Please be advised that we are not affiliated in any way with ATHEISTSTATION.COM. Though we are flattered that someone would try to duplicate Web site name ATHEISTSTATION.ORG, we do not sell tee-shirts and goods, nor do we solicit money in any way shape or form 'cause we are not a 501(c)3 entity. Of course, we are not so foolish as to turn down any donations by people who appreciate our Web site.
Our Web site is a labor of love, and dedication to the pursuit of truth and reality.
!!! ALERT !!! (3-02-08)
There is a billboard war on, in Pennsylvania and Ohio! Yes, finally our numbers have increased, our audacity has increased, to take our proclamations against superstition fight to the hidebound drive-by religionists.
Chambersburg, PA, and now Columbus OH, are the scenes of John Lennon's "IMAGINE NO RELIGION" quote, sponsored by donors to the Freedom from Religion Foundation. But they are being countered by religious messages like: WHY DO ATHEISTS HATE AMERICA? with a little girl pledging to our flag. One message asking only to imagine while another infers Atheists can only hate.
Letters from all over the country have been printed in the Chambersburg PUBLIC OPINION Newspaper on both sides of the arguement. If anyone cares to contribute to posting Lennon's quote in other places, they can send a tax-exempt contribution to: FFrF's billboard fund (call 608-256-8900, (9 to 5 CST) or e-mail to info@ffrf.org).
Sometime this Spring, Atheist Station will mount his words so they will overlook the town and the Mainline of the New York - Chicago Amtrak route.
!!! ALERT (12-01-07) ALERT !!!
'SHOW ME YOUR PAPERS, PLEASE' may be coming to the United States sooner than later.
Benjamin Franklin once answered a questioner as to what kind of nation "did you make for us?" He answered: "A REPUBLIC, IF YOU CAN KEEP IT."
Today, no one thinks much about that question, nor Franklin's answer. It is more like what Edward R. Murrow warned might happen: that the new media of television might be used to entertain, detract and deter us from reality, instead of being used as an educational and truth informing venue. Those weren't his exact words, but see the Movie 'GOOD NIGHT, and GOOD LUCK' for the correct words uttered by actor David Straithairn reciting Murrow's speech (if you care enough to keep the Republic that Franklin & Co. gave to us).
"SHOW ME YOUR PAPER, PLEASE" was a mentality of pre-World War II Europe. A mentality that we fought to dispose of, among other things. I was told in my youth that we are a nation proud of the fact that we could drive coast to coast without having 'show our papers proving that we are who we say we are.' Now, we have the spector of 'REAL ID' in the form of a law that was passed in 2005(on the coat-tails of a bill approving funds for the war in Iraq). It was a last minute attachment that was not debated, nor was it funded. It will probably stay in limbo until money is appropriated for its implementation.
Eight States have passed legislation saying they will have no part of it: Georgia, South Carolina, Idaho, Washington, and Iowa are five of the eight states. Pensylvania has passed resolutions in the Senate and General Assembly against it also, but legislation directing the Federal government to stuff it is still in the pipeline.
However, there is much sentiment in Washington D.C. to follow through with implementing REAL ID. Supposedly, REAL ID will make it easier to track both TERRORISTS and ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. Actually, the opposite will happen: the terrorists will have achieved one of their big goals in trucating our freedoms. "SHOW ME YOUR PAPERS" will become a standard routine order in traveling in America. The immigration problem is one of our international borders' security, not one of intra-state travel.
The price tag to implement the law is estimated at $23 billion (in Pennsylvania, the cost will be $100 million), moneys to be spent revamping all DMV and licensing computers. If you enjoy waiting in line at your local DMV, you'll love it even more, applying for your new REAL ID! To make matters worse, all of your vital ID such as Social Security, birthdate and photo will become the property of the U.S. government, in one large, centralized data base -- one swipe away from marketers of all kinds -- and will be at the whim of future administrations desiring gun or any other kind of control that the president or Homeland Security might conjure up.
If you want more information, we urge you to visit the following Websites:
www.realnightmare.org
www.aclupa.org/realid
________________________________
THE CULTURAL WAR (needed more than ever)
I have always thought the Cultural War that Pat Buchanan started back in the eighties was an unnecessary provoking of the Silent Majority. Now, in the light of a sense of national and world urgency put forward by scientists Sam Harris and Richard Dawkins, I see that this war of men's and women's minds must, indeed. be fought. Nothing less than mankind's survival on this planet is at stake.
