fromFrank R. Zindler, Acting PresidentAmerican Atheists, Inc.Charles E. Stevens American Atheist Library & Archives, Inc.Dear Ellen,I am writing to you in this open forum simply because it appears virtually impossible to communicate with you via certified mail or other normal channels. I am writing to appeal to your sense of honesty and your sense of what is best for the cause of Atheism. I am asking you to return to the Charles E. Stevens American Atheist Library & Archives (CESAALA) the diaries of Madalyn Murray O’Hair over which you have control. The diaries cover the period from the late 1950s, through the 1960s, into the early 1970s. Especially in need of return is the diary containing the entries for June of 1963, recording the period of the ruling in Murray v. Curlett. On a number of occasions you have told me and other members of the board and staff that you have these diaries in your possession, and so I would not expect you to dispute the facts of my request.As you know, the joint will of Madalyn Murray O’Hair, Jon Garth Murray, and Robin Eileen Murray-O’Hair specifies that all their personal property shall become the property of CESAALA upon their decease. As Acting President of CESAALA, it is my fiduciary duty to seek the return of property rightfully belonging to the corporation. I ask that the diaries be returned immediately, without further delay. I do not wish to insult you, but I must nevertheless remind you that many ? indeed, the vast majority ? of the people who are still supporting you and are sympathetic to your cause are men and women of great integrity as well as intelligence. Can you suppose that they would continue to support you if all the facts could be made to show that you are illegally in possession of CESAALA property ? precious reminders not only of our own organizational history but of the course of First-Amendment jurisprudence as well? I seriously doubt it. They are men and women of integrity who expect you to be at least their equal.I suspect too that your colleagues in GAMPAC would not be pleased to learn that you have not returned property belonging to a corporation to which you previously owed allegiance and for which you claimed to be fulfilling your fiduciary responsibilities. Would they be wise to trust you as their chief executive?I hope that the next few days will witness the return of these important and valuable documents to our library in Cranford.For Reason,Frank R. Zindler
Jeff-R wrote:
“Smartgal, when was the last time you had contact with Ellen? It would be nice to know that she’s alive and (more or less) well.”
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Jeff-R, Ellen is alive and well. She does not read this blog as she feels it would be too painful.
I feel I can’t say anything more than that about Ellen’s situation without her permission, except that I think she is being brave and courageous. That’s my opinion.
I will excerpt only one thing she wrote to me in a longer email recently.
Ellen wrote:
“I worry terribly for the future of AA.”
So do I.
AA is now in the hands of people who are more concerned about some pieces of paper than about humans and human feelings. I would expect Atheists to be as kind and conciliatory and forgiving as Christians are. In my catholic youth, I was taught absolution. I cannot live with the feeling that there are people out there on AA’s board of directors judging Ellen, who do not understand Ellen’s grief about Madalyn or Ellen’s wish to “finish” things for Madalyn or the symbolism of the Freedom Walk as a memorial for Madalyn. Or even the sacrifices Ellen has made for 13 years of her life.
I was told that somebody read to Ellen what I wrote on this blog at one time, which said, “Madalyn would have made the Freedom Walk herself even with her cane or her walker. Madalyn would have waved her cane or walker as she entered each new town!”
I was told that brought tears to Ellen’s eyes.
What you heartless people on the BOD can’t seem to understand is the deep emotional significance of what Ellen did for a woman she loved. Ellen was finishing an unfinished task for Madalyn. She was doing for Madalyn what death had not permitted Madalyn to do herself. It was a labor of love on Ellen’s part. Yes, guys, the Most Hated Woman in the World…was loved.
Jeff-R wrote:
“Smartgal, when was the last time you had contact with Ellen? It would be nice to know that she’s alive and (more or less) well.”
————————————
Jeff-R, Ellen is alive and well. She does not read this blog as she feels it would be too painful.
I feel I can’t say anything more than that about Ellen’s situation without her permission, except that I think she is being brave and courageous. That’s my opinion.
I will excerpt only one thing she wrote to me in a longer email recently.
Ellen wrote:
“I worry terribly for the future of AA.”
So do I.
AA is now in the hands of people who are more concerned about some pieces of paper than about humans and human feelings. I would expect Atheists to be as kind and conciliatory and forgiving as Christians are. In my catholic youth, I was taught absolution. I cannot live with the feeling that there are people out there on AA’s board of directors judging Ellen, who do not understand Ellen’s grief about Madalyn or Ellen’s wish to “finish” things for Madalyn or the symbolism of the Freedom Walk as a memorial for Madalyn. Or even the sacrifices Ellen has made for 13 years of her life.
I was told that somebody read to Ellen what I wrote on this blog at one time, which said, “Madalyn would have made the Freedom Walk herself even with her cane or her walker. Madalyn would have waved her cane or walker as she entered each new town!”
I was told that brought tears to Ellen’s eyes.
What you heartless people on the BOD can’t seem to understand is the deep emotional significance of what Ellen did for a woman she loved. Ellen was finishing an unfinished task for Madalyn. She was doing for Madalyn what death had not permitted Madalyn to do herself. It was a labor of love on Ellen’s part. Yes, guys, the Most Hated Woman in the World…was loved.
Jeff-R wrote:
“Smartgal, when was the last time you had contact with Ellen? It would be nice to know that she’s alive and (more or less) well.”
————————————
Jeff-R, Ellen is alive and well. She does not read this blog as she feels it would be too painful.
I feel I can’t say anything more than that about Ellen’s situation without her permission, except that I think she is being brave and courageous. That’s my opinion.
I will excerpt only one thing she wrote to me in a longer email recently.
Ellen wrote:
“I worry terribly for the future of AA.”
So do I.
AA is now in the hands of people who are more concerned about some pieces of paper than about humans and human feelings. I would expect Atheists to be as kind and conciliatory and forgiving as Christians are. In my catholic youth, I was taught absolution. I cannot live with the feeling that there are people out there on AA’s board of directors judging Ellen, who do not understand Ellen’s grief about Madalyn or Ellen’s wish to “finish” things for Madalyn or the symbolism of the Freedom Walk as a memorial for Madalyn. Or even the sacrifices Ellen has made for 13 years of her life.
I was told that somebody read to Ellen what I wrote on this blog at one time, which said, “Madalyn would have made the Freedom Walk herself even with her cane or her walker. Madalyn would have waved her cane or walker as she entered each new town!”
I was told that brought tears to Ellen’s eyes.
What you heartless people on the BOD can’t seem to understand is the deep emotional significance of what Ellen did for a woman she loved. Ellen was finishing an unfinished task for Madalyn. She was doing for Madalyn what death had not permitted Madalyn to do herself. It was a labor of love on Ellen’s part. Yes, guys, the Most Hated Woman in the World…was loved.
Such a letter is totally inappropriate. I call it a private matter gone public.
Oh shut up, dogon3
What’s inappropriate is your comment. Nothing about the Ellen dismissal is a “private matter”–though I’m sure the board members would like to see it that way.
What do you think is “inappropriate” in my message–love?