Atheists in Foxholes News 28 Dec 2011
MAAF has selected 31 recent articles of interest in the areas of atheism & humanism in the military, society, and government, both in the US and internationally. As always, December was filled with arguments about holiday displays and the “War on Christmas.” Justin Griffith, Military Director of American Atheists, helped to jump-start local activism by supporting Travis M*A*S*H and their participation in the Travis AFB holiday display.
Related to this is the continuing coverage of the Camp Pendleton Christian shrine. Local pressure, military culture, and the Christmas season have resulted in the continuation of Christian privilege on the base and no repercussions for the leaders involved.
MAAF also posted two reports, one on a mandatory Army Risk Assessment recommending chaplain treatment for “Extremely High Risk” soldiers. The second was a Pew Forum study highlighting the benefits of and need for the military to provide for the secular community.
Finally, the atheist community lost a great leader in Christopher Hitchens. His support for the Iraq war was controversial, but he was nonetheless revered as a leader and will be missed. These stories and more below.
Christopher Hitchens (1949-2011)
- Richard Dawkins: Illness made Hitchens a symbol
- Hitchens’ legacy provocative ideas, New Zealand Herald
- Hitchens fought dogma’s delusion
- You never knew what Hitchens was going to say
- Scott Stephens ABC on Chris Hitchens
Fabricated Right Wing War on Christmas
- Mikey Weinstein, A Traitor in the War on Christmas, AlterNet (blog)
- Atheist can feel spirit of Christmas in WVa
- Ten parodies of Rick Perry’s ‘Strong’ ad
- John Moore: Christmas isn’t under siege
- Atheists aim to change image of penny-pinching Scrooges
- Christmas display draws controversy
- N. Korean Threat Over Border Christmas Trees
Secular holiday displays / Travis AFB
- Another military base, another Nativity Scene – this time in Kentucky.
- MAAF: Military leaders struggle with diversity in holiday displays
- Atheist Messages Displace CA Park Nativity Scenes, Salon
- Atheist display permitted alongside other religious holiday displays
Camp Pendleton Cross controversy
- Pentagon to decide fate of Camp Pendleton memorial, North County Times
- MAAF: positive attitude needed for reform
- Crosses at Marine base protested, UPI
- Group remains upset over Pendleton crosses, Marine Corps Times
- Decision on Camp Pendleton crosses due in new year
- Lawmaker urges allowing cross to remain at Camp Pendleton, Los Angeles Times
Atheism, Humanism, and Religious Issues in the Military
- Military Tebowing: Tacky or Unconstitutional?
- MAAF: Study highlights need for secular community
- MAAF: Local network still growing, but with little official recognition
- The intellectual cowardice of Bradley Manning’s critics, Salon
- MAAF: FORSCOM Refers Extremely High Risk to Chaplains
- Southern Baptists Admit That They Oppose Religious Equality In The Military
- Volunteers lay 90K wreaths at Arlington cemetery
International Humanism