There Are Atheists in Foxholes!

[Synnical]

Edit for bold emphasis

Press Release:
http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=56429

There Are Atheists in Foxholes, Says Institute for Humanist Studies; Veterans Day Event in Nation's Capital to Honor Military Atheists

11/9/2005 10:44:00 AM

To: National Desk

Contact: Duncan Crary of Institute for Humanist Studies, 518-432-7820, ext. 207 or [e-mail]

ALBANY, N.Y., Nov. 9 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The expression "There are no atheists in foxholes" is widely used by religious leaders, politicians and the media. But it is a false and bigoted statement.

"There are atheists in foxholes," said atheist Jason Torpy of Ohio, a retired U.S. Army Captain. He now serves as president of the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers, an Internet-based support network for non-theistic service members.

On Nov. 10-11, Torpy will join other atheist veterans and active duty service members to participate in a Washington D.C. event honoring those who have served in the United States Armed Forces and who do not believe in God or gods. On Friday, Nov. 11, there will be a Veterans Day "Atheists in Foxholes" parade and rally on the National Mall, starting at 11 a.m.

"I am personally insulted by the use of that phrase (There are no atheists in foxholes)," said U.S. Army Master Sgt. Kathleen Johnson, an atheist on active duty at Fort Hood, Texas.

In 1997, Master Sgt. Johnson founded the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers. She is also the military director of American Atheists, the national organization sponsoring the Veterans Day event to honor military atheists.

"This is not about war," Master Sgt. Johnson said of the Atheists in Foxholes event. "It's about debunking the pernicious myth that patriotic and courageous military service requires religious faith."

"Religious bias and ignorance leads many journalists and editors to think it's OK to falsely report that there are no atheists in foxholes -- or, more recently, hurricane zones," said Duncan Crary, communications director of the Institute for Humanist Studies. "That same bias is the reason why countless professional news outlets commonly refer to atheists as 'self- proclaimed atheists', while they refer to Christians simply as 'Christians'."

The Institute for Humanist Studies (IHS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit think tank, based in Albany, N.Y., that promotes the non-religious philosophy of humanism.

The IHS is an endorsing organization of the "Atheists in Foxholes" Veterans Day event; IHS President Larry Jones and IHS Executive Director Matt Cherry are featured speakers.

For information, call 518-432-7820 ext 207 or visit http://www.HumanistStudies.org . See also http://www.maaf.info and http://www.atheistfoxholes.org .

http://www.usnewswire.com/

-0-

/© 2005 U.S. Newswire 202-347-2770/

[David Zephyr]

1. Excellent article! Thanks for sharing it with us.

:thumbsup:

[immoderate]

2. And always remember!

Good info, Cindy!:hi:

--IMM

[Synnical]

3. Hola - where ya been?

I've been worried about you, my fellow atheist Floridian!

-Cindy in Fort Lauderdale

[immoderate]

6. Sitting in the dark mostly.

But I'm back together now. I've been working a lot lately, catching up from storm stuff. I did OK otherwise.

You coe out OK?

--IMM

[Synnical]

7. When did you get power back?

Last Wednesday for me. Check the Florida Forum. Many people just got electricty this week. A lady in The Keys lost everything.

I'm in news withdrawal - have internet access via Bell South DSL but Direct TV hasn't gotten out to re-position my satellite.

PM me.

:)

[immoderate]

8. Took about two weeks.

And two more days for the phone, and another few for cable (internet.)

I'm whole again. Not much damage otherwise.

How'd you do?

--IMM

[ochazuke]

4. Praise God for THAT

As an atheist since like age 5, I have always been insulted by that famous phrase. It makes me want to give a big eff yew to the smug little ignorant bastards who so blithely utter that crap.

So, there.

[Synnical]

5. I've been told that there will be a Press Conference on the morrow

And hopefully C-Span, or "The Span" as Randi Rhodes calls it, will cover the event. We can hope.

-Cindy in Fort Lauderdale

[Alonzo Fyfe]

9. My Father

One of those "atheists in foxholes" was my father.

He died earlier this year -- the cause of death was ultimately attributed to injuries he received while he was in the service. He left the military with a full disability.

A friend of his, Charlie Rich, also an atheist, died in the service when his fighter jet crashed in the Pacific.

I asked my father, a couple of years before he died, what it was like being an atheist in the military. I posted his response on my web site.

Letter from my dad

Alonzo Fyfe
Atheist Ethicist Blog

[Synnical]

12. Thank you so much for sharing your father's thoughts!

Cindy in Fort Lauderdale

[trotsky]

13. That was very cool.

Thanks for sharing that - what a great guy your dad was.

[progressoid]

15. Just read your letter from your Dad - Very nice.

Veterans Day brought the issue with the VFW's "god clause" into a discussion recently with my wife. She was surprised when she found out that two of our acquaintances (Vietnam Vets) would not join the VFW because of that goofy requirement. They too were atheists in foxholes.

Welcome to DU!!

