My Letter to the Springfield News-Leader

[SherryH]

I thought you might be interested in reading a letter I sent to our local paper (the Springfield News-Leader) last night. I read some religious whack-job's letter to the group at our last meeting, and more are published all the time, of course. I finally got fed-up enough to reply. Now, it should be obvious that I'm not an intellectual on par with Dr. Bill or Doug or Darrel or Mike or so many in our group. I'm just an everyday, regular person and I wanted to voice an opinion in my own way . . . so don't expect much!

NOTE: the list of "famous atheists" was sorted into nice, neat columns originally - but doesn't seem to want to come out that way here. Sorry for the confusing schmear of names. Also, I deliberately picked out names that might have ready-recognition to the general public. I left out more obscure names and those that would only fan the flames, like Karl Marx, Pol Pot, and Stalin. Besides, everyone already knows they were atheists.

"It takes me a while to get worked up and say something, but in reference to Joshua Udell’s letter of March 11, I am finally ready.

Mr. Udell’s letter came across as nothing more than a lecture to those of us who are not 'his kind.' My husband and I are (gasp!) atheists. I have been an atheist my entire life. My husband was raised in the Presbyterian church, but became an atheist in his adult years. An atheist is simply one who does not believe in a god, period.

We have lived in Springfield for about a decade now, and it is crystal-clear that non-believers like ourselves should be considered outcasts of the first order. For whatever reason, the News-Leader seems determined to print letters typical of Mr. Udell’s. At times these letters are openly ugly and hostile. I cannot help but wonder what the point is, frankly. No matter how fervently the good believers of this area pray for it, Springfield will never become a Christian-only, conservative-only community. This city is comprised of every unpopular group one can imagine: gays, agnostics/atheists, liberals, etc. We hold jobs, pay taxes, own homes, and are good neighbors . . . just like YOU. Right, Mr. Udell? In fact, you wouldn’t know my religious status if you ran into me – you would only think I’m a nicely-dressed, semi-attractive, well-spoken, friendly, middle-aged woman. And that’s as it should be. My 'soul' is my own business – and none of your concern. There are thousands of social problems that deserve your attention, and my status as an atheist certainly isn’t one of them. One’s religious status is an extremely private matter, Mr. Udell – or should be. I would no sooner intrude into your beliefs than I would walk into your house and make myself at home without invitation.

I would like to make a few pertinent points:
A. Even if every Founding Father was a believer (and that is debatable), they were wise enough to ensure in our key documents that there is no 'official' American religion and that all citizens are guaranteed the FREEDOM of religion – be that to believe or NOT to believe. Those good people who love to cite the Constitution and Bill of Rights ad infinitum, ad nauseum, really ought to remember this key FACT.
B. A 1997 Federal Bureau of Prisons study finds that of all inmates, 39.164% are Catholics, 35.008% are Protestants, 7.273% are Muslims, and (way down the list) .209% are atheists. Of course, this is only a partial list. The information can be easily found on the internet. As you can see, when it comes to crime, atheists are hardly much of a threat. Perhaps, Mr. Udell, if you would like to lecture someone, you could go to the nearest prison and remind your fellow Christians that murder, robbery, rape, and dealing in drugs are not good things. If you went to the prison to counsel non-believers, you’d have a pretty miniscule audience. Also, you may want to have a word with Randall D. 'Danny' Russell, who appears in the same issue of the News-Leader as your letter. He is on page 2A, 'Pastor pleads guilty to felony sex charges.'
C. Following is a short list of well-known atheists. Again, it is easy to find more complete lists on the internet. I have only included names which may easily be recognized.
Ron Reagan (son of the President) Margaret Sanger Sir Arthur C. Clark
W. Somerset Maugham Robert Louis Stevenson Kevin Bacon
Billy Connolly Dave Foley Hugh Laurie
Ricky Gervais Paul Giamatti Jodie Foster
Katharine Hepburn John Huston Bruce Lee
John Malkovich Helen Mirren Keanu Reeves
Emma Thompson Gene Wilder Mick Jagger
John Lennon Simone de Beauvoir Noam Chomsky
Richard Feynman Sigmund Freud Stephen Jay Gould
Stephen Hawking Linus Pauling Ivan Pavlov
Carl Sagan Alan Turing Steve Wozniak
Sir Richard Branson Warren Buffett George Carlin
Thor Heyerdahl Dan Fouts Lance Armstrong
Berkeley Breathed Henri Cartier-Bresson Emily Dickinson
Isaac Asimov Jim Broadbent Butterfly McQueen

