My view is that you simply cannot please all of the people all of the time…and we humans are routinely more drawn to the flame than the flower.

Did you note those posts which were appreciative and respectful?

I look for those rare jewels because they are hopeful.

Steve Schlicht
Biloxi MS

This kind of ungenerous response makes me think we damn well deserve the margin we’re stuck in.

Unless you can show the suspect was a fundamentalist Muslim sleeper agent, and Osama Bin Ladin was his pope, so what. — Are you trying to create a backlash against Muslims serving in the military?

Again yes there are atheists in the military, just as there are non-christian people of faith, but when are you going to let them out of the closet along with the Gay/Lesbian soldiers? Repeal Don’t Ask / Don’t Tell already, we know it’s a failure. Besides did not racial integration in the military work, when ordered, why when put to the test would this not work?

After a months-long application process, my officer commission paperwork is in processing as I type this. If I am granted the commission, it will be an honor to serve under a president that recognizes my personal value as equal to a theist’s. Just as uplifting the president’s words were, it would have been equally degrading to serve under George HW “neither citizens nor patriots” Bush.

The president’s words are not enough to secure our rights in a nation that trusts us least of any other group. However, his words are a big start, and I hope that they will be the impetus for both a change in policy and a change in the perceptions and prejudices of the citizenry.

What has he done? Why does he deserve the noble prize? Here is a question. What have you done? What are you doing? Does it amount to more than sitting in your room in your parents house writing on blogs? Do something better than the president and you will have standing until then you are just an anonymous person on the internet, probably living in your parents garage or basement because you are too noble to work and support yourself.

I note that you were totally unable to answer the first two questions. I wonder why. Could it be that you too do not know? That you’re as mystified as everyone else why he was handed the thing on a silver platter without earning it?

I’ll tell you what I haven’t done: I haven’t run for President. Why when I see so much that could change for the better in the US? Because, frankly, I’m not qualified to do the job and could not handle it — so, even if I could win, I wouldn’t run.

I also do not see myself as deserving of a Nobel Prize precisely because I have done nothing to earn it. If it were offered to me, I’d turn it down for that very reason. This is what Obama should have done since he has also done nothing to earn it.

As for living in parents’ basement, etc.: No, I’m 51 years of age and have been working for a living since I was 16; semi-supporting myself at 16, fully supporting myself from 18 on. Thank you very much. Probably longer than you’ve freaking been alive. Least ways, that was a very naive assumption that makes you sound rather wet behind the ears.

As for having standing, I and every citizen of this country has standing to approve or disapprove of our President as we see fit. This is the United States of America.

Do you not even know what you defended (if you really are a veteran)?

Don’t be vague like a Christian apologetic when they defend their god.

(I would like to thank you very much for serving our country. Our military is a necessity.)

…he deserves our appreciation when he does something right.

Appreciation for a President doing something right? Is that not his job?

May a reasoned and diligent criminal investigation proceed so that we can find the necessary answers and bring some semblance of justice and closure for the greater good of our community.

Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers Founder, Military Director of the American Atheists and friend, Kathleen Johnson, works at Ft. Hood and has been there throughout this horrible event.

In response to the recent speech by President Obama with inclusive and positive language regarding non-believers in the military, she writes,

“The tragedy of Ft. Hood claimed soldiers regardless of what they believe in respect to religion, though. Our armed forces — at all levels — need to be united. It’s good to know that our Commander-in-Chief shares that vision.”

Thank you Kathleen for your long time military service and for your care and compassion for our military personnel.

E Pluribus Unum

Steve Schlicht
Biloxi MS
msatheists.org