Colorado Gov refuses to welcome Atheist Alliance

[Secular Jeff]

Colorado Gov. Bill Owens and Colorado Springs Mayor Lionel Rivera won’t officially welcome the Atheist Alliance International to Colorado Springs.

The Freethinkers of Colorado Springs, which I am a member of, is a member of the Atheist Alliance and helped bring the conference to the Springs. The Freethinkers requested a letter of welcome from the governor in February. Almost every organization that holds a convention in the state does this. If I am not mistaken this letter is a standard thing that gets submitted when a convention signs a contract with a hotel. AAI got word Tuesday that Owens would not sign a letter.

The governor's deputy press secretary said, "Just because an organization sends in a request to have a letter from the governor, that doesn’t mean a governor has to endorse a particular organization."

It is rare that groups don’t receive requested welcome letters from the governor. The president of the Colorado Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau said he doesn’t know how many others, if any, the governor has refused to sign.

AAI organizers then asked the Mayor of Colorado Springs, Lionel Rivera, for a welcoming letter. He refused. Apparently he did not like the fact that AAI scheduled their convention over Passover and Easter weekend. Rivera said, “Anybody in the United States is welcome to express their beliefs and opinions. I just think it’s bad timing.� It is believed that this is the first such letter that the Mayor has refused to sign.

----------------------------------------------------
Governor Bill Owens,
136 State Capitol
Denver, CO 80203-1792,
Voice: 303-866-2471
Fax: (303) 866-2003

E-mail address: governorowens@state.co.us




-------------------------------------------------------

Mayor Lionel Rivera

Address:
P.O. Box 1575
Colorado Springs, CO 80901

Office Phone:
719-385-5986

Office Fax:
719-385-5495

E-mail:
lrivera@springsgov.com

-------------------------------------------------


Jeff

[Secular Jeff]

The Colorado Springs Vice Mayor Richard Skorman is about the only liberal on our very conservative City Council.

Office Phone:
719-385-5486

Office Fax:
719-578-0323

E-mail:
rskorman@springsgov.com

About Colorado Springs City Council Members (http://www.springsgov.com/Page.asp?NavID=1356)


Office of the Governor (http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/governor_office.html)

[Worldtraveller]

I don't know what to tell ya there, bud...except try and vote the bastage outta office next go 'round.

Cheers,
Lane

[Secular Jeff]

I just sent this email (to be followed by a letter) to the Governor and a very similar one to the Mayor of Colorado Springs, our city Councilmen, the City Manager, and the City Attorney.



Sir,

I am greatly disturbed that you refused to sign a simple, and very common, letter of welcome to the Atheist Alliance International Convention that is being held this weekend here in Colorado Springs. The Atheist Alliance International (AAI) is an organization of independent religion-free groups and individuals in the United States and around the world. Their primary goals are to help democratic, atheistic societies become established and grow and to work in coalition with like-minded groups to advance rational thinking through educational processes.

I am a citizen of Colorado. I am a member of the Freethinkers of Colorado Springs which is a member of Atheist Alliance International.

You have just told the Atheist Alliance that they and their convention are not welcome in the state of Colorado.

You have just told me and every other atheist in this state that we are not welcome in the state of Colorado. How dare you, sir! That is a horrible insult! My wife and I came to Colorado twenty years ago. Our three daughters are Colorado natives. You have the nerve to insult us and tell us that just because we do not believe in your christian god, we are not welcome in our own state!!???!!

Shame on you sir, for letting your personal religious beliefs cloud your duties as the Governor of all the citizens of Colorado!

Respectfully yours,

name and address




Jeff

[Mageth]

If atheist organizations tried to schedule conferences etc. to not conflict with observances of various religions (xianity and others), when the hell would they be able to schedule anything?

[Dr Rick]

Here's a quote from an article in today's The Colorado Springs Gazzette (http://www.gazette.com/popupNews.php?id=908202):

When organizers learned of the rejection, they asked the mayor’s office for a letter.

[Colorado Springs Mayor Lionel] Rivera also said no. The fact that the Atheist Alliance scheduled its conference opposite Easter and during Passover was an important factor in Rivera’s decision.

“Anybody in the United States is welcome to express their beliefs and opinions,� Rivera said. “I just think it’s bad timing.�

Does Mayor Lionel ever "factor in" the Muslim holiday of Ramadan in deciding whether or not to welcome a conference, too?

