kauai who  say, "I agree with Bettejo but I can't say it." "I'd lose my job." "I couldn't be elected."  "Neighbors wouldn't talk to my wife." "What would I tell my flock?" We all agreed  speaking the truth was a dangerous step but one which all of us had to take. Someone said, "Like our gay friends, we have to come out of the closet. Too many are sadly locked in there alone."


I make it easy on myself. As an atheist, "...I prefer to pal  with astronomers rather than  astrologers. Reason my way through life  rather than indulge in make believe. Study The God Delusion rather than the Bible.  Watch  Cosmos, narrated by Carl Sagan, rather than any sermon from any televised house of worship."

Lets teach kids the truthful magic of math, not the  mythical magic of religion.

What do you think?

P.S.
Check out the October 2, 2015 interview with Richard Dawkins by Bill Maher on HBO's real time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvvQJ_zsL1U
Bettejo a few years back playing checkers
with her nephew...

Bettejo provided the quote on 
the enclosed Kauai sunrise meme!



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