The MO of the "New Atheists" are ridicule and demonization of believers.

What specific examples of this do you have in mind? Can you quote some statements by prominent atheists that you feel cross the line of acceptable discourse?

While militant New Atheists fight on intellectual turf to replace dogma with rational thinking, humanists encourage believers and nonbelievers to get the moral work of peace, social justice and saving the environment done together.

I might suggest that the tactics and goals of these two groups are mutually exclusive. The MO of the "New Atheists" are ridicule and demonization of believers. This kind of rhetoric hardly makes us more amenable then to working together with humanistic atheists on works of peace, social justice and environmental care. Why would would we want to work together with those who think we "poison everything"? For that matter, why would you want to work with us?

But I do think working together for these goals is an admirable idea. However, I'd suggest that if you want to work together with believers for peace, then you should probably first practice peace in your relationships with them. It's hard to promote peace on the international level if you aren't already practicing it on the interpersonal level. My advice (if anyone cares, and if not, please feel free to ignore me) is that humanistic atheists should make an effort to distance themselves from the anti-theist rhetoric of the "New Atheists". Believe it or not, but it is possible to disagree with others without calling them names or thinking them to be stupid, immoral or deluded. And those that can learn that trick I think will be far more effective in their attempts to work together with those others for shared goals.

Just my .02...

No you are correct. I was trying to be funny! HTML can really not translate well to a dry sense of humor!

There are a few people here in town who have supported the taking down of the cross, but like you said, they are too intimidated to speak up. Mostly for financial reasons. And the very few who have voiced "kudos" to me, I have a hard time with in that I don't need silent supporters. Call me hard-deaded, but if you believe in a cause, sitting quietly on the sidelines and slipping supportive notes to the galdiators doesn't help.

It makes me think of the old Mel Brook's movie "Blazing Saddles" when the little old lady comes by to deliver the home made pie to Sheriff Bart. She tells him sorry for the "N word" comment and to take the pie, but also "You do have the decency not to tell anyone I stopped by".

From the sheer wilds and aesthetic beauty point of view, Skagway is paradise. I wake up each day and look out at the Harding Glacier, see at least a couple dozen harbor seasl daily, have bears wander through my yard from time to time, and eagles are as plentiful as sparrows in San Juan Capistrano. As an avid outdoor recreationist, this place is paradise as well. Some great sea kayaking right out the front door, great rivers to raft, hiking beyond superlatives, and some of the best backcountry skiing in the world. It is dreamy.

BUT, the downside is the theist/atheist ration is about 685/1! Also, it is extremely isolated and SMALL. Did I mention it was small and isolated! SMALL!
Come on up! We can alwyas use some new freethinking blood up this way!

I can see the growth in secularism right in my own extended family. My wife was raised as Jew. Her family seldom observes any of the religious aspects of their faith. They (nearly 40) are more concerned with the effects of hate crime, discrimination and preserving the memory of the Holocaust. Any observance of the Jewish faith is put more into a historical perspective, rather than a religious one.

Since I am near retirement, I'd like to ask Eric if Skagway is a nice place to live, other than his current troubles. I am looking to relocate and, having lived in the most populous state my entire life, maybe Alaska would be a refreshing change of pace and scenery. It sounds like he could sure use some help up there!

I have the AKCLU lawyer, but even he told me basically to keep my head low and try to fly under the radar.

I've posted this online in several sources. I have been interviewd on the Sam Seder Show (Air America) and had about 2 1/2 minutes on air - national - with the issue. My sister is a Private Detective in New York and she has given me info and tools for video taping and voice recording things should I get stopped by the police etc...It has gotten to the point where I don't go into town to even check my mail without a small recorder on my person in case something happens.

And the big issue too, is not me, it is that the city council still has the cross lit up on the side of the Mountain! If you want pictures of it, email me and I will send you some. It is very much an affront to the chruch/state issue. It is on PUBLIC land and is just a symbol of oppresion in this instance. If they moved it to private land, my beef would end. I would not want to see the cross, but if it was private land, that is the private land owners choice. But seeing as this is municipal land it needs to come down. And when I attend city council meetings, my testimony is hissed and hushtoned, and then summarily dismissed from the council.

The way I see it, the issue needs HUGE attention, and threat of tourist boycotts or a huge letter campaign flooding both the city council and the Skagway Tourism Director's offices.

If you want pictures of the cross (or if anyone does) you may email me at:

backcountryservices@aptalaska.net

Please, no spam-bots, and if there are any theists or apologists reading this post, have some respect and do not flood my email account.