Subject: [AthofSV] AANEWS for Tuesday, June 12, 2007

From: Gary Berger <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 13 Jun 2007 11:43:17 +0000

> Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2007 23:23:41 -0400> Subject: AANEWS for Tuesday, June 12, 2007> From: [email-masked]> To: [email-masked]> > A M E R I C A N A T H E I S T S> A A N E W S> #1239 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6/12/07> http://www.atheists.org> http://www.americanatheist.org> http://www.atheistviewpoint.tv> > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> A Service of AMERICAN ATHEISTS, a nationwide movement that defends> civil rights for non-believers; works for the total separation of> Church and State; and addresses issues of First Amendment public> policy.> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> "ATHEIST is really a thoroughly honest, unambiguous term, it admits> of no paltering and no evasion, and the need of the world, now as> ever, is for clear-cut issues and unambiguous speech."> -- Chapman Cohen> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> > In This Issue...> * Voucher battle in Utah could have national implications> * Dr. Bruce Flamm: Atheist bashing by Chuck Norris?> * Worth Noting -- Oh, no, we mention Paris Hilton!> * Support the work, join American Atheists!> * Dave Silverman, lots to blog!> * Resources> * About this list...> > VOUCHER BATTLE SHIFTS TO UTAH: VOTERS TO DECIDE FATE> OF CONTROVERSIAL AID-TO-RELIGIOUS-SCHOOLS SCHEME> > What happens in Utah may not stay in Utah.> > The Beehive state has become the latest battleground in the effort to> divert public money to religious schools through state-funded voucher> programs. The current legislature, by a single vote, passed a bill> funding the broadest voucher program in the nation. Dubbed the Parent> Choice in Education Act, the measure covered families throughout the> state with vouchers ranging from $500 to $3,000 per child depending on> income. Money would have been transferred directly from the state> treasury to the private school parents chose. The projected cost> would be about $9.3 million for the first year rising to $12.4 million> in the second.> > Seven states currently have voucher schemes in place. The most> ambitious programs are in Wisconsin, Ohio and Florida, and focus on> inner-city schools. They overwhelmingly benefit> religious schools, including the Roman Catholic parochial school> system established more than a century ago to counter broad-based> secular education. Utah's proposed statewide voucher plan, though,> would be the most robust in the country.> > "Utah is the test case," according to Matt Burbank, a University of> Utah political scientist. He told reporters from the Salt Lake> Tribune newspaper that both supporters and opponents consider Utah the> bellwether in how voucher proposals will fare elsewhere in the> country.> > Voters in Utah have been down this road before, and back in 1988> overwhelmingly rejected a plan to give tuition tax credits for parents> and families sending their youngsters to private schools. Ninety-six> percent of Utah children attend public schools, and in this heavily> rural state, private schools are actually a bit of a rarity. Many> wondered what the fuss was all about, and who was behind the voucher> initiative. Indeed, opinion polls reflected that 44% of voters> "strongly opposed" any voucher legislation, and that seventy percent> said they would gladly sign any petition against laws enacting voucher> schemes.> > Undeterred, voucher supporters pushed ahead with HB148, the "Parents> for Choice in Education Act" which despite popular opposition was> signed into law by Gov. Jon Hunstman. Lawmakers also passed another> bill, HB 174 which incorporated boilerplate wording from the previous> voucher scheme and was intended as a "supplement" piece of> legislation.> > Opponents of the 148 had quickly announced their opposition to the> measure, though, and 174 was disingenuously conjured as a fall-back > measure. Hunstman> promptly signed that measure as well. The plan was that if voters> somehow nixed the "Parents for Choice in Education Act," the voucher> program would remain in force thanks to HB 174.> > Reaction to the "end run" to circumvent the will of voters was almost> universally negative. The Salt Lake Tribune blasted lawmakers and> Gov. Huntsman, and noted how "well funded, obsessively driven voucher> supporters" were imposing their will on the state. There were also> questions of whether HB 174 could, in fact, stand on its own if the> previous bill was turned down in a voter referendum.> > Tales of the Rich, Powerful, and Out-of-State> > A coalition of educators, separationists and other community activists> joined in common effort to reject the voucher scheme, and that> involved defeating pro-voucher candidates in last year's elections.> > "Parents for Choice in Education," the leading force behind the> voucher bills, raised over $500,000 to support pro-voucher candidates> in the 2006 elections. The bulk of the funding, according to the Salt> Lake Tribune -- $240,000 -- originated with an out-of-state group ,> All Children Matter, which is financed to the tune of nearly $3.5> million annually by heirs of the Wal-Mart and Amway founders.> Associated Press reported that the group uses Alexandria, Virginia as> a mailing address but is based in Grand Rapids, Michigan.