2007-10-15 atheists and anger

2007-10-15 Greta Christina Greta Christina's Blog \atheism\active atheism http://gretachristina.typepad.com/greta_christinas_weblog/2007/10/atheists-and-an.html atheists and anger atheists and anger  One of the most common criticisms lobbed at the newly-vocal atheist community is, "Why do you have to be so angry?" So I want to talk about:
 * 1. Why atheists are angry;
 * 2. Why our anger is valid, valuable, and necessary;
 * And 3. Why it's completely fucked-up to try to take our anger away from us.

So let's start with why we're angry. Or rather -- because this is my blog and I don't presume to speak for all atheists -- why I'm angry.

I'm angry that according to a recent Gallup poll, only 45 percent of Americans would vote for an atheist for President.

I'm angry that atheist conventions have to have extra security, including hand-held metal detectors and bag searches, because of fatwas and death threats.

I'm angry that atheist soldiers -- in the U.S. armed forces -- have had prayer ceremonies pressured on them and atheist meetings broken up by Christian superior officers, in direct violation of the First Amendment.

...

I'm angry that the 41st President of the United States, George Herbert Walker Bush, said of atheists, in my lifetime, "No, I don't know that atheists should be regarded as citizens, nor should they be regarded as patriotic. This is one nation under God." My President. No, I didn't vote for him, but he was still my President, and he still said that my lack of religious belief meant that I shouldn't be regarded as a citizen. The author gives several dozen additional reasons for atheist anger. Another reason, which she may or may not have mentioned, is here.

&ldquo;I want to talk about: (1) Why atheists are angry; (2) Why our anger is valid, valuable, and necessary; and (3) Why it's completely fucked-up to try to take our anger away from us.&rdquo;   