I take it these guys are up and running? I want to help, but there is no way to contact them. All I can find is a facebook connection and I don't do that. It is sad to live in Hattiesburg and not be able to fellowship with fellow atheists. We need to stick together.

I emailed every atheist blog I visit to spread the word on these petitions. Oddly, the Atheist Experience pretty much ignored me. I thought they'd take it and make it an item of discussion or something. I am not looking for recognition, just to spread the word. Wouldn't it blow Obama's mind if they got millions of signatures?

I seldom get to discuss ideas with anyone, but I have been thinking that a good answer to this one is : "Why do you not believe in Allah?" The point being that they will come up with reasons not to believe in the Koran which apply directly to their own book too. Should work with: Why do you not believe in the Koran?" too. Perhaps I am simplifying it too much? Maybe they'll say the Koran isn't the word of god, but then both religions are making the same claim, so why should I believe you over someone of their faith?
What do you guys think?

OH CRAP! The GOP is on the attack! This is awful, ridiculous and very, very scary! What ARE they thinking? What an outrage. I am afraid it will pass easily. The representatives are mostly christian, if not all, and won't see the harm in it, either by ignorance or intent. I doubt calling them would have an effect. They'll just ignore it. Maybe it is time to finally leave the south. New Zealand anyone? I see craziness all over this country. Keep your gun handy. The southern inquisition is coming fast.

I like the idea I've seen on another site. In your spare time take a sharpie and mark through the "in god we trust" on as many bills as you have. repeat as often as you have new bills or start getting batches of ones at the bank and "cleaning" them. I think defacing is defined as making the bills denomination questionable. If enough of these bills circulate, some people might start getting a clue. It is a great and easy way to "witness" too.

I must admit, the more I see how detrimental religion is, and how it has pervaded this country, I sometimes want to wipe all of them out. I fear that they will never see reason, and that they will continue to indoctrinate their kids, and find ways to subvert the teaching of science in schools. I cringe when I think of how many christian schools there are that have sprung up in the last decade or so, trying to ensure they never hear anything but the lies the bible teaches.
We as a country have fought for and established Israel as a country, simply because the bible said there must be a country called Israel. This is insane! We took the land from its rightful owners and inserted these people there just because a fairy tale said it was good and necessary. We fail to stand up for separation of church and state here because some of us who are in a position to fight this madness, decide that they cannot win those battles. I think we are on the side of right, so how can we lose?
We see them continually forcing us back into bronze age thinking, denying women their rights, and wanting to kill people who are different from them. It makes me mad when almost nothing else does.
I'd love to think that reason will triumph over this madness eventually, but I fear that we will not have time. I think they will destroy this nation trying to hold the budget hostage to push their beliefs on us all, and I fear that they will not stop until there are none of them left. I am ashamed that I feel this way, but I am so scared freedom and true progress will die in America.
AS distasteful as it may be, we may have to become true militants soon, or religious insanity will wipe us all out. I know that they consider us evil and wouldn't hesitate to kill us if they thought they could get away with it.
I hope these words don't get us into trouble somehow, but I think they are actually trying to provoke us so they'll have an excuse to get rid of us once and for all.
I try to remember that fear is not where I want to live, but it really hurts me to see freedom and knowledge trampled on by people with blinders on.

I live in Hattiesburg, and while it seems pretty open, I am sure there are plenty of people who would create problems for me if they knew. I have told some of my co-workers and they seem okay with it, but I think there is still a subtle undercurrent of attitude. One guy seems to think I have no morals and that he wouldn't be surprised at what I might have done in the past. I didn't think about it at first, but I think now that it is because he thinks I have absolutely no morals. He also asked me if I considered myself patriotic, out of the blue and no comment thereafter. I am sure he thinks this is a christian nation.
I haven't come out because it would devastate my highly emotional mother, and I choose to keep that relationship at its present cool distance (because she cannot accept the real me) rather than cause her harm and anguish. When she passes though, I don't care who knows it. I am fairly open about it in public, but choose my battles. I have little doubt that rural males would perhaps even kill me under the right circumstances. Would be nice to have atheist friends, but I suppose vjack is too busy. (grin)

I have always been amazed at people who hate a symbol for whatever reason. Any symbol can stand for what you want it to, depending on how you use it. The flag in question did not stand for the things that went on under it, just like those people who claim their god is one of peace and love, but he hates fags or whatever. If you think the flag stands for something bad, associate it with something you feel is good. Own it! Make it yours, not theirs! Take it back!

I'm sure there are some who don't push the x-tian agenda overtly, and more that minimalize it, but let's face it, the real reason they do it is to bring them back into the fold. To me it's cruel when in some cases they have a guy wait for food and sing a song and listen to a speech when he hasn't eaten in a day, maybe two. How is this showing love and compassion?

I wouldn't mind so much that churches do charity, but it i usually just thinly veiled proselytizing aimed at people when they are weak, troubled and vulnerable. What we need is a law passed that says they can't demand attention to their religious blatherings while offering charity.