Apocalyptic, like in the sense of the Christian's "End of Times?" Yes, but more real! For a vivid scenario, read the first chapter of Sam Harris' "End of Faith." It makes LaHaye's LEFT BEHIND series of books sound more like serial fairy tales -- which they are, of course (fundamentalists please note: they are a work of fiction, not non-fiction). Harris gives our civilization fifty years to dodge advancing technology's ability to allow anyone so-minded, to become a martyr for his or her brand of religion. The fundamentals of that mentality are not only provided in the Koran -- just read your Bible carefully.
The ideas of these two scientists MUST penetrate the cerebrums of the casual human bloke much more effectively than the philosophers of yesterday (Ayn Rand is an exception with her short treatise "For The New Intellectual." Unfortunately, the politicians of this country have garbled, jury rigged, and Rube Goldberged James Madison's and Thomas Jefferson's efforts to bring the produce of the Enlightenment into governing protocol. Their efforts have been sorely compromised in the new United States, over the years, in order for politicians to satisfy the clamoring of the Christian clergy, i.e. "so help me God," tacked on at the end of the Constitutionally mandated presidential oath; or the allowance of chaplains in the House and Senate, and, also, the military. The list lengthens into absurdity as Christians in America view themselves as oppressed even as they overwhelmingly are in the majority.
Their multitude of churches (of many stripes and spots) are not enough that they childishly demand their kiosks and dogma be set up and maintained in our public schools and places of government.
For the umpteenth time, Christian children, our government is to be NEUTRAL in the affairs of religion -- choosing none nor allowing any to usurp the umbrella of protection offered to ALL of America's citizenry. Harris says fifty years, but my friends laugh at me when I say we might have a hundred years to put this nit-wittery behind us -- before some wannabe martyr lights the apocalyptic fuse. I know, religious people think I'm way out there: I was nonsensically against the two Middle Eastern wars that were commenced in the wake of 9-11, but no one would listen to my innovative way to get Bin Laden (there would have been no cost in human lives). No, we had to do it Bush's disgustingly unimaginative way, him stating: "There will always be wars and rumors of wars," so his Bible and God told him. I'm way out there, but I was right -- look at the gross can of worms Bush has opened up. It didn't require a rocket scientist to guess what might happen, but it sure helped when you don't have the religious blinders on to see that revenge wasn't the ticket.
In reality, it's probably too late. Dawkins' and Harris' words probably are too late. Even if America's Christians stopped their incessant clamoring for the eternal afterlife, how do you turn off the fire belching of uneducated Muslims? John Lennon sung it so well back in the seventies, his song "Imagine." Just lately, a picture has emerged of the New York skyline, with the Twin Towers standing. Dawkins mentions the picture in his book "The God Delusion." The skyline picture is appropriately captioned: "IMAGINE A WORLD WITHOUT RELIGION."
Ron Stauffer, 12-31-06
TERRORIST TARGET LIST UPDATED (7-23-2006)
--Amish Farms Popcorn Factory in Indiana put on high alert!!!!
--New Yorkers need not worry, as Times Square did not make the list. (It seems that "red" states are given more weight in the assignment of priorities -- or maybe we miss our guess).
OPUS DEI ALERT !!!!!! (5-15-2006)
See Loose Cannon page for particulars on this ecclesiastically cute conclave.
ATHEISTS IN FOXHOLES ALERT!!
(November 4, 2005)
Yes, there has, and there always will be, Atheists in foxholes. AMERICAN ATHEISTS is sponsoring a program on the National Mall, in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 11, (which is Veterans Day) introducing a dozen or so veterans who will give their story in the frame of five minutes each. All parties interested are invited to attend. There should be plenty of Fundies and religious nuts there to razz!
I will be attending the program with my wife and friends, but will not speak as I was only a six month active duty Marine Reservist serving in a peaceful environment. However, I would like to share with the reader the story of another soldier who won't be there -- who I came to know fairly well.
"Doc" as I shall call him, was my family's physician for many years, delivering our two children. I found out later that he lost his religion as a young Army MD who hit the beach at Normandy as a Christian and was atheist by the time his unit made it to Czechoslovakia.
He came to our area of south-central Pennsylvania after the war to set up his practice. A fellow in the community asked him what church he attended, and Doc answered: "I don't worship at any church." The fellow informed him rather bluntly that he would not last long in "these parts." Well, the fellow was wrong. Doc served the area for four decades, serving half that time as the District's school board president (of course he was a closet atheist).
