Update: This campaign is now closed. For more information, read this Flash Line article.

Update – September 11, 2005

It’s Time to Write a Real Letter…

Dear friends,

Despite our best efforts, ABC and the Good Morning America Weekend program have not issued an apology for the September 4 insult to Atheists, Freethinkers, Humanists and other nonbelievers everywhere made by host Bill Weir. (Find out more about this incident below.)

We know that many of you answered our call and have contacted the network expressing your thoughts on this subject. To the best of our knowledge, ABC has not even replied to any individual who took the time to write.

We are, therefore, asking you to sit down now and write a letter – a real “snail mail” letter complete with an envelope and stamp – To George Mitchell, Chairman of the Board of the Walt Disney Company, the parent firm for ABC.

• Be polite and to the point. Inform Mr. Mitchell that you are contacting him since he presides over the corporate entity which controls ABC. Inform him that you are concerned about the comment made by ABC Good Morning America Weekend host Bill Weir that “there are no Atheists in foxholes or hurricane zones.”
• Raise your “talking points” about this issue in two or three paragraphs. Ask that ABC and Good Morning America retract this unfair statement that insults millions of Atheists, Freethinkers, Humanists and other nonbelievers, including the many “Atheists in Foxholes” and those who have stepped forward to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina!
• Ask for a reply to your concerns from Mr. Mitchell and/or ABC.
• Be sure to sign your letter and include your return mail address. Let us know if you hear from the Disney Company and/or ABC.

While E-mails and faxes can be valuable communications tools, a letter is often the most effective form of communications. Contact Mr. Mitchell today!

Mr. George Mitchell
Chairman of the Board
The Walt Disney Company
500 S. Buena Vista Street
Burbank, CA. 91521-0931

Urge ABC, Good Morning America and Host Bill Weir to Retract “No Atheists in Foxholes or Hurricane Zones…”

— Ellen Johnson: Remark is “inappropriate and inaccurate”

September 6, 2005

During the Sunday, September 4, 2005 airing of the popular “Good Morning America” television program on ABC, co-host Bill Weir made the claim that there are “No atheists in foxholes or hurricane zones…”

The statement was made at the end of a segment about church services in the disaster zone following Hurricane Katrina. Correspondent Mike Von Fremd reported on conditions in towns like Gulfport, Mississippi and the impact of the Katrina tragedy on members of church congregations.

“People know this will be tough and they are leaning on fellow members of their church to get through it,” said Von Fremd before turning the narrative over to Mr. Weir.

The remarks are reflected in a transcript of the program obtained by American Atheists.

“Inaccurate, inappropriate”

In a statement to media, American Atheists President Ellen Johnson said that Mr. Weir’s comments were both inaccurate and inappropriate.

“There were many Atheists and other nonbelievers affected by Hurricane Katrina, and Atheists across the country are donating generously to the many secular relief organizations that are helping victims to recover.” Johnson noted that American Atheists has established a resource and contributions guide on its web site, and that Atheists in the Gulf Coast region were also active “on the ground” in the relief efforts.

“Mr. Weir was wrong on another point, too” added Johnson. “There are, and have been many ‘Atheists in Foxholes’ who defend this nation and our Constitution.” She pointed to groups like the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers (MAAF), and that on Veterans Day, November 11, 2005 there will be a massive “Atheists in Foxholes” rally in Washington, DC.

Contact ABC, Good Morning America to Ask for an Immediate, On-Air Retraction

Could you imaging a major television network allowing this type of comment to be made about an ethnic, religious or sexual minority?

Claims like “There are no Atheists in Foxholes or hurricane zones” are inaccurate and inappropriate!

American Atheists urges you to join our campaign and ask ABC and Good Morning America to make an on-air retraction of the statement made by Mr. Bill Weir on the September 4, 2005 program.

• Comments to ABC/GMA should be cordial, polite and to the point.
• State facts. For instance, the American Religion Identification Survey reflects that over 13% of Americans consider themselves to be nonreligious. Many use terms like “Atheist,” “Freethinker” or “Humanist” to describe their philosophy of life.
• State that you are contacting the network about comments made by Mr. Bill Weir on Good Morning America, September 4, 2004 where he made the (inaccurate and inappropriate) statement: “No atheists in foxholes or hurricane zones…”
• There ARE “Atheists in Foxholes” and “Atheists in hurricane zones.” Atheists and other nonbelievers are responding to the need for aid in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
• Urge ABC and Good Morning America to make an on-air retraction of this statement which stereotypes Atheists, insults millions of Americans, and is not factually sound.
• Be sure to ask for a reply to your message! Include your name and address in any communication. If sending a letter, be sure to sign your missive.
• Send copies of your e-mail or letters and any responses to American Atheists and we will post them, along with any responses.
• Distribute this action alert, share copies with your friends!

