AMERICAN ATHEISTShttp://www.atheists.org The Time Is Near…Make Your Reservations Now! March 10, 2009 is the deadline to reserve your room at the Emory Conference Center in Atlanta, GA. for the blockbuster Freethought event of the year! DAWKINS * GOLDBERG * TOSTI * BUCKNER * PHELPS * MORROW * THOMPSON and more… The 35th Annual National Convention ofAMERICAN ATHEISTSApril 9-12, 2009 ATLANTA, GA. JOIN HUNDREDS of fellow Atheists, Freethinkers, Humanists and other nonbelievers for a weekend of lectures, social events and workshops. Register on-line using our secure transaction server — just visit http://www.atheists.org/events/National_Convention to sign up. The venue is the magnificent Emory Conference Center at 1615 Clifton Road, Atlanta. We have arranged for special rates — but to take advantage, you must make your reservations directly with the hotel and tell them you are with The American Atheists National Convention. The deadline for obtaining this special rate is March 10, 2009 — so register now and contact the Emory at 404-712-6000, or visit their web site at http://emoryconferencecenter.com . WHO & WHAT: AACON XXXV WHERE: Atlanta, GA., The Emory Conference Center WHEN: April 9-12, 2009 — deadline for hotel reservations is March 10, 2009 MORE INFO: http://www.atheists.org/events/National_Convention

Conservative mega-host Rush Limbaugh disavows descriptions that he is running the GOP — and Republicans generally laugh off the idea that a radio jockey is telling them what to do — but efforts by Democrats to cast the talkmeister as the man in charge may be starting to stick. “It seems like Rush Limbaugh is the kind of he-who-must be-obeyed these days in the Republican Party,” Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine told FOX News on Tuesday. Kaine and the DNC have seized on the apology made by Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele to Limbaugh on Monday, hammering the theme that Limbaugh can’t be crossed. Steele apologized after drawing Limbaugh’s wrath over the weekend by calling the host’s shtick “incendiary” and “ugly.” His criticism was aimed at Limbaugh’s statements about wanting President Obama to fail. “As (Steele) then apologized … it left a lot of us wondering who’s really in charge,” Kaine said, initially calling Steele “courageous” for standing up to Limbaugh.

I try to stay away from political party stuff, but I must admit how wonderful it feels to watch the GOP flounder a bit, trying to remain relevant after W’s “reign of incompetence”.

American Atheists will stage a mass-blaspheming event at the American Atheists National Convention in direct defiance of the new BINDING UN Resolution restricting people from ridiculing religion, specifically Islam. Those who try to squelch criticism are the ones who fear it, and Islam has a LOT to fear when it comes to open and honest discussion. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRb2OKPBswMhttp://www.canada.com/topics/news/world/story.html?id=9b8e3a6d-795d-440f-a5de-6ff6e78c78d5

UNITED NATIONS – Islamic countries… won United Nations backing for an anti-blasphemy measure Canada and other Western critics say risks being used to limit freedom of speech.Combating Defamation of Religions passed 85–50 with 42 abstentions in a key UN General Assembly committee, and will enter into the international record after an expected rubber stamp by the plenary later in the year.But while the draftÂ’s sponsors say it and earlier similar measures are aimed at preventing violence against worshippers regardless of religion, religious tolerance advocates warn the resolutions are being accumulated for a more sinister goal.“It provides international cover for domestic anti-blasphemy laws, and there are a number of people who are in prison today because they have been accused of committing blasphemy,” said Bennett Graham, international program director with the Becket Fund, a think tank aimed at promoting religious liberty.“Those arrests are made legitimate by the UN bodyÂ’s (effective) stamp of approval.”

During this event, those who so choose will defy the UN’s demands that we keep quiet about the absurdity of religion in the name of political correctness. We will, en-masse, recite a statement ridiculing God, Allah, Muhammed, and any other mythological being or false prophet and openly plead guilty to the victimless “crime” of blasphemy. People will be given the opportunity to speak their personal views and give their names. We will then challenge the US to arrest us for this crime, or openly rebuke the UN’s resolution.In the words of President Obama, “We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus, and nonbelievers.” We all enjoy the right to openly criticize each other (as we often do), and we invite people of all religious and theological beliefs to join us in this effort by recording their own blasphe-ME event, or even a personal statement, and posting it on the Internet. Of course, those who believe in a deity are expected to blaspheme gods in which they do NOT believe, as is their right (unless/until the UN gets its way). This is one issue where every American of every religion should be on our side. The United States is a nation where freedom of religion, press, and speech are paramount. They are our First Amendment. We will not back down and bow to pressure from any governing body who seeks to take our freedoms away. We will not yield to terrorism cloaked in politics.I’ll go first: My name is David Silverman. I openly and freely state that religion is ridiculous, and all gods are fictional. I also state that Islam, specifically, is a barbaric religion, based on the teachings of a false prophet, that promotes ignorance, hate, and violence (including terrorism). I plead guilty to blasphemy and promise to do so in court if need be. I do this in direct violation of the UN resolution, and I personally challenge President Obama to rebuke this resolution, or order my arrest.United we stand.