[Roland98]

I don't get it. It's not like you're getting together to praise Satan, BBQ kittens and revel over Jesus' death (well, not in public anyway. ;) ) Why does easter even play a role? Are non-Christians supposed to observe it just to be polite?

I am interested in any replies you get, Jeff.

[Mageth]

The more I think about this, the more it ticks me off. The actions of those public officials indicate that they consider atheists second-class citizens, at best, simply because of their lack of belief in the particular Deity that most citizens choose to worship, and in addition sends that signal to the public.

[chestercopperpot]

What if they had an Easter egg hunt? Would that make it acceptable? :rolleyes:

And was it appropriate for Christianity to steal a pagan holiday?

[nogods4me]

Are they nuts? There is good reason to schedule during that time... fewer conflicts. It is not like other national groups would dare schedule a convention during easter, and it is unlikely that atheists would have as many previous commitments as believers during this time of year.
The Baltimore Science Fiction Convention used to be held easter weekend every year (and may still be) for this very reason, the hotels are always available.

[Sauron]

The more I think about this, the more it ticks me off. The actions of those public officials indicate that they consider atheists second-class citizens, at best, simply because of their lack of belief in the particular Deity that most citizens choose to worship, and in addition sends that signal to the public.

It's worse than that.

To refuse to sign a letter of welcome because of "bad timing" indicates that the governor is letting the Christian holiday schedule affect his official duties and actions.

That is, in itself, a violation of church and state.
The governor should be "holiday-blind" and not worry about whether a particular act is 'bad timing' in relation to a particular religious holiday.

[Mageth]

It's worse than that.

To refuse to sign a letter of welcome because of "bad timing" indicates that the governor is letting the Christian holiday schedule affect his official duties and actions.

That is, in itself, a violation of church and state.

I thought about this in terms of the First Amendment, but I'm not convinced it is really a First Amendment issue. It's not an "official duty" of the parties in question to sign such letters, but an "unofficial" courtesy they perform to welcome visitors, IMO. So I see this more as a major diss or insult on their parts that sends the wrong message to atheists and the public in general than as a substantive First Amendment issue. But I'm sure others will disagree; that's just my opinion, and I might be convinced otherwise.

The governor should be "holiday-blind" and not worry about whether a particular act is 'bad timing' in relation to a particular religious holiday.

I totally agree with that in this case, however, and think the Governor and Mayor are totally in the wrong.

[Secular Jeff]

To refuse to sign a letter of welcome because of "bad timing" indicates that the governor is letting the Christian holiday schedule affect his official duties and actions.

I need to set you straight. It was the Mayor of Colorado Springs that made the "bad timing" comment, not the Governor of Colorado.



Jeff

[gmontag]

Looks like the AP has picked the story up:

Atlanta Journal-Constitution (http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/ap/ap_story.html/National/AP.V0962.AP-Atheist-Convent.html)
SanDiego Union-Tribune (http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/nation/20040408-0946-atheistconvention.html)

Anyone up for protesting a bit on "easter" Sunday?
Seems to me the Gov. practically invited us to have a little party on the capitol steps...

-Alex

[clark]

Cool! Maybe there will be press and protestors there :).

THOUGHTfully Yours,
Clark

[AspenMama]

Wow. I'll see about writing a letter too.

[fr8trainman]

Quote: "[...]Rivera said, “Anybody in the United States is welcome to express their beliefs and opinions. I just think it’s bad timing.� It is believed that this is the first such letter that the Mayor has refused to sign."

Looks like Mayor Rivera engaged in a desparate fishing expedition to find an excuse not to welcome non-believing folks. Eh! Bad timing, yep!

That'll learn anyone who wants to bolster a town's economy by patronizing hotels, resteraunts, etc. during generally slow times! Don't try booking here over Christmas! It reminds me of the excuses people made during the civil rights era for treating people like crap.

Why? So they can stick out their chests at church, show their fellow christians that they're filled with pride {of god}????

And when does signing a simple welcome letter by the Governor or mayor have to to with endorsing a group? In this day and age, there are still people who judge us before meeting us. At least their bigotry is out in the open. What a sad day in America.

Happiness,

Fr8trainman

[crazyfingers]

The Boston Globe (http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/04/09/atheists_get_cold_greeting_in_colorado/) ran the same story today.

[ksagnostic]

[Colorado Springs Mayor Lionel] Rivera also said no. The fact that the Atheist Alliance scheduled its conference opposite Easter and during Passover was an important factor in Rivera’s decision.

