Comedian Raised $125K for Atheist Tornado Survivor Just to Piss Off Her ‘Okie-Christian Neighbors’

[rug]

by Matt Wilstein | 1:15 pm, December 30th, 2013

2013′s most famous atheist — if you don’t count Pope Francis I — had to be the Oklahoma woman of whom CNN’s Wolf Blitzer asked, “You got to thank the lord, right?” Things got awkward fast when she replied, “I’m actually an atheist.”

Seven months later, as the Moore, Oklahoma community continues to rebuild, comedian Doug Stanhope has stepped in to help Rebecca Vitsmun, raising more than $125,000 for her and her family through an IndieGoGo account called “Atheists Unite.”

“Saying ‘I’m in atheist’ in Oklahoma is like screaming ‘Jihad’ at airport security. That took some nuts,” Stanhope said in a video posted Sunday. “If you watch the footage, all the other victims are on the news thanking Jesus for only killing their neighbors and not them, while a crawler is on the screen telling me where I can text money to help them out. Fuck them. I don’t want Jesus getting credit for my $50. I’ll help that other girl out.”

“I didn’t do it because I felt sympathy because she got all her shit destroyed by a tornado,” he continued. “I did it simply to be a prick to her Okie-Christian neighbors. It’s funny how hate can make you do real nice things every now and then.”

Watch video below, via YouTube:

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/comedian-raised-125k-for-atheist-tornado-survivor-just-to-piss-off-her-okie-christian-neighbors/

[okasha]

1. At least

he's not pretending he did it because he follows "universal human values."

[Gore1FL]

8. That was my reason for donating to this specific cause, however.

I like to keep religion out of my charities, because I don't want my donation to have proselytizing tacked onto it.

[okasha]

16. But you are comfortable

with having hate tacked onto it?

[Gore1FL]

20. In order for the hate to be realized, the Christian neighbors would have to be angered.

I don't hate Christians, but I hate the (direct and indirect) drain of resources religion has on the world that could be utilized for something useful.

[okasha]

21. I'm referring

to the fundraiser's self-admitted hate.

[Goblinmonger]

25. You leave nothing open that this is partially a bit

from a comedian? Yes, he's raising money for a disaster victim but he's also trying to get his persona out there.

[cbayer]

2. Lol - I did it to be a prick.

Well, for whatever reason he did it, it was a nice thing to do.

His making it comedy gets him the attention that he wants.

Win-win, I guess.

[MADem]

3. "It’s funny how hate can make you do real nice things every now and then."

And revenge is a dish best served cold!



I hope that poor woman gets her life back together because....

Living well is the best revenge!

[Autumn]

4. Sometimes it's nice to just piss off the right people.

Or piss on them.

[kardonb]

6. piss off

WHY did the almighty Jesus not prevent this and many other disasters , I would like to know . Why should I thank him for not killing me instead of my neighbors , "good Christian , that I am 9 not! ) .

[cbayer]

7. Are you telling someone to piss off?

And what in the world makes you think that people here think that jesus prevents disasters?

I'm not sure what this even has to do with this article.

[BlueStreak]

9. Good point. Jesus has been pretty consistent about this over the years

There were plenty of disasters and genocides in his day.

And thousands more since his time.

Anybody who thinks Jesus is an insurance policy against disaster is talking to the wrong insurance salesman.

But I hear he will intervene in football games if he gets the urge. (Just kidding. Only crazy people think that.)

[cbayer]

11. It's amusing how people invoke religion for sports related activities.

For me, that is beyond ridiculous.

OTOH, when my kids played ball, I had all kinds of rituals. I knew in my heart that they made zero difference, but I felt the need to do them anyway.

[BlueStreak]

31. And THIS is the fundamental problem with religion today, IMHO

for so many, it is no different than a superstition. Go through the right ritual and good things will happen to you. It is God as Santa Claus.

Those who are intellectually honest recognize that there is absolutely no correlation between rituals and outcomes. That is to say, atheists get pancreatic cancer at exactly the same rate as those who pray 4 times a day. If the rituals actually made a difference in outcomes, there would be a lot more chapels in Las Vegas (for other than the instant wedding).

