Atheists Demand Apology For Army General's Remarks

American Atheists yesterday issued a press release demanding an apology from officials for remarks made by Lt. Army Gen. H. Steven Blum during a speech at the NAACPs Annual Armed Services and Veterans Affairs Awards Dinner on July 18. Blum, who is Chief of the National Guard Bureau, lumped atheists and agnostics together with bigots in one line of his speech in which he otherwise praised diversity in the armed forces. Blum said: "Agnostics, atheists and bigots suddenly lose all that when their life is on the line. Something that they lived with their whole life believing gets thrown out the door, and they grasp the comrade next them, and they don't care what color their skin is, and they don't care where they pray...." American Atheists President Ellen Johnson said: "Why is he singling out the millions of Americans who simply have doubts about religion or do not believe in religious teachings, and then comparing this group to 'bigots'?" The American Forces Press Service yesterday quoted extensive excerpts from Blum's speech.