Bush vs. Ataturk

"I think people attack me because they are fearful that I will then say that you're not equally as patriotic if you're not a religious person. ... I've never said that. I've never acted like that. I think that's just the way it is."

-— President George W. Bush, Washington Times, 12 January 2005


"I have no religion, and at times I wish all religions at the bottom of the sea. He is a weak ruler who needs religion to uphold his government; it is as if he would catch his people in a trap. My people are going to learn the principles of democracy, the dictates of truth and the teachings of science. Superstition must go. Let them worship as they will; every man can follow his own conscience, provided it does not interfere with sane reason or bid him against the liberty of his fellow-men."

-— Ataturk, quoted in Andrew Mango's Biography of Ataturk

And the winner is:

A Brave Woman

Recently, Dr. Wafa Sultan of Los Angeles appeared on Al Jazeera vehemently denouncing Islam's radical elements. Her non-believer position has put her in grave danger. The transcript is available here.
Video of the interview/debate is also available on the MEMRITV.ORG site.

The NY Times has a piece about her here.

The degree to which she has summoned amazing courage in the face of obvious, violent wrong-headedness is truly inspiring.