Due to the increase of activity from the DC visit, we have extended early registration to March 15.

Register today!

I am finally home after my trip to DC and I just thought I’d take some time to post some random thoughts.

There is no doubt that there is much work to be done, but there is evidence that we are making serious progress. While I am not at liberty to discuss what the Obama Administration said, I can tell you we’ve been heard. While I can’t predict what will end up happening, I can tell you that the first steps toward our goals have been taken (those steps including the meeting itself).

I can’t tell you how serious they are about us, but I can tell you we are no longer being ignored. Real people in the white house are taking the secular movement seriously.

I can also say this: among the many groups that were represented at the event, there was a comradeship that I’d not experienced. Everyone was talking about our common goals, and what the future would bring for the movement, not the organizations that comprise it. It was, quite frankly, wonderful.

One thing was very clear: the end of the meeting was a hello, not a goodbye.

AMERICAN ATHEISTS, INC.

http://www.atheists.org

http://www.americanatheist.org

For more information, please contact:

Ed Buckner, President 908-499-9200 (cell) or 770-803-5353 (office/fax)

Kathleen Johnson, Vice President and Military Director 318-542-1019

Dave Silverman, Vice President, Communications Director 732-648-9333

ATHEISTS HAIL MEETING WITH OBAMA ADMINISTRATION: A SEAT AT THE TABLE…

Military leader calls for end of hostility and discrimination against Atheists in Armed Forces

Led by the Secular Coalition for America, representatives from leading Atheist, Freethought, Humanist and other non-believer organizations met earlier today with White House officials in an historic gathering.

Dr. Ed Buckner, President of American Atheists, praised the Obama Administration for “giving us our rightful seat at the table in the discussion over public policy.”

“Over 13% of the population is considered ‘non-religious,’ and this includes millions of Atheists, Freethinkers, Humanists, Rationalists, and other citizens,” said Buckner. “We are committed to the separation of church and state and to equality for non-believers in the political arena. Religious speakers must not continue to be given special privileges.”

Representatives from American Atheists included: Dr. Buckner; AA Vice President and National Spokesperson Dave Silverman; Vice President and Military Director Kathleen Johnson; Indra Zuno, AA general member, translator, and writer; Ellen Birch, Chair of the American Atheists Life Membership Committee and systems engineer; and Camille A. Brewer, AA general member, political/freethought activist and art expert.

As part of the official briefing, American Atheists Vice President and Military Director Kathleen Johnson told White House representatives: “I have witnessed firsthand how service members who are openly non-theist have been harassed by their commanders, leaders, and peers, and have been disrespected by their subordinates for failing to hold certain religious beliefs.”

Johnson called for the Obama Administration to “demonstrate its commitment to improving the climate for non-theists by ensuring nominees to key senior leadership positions answer hard questions intended to identify if they hold views detrimental to non-theists and if so, that such views be considered a disqualification for that officer.”

Johnson also called for those holding non-theist convictions to enjoy the status of “a protected class throughout the Armed Services on par with the protections afforded to women, minorities, and those belonging to minority faith groups.”

Media inquiries and interviews are welcome.

AMERICAN ATHEISTS is a nationwide movement that defends civil rights for Atheists; works for the total separation of church and state; and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.

American Atheists, Inc. PO BOX 158, Cranford, NJ 07016

Tel.: (908) 276-7300 Fax: (908) 276-7402

Here’s the link to an article that ran in today’s Killeen Daily Herald about my local MAAF chapter.

After this and my appearance at the White House yesterday, I sure hope I still have a job tomorrow LOL

http://www.kdhnews.com/news/story.aspx?c=22

Kathleen

We met with several people from the Obama administration today and it went very well. Topics included faith based initiatives, military proselytizing, and religion based child abuse. The attendees included high ranking officials and they were more open and welcoming than I expected. Pics coming soon.