Exhibit A

People think I'm exaggerating when I point out that we're locked in a cultural war with America's Taliban. I often try to emphasize that this is not about "equal time" or "respecting divergent views" -- this is about a motivated, superstitious group of people trying to turn this country into a christian version of Iran.

Well, here's a bit more proof -- from the wonderful world of NCAA college football. If you're a sports fan, you've probably noticed that the American Taliban have targeted athletes for evangelical activity. Athletes not only make big money (which they can in turn donate in large quantities to missionary work and fatcat, con-artist preachers), but they're also not the sharpest tools in the shed, so they're easily manipulated. Turns out the head football coach at the US Air Force Academy is coming under fire for having a sign in his locker room that says (among other 'motivational' nonsense) "I am a Christian first and last ... I am a member of Team Jesus Christ." The government (which runs the Academy) apparently views this as establishing religion, which is at least technically prohibited by the First Amendment. So who comes riding to the rescue? None other than good old Bobby Bowden (and if he keeps this up I may seriously reconsider my support of FSU football). Seems Bobby could give a flip about the Constitutional separation of church and state. In fact, he's of the opinion that it's really jihad time. Speaking to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, old Bobby leaves us with these gems of wisdom:

"The coach has a responsibility to these boys to try to influence their spiritual life, their physical life and their academic life. ... We know we're going to get challenged on it, but that's what we believe in. I ain't gonna back down."

And

"The problem with us Christians is we won't speak out."

Excuse me? You can't swing a dead cat in this country without hitting a christian who's speaking out. What you almost never hear is a skeptical voice trying to inject a bit of rationality into the mix. For instance, everyone in the media pretty much acts like the existence of god is a given. Do you ever hear anyone seriously challenge this most basic religionist assumption??

"Christians won't speak out" my ass. What christians won't do is shut the hell up.