Thank you, Mr. President!

AMERICAN ATHEISTS, INC.
http://www.atheists.org
http://www.americanatheist.org

For more information, please contact:
Ed Buckner, President 908-499-9200 (cell) or 770-803-5353 (office/fax)
Kathleen Johnson, Vice President and Military Director 318-542-1019

THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT!
ATHEISTS PRAISE PRESIDENT OBAMA FOR INCLUDING NONBELIEVERS IN MESSAGE
ABOUT FT. HOOD TRAGEDY...

An Atheist civil rights group today praised President Obama for
including "nonbelievers" in a broadcast thanking a diverse group of
Americans serving in our nation's military.

In his Saturday radio address, Mr. Obama discussed the tragedy at Ft.
Hood and praised the actions of soldiers who quickly came to the aid of
victims. The president cited the diversity of the armed forces, saying
"They are Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus and nonbelievers."

Dr. Ed Buckner, President of American Atheists, praised Mr. Obama for
reaching out.

"Nonbelievers go by a variety of labels -- Atheists, Freethinkers,
Humanists, Rationalists -- and we make up more than 15% of the
population. We thank the president for including us in the diverse
population that is the people of the United States. We appreciate the
fact that President Obama has acknowledged what we have always known:
Of course there are Atheists in foxholes, and there are and always have
been men and women who have worn the uniform of this nation and have
served with courage in the military and in many other ways."

Buckner added that according to surveys, the number of "seculars," i.e.,
nonreligious people is growing, and that Atheists constitute a solid
support group for Mr. Obama.

Kathleen Johnson, Military Director for American Atheists, and a
civilian employee at Ft. Hood said that Mr. Obama's address shows that
he is solidly behind efforts to end any religion-based harassment in the
military.

"There have been serious problems in the past with religious
proselytizing, mostly Christian fundamentalists," said Ms. Johnson.
"The tragedy of Ft. Hood claimed soldiers regardless of what they
believe in respect to religion, though. Our armed forces -- at all
levels -- need to be united. It's good to know that our
Commander-in-Chief shares that vision."

AMERICAN ATHEISTS is a nationwide movement that defends civil rights for
Atheists, works for the total separation of church and state, and
addresses issues of First
Amendment public policy.

American Atheists, Inc.
PO BOX 158
Cranford, NJ 07016
Tel.: (908) 276-7300
Fax: (908) 276-7402