To me, Doc was one of the most respected, if not the most respected citizen of the area. Once, at my youngest son's graduation ceremony, he sought me out to tell me how much he enjoyed my letters to the editor. Until then, that was the greatest compliment I had ever received.
I didn't see him again until we were working not far from his house. He was retired by then, and came out to 'give us a hard time' (he was quite the kidder and liked to keep people just a bit off balance). He soon got into a confab with my employee over miracles and I soon could tell where he was coming from. "There are no miracles!" he adamantly proclaimed. And, within minutes, he explained how he lost his religion fixing up broken bodies throughout Europe, and arguing with priests and clergymen along the war torn way.
I'm ashamed to admit that I failed to apprise him of this upcoming Veterans Day program, but will do so Monday. I hope he is well enough and able to make the trip with us to D.C. His wife is Catholic and he is in a Christian retirement home -- that may be an obstacle!
You see, there are very nice, productive citizens all around us, some of which are quiet atheists or agnostics -- certainly humanists. Religions need to be reminded that they do not have a lock on morality!
P.S. I doubt if the READERS DIGEST would be interested in printing my story about Doc, as a Memorable Person.
The Pennsylvania legislature has two bills in the House Education Committee that are extremely detrimental to our public school students:
HB1007 proposes amending the Public School Code of 1949 to allow ID ("intelligent design" creationism) to be added to any curriculum containing evolution.
HB1012 would allow administrators and teachers to prominently display the motto "In God We Trust" in each classroom.
Naturally, HB1007 poses the most overt threat. The ACLU is ready to fight this bill. But consider the insidiousness of HB1013. From kindergarten on, students would be constantly brainwahsed by this senseless religious motto.
PLEASE! Write or phone your state representative. Express your concern about these bills. If so moved, contact the office of Rep. Jess Stairs, Chairperson of the Education Committee, and ask to be allowed to give public testimony at the next committee meeting. Email eromano@pahousegop.com to make this request.
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
Contact your U. S. Representative about
H.CON.RES.4.IS, et al
Here is the letter I sent to Bill Shuster:
Dear Congressman Shuster:
It is very disturbing that federal tax funds continue to be authorized for use by the Boy Scouts of America. This organization blatantly discriminates against minority groups of our young people, i.e. gays and Atheists.
In noting what Scouts are taught, these bills conveniently omit that they also learn bigotry, dishonesty and hypocrisy. Boy Scouts of America makes the claim that such policies are its right as a private organization. Therefore, BSA should support discrimination with private funds.
Please remember that you also represent those frowned upon by the majority. As the Christian savior pointed out, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me."
Please vote to deny funds to Boy Scouts of America, thus observing the constitutional separation of religion and government.
I would appreciate a response to my request.
Sincerely,
Lorie Polansky
Pennsylvania State Director
AMERICAN ATHEISTS, INC.
--No answer was received as of May 4, so this letter followed:
Dear Congressman Shuster:
Enclosed is a copy of my previous letter to you. I hope it was lost in themail -- or accidentally shredded by an industrious secretary. I wouldn't want to think that you consider some of your constituents to be second-class citizens based on their lack of religious belief.
I would appreciate the courtesy of a reply to my letter of March 22, 2005.
Sincerely,
Lorie Polansky
Pennsylvania State Director
AMERICAN ATHEISTS, INC.
August 25, 2003 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ALERT !!!!!!!! </p>
ATHEISTS - AGNOSTICS - FREETHINKERS </p>
Certain Republicans (and some Democrats) in the House of Representatives are taking steps to cut the Judiciary loose from the rest of the federal government. The following two amendments (3 & 11) to HR 2799 are meant to cut off any spending for federal marshalls, should their assistance be requested in enforcing mandates issued by the 9th and 11th Federal Court Districts (in NEWDOW and ROY MOORE decisions). The bill has passed and is now in the senate. </p>
For all of you that feel safe in the closet, this may be a time to consider making your ideals known to your congressmen and like minded freethinkers. In other words, please consider uniting with us in an effort to bring this foolishness to an end before it gets worse. You know, the Jews stayed in the closet, docile to the last as they were herded to the gas chambers in Nazi Germany. </p>
Though you may be in the closet fearful of jeopardizing your employment and social standing, you are intelligent enough to write subtle, penetrating, reasonable letters to the editor of your local newspaper. The time has come for many, many more of us to stand together against this onslaught of stupidity. We must use our rights or we might just LOSE them. </p>
Because of your independent stand against the tyranny and nonsense of religion, you already exhibit fearlessness. It is FEAR of the fundamentalist electorate that is driving these congressmen toward establishing a theocracy, knowingly or not. The grand experiment of America must not be brought down by a clamoring, anti-intellectual mob. We must assert that separation of church and state continue as policy -- why fix something that ain't broke? </p>
The key RUB here is underlined in Roy Moore's pronouncements that [his] God is greater than our country's laws when, in fact, it is this country's laws that protect his right to expound what he believes. Without that umbrella of protection, what is he and his nebulous values? </p>
<p> <p> <p> <p> L.C. </p>
3. H.AMDT.288 to H.R.2799 An amendment to restrict the use of funds from being used to enforce the judgment in Newdow v. U.S. Congress 292 F.3d 597 (9th Cir. 2002).
