An Open Letter to John Hagee...

[cynatnite]

Pastor Hagee,

I recently read that you suggested atheists get on a plane and get out of the country for not believing in God. You said this to us and humanists: "take your Walkman and stuff it in your ears". We should "leave the country" if we don't like hearing "Merry Christmas" or carols like "Joy to the World".

It seemed to me that perhaps you didn't know much about atheists. Since I am an atheist, I hope I can help in that regard. Now, before you break out in prayer over my poor soul I must inform you that I don't fear hell because it doesn't exist. I have serious doubts that I even have a soul. I don't want you to feel inclined to do this. I was raised in a religious household with a very Christian family and I do "know what I'm missing" so to speak.

First off some general info. We don't use Walkmans anymore. At least most of the people I know don't. They're rather out-of-date and pretty unreliable. We prefer iPods, iPhones, and other devices. I'm partial to the Samsung Galaxy. I don't know if that's an evil thing in God's eyes or not.

Here is more general info. Many of us do actually say "Merry Christmas" and if you were to say that to us, we'd reply with the insurgent response of "Thank you". We may even further alienate ourselves by actually saying "Happy Holidays". You see, John, many of us atheists see it as a polite way of another person telling us that they hope we enjoy our holidays however we choose to celebrate it. If we say it to them, the feeling is mutual. There is no underhanded motive in undermining anyone's ability or desire to celebrate Christmas as they see fit.

This one is more specific, John. With regards to "Joy to the World". I find it to be a rather uplifting feel-good song. I may be an atheist, but I do enjoy plenty of Christmas songs. I find Silent Night to be a favorite and quite beautiful. Barbra Streisand and several other singers do exquisite renditions. Even more so, I do enjoy several Christian songs. Amazing Grace is a favorite. Maybe it's a throwback to my childhood when in my innocence I believed that God was about love, grace and forgiveness.

Now, I could go into detail about why I am an atheist and how I got there, but I think that is rather pointless. I do have one final thing to point out to you, sir.

In your view, this is a Christian nation and that's how it began. It belongs to Christians and Christians only in your eyes. It does not belong to the Mormons, the Catholics, the Buddhists, the Agnostics, the Deists, and so on.

Well, I've got one for you. I served in the military. I was an Army Medic. My husband was infantry and served in a couple of military actions. We have a load of family members that served and sacrificed as well.

This is what I say....

If you have never put on a uniform and was willing to serve and die for America, you should leave. You should take your Bible-thumping money-changing hypocritical millionaire self out of this country. You and everyone who thinks like you should find the first plane and get on it if you are not willing to back up your narrow minded Un-American views by willing to die for it.

Yeah, that's what I think and I'm in America and I have every right to say it to your face. You have every right to spout the view that America exclusively belongs to you and your ilk.

Here is what makes me better than you. I am an Atheist (with a capital A) and I will defend your freedom of speech even if it means my life.

It's not because of what you as an American citizen means to me. It's because what America means to me.

I have as much right to be here in the country of my birth as do you. Remember that next time you decide that I don't belong here.