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Michigan Atheists Newsletter
Volume 2, Issue 8
Greg Reich, Editor
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April 29, 2003
*BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR UPDATED WEBSITE AT:
http://www.michiganatheists.org


In this issue:
-Michigan's Godless March on Lansing is approaching soon
-Personal protection order filed against former sponsor/co-sponsor of religious legislation
-George W. Bush's shocking quote--an editorial
-US Representative from Michigan stays in townhouse listed as church on federal tax rolls
-Summer solstice picnic
-Reminder: monthly brunch location has moved

LESS THAN TWO WEEKS UNTIL THE GODLESS MARCH ON LANSING

On Saturday, May 10, Michigan Atheists will be hosting the Godless March on Lansing. Atheists, Agnostics, Secular Humanists, Freethinkers, Rationalists and other godless Michiganders will converge on the capitol to speak out for fair representation from our state's government.
With a preamble in the state constitution that excludes godless people, it is no wonder that Michigan's elected officials have felt free to discuss--and sometimes pass--legislation that excessively intertwines state and church. From Public Act 189, which encourages the posting of "In God We Trust" in all public buildings--including schools, to the requirement to have two clergy members on any decision-making body discussing sex education, the Michigan Legislature--especially under former Governor John Engler--has a history of ignoring both the First Amendment of the United States Constitution and the Article I, section 4 of its own.
Speakers from Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio will join the rally to make the voices of Michigan's godless heard in the Capitol. Come and be a part of what promises to be a truly historic event.

ROBERT GOSSELIN HAS PERSONAL PROTECTION ORDER AGAINST HIM

Robert Gosselin, who served in the Michigan Legislature until the last election, has had a personal protection order filed against him by Troy resident, Walenda Green. Walenda worked as a volunteer for the campaign to elect Cristina Pappageorge to the City Council in Troy.
Gosselin denies the allegations that led to the personal protection order, calling the PPO a tactic to ruin any future chances at political office for him.
Gosselin has sponsored or co-sponsored several bills and resolutions that violate or threaten to violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and Article I, Section 4 of Michigan's Constitution. Included in this list are:
-HR 104 of 2001: A resolution in support of the celebration of the National Day of Prayer throughout the state of Michigan on May 3, 2001
-HCR 56 of 2002: A concurrent resolution to call on the Michigan Capitol Committee to provide for the prominent display of our national motto, "in God We Trust," at the state capitol
-HB 4226 of 2001: If passed, this bill would have allowed the display of the Ten Commandments on public property.
-HB 4280 of 2001: This bill would have required schools to have a daily oral recitation of the preamble to the Declaration of Independence, which includes the mention of a "Creator".
-HB 4382 of 2001: This bill would have forced schools to give equal time to intelligent design. The wording of the bill called Intelligent Design a competing theory with natural selection.
-HB 4705 of 2001: Gosselin was the primary sponsor on yet another bill that threatened to sneak intelligent design into Michigan's schools.
-HB 5059 of 2001: This bill threatened to funnel money to religious organizations under the assumption that denying these organizations funding was discrimination. The wording of the bill includes: "...prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling the values of duty to God and country..."
-HB 5091 of 2001 (Passed as Public Act 184): Encourages the prominent posting of "In God We Trust" in all public buildings--including schools--throughout the state.
-HB 5164 of 2001: This bill would have required premarital counseling from either an expensive professional counselor or a representative of a religious sect. Obviously, this bill would make it easier for people who are part of an organized religion to marry.
-HJR W of 2002: This resolution called for an amendment to Article I, Section 4 of Michigan's Constitution, and was worded as follows: "Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Michigan, That the following amendment to the state constitution of 1963, to allow the state to make contributions made to any place of religious worship exempt from state income tax, is proposed, agreed to, and submitted to the people of the state..."
HB 6509 of 2002: This is a re-introduction of the bill to propose the posting of the Ten Commandments on public property.
Gosselin has also sponsored or co-sponsored several questionable bills regarding abortion and reproductive health.
Whether or not the allegations are true, and whether or not the PPO hurts his political career, Gosselin's terms as a Michigan State Representative included several attacks on the wall of separation between state and church.

GEORGE W. BUSH SAYS SOMETHING TRULY SHOCKING DURING INTERVIEW WITH TOM BROKAW-an editorial by Greg Reich

