Archive
The Reason Rally: See you next year…. in Austin!
Welcome to the official MU SASHA daily blog!
First time here? Read this.
Click here to Like our Page on Facebook (or use the sidebar if you’re logged in).
Local to Columbia? Join the Facebook Group, too!
_________________________________________________________________________
American Atheists posted this status update on their official Facebook Page:
A lot of people talking about how they will definitely “…be at next year’s Reason Rally.” It is very important to note that the Reason Rally is NOT an annual event. Having it every year would take away the point of it. From inception to finish it was just over three years of planning. It would be great to have one every year, but it’s not feasible nor is it necessary – an annual event removes the potency of what was accomplished by 20K+ people on The Mall.
Blair Scott, Communications Director of American Atheists, shared it to his own wall and added this:
The potency and message of the Reason Rally would be lost if it were an annual event. Not too mention all the planners would go insane trying to do it every year. It is not something you throw together at the last minute.
Ex-preachers, now out of the closet as atheists, on the stage at the 2012 American Atheists annual convention. Blair Scott, Communications Director of American Atheists and MC of the conference, is in the white jacket at left.
I posted the following, and decided to cross-post it to the SASHA blog for archival & sharing purposes:
I agree, Blair. The Reason Rally was a rally, not a conference. The [2012] AA conference directly followed it, yes, but they were separate events. The point of a rally is to raise awareness and get people fired up about a cause, which the Reason Rally accomplished. Now it’s up to us – the attendees, and those who agree with the message of it – to kick our activism into the next gear.
This will certainly mean more conferences, but unless we have a future need to raise awareness on the national level AGAIN about the existence & prevalence of atheists in the USA, then another rally is the incorrect tool for the job.
We should think of this the way we think of The Great March on Washington on August 28, 1963. This was the event where MLK gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. It was the event which was credited with helping to get the 1964 Civil Rights Act passed. It was a one-time thing. Clearly our country’s problems with discrimination and related things didn’t disappear overnight (and many are still here), but there was never another Great March and there could never be another one. It’s purpose was fulfilled on that day in 1963.
The Reason Rally was our Great March. It’s purpose was to bring up the topic of atheism. We have accomplished this. Now it’s time to do on-the-ground activism. Now it’s time to blog, bring guest speakers to campuses, grow our student groups, grow our local groups, get more atheists running for office, and so on. The Reason Rally fulfilled its purpose. Now it’s our turn. See you guys in Austin!
The bit at the end refers to the fact that at the 2013, American Atheists will host it’s 50-anniversary conference in Austin, Texas. SASHA will be going, and we’d love to see you guys there!
More about the Reason Rally, including lots of pics, is coming soon.
- Dave
mail@davemuscato.com
(573) 424-0420 cell/text
Dave Muscato is Vice President of MU SASHA. He is a vegetarian, LGBTQ ally, and human- & animal-welfare activist. A junior at Mizzou majoring in economics & anthropology and minoring in philosophy & Latin, Dave posts updates to the SASHA blog every Monday, Thursday, and Saturday. His website is http://www.DaveMuscato.com.
Follow Dave on Google+
Follow Dave on Twitter
Helpful resources:
Godisimaginary.com
Iron Chariots Wiki
Skeptics’ Annotated Bible / Skeptics’ Annotated Qur’an
AtheismResource.com
TalkOrigins.org
YouTubers: Evid3nc3, Thunderf00t, TheAmazingAtheist, The Atheist Experience, Edward Current, NonStampCollector, Mr. Deity, Richard Dawkins, QualiaSoup
Blogs: Greta Christina, PZ Myers, The Friendly Atheist, WWJTD?, Debunking Christianity, SkepChick
and don’t forget… other SASHA members! We are here for you, too!
Reason Rally: 10 hours to go!
Welcome to the official MU SASHA daily blog!
First time here? Read this.
Click here to Like our Page on Facebook (or use the sidebar if you’re logged in).
Local to Columbia? Join the Facebook Group, too!
_________________________________________________________________________
Hello all!
After an 18-hour drive and a busy evening settling into the hotel, catching up with friends, and preparing for tomorrow, I am beyond exhausted. I’m going to keep this very short: All I have to say is that this is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I’m so grateful I get to be a part of it. I feel truly confident that things are going to be different after this — the way that atheists are treated by the American public, by the US government, and by our friends & family. I feel like we are making a difference. This is an epic tale, and we’re just getting in on the first pages!
If a picture’s worth 1,000 words, here are two that sum up my night!
Dave with Phil Mason (aka Thunderf00t)
Our group after dinner (Adams Morgan, DC)
(MUCH) more coming soon!
