Now I don’t usually consider myself a Washington-marchin’, sign-wavin’, policy-protestin’ kinda guy. And I’ve never been personally discriminated against for being an atheist, but that’s at least partially because I tend to keep fairly quiet about it. But looking at all the backlash against this Pledge of Allegiance ruling, I’m surprised to find myself sorely tempted to go.
(Complicating the matter is that it just happens to fall on the day after my birthday, which would probably involve explaining my oddly-timed absence to a number of people who’d really rather not know… aw, what the heck, they’ll live.)
So, maybe it’s a bit early, but are any of the SDMB’s resident godless-folk actually thinking about going? Is the march a good idea? Worth it? Do marches like this ever accomplish anything, tangible or not?
(And how about some suggestions for sign slogans while we’re at it? )
You may think me weak-willed or something else to that affect, but I make a daily effort to withold my personal beliefs. Evangelism is what drove me away from organized religion. I don’t go to peoples homes and try to steer them away from their religious beliefs and I certainly don’t want to be subjected to such treatment. Do they come to my home anyway? Yes, they do. Its a simple matter of declining their presence. If different religious organizations wish to march on the capitol, fine. Will it change anyones beliefs? Probably not.
Is the march a good idea/will it accomplish anything?..
If people need to march to defend their atheism, they should march. However, I fear it is exactly that need to defend an ideology (or rather, lack thereof) that spawns reliqious zealotry/evangelism. Take a step back and think about why you want to march. Is it in response to a part of you that remembers every time you were made to feel awkward about your beliefs? As far as bringing about political change-- do you know anyone willing to give up their religious beliefs simply because someone else says the right thing?
Quite honestly, I wasn’t aware of the discrimination brought against atheists by religious government officials that the “March on Washington” site makes reference to.
(And yes, I am aware of the irony presented by my posting this tirade to advance the idea that people shouldn’t force their beliefs on others-- but hey, you read it!)
I would love to go, and would happily park my car at someone’s place in Philly/NY/NJ/DE area and ride the rest of the way with them. If anyone says “yeah” then I say “yeah”.
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