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Sent: Friday, April 23, 1999 2:34 PM
Subject: AANEWS for Friday, April 23, 1999
from: AMERICAN ATHEISTS
subject: AANEWS for April 23, 1999
A M E R I C A N A T H E I S T S
AANEWS
#561 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4/23/99
http://www.atheists.org
ftp.atheists.org/pub/atheists/
http://www.americanatheist.org
---------------------------------------------
A Service of AMERICAN ATHEISTS
"For Reason and the First Amendment"
----------------------------------------------
In This Issue...
* Bauer exploits Colorado slaying, launches nomination drive
* "The Great God Debate" -- Tomorrow!
* Alabama town is "City of Prayer"
* "City of Prayer" Proclamation
* Update: Hysteria, scapegoating from Colorado
* Resources
* About this list...
BAUER USING "TRENCH COAT" WARFARE TO LAUNCH CAMPAIGN
Religious conservative activist Gary Bauer officially announced his
candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination on Wednesday, and
immediately took aim to exploit the tragic shooting deaths at a
Littleton, Colorado high school. "Virtue is in free fall," declared
Bauer. "Reverence and respect are disappearing, and the question
before us is: Will the family, as well?"
At a rally in his hometown of Newport, Ky., Bauer linked the deaths of
over a dozen students and a teacher at Columbine High School to the
culture-war issues he has become famous for, at least inside the D.C.
beltway. "The culture glorifies death in a thousand different ways.
We've got movies and music and television shows that show people dying
as if it were something that was as simply as the sun coming up in the
morning." Despite his identification as a conservative who is
mistrustful of government, Bauer added, "In the America I want, those
Hollywood producers and directors -- they wouldn't be able to show
their faces in public, because you and every other American would
point to them and say, 'Shame! Shame! Shame'"
The shootings in Littleton involve at least two students linked to an
affinity group identified as the "Trench coat Mafia." Since Tuesday's
tragedy, a variety of theories have been advanced to explain the
behavior of the disaffected students -- everything from the
availability of firearms, and the alleged prevalence of violent
imagery throughout the culture to lack of prayer and religion in the
public schools, and a disintegration of "family values."
The 52-year old head of the influential, Washington D.C.- based Family
Research Council enters a primary field already crowded with
candidates, most of whom agree with Bauer's religious conservative
agenda. What distinguishes Bauer, though, is his intransigence on the
need to emphasize cultural issues such as ban on all abortion, over
the more traditional GOP campaign issues like taxes and the economy.
Bauer also is competing for the same party base, the GOP's Christian
religious fundamentalist and evangelical members already being courted
by other candidates, including former Vice President Dan Quayle, radio
broadcaster Alan Keyes, commentator Pat Buchanan, New Hampshire Sen.
Bob Smith and millionaire publisher Steve Forbes. Others, such as
Elizabeth Dole and Texas Governor George W. Bush, while ideologically
similar, are increasingly viewed with suspicion by the party's
religious wing, in part because of recent statements both have made
concerning abortion. Bush, for instance, while leading the field in
both surveys and funding, has declared that Americans are not ready
for a total ban on abortion; Ms. Dole has expressed similar thoughts.
Bauer's strategy will attempt to mirror Pat Buchanan's upset win in
the 1996 New Hampshire primary, and get off to an early start in the
race for delegates. While he is considered a virtual unknown by many
political pundits, Bauer is recognized for his strength as a
communicator. He has also established a network of supporters
throughout the country, and can likely count on the support of the
600,000 FRC members, too. The New York Times noted, "The group's
large mailing list has given Bauer a built-in base of supporters and
donors." Political scientist John C. Green of the University of
Akron added that the FRC's national base gives Bauer "a lot of
resources," and even a shot at finishing a respectable second or third
at the GOP year 2000 convention in Philadelphia. Bauer wins, or even
respectable showings in the primaries, could lead to a floor-fight
over delegates, as well as tension within the Platform Committee when
issues like the abortion plank are discussed.
