The President doesn't appear to incorporate Freedom

The President doesn't appear to incorporate Freedom FROM Religion in his Declaration. It is the FREEDOM, not the RELIGION that he's celebrating, isn't it? I'm thinking about whether he like his father wouldn't consider an Skeptic as an American subject. It would have been so natural for him to 

incorporate the individuals who have no religious convictions in his flexibility of religion 

day, however he has picked not to. That makes me exceptionally pitiful. I'm sitting at my work area today with tears in my eyes, as by and by, I have been made to feel avoided for my religious perspectives. It's segregation, plain and straightforward. On a last note, poor Thomas Jefferson, is moving over in his grave today, as this is precisely the kind of thing he said ought to never happen. 

Mr Jefferson, who did not perceive the godlikeness of Jesus, and at the end of his days his thoughts were closer to that of an Atheist composed, "Accepting with you that religion is a matter which lies exclusively between man and his God, that he owes record to none other for his confidence or his 

adore, that the authoritative forces of government achieve activities just, furthermore not conclusions, I think about with sovereign veneration that demonstration of the entire American individuals which proclaimed that their assembly ought to "make no law regarding a foundation of religion, or forbidding the free practice thereof," accordingly constructing a divider of division in the middle of chapel and State." 

A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America On Religious Freedom Day, we honor the entry of the 1786 Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, composed by Thomas Jefferson, 

furthermore we praise the First Amendment's insurance of religious flexibility. Over the hundreds of years, individuals have come to America trying to love the Almighty unreservedly. Today, our residents pronounce numerous diverse beliefs, furthermore we respect each religion. Yet individuals in numerous nations live without the flexibility to love as they pick and some face mistreatment for 

their convictions. My Administration is working with our companions and associates around the globe to development basic values and spread the gifts of freedom to each corner of the world. Flexibility is a blessing from the God-like, written in the complete self of each man, lady, and youngster, furthermore we must keep on promoing the essentialness of religious flexibility at 

home and abroad. 

Presently, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. Hedge, President of the United States of America, by ideals of the power vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do thusly announce January 16, 2007, as Religious Freedom Day. I approach all Americans to think about the extraordinary gift of religious freedom, attempt to safeguard this flexibility for future eras, and celebrate this day with proper occasions and exercises in their schools, spots of love, neighborhoods, and homes. 

Exposé

Exposé is an American vocal group. Primarily consisting of lead vocalists Ann Curless, Jeanette Jurado, and Gioia Bruno, the group achieved much of their success between 1987 and 1993, becoming the first group to have four top ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart from their debut album, including their 1988 #1 hit "Seasons Change". The group was popular in dance clubs, mainstream Top 40 and adult contemporary charts in the United States. The group actively toured and recorded music from 1985 to 1995, then retired from recording and public performances until 2003, and currently tour today.

Asarina

Asarina is a genus comprising 16 species of strongly sprawling or twining perennials, native to Mexico, southwestern USA, and southern Europe. Originally placed in the Scrophulariaceae (figwort family), they have more recently been moved to the Plantaginaceae (plantain family). Leaves are often triangular, toothed, downy and hairy with twining flower stalks. Flowers are attractive trumpet-shaped with broad green sepals and pale throat-spotted corolla in varying sizes, resemble snapdragons, and may be white, yellow, pink, purple, and shades in between. Some species are often placed in the genus Maurandya.

I'm thinking of giving it another try.

Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Well, I'm back at blogging. Many changes have occurred in my life since my first blog, Atheist Exposed. Unfortunately I deleted the original blog, and don't know how to retrieve it. If anyone can offer any advice in this area, I would greatly appreciate it. I've sent a request to blogspot, to help me restore it but I have not heard back from them yet.

The changes... first of all, I'm not in Houston anymore, now I reside in Arlington, TX (near Dallas)and secondly, I'm no longer working in a prison. That's really been a big change for me, after 18 years of working in a prison, I now work in an office. I'm still working for the prison system, but not inside any more. It took some getting used to, but I adapt quickly, and I absolutely love, not going to jail everyday. I am now 20 months until I'm eligible for retirement, so things are really looking good for me.

So why in the world, would I want to take up my experiment again? A couple of reasons. My office work environment is very close quarters, so I now have to tolerate daily religious chatter from my co-workers. Annoying, but tolerable. In January, we had a Black History luncheon, (I brought macaroni and cheese casserole) and as I entered the dining hall, excited to partake of ox tails, collard greens, and BBQ ribs (I love soul food) I was greeted by the beautiful gospel singing of one of the Administrative Assistants. Well, alright I thought, I guess that is part of black history. After the singing, out comes one of my co-workers, bible in hand, and she begins her reading and moral telling. The theme was we are all one. I smile to myself, wondering if I'm included in that oneness. Then she drops the bombshell, and announces to the crowd of maybe 200 people that God only recognizes Christians and Jews. Holy shit. I'm looking around the crowd, I sure hope there's no Muslims here. They might just be offended by that remark. I grabbed a plate of food, and hurried back to my office feeling a little hurt, not really understanding exactly why, but hurt all the same. So, the seed of "discontent" was planted in my little brain, and just kept irritating me slightly. I kept thinking about the fact that for so many years, I had kept my religious views quite, out of respect for people who might be offended by them, and I wondered why it was, that I never seem to receive that same courtesy. Like somehow my feelings, are not as important as theirs. That has lead me to the decision, that the majority's intolerance of atheism, or any other alternative belief system, is the final prejudice. It's no different than any other form of discrimination. Sex, race, sexual preference.

So this has weighed heavy on my heart and mind for the last few months, but I pretty much decided just to endure it, and reminded myself, I only had 20 months to go. But, ....this week, I attended, Annual Refresher Training. The training they are required to give every year, on all the same topics every year, suicide prevention, computer security, employee conduct, safety, violence in the work place, ethics....

As I sit and listen to the lectures, advising us of our legal and moral responsibility, not to discriminate on basis of race, religion, age, sex... I look around the room, and see everyone nodding their head in agreement, I ask myself... "What are you worried about? You can see right here that you are entitled to your religious views, no matter what they are. You are guaranteed to be protected from those who disagree with you, at least in the workplace." It's the law. Perhaps I'm not giving my co-workers enough credit. Perhaps if they know that I'm an Atheist, they will still love and accept me. I decide I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt, and figure out a non confrontational way, to let the news out. There is an Atheist among us. I sure hope this goes well. I really like these people, and some of them, I've known almost 20 years. One thing I think is definitely in my favor, of being accepted, is that my co-workers, have come to the Dallas area, from prisons all over the United States. Who knows, I might even find, a fellow Atheist!! That would be so great...