Supporting Civil Rights for Atheists and the Separation of Church and State

13
Sep
2012

Update: American Atheists File Objection to Motion to Dismiss World Trade Center Cross Case

teresamacbain's picture
Author: teresamacbain /

Update: American Atheists File Objection to Motion to Dismiss World Trade Center Cross Case

American Atheists filed a response objecting to the motion to dismiss the World Trade Center Cross case, Wednesday, September 12, 2012. American Atheists’ response stated, “Plaintiffs do not seek to disrespect the honorable victims and rescuers...they demand that all Americans feel welcome in honoring them, including the non-Christians.” 

David Silverman, President of American Atheists said, “Conviction can tremble in the wake of attacks, but if this nation has hope for healing and peace, it will not come through preferential treatment and minority alienation.”  

American Atheists recognizes that its position in this case is not popular; however, battling for minority rights has never been about being popular.

Edwin Kagin, Legal Counsel of American Atheists said, “It is the upholding of these rights in our most trying hours that preserves this country’s greatness.”

This case has been hotly debated and misinterpreted in the press since it was filed in July 2011. The plaintiffs have been ridiculed and American Atheists has been viciously attacked for this lawsuit. 

American Atheists is committed to fighting for equal representation for the family members of atheists who died in the religious attacks of 9/11. To do anything less would be an insult to the memories of those who perished and to the survivors.

AMERICAN ATHEISTS is a national 501(c)(3) organization that defends civil rights for atheists, freethinkers, and other nonbelievers; works for the total separation of religion and government; and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.

American Atheists, Inc.

P.O. Box 158

Cranford, N.J. 07016

Tel: (908) 276-7300

Fax: (908) 276-7402

Comments

MDT73 / Thu, 09/13/2012 - 18:02

Good job on the objection! We've got to stay on them like stink on an ape! Now what else can we do?

crossbearer's picture
crossbearer / Tue, 09/18/2012 - 19:39

I have a question about the proposed atheist memorial at the 9/11 tower.  I'm new to atheists.org, and I havent come across a thread that addresses this yet.  But I'll be looking!  In light of the death of thousands of innocent people at the hands of terrorists, (and I promise I mean this in the most respectful way) what purpose would an atheist memorial serve to other atheists?  As a catholic, the WTC cross offers (to me) a sign of hope.  A hope fueled by the knowledge that the victims of 9/11 have come to their final resting place in the loving arms of God for all eternity.  A hope that one day, through the Christian virtues of kindness, understanding, and forgiveness,  we may be at peace with our seperated brothers and sisters across the globe. 

I think through the eyes of an atheist, a memorial may symbolize the fact that radical religion caused the trajedy; and therefore, religion is to blame.  So we should do away with all religion.  But would there be another message? Something deeper than "let us do away with religion?"  Something.... hopeful?

God Bless.

tbennett1012's picture
tbennett1012 / Wed, 09/19/2012 - 14:08

The proposed inclusion of an atheist symbol along with the symbols of other religions is an offer of conciliation with which we do not all agree.  

I personally would be offended by the inclusion of any symbol representing any religion.  I have several reasons and I will elaborate more on the cross than others as it is the centerpiece of this debate.

There are those of us for whom the very thought of religion being represented at the memorial is repugnant.  Religion is at the heart of the disaster not because if offers comfort to the survivors but because it is the cause of the tragedy in the first place.

Furthermore, the idea that the people who died are "in the loving arms of God" is preposterous and cheapens the loss of their lives.  They are not better off - they were incinerated alive, fell to their deaths, were crushed beneath tons of rubble, or suffocated in the smoke.  There is absoultely nothing positive about this.  Add to that the fact that it is ridiculous to assume everyone that died that day would be "in the loving arms of [the Christian] God" - there were undoubtly people who would not qualify for "heaven" and thus would have only begun to burn on 9/11.

