edoggsmooth

Wrote this article about Hitler not being an atheist a few weeks ago and it finally got published in yesterdays Staten Island Advance. Although I was happy with the article, I woke up to see my house pelted with eggs, which is a good example of the type of people that read the Advance.

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Stating Hitler was an atheist is an attempt to defame atheists

This is regarding John W. Herbst's letter [July 10]: "Atheist on subject of 'evil armies' should recall modern atheist Hitler."

In his letter to the editor, John Herbst stated that "the combined evil from the Crusades, the Inquisitions and every terrorist act by Islamic fundamentalism did not match the suffering, oppression, mayhem and murder authored by the famous atheist Adolph Hitler."

Adolph Hitler was many things: a hateful, despicable man, who used similar policies to reach power and then carry out some of the most abominable acts in recorded history. However, the one thing he certainly was not was an atheist.

Hitler was actually Roman Catholic, like the majority of Staten Islanders. He was born into a Catholic family and attended church until at least World War I. While writing his famous book, Mein Kampf, Hitler stated "I believe that I am acting in accordance with the will of the Almighty Creator: by defending myself against the Jew, I am fighting for the work of the Lord."

In addition to many references to the Bible and Christianity in his speeches, Hitler went as far as to grant the Vatican City its autonomy in addition to other underhanded dealings with Pope Pius XII. Why, even every Nazi soldier was given a belt buckle that said "Gott Mit Uns" ("God is with us.") There is no available evidence that would suggest that Hitler was an atheist.

On a broader note, the reason that religion and politics are often a dangerous mix is because religion can sometimes suspend a person's judgment in ways that politics cannot. Almost all leaders employ these tricks, and Hitler was no different. A belief that "God is on our side" can be used to justify almost any horrible act, which is something the Nazis showed us.

Atheistic leaders, such as Mao Zedong and Joseph Stalin, while no better than Hitler, do not delve into the supernatural world and thus have to think of alternate means to get their objectives fulfilled. Religion, or lack of religion, alone does not make a person good or bad. Dubbing Hitler as an atheist shows lack of any facts and is an erroneous attempt to show atheists in a bad light. E. J. MILLER III (via e-mail) Meiers Corners
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-ed

Alonzo Fyfe

Call the newspaper. They might see this as an interesting story. It proves your point.

After all, did any atheists egg the house of the person who wrote the original article? I doubt it.

Nikolai

HOw did the people egging the house find out your adress? Anyway, great letter, not offensive to religion yet gets the point across

GaryP

I concur. Nice letter.

Nikolai, I can't speak for edoggsmooth, but most papers will not publish anonymous letters. so unless you are not listed in the local phone book, it is pretty easy to find folks in small to medium cities.

It's another reason why it is difficult to speak up for some.

Ed, I hope this does not deter you from future letters, but if it does it is certainly understandable.

edoggsmooth

The paper asks for your phone number and address but only prints the neighborhood that you live in. With a few minutes of detective work with the yellow pages it would be easy to find out.

I will send more letters in the future. The mass ignorance that they publish in that paper has to opposed by something.

-ed

Splat

Nice work ed. It's one of the best I've read on this sad topic, and I'm glad they published it.

The egging incident would make a good story, though you're probably inviting more abuse.

CaptainDave

Bravo edoggsmooth!

I really believe we are at the beginning of a cultural war for our acceptance. We'll need plenty of people who aren't easily intimidated into inaction.