Contact Information

You may reach ABC through their web site which includes a list of different programs. Click on “Good Morning America.” Or, send e-mail directly to: NETAUDR@abc.com. Snail mail may be sent to: ABCNews, 7 WEST 66th Street, New York, NY 10023.

(AMERICAN ATHEISTS is a nationwide movement that defends civil rights for Atheists; works for the total separation of church and state; and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.)

Letters

Dear ABC NEWS Administration:

During the Sunday, September 4, 2005 airing of the popular "Good Morning America" television program on ABC, co-host Bill Weir made the claim that there are "No atheists in foxholes or hurricane zones."

The statement was made at the end of a segment about church services in the disaster zone following Hurricane Katrina. Correspondent Mike Von Fremd reported on conditions in towns like Gulfport, Mississippi and the impact of the Katrina tragedy on members of church congregations.

As a 15 year veteran police officer and a detective sergeant for the City of Gulfport I was astounded by such a comment by Mr. Weir which was insensitive and a completely false assertion. I was only a block away in my badly damaged office at the Gulfport Police Department exhausted from a 12 hour night shift protecting and serving the good people of my hometown when Mr. Weir made the highly uninformed statement which summarily denied my existence to the nation as an emergency responder, citizen of the Gulf Coast and an very real "Atheist in a Hurricane Zone" who survived the hours long devastation and continues to serve the people in desperate need.

After the broadcast, I walked the short distance and made my concerns known to the ABC staff still located a block away at the point of Mike Von Fremd's transmission in the rubble of a church and left my card with a female member of the crew stating my request for consideration, retraction and apology from Mr.. Weir. I also had a short discussion with a photographer regarding my Humanist views as a member of the American Humanist Association and the fact that even without a belief in supernatural deities I hold to a strong moral and ethical philosophy that is derived from human need and interest as tested by experience even under dire and despairing circumstances.

Please understand that I do fully understand that anything that brings people comfort in trying times is so very important. And, while I am very compassionate and understanding of the need for some people to have faith in the supernatural and the religious rituals of their choosing, I respectfully request a public retraction from Mr. Weir and a considered statement of apology to the same nationwide audience regarding the statement about atheists.

Atheism is simply a lack of a belief in any God. It makes no other claim regarding the values and care and loving compassion one without a belief in gods may possess and express in life.

My home is an uninhabitable wreck, my family is displaced out of state and I am able to find shelter with friends all while I continue to work very long and tiring hours for the people of the City of Gulfport and I would certainly like the entire world to understand that such statements made by Mr. Weir regarding my worldview are misguided, utterly wrong and in need of public repair in the form of similar nationwide broadcast making the unambiguous clarification and correction regarding atheists and their service to humanity.

Any consideration you can give this matter would be greatly and respectfully appreciated.

We may not all be religious, but we all are Human.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Det. Sgt. Steven T. Schlicht
Gulfport Police Department
the-humanist@hotmail.com

Mr. Weir,

I would like to assure you that there most certainly ARE Atheists in foxholes (and hurricanes, floods and every other conceivable disaster) -- but let's concentrate on your insult to military Atheists.

I am the founder of ATHEIST STATION -- Central Pennsylvania's meeting place for Atheists and agnostics. The majority of our members are honorably discharged veterans, representing every branch of the United States Armed Forces, from World War II to the present.

Our organization will be represented at the Atheists in Foxholes Rally in Washington, D. C. on Veterans Day (November 11) this year! Maybe you should consider covering this event, so you can see for yourself some of the men and women who have defended our country without the added burden of religious superstition.

Your statement disparages and discredits Atheists. A retraction and a sincere apology are in order.

Please reply to this message so that I may forward your response to our members.

Lorie Polansky
ATHEIST STATION
Gallitzin PA
www.atheiststation.org

Dear Mr. Bill Weir,

Your comments should be immediately addressed. As a raised Christian and converted atheists as well a tax paying US citizen, you should apologize for your statement made on the September 4, 2005 program in a public announcement.

I know my tax dollars are being used for the emergency efforts on going with FEMA and other organizations such as the military to help all people of ALL RELIGIONS as well as Atheists. I am proud to support the community as a whole. Many people find the church groups useful for aid and shelter as they would any outlet that provides these needs.