Your "cross" as a representation of the ancient torture and execution device - a crucifix - is the most offensive thing you could possibly place at a memorial to people who were executed as a result of someone's faith in their god.

Yes, I am one of those people who will not hesitate to say the the collective delusion (and at times psychopathology) of religion should be done away with complete.  If that were already the case in 2001 we would not be having this conversation in the first place.

crossbearer's picture
crossbearer / Tue, 09/18/2012 - 19:39

I have a question about the proposed atheist memorial at the 9/11 tower.  I'm new to atheists.org, and I havent come across a thread that addresses this yet.  But I'll be looking!  In light of the death of thousands of innocent people at the hands of terrorists, (and I promise I mean this in the most respectful way) what purpose would an atheist memorial serve to other atheists?  As a catholic, the WTC cross offers (to me) a sign of hope.  A hope fueled by the knowledge that the victims of 9/11 have come to their final resting place in the loving arms of God for all eternity.  A hope that one day, through the Christian virtues of kindness, understanding, and forgiveness,  we may be at peace with our seperated brothers and sisters across the globe. 

I think through the eyes of an atheist, a memorial may symbolize the fact that radical religion caused the trajedy; and therefore, religion is to blame.  So we should do away with all religion.  But would there be another message? Something deeper than "let us do away with religion?"  Something.... hopeful?

God Bless.

kevinod77 / Sun, 10/07/2012 - 17:48

I am sorry but I have to disagree with you. The cross might offer a sign of hope to Christians and Christians only. Any memorial should be designated as an honor to those that died, not an honor of the Christian religion. I cannot fathom the gall of apologists that really lay claim to this memorial. How dare the Christians or any religion lay claim to this memorial? It should be a memorial to the resolve of the American people to remain strong in the face of adversity.  That should be the aim of this memorial. Any attempt to infuse a religious overture should be met with disdain at all levels. I too am new to Athistist.org and am glad I found this site!

Hlburke's picture
Hlburke / Wed, 09/19/2012 - 01:30

<p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);">You sound like an ape. As for this entire case: thanks for making us athiests look bad, and people who believe in crosses appear smarter. And what exactly is this proposed equal representation, which is equivalent to a cross? I suppose you'll feel better if we make them take them all down? I think we are forgetting the message here: the victims. And our right as a country: freedom of religion. Meaning, Christians get their crosses. But don't twist our rights to mean athiests get to act like a bunch of animals and clog up our Courts with this crap. This is my Motion: for people to get a life and dismiss this case. In other words, honor the victims as you so choose and stop being complete narcissists.</span></p>

crossbearer's picture
crossbearer / Wed, 09/19/2012 - 13:10

Brother or sister,

Peace be with you.  I apologize with deepest sincerity if I offended you in any way.  If I incited feelings of disgust or anger in you, that was not my intention, and I must be more careful about sensitivites in asking these questions.

The proposed memorial is mentioned in Paragraph 6 of the following link:

http://atheists.org/content/ground-zero-american-tragedy-not-christian-opportunity

"We will pay for our own memorial of equal size inside the museum, or the museum will not include the cross. Equality is an all-or-nothing deal."

I was curious about what a memorial aimed at honoring fallen atheist victims (may God bless them and may they rest in peace) would look like.  And from an atheist's perspective, can an atheist memorial offer to a fellow atheist a sense of hope (as a cross would to a Christian)?

In Pace Christi,

crossbearer

kevinod77 / Mon, 10/08/2012 - 09:27

Dude - Aren't you on the wrong site?

MDT73 / Mon, 09/24/2012 - 18:51

Victims of the 9/11 terrorist strike are at the very heart of American Atheists' proposal. Those militant theists working to include their cross-shaped steel girter of course will be repelled by inclusion of other religious and irreligious symbols. They would rather settle for what we want as well...a respectful, attractive, religiously neutral memorial dedicated to all those who suffered and died on that tragic day. Have a wonderful day.

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