> > "It's certainly not a grass-roots operation," declared Rich Robinson,> director of the Michigan Campaign Finance Network, a group that tracks> partisan spending. "These are heavy hitters." Another large donor to> All Children Matter is the powerful DeVos Family which founded the> Amway multi-level marketing firm, and has bankrolled right wing> organizations for decades. Betsy DeVos serves on the boards of> several groups including Advocates for School Choice, as well as the> National Day of Prayer Task Force linked to "family values" guru James> Dobson. The PCE organization spent over $8 million nationally to> elect religious-right candidates. Wealthy Utah contributors to> pro-voucher candidates included Overstock.com Chairman Douglas Holmes> and CEO Patrick Byrne.> > On Friday, the Utah Supreme Court ruled that voters will have an "up> or down" vote on the voucher issue, and that HB 174 cannot stand on> its own.> > "Should HB 148 be rejected by the voters under the referendum before> us, HB 174 would be without legal meaning," declared Associate Chief> Justice Michael J. Wilkins. The 4-0 decision came just hours after> the justices heard arguments from voucher opponents and supporters.> Most of the debate centered on whether HB 174 would take precedent> even if voters turned down the original voucher legislation. The> court agreed that the measure was, in effect, an "amendment" to the> earlier law.> > Opponents of the voucher plan quickly claimed victory, while > supporters> did their best to "spin" the unanimous ruling.> > "We're comfortable with the ruling," declared Sen. Dan Eastman> (R-Bountiful) speaking for the state senate's pro-voucher Republicans.> > Holly Langdon of the Utah PTA expressed similar sentiments, and told> Associated Press, "Voters will be heard on election day. This will> give a clear vote to voters, and that's what the PTA was seeking."> Langdon's group opposed both voucher bills.> > Even with a "no" vote in November, however, voucher proponents will> likely seek new ways to impose their plan in Utah, even if means> another round of deceptive politicking in the state legislature.> Pro-voucher groups are also encouraged by the current legal climate.> In 2002, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down a landmark 5-4 decision in> the SIMMONS-HARRIS case that upheld the constitutionality> of a government "scholarship" program for disadvantaged families in> Cleveland, Ohio. The justices ruled that the program passed legal> muster, even though the vast majority of the participating schools> were church-based.> > For further information:> > http://www.americanatheist.org/supplement/ctram2k-conrad.html> ("Breaking down the wall at treasury," vouchers & more public funding> of religion)> > http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/vouch2.htm> ("Florida set to declare statewide voucher program")> > http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/vouch1.htm> ("School voucher efforts promoted in key state"> > http://www.atheists.org/ftpfiles/Press_Releases/20001211.txt> (Press release, SIMMONS-HARRIS)> > **> > ATHEIST BASHING BY CHUCK NORRIS? FLAMM CALLS FOR> LETTER-WRITING CAMPAIGN> > (Editor's note: Dr. Bruce Flamm is clinical professor of obstetrics> and gynecology at the University of California, Irvine. When not busy> delivering babies, he publishes books and research papers on a wide> variety of topics including religion-based pseudoscience and Atheism.> He is a lifelong advocate of science over superstition, and critical> thinking over bunkum. In 2004, his famous critique of the flawed> Columbia University "pregnancy by prayer" study generated national and> international news coverage. Dr. Flamm is urging our community to> respond to an article appearing on the conservative WorldNetDaily.com> web site by actor and martial arts practitioner Chuck Norris .)> > Dear Atheist Friends:> > Here is a letter I just sent to TV and movie star Chuck Norris via his> email, [email-masked]> > I urge all to take a moment to write him. Your letter may be the> pebble in the pond that changes his mind. He could do great good if> he sees his error and takes a stand against those who insult atheists.> > Dear Mr. Norris:> > I have always admired and respected you. Years ago I studied martial> arts and you were one of my heroes. However, I have concerns about a> commentary allegedly authored by you. It is posted on World Net Daily> and is being circulated all over the world via the Internet.> > http://www.worldnetdaily.com/staticarticles/article56107.html> > I think humor is wonderful and found your sarcastic commentary to be> quite entertaining. There is certainly a grain of truth to much of it> and you make many good points. However, for some reason you decided> to attack atheists. Why? Who do they harm? Many of my atheist> friends are teachers, doctors, nurses, and scientists. Why would you> insult them? You have a reputation of being the tough guy who stands> up for the rights of everyone. You have a reputation of ending> fights, not starting them. Atheists are just people who do not> believe in gods, ghosts, or demons. We don't want to harm anyone.> Why attack us?> > I think your comment about atheists is just about as funny as saying> that you would have "Jesus Christ is Lord" tattooed on the forehead of> every Jew. Of course you would never make such a hurtful and hateful> remark. Thankfully, this nation has progressed to the point that it> is no longer acceptable to insult blacks or gays or Jews. Sadly,> however, some individuals still feel that it is acceptable to insult> people just because they don't believe in Buddha or Allah or Jesus.> It is tragic to see a man of your reputation and stature join in the> bullying.