My personal contributions to the RED CROSS for the New Orleans disaster were not tagged to only help ones without faith or of a particular faith.

I do hope you realize that there ARE “Atheists in Foxholes” and “Atheists in hurricane zones.” as well as Atheists helping those of need without telling them they have to convert for that aid. Which of course is not the way many religious groups worked in converting American Indians or providing aid to S. Korea after the Korean conflict.

I have heard 1st hand of the stories from Koreans after the war how the church would give food with one hand and ask with the other hand from then poor desperate people to convert for continual aid.

I am sure believers as well as non-believers have died in this natural disaster as in others causes around the world so you should think before you speak. We all need to team together and work together to function as a unit (i.e a society).

Yours,
Robin

Dr. Robin L Cooper
Associate Professor
Dept. of Biology
675 Rose Street
Univ. of KY, Lexington, KY 40506-0225
Tel: 859-257-5950
Fax: 859-257-1717
Email: RLCOOP1@pop.uky.edu
WWWpage: biology.uky.edu/Cooper/
KY Chapter for the Society for Neuroscience: biology.uky.edu/Cooper/KYNeuroSci/
Society for Integrative & Comparative Biology: www.sicb.org/divisions/dnb.php3
Central KY Regional Science & Engineering Fair, Inc: biology.uky.edu/Cooper/CKYscience/

This note concerns comments made by Mr. Bill Weir on Good Morning America, September 4, 2005, where he made the (inaccurate and inappropriate) statement: “No atheists in foxholes or hurricane zones…”. Mr. Weir is apparently unaware that over 13% of Americans consider themselves to be nonreligious. Many use terms like “Atheist,” “Freethinker” or “Humanist” to describe their philosophies of life. Since that percentage is not concentrated in any one area of the country, we can assume that approximately 13% of the Americans who found themselves in the hurricane zone were non-religious. A good fraction of those people consider themselves atheists.

Please bring to Mr. Weir's attention that:

• Atheists are in foxholes, in hurricane zones, and almost everywhere else where a cross-section of Americans can be found.
• The philosophies of most Atheists are based on sound reasoning, and can't be affected by adverse weather conditions.
• Atheists and other nonbelievers are responding to the need for aid in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Mr. Weir's unfortunate statement stereotyped and insulted millions of Atheists, and was not factually sound. Please encourage him to retract that statement, and to apologize for this insult. Please also acknowledge receipt of this request.

Thank you,
Bob Hagar

Dear ABC,

During the Sunday, September 4, 2005 airing of "Good Morning America," co-host Bill Weir made the claim that there are "No atheists in foxholes or hurricane zones..."

I find this cheap shot at atheists offensive and inaccurate. Many atheists have served in the military. Furthermore, none of the atheist members of the New Orleans Secular Humanist Association (NOSHA) became religious believers because of Hurricane Katrina.

I expect Bill Weir to make an on-air apology. If you think I'm being overly sensitive, imagine if Weir had said, "There are no Jews in foxholes or hurricanes zones..." (implying that in times of crisis people automatically turn to a belief in Jesus).

Sincerely,

August Berkshire
Public Relations Representative
Minnesota Atheists
pr@mnatheists.org

Minnesota Atheists
P.O. Box 6261
Minneapolis, MN 55406
(612) 588-7031
info@mnatheists.org
http://www.mnatheists.org

Dear Mr. Weir,

It seems you don't think there are atheists in foxholes or hurricanes.

I have always puzzled at the inherent double contradiction in such a statement. After all how sincere is "getting religion" when your life is in immediate danger? It seems not unlike the criminal that "gets it" after being caught. And the God being prayed to, isn't he the one that just caused or allowed the disaster/war to happen? They're praying in thanks for being spared you say? But doesn't that mean an admission that the God they pray to chose who gets saved and who dies? Kind of sadistic and vindictive isn't it?

I suggest a far more likely option is that foxholes and hurricanes might in fact be the birthplaces of atheists.

May the light of reason and common sense brighten your path through the darkness of demagoguery and bigotry.

How appalling that Mr. Weir made this hateful and opportunistic statement in the wake of a National tragedy.

As a lifelong atheist and a former resident of New Orleans, the first thing I did when I saw the aftermath of Katrina was donate to SHARE and the Red Cross. I did not consider religion when I responded, only that there were suffering human beings who needed any help I could give.

My email inbox has been bombarded with requests and urgings from secular/atheist organizations such as The Council for Secular Humanism, American Atheists, Atheist Alliance as well as other humanist organizations, directing members to donate, guiding people to do what we can to help with relief efforts.

