The Memphis Freethought Alliance promotes freedom from religion and works to educate and defend the rights of atheists, agnostics and secular humanism.
For more information email [email protected] or call 327-2677
Web Site: www.geocities.com/memphisfreethought
MEMPHIS FREETHINKERS CALL FOR REMOVAL OF TEN COMMANDMENT DISPLAY
The Memphis Freethought Alliance calls for the removal of the Ten Commandment display from the Shelby County courthouse. Many court decisions, including recent decisions in Alabama, have found the display of the Judeo-Christian Ten Commandments in public courthouses to be a violation of the Constitutional separation of church and state.The Constitution of the United States, not the Ten Commandments, are the basis of the U.S. legal system. The "Ten Commandments" is a religious document and includes requirements for belief in the Judeo-Christian god. It is a violation of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution to require citizens of the United States to believe in a god, not to take that god's name in vain, or worship said god on a particular day.
The Memphis Freethought Alliance calls upon Shelby County to abide by the Constitution of the United States and federal law and remove the Ten Commandment display from our county courthouse.
American Atheists Action Alert...
June 27, 2002
DEFEND THE DECISION! KEEP THE PLEDGE "RELIGION
FREE"!
Action needed now to stop possible
Constitutional Amendment,
other efforts to overturn NEWDOW ruling!
From: American Atheists
To: All Atheist, Freethought, Secular Humanist groups &
individuals
On Wednesday, June 26, 2002, a three-judge panel of the
U.S. Ninth
Circuit Court of Appeals handed down a historic decision in a
case
challenging the inclusion of "under God" in our
nation's Pledge of
Allegiance (http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/pledge2.htm). Efforts
are now underway to overturn this ruling, which found that the
Pledge
-- as revised in 1954 -- violates the sseparation of church and
state,
and endorses "monotheistic religion."
* MEMBERS OF CONGRESS are outraged, and are asking the government
to
intervene by seeking a full "en banc" hearing in front
of the full
Ninth Circuit or, if necessary, taking the case to the U.S.
Supreme
Court. There are also plans to promote a constitutional
amendment to
include the "under God" slogan in the Pledge.
It is questionable at this time whether any U.S. Senator or
Representative, or candidate for a major public office, has the
integrity, principles and fortitude to oppose such as
"politically
expedient" amendment. Even Democrats like Joe
Lieberman are trying to
outdo their religious right counterparts by demanding legislative
action!
* RELIGIOUS GROUPS ARE FURIOUS and have launched a "full
court press"
in the news media to influence public opinion...
America's Atheists, Freethinkers, Humanists and other "of no
religion"
need to take action NOW and fight back, especially in the media
and
public opinion "culture war" raging over this
controversial issue!
AMERICAN ATHEISTS is urging you to take action. Media, the
general
public, and elected officials need to hear our point of
view. Here's
how you can help!
* GET THE BACKGROUND: Visit
http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/pledge2.htm for more on this case.
Then, visit http://www.atheists.org/action/alert-27-jun-2002.html, our
ACTION ALERT PAGE.
* CONTACT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS! Write letters, send faxes,
make phone
calls to your U.S Senators and Representatives, telling them that
you
oppose any tampering with the Constitution in order to restore
the
"religionized" Pledge of Allegiance! Visit
http://www.atheists.org/action and visit our "Contact Congress Page"
for resources.
* ENGAGE IN THE MEDIA DEBATE! Let's win the public opinion
war.
Letters to the Editor of your local/regional news paper, as well
as
national publications are an important tool in influencing public
opinion. Also, participate in call-in programs and other
public
forums about this and related issues!
* For resources, talking points and more, visit
http://www.atheists.org/action
**
COURT STALLS ENFORCEMENT OF
"GODLESS PLEDGE" RULING
The Circuit Court judge who authored the majority opinion in
yesterday's decision striking down the Pledge of Allegiance as a
violation of state-church separation put the ruling on hold
indefinitely early today.
Judge Alfred T. Goodwin officially stayed any action until
fellow
members of the U.S.Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals can review the
decision. That hearing can consist of a panel with the same
three
judges, or an 11-judge panel. Vikram Amar, professor of Law
and
Hastings College and an expert on the appeals court process, said
that
the stay means that the finding "has no legal force or
effect."
"They're acknowledging the likelihood that the whole 9th
Circuit may
take a look at this," said Amar.
Media pundits and legal eagles remain divided over whether the
decision will survive a review by the full Circuit Court, or the
U.S.
Supreme Court. Harvard University scholar Laurence Tribe
said that
the ruling will likely be overturned by either body.
"I would be an
awful lot on that," he told Associated Press earlier today.
For further information:
http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/pledge2.htm
(Circuit court strikes "under God' in
Pledge f Allegiance," 6/26/02
--------------------------
American Atheists
Action Alert
December 30, 2001
'TIS THE SEASON TO SMEAR ATHEISM AND SECULARISM?
In the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks, some media
pundits
and columnists are busy instead attacking anyone who denies or
questions religious assumptions. William F. Buckley,
Bill O'Reilly,
Sean Hannity -- all have been unfair recently in their treatment
of
nonbelievers. They need to hear from you!
* William Buckley blames international terrorism on
"Atheists" who
live "un-Islamic" lives!
* Bill O'Reilly says that "this might offend some atheists
out there,
but so what? The arrogance of a person who dismisses the
thought of a
higher power offends me..." He criticizes several
cases where public
officials have taken steps to preserve the separation of church
and
state at Christmas time.
* Sean Hannity, supposedly a talk-show host on FoxNews Channel,
conducts "ambush" interviews, and talks more than the
Atheist guest on
his program!
These media pundits need to hear from you. Visit
http://www.atheists.org/action and click on the December 19, 2001
alert. We urge you to contact these individuals and
politely express
your concerns. Join us in speaking out on behalf of fair
treatment
for Atheists and our point of view in the media!
Visit http://www.atheists.org/action