Sponsor: Rep Hostettler, John N. [IN-8] (introduced 7/22/2003) Cosponsors: (none)
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2003 House amendment agreed to. Status: On agreeing to the Hostettler amendment (A003) Agreed to by recorded vote: 307 - 119 (Roll no. 406).
</p>
11. H.AMDT.296 to H.R.2799 An amendment to prohibit use of funds to enforce the judgement of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit in Glassroth v. Moore, decided July 1, 2003.
Sponsor: Rep Hostettler, John N. [IN-8] (introduced 7/22/2003) Cosponsors: (none)
Latest Major Action: 7/23/2003 House amendment agreed to. Status: On agreeing to the Hostettler amendment (A011) Agreed to by recorded vote: 260 - 161 (Roll no. 419).
</p>
-----------------------------------------------------------------</p>
</p>
December 2, 2002
<p>Go to the following link for today's editorial by Leonard Pitts of the Miami Herald:</p>
<p>www.centredaily.com/mid/centredaily/news/opinion/4642341.htm</p>
<p>December 3, 2002</p>
<p> Robert C. Jubelirer</p>
<p> Office of the President Pro Tempore</p>
<p>Senate Box 203030</p>
<p>The State Capitol</p>
<p>Harrisburg PA 17120-3030</p>
<p>IN RE: Protection of Religious Freedom Bill</p>
<p>Dear Senator Jubelirer:</p>
<p>Since when have Pennsylvanians been unable to worship freely? Our Commonwealth has long been a bastion of religious liberty. The "hard reality" is quite the opposite of your position: nonbelievers are being force-fed worship, even on tax-supported property! You need look no farther than Altoona's City Hall!</p>
<p>At least twenty-five percent of property in this state is church owned -- therefore, untaxed. This figure is not derived by counting church steeples alone. Rather, add them to all the houses left to parishes by elderly spinsters and the 40-acre farms donated to the church to guarantee places in heaven. Every scrap of land thus bequeathed is immediately purged from the tax rolls yet is allowed to generate income. The latest fad for churches is to lease space for the immensely lucrative cell towers. Restrictions applicable to private individuals or businesses are waived for the churches.</p>
<p>At least two area churches have received hundreds of man-hours of free labor (compliments of federal and state prisons) simply because they are religious organizations.</p>
<p>The claim of "substantial burdens" has been disproved by the National Congregations Study (University of Arizona, 1999), a definitive survey of religious groups in the United States. It concludes that "congregations are only very minimally constrained by regulatory authority" and that "it is extraordinarily uncommon for congregations to be denied permission by government authorities to engage in the activities in which they wish to engage."</p>
<p>Your bill grants special rights for believers. I am amazed that you can be so blinded by the need to ingratiate yourself with your pious constituents that you cannot see the striking similarity between the current climate of hyperreligiosity (read Christianity) and events in Germany during the Nazi regime.</p>
<p>How can a Jewish man be so shortsighted and have so little regard for history? I am grateful for one thing: that you are not a member of the judiciary, because you seem to have no concept of neutrality or justice.</p>
<p>Sincerely,</p>
<p>Lorie Polansky</p>
**************************************************
<p>October 20, 2002</p>
<p>Phone, fax, email or snail mail your state senators -- ask them to vote NO to Senate Bill 1924 (Charitable Aid, Recovery and Empowerment Act or CARE).</p>
<p>Religious organizations already have access to untaxed billions of dollars!</p>
<p>As Ben Franklin said, ""When a religion is good, I conceive it will support itself, and when it cannot support itself, and God does not care to support it, so that its Professors are obliged to call for the help of the civil power, it is a sign, I apprehend, of its being a bad one."</p>
******************************************************
<p>October 10, 2002</p>
<p>Go to this website: www.congress.com
email Congressmen Frank, Scott, Stark, Honda and McDermott to thank them for voting against retaining the word "god" in the pledge and the country's motto.</p>
<p>The software is very user-friendly. It will even remember your text from one email message to the next.</p>
Our Web site is a labor of love, and dedication to the pursuit of truth and reality.
