We live in a world that has a lot of injustice and it is up to all of us to fight that injustice. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
Currently Albert Saber is out of jail on bail. But he was found guilty of blasphemy in Egypt and will likely return to prison after his appeal on January 26th. Now Abdel Aziz Mohamed Albaz has been arrested in Kuwait for blasphemy. This is an injustice and it threatens us all.
Atheists can argue about the petty drama within our own community, but that isn’t going to address the real issues going on in the world. Demonizing each other isn’t going to help our fellow atheists, some of which are facing very serious problems.
At this time, “nones” make up 17% of the American public. We should have to power to affect change both in America and around the world. But we can’t do it if we are fighting among ourselves over whether or not political incorrectness equals misogyny. I think it is pretty safe to say that most atheists in our greater community value equality for all. So let’s move past this pointless drama and start working together for the betterment of our world.
Online petitions are great, but we need more than that if we are going to save these two individuals from blasphemy laws in nations that are US allies. We need to start putting real pressure on the President and the State Department to step in here and help our friends. How are we going to do that?
Another great quote from Dr. King, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” What are we going to do was these two people? If we can’t stop the injustice that is being done to them, how can we seriously expect to accomplish anything at all?
This is the 21st century and we can’t even prevent people from going to prison on blasphemy charges. It is discouraging to say the least and I think it should cause us all to stop and reevaluate our priorities, our strategies, and our ability to affect change. I am hopeful that I think we as a united community of reason can save these people and that we have the numbers and the reasoning power to fight back against those who hold dogmatically to ancient superstitions.
There are times however that I think I am being naïve. There are times when I look at our community and see little difference between us and those we criticize. Maybe the creators of South Park were right and we will war with each other about who is the most reasonable.
“The time is always right to do what is right.” Let’s stop the infighting and start working together to fight for what is right. Let’s start by putting our heads together and freeing our friends Alber Saber, Abdel Aziz Mohamed Albaz, and all the other countless atheists who have been arrested, beaten, and forced into silence for their lack of belief in deities.
Petition: “Government of Kuwait: Free humanist/atheist activist Abdel Aziz Mohamed Albaz”
