Our Marines are trying to convert the Muhammadans in Fallujah by handing out this coin. One side asks: “Where will you spend eternity?” and the other provides John 3:16 as an answer. And this little act of religious zealotry is only costing us 500 billion dollars. So killing nearly a million Iraqis is just another one of the Bush Company’s Faith Based Initiatives. Can you say — NOT IN MY NAME.Peter Nuhn
rna2dna
Thanks so much for your high compliment, but I could never fill Ellen’s shoes. And I certainly couldn’t fit into any of her tiny clothes! My mental health issues prevent me from participating in many social functions, so I would not be the best representative for AA. I would gladly help from the sidelines though, if there were some task I could fulfill.
karen,
It is obvious to me (from your comments) that you put a fairly large amount of effort into trying to make the world a better place and trying to dissuade the religious from presenting fantasy as fact.
As happens more often than I like, I was unable to make my intentions entirely clear. If the circumstances were such that you could be President of AA I believe you would do a good job. But, (just to take my sloppiness out of the equation) my target was the position being vacated by Bart.
Additionally, (and I thought about this in a “vision” last night so that of course makes it god-spell) I don’t really think a properly organized free-thought organization is structured with a president at the helm. Ideally, some structure where the best and most well reasoned ideas can be presented by any dedicated atheist who’s ideas can be tested and proven or dis-proven by other dedicated atheists. Maybe with a counsel to focus the efforts in a coordinated and forward direction.
rna2dna
OOPs! Sorry for the misunderstanding. I will now have to deflate my ego to proper proportions! SSSSSSSssssssSSSsssssSSssSSSSSSssSsSSssss. There. That should do it.
Actually, I really have no idea what the board member’s duties and responsibilities are for AA, other than the tiny peak we’ve had into the workings from Bart’s resignation letter. I have no particular talents or skills to bring to make me an asset over someone who has say, a legal background, or a public relations background, or is an accountant, or whatever. Although I do have experience at proofing, editing, layout and design. But my experience was all pre-computer age.
I would like to see the organization arranged so that the members had a chance to give input and be made aware of the decisions being made. The way it is now is like a little club of a dozen or so folks who get the rest of us to send them money so they can do stuff and we just have to accept it. I intend to continue to support AA, but I think they would get more members and support if they were more interactive with the membership. I see your point about the council and the focusing of efforts, but we also need a representative to be the face of atheism in the news. There were times when I thought Ellen did that very well, and other times I was disappointed. But it’s a very difficult position to be in, and I applaud her for being willing to take it on. I don’t know who will do as well.
Well, duh, of course, Dave could be our “face” of atheism. Right there in front of me as I was typing! He’s the communications director- that would be right up his alley anyway. And he’s an experienced debater, so he should be able to handle the antagonistic bias of the news reporters. Plus, he’s a good-looking family man- that doesn’t hurt.
Comment from: KnowledgeIsPower [
No…that would be his 2nd Amendment rights…
But so what? I’m always fascinated how history revisionists need to disect the first amendment…
Yes, of course. How ’bout I visit your house with a gun so we can discuss my first and second amendment rights and how they are completely irrelevant to this marine’s actions.
Please stop being a christian just so you can beat your wife.
Do you know where the coins come from?
I know I’m a little late in my comment, I am in Baghdad now, I only get to the internet once a week or so. We just had a class about this stuff. The general in charge of baghdad put out a paper on General Order number one, prohibited behaviors of soldiers in Iraq. It explicitly prohibits proseletyzing.
They mentioned the quran and coin incidents. Those soldiers and marines will get punished under the uniform code of military justice. We were given classes on GO1 several times before and during our deployment. Don’t let the actions of some irresponsible dickheads damage the reputation of the rest of us. As for harassing atheists, no one has ever given me or any of the other atheists in my unit any trouble. I don’t deny these things happen but it’s only a small amount of idiots getting a lot of publicity.
If the massive amount of war crimes committed by US troops in Fallujah (and the rest of Iraq) during America’s illegal war (and occupation) of aggression based on lies (and orders from God to GW) wasn’t enough, the members of Uncle Sams Military Cult (USMC)decided it would be a good idea to convert the survivors of those they have been recklessly killing and oppressing since 2003.
Religion being beyond criticism is the norm in American society, in the military, the chaplain corps is like a theocracy pulling strings behind the scenes and faith (judaism and Xian) actions are always in the right.
Fosters24, if you’re an illegal invader and occupier part of an illegal war of aggression based on lies and claims that God told GW to attack Iraq, how can you place any value in any classes you get on General Orders, when you and all the other troops in Iraq were coerced and conned into obeying unlawful orders to take part in an illegal war of aggression- a clear violation of your oath and the UCMJ????
Thats like saying it’s okay to break into a home, assault the occupants, rob them, terrorize them, kill some of them, but just don’t pee on the toilet seat when you use their bathroom or try to convert them.
“Responsibility” and “actions” are things that need to be contemplated on a deeper level than general orders given during a global crime and falls on the shoulders of every single member of the US military.
If US Military atheists are obeying unlawful orders in order to follow the herd marching off to illegal war and lacking the intellect to question lies or act on behalf of the truth and the rule of law, what does that say about our “Atheists in Foxholes”?
That question should be a blog topic!!!
If only a “Foxhole Atheist” had the sense and guts to do their duty and be “brave and bold” like LT Ehren Watada.
(www.ThankYouLT.org)
Wouldn’t it be great if he was secular!
First,
I agree that Bush’s Iraq war is the latest in a series of Christian crusades to conquer the so called holy land (because Jesus needs that to happen before he can return, of course). It makes me nervous to read stories about how the military is becoming more and more like an armed religious movement. Ever heard of a military coup? I don’t think we’d fare well in such a case.
Second,
SecularMan needs to lay off fosters24 for being a soldier. Do you pay taxes SecularMan? Contribute to the economy? Then you and I are guilty too, I suppose. If you think all atheists should quit the military, perhaps you should consider the consequences of handing over this powerful institution to the people who think the second coming of Christ will occur as soon as we bomb Iran.
Third,
ChristianGuideBook, as much as I hate to feed the trolls, I must mention this post from your website:
“How can the US Government, who was established on Christianity and the principals of God, remove this man from active duty and seek out a punishment for him? This is even more evidence that we are living in the end times, merely waiting on the sound of the Lord?s trumpet and the shout of his voice.”
I’m posting that just in case anyone out there doubts that, for Christians, this is a holy war (and always has been).
This acknowledgement may be troubling to the atheist soldiers out there, but please-please-please, stick with it, be strong, always do what is right, and never hide the fact that you are an atheist.
Chris, I suggest you go back and re-read what I posted- your perception is way off base. Fosters was never criticized for being a soldier, Fosters was accurately and correctly identified an an illegal invader & occupier taking part in an illegal war of aggression based on lies.
As far as taxes are concerned, I withhold any taxes used to fund the illegal war. http://www.nwtrcc.org
I am not guilty in any way of contributing to or supporting the illegal war and am quite vocal in words and action of my opposition to this global crime.
I never stated, suggested or made any comments that any rational person could confuse for suggesting that atheists “quit the military”.
I do suggest that they set a positive example and uphold their oath and do their duty by refusing unlawful orders, to include unlawful orders to take part in an illegal war based on lies and used as a xian & zionist jew crusade. Is that too much to expect from an ethical freethinker?