Like most, I was listening to President Obama’s inaugural address feeling uplifted and inspired by the “call to arms” for the rebuilding of America. Unlike most, I was also waiting for some acknowledgment that this new administration would reach out to the twenty-some million Atheists, Agnostics, Humanists and other Free Thinkers that have been purposely excluded from the American political process. I had no expectations because I am used to being discriminated against. But a small part of me hoped that maybe this once I would get an acknowledgment. Maybe Obama would do the unthinkable and acknowledge my existence. He did! In his words:

“For we know that our patchwork heritage is strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and nonbelievers.”

It’s not much, but it’s enough. For the first time, in a long time, “non-believers” have been mentioned as part of the country. George Bush, the elder, said “… I don’t know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered patriots.” Obama, in contrast, acknowledges the fact that we are every bit a part of the United States as Christians, Muslims, Jews, and Hindus. It was a great event that I shall not soon forget. I will tell my grandchildren someday what I was doing when the president of the United States first said that non-believers are part of the nation. It even made up for the nauseous feeling I got from Rick Warren’s bigoted, discriminatory, inane nonsense and the three times Obama said the word god. (BTW Rick, half of the world and over 30% of this nation does not even think your bastard-child savior even existed) But that’s okay. The future is all about mending bridges and working together to overcome challenges. People like Rick Warren who would castigate others do not have a place in this country’s future. Today African Americans have had a huge victory. Along with their victory, we non-theists have had our own small victory as well. America, as a whole, has had a massive victory against prejudice and is on the correct road toward a better future. Our road is going to be a rough one, but thanks to you Mr. President, it perhaps just got a little bit easier.

On New Year’s Eve people often look back on the previous year and make resolutions of action to take in the up coming year. This year will be no different. 2008 will no doubt be remembered for the terrible financial problems that have affected all of us. The world is a much different place than it was a year ago. Many of us are going to have even tougher times ahead as we all must adapt to our new set of circumstances. However, there is much to be happy and optimistic about, as well. 2008 is the year that Americans said “no more” to the horrors of the Bush administration. No more to the “war on science.” No more to endless military occupations of third world countries without any benefit for the American people. No more to the threat of stacking the Supreme Court against the beliefs of most Americans. And so on. 2009 holds great promise for many of us. We have the opportunity to recover from much that we have lost during the past eight years. Make no mistake though; we have a lot of work to do. The new administration may be more receptive to cultural equality and the rights of women and some minorities, but embracing atheists, agnostics, and other freethinkers is a whole other matter. Obama has openly endorsed right-wing religious fanatics (Rick Warren) and indicated he would continue to support faith based initiatives. The divisive and historically wrong idea that America was founded as a Christian nation is embraced by many. We, as free thinkers, must continue to be vigilant and fight to protect all of our constitutional rights. I encourage everyone to support action oriented groups such as The Freedom from Religion Foundation, American’s United for Separation of Church and State, and The Secular Coalition, to name but a few. With a little diligence we can make the United States the democracy it was intended to be. This year I resolve to make a difference! Happy New Year to all. May Darwin be with you.

Okay, I just got done blasting President-elect Obama on his poor choice of choosing right-wing evangelical pastor Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at his inauguration. And no, I do not take any of it back. It was a bad decision. However, Obama has recently made a very good decision. Four of them actually. Obama has named four brilliant and dedicated scientists to his President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. This is a very welcome move that clearly indicates a new direction for the United States. President Bush’s “War on Science” has resulted in an incalculable amount of damage that will probably take several generations to reverse. In his weekly internet address, Obama outlined a clear and distinct path that science will take in his administration. This, to me, is the most encouraging and positive public announcement I have heard in some time. The United States used to be the leader of cutting edge innovations in all fields of science and technology. While the past administration was preaching religious doctrine and ignoring and ridiculing scientists, the rest of the world passed us by. Now perhaps we have a fighting chance to regain some of what was lost. Now that is real change. Good move Mr. President-elect. Keep it up!

Link to 12/20/08 President-elect Obama’s Weekly Address

Rick Warren, the Pro-Choice, anti-LGBT, right-wing evangelical pastor will give the invocation at the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama. Obviously I have a great deal of difficulty rationalizing this bigoted religious figure taking part in anything in my life, but to hold center stage in front of hundreds of millions of people worldwide is maddening. It’s clear as day that Obama wants to include the Religious Right, but this, to me, is way over-the-top. Obama may as well just say that everything the Democratic Party stands for irrelevant.