Many religious conservatives see Bauer as the "last chance" candidate
within the Republican party. Earlier this year, Paul Weyrich of the
Free Congress Foundation expressed his disenchantment with both the
GOP and the nation, insisting that the acquittal of President Clinton
on impeachment charges demonstrated that both America and the
political process were beyond redemption. And the man considered as
Bauer's mentor, family values guru James Dobson of Focus on the
Family, has been excoriating Republican leadership for the past year
over its downsizing of the cultural agenda in favor of tax cuts and
emphasis on economic issues.
So, Bauer is standing firm on his pet issues, and ignoring focus
groups in the process. "I don't care what the polls say," declared
Bauer to the New York Times. "I will never sacrifice one American
child, born or unborn. You can count on it."
Bauer breaks ranks with many GOP establishment candidates in opposing
unfettered free trade, particular in connection with China. He also
expresses the "outsider" populism which has made Pat Buchanan popular
in many quarters of the electorate. "There are too many people in the
elites of America," declared Bauer, "in Hollywood and on Wall Street
and in Washington, D.C. -- to many people that have forgotten that
our liberty comes from God, not from any man."
At his election kickoff, Bauer struggled to link his agenda to issues
he said resonated from the Colorado shootings. "When you have a
society where you're no longer telling many of your kids that they're
created by God, that their liberty comes from him, that virtue matters
and death is never an option, whether it's an unborn baby or settling
a fight, I don't think we can be surprised when we get the kind of
horrible pictures and scenes that we increasingly see."
**
'THE GREAT GOD DEBATE" SLATED FOR APRIL 24
"The Great God Debate" takes place tomorrow, Saturday, April 24, 1999
in Red Lion (near York), Pennsylvania. The debate will pit Ron
Barrier with Pennsylvania AA State Director Liz Burcin against Rev.
William Read and apologist Paul Copan of Atlanta, Ga. The event
starts at 7:00 p.m. at the Fairmount Building, corner of Charles and
Henrietta Streets in Red Lion. Visit the Pennsylvania American
Atheists web site at http://www.atheists.org/pa/for more details.
**
MAYOR DECREES ALABAMA TOWN "CITY OF PRAYER" AND
"CONSECRATED GROUND"
In a state already seriously divided by battles over government and
religion, the mayor of Gadsden, Alabama has issued a proclamation
declaring the community a "City of Prayer" and "consecrated grounds
for the fulfilling of God's purpose, working through the Holy Spirit"
and "prayer warriors."
Mayor Steven Means signed the declaration on April 1, but it wasn't an
April Fool's joke. The mayor says that he took the unusual step at
the request of a local artist, John Sandridge, who thought that the
move was a positive way of emphasizing belief and prayer in this
community of 41,000 where nearly 1300 jobs are being lost due to the
closing of a local tire plant.
Local Atheist activists Carol and Al Faulkenberry, though, see the
proclamation as a clear violation of the First Amendment's
establishment clause against the commingling of government and
religion. Ms.Faulkenberry insists that his honor publicly apologize
for turning the city into a haven for "prayer warriors," and has
enlisted the help of ACLU attorney Pamela Sumners who sent the mayor a
nine-page letter outlining the possible legal violations involved.
Means told the Gadsden Times newspaper that he has no intention of
apologizing for his decree, though, insisting "It's a free country and
I'm thankful for that, but I was proud to sign that proclamation. I
don't think I did anything wrong and I stand behind what I did."
In her letter, Sumners accused Means of using the government to
endorse religious belief and sectarianism; the use of terms like "Holy
Spirit" and "prayer warriors" clearly identify the endorsement of
Christian fundamentalist theology.
"I really think the city of Gadsden needs to be educated on what the
Constitution requires," Sumners declared. "I wanted the good people
of Gadsden to know that this is not constitutional." There is
speculation of a possible lawsuit, but Sumners noted that before
taking any legal action in the courts, "I like to make everyone aware
that the Constitution is being violated... If they quit, there's no
reason to sue."