!!! ALERT !!! (3-02-08)
There is a billboard war on, in Pennsylvania and Ohio! Yes, finally our numbers have increased, our audacity has increased, to take our proclamations against superstition fight to the hidebound drive-by religionists.
Chambersburg, PA, and now Columbus OH, are the scenes of John Lennon's "IMAGINE NO RELIGION" quote, sponsored by donors to the Freedom from Religion Foundation. But they are being countered by religious messages like: WHY DO ATHEISTS HATE AMERICA? with a little girl pledging to our flag. One message asking only to imagine while another infers Atheists can only hate.
Letters from all over the country have been printed in the Chambersburg PUBLIC OPINION Newspaper on both sides of the arguement. If anyone cares to contribute to posting Lennon's quote in other places, they can send a tax-exempt contribution to: FFrF's billboard fund (call 608-256-8900, (9 to 5 CST) or e-mail to info@ffrf.org).
Sometime this Spring, Atheist Station will mount his words so they will overlook the town and the Mainline of the New York - Chicago Amtrak route.
!!! ALERT (12-01-07) ALERT !!!
'SHOW ME YOUR PAPERS, PLEASE' may be coming to the United States sooner than later.
Benjamin Franklin once answered a questioner as to what kind of nation "did you make for us?" He answered: "A REPUBLIC, IF YOU CAN KEEP IT."
Today, no one thinks much about that question, nor Franklin's answer. It is more like what Edward R. Murrow warned might happen: that the new media of television might be used to entertain, detract and deter us from reality, instead of being used as an educational and truth informing venue. Those weren't his exact words, but see the Movie 'GOOD NIGHT, and GOOD LUCK' for the correct words uttered by actor David Straithairn reciting Murrow's speech (if you care enough to keep the Republic that Franklin & Co. gave to us).
"SHOW ME YOUR PAPER, PLEASE" was a mentality of pre-World War II Europe. A mentality that we fought to dispose of, among other things. I was told in my youth that we are a nation proud of the fact that we could drive coast to coast without having 'show our papers proving that we are who we say we are.' Now, we have the spector of 'REAL ID' in the form of a law that was passed in 2005(on the coat-tails of a bill approving funds for the war in Iraq). It was a last minute attachment that was not debated, nor was it funded. It will probably stay in limbo until money is appropriated for its implementation.
Eight States have passed legislation saying they will have no part of it: Georgia, South Carolina, Idaho, Washington, and Iowa are five of the eight states. Pensylvania has passed resolutions in the Senate and General Assembly against it also, but legislation directing the Federal government to stuff it is still in the pipeline.
However, there is much sentiment in Washington D.C. to follow through with implementing REAL ID. Supposedly, REAL ID will make it easier to track both TERRORISTS and ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. Actually, the opposite will happen: the terrorists will have achieved one of their big goals in trucating our freedoms. "SHOW ME YOUR PAPERS" will become a standard routine order in traveling in America. The immigration problem is one of our international borders' security, not one of intra-state travel.
The price tag to implement the law is estimated at $23 billion (in Pennsylvania, the cost will be $100 million), moneys to be spent revamping all DMV and licensing computers. If you enjoy waiting in line at your local DMV, you'll love it even more, applying for your new REAL ID! To make matters worse, all of your vital ID such as Social Security, birthdate and photo will become the property of the U.S. government, in one large, centralized data base -- one swipe away from marketers of all kinds -- and will be at the whim of future administrations desiring gun or any other kind of control that the president or Homeland Security might conjure up.
If you want more information, we urge you to visit the following Websites:
www.realnightmare.org
www.aclupa.org/realid
________________________________
THE CULTURAL WAR (needed more than ever)
I have always thought the Cultural War that Pat Buchanan started back in the eighties was an unnecessary provoking of the Silent Majority. Now, in the light of a sense of national and world urgency put forward by scientists Sam Harris and Richard Dawkins, I see that this war of men's and women's minds must, indeed. be fought. Nothing less than mankind's survival on this planet is at stake.
