Atheists Are American Too

I just got finished reading an interesting article on CNN.com. It was about the freedom to be an atheist without persecution. In America, citizens have the freedom to worship or not to worship. Having the freedom to worship is one of our basic freedoms. In fact, it might be the single reason that we are a democratic nation.

Having freedom to worship is one thing to have. Forcing it on someone else is another matter. Atheists in the CNN article are wanting to use sign pulling airplanes to express their message. They want signs that say "Atheism is Patriotic" and "God LESS America."

Their reason for doing this isto spread their message that "America is for everyone." They plan to do this in 27 states on Monday July 4Th. However, they are finding some resistance from pilots. They should expect this, especially on July Fourth. Maybe they should reconsider the terminology used.

Even religious individuals resist messages among themselves. A case in point. I am a Lutheran and I don't appreciate it, when the Watch Tower evangelists come to my door. They have the right to come to my door and I have the right to reject them. This is the same as the pilots rejecting to fly the signs for the atheists.

In recent years, there have been discussion about removing the words "In God We Trust" from our currency. There has also been Ten Commandments removed from courthouses, the removal of nativity scenes from public offices, and changing the "Pledge of Allegiance." Some of these steps have been successful and some haven't. I was always under the impression that the word "God" was a way to celebrate our freedom of worship. It accents this freedom to worship.

Many individuals in communities would like outsiders to mind their own business. "How dare outsiders tell our town what we can and what we can't display?" Wouldn't it be nice if individual towns could decide those matters? I suppose some do.

In America, we all have the freedom to worship or not. We also have the freedom to reject what is against our beliefs. That is what makes this nation so great.

Atheists are Americans too. Just because a person doesn't believe in God doesn't makes him un-American. Yet Atheists have to understand, that individuals have the right not to support their message. All we need to do is respect the freedoms that we all enjoy.

I truly believe that God has blessed this nation. If he hadn't, we would have fallen a long time ago.