During an interview with NBC's Tom Brokaw, Mr. Brokaw asked George W. Bush the question: "But if it [Iraq] becomes an Islamic government--with a 60 percent Shiite majority, it could very well become that--would that be acceptable to you?"
President Bush answered: "What I would like to see is a government where church and state are separated. And I believe there's enough people within Iraq that would like that kind of--there may be a nationalist government, a government that really honors the Iraqi history and the Iraqi traditions and Iraq, itself. But it must be a government that is going to, you know, represents [sic] all the people. And I believe that can happen."
I could not believe what I heard: "What I would like to see is a government where church and state are separated." If I did not know anything about George Bush, his domestic policies, and his close affiliations with anti-Islam fundamentalist Christian evangelists, I might think that he was making a breakthrough. However, in light of what I do know about Bush, I can only take his sudden support for separation of state and church as a reaction to the threat of the possibility of a fundamentalist Islamic state.
-President Bush fraternizes with fundamentalist Christian evangelicals, who have been overtly critical of Islam. Bush held a private meeting with 141 evangelical Christian leaders on March 27 to discuss the war on Iraq; among the group were Franklin Graham, Jerry Falwell, Marlin Maddoux, Albert Mohler, and D. James Kennedy, all of whom have been openly critical of Islam. Franklin Graham, who heads up the missionary group known as Samaritan's Purse, is currently fighting a legal battle for the "right" to proselytize to the Iraqis.
-Mr. Bush has used every speaking opportunity to mention his god, urge people to pray, and call upon his god to bless the country.
-George Bush has favored people of faith in most of his speeches, and has openly urged federal funding for faith-based social programs. Programs for drug rehabilitation and for underprivileged teens often involve the use of religion to attempt to resolve the issues at the core of their cause. The efficacy of these programs is often in question, and the use of federal funding to indoctrinate captive audiences amounts to unconstitutional establishment of religion.
On a personal note, I wrote a letter to President Bush after a particularly preachy speech, where I asked what role Atheists and other non-believers, who number over 30 million, played in his plan for America. The letter I received in reply not only did not address my question, but also went as far as urging me to pray, invoking Bush's god to bless me and my family, and invoking his god again to bless America. It seemed I had my answer.
It is clear to me, from the actions of Bush on the home front and his answer to Tom Brokaw's question, that it's Islam that Bush is worried about, not separation of state and church. An optimist may say that the current situation in Iraq has given the President a new perspective on the wisdom of keeping church and state separate, but I think, given the present push on the part of evangelists to get into Iraq in the hopes of gaining converts:
-Franklin Graham, of course, wants to enter Iraq with his missionary group, Samaritan's Purse. This group is known for ministering to people in very desperate situations, often making attendance at religious services a requirement to receive aid.
-The Southern Baptist Convention is currently sending food to Iraq labeled "grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ".
-Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, said that Iraqis are "desperately in need of the gospel".
If a fundamentalist Islamic government ultimately forms in Iraq, the efforts of evangelical Christians will be virtually halted. I am convinced that this is what motivates Bush to want to keep state and church separate in Iraq; I would be interested to see what would happen if the majority sect in Iraq followed Christianity or Judaism.

US REPRESENTATIVE FROM MICHIGAN LIVES IN TOWNHOUSE LISTED AS A CHURCH

Bart Stupak, D-MI, pays $600 a month to live in a million dollar townhouse on capitol hill that is subsidized by an organization the IRS lists as a church. The group that maintains the building is known as the "Fellowship". Its purpose is to bring world leaders and elected officials together through religion.
Richard Carver, a member of the Fellowship's board of directors, states that the goal of the fellowship is to assist elected officials to understand the teachings of Jesus, and to apply them to their jobs.
While elected officials are certainly as entitled to their right to Free Exercise as anyone else, this bit of information should serve as a red flag for anyone on the side of state-church separation. If Stupak is heavily influenced by a sectarian special interest group, he may be likely to vote in favor of legislation that attacks the wall of separation between state and church.


ATTENTION: THE SUNDAY BRUNCH NOW HAS A NEW LOCATION

Thanks to the efforts of Michigan's Assistant State Director, George Schiffer, we now have a new location for our monthly Sunday brunch:
WHERE: Denny's
7725 N Wayne Rd
Westland MI
(Between Plymouth and Cowan across from Westland Mall)
Phone: 734-427-2711
WHEN: First Sunday of each month. Next gathering: May 4
TIME: 11:00AM (Note that this is a new time, changed by popular demand)

Denny's has a private room and has agreed to reserve it for us on the first Sunday of every month.
Please pass this information on to anyone who does not receive this electronic newsletter, but would have interest in joining us.

THIS SUNDAY: We will be receiving our guests from France, Sylvain and Richard Pak.

For further info, call Arlene at 313-388-9594, or e-mail her at amarie@atheists.org

OLD FASHIONED PICNIC TO CELEBRATE SUMMER SOLSTICE

Michigan Atheists will be meeting for an old fashioned picnic at Tattan Park in Westland on June 22 at noon. Participants are encouraged to bring their own food and something to share. Cups, plates, napkins, and forks will be provided. Grills are available, but guests must bring their own grilling necessities.
We have a pavilion, so join us, rain or shine.
We will be at Tattan Park's Pavilion #2, which is located south of Ford Road, north of Cherry Hill, east of Newburgh Road, and west of Wayne Road. Take Carlson/Central City Parkway to the site. It is located near Westland City Hall.

For further info, call Arlene at 313-388-9594, or e-mail her at amarie@atheists.org

ABOUT THE NEWSLETTER
If you have news to contribute, please send it to Greg Reich at miatheistnews@aol.com. The main intention of this newsletter is to inform Atheists and other godless citizens in Michigan of news and events pertaining to us, and call us to action when necessary. However, as time and space allows, opinions and other special sections may be added. Advertising is welcome, and will go to fund a hardcopy version of the newsletter. If you have friends who would be interested in subscribing to this electronic newsletter, please have them send their subscription request to miatheistnews@aol.com. Unless otherwise noted, all articles are the intellectual property of Greg Reich and Michigan Atheists. Reproduction of this newsletter, in whole or in part, is allowed with the proper source citation.

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