[newyawker99]

16. Hi Alonzo Fyfe!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[heidler1]

17. This cooked up requirement that you profess belief in God caused me to

put my integrity in doubt when my sons wanted to be in the Boy Scouts. They knew that I was an Atheist and they kind of winced when I suggested that they just fake it when asked about it.

Religion never made sense to me, but Atheism wasn't even in my vocabulary when I enlisted in 1943. I grew up in a very small town and the subject never came up as far as I know. I do believe that it is stupid to deny anyone membership in the B.S.A. or the V.F.W. for lack of belief in myths. How did Religion get such a hold on our lives?

My brother died a few years ago and he to was an Atheist who had been in fox holes, but never even in late life's senility did he succumb to preferring the myths over his logical approach to the truth. He was 92 when he passed away. Both he and I have been bombarded with all of the advantages in believing by well meaning people that seem to include believing as a undeniable selfish way of life that rewards the believer with everlasting life. These people cannot see that with minds like my brother and I the logic would net out that if this God is all knowing you can't fake it. To me it is possible to fake it with people however and most people do, even themselves.

[Alonzo Fyfe]

22. Addendum

My father actually never talked much about his service.

When my mother saw my mention of him on my web site, she sent me this, just today:

How honored your Dad is to have you post such a great tribute to him on this day. I did say is, I do believe he knows.
I thought that you might like to hear more of why your Dad was decorated in Korea, as I am not sure how much Dad told you.
It was the day they recovered the parts to the first found and downed Mig. It was deep behind enemy lines. He never was on the ground, his job was to watch out of the top turret for enemy aircraft while the helicopters went in.
They received a message that there were four down pilots up in the area of the Yalu River. They were asked to find them, cover them until a rescue chopper could be sent in. They did find them and flew cover until these men were rescued. Because of him, and the others involved four men's lives were saved. Four men came home to their families. No one asked what color they were, or what their religion was or wasn't, or how rich or poor. They were four men that needed rescued. Dad never talked much about it. He had a job to do, and someone needed help. That was it.
These weren't the only men he helped get out from behind enemy lines. He did join crews, on occasion, that flew back in and picked up pilots. He also instructed pilots on the skills needed in evasion and escape. He helped write the manual used and it was still being use in Viet Nam. Part of his job was getting those pilots out. How many lives he helped save, I don't know. If someone was a downed pilot during 1950 -1951 in Korea and got out, your Dad could have been a part of the reason why. He worked to set up safe houses, contacts, communications.
The orphans he mentioned haunted him all of his life. He never could get the picture of those starving children out of his mind nor understand how the Chaplains could do nothing and still sleep at night. Later, when we were in Japan, we found an orphanage of Japanese - American children disowned by the Japanese because of their mixed blood. Victims of the occupation. The people caring for these children had run out of resources and the children were in rags and hungry. Your Dad and I organized our squadron to take on the support of this orphanage. We contacted families at home and boxes of clothes and bedding, and other needed things came pouring in from our home towns. We raised enough money for a washer and drier and I'll never forget the day it was installed.
I'm sure you must remember the pictures of these kids from our slides from Japan. Even though Japan was not a Christian country, these kids learned Christmas carols in English and put on a wonderful and touching Christmas program for our squadron.
Your Dad did make a difference in his life time and should be honored for his contribution.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[drhilarius]

11. I always figured it would be best to have atheists in the foxholes...

After all, who would you rather have watching your back:

1)a guy who will fight like hell defending the only life that he has, or
2) a guy who figures if he dies at least he'll go to heaven?

[Skinner]

14. Upon review, I am moving this back to GD.

I would consider this politically relevant.

[Synnical]

19. Thank You!

I'll refrain from commenting further except to say that I'm a bit peeved that it was re-directed to the R&T forum for a time and thus escaped needed notice for an event that supports the military.

Cindy in Fort Lauderdale

[Ernesto]

18. This Marine certainly was.......

What pissed me off was the f**king captain that ridiculed me in front of the rest of my company. Seems that this so-called "officer & gentleman" was upset by the "no preference" religion statement on my dog tags.
Later on these bastards actually asked ME to reenlist!

[Synnical]

20. Kick for those in the military

[FreedomAngel82]

21. I'm glad to see this article

I get so tired of all the fundie Christians who go around and think they're the only one's who serve their country and all that. It's called an all volunteer army for a purpose. Here's to them!

[zippy890]

23. for atheists everywhere

:patriot:

You will save our country

[Synnical]

24. Kick

Because this post has been all over DU. Blighted and turned off, turned on. Moved from forum to forum.

I want to say THANK YOU to the military on this Veteran's Day and support non-theists in the military.

-Cindy in Fort Lauderdale

[SammyWinstonJack]

25. Freepers heads are exploding!

:nuke: :rofl:

[Sabriel]

26. Kick for my Korean War vet father

Although he would never in a million years admit it to any of us, we all suspect he's a closet atheist.

[PurityOfEssence]

27. Pat Tillman, Andy Rooney

Feel free to add to the list.