I don't believe in gods. But if there are gods (or one god if you like) it is abundantly clear that either:

a) they don't care what happens
b) they like messing with people
c) they don't involve themselves in our day-to-day activities, viewing us like bacteria in a petri dish
d) there is a much greater meaning that is beyond our capacity to understand

Of course, option d) is the only one that works for the intellectually honest theologians. And they still suggest following the rituals because .. well I don't know why.

[hrmjustin]

13. That is a questi8n asked through generations.

My only answer is God does not decide what happens in this world.

[Gore1FL]

22. That's Sandy Alderson that decides that! n/t

[hrmjustin]

23. lol the mets guy?

[Gore1FL]

24. Yeah!

I knew you were a Met's fan and went for the laugh!

[hrmjustin]

26. I hope he gets better players next year.

[Mariana]

34. I've always wondered why Christians do that.

I've spent some years living in the Bible Belt, and most of the Christians there will tell you they expect to be much happier and better off after they die. So, why should a Christian who believes he or she is bound for heaven be thanking God for being spared? Why aren't they disappointed to still be alive?

[cbayer]

35. Have you ever asked them this?

I would be interested in their responses.

My guess would be that their time on earth is limited and that they cherish what they have. Things don't have to be happier and better off to have significant meaning.

But I don't know.

[AtheistCrusader]

5. LOL

[redstatebluegirl]

10. I am glad he helped her and I understand being an atheist in Oklahoma.

Last edited Mon Dec 30, 2013, 10:17 PM - Edit history (1)

However, living 4 miles from the epicenter of the May 20th tornado I really do not see the need to be mean to any of those who managed to live through something so devastating. 7 children died there. Seeing the destruction on tv and seeing it up close is something very different.

Not being mean here just putting this in perspective.....

[cbayer]

12. That's a really good point.

Mocking them is equally as offensive as assuming this woman would thank god for not dying during the event.

Having been through a major disaster, I blamed no one who turned to their religion during the worst of it. But also had deep respect for those who had other coping mechanisms.

[redstatebluegirl]

14. My Dad always said there were no athiests in foxholes...

[cbayer]

15. People say that, but I don't think it's necessarily true.

I think some people wish they believed when they are facing the threat of dying.

And I think some people on the fence may gravitate towards their believing side.

But I don't think that's true for everybody.

[redstatebluegirl]

17. I have never been shot at so I have no frame of reference

I do not identify as Christian, I am Unitarian Universalist but I can tell you when that F5 came so close to our house I found myself looking for devine intervention, i was a little shocked by my feelings.... It made me a little more understanding of my Christian neighbors.

[cbayer]

18. Tragedies breed empathy, that's for sure.

And you never know how you are going to react when faced with the most terrifying situations.

I didn't pray or even really think about a god, but I sure wanted some kind of intervention.

[redstatebluegirl]

19. I have never heard wind like that and then the dead quiet...terrifying.

I think before people jump on the blame, making fun of people bandwagon they should have to go through something similar...

[Doctor_J]

30. if some divinity was really involved, he/she probably wouldn't have

sent it in the first place. Seriously praying to a God that just destroyed your neighborhood and killed a bunch of people seems bizarre

[Goblinmonger]

27. Just so you know

that's kind of offensive to atheists. It indicates that rather than us being where we are through thought and understanding of what we believe (and don't believe), we are instead just pretending and once things get bad, we'll let our true colors through and declare our belief in god as we pray for our own survival.

[PassingFair]

29. Your father was wrong.

http://militaryatheists.org/atheists-in-foxholes/

[Goblinmonger]

28. I blame no one, either.

But this guy's a comedian. Filter his bit through that.

[progressoid]

32. Stanhope is kind of a Libertarian douche

but kudos for getting people for donating to the OK victims.

[MADem]

33. It’s funny how hate can make you do real nice things every now and then.

And revenge is a dish best served cold!



I hope that poor woman gets her life back together because....

Living well is the best revenge!