Issues of Faith: Should an atheist veterans memorial be allowed at the Baldwin County courthouse?

[rug]

This monument was established in rural Munford, Ala., by a chapter of the Freedom From Religion Foundation. (Courtesy Freedom from Religion Foundation)

By Carol McPhail | [e-mail]
on October 08, 2014 at 6:00 AM, updated October 08, 2014 at 6:12 AM

MOBILE, Alabama - A veterans memorial at the Baldwin County courthouse in Bay Minette reads: "Dedicated to the glory of God and in honor of the veterans of all wars."

A 21-year-old Mobile college student said last week that she wants a second monument erected to veterans who don't believe in God. Faulkner State Community College student Amanda Scott says she'd like to see a monument built similar to the "Atheists in Foxholes" memorial in Munford, Ala. That memorial was established in 1999 by a chapter of the Freedom From Religion Foundation.

"We just want inclusion," says Scott.

What do you think of the religious language on the veterans memorial at the county courthouse in Bay Minette? Do you think a separate monument for atheists should be allowed? Take our poll and comment below.

http://www.al.com/living/index.ssf/2014/10/issues_of_faith_should_an_athe.html

Poll at link. 89.69% for it at the moment. In Alabama.

[Jackpine Radical]

1. But there are no atheists in the foxholes, as I can personally attest.

That's where I turned agnostic.

[rug]

2. There's no clean underwear in foxholes.

[Jackpine Radical]

3. For a variety of reasons,

none of which I need go into here.

[cbayer]

6. This sounds very interesting.

Can you expand a bit?

[Jackpine Radical]

7. Not in any serious way;

I just thought it was a good line. I was an agnostic before, during and after my little hiking & camping tour of French Indochina.

[cbayer]

8. Well, glad you made it and, hopefully, relatively unscathed.

[Jackpine Radical]

9. 3 bullet holes, cardiovascular condition & bypass presumptively due to Agent Orange, diagnosed PTSD.

Other than that, unscathed.

[cbayer]

10. Ok, quite scathed indeed.

I can't even imagine what it must be like.

[AtheistCrusader]

4. I would suggest an alternative.

Remove the religious bullshit from the existing monument.


Also, while we're at it, de-vandalize the pledge and our money.

[cbayer]

5. As long as there is the other one, I support having this one.

[okasha]

11. I think there should be a religion-neutral monument for them all.

These soldiers fought an died and risked their lives for each other, without regard to religion or lack thereof. I don't like the separate-but-equal connotations of two memorials.

[cbayer]

12. That seems to be the best solution.

Stop with the monument wars. Let's agree to have a monument that honors everyone.

You make an excellent point.