This is why I don’t call the battles over such displays a “War on Christmas.” These battles should more properly be called a “War on Secularism,”This is why I don’t call the battles over such displays a “War on Christmas.” These battles should more properly be called a “War on Secularism,” and we are all losing. None of these displays belong in a public building, with the possible exception of the Humanists of Rhode Island’s exceptionally designed banner which celebrates the birth of Roger Williams and the separation of church and state, which has secular, historical and seasonal value, but no religion. and we are all losing. None of these displays belong in a public building, with the possible exception of the Humanists of Rhode Island’s exceptionally designed banner which celebrates the birth of Roger Williams and the separation of church and state, which has secular, historical and seasonal value, but no religion.
Steve Ahlquist
Rhode Island Future
Last night was an evening of celebration and testimonials when the Humanists of Rhode Island honored Steve Ahlquist with its annual Rhode Island Humanist of the Year Award. Ahlquist is President and founding member of Humanists of Rhode Island and a regular fixture at protests, hearings and assorted other activist events. He is a prolific writer and artist. His articles appear regularly in Rhode Island Future and elsewhere.
"We want to make our presence in the community known," Tony Houston, coordinator of the RICoR said in a prepared statement. "Non-theistic people are your family members, friends, neighbors and co-workers. We may not believe in a deity or the supernatural, but we are compassionate, ethical members of this community. We would like to encourage local atheists, agnostics, freethinkers, skeptics, secularists, and humanists to stand up and be counted. If you are a Rhode Island nonbeliever, know that you are not alone."
John McDaid
Hard Deadlines
