According to some

So sometimes I will listen to talk radio on the AM stations. You know, the ones that play Rush Limbaugh, Hannity, and the always comical Glen Beck. I don’t actually listen to those shows most of the time because I feel like my brain is melting…but I do listen to some of the local shows. The local AM shows dial down the rhetoric and are sometimes quite informative…if not a bit too conservative for my tastes.

Regardless I was listening to a station and they were talking about the Oklahoma storm. The DJ, a guy named Sully, basically stated that because the storm was bad that everybody was crying to God or some such BS. He ended his little rant by saying there’s “No Atheists in Foxholes.” Obviously I was more than a little perturbed by his blurb so I decided to send him an email

>> Dear Sully, >> >> I’m an active duty Marine stationed in Camp Pendleton. I know you >> may not understand where I’m coming from and that’s okay (it’s why >> I’m writing you). You stated that there are “no atheists in >> foxholes” and it was rather insulting. You were talking about >> something that the President said, which is something I’m not even >> going to get involved in, but it came around to you to speak ill of >> atheists. >> >> I know some atheists that were IN the storm and are now volunteering >> their time, money, food, and clothes helping those ravaged by the >> storm. I also have a friend who is a Marine and a war vet who was >> living there. I think this needs to come above religious bickering. >> >> There are MANY atheists who rush into life-threatening situations >> and who serve in the military today. I would ask you to reevaluate >> what you stated. >> >> Very Respectfully >> Paul Loebe >> Assistant Military Director, Marine Liaison >> American Atheists, Inc. >> Camp Pendleton, CA >> >> >> *Although I am an active duty Marine Sergeant my views do not >> reflect the views of the Department of Defense, U.S. Marine Corps, >> or any affiliated branches.*

I honestly didn’t expect to hear back from the guy but alas he did respond:

> Dear Sergeant Loebe: > > First of all, thank you for your service and may God bless you and > your family for your service to protect pussies like me! > > Second, what I said was a figure of speech, not a comment on atheists > who serve. > > I.e, When something HORRIBLE happens to someone, say their kid is > kidnapped, even the atheist will utter, “Please God – NO!” Hence, > there is no atheist in the veritable “foxhole.” > > Thanks for taking the time to write and THANKS FOR LISTENING! > > Love your show, > > SULLY

I wrote him back stating that there is absolutely no difference between a VERITABLE foxhole and the real thing. I lost the email because it got sent from my phone so I can’t actually repost the contents.[warning]I also stated that foxholes are for hiding and Marines build fighting holes…because well –>Marines don’t hide. *wink* Sorry, Army brethren! This was intended as a joke – the Army calls them foxholes whereas the Marines call them fighting holes. I do not think Soldiers are cowards. I want to clear up confusion.[/warning]

Disregard for disregard

So what I get out of all this is that even though I might be brave enough to run into a hail of bullets I’m not brave enough to face the stressors of everyday life without running to god. Thanks for the ultimate disregard! Well, folks there you have it.

Maybe he doesn’t know what ‘veritable’ means. I know Merriam-Webster defines it as : being in fact the thing named and not false, unreal, or imaginary —often used to stress the aptness of a metaphor<a veritable mountain of references>

Don’t worry atheists we can handle the stress of dying in a real foxhole but when it’s metaphorical and applied to everyday life we succumb to the pressures of acknowledging the invisible sky bully. I’m glad I’m in such good company. At least I know when the shit hits the fan and we’re all about to die I’ll be with such brave compatriots. I just hope I don’t get any real-world problems in the meantime.