Finally, Mr. Udell (and anyone else of like inclinations), please stop lecturing those unlike yourself about what we should do in regards to our religious beliefs. As I mentioned before, this is a highly personal matter. What I or my husband or anyone else chooses to do when it comes to our personal religious beliefs is most certainly no business of yours. We are extremely fortunate to live in a country with this basic and crucial freedom. If you are so inclined, there are any number of countries to which you could move that have mandatory, state-sponsored religions. I believe Iran is one of them. This, however, is the United States of America, and freedom of religion IS the American way – whether you like it or not."

[Dardedar]

DAR
Ha, great letter. I hope they print it considering how long it is. We have to carefully count every word over here.

I was just talking to Tamara last night about a long forgotten motto of the US. It even appeared on some coins. It's just three words, but they contain great wisdom:

"Mind your business."

What could be more American? Think how much trouble and bickering is caused by people not doing this simple act. Somebody could do a whole presentation on this.

****
"Mind your business" is always good advice. In fact, this was the motto on the very first coins of the United States of America. These copper cents were authorized on April 21, 1787.

Starting in colonial days and continuing through revolutionary times, coins were struck by private individuals. The governments of New Jersey, Massachusetts, and a few other states also issued coins. It wasn't until 1787 that Congress got around to creating truly national, truly American cents.

This was two years before the present Constitution was adopted. We were still operating under the Articles of Confederation in those days. Therefore, it is not surprising that these first American coins were humble tokens of a hesitant central government. The idea of honoring the president of Congress -- or anyone else -- on the coppers would have been an abhorrent reminder of the British monarchy. The eagle was not yet the national emblem.

Link

[SherryH]

Thanks, Darrel!

Yeah, they really ought to bring back that "Mind Your Business" motto. It's much more apt than that God crap on our modern currency.

[tmiller51]

That coin reminds me of an idea I have for a coin design; a pie chart of how the federal budget is spent.

Tim

[Randall Doc Fleck]

I like the letter... It's right to the point. Well done.

I'll have to find the "Mr. Udell letter" and read it now that you have my attention.

(Here's my coin:)

(...and here's my design for dollar bills.)

[RobertMadewell]

Sherry,
Did they print it yet? Will they?

[SherryH]

Sherry,
Did they print it yet? Will they?

Hi Robert!

No, they haven't printed my letter yet. I did receive a couple of emails from the editor, though. The first one asked me to shorten the letter (which I already had), and then a second one a few hours later thanking me for re-submitting the letter and saying something about how "all viewpoints are valuable to the community." So, maybe they intend to print it. If they don't in the next few days, though, I'd say they probably WON'T - these things being time-sensitive, so to speak.

[SherryH]

It does look like the News-Leader is going to run my revised letter, after all. I received another email from the paper yesterday asking if I had a photo of myself that could be published with my letter. (No, I don't. No way, no how.)

[RobertMadewell]

Sherry,

Yeah, having your picture in the paper gives me images of a man sitting on a roof top with a high powered rifle with a scope and a torn out picture of you from the paper! Not a very pleasant image at all. Despite that image, I doubt you'd have too much to worry about. I worry too, but I have had no problem here with churchy people knowing that I'm an atheist, yet. (Well, not too serious trouble anyways. Only trouble with in-laws.) I have even walked into churches where people know that I'm an atheist. I might do that tomorrow. There's a pastor I want to talk to.

