Atheists march in the Annville Memorial Day Parade 2011

I had the pleasure of marching with PA Nonbelievers and Jason Torpy of www.militaryatheists.org in the Memorial Day Parade. This was my point of view of the hate by christians in small town America. We The Atheists are truly are a minority that is hated and certainly not acceptable to the religious folk. This video was made with an ipad2 and edited with imovie Ipad application. It rocks!
Video responses will be uploaded, let's see some response!

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• www.militaryatheists.org
• atheist parades
• annville memorial day parade
• thesaintsrevenge
• atheist hate
• atheist discrimination
• pa nonbelievers
• carl silverman
• jason torpy

[Landinification]

I do not get it? I am from Annville. They are some of the most lovely people in the Country. I hav been gone and serving for over 14 years. Of course I could never go back to such a small town, I do not understand what this does except make you feel self important? This is a town of 3000 people... really people?

[eperce]

@Landinification The atheist soldiers/veterans marching did so in memory of their fallen comrades, Yes they were important. They did feel important marching for atheists in foxholes.

I'm not sure who the "really People" question you made was directed too, the hateful citizens of Annville or the Honored Soldiers/Veterans in our group?

[benthemiester]

Where are all these atheist veterans at? Look at me I'm a non believer. Oh by the way, did I tell u I didn't believe? Yes my purpose here at this parade for vets is to tell everyone I dont believe.

Atheism is a belief system and this is called piggybacking your "belief" on to an issue that can be potentially polarizing so that u can proselytize your belief under the veneer of patriotism. Why not just support the troops period? Why only atheist? Why not support everyone who serves?

[eperce]

@benthemiester obviously because you will not see the hatred that some show other veterans. We showed no hate toward any group or individuals.

[benthemiester]

@eperce Getting up in someones grill after they repeatedly tell u they dont want to hear your philosophy is just rude, no matter what your belief, & to try to pretend that because they dont care for your antics, that that means they are a in someway against atheist troops, is a crock, and is doing atheist in general no service. Everyone else says "support your troops" including Christian and Jewish orgs. Why cant we leave it at that, instead of using the troops for your own political purposes.

[eperce]

@benthemiester by showing there are atheists in foxholes we can dispel the myth that there are no atheists in foxholes. "atheists in foxholes my asshole!"

Not acknowledging atheists in foxholes is what the movement for the large part is against.

[000phill000]

I'm really shocked by this video, as an English atheist I look at what goes on in America with interest, so I thought I knew how some 'fundamentalist' christians were. This parade showing 'normal' people in a town made me realise just how prevalent anti-atheist feelings are.

It's disgusting and disgraceful that veterans should have so much vitriol directed at them just because they don't believe in some invisible sky-daddy. I'd be interested to know how they'd react to muslim veterans?

[mynameisbustdownsom]

the u.s is a bunch of dumb motherfuckers who believe in fairy tales... America grow the fuck up

[happyraver1958]

@fordfan32 Christian proselytism is going rampant in this country, there's a church almost in every corner. "Thank God this... God is good, God is great..." blah blah blah!! You cannot say that's not proselytism. Remembering atheist veterans is as important as remembering Christian veterans, Muslim veterans and any other kind of veteran, except the atheist veterans are hated instead of being remembered with respect. Reason why we need more of these parades!

[eWMeWFuDD]

12:36 I just absolutely LOVE this picture. SO CUTE! :D

Just out of curiosity, what if your child came up to you one day and told you that he was a believer?

[fordfan32]

The group marching in this parade just does it to get a rise out of people. They are only trying to force propaganda on those who don't agree with them. I am a catholic, but I don't go out and force my beliefs on anyone else. Most Christians do not. This group's motto is if you disagree with them, you are wrong. Attention whores who just want to stir the pot!!

[havoc873]

Nauseating to see how these veterans and people are treated. They deserve the same respect as any veteran deserves.

[smallzie100]

I'd feel sorry for you if you people werent being pricks. Both side were in the wrong if you ask me. I LIVE in Annville and if If the topic of religion pops up, people here are perfectly fine with my agnosticism... =_= Dont judge my hometown through this video, folks...

[TheGidonXX]

GOD BLESS YOU ATHEIST!!!

[heavypizza]

nero had the right idea...xtians make great cook-out torches....

[ClumsyRoot]

@benthemiester

You conflate atheism with statism, many forms of which happen to be atheistic.

Those people weren't killed in the name of atheism; they were killed to further certain political ideologies, such as communism and fascism. (Better technology allowed this killing to be done more efficiently--hence the higher body counts.)

Also, bear in mind that the notion of a secular state--in particular, the separation of church and state--emerged from Enlightenment thought, not Christianity.