http://godlessamericans.org/

Godless Americans
The March on Washington TM
Saturday, November 2, 2002
On The Mall, In The Nation's Capital
It's Our Turn Now!
Speakers.


In the fall of 2002, "Godless Americans" of all stripes will follow in a grand tradition and march on Washington, DC!

Just about every political and social "cause" organization has done it -- gays, blacks, women, even the Promise Keepers. Groups of every ideological coloration have spoken out and demanded "a seat at the table" by mobilizing their supporters for a march or demonstration in our nation's capital.

It's American as apple pie...
And now, it's our turn!

On Saturday, November 2, 2002, "Godless Americans" -- individuals and representatives of the nation's diverse community of non-religious people -- will make history and march on Washington. At the 28th National Convention of American Atheists, President Ellen Johnson announced this new initiative in giving "Godless Americans" a new voice and presence. We are reaching out to all and everyone in America who has no religious beliefs -- Atheists, Freethinkers, Secular Humanists, Rationalists. Whatever the label, we're asking you to come to Washington, DC and be part of this important event.

We are calling this "The Godless Americans March on Washington." Like every other group that has fought its way from the margins of society into the mainstream, we have demands -- a new agenda for a secular America.

The Time For Us To Be Heard Is Now!
There are millions of Godless Americans. The latest American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS) reflects that nearly 13% of the population has no religion. This includes millions who identify themselves with labels such as Atheist, Freethinker, Humanist and others. There are over 30,000,000 of us, a figure larger than most American religious denominations. And it's time for us to be heard!

President Bush and other political leaders often ignore us and instead attempt to rally the nation to prayer and religious faith. "Godless Americans" have been marginalized and excluded in everything from electoral politics to the public events commemorating the tragedy of September 11, 2001. No other group would tolerate such bigotry and exclusion! It's time to speak out and be heard!

The March On Washington...
Members of Atheist, Freethought, Humanist, Rationalist and other like-minded organizations are being invited to join us in the Godless Americans March on Washington.

The main event will take place on Saturday, November 2, 2002. GAMOW will be held on the National Mall, with a march and rally at the west side of the US Capitol Building.

The march itself begins promptly at 11:00 AM. We will assemble on the mall on the east side of 14th street near the Washington Monument. Groups and individuals will form up behind a large Godless Americans banner for the parade in the direction of the capitol, and head down the wide pedestrian path.

GAMOW Marshals will be available to direct the flow of the march, answer questions and deal with any special needs or other situations.

The march will take 20-30 minutes. Once assembled at the rally location, we will have a program including speeches from representatives of various Atheist, Freethought, Secular Humanist and other nonbeliever groups, along with entertainment.

Your group should have received a mailing from GAMOW with a formal invitation and other information.

* Be sure to check the UPDATES page.

* SHOW YOUR SUPPORT for the "Godless Americans March on Washington." Individuals may sign the Endorsement Page, and organizations supporting the March are listed on a special page as well.

Speakers
This is a tentative list of speakers in alphabetical order:

Norm Allen -- Executive Director, African Americans For Humanism
Christopher Arntzen -- Gay & Lesbian Atheists & Humanists
Seth Asser -- Pediatrician, CHILD, Inc.
Ron Barrier -- Spokesperson, American Atheists
August Brunsman -- Secular Student Alliance
Ed Buckner -- Executive Director, Council for Secular Humanism
Douglas Campbell -- Atheist Political Office Candidate
Parvin Darabi, HOMA
Larry Darby -- Attorney, Alabama Atheists & Atheist Law Center, Inc.
Margaret Downey -- Freethought Society of Greater Philadelphia
Harry Greenberger -- New Orleans Secular Humanist Association
Chris Harper -- Landover Baptist Church
Shelly Hattan -- Metroplex Atheists
Ellen Johnson -- President, American Atheists, GAMOW Task Force
Kathleen Johnson -- Founder, Military Atheists & Freethinkers
Edwin Kagin -- Founder, Camp Quest
Bobbie Kirkhart -- President, Atheist Alliance International
Michael Newdow -- Attorney, Physician, plaintiff in suit challenging "God Pledge"
Mike Rivers -- American Atheists Utah State Director
John Scalise -- President, Great Lakes Humanist Society
Jim Strayer -- Humanists of Florida
Eddie Tabash -- Attorney, Council for Secular Humanism board, AU
Frank Zindler -- Editor, American Atheist Press

Ok...but what do the godless americans want, exactly? To be heard about what?

teller said:

I really don't know...

And... I suspect that there will be about thirteen people in attendance...

IceNine said:

Hmmm...well I'm all for the godless, but they really need to organize their thoughts better.

I think that they are all getting together to speak on various issues... there are various different speakers and I suspect that they are going to try to raise awareness related to atheist representation in government, etc.

I cannot really tell, but that is what I get from reading their release.

IceNine said:

Well, if it raises people's awareness that morality/ethics are possible without religion (and therefore politics are possible sans religion) then it can't be all bad. But without some sort of platform I doubt they'll attract much attention beyond the basic "geez whiz" from the likes of CNN.

teller said:

I doubt that CNN will even cover this deal at all...

I would love it if the long-held public misconception that atheists must be amoral could be countered by clever public oration by intelligent members of the atheistic ranks.

Unfortunately, it will be very difficult to get an atheist into any high political office due to the unreasonable predjudices of the average person.

IceNine said:

Ayn Rand was the most "morally outspoken" member of the athesit species. I guess it helps if beyond mere atheism, you also have some sort of system of thinking that dictates your ethics. Unfortunately, the people who carry on Rand's torch are all fruit-cakes...

But still...if not religion, then philosophy!

Do you think that the public will ever understand that atheists are not any more likely to be amoral than deists?

