I want to make one thing clear. I do not hate religious people nor am I interested in oppressing their right to exerecise their religion. I have issues with some of their fundamental beliefs and the way they can affect (harm) other people. I will not tolerate those who assert their religious freedom is being oppressed when it violates the separation of church and state a la abortion, same-sex marriage, and contraceptive rights.  As with racism, sexism-- there are always apologists that claim "Not all people..."

But in reality, many of them do and just because you are not the oppressive, shove-it-down-your-throat type doesn't mean you aren't complicit in a society that allows a subset of people to control the mainstream way of thinking. Because let's face it-- any totalitarian way of thinking has never fared well in human society.

I hate how people scream about atheists taking away their religious freedom, "pushing it down our throats," when atheists are not the group that walks around with a symbol of their beliefs around their neck and the support of 44 consecutive presidencies behind them. The word "atheist" is spoken with malice, as if it's a curse word. Even I feel uncomfortable saying it due to its connotation, as if I don't want people to perceive me as the devil and someone who sets babies on fire (which I totally do, but the generalization is offensive). Atheists just don't tell most people they are atheists, I've noticed, unless they, too, are atheists. You can't just tell someone and have them accept it; a deluge of questions follow, or worse, an awkward silence.

I just can't accept the idea that atheists are the oppressive people. It's ridiculous.