Why must we have an invocation or a benediction, for that matter, in the first place? There is plenty of “religion” to go around at the inauguration as it is. Most presidents say, “…so help me God” at the end of their oath. It is not required, yet they do it. Theodore Roosevelt said, “…and thus I swear.” Good Theodore! But Obama is no Roosevelt. He will utter the “G” word. Rick Warren will probably behave admirable and end of looking good. But it is a massive lie and a horrible injustice to all LGBT’s in the United States – not to mention women in general. Acknowledging Warren in any capacity gives credence to his archaic divisive hateful views.

Note to the president-elect: From those of us that look to you as a welcome change to make an attempt to unite our nation, you’ve just put a giant wedge right down the center. Not a great start. Shame on you!

The Freedom From Religion Foundation is suing the city of Ranch Cucamonga in Southern California for removing their billboard after alleged complaints and a phone call from city representative Linda Daniels. The billboards depicts the ubiquitous World Trade Center twin towers with the words “Imagine no religion” taken form John Lennon’s song Imagine (shown elsewhere in this blog). General Outdoor sign company removed the billboard after Daniels called and said the city had allegedly received 90 calls complaining about the billboard.

This is clearly a perfect example of a city giving preferential treatment to a religious majority over a non-religious minority. The Bill of Rights was created for the express purpose of preventing this from happening. The city is violating the rights of the FFRF and other non-believers. What’s more, this action reflects very poorly on the religious protesters.  Everyday I come in contact with religious billboards and religious advertising that I find very offensive. So, I look away or change the channel – or better yet, if there is an opportunity for me to express another view – I express it. Suppressing the opinions of any group because they differ from yours is very wrong. When the government does it, it is illegal.

From a philosophical point of view, the world would indeed be a much better and safer place to live in without religion. In recent memory I don’t recall any atheists bombing subways or flying airplanes into

buildings. Those acts belong to Christians, Muslims, and other believers. Apparently the people of  Rancho Cucamonga are so comfortable with their religious hatred and violence that they can’t Imagine life without it.

No religion’ billboard taken down after complaints

By The Associated Press, Associated Press

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. – Complaints have led to the removal of an atheist group’s “Imagine No Religion” billboard in this San Bernardino County city.

The General Outdoor sign company took down the Freedom From Religion Foundation billboard after the city said it received about 90 complaints and asked whether there was a way to remove it.

The Madison, Wis.-based foundation, which advocates separation of church and state, has billboards in eight states that include such messages as “Reasons Greetings” and “Beware of Dogma.”

The foundation’s co-president, Annie Laurie Gaylor, said the billboard is meant to encourage a debate about religion by evoking lyrics from a John Lennon song.

“The city has no business suggesting our billboard be censored,” Gaylor said. “They’re not allowed to interfere over religious controversy.”

The city’s actions are “dangerously close” to censorship and a violation of the First Amendment, said Peter Scheer, executive director of the California First Amendment Coalition.

“A city government has no business trying to dictate or influence the content of an advertising image, particularly one that’s political and controversial as this is simply because some people don’t like it and complained about it,” Scheer said.

A recent survey conducted by Teachers TV in the United Kingdom indicated that 18% of the science teachers surveyed thought creationism/intelligent design should be given equal status with evolution; indicating that they did not even know what a scientific theory is. Science broadcaster Adam Rutherford stated that such teachers should be removed from teaching science. Here here! A lucid voice of reason. Those that are ignorant or just plain stupid enough to suggest that the “controversy” should be taught do not belong teaching our children. When will they get it? There is no controversy. Creationism is an idea (a bad one). It is not a scientific theory. There is no evidence, nothing to test or falsify. It fails every single definition of a good (or even bad) scientific theory. I am so sick of hearing about this nonsense. Teachers who want to teach religious dogma are free to do so in their churches and private homes – but not in schools. Unfortunately the UK does not have any separation of state and church laws in place to protect both knowledge and religion. Here in the United States we do have the First Amendment. All of us need to defend the First Amendment whenever it is threatened by the ignorant and evil who try to force their ill-conceived drivel into our public schools.

