This is Loudoun County Board of Supervisors member Ken Reid a few days ago, reacting to atheists fighting back against the Virginia county’s holiday display:

“None of the religious organizations in the county have had any problem with what we’re doing,” he said. “It’s strictly this group of terrorists. They’re fanatics who basically want to stamp out religion in all public life and property.”

This is Ken Reid quoted in a Washington Post article today, apologizing for what he said:

Reid said Wednesday that he regretted using the word “terrorists” and apologized to those who may have been offended. “My use of the word ‘terrorist’ was a poor choice of words and the Washington Times did not tell it in full context,” Reid said in an e-mail. “My comments in the Times were directed specifically at the atheist groups that have been relentlessly pursuing their goal to remove all religious holiday symbols from the courthouse lawn, not ALL atheists or non-believers.”

That’s one hell of an apology. Reid wasn’t attacking ALL atheists, just the ones who want church/state separation.

I feel better now. How about you?

American Atheists isn’t accepting his apology. To my surprise, that’s upsetting Reid:

The supervisor said he was disappointed that local Democrats and atheists seemed unwilling to accept his apology.

I can’t imagine why…



