At the AAI conference - Personal blog

[Homo economicus]

Today marks my fourth day here in the States, the first time I have ever been outside Europe. In my signature you will find my blog which is where I am writing a more general account of things, but here I will write more from a Forum community perspective.

I have fallen in love with Washington DC. From the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, to WWII memorial I have never been so impressed with the intelligent design of a place, nor how movingly a people and concept can be honoured. It puts our attempts to convey them to shame. Particularly for example the FDR memorial has an abstract water feature, with phrases from him. There is no attempt to bombard you with historical stuff - it in art represents the person, and in political statements you capture the idealism. That is the style of all the monuments and I have to say they all moved me whether to awe, inspiring, tears and frequently all three.

Then it comes to the people of Washington. This is a melting pot where people wear their politics on their sleeves, and burning in their heart is a passion that they are Americans and can state their case and fuck you if you do not like it, this is what it is. Here in the UK, even in London, politics is discussed but not with the fever here. People will discuss, debate argue, shout at each other over an issue and buy each other drinks and still be friends at the end of the night. The freedom to express yourself so openly and to treasure that right is one that got me intoxicated before I even had my first sip of beer. Yes it happens in the UK; but you guys seem to do it a whole lot better and I only wish people had half of the drive that people in this nation's capital have.

Weather wise (a Brit has to say something about that) hot - over 30 Celsius, sun baking down on you. Walking round The Mall (zone where the memorials and White House are) I have caste off my whiter shade of pale look. I kind of feel like coming here I have gone from a caterpillar turned into a butterfly in the sun and warmth of the people of America.

So as you can probably gather I am in love with this place. It is not a passing fancy, and I am not usually this taken with places I go to. In a heart beat I would live here.

Met up with Hyrax and Mat' (the lads) on Tuesday, and OBC Wednesday. Right now the lads are sleeping off the booze (no stamina these guys!) but we are having a good time. Tonight is the fundraiser at the Conference and I have done something really stupid - I do not even so much as have a white shirt with me (doh!). Not too worried, I think just that tie and smart trousers will cover it. Air conditioning is everywhere (even Metro) and it is needed. We sometimes have been nipping into buildings and metro just to cool down. So the idea of wearing a suit is not one that appeals. If I worry too much, it is one of those foilbles about not wishing to offend people unnecessarily by attire. As for personal embarrassment that is one thing I have never cared about (which anyone that meets me can tell you, I may carry you with me or not in my train of thought, all I will say is there is no destination that is out of bounds and I try to give a hell of a ride).

Well tomorrow will post how the first event of the conference went, and whether or not I plucked up the courage to ask the relative of Charles Darwin to sign the £10 note. Did Julia Sweeney like my tie, and did I buy Hitchens a drink? And did I actually buy anything at the auction? Did Hyrax and Mat' survive last night's festivities and will they ever get out of their flea pit? Find out soon!

[Homo economicus]

Hi guys apologies in advance for not cutting and pasting new blogs on here, but there are available on my blog site where you will find out about the police not yet arresting us yet as we try to get to the conference, and some little highlights for me personally.

http://www.homoeconomicusnet.wordpress.com

Will try and get them up here ASAP but I got to run!

Regards

He

[Homo economicus]

Ok have done the main blog that covers the speakers and what it was like to be at the conference will never forget it and it was a great time.

If anyone has photos of the event that feature me, or our tour of the Mall please do share them on this thread.

Thanks everyone - best holiday in USA ever

[Jerome]

Bah! So you didn't get arrested in the end! I was hoping to have to organise a "Free the Washington Atheists!" Protest.

Glad you had a great time!

j x

[Greg W.]

I have fallen in love with Washington DC. From the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, to WWII memorial I have never been so impressed with the intelligent design of a place, nor how movingly a people and concept can be honoured. It puts our attempts to convey them to shame. Particularly for example the FDR memorial has an abstract water feature, with phrases from him.

I've lived less than 45 minutes away from D.C. for my entire life and I didn't even know we had an FDR memorial.

[Homo economicus]

I've lived less than 45 minutes away from D.C. for my entire life and I didn't even know we had an FDR memorial.

My camera ran out of batteries, so the FDR is the only one I visited with no photos!

Bah! So you didn't get arrested in the end! I was hoping to have to organise a "Free the Washington Atheists!" Protest.

Now if Morrissey performed in our honour ... no, I think seeing Richard was better but thanks Jerome!

[OneFineLady]

Bah! So you didn't get arrested in the end! I was hoping to have to organise a "Free the Washington Atheists!" Protest.

I am mighty glad that they didn't get arrested, have you seen what happens in the prisons aborad?

[Hyrax]

As requested, a few pics from the first days sight seeing:

(left to right): OBC, HE and Mat


HE and Mat at the womens memorial in Arlington cemetery:


The world war 2 memorial (HE's favorite):


The Washington monument with some visiting Canadians:


The view of the Lincoln memorial from the Washington monument, what country are we in again?