“Anybody in the United States is welcome to express their beliefs and opinions,� Rivera said. “I just think it’s bad timing.�

There is something else that is very disturbing about this response. Despite what Rivera appears to think, to be a self declared "atheist" does not mean anti-theist, and particularly anti-christian. It simply means one who does not believe (either because of lack of belief or active disbelief) in god(s). What I object to is the theory that Rivera is operating under, namely that to be self declared atheist, and a member of a self declared group of atheist organizations, is in and of itself an affront to Christianity.Rivera more than likely would not accuse a group of pipe fitters or bowlers of having "bad timing" if they decided to have a conference this weekend. He would not be objecting to a golf tournament being held this weekend.

People need to be called on the perception that to declare oneself an atheist is an aggressive in your face insult and challange to Christians.

[Secular Jeff]

Friday afternoon's edition of the Joseph Michelli Show on KVOR (http://www.kvor.com) dealt with this subject. Michelli is a consevative and a christian and is usually quite reasonable. As I expected, he disagreed with the decision made by our Governor and especially by our Mayor. He stressed that a "welcome" letter does not mean that the city, or state, is endorsing the organization. However, almost all of his callers disagreed with Joseph.

Of course he had the callers that said we wouldn't expect the Governor or Mayor to sign a "welcome" letter to the KKK, so why would we expect them to sign one to a bunch of Atheists.

Most callers did not like the "in your face" attitude of Atheist Alliance International for holding their convention on Easter weekend. (Heaven forbid! This weekend belongs to the christians!) One caller, in defense, reminded the listeners that Easter weekend is a great weekend to get great rates at hotels because most christians are at home with thier families and the hotels are empty.

I didn't get a chance to listen to the entire show, but apparently Bobbie Kirkhart, the president of AAI called in to the show. When asked about why AAI decided to have their convention on Easter weekend she apparently gave the explanation the caller (above) gave. If that is the reason that she gave, Ms. Kirkhart was being very disingenuous. Both AAI and American Atheists have been holding their annual conventions on Easter weekend for several years now. I am sure the availability of hotel and convention facilities was a factor but we need to be honest about this. We all know that both organizations think it is quite humorous to hold a convention of atheists on one of the two most important days of the christian religion. Both organizations are displaying an "in your face" attitude towards the christians (which I have no problem with), but they should be honest and up front about it when asked.

It was "eye opening" listening to the vast majority of the callers, hearing what they think about us. However, I am getting ready to head out the door to take two of my daughters (17 and 15) to the convention so they can attend the afternoon activities. AAI was very nice to allow students to attend for free. I am going to take a book and hang out in the lobby or bar. (The price to attend is way to high!). However, AAI was nice enough to give a special rate of $15 for members for this evenings activities (Julia Sweeney) so I will attend that.

Jeff

[Toto]

. . . I didn't get a chance to listen to the entire show, but apparently Bobbie Kirkhart, the president of AAI called in to the show. When asked about why AAI decided to have their convention on Easter weekend she apparently gave the explanation the caller (above) gave. If that is the reason that she gave, Ms. Kirkhart was being very disingenuous. Both AAI and American Atheists have been holding their annual conventions on Easter weekend for several years now. I am sure the availability of hotel and convention facilities was a factor but we need to be honest about this. We all know that both organizations think it is quite humorous to hold a convention of atheists on one of the two most important days of the christian religion. Both organizations are displaying an "in your face" attitude towards the christians (which I have no problem with), but they should be honest and up front about it when asked.

. . .
Jeff

As far as I know, the Easter weekend is chosen primarily because of the cheap hotel rates. You were complaining about the rest of the convention being too expensive, and it would be prohibitive at any other time.

It is a problem for some atheists that both AA and AAI hold their conventions on the same weekend, but neither one will change because of the distinct advantages of meeting on Easter weekend, which do not include bugging any local Christians.

I mean, it's not like going out to picket a Christian church on Easter, or having your party on Good Friday.

At the convention, a city council member showed up to welcome us and apologize for the mayor, and a local artist showed up and said we were welcome to spend our money in Colorado.

[Toto]

Here's the URL for that story:

Colorado Springs Official Welcomes atheist group to town (http://www.koaa.com/news/view.asp?ID=2096) "I think all these kinds of groups need to be welcomed. This is America. We have freedom of speech. People have a right to do this kind of thing and they should be welcomed, " Skorman said.

[scigirl]

Yay - well I'm glad someone welcomed the atheists.

So - how was the conference?? I want details, since the Cult of Indoctrination (aka med school) didn't allow me to go. . .

scigirl