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Web Posted: October 13, 1997

   It was a great weekend in Washington, D.C. We went to defend the Wall of Separation and to picket the Promise Keepers lock-step clone-drones. But it turned out to mean much more. So what if we were outnumbered at least 5,000 to 1? We were there. And we were right.

   I was glad once again that "American Atheists" puts "America" first. Being in Washington was an especially meaningful experience for this Californian, who doesn't often get the opportunity to visit freedom's "holy city." I love seeing history's victories and tragedies jostled side-by-side with today's vital issues. I love watching American history being made, in noble buildings on crazy criss-cross streets teeming with rich diversity.

   Thomas Jefferson's impressive statue still looks out across the Potomac. I'm sure he'd be proud of what we've done with his courageous, innovative plan for a secular nation. The world envies America's impartial religion-free government. Some mis-informed people don't understand the importance of governmental godlessness, but it gives us the moral strength to act impartially for good causes anywhere in the world. Secularism is our uniquely American strength. I'm sure our First Amendment freedom will survive this round of religious foolishness, just as it has so many times before.

   Atheism is older than America, of course. We atheists can use that historical fact to protect our American Wall of Separation through the changing waves of religious fads.

¶ 

   After dark, I visited the other Washington Wall.

   It was my birthday, a good time to face my fears and make my first trip to that other wall of my history, the one I had been avoiding so long. It was 33 years ago that I helped start the Vietnam war, but the Wall still hit me like a bomb, just like it does so many other veterans. Some of those 58,196 names belonged to men that I carried on my ship to their deaths. As I tried to read the names of those would never have another birthday, I couldn't shut my grief away any more. Yes, Americans still cry at the Wall.

   Why were we all so eager to destroy young lives, a colorful culture, and a coastal country so much like California? Wars are over quickly, but national wounds last a long time. How long would it be before the war wounds heal in America and Vietnam? We still suffer the effects of our own War Between the States, a century and a quarter later.

   And then I learned that atheist veterans are not allowed to join veteran's groups! What "in god's name" are we thinking? Risking your life isn't as important as praying? Putting imaginary gods ahead of real people is a real sin. Walls should keep churches out of government, not keep the heroes out of life. Many names on many walls cry out for more humane treatment of humans by humans.

   American Atheists can lead the way. We can put people first. This weekend, I found friends who want to do exactly that. Together, we will build a better America with better walls.

(Gentleman Jim Heldberg writes about the world from his favorite City by the Bay. He welcomes mail at jheldberg@atheists.org.)

Copyright © 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 by American Atheists.