A week ago CNN’s Wolf Blitzer interviewed Rebecca Vitsmun, a survivor of the tornado in Moore, OK. While doing so he asked a question that assumed religious belief: “You’ve gotta thank the Lord, right? Do you thank the Lord for that split-second decision?” In a polite and unassuming way, Vistum told Blitzer that she is an atheist.
So What?
Blitzer’s seemingly innocent question and Vitsmun’s honest response generated significant attention. The American Humanist Association established a fund to support the Vitsmun family, and comedian Doug Stanhope launched an effort that has yielded over $90,000 to date.
- Have you ever wrongly assumed someone was a Christian or an adherent of another religion?
- Has someone ever made assumptions about your religious beliefs or practices that were not consistent with reality?
- Do you believe Blitzer’s question was appropriate or not? Explain.