Posted May 25, 2009 by brachinus in Uncategorized. Tagged: atheism, etiquette, Memorial Day. 13 Comments

Giving respect where it’s due is a basic principle not only of etiquette but of just being a decent human being. On this Memorial Day, it’s especially appropriate to pay respect to the men and women of the military who have given their lives in service.

And it’s worth noting that, contrary to the cliched (and smugly anti-logical) platitude, there are indeed atheists in foxholes. It’s not impolite in the slightest to honor atheists who have given their lives in military service, or to correct people who wrongly try to co-opt Memorial Day into some sort of quasi-religious observance.

If you want to learn more about foxhole atheists, you can visit the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers, or look at the Atheists in Foxholes Monument, or read this Newsweek article on the subject, or listen to one Army captain’s story.

And if you’d like to help atheists who are still alive, and still serving in the military, you might want to check out Operation Foxhole Atheists.

(Atheists in Foxholes Monument pic via Freedom From Religion Foundation)