Bible Classes in Kentucky Public Schools

AMERICAN ATHEISTS MEDIA ALERT
http://www.athe4ists.org

KAGIN TO BLAST KENTUCKY BILL FOR BIBLE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Tonight - Friday, February 26, 2010 -- Cincinnati

Edwin Kagin, National Legal Director for American Atheists, will be on a
T.V. news program this evening discussing the legislation in Kentucky to
provide for teaching the Bible in public schools.

WHO & WHAT: Edwin Kagin, National Legal Director for American Atheists on legislation in Kentucky to
provide for teaching the Bible in public schools.

WHEN: Friday, February 26, 2010. 6:00 pm. Eastern.

WHERE: Channel 12 T.V. in Cincinnati, Ohio (http://www.local12.com )
After about 6:30 pm. Eastern, the show should be archived, and available
at www.local12.com

MORE INFO plus Archive: http://www.local12.com

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

For Helen

For Helen


I am on the waiting list for death
Behind so many friends who jumped the line.
Now you, bad girl, have pushed ahead,
Leaving your once happy flesh
For something neither understood nor known,
At least by me,
Who will, in time, be where you are,
If anywhere.
Forgive me for any unkindness I have done
As I forgive you
For causing me to now so deeply grieve.

Edwin.

Edwin Kagin
February 19, 2010

Helen Kagin Is Dead

Helen Kagin Is Dead.

Helen Kagin, my wife, and co-founder of Camp Quest, was pronounced dead at 6:55 pm. today, Wednesday, February 17, 2010, at Christ Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Helen underwent surgery for lung cancer on January 7, 2010 and never left the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). In conformity with her Living Will, and the opinions expressed to us by six physicians who strongly concurred, her daughter Caroline Good and I agreed that dialysis not be started when she went into renal failure. Helen had been on oxygen for some time, her lungs leaked air, she had developed fungal pneumonia, and systemic sepsis, her body had stopped making red blood cells, and she had suffered multiple systems failures that were incompatible with life. She had been unconscious for days. I know for a certainty that if she had decision making capacity, Helen would not have wanted to live on a ventilator and dialysis. Surrounded by family members, the ventilator was withdrawn and the life force that had been Helen departed within minutes. And she was dead.

Helen was born Helen McGregor Smith in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada on January 31, 1934. She attended Medical school at the University of Saskatchewan and came to Christ Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio as an Intern. She did her residence there, was employed as an anaesthesiologist there, worked there until she retired, and she died there today. She was 76 years old. We celebrated her 76th Birthday in the ICU, but we do not know if she was aware of the signs, the cards, and the well wishers.

Helen was an accomplished athlete. She was a figure skater, an ice dancer, a hockey player, a softball player, a swimmer, a fencer, and a superb human being. She loved the Winter Olympics, and it is fitting indeed that she died during the Winter Olympics now being held in Canada.

Today is Ash Wednesday. Today is also the anniversary of the death of Freethought hero Giordano Bruno in 1600. Helen never did Ash Wednesday, and her death was far more gentle than that of Bruno.

Helen's body is now an empty shell, and it will be treated as such. The body will be picked up tomorrow by a funeral home and immediately cremated. The ashes will be given to her daughter Caroline, who has proved her very substantial character during these past few weeks. A celebration of Helen's remarkable life will be announced later.

And what a life it was! I am honored to have shared it with her for twenty-five years. She will be missed beyond my ability to say. She was the finest human being I have ever known.

If you would honor her accomplishments and memory, do not send flowers; do not send money to some charity.

Help send a kid to Camp Quest.

Edwin Kagin

Edwin Kagin Talk At Syracuse Canceled

AMERICAN ATHEISTS SPEAKERS BUREAU
http://www.atheists.org

KAGIN TALK AT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY
FOR THURSDAY, 2/18 CANCELED

The talk by American Atheists National Legal Director Edwin Kagin at Syracuse University (Thursday, 2/18) has been canceled. We'll let you know about any re-scheduled event.

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

American Atheists Press Release: EDWIN KAGIN SPEAKS AT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY

AMERICAN ATHEISTS SPEAKERS BUREAU
http://www.atheists.org


EDWIN KAGIN SPEAKS AT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY
THIS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2010
"Atheism, Blasphemy and the
American Religious Civil War"

EDWIN KAGIN, National Legal Director for American Atheists will speak this Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010 to the "Atheists, Agnostics and Freethnkers Alliance" (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=18129534066 ) at Syracuse University.

Kagin will talk on: "Atheism, Blasphemy and the American Religious Civil War." The gathering begins at 7:00 PM at the Maxwell Auditorium, inside Maxwall Hall, 110 Crouse Dr., Syracuse, NY, and is open to the public.

Copies of Edwin's books, "Baubles of Blasphemy," and his co-authored book, "The Fundamentals of Extremism" will be offered for sale and signing.

WHO & WHAT: EDWIN KAGIN, National Legal Director for American Atheists speaking on "Atheism, Blasphemy and the American Religious Civil War."

WHEN: This Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010 at 7:00 PM

WHERE: Syracuse University, Maxwell Auditorium, inside Maxwall Hall, 110 Crouse Dr., Syracuse, NY

MORE INFO: "Atheists, Agnostics and Freethnkers Alliance" (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=18129534066 ) at Syracuse University

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

Annoucnement. Edwin Kagin Speaks at Syracuse

Edwin Kagin, National Legal Director for American Atheists, and
internationally published author, will speak to the "Agnostics and
Freethinkers Alliance" of Syracuse University on Thursday, February
18th. at 7:00 pm.

The talk, "Atheism, Blasphemy, and the American Religious Civil War,"
combining the serious and the humorous, the sacred and the profane, will
be held at:

Maxwell Auditorium, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York.
Maxwell Auditorium is located inside Maxwell Hall, on the Syracuse
University campus hill, at 110 Crouse Dr, Syracuse, New York, 13244.

Copies of Edwin's book "Baubles of Blasphemy, 2nd Edition," and his
co-authored book, "The Fundamentals of Extremism. The Religious Right in
America," will be offered for sale and signing.