Maryland city council member will not take oath of office on Bible. "I'm not upholding the teachings of the Bible."

Courtesy of The Frederick News-Post:  

On Dec. 1, Jessica Fitzwater will raise her right hand and take the same oath of office as her fellow incoming council members. 

But there will be one difference in her pledge before friends, family and elected officials: The book under her left hand will not be the Bible. 

Fitzwater, who is Jewish, said she's not interested in replacing the Bible with a Torah. Instead, she is thinking of taking the oath on the Frederick County charter or some other government document that will represent her commitment to public service. 

"I think it's more appropriate to swear my oath on something I will be upholding. I'm not upholding the teachings of the Bible. I'm upholding the charter or the Constitution," said Fitzwater, who will represent Council District 4. 

Fitzwater said she has always supported the separation of church and state but only recently resolved on taking her oath of office on a nonreligious document.

I think I have a new political hero.

If only more politicians would make this choices, and let their constituents know that they are rational people, who will make decisions based on the rule of law, and not the superstitions of man, I think the world would be a far, far better place.

City council member sworn in wearing colander to honor the Flying Spaghetti Monster. You know he boiled for your sins.

Mr. Schaeffer has clearly been touched by His noodly appendage.

Courtesy of the Observer:  

A unique style of headwear was present during newly-seated Pomfret Town Council member Christopher Schaeffer's oath of office Thursday afternoon, but it wasn't intended to keep his head warm. 

Schaeffer wore a colander (a strainer typically used to drain water from spaghetti) while Town Clerk Allison Dispense administered the oath of office to him before the board's reorganizational meeting. When the OBSERVER asked afterward why he wore a colander on his head, Schaeffer said he was a minister with an even more unique organization - the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. 

"It's just a statement about religious freedom," he said. "It's a religion without any dogma."

Okay can I say how much I am loving 2014 so far?

Click here to learn more about the Pastafarains.