Link

http://www.teachers.tv/news/30218

Now that the election is finally over and most of us can get back to a normal routine, we need to remember that science and reason must continue be a priority and our daily lives. With the election of Barack Obama as our next president we are at least given the hope of a return to an age of intellectual and scientific progress. Obama has stated he would reverse many of the Bush anti-science policies that were imposed during the past eight years. He has also pledged to end the moratorium on science that the Bush administration created by appointing a Science and Technology adviser to his cabinet. It’s about time! It’s still not entirely clear how Obama will react to state and church separation issues. He has already violated them during the election process. But all in all it appears that the religious right will not get a “special” place in his administration. Let’s hope so.

Links

Obama to reverse Bush policies

Obama on science

The associated press reported today that both presidential candidates sent their volunteers to churches to motivate people to vote. Propaganda either supporting or decrying one candidate or the other was plentiful. Spokesmen for both sides say they are not violating the law because the churches are not directly telling people to vote for one candidate or the other. Do they really think people are that stupid? Political action groups are handing out fliers in churches.  Both parties are busing people to polling stations from churches. They are using churches as a vehicle to campaign! The AP article makes a point of saying that both sides were respectful not to violate federal laws that would jeopardize a church’s tax-exempt status.  But come on! The almost non-existent fine line they are walking is just an insult to state and church separation. I am going to be so glad when this election is over.

Link to the original article

Today Dan Barker, the Co-President of The Freedom from Religion Foundation, was the guest speaker at the monthly SWiFT (Southeast Wisconsin Freethinkers) meeting. Those of us that were there were treated to thought provoking discourse and musical entertainment. Barker is an accomplished musician and composer. He entertained us on the piano and sung various songs from his repertoire including Friendly Neighborhood Atheist and Vatican Rag. The Freedom from Religion Foundation has a lot to be proud of. They have successfully launched numerous lawsuits against separation of state and church violations including the current lawsuit against President Bush and others for the National Day of Prayer, to name just one.

Barker is an amazing individual and someone who is who should be looked at as a roll model for how to lead a meaningful and fulfilling life. His appearance motivated me – and hopefully others present. Today, especially, we need to stand up for our rights. The political climate of the United States is very hostile toward Atheists, Agnostics, Freethinkers, and just about anyone who is not a Christian. The United States is not now, nor has it ever been a Christian nation. We owe it to ourselves and our descendants to make a stand and rock the boat whenever we can to set things right. I am proud to be an Atheist and proud to say that someone like Dan Barker resides among our ranks.

As we remember those who lost their lives in the terrorists’ attacks of 2001, let us do so without prayer. For it was belief in a god that caused the tragedy in the first place. Here is a quick history lesson for those who have forgotten. Seven years ago a bunch of educated, highly trained (they would have to be in order to fly the airplanes) brave men hijacked four airplanes and crashed them into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania. These men were not fanatics; they were devoted religious followers fulfilling their god’s plan. Their god may not be the mainstream god in the United States, but a god nevertheless. They were doing what they believed their god wanted them to do.

Many other atheists have argued , and I fully concur, that only religion and faith in a deity could have motivated these people to commit such terrible acts. Their belief was so strong that they killed innocents and took their own lives in the name of their god. Killing in the name of a god has been, and continues to be a common practice (The Crusades, The Inquisition, Northern Ireland, Iraq, etc). And it is an acceptable practice (depending on whose side you are on).

The events of 9/11 were horribly tragic and my thoughts go out to the survivors of the innocent victims. But I also want to remind everyone that there is an important lesson to be learned from this. It was faith that killed these people. It was faith that motivated the religious faithful to kill. No matter how you look at it, praying is a ridiculous and counter-productive effort. If you believe in the existence of many gods, then the Islamic one is obviously more powerful and your prayers to the Judeo-Christian god accomplish nothing. If you believe there is only one god then you are praying to the very god that caused this catastrophe in the first place – WTF? Finally, if you doubt that any god could or would change the laws of physics and take action based on your futile supplication, you are obviously wasting your time. So why bother?

Rather than embracing the agent that is responsible for this tragic event, we should move on to question whether we, as a society, want to continue to support an enterprise (religion) that fosters this type of bloodshed. I say NO! Do not pray for the victims of 9/11, remember them the next time religion asks you to do something that causes harm to others. Let the unfortunate victims of 9/11 serve as a painful reminder of what true unquestioning faith is capable of achieving.