[Doug]

I received another email from the paper yesterday asking if I had a photo of myself that could be published with my letter. (No, I don't. No way, no how.)

DOUG
Send a picture of Palin. Maybe the fundamentalists will go after her! Just say that you moved to Alaska...

[SherryH]

My letter was published in the Springfield News-Leader yesterday under the "Local Voice" column. They entitled it "Freedom of religion also allows for no religion."

[SherryH]

Thank Joe Pesci.

My letter appeared in the Sunday edition of the News-Leader, so there really hasn't been time for any printed replies or rebuttals. Today, however, I took a look at the online edition and then kind of reluctantly clicked on the comments attached to it (expecting to be totally vilified) - and WOW: overwhelmingly supportive posts!!! James and I are NOT THE ONLY ATHEISTS AROUND SPRINGFIELD! I'm so relieved.

I posted a comment myself and plugged our group - even offering to have anyone ride along if they ever want to attend a meeting. So, if James and I ever disappear enroute to a meeting, you'll know it's because some fanatical religionist pretended to be an agnostic/atheist and killed us as some kind of ass-kissing, sacrificial offering to their god . . . and stole our car!

[Dardedar]

DAR
Here is the link to your letter. A 110 responses so far! Jump in there and scrap folks.

D.

[SherryH]

Thanks, Darrel, for the encouragement and posting the link!

I'll keep it up on the News-Leader's website for a while. As you know, I'm not a scientist or academic so my arguments won't ever be all that sophisticated. In the end, I can only maintain my personal position. I have to leave the scholastic stuff to you, Doug, Dr. Bill, Mike, and others.

[kwlyon]

So, if James and I ever disappear enroute to a meeting, you'll know it's because some fanatical religionist pretended to be an agnostic/atheist and killed us as some kind of ass-kissing, sacrificial offering to their god . . . and stole our car!

Well...don't worry...I'm sure they wont KILL you...just take your car...and you will get it back come the rapture which should be any day now.

[Joshua Udell]

Boo, It's Joshua Udell!

What's up? Freedom of speech is the best thing ever, don't you think?

Have you found my blog yet?

http://www.jcudell.blogspot.com

Are we having fun yet?

Edited by Savonarola, 20090328 0139: fixed URL

[Savonarola]

Boo, It's Joshua Udell!

I doubt any of us would have actually booed you, but if you're going to do so without any encouragement from us, I guess we can't stop you.

Freedom of speech is the best thing ever, don't you think?

I agree. It allows you to boo yourself. But I hope that you stick around and exercise said freedom of speech in a productive way. That's really the point here, so welcome to FFForums!

Have you found my blog yet?

I've taken the liberty of editing your link to that which is more likely the link you meant to post. If I have erred in this judgment, please let me know.

Are we having fun yet?

Not yet. I didn't actually see your letter to which Sherry was responding. Would you mind posting it here, or -- if it's on your blog or available on the newspaper website -- providing a link to it?

[SherryH]

Welcome, Mr. Udell!

[Dardedar]

Boo, It's Joshua Udell! What's up? Freedom of speech is the best thing ever, don't you think?

DAR
It has it's good days and it's bad days.

Have you found my blog yet?

DAR
Yes. Apparently I was the only one to read it. You appear to be (very) mentally ill. And that's putting a lot of sugar on it.

D.

[JamesH]

I read part of the blog or as much as I could stand. So where is the proof? Anyone can get on a blog and just rant, rave and preach but where is the proof? You can attempt to use the bible if you would like but it has been so debunked on this forum that I doubt you will want to try that but you are welcome too.

As just a challenge there is a quiz on the Freedom From Religion home page and you can get there at:

ffrf.org

I believe it is "How much do you know about the bible?" Take the quiz and get back to us with the results. It will be interesting to know how well you did.