Activism Opportunity in Lodi

[appal...@netzero.net]

The slow boil over exclusionary, sectarian prayers at Lodi City Council meetings will become volcanic on September 30, this Wednesday.  Paul Story plan another caravan there in support of church/state separation and government neutrality toward faith.  See details below.  Like the previous caravan, this will be both fun and uplifting.  Join us if you can!

But, before you set out, stop at Big Spoon Yogurt for some refreshment, and be sure to mention Freethought Day when you order.

---------- Forwarded Message ----------
From: Paul Storey pauls...@live.com
Date: Sun, 27 Sep 2009 22:15:50 -0700
 
WE NEED WARM BODIES!
Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country! All good atheist/agnostic/bright/naturalist/freethinking/secularist women also.

This is going to be good. The city council has rented a room that holds 900 people. So lots of religious folk will likely be coming to town in droves as a show of force. The politicians, as always, are sensitive to numbers, so if we want to keep the prayers out of our local governments, we must show up in force to represent the 10 to 20% of the voters who do not believe in a god, plus those voters who are knowledgeable of history and are aware of the downfalls of church mixing with state with its horrible history of persecution and suppression of freedom. Legal precedent is already on our side, so all we have to do is show we intend it to be upheld in Lodi. We will demonstrate by our actions we are upstanding members of our community and stand firmly on the side of no prayer in government at any level.

Get ready for ideas put into action. These events are always very insightful as to who the opposition really is, the narrowness of their outlook, the backwardness of their attitudes, and just how easy it is to out argue their points! It is like arguing with people who's worldview stems from the medieval ages. or debating yourself before you reached the age of reason.

If you are an atheist, a freethinker or secularist of any stripe or persuasion, this is the time and place to show up to make a difference in our world, in our country, in our neighboring county, in our society.

The news media is going to be there for certain, just look at the coverage the last event received. This is the for real vote, not just the warm up. You don't have to stand up and speak, just blend into the background and support our side.

This should be a lot of fun. The 50 protesters at the last Lodi event were all buzzed, exuberant, highly excited during and for a few days after the event. Come join in the excitement. Camaraderie in action, and eye-witnessing history as it unfolds, more than watching it happen, this is making it happen, directly working to shape our future in the way we want it to be.

Last month the protest rally in Lodi was so uplifting for all who participated!  It really did show we as atheists/freethinkers/church state separationists were a sizable enough portion of the population that our numbers mattered and our voice should be heard.  It left us all with a happy and warm feeling in our hearts.  Fear and intimidation of the religious right was non existent, neither at the rally or in the press.  The same people you had dismissed as crackpots years ago in your life were huddled together, but their message was just as meaningless, irrational, unscientific and completely antiquated. 
lodiunited.org/event-rally02.html

We will meet at Safeway parking lot at J and Alhambra to carpool down to Lodi. If we stagger the departure times from 4:30 onward at 15 minute intervals, we can get people down to participate in the rally at 5:30 and the folks who are available later can share a ride down to make it to the city council meeting. at 6:30 Further details are available at: http://www.meetup.com/SacFAN/calendar/11193263/?action=detail

Contact pauls...@live.com for questions or to coordinate rides, or call him at 916-201-3131.

We would love to have you help on this important occasion.  It brings us all closer together and united we are gathering strength against the fundamentalists driving their religious agenda into our political and governing bodies.