There was a ?press conference? today with the Jena 6 prosecutor DA Reed Walters. Or there was supposed to be a press conference but instead Walters played host for a gathering which sounded more like a revivalist tent meeting. ,While reporters noted they had never before been allowed to bring cameras into the courtroom, Walters had quite a show set up complete with about 60 local residents – described as ?white supporters of the DA? on CNN who broke into applause when he appeared. I guess they had loved his performance back in 2006 when Black students protested the hanging of nooses in the ?white tree.? Then Walters arrived at the school with a group of police and warned the peaceful student protest that ?I could end your lives with the stroke of a pen.? This is the same Walters who consistently claimed ?This case is not and never has been about race? and who ?credits the ?imaginations? of African-Americans for the heightened racial tensions around the case.? Today, his words were less overtly threatening but the racist message was just as clear.Walters talked a whole lot about Jesus – and not much about justice. He did make a special note that it was only through the ?direct intervention of Jesus!? that last week?s demonstrations were peaceful – a pretty outrageous claim when the demonstration was a peaceful and amazing gathering and participants even picked up the trash before heading out of town.

Of course, it was also jesus that controlls everyone when they do good, and Satan that takes over when they do bad. But we all have free will.

Well, it’s over, the “Chrystal Clear Atheism” Convention for the AAI 2007. I must say, I was impressed. The five keynotes, Dawkins, Hitchens, Harris, Dennett, and Hirsi Ali all gave different and interesting speeches, highlighting the many facets of Atheism, underlined by a common goal. All the speakers had a lot of fans, and they seemed to be pleased to be here (although dawkins was obviously overwhelmed by his own popularity).I am thrilled to have been a part of this event. My talk went over well, to an overflow crowd, and even Ellen showed up to show her support for “cause unity”.American Atheists looks forward to working with AAI as our relationship grows and expands.

http://www.atheistalliance.org/conventions/2007/aaicon2007_video.phpToday I arrived at the star-studded Atheist Alliance Convention. This place is packed! check out the link and sign up for the Internet feed if you can. It’s going to be a great convention.

Seen here: http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/09/27/pace.gays.ap/index.html?eref=ib_topstories

Joint Chiefs chairman again says gay sex immoralWASHINGTON (AP) — Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, caused a stir at a Senate hearing this week when he repeated his view that gay sex is immoral and should not be condoned by the military.Pace, who retires next week, said he was seeking to clarify similar remarks he made in spring, which he said were misreported.”Are there wonderful Americans who happen to be homosexual serving in the military? Yes,” he told the Senate Appropriations Committee during a hearing Wednesday focused on the Pentagon’s 2008 war spending request.”We need to be very precise then, about what I said wearing my stars and being very conscious of it,” he added. “And that is, very simply, that we should respect those who want to serve the nation but not through the law of the land, condone activity that, in my upbringing, is counter to God’s law.”Anti-war protesters sitting behind Pace jeered the four-star general’s remarks with some shouting, “Bigot!” That led Committee Chairman Sen. Robert Byrd, D- West Virginia., to adjourn the hearing abruptly and seal off the doors.The hearing resumed about five minutes later in which Pace said he would be supportive of efforts to revisit the Pentagon’s policy so long as it didn’t violate his belief that sex should be restricted to a married heterosexual couple.”I would be very willing and able and supportive” to changes to the policy “to continue to allow the homosexual community to contribute to the nation without condoning what I believe to be activity — whether it to be heterosexual or homosexual — that in my (emphasis mine) upbringing is not right,” Pace said.Pace’s lengthy answer on gays was prodded by Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, who said he found Pace’s previous remarks as “very hurtful” and “very demoralizing” to homosexuals serving in the military.In March, the Chicago Tribune reported that Pace said in a wide-ranging interview: “I do not believe the United States is well served by a policy that says it is OK to be immoral in any way.”Harkin said he wanted to give Pace a chance to amend his remarks in light of his retirement.”It’s a matter of leadership, and we have to be careful what we say,” Harkin said.Pace noted that the U.S. Military Code of Justice prohibits homosexual activity as well as adultery. Harkin said, “Well, then, maybe we should change that.”

Funny how that works. I see it as immoral to place your religious beliefs over the law of the land. I see it as immoral to try to rewrite the constitution to better serve his religion. I see it as immoral for a general to even comment on the private, off-hours activities of other people (so long as they don’t affect performance).

I just had to point out that the thing President Allahmuhammedkillamerica stressed was that monotheism was his method to get to peace. Faith must be strong for peace to envelope the world.Then he ordered the guards to shoot the gays and non-burka’ed woomen. Allah loves you.