> > If you actually wrote this commentary I urge you to live up to your> stellar reputation. Countless children respect you and look up to you> for guidance. Please be the man I think you are and publicly> apologize for this hateful remark.> > Sincerely,> Bruce L. Flamm, MD> [email-masked]> > **> > WORTH NOTING...> > http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,280415,00.html> PARIS HILTON: "GOD HAS GIVEN ME THIS NEW CHANCE"> > Alas, we've succumbed somewhat to pop-culture trash by mentioning > Paris> Hilton. Apologies are in order. Ms. Hilton, however, is now involved > in the typical> media "sheep dipping" indulged in by disgraced celebrities,> politicians and, of course, clergy. She has "found God," or Jesus, or> spirituality. What's next? Perhaps she can shorten her stay in the> slammer by enlisting the help not of more expensive attorneys but,> ahem, a "spiritual advisor."> > http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,21883574-5006301,00.html> ATHEIST MP BLASTS PRAYER AS "A WASTE OF TIME"> > "A Labor MP has described parliamentary prayers as an "archaic> practice" and a waste of time, angering fellow politicians."> > http://www.kxmb.com/News/Nation/132549.asp> MOST AMERICANS BELIEVE IN CREATIONISM> > "A rather stunning ... poll from Gallup."> > http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Gallup_Majority_of_Republicans_doubt_evolution_0611.html> GALLUP: MAJORITY OF REPUBLICANS DOUBT EVOLUTION: MORE AMERICANS> BELIEVE IN CREATIONISM> > "A majority of Republicans have doubts about evolution, and more> Americans believe in creationism theory, according to a new Gallup> poll"> > http://www.newschannel5.tv/News/Other/972583/--Former-Watergate-figure-warns-of-militant-Islam--atheism> Former Watergate-crook-turned-preacher Chuck Colson is now engaging in> more slime-ball politics, telling a gathering of Southern Baptists> clergy of two impending threats -- the rise of militant Islam, and a> "new, militant atheism growing in the West."> > http://www.churchexecutive.com/Page.cfm/PageID/9513> STUDY SIZES UP GAPS BETWEEN CHRISTIANS, ATHEISTS AND AGNOSTICS> > "As more books asserting the absence of God are being published and> listed as bestsellers, the Barna Group study found a significant ant > gap> between the atheist and agnostic group and the believers as well as> some commonalities..."> > http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070607/NEWS/70607036/1001> FEDERAL JUDGE UPHOLD CHURCH-STATE CLAUSE> > "A federal judge this week upheld a church-state separation clause in> South Dakota's constitution, defeating a challenge by Lutheran school> students in Hot Springs who had public bus service suspended..."> > **> > ISN'T IT ABOUT TIME YOU JOINED AMERICAN ATHEISTS?> > Get on the team and lend your support to promote Atheism and defend> the absolute separation of church and state!> > For over 40 years, American Atheists has been dedicated to this> important mission through everything from lawsuits to education and> activism. We promote the important value of Atheists and nonbelievers> "working together on the basis of mutual respect" in moving toward our> common goals.> > Your membership support helps The American Atheist Center with its web> sites, publications, activist outreaches, educational forums and many> other programs. Get more information about joining American Atheists> through http://www.atheists.org/membership.html .> > **> SILVERMAN BLOG SHAKING UP CYBERSPACE!> > It is one of the fastest growing blogs in the> Atheist/Freethought/Secular Humanist community, and you can get in on> the discussion!> > Dave Silverman, Communications Director for American Atheists is in> the Blogosphere at http://nogodblog.com. It's filled with insight,> wit, hot news, controversial opinion -- and polite, thoughtful> commentary. So join the conversation! Sign up (it's free) by> visiting http://www.atheists.org and click on the blog navigation> button, or go directly to http://nogodblog.com .> > **> RESOURCES FROM AMERICAN ATHEISTS> > * For membership information about American Atheists, send mail to> [email-masked]. Kindly include your name and postal mailing> address. Ask for a free membership info packet. You may also visit> http://www.atheists.org and click on the "Membership" navigation> button.> > * For a free catalogue of American Atheist Press books, videos and> other products, send mail to [email-masked]. Kindly include> your name and postal mailing address, and request a copy of the AAP> catalogue. You may also shop directly at http://www.atheists.org --> click on the "Shopping" navigation button.> > * Current members in good standing of American Atheists may sign up> for our free E-mail Discussion Group list, aachat. We have over 150> participants who discuss topics such as Atheism, religion, First> Amendment issues, creationism and much, much more. Contact the> Moderator, Ed Gauci through [email-masked] .> > **> > ABOUT THIS LIST...> > AANEWS is a free service from American Atheists, a nationwide movement> founded by Madalyn Murray O'Hair that defends the civil rights of> nonbelievers; works for the total separation of church and state; and> addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.> > You may forward, post or quote from this dispatch provided that> appropriate credit is given to both AANEWS and American Atheists.> Please do not post complete editions of this newsletter> indiscriminately to news groups, boards or other outlets. Edited by> Conrad F. Goeringer ([email-masked]). The Internet Representative> for American Atheists is Larry Mundinger ([email-masked]).> The President of American Atheists is Ellen Johnson ([email-masked])> > 
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