The Reason Rally: A Woodstock for nonbelievers

[HarveyDarkey]

Washingtonians know all too well about rallies on the National Mall. On a regular basis, thousands of citizens converge near the Capitol to speak out about the issues they passionately believe in.

So what would happen if the march was about passionately not believing in something?

On March 24, the Mall will be occupied by the Reason Rally, an event that pulls together those seculars who don’t accept that there’s a higher power. It’s being billed as a “Woodstock for nonbelievers.”

Paul Fidalgo, communications director at the Center for Inquiry, said that, despite appearances, this isn’t a rally about believing in nothing. There’s actually an agenda involved — and that includes current politics, the 2012 race and President Barack Obama.

“There isn’t one specific issue we’re going out there to rally on behalf of. But that’s not to say that there aren’t shared values and a shared agenda amongst the various groups,” he said.

Among the issues: international anti-blasphemy laws, the recent clash over contraception and the Republican presidential race.

“The right has so commingled themselves with religion,” Fidalgo said. “I will say that I do find it interesting that in an election season in which the main issue is ostensibly about the economy, that in recent weeks it’s been issues surrounding religion that have become so central.”

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0312/73849.html

[kwassa]

1. Woodstock? That's a pretty high bar to set.

Expecting 400,000, are you?

What bands are playing? How many days?

[pinboy3niner]

3. 3 days of peace, love, and don't save my soul

[napoleon_in_rags]

2. Baby + bathwater.

There are so many people who support nonbelievers on these civil rights issues, Obama included. If they made it an event centered on reason alone, they would have a lot more supporters. But as long as it ties these civil rights/separation of church and state issues to nonbelief, it falls tragically short of its potential in this time when the world really needs a reason based movement.

[chollybocker]

4. Ugh. "Woodstock." Wah???

Any reference to "Woodstock" is pure right-wing framing. I defy you to find any modern atheist who identifies with an event that happened 45 years ago, except for the coincidence that it also happened to piss off the establishment.

Reason is the antidote to religion. The god propagandists already have their claws out.

I hope Jimi Hendrix, Keith Moon and fucking Wavy Gravy all have a great time at the Reason Rally.