Again with the atheism...
In radio, particularly with "morning drive-time" shows... y'know, the funny ones, where the show goes by the name of "Steve, Lizzy and Omar", but there's really, like, 30 people on the show... Well, if "Steve" is sick, hung over, or, for some other reason, not coming in, the rest of the folks will cull through the show's "Archives" and put together a "Best Of..." show.
This is a Bare Bear "Best Of..." show. I haven't the time to really put together a winner. Yesterday's blog just took too much out of me (and made me REALLY late for work).
What follows is a "Letter to the Editor" I wrote in response to an article published on September 11, 2005 by The New London Day called "Citizen, Atheist, Patriot" My letter was published 4 days later, terribly pared down. I saved the original "rant" I planned to send in, until I did a word count on it and realized it was WAY over the limit. I wanders a bit, and ... might even repeat itself. Concision is not my long suit.
Here it is. Enjoy!
To whom it may concern:
Regarding your article about the Norwich Atheists, I applaud the courage you displayed in simply printing the article, and, further, positioning it above the fold on the front page.
I was disappointed, however, by the lack of useful information about atheism in the article. Atheism is a woefully misunderstood world view in America, and your article missed a rare opportunity to effort the reversal of that misunderstanding.
Having been an atheist all my adult life (and most of my youth), I can certainly appreciate the lack of acknowledgement, understanding and acceptance of atheism as a world-view with a likelihood of correctness at least as good as that of Christianity, Judaism, Islam or Hinduism.
Having had to face the pervasive and seemingly irreversible encroachment of Christianity into ostensibly secular aspects of public life almost as long as I can remember, I share the frustration of the subjects of your article. Matters such as the "Evolution/Intelligent Design Debate", the "Gay Marriage Debate" and the "Choice/Abortion Debate" show, with stunning clarity, that our local, state, federal governments are incresingly willing to abandon the principles set forth by our founders and fold under the cacaphony of thinly-veiled religious lobbying.
Like all the atheists I have known personally, I have no interest in interfering with others practicing their beliefs, provided they do not infringe my rights, they recognize that I am entitled to that same accomodation, and they recognize that, under the US Constitution, their belief system is no more or less valid than anyone else's in the eyes of the Government.
Like all atheists, I have faced misunderstanding, denial and rejection. One of the most stunning, if subtle, experiences of my life came while I was enlisting in the US Navy. I was filling out one among the myriad forms. It was one of the forms that has to do with what they do with you when/if you die. There was a field of checkboxes on one form, representing a number of Christian, Jewish and Islamic denominations. There were cursory nods to other religions, such as Buddhism, Native/Aboriginal, Hinduism, et cetera. At the end of the list, was a checkbox for "No religious preference", but there was no option for "Atheist". The choice I made in this field would determine what would go on my dogtags, what religious accomodations I might be granted throughout my enlistment and how my remains would be treated in the event of my death. I debated with my recruiter the inaccuracy of this, and ultimately was told that it didn't matter. It did matter. For the next three years, I had to represent myself as something I was not. I was not indifferent. I was, and am now, a deeply-rooted non-believer, and I was incensed.
I also share the view expressed by the subjects of your article, that current administration is not operating with my best interests at heart, or those of the Nation as a whole. George W. Bush (both personally and through his administration and supporters in Congress) is trampling The Bill of Rights with impunity, imposing his religion and ideology (with taxpayer dollars, no less) on the masses of this Nation and, sadly, the world at large, on a scale few in the office he now holds have done before. His "Us or Them" mindset, fermented in his religion, is a tremendous threat to domestic and international peace, civility and progress.
I, too, am an "Atheist, Citizen, Patriot". I am not asking for preferential treatment. I expect that Christians and others will treat me with the same respect they offer to people of other faiths, or that they would hope to be shown. That is the "Golden Rule", is it not? "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you"?
This is a Bare Bear "Best Of..." show. I haven't the time to really put together a winner. Yesterday's blog just took too much out of me (and made me REALLY late for work).
What follows is a "Letter to the Editor" I wrote in response to an article published on September 11, 2005 by The New London Day called "Citizen, Atheist, Patriot" My letter was published 4 days later, terribly pared down. I saved the original "rant" I planned to send in, until I did a word count on it and realized it was WAY over the limit. I wanders a bit, and ... might even repeat itself. Concision is not my long suit.
Here it is. Enjoy!
To whom it may concern:
Regarding your article about the Norwich Atheists, I applaud the courage you displayed in simply printing the article, and, further, positioning it above the fold on the front page.
I was disappointed, however, by the lack of useful information about atheism in the article. Atheism is a woefully misunderstood world view in America, and your article missed a rare opportunity to effort the reversal of that misunderstanding.
Having been an atheist all my adult life (and most of my youth), I can certainly appreciate the lack of acknowledgement, understanding and acceptance of atheism as a world-view with a likelihood of correctness at least as good as that of Christianity, Judaism, Islam or Hinduism.
Having had to face the pervasive and seemingly irreversible encroachment of Christianity into ostensibly secular aspects of public life almost as long as I can remember, I share the frustration of the subjects of your article. Matters such as the "Evolution/Intelligent Design Debate", the "Gay Marriage Debate" and the "Choice/Abortion Debate" show, with stunning clarity, that our local, state, federal governments are incresingly willing to abandon the principles set forth by our founders and fold under the cacaphony of thinly-veiled religious lobbying.
Like all the atheists I have known personally, I have no interest in interfering with others practicing their beliefs, provided they do not infringe my rights, they recognize that I am entitled to that same accomodation, and they recognize that, under the US Constitution, their belief system is no more or less valid than anyone else's in the eyes of the Government.
Like all atheists, I have faced misunderstanding, denial and rejection. One of the most stunning, if subtle, experiences of my life came while I was enlisting in the US Navy. I was filling out one among the myriad forms. It was one of the forms that has to do with what they do with you when/if you die. There was a field of checkboxes on one form, representing a number of Christian, Jewish and Islamic denominations. There were cursory nods to other religions, such as Buddhism, Native/Aboriginal, Hinduism, et cetera. At the end of the list, was a checkbox for "No religious preference", but there was no option for "Atheist". The choice I made in this field would determine what would go on my dogtags, what religious accomodations I might be granted throughout my enlistment and how my remains would be treated in the event of my death. I debated with my recruiter the inaccuracy of this, and ultimately was told that it didn't matter. It did matter. For the next three years, I had to represent myself as something I was not. I was not indifferent. I was, and am now, a deeply-rooted non-believer, and I was incensed.
I also share the view expressed by the subjects of your article, that current administration is not operating with my best interests at heart, or those of the Nation as a whole. George W. Bush (both personally and through his administration and supporters in Congress) is trampling The Bill of Rights with impunity, imposing his religion and ideology (with taxpayer dollars, no less) on the masses of this Nation and, sadly, the world at large, on a scale few in the office he now holds have done before. His "Us or Them" mindset, fermented in his religion, is a tremendous threat to domestic and international peace, civility and progress.
I, too, am an "Atheist, Citizen, Patriot". I am not asking for preferential treatment. I expect that Christians and others will treat me with the same respect they offer to people of other faiths, or that they would hope to be shown. That is the "Golden Rule", is it not? "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you"?
posted by UrsusPacificus at 7:06 AM
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