American Atheists criticize military official's remark

July 20, 2006

(RNS) The American Atheists criticized remarks by the chief of the National Guard Bureau after he reportedly said in a Wednesday (July 19) speech to an awards dinner of the NAACP that "agnostics, atheists and bigots suddenly lose all that when their life is on the line."

Army Lt. Gen. H. Steven Blum made the remarks during a speech in Washington at an Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs dinner of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. He was the recipient of the organization's 2006 Meritorious Service Award.

Blum spoke about the National Guard's diversity and thanked the NAACP for helping the National Guard "look like America," reported the American Forces Press Service, a Department of Defense news service.

He added that the battlefield makes all equal.

"Agnostics, atheists and bigots suddenly lose all that when their life is on the line," Blum said. "Something that they lived their whole life believing gets thrown out the door, and they grasp the comrade next to them, and they don't care what color their skin is, and they don't care where they pray."

Ellen Johnson, president of the New Jersey-based American Atheists, said Blum's speech addressing tolerance was "stained by an animus directed at agnostics and atheists." She said atheists should be respected along with other military members.

"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'?" she asked in a statement.

"Religious belief, or the lack of it, shouldn't be a litmus for patriotism, on or off the battlefield. Officials with the National Guard need to issue an apology for these ill-considered remarks made by Gen. Blum."

A National Guard spokesman defended Blum's remarks.

"His comments are ... a reflection of a soldier and a leader who has served under hostile conditions and whose personal battlefield experience has reflected that issues that may sometimes divide people fade quickly when lives are on the line," said Air National Guard Lt. Col. Mike Milord. "There was, and is, no intent to offend anyone by these uplifting remarks."

-- Adelle M. Banks