Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2001 06:57:43 -0700 (MST)
From: thekoba@aztec.asu.edu
Subject: [azsecularhumanists] The day that counts
To: azsecularhumanists@yahoogroups.com
Reply-To: azsecularhumanists@yahoogroups.com




Atheists, agnostics, humanits and freethinkers nationwide are organizing
for July 17th as the day that counts.  It is estimated there are nearly
30 million unbelievers in the USA, and we can make our voices heard by
communicating to the politicians on the same day.  

The target of our protests is the Bush plan to divert tax money to 
sectarian religious groups supposedly for charitable works.  I encourage
all of you to write to President Bush, your senators, and your congresspeople
tomorrow, July 17th.  E-mails, faxes and phone calls are generally 
considered less effective than snail mail letters, but they are better than
nothing if you don't have time to write a snail mail letter.  

We all have our own perspectives on this issue, but the points I made in
my letters were:

1) The use of public moneys for sectarian religious groups violates both
   the letter and the spirit of the first ammendment.

2) While I am not opposed to the use of public money to aid the poor and
   needy, there are other ways to do this than through sectarian
   religious organizations.

3) As an atheist I resent the use of my tax money for the promotion of
   religion.  Religion has been a backward force in society that favors
   dogma and blind faith over science and reason.

4) There is a great risk with this plan that moey will be diverted away
   from charitable projects and toward sectarian religious activities.

5) There is a great risk with this plan that recipients will be subjected
   to proselytization, feel a sense of obligation toward the religious
   organization through which the aid is granted, or be subjected to
   religious discrimination.

6) Some religious groups will be favored over others by this aid, in
   accordance with the prejudices of the administration.

--Kevin Walsh

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