American Atheists Winter Solstice Party 2006

December 16, 2006 at 10:16 pm (Atheism)

I just got back to my room after attending the American Atheists Winter Solstice Meet ‘N Greet in New Jersey.

I had a wonderful time and, as always, it was great meeting fellow atheists from across the United States.

Atheists first enjoyed a lunch catered by the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Then we enjoyed a speech by Ellen Johnson (American Atheists President). Frank Zindler gave a speech on “Where Jesus Never Walked,” which discussed the fallacies of biblical cities that Jesus supposedly spoke at, but never actually existed until after Jesus, if at all.

After the speeches a DJ began playing music and atheists got out and danced while other mingled and talked. Later most of us went to the American Atheists Center and took a tour. I stayed in the lobby and talked to other atheists because I had already taken a tour of the facility.

We then went into the recording studio and taped four episodes of Atheist Viewpoint, which is aired on public access television where we can find sponsors. Unfortunately, Huntsville, Alabama does not have a local access channel to show Atheist Viewpoint. For those without access or a local sponsor, the show is available on the web.

I was a guest on the second episode, where we talked about issues in Alabama. Ellen began to get sick and she asked me to host the next two episodes. I had a great time hosting the show with Dennis Horvitz and the two guests featured on each show.

After leaving the Center we went back to the Crowne Plaza and met at the bar. We had dinner and drinks and talked about atheism and other issues. I had the pleasure of meeting author Matt Taylor (Tent Revival for Agnostics), who was also a guest on two of the Atheist Viewpoint shows at the Center.

I think that I will be making the annual Winter Solstice Party a tradition in the Scott house, but from now on I will be bringing the family along. We had a great time!

2 Comments

Senator Johnson’s Implications

December 15, 2006 at 3:42 pm (News, Politics)

First and foremost, I would like to express my sincerest sympathies to the Johnson family. My father-in-law suffered an aneurism earlier this year. While Senator Johnson did not suffer an aneurism, the post-trauma symptoms are the same and the recovery period will more than likely be the same, if not longer.

During the time that my father-in-law recovered, it was an emotional time as we all stressed over whether or not he would ever be himself again. My father-in-law ultimately recovered, but is still not 100% of who he used to be.

Having gone through the emotional ordeal of dealing with family members after a brain trauma and subsequent brain surgery, I feel for the Johnson family and wish Senator Johnson the very best on his road to recovery.

That being said, I find it rather twisted that all of the talking heads are worried about the implications of Johnson’s failure to return. While we certainly hope that is not the case, I suppose the Washington Philosophers must ponder for the worst.

While I concede a slight agreement over their concerns for the balance of power, it is not foremost in my mind as I have more pressing issues to be concerned about.

What is at the front of my mind, and what is bothering me about this situation, is that the governor of South Dakota gets to choose who replaces Johnson should that it be necessary. That is all fine and dandy, but the fact that a Republican governor can choose a Republican Senator to replace an elected Democrat astounds me.

The people of South Dakota voted and chose a Democratic Senator and they are due a Democratic replacement. That the voters can be trumped like this is another shining example of some of the things wrong with the American elections system.

How can the vote of the people be ignored? How did we create a law or procedure that simply ignores the vote? The laws, rules, and guidelines should demand that a replacement come from the same party as the member being replaced. It is that simple.

Governor Rounds, if you find yourself in the unfortunate circumstance of having to replace Senator Johnson, please do not violate the voice of your citizens: replace Senator Johnson with a candidate from the Democratic Party.

My best wishes to the Johnson family: you are in my thoughts.

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