by Jesse Galef –
The atheist movement made a big step last Friday when the Secular Coalition for America arranged a policy briefing with White House officials. A delegation of about 60 nontheists convened in the nation’s capital to engage with the administration. I was lucky enough to attend in my capacity as the new Communications Director for the Secular Student Alliance, one of the ten coalition members (I started the job last Wednesday, just in time!) I can’t repeat what the administration said – these meetings are held off the record – but I can say that I’ve never felt more proud and optimistic about the political status of atheists.
The topics we focused on were: protecting children from religiously-motivated medical neglect, ending the coercive religious climate in the military, and fixing the faith-based initiatives. To discuss the issues, we met with representatives from the departments of Health and Human Services, Defense, and Justice. My friend Paul Fidalgo, now a spokesman for the Secular Coalition for America, told reporters that we were “encouraged by the reception we got today” and said the meeting went “very, very well.” I have to agree.
While various groups have been treated to this sort of meeting before, it was the first time our community was recognized as deserving the same treatment. That’s the key point: we’re hoping for secular Americans to be a part of the political process like all the other religious identities. Leaders of religious communities frequently get to speak with administration officials; we want the same thing. It seems only fair.
The Secular Student Alliance delegation inside the briefing roomI’d like to make a quick point about expectations: try to remember that we are one group among many. True, secular Americans are a sizable minority, but we don’t – and won’t – call all the shots. Some people complain to me that the administration isn’t perfect on our issues. Well, duh. We can hope for perfection and work toward it, but it’s not reasonable to expect. It is, however, reasonable to expect and demand that we be recognized as part of the process and that our voices be heard. And it’s starting to happen.
Most of the reaction in the media – and there’s a lot! – is even-handed and represents us accurately. Story (McClatchy) after story (USA Today) after story (Washington Post) after story (ABC News) mentioned the meeting’s novelty and listed our concerns.
And then there’s the expected teeth-gnashing from religious zealots (such as good ol’ Bill Donohue.) But the real prize for crazy response goes to Hannity, whose mangling of reality is breathtaking:
HANNITY: The Obama administration earlier today rolled out the red carpet for a coalition of atheist groups. Now, among the individuals in attendance was Michael Newdow. That’s the California man who sued unsuccessfully to have the words “under God” removed from the Pledge of Allegiance. Now, religious groups, however, have not received this kind of treatment from the Obama White House. Now, last year, the President distanced himself from the National Day of Prayer, cancelling the formal service traditionally held in honor of the day and refusing to attend a Catholic prayer breakfast. So what’s going on? Has the administration demonstrated a pattern of hostility towards religion, or is this merely a coincidence?
Media Matters does a great job demonstrating that religious groups HAVE received this kind of treatment from the Obama administration. Actually, they often receive better treatment – Obama met personally with religious leaders.
The truth of the matter is that religion is starting to lose its unfair position of privilege in American government. That change appears to be scaring some people. Expect more terrified flailing in the future, because we’re gaining momentum in our campaign for equal treatment. Friday’s meeting was a big step, but we’re going to accomplish so much more.
(Image from August Brunsman)
Tyler!: Sooooo who exactly are they taking our country back from??? And i am in the process of moving so... 
NoYourGod: Yerp – nuthin’ saiz “patriotic” like “love it or leave... 
LawnBoy: Gee.. when exactly was this golden age of pureness in politics and the reign of common sense? 
Daniel Florien: So why aren’t you out in Montana with a bomb shelter, stocked food, and tons of ammunition? 
nazani14: Things that can’t go on forever don’t. Following the record heat, the power outages in the D.C.... 
Nelly: my apologies for using “duplicate” way too many times………..I really wish... 
Ty: Please. A moon hoaxer talking about good science? “I personally do not believe that we can prove that... 
27 Comments
“Has the administration demonstrated a pattern of hostility towards religion, or is this merely a coincidence?”
That’s the way it is with these people. Either you swallow their religion whole or you’re “hostile” toward it. If Obama pats non-believers on the head, he’s somehow slapping believers by doing so? Why? How? Whether they like it or not, this is a pluralistic society. We can’t afford a “It’s either him or me–one of us has got to go!” mentality. This town is big enough for the both of us. The only ones we can’t tolerate are those who don’t think so.
can’t wait to hear Beck’s take on this…………..holy crap
Maybe Beck will cry about… “LEave us alone!!!!!”
Also, is Beck a Mormon or Catholic?
According to Wikipedia he is a Mormon… because, you know, magic underware should be respected by the administration
Good ol’ Donohue.
“No one opposes men and women who are incidentally agnostic or atheist from expressing their concerns, even to the White House.”
IOW: it’s ok for agnostics or atheists to voice their opinion – as long as it doesn’t concern anything religious.
Seems more like, “It’s OK for agnostics or atheists to voice their opinion – as long as nobody listens to them or takes them seriously”
i’m really excited that the SSA got to meet with Obama. and even tho the crazies in the media will misrepresent things, it’s pretty great that the world can see atheists making a stand. congrats, ya’ll!!
Fox Noise not being “accurate and balanced ™”, I’m shocked.
I always read/heard it as “fairly unbalanced.”
I am curious about the massive disconnect between some pundits and the truth. I’m not talking about basic bias, but outright lying when easily-obtainable and incontrovertible evidence proves the lie.
Their audience will not do any fact checking. So, no reason NOT to lie.
What? Christians falling prey to lies? Bollox I say!
Sometimes Christians fall prey to Bollox.
And sometimes bollocks fall prey to Christians . . . at least to priests and Haggards.
We are thinking of the same thing.
Opinion trumps facts.
great quote from E B White:
“Prejudice is a great time saver. You can form opinions without having to get the facts.”
Does anyone else think that American’s love affair with ‘common sense’ is a very bad thing?
Things making sense to you personally has nothing at all to do with whether they are factual or not.
yes Ty, I do. I worry about the dumbed-down populus all the time……..I can’t tell you how many “educated” people I talk to all the time that ask me if the astronauts on the ISS (space station) can “see the asteroids that are coming at us”..
that tells me volumes about how our educational system, and lack thereof, has allowed basic science to be diminished. And with that, so goes all reasonable debate over things like…..say……global warming/climate change
it’s quite disheartening
looks like I used “all the time” a bit much there…..sorry for that
I will add that I’m kind of glad I’m retiring soon. ;)
I don’t think it’s a bad thing. Problem is, not many people have it, but think they do.
rAmen
Exactly.
Kudos to Obama. I feel the topics that were discussed were excellent. But, of course this is just more ammo for the “Obama is the anti-christ” argument.
Hostility towards religion… Awww, poor babies. Christianity is one of the biggest religions it’s not like it’s going anywhere. Unfortunately…
Well it’s a start. Thanks to groundbreaking efforts by people like Hitchins, Dawkins, Maher and the agents provocateur role they play to heat things up and make it feel safe for doubters and the well versed alike to come out from their hiding and help put a stop to the American collective delusion policy making that drags the whole world into crazy time.
I don’t see Newdow in the photo. Either he didn’t want his picture taken, or, he wasn’t there. Guess which. You don’t think Hannity was lying do you?
That is so AMAZING! It’s about time we all got equal treatment!