City Attorney Roger Kirby told media, "I don't believe the city has
done anything to infringe on people's rights." He added that the
proclamation of the mayor "doesn't mean it's an official city position
that denies anyone their right to freedom of religion," and added that
"Most proclamations are given and forgotten."
Carol Faulkenberry, though, says that the mayor lacks the authority to
issue such a religious decree. "The letter is an expression of basic
fundamentalist Christian theology," she told the Gadsden Times
newspaper. "If he (Means) can do that, he can declare the city a
Muslim City of prayer, too -- but if he did that, the Baptists would
be raising ... all up and down Broad Street."
The Faulkenberrys got some support from Elliot Saltz, president of the
local Temple Beth Israel. On Thursday, he told Associated Press that
"People have a right to expect government to act ethically, but
government has no business taking sides in matters of theology." He
added that he considers the decree to be Christian, and said that he
wished politicians would "stop trying to politicize religion."
It remains unclear whether or not the proclamation will help the new
"City of Prayer" or make up for lost jobs. But to the Faulkenberrys
and other separationists, Mayor Means' actions are part of a wider
pattern of frequent violations of the First Amendment throughout
Etowah County and the state of Alabama. County Judge Roy Moore, for
instance, has generated national controversy for his display of a
hand-carved Ten Commandments plaque in his courtroom, and the opening
of judicial sessions with a Baptist invocation. Prayer in schools or
at official functions like athletic contests remains a divisive issue,
and the former Governor, Fob James, threatened to mobilize the
National Guard, state police and even the University of Alabama
football squad in order to resist any "federal" orders to end prayer
or remove religious items from government buildings.
Mayor Means, a member of the First United Methodist Church of Gadsden,
remains firm in supporting the proclamation, and told Associated Press
that he considered it to be Christian in its content.
**
TEXT OF THE "CITY OF PRAYER" DECREE SIGNED BY MAYOR MEANS
"Whereas, the undersigned citizens of Gadsden, Alabama unite in the
firm conviction that Gadsden, Alabama is not only an All American City
and the City of Champions, but also The City of Prayer; and
Whereas, the citizens of Gadsden proclaim the conviction that `When
two come together agreeing on anything it will be done in heaven,' and
so claim this conviction as the foundation on which Gadsden and Etowah
County stand; and
Whereas, they further claim this city and county as consecrated
grounds for the fulfilling of God's purpose, working through the Holy
Spirit and through the lives of those who step forth as prayer
warriors. They acknowledge that the key word that brings God's Holy
Spirit into operation is agreeing; and
Whereas, the citizens of Gadsden, publicly announce that it is agreed
that through prayer the city of Gadsden and Etowah County can deal
with, overcome and solve any problems that threaten our spiritual,
physical and economic well being; and
Whereas, the citizens of Gadsden publicly announce that they forgive
one another of all complaints and wrongs that we have against one
another -- known and unknown -- allowing the Holy Spirit to work
freely as God directs; and
Whereas, the citizens of Gadsden, vow to use our greatest weapon,
prayer, in love, for the good of all God's people and live up to the
tenets of this proclamation; and
Whereas, it is agreed that Gadsden, the City of Champions, now and
henceforth, shall be The City of Prayer;
Now, therefore, be it resolved that I, Steve Means, mayor of the city
of Gadsden, by virtue of the authority vested in me, do hereby
proclaim the city of Gadsden, Alabama, City of Champions, All America
City, `The City of Prayer,' encouraging the public to recognize that
Gadsden is a city where God's will is being done."
**
COLORADO UPDATE: ATHEISTS CONDEMN "FINGER POINTING" AS
ROBERTSON, OTHERS HURL WORST-CASE SCENARIOS
"Are America's kids becoming killers?," asks a headline on Rev. Pat
Robertson's Christian Broadcasting Network internet site. Drugs, the
abolition of ritual prayer in the public schools, Marilyn Manson,
single-parent households, working parents, gangs -- even the Jerry
Springer show -- are all being cited as causal agents to explain this
week's shooting deaths in a Littleton, Colorado high school. Other
sensational accounts blame "Goths," a music and fashion subculture
whose participants usually dress in black and enjoy the music of
certain rock bands, the easy availability of guns, or a sense of
widespread alienation said to exist throughout the nation's grade
schools and high schools.