Apocalyptic, like in the sense of the Christian's "End of Times?" Yes, but more real! For a vivid scenario, read the first chapter of Sam Harris' "End of Faith." It makes LaHaye's LEFT BEHIND series of books sound more like serial fairy tales -- which they are, of course (fundamentalists please note: they are a work of fiction, not non-fiction). Harris gives our civilization fifty years to dodge advancing technology's ability to allow anyone so-minded, to become a martyr for his or her brand of religion. The fundamentals of that mentality are not only provided in the Koran -- just read your Bible carefully.
The ideas of these two scientists MUST penetrate the cerebrums of the casual human bloke much more effectively than the philosophers of yesterday (Ayn Rand is an exception with her short treatise "For The New Intellectual." Unfortunately, the politicians of this country have garbled, jury rigged, and Rube Goldberged James Madison's and Thomas Jefferson's efforts to bring the produce of the Enlightenment into governing protocol. Their efforts have been sorely compromised in the new United States, over the years, in order for politicians to satisfy the clamoring of the Christian clergy, i.e. "so help me God," tacked on at the end of the Constitutionally mandated presidential oath; or the allowance of chaplains in the House and Senate, and, also, the military. The list lengthens into absurdity as Christians in America view themselves as oppressed even as they overwhelmingly are in the majority.
Their multitude of churches (of many stripes and spots) are not enough that they childishly demand their kiosks and dogma be set up and maintained in our public schools and places of government.
For the umpteenth time, Christian children, our government is to be NEUTRAL in the affairs of religion -- choosing none nor allowing any to usurp the umbrella of protection offered to ALL of America's citizenry. Harris says fifty years, but my friends laugh at me when I say we might have a hundred years to put this nit-wittery behind us -- before some wannabe martyr lights the apocalyptic fuse. I know, religious people think I'm way out there: I was nonsensically against the two Middle Eastern wars that were commenced in the wake of 9-11, but no one would listen to my innovative way to get Bin Laden (there would have been no cost in human lives). No, we had to do it Bush's disgustingly unimaginative way, him stating: "There will always be wars and rumors of wars," so his Bible and God told him. I'm way out there, but I was right -- look at the gross can of worms Bush has opened up. It didn't require a rocket scientist to guess what might happen, but it sure helped when you don't have the religious blinders on to see that revenge wasn't the ticket.
In reality, it's probably too late. Dawkins' and Harris' words probably are too late. Even if America's Christians stopped their incessant clamoring for the eternal afterlife, how do you turn off the fire belching of uneducated Muslims? John Lennon sung it so well back in the seventies, his song "Imagine." Just lately, a picture has emerged of the New York skyline, with the Twin Towers standing. Dawkins mentions the picture in his book "The God Delusion." The skyline picture is appropriately captioned: "IMAGINE A WORLD WITHOUT RELIGION."
Ron Stauffer, 12-31-06
TERRORIST TARGET LIST UPDATED (7-23-2006)
--Amish Farms Popcorn Factory in Indiana put on high alert!!!!
--New Yorkers need not worry, as Times Square did not make the list. (It seems that "red" states are given more weight in the assignment of priorities -- or maybe we miss our guess).
OPUS DEI ALERT !!!!!! (5-15-2006)
See Loose Cannon page for particulars on this ecclesiastically cute conclave.
ATHEISTS IN FOXHOLES ALERT!!
(November 4, 2005)
Yes, there has, and there always will be, Atheists in foxholes. AMERICAN ATHEISTS is sponsoring a program on the National Mall, in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 11, (which is Veterans Day) introducing a dozen or so veterans who will give their story in the frame of five minutes each. All parties interested are invited to attend. There should be plenty of Fundies and religious nuts there to razz!
I will be attending the program with my wife and friends, but will not speak as I was only a six month active duty Marine Reservist serving in a peaceful environment. However, I would like to share with the reader the story of another soldier who won't be there -- who I came to know fairly well.
"Doc" as I shall call him, was my family's physician for many years, delivering our two children. I found out later that he lost his religion as a young Army MD who hit the beach at Normandy as a Christian and was atheist by the time his unit made it to Czechoslovakia.
He came to our area of south-central Pennsylvania after the war to set up his practice. A fellow in the community asked him what church he attended, and Doc answered: "I don't worship at any church." The fellow informed him rather bluntly that he would not last long in "these parts." Well, the fellow was wrong. Doc served the area for four decades, serving half that time as the District's school board president (of course he was a closet atheist).
To me, Doc was one of the most respected, if not the most respected citizen of the area. Once, at my youngest son's graduation ceremony, he sought me out to tell me how much he enjoyed my letters to the editor. Until then, that was the greatest compliment I had ever received.