Follow me on Twitter @davemuscato for live updates of the Reason Rally, and throughout the American Atheists conference this weekend.
If you’re in DC and want to hang out, contact me via Twitter or text me at 573-424-0420. Looking forward to seeing you guys!
More to come!
Dave
mail@davemuscato.com
(573) 424-0420 cell/text
Dave Muscato is Vice President of MU SASHA. He is a vegetarian, LGBTQ ally, and human- & animal-welfare activist. A junior at Mizzou majoring in economics & anthropology and minoring in philosophy & Latin, Dave posts updates to the SASHA blog every Monday, Thursday, and Saturday. His website is http://www.DaveMuscato.com.
Follow Dave on Google+
Follow Dave on Twitter
Helpful resources:
Godisimaginary.com
Iron Chariots Wiki
Skeptics’ Annotated Bible / Skeptics’ Annotated Qur’an
AtheismResource.com
TalkOrigins.org
YouTubers: Evid3nc3, Thunderf00t, TheAmazingAtheist, The Atheist Experience, Edward Current, NonStampCollector, Mr. Deity, Richard Dawkins, QualiaSoup
Blogs: Greta Christina, PZ Myers, The Friendly Atheist, WWJTD?, Debunking Christianity, SkepChick
and don’t forget… other SASHA members! We are here for you, too!
Reasonfest! And, Michaelyn’s mohawk
Welcome to the official MU SASHA daily blog!
First time here? Read this.
Click here to Like our Page on Facebook (or use the sidebar if you’re logged in).
Local to Columbia? Join the Facebook Group, too!
_________________________________________________________________________
Hello all!
I’m very thrilled about the second-annual Reasonfest and want to remind our readers that it’s coming up, the weekend of February 11/12 in Lawrence, Kansas (home of University of Kansas). Last year’s Reasonfest attracted over 700 people, and this year’s conference is set to be even bigger. SASHA will be carpooling/convoying from Columbia and we would love for you to join us.
Additionally, Michaelyn Everhart, Vice President of SOMA (The Society of Open-Minded Atheists), the organizing group, has invited me to participate in one of the panel discussions. Chris Redford, aka YouTuber Evid3nc3, will be on the panel with me, in addition to several others. The topic will be, “Is religion a force for good in the world?” I’m still working on what I plan to say, so if you’d like to discuss it with me, please leave your thoughts in the comment section below or email me or call/text me (my contact info is below).
To help raise funds for the conference, Michaelyn challenged her fellow skeptics to raise $1,000 by Tuesday, January 24th, and in exchange, she will get a mohawk live on stage!
Michaelyn, "Before"
and
Michaelyn, "After"
I’m excited to say that at 3 AM today, Michaelyn announced that SOMA has hit the challenge goal of $1,000 two days early, and The Mohawk Challenge is officially complete!
I’m also thrilled to announce that Adam Brown’s beautiful portrait of Christopher Hitchens (which went on eBay to help raise funds) also sold last night after 59 bids, for $2,750.10, with all the proceeds going to Reasonfest! Amazing job, Adam, and congratulations to the winning bidder!
Reasonfest definitely still needs your help: You can donate here or at the conference itself.
If you’re not already a member of SOMA’s Facebook page, here is a link, and here is the Facebook event for Reasonfest.
Looking forward to seeing you all there, and at the Reason Rally on March 24 in Washington, DC (speakers/performers include Richard Dawkins, Adam Savage of Mythbusters, Tim Minchin, PZ Myers, Dave Silverman of American Atheists, Bad Religion, Jessica Ahlquist, and more!).
- Dave
mail@davemuscato.com
(573) 424-0420 cell/text
Dave Muscato is Vice President of MU SASHA. He is a vegetarian, LGBTQ ally, and human- & animal-welfare activist. A junior at Mizzou majoring in economics & anthropology and minoring in philosophy & Latin, Dave posts updates to the SASHA blog every Monday, Thursday, and Saturday. His website is http://www.DaveMuscato.com.
Follow Dave on Google+
Follow Dave on Twitter
Helpful resources:
Godisimaginary.com
Iron Chariots Wiki
Skeptics’ Annotated Bible / Skeptics’ Annotated Qur’an
AtheismResource.com
TalkOrigins.org
YouTubers: Evid3nc3, Thunderf00t, TheAmazingAtheist, The Atheist Experience, Edward Current,NonStampCollector, Mr. Deity, Richard Dawkins, QualiaSoup
Blogs: Greta Christina, PZ Myers, The Friendly Atheist, WWJTD?, Debunking Christianity, SkepChick
and don’t forget… other SASHA members! We are here for you, too!