"The landscape is now hauntingly familiar," insists CBN reporter Kim
Ferrall, citing shootings in Kentucky, Oregon, Arkansas and elsewhere.
But is it really a landscape filled with violence, or one of
hyperbolic reaction from media, political and religious figures and a
golden rolodex of self-described "experts"?
FBI statistics show that in 1997, the number of juveniles involved in
violent crimes declined by 4%. And only about 5% of youngsters are
responsible for the bulk (70%) of all crimes attributed to young
people. In addition, 90% of high schools and grade schools across the
country did not report any violent crimes -- which can include
everything from cold blooded murder to an amateurish fist fight in a
locker room.
* The hyperbole is not stopping the saturation media coverage, though,
of the Columbine High School slayings, nor an almost ghoulish
fascination with the "Trench Coat Mafia." We continue to monitor
reports from around the country where the wearing of so-called "trench
coats" is being banned. Media also focuses on the innumerable
"memorial services" which include prayer, homilies from religious and
political leaders, and fervent appeals to "put god back in our lives."
* From Denver, Colorado State Director Margie Wait reports that the
"Teen Mania Ministry" is targeting the city for an upcoming prayer
warrior rally to "heal" the aftermath of the Littleton slayings.
Conventions of various groups are being canceled, and local media is
preempting national program feeds to focus on the seemingly endless
round of church activities and religion-saturated memorial gatherings.
* While media is being criticized for the alleged violent content of
many programs, shows which are often praised by the religious
community and have supernatural/faith-based themes may be exhibiting a
morbid fascination with the darker side of life -- an accusation
hurled uncritically at youngsters. CBS has announced that it was
pulling an episode of "Promised Land" because the plot involved a
shooting in front of a Denver school. Network spokesman Chris Ender
said that network executives made the decision following reports of
the Columbine High slayings. "It seemed like the right thing to do."
* The WB network is already considering pulling an episode of "Buffy
the Vampire Slayer," which happens to include a fantasy about school
murders. And the provocative Fox Network almost yanked a segment on
"The New Faces of Hate," which focused on a youthful neo-Nazi leader
in the Bible belt who happens to have a site on the internet.
* The same list of alleged villains has emerged from the Littleton
episode as did in earlier incidents of school violence, especially the
1997 slayings in Paduchah, Kentucky. Early reports in that case
identified the 14-year old suspect, Michael Carneal, as an Atheist who
harassed a school prayer group that gathered in the lobby of Heath
High School for displays of public religiosity. Attorneys for the
victims' families have filed suit using the "deep pockets" theory;
they allege that the movie "The Basketball Diaries," the video game
"Mortal Combat" and several adult web sites supposedly motivated
Carneal to open fire; a whopping $130 million in damages in being
sought from major entertainment conglomerates including Time Warner,
Sega, Sony, Nintendo, and Polygram Film Distribution.
* More of the same can be expected in the fallout from the Columbine
High incident. "A Deluge of Lawsuits Foreseen in Littleton," was the
headline on one story in today's edition of the Washington Post. "In
the past, parents of the killers were sued under their homeowners
policies, which typically provide only about $300,000 in civil
liability coverage. But with dozens of potential claims, experts
predict lawyers will search broadly for deeper pockets." One attorney
mentioned gun manufactures, and an "internet angle -- where this
fascination with Hitler came from."
**
RESOURCES FROM AMERICAN ATHEISTS...
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articles from the current or back issues, as well as special web-only
features. Visit us at http://www.americanatheists.org
* If you are a current member of American Atheists, sign up for our
e-mail discussion group, aachat. We have over 120 participants who
discuss topics such as Atheism, religion, First Amendment issues and
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