I didn't see him again until we were working not far from his house. He was retired by then, and came out to 'give us a hard time' (he was quite the kidder and liked to keep people just a bit off balance). He soon got into a confab with my employee over miracles and I soon could tell where he was coming from. "There are no miracles!" he adamantly proclaimed. And, within minutes, he explained how he lost his religion fixing up broken bodies throughout Europe, and arguing with priests and clergymen along the war torn way.
I'm ashamed to admit that I failed to apprise him of this upcoming Veterans Day program, but will do so Monday. I hope he is well enough and able to make the trip with us to D.C. His wife is Catholic and he is in a Christian retirement home -- that may be an obstacle!
You see, there are very nice, productive citizens all around us, some of which are quiet atheists or agnostics -- certainly humanists. Religions need to be reminded that they do not have a lock on morality!
P.S. I doubt if the READERS DIGEST would be interested in printing my story about Doc, as a Memorable Person.
The Pennsylvania legislature has two bills in the House Education Committee that are extremely detrimental to our public school students:
HB1007 proposes amending the Public School Code of 1949 to allow ID ("intelligent design" creationism) to be added to any curriculum containing evolution.
HB1012 would allow administrators and teachers to prominently display the motto "In God We Trust" in each classroom.
Naturally, HB1007 poses the most overt threat. The ACLU is ready to fight this bill. But consider the insidiousness of HB1013. From kindergarten on, students would be constantly brainwahsed by this senseless religious motto.
PLEASE! Write or phone your state representative. Express your concern about these bills. If so moved, contact the office of Rep. Jess Stairs, Chairperson of the Education Committee, and ask to be allowed to give public testimony at the next committee meeting. Email eromano@pahousegop.com to make this request.
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
Contact your U. S. Representative about
H.CON.RES.4.IS, et al
Here is the letter I sent to Bill Shuster:
Dear Congressman Shuster:
It is very disturbing that federal tax funds continue to be authorized for use by the Boy Scouts of America. This organization blatantly discriminates against minority groups of our young people, i.e. gays and Atheists.
In noting what Scouts are taught, these bills conveniently omit that they also learn bigotry, dishonesty and hypocrisy. Boy Scouts of America makes the claim that such policies are its right as a private organization. Therefore, BSA should support discrimination with private funds.
Please remember that you also represent those frowned upon by the majority. As the Christian savior pointed out, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me."
Please vote to deny funds to Boy Scouts of America, thus observing the constitutional separation of religion and government.
I would appreciate a response to my request.
Sincerely,
Lorie Polansky
Pennsylvania State Director
AMERICAN ATHEISTS, INC.
--No answer was received as of May 4, so this letter followed:
Dear Congressman Shuster:
Enclosed is a copy of my previous letter to you. I hope it was lost in themail -- or accidentally shredded by an industrious secretary. I wouldn't want to think that you consider some of your constituents to be second-class citizens based on their lack of religious belief.
I would appreciate the courtesy of a reply to my letter of March 22, 2005.
Sincerely,
Lorie Polansky
Pennsylvania State Director
AMERICAN ATHEISTS, INC.
August 25, 2003 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ALERT !!!!!!!! </p>
ATHEISTS - AGNOSTICS - FREETHINKERS </p>
Certain Republicans (and some Democrats) in the House of Representatives are taking steps to cut the Judiciary loose from the rest of the federal government. The following two amendments (3 & 11) to HR 2799 are meant to cut off any spending for federal marshalls, should their assistance be requested in enforcing mandates issued by the 9th and 11th Federal Court Districts (in NEWDOW and ROY MOORE decisions). The bill has passed and is now in the senate. </p>
For all of you that feel safe in the closet, this may be a time to consider making your ideals known to your congressmen and like minded freethinkers. In other words, please consider uniting with us in an effort to bring this foolishness to an end before it gets worse. You know, the Jews stayed in the closet, docile to the last as they were herded to the gas chambers in Nazi Germany. </p>
Though you may be in the closet fearful of jeopardizing your employment and social standing, you are intelligent enough to write subtle, penetrating, reasonable letters to the editor of your local newspaper. The time has come for many, many more of us to stand together against this onslaught of stupidity. We must use our rights or we might just LOSE them. </p>
Because of your independent stand against the tyranny and nonsense of religion, you already exhibit fearlessness. It is FEAR of the fundamentalist electorate that is driving these congressmen toward establishing a theocracy, knowingly or not. The grand experiment of America must not be brought down by a clamoring, anti-intellectual mob. We must assert that separation of church and state continue as policy -- why fix something that ain't broke? </p>
The key RUB here is underlined in Roy Moore's pronouncements that [his] God is greater than our country's laws when, in fact, it is this country's laws that protect his right to expound what he believes. Without that umbrella of protection, what is he and his nebulous values? </p>
<p> <p> <p> <p> L.C. </p>
3. H.AMDT.288 to H.R.2799 An amendment to restrict the use of funds from being used to enforce the judgment in Newdow v. U.S. Congress 292 F.3d 597 (9th Cir. 2002).