I cannot understand why the majority of the public believes that morality is only derived from belief in a higher power.

"A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death." - Albert Einstein

IceNine said:

It will happen, eventually. The reason people tie morality to religion is because they've never considered any alternative, and they've never been offered any alternative--and yet there are plenty of reason to act morally besides the threat of going to hell...evil goes against self-esteem just for starters...but self-esteem is just a bunch of "words" to most people. It does seem hopeless at times, but ideas do propogate--it just takes decades (or less, now that the internet has finally arrived).

GODLESS AMERICANS MARCH ON WASHINGTON
-STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES-

We demand equal rights including fair treatment and protection in the workplace; when seeking public office and the right to serve on juries and give testimony; and in having a voice in the halls of Congress, in our state legislatures and in other government venues.

We call for an end to discrimination against Atheists, Freethinkers and other Godless Americans in organizations which receive public funds and special entitlements, such as Boy Scouts of America. Nonbelief must not be a litmus test for inclusion in such groups.

We demand an end to harassment and other violations of our rights in public schools. Prayer Bullying, organized prayer and other forms of coercive religion cannot be tolerated in what should be a totally secular public school system. Public schools must not become centers for religious proselytizing, the unconstitutional promotion of religion through teaching so-called creationism, or smuggling sectarian beliefs into the schools through ruses as student-led prayer.

We call for an end to the use of government tax money to subsidize religious denominations, faith-based social programs and other entitlement schemes.

We demand an end to the exclusion of Atheists, Freethinkers and other Godless Americans as full citizens of this nation. Our leaders, including the President, must stop calling the nation to prayer, or claim that we are a Christian country. Godless Americans have been patriotic, and many have served -- and now serve -- in our nation's armed forces. We are fire and rescue personnel, emergency crisis personnel, white-collar and blue-collar workers. We insist on inclusion when this nation is rallied to appropriate causes!

We call for an end to the display of religious mottoes and symbols on government property, and especially in public schools. We also call for the restoration of E Pluribus Unum, (Out of Many, One) as the secular, national motto of a free people.

Hmmm...seems fair enough...and yet there's an air uselessness about it...

Demands of the Godless Americans:

• A chicken with its head bit off in every pot
  
• A ban on the phrase "God bless you" ("Gesudndheit," okay)
  
• Immediate institution of an Atheocratic Order
  
• Cease and Desist letter be sent to Amy Grant
  
• To get people to stop getting us confused with Agnostics (Or are we agnostic? )
  
• Change the saying on the dollar bill from "In God We Trust" to "In Alistair Crowley We Trust"
  
• Remove "under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance (Hell, we all want that!)
  
• Replace American currency with Tarot Cards
  
• Cancel TRL (Carson is a tool)
  

and this is y us (spoiled Americans) r getting what we deserve.

teller said:

Yeah... trust me... this isn't going to go as well as they hope...

At least I was able to find a statement of principles though!

:LOL:

Hey, at least they are trying.

I want to go

IceNine said:

The problem seems to be the lack of any common political platform. I mean...are atheists pro-capitalist? Not at all...some are, but some are bleeding-heart socialists. Atheism doesn't lead to a politics (except perhaps a strong stance on separation of church and state, which they at least do express in their platform). But "not believing in something" doesn't unite people nearly as well as having some belief (about some principle) in common.

Yeah, at least they're trying... I guess if it generates some publicity that's cool...there are a LOT more atheists walking around today than ever before. The few times I've seen a headcount around here I was really surprised at how many non-believers there are, especially at a Prince site. Times are changin'...

2the9s said:

ROFL!!! So everyone will be able to be like Ozzy and worship
the mighty Lucifer when we go shopping? That was funny...(was it meant to be?)

God love all children he created equally! Not one can be godless as he is there for us all all times!

Tibor said:

That was a silly statement...

IceNine said:

Maybe... Maybe not...

AzureStar said:

Are you trying to aggravate me?

IceNine said:

no.

IceNine said:

Silly? Asyourstar look like agree with me! God is there for you whether you like it or not! You not so in control Mr Big Man! God known all see all and care for all!

Tibor said:

Since it is impossible to prove that god exists, it is nonsensical to say that god is "there for you whether you like it or not," as there is no evidence to support this.

Your statement is mere conjecture and is no better than someone saying the Superman is watching over the people of the world, making sure that bad guys don't take over.

Both of these statements are equally accurate.

EDIT: And... on the AzureStar part... she does not believe in the christian idea of god, nor does she believe in christianity. Her conception of god is nothing like everyone else's, so you don't know if you agree with her or not.

...
[This message was edited Mon Oct 28 8:01:22 PST 2002 by IceNine]

Tibor said:

Well, what I meant by "maybe, maybe not", was who can really say. So, who knows if it really is is a silly statement or not.

AzureStar said:

WE know this, but others will grasp at straws for support.

Agnosticism is the only point of view that's fully consistent with the lack of evidence, IMO. I respect atheists, but I fail to see what conclusive evidence they think they have on the question any more than deists...? What makes an atheist so sure?

teller said:

A very good question has been asked!

I consider myself to be agnostic, as I do not discount the possibility of something akin to a god, although I cannot bring myself to believe that this god would be a loving, caring and benevolent creature.

In short, my being a deist depends upon your definition of god. If you define god as an underlying factor in all things, such as a mathematical constant or physical property, I am a deist. If you define god as a loving creature that created the universe out of divine will, then I am an atheist.

I call myself an atheist in relation to the god of christianity but I am an agnostic in the real sense of the word.

We should send an Org Athiests delegation.

It is lame that people assume that athiests are cold, immoral people not fit for public office and so on. But I think the era of marches on Washington making any damn difference is over. When was the last time that a protest rally changed anything?

Doves,
Mel!ssa