John Kieffer: atheist activist, combat vet, etc

[John Kieffer]

Hello,

Glad to join this forum.

Some things about me:

Academic:
Pine Forest HS, Fayetteville, NC 1968
Univ. of South Florida, Tampa, FL (BA, 2005; MA, 2009, Religious Studies)

Military service:
US Army 1968-90, commissioned officer (Major, Infantry)
Service includes combat tour in Vietnam, 1969-70


"Atheist in a Foxhole" ... me, July 1970, about an hour before we were ambushed near Khe Sanh, Vietnam

Affiliations:
Atheists of Florida - President
Humanists of Florida Association (HFA) - member
Center for Inquiry (CFI): Florida - charter member
Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) - member
Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) - member
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) - Life member
Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers (MAAF) - member

More about our church/state activism with Atheists of Florida:
http://www.atheistsofflorida.org




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[Tank]

Hi John

Welcome to HAF

Regards
Chris

[John Kieffer]

Hi John

Welcome to HAF

Regards
Chris

Thanks Chris. 

I read the new rules and hope to get to full posting privilege as soon as possible (I think I need 10 posts & this is #2). 

I used to post here a while back by another screenname (Vietnamvetatheist or Vietnamvet-Bright or something like that) and have decided recently that I will now re-register on this and other forums using my real name as part of an atheist "out" campaign that is necessary to fully legitimize our movement.



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[Recusant]

Hello, and welcome back to HAF, John.  I remember you in your previous incarnation here, and actually have followed your activities in Florida with interest.  I look forward to your future contributions here.

[John Kieffer]

Hello, and welcome back to HAF, John.  I remember you in your previous incarnation here, and actually have followed your activities in Florida with interest.  I look forward to your future contributions here.

Thanks for the welcome.

Since my last post here in my last "reincarnation", I was arrested in Polk County for taking photos and talking (while wearing my Atheists of Florida t-shirt) during a prayer ritual in the Polk County (FL) School Board auditorium before the school board meeting was called to order.

I'm currently facing a maximum of 1 year and 4 months in jail if convicted on the 3 misdemeanors (#1 "disorderly conduct," #2 "resisting arrest w/o violence", and #3 "disrupting school, worship of god, or other lawful assembly")

Here's a link about what happened:

http://free2think.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=1414

Moments before I was arrested ...


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[Tank]

I thought I had heard somewhere that America was a 'free' country? Obviously I have been mislead!

[John Kieffer]

I thought I had heard somewhere that America was a 'free' country? Obviously I have been mislead!

Free country as long as you remain silent during government prayer rituals ... or don't publicize your atheism:

I was actually escorted out of another government meeting (Cape Coral, FL) by police for wearing my Atheists of Florida t-shirt at their meeting (while other t-shirts were allowed).



Info about this ... http://free2think.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=1390



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[xSilverPhinx]

Welcome!

[Whitney]

Glad to see you back, do you need help accessing your old account?

[The Magic Pudding]

Are the police at all public gatherings or do they follow you around?

Anyway good luck, power to your arm and all that.