Anne Atkins seems to have a lot of difficulty forming an argument, but what I found rather astounding was her comment that the US is intolerant of religion. Huh? Is that due to the US separation of Church and State or because Americans don't have silly libel laws as does Britain? Was it the Dover decision that made her throw us in with Turkey?

Copson did an excellent job, and compared to Atkins, was well spoken, calm, and reasoned. If he represents 'militant secularism' then we should see a significant rise in recruits.

It is interesting that the UK as well as the European Court of Human Rights did far more to protect Jens Soering - obtaining a guarantee from the US government that he would not face the death penalty - than they have to protect Hamza Kashgari from likely execution. But I suppose it is because it is 'their culture' to execute people for freedom of speech, thus we have no right to interfere.

This is a very serious issue and indicative of the power Muslims are gaining in Europe and the UK. It harks back to the problem of 'liberal-multiculturalism' insisting that we all bow down to Muslim ideology because it is their 'culture' (see Richard's article about this).

What will be interesting is how even the multiculturallists react to this - given the British affinity for canines.There has not been much of a reasonable outcry about blind people being refused bus rides. From the article regarding the man in Reading: "Reading Buses accepted the driver was wrong but had been placed in an “impossible situation”.

Drivers have been re-instructed to convey the blind and the bus company has sought advice from the Royal National Institute for the Blind and hopes to speak with Muslim leaders.

The bus driver was not put in a bad situation, he refused to do his job and should have been severely reprimanded and/or fired. Instead, we must consult Muslim leaders in how to deal with this clash of cultures. Where are the wonderful British sensibilities?

These problems will not go away, and until we, as secularists, start demanding that religion does not deserve special rights.

Please don't be silent on this issue. Planned Parenthood has done more for women's health than all the pink ribbons combined.

A simple email, via their contact (http://ww5.komen.org/Contact.aspx) to let them know you disapprove might not change their mind, but our voices will be heard.

Interestingly enough, it is usually whites who bring up the issue that 'race shouldn't be an issue'. Well, the fact of the matter is that race is an issue and pretending it isn't is akin to denying global warming. We cannot wish away this fact. It is also relevant that Black atheists voice - without condemnation - the issues that are specific to them, such as the role of church in the civil rights movement, as well as the political decision to 'forget' the role of atheists within the civil rights movement. This is a 200 year old issue, and most people, especially whites, are rather ignorant of the issues that black atheists face.

We have not reached a point in our culture where we can pretend that racism does not exist or that the life of a black American is no different from the life of a white American. Maybe instead of going on how race isn't a issue, we all step back and listen to those people who live it every day. So many of the comments on this thread make me realize just how much more work we have to do.

The Richard Dawkins Foundation is proud to support this effort, and we will continue to support such efforts. And to do so, we need to listen and learn about what it is to be Black and atheist in this country. The work of CFI, and their commitment to this effort should be applauded.