Sponsor: Rep Hostettler, John N. [IN-8] (introduced 7/22/2003) Cosponsors: (none)
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2003 House amendment agreed to. Status: On agreeing to the Hostettler amendment (A003) Agreed to by recorded vote: 307 - 119 (Roll no. 406).
</p>
11. H.AMDT.296 to H.R.2799 An amendment to prohibit use of funds to enforce the judgement of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit in Glassroth v. Moore, decided July 1, 2003.
Sponsor: Rep Hostettler, John N. [IN-8] (introduced 7/22/2003) Cosponsors: (none)
Latest Major Action: 7/23/2003 House amendment agreed to. Status: On agreeing to the Hostettler amendment (A011) Agreed to by recorded vote: 260 - 161 (Roll no. 419).
</p>
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</p>
December 2, 2002
<p>Go to the following link for today's editorial by Leonard Pitts of the Miami Herald:</p>
<p>www.centredaily.com/mid/centredaily/news/opinion/4642341.htm</p>
<p>December 3, 2002</p>
<p> Robert C. Jubelirer</p>
<p> Office of the President Pro Tempore</p>
<p>Senate Box 203030</p>
<p>The State Capitol</p>
<p>Harrisburg PA 17120-3030</p>
<p>IN RE: Protection of Religious Freedom Bill</p>
<p>Dear Senator Jubelirer:</p>
<p>Since when have Pennsylvanians been unable to worship freely? Our Commonwealth has long been a bastion of religious liberty. The "hard reality" is quite the opposite of your position: nonbelievers are being force-fed worship, even on tax-supported property! You need look no farther than Altoona's City Hall!</p>
<p>At least twenty-five percent of property in this state is church owned -- therefore, untaxed. This figure is not derived by counting church steeples alone. Rather, add them to all the houses left to parishes by elderly spinsters and the 40-acre farms donated to the church to guarantee places in heaven. Every scrap of land thus bequeathed is immediately purged from the tax rolls yet is allowed to generate income. The latest fad for churches is to lease space for the immensely lucrative cell towers. Restrictions applicable to private individuals or businesses are waived for the churches.</p>
<p>At least two area churches have received hundreds of man-hours of free labor (compliments of federal and state prisons) simply because they are religious organizations.</p>
<p>The claim of "substantial burdens" has been disproved by the National Congregations Study (University of Arizona, 1999), a definitive survey of religious groups in the United States. It concludes that "congregations are only very minimally constrained by regulatory authority" and that "it is extraordinarily uncommon for congregations to be denied permission by government authorities to engage in the activities in which they wish to engage."</p>
<p>Your bill grants special rights for believers. I am amazed that you can be so blinded by the need to ingratiate yourself with your pious constituents that you cannot see the striking similarity between the current climate of hyperreligiosity (read Christianity) and events in Germany during the Nazi regime.</p>
<p>How can a Jewish man be so shortsighted and have so little regard for history? I am grateful for one thing: that you are not a member of the judiciary, because you seem to have no concept of neutrality or justice.</p>
<p>Sincerely,</p>
<p>Lorie Polansky</p>
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<p>October 20, 2002</p>
<p>Phone, fax, email or snail mail your state senators -- ask them to vote NO to Senate Bill 1924 (Charitable Aid, Recovery and Empowerment Act or CARE).</p>
<p>Religious organizations already have access to untaxed billions of dollars!</p>
<p>As Ben Franklin said, ""When a religion is good, I conceive it will support itself, and when it cannot support itself, and God does not care to support it, so that its Professors are obliged to call for the help of the civil power, it is a sign, I apprehend, of its being a bad one."</p>
******************************************************
<p>October 10, 2002</p>
<p>Go to this website: www.congress.com
email Congressmen Frank, Scott, Stark, Honda and McDermott to thank them for voting against retaining the word "god" in the pledge and the country's motto.</p>
<p>The software is very user-friendly. It will even remember your text from one email message to the next.</p>
