Apparently my prediction about Leah Daughtry’s letter to the DNC was right. The DNC seems to have ignored her request. The Secular Coalition for America is now asking for individuals to e-mail the DNC to ask that they include non-theists in their opening ceremony.
Nontheists cover the entire political spectrum and are active in many different political parties. However, if you are viewing this action alert and are a supporter of the Democratic Party, we strongly encourage YOU to take action immediately.
For the first time in the history of the Democratic Party, the Democratic Convention will begin with an Interfaith Gathering. This is also the first official event of the 2008 Democratic National Convention and signals an opportunity for all those in the faith community to unite around the faith and values they share as Democrats.
But what about Democrats who do not have a faith? What will they do at a gathering that DNC Convention CEO Leah Daughtry declared “is a time of celebration of various religious traditions” in the Democratic Party?
The Secular Coalition asks that you and your friends and family in the secular community TAKE ACTION NOW.
Join us in emailing Leah Daughtry and tell her that you are part of a constituency worthy of being included in any unity event that the Democratic Party holds.
In a recent interview, Daughtry said that because she has received a letter from a secular group she is considering including an address from an atheist at the interfaith gathering. Tell her that this would be a step in the right direction, but that this whole situation could be avoided if no interfaith gathering existed in the first place.
Daughtry has been vocal about her desire to make the Democratic Party more faith-oriented. In an interview with The New York Times, she said her mission is to
“make religious believers—particularly ardent Christian believers—view the party and its candidates as receptive to, and often impelled by, the dictates of faith. She sparked this crusade, both to transfigure the party’s image as predominantly secular and to take enough votes from the Republicans to win this year’s presidential election…”
No political party should feel it necessary to change their image because secular people are seen as active participants. Attempts to “transfigure” a party to avoid the appearance of having many secular Americans creates the impression that secularism is a negative when it is not.
In addition, this is not supposed to be a one-time-only event. Daughtry has publicly stated that she hopes starting the Convention with a religious service become a “hallmark” of the convention for years to come.
Click here and scroll down to send e-mail!