Many atheists on community boards have responded to that call, without creedal objective or qualifiers.

The concern and sorrow we feel is genuine, our efforts are good hearted and our money as effective as the money of the religious people who have donated.

Imagine turning on Good Morning America to be updated on the crisis and get that shallow, immature slap in the face from Mr. Weir.

We, Atheists, do not exist in times of trouble, we are considered so fickle and weak that we evidently disappear, at least in the minds of those who would take (make?) such an opportunity to say such a divisive, bigoted thing in such a dire time.

Mr. Weir, shame on you. How could you be proud of such a statement?

Shame on anyone in a position of authority who did not call for an immediate retraction.

I ask ABC and Mr. Weir to retract the statement on-air, owning that it was a wholly inaccurate and callous statement and sentiment to send in a time of such tragedy, a time when we should all UNITE, not divide.

I would appreciate an email response on this issue, please.

Is this where ABC stands, on the side of intolerance?

Is this the type of divisive message to be sent out in times of crisis?

Help me understand how or perhaps more importantly, why this happened, why Mr. Weir felt it was an important and appropriate message, what feeling was behind such a statement.

A citizen, a former resident of New Orleans, a fellow human being, an American Atheist, and one of the people who immediately responded to those in need... w/out any litmus test,

Allison Schmitt
Dawsonville, Georgia

Dear Programming Director,

I usually enjoy your show, but on September 4th I was appalled at Bill Weir’s comment that “there are no atheists in foxholes or hurricane zones” I served in the U.S. Army and am a disabled Veteran. I was injured in active duty and was no longer able to continue with my chosen career. I was, and still am an Atheist, and I have dug my share of foxholes as well as survived Hugo and Floyd. Therefore, I can say that I, an Atheist, refute Mr. Weir’s claim and request a retraction of his statement. I also would like to remind Mr. Weir and ABC that 13% of Americans consider themselves to be nonreligious. I look forward to your response and your retraction.

William T. Shehan PH.D. M.S.

"The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once." -- Albert Einstein

To whom it may concern,

I am writing in response to comments made by Bill Weir on Good Mourning America, September 4th, 2005. His statement: "No atheists in foxholes or hurricane zones…" was not only inacurate, but also offensive. Speaking as an Atheist in the United Stated Navy, and as a person with Atheist friends affected by hurricane Katrina, this statement obviously peaked my interest. Clearly your network would not allow a statement downplaying the efforts made or pain experienced by an ethnic or major religious group, and thus am horribly offended that you would allow such a statement to go un-checked concerning the Atheist population. On behalf of myself, and the 13% of the United States that consider themselves to be non-believers (based on the American Religion Identification Survey) I urge you to issue an on-air apology for the statement made.

Thank you,
Christopher McVey

How does Bill Weir know that there are no atheists in hurricanes? Did he do any research or talk to any non believers? No I didnt think so.

Mr Weirs comment about no atheists in foxholes or in hurricanes was very innapropriate. We are raising our 5 sons without religious superstition, it is hard enough to be a non believer in todays society without comments from your show. My children cannot believe that the people on television who have been thru Katrina are actually thanking god for the fact that they are alive. We see no evidence of god, we see people helping people thru all the tragedy.

The best thing you can do is educate Mr Weir on the fact that everyone does not believe in imaginary friends.

Please find some atheists/atheist families who survived Katrina and let Bill Weir interview them, he is really out of touch with the world and sending a wrong message that everyone believes in a god.

Shannon & Tim Yuhasz
Bourbonnais, Illinois
Parents to-
Tim 15, Dan 15, Zack 12, Luke 8 and Jake 8

To Whom it May Concern,

Mr. Bill Weir remarked on the Good Morning America broadcast on Sept. 4 about "no Atheist in foxholes or hurricane zones" was insulting and hurtful to the many, many Atheist and other non-religious people of this country. With more than 13% of American being non-religious you can bet there ar many atheist helping in any way they can the people in the path of Hurricane Katrina. If this kind of remark were directed at any other minority group in this country it wouldn't be tolerated and I think we Atheist shouldn’t have to tolerate it either. I think ABC, Good Morning America and especially Mr. Weir should make an on-air apology for insulting the millions of Americans who are not religious. I will be looking forward to your reply. Thank-you

Gary Gahagan
Freeport, Pa. 16229

P.S.

Remember, THE HANDS THAT HELP ARE BETTER FAR THAN THE LIPS THAT PRAY.

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