[Homo economicus]

Thanks Hyrax for those photos.

The reason for the WW2 memorial being my favourite is that it just caught my imagination, and I know the history of my family that fought in those wars. We may deride the USA for thinking WW2 was 1941-5, but I know history would have been different without their involvement and support. It also reminded me of friends in Iraq and Afghanistan today as well. The scale and vision put into it really has to be seen to be appreciated, and the phrases quoted on the walls spot on.

Cannot help thinking we need something like that in Aldershot for the British Armed forces.

[Greg W.]

The reason for the WW2 memorial being my favourite is that it just caught my imagination, and I know the history of my family that fought in those wars. We may deride the USA for thinking WW2 was 1941-5, but I know history would have been different without their involvement and support. It also reminded me of friends in Iraq and Afghanistan today as well. The scale and vision put into it really has to be seen to be appreciated, and the phrases quoted on the walls spot on.

Cannot help thinking we need something like that in Aldershot for the British Armed forces.

The World War II memorial is a pretty recent addition to the National Mall. It seems hard to believe now that so many people fought against its construction for so long.

I think I'll always have a special affinity for the Jefferson memorial, ever since I learned that it is where Christopher Hitchens took his oath of citizenship.

[Homo economicus]

I jokingly referred to it as the "Jefferson memeorial", and when Dawkins read that he asked if I meant that, and my nerve failed me and said that was the problem with no spell checker. He smiled though.

By the way if you can pass the blog on please feel free to do so. Getting a lot of support over it, and I hope to keep it going.

[firecrest]

Well done on getting there you guys!! Its a pity me and Praetor couldnt come as well, I enjoyed our booze fueled night in Leicester. Infact it appears more of you managed to get to washington than any of the RD meet ups Ive attended in England!

[Homo economicus]

I have a feeling judging by his popularity that if Hitchens joined us on a pub crawl the attendance would be larger.

I am finding it amusing the number of people who talked to me, with a badge that I wrote "Homo economicus" on who have only just realised we are one and the same. Well, unless I have a Jekyll and Hyde thing going ...

That pub crawl was great - in my PJs and dressing gown. Right now uploading my photos onto myspace so I can put them on this thread. Become my friend on there and you can see all of them, otherwise just putting up a few of the 90 I took.

[Homo economicus]

Owen = Hyrax





Joe = Mat'




Wayne = OBC





Owen shoots!




Owen, Joe and Wayne





Owen, Robin = "Sciwoman", Joe





Lad that bought signed £10 Dawkins note for $110




Hitchens!!!!! Having drinks with us





Josh S





Rob and Amin





Jonathan, Me, Ashley and Rob at White House





Me and the Dawkins signed banana

[firecrest]

A dawkins signed banana would be an extremely useful tool for total Pwnage if you can find that guy who made the creationist banana video, you can go shove it up his ....

[Vikki]

Wow, it looks like you guys had such a fantastic time! It makes me think seriously about going next year. Someone's gotta represent the Aussies!

[Aesthetic Atheist]

Wow, it looks like you guys had such a fantastic time! It makes me think seriously about going next year. Someone's gotta represent the Aussies!

No Vikki - we can do better than that. We have to work out how to get the Prof et al
Down Under for a conference (I'm thinking Philip Adams might like to get a speaker's guernsey at that ) - come to think of it, we don't have an Aussie Mod here ... Must fix that at some point!

If nothing else, there's enough Victorians here to have a get-together at some stage don't you think?

Sorry - back on track. Excellent work HE - thanks so much - thoroughly enjoyable

[Vikki]

No Vikki - we can do better than that. We have to work out how to get the Prof et al
Down Under for a conference (I'm thinking Philip Adams might like to get a speaker's guernsey at that ) - come to think of it, we don't have an Aussie Mod here ... Must fix that at some point!

If nothing else, there's enough Victorians here to have a get-together at some stage don't you think?

There's no moderator here from the entire southern hemisphere. It's a conspiracy! It's pure, unchecked and vicious HEMISPHEREISM. Tut, tut, guys!

Phillip Adams has been getting a spanking on Media Watch. He has a new book out! I should read it at some point. I'd love to meet the guy, that's for sure.

Plenty of Vics! I wonder how many. Maybe we should revive the Aussie thread and gauge interest.

[Praetor]

The next big atheism conference, I think we should invite God and a have an empty seat and speech slot on the podium for him.

Itll screw the whole thing over if he turns up though

[Homo economicus]

I am more than happy to try out Australia - seeing as this was my first trip out of Europe. I have fallen in love with USA but I have an attachment to Cornwall and beaches. So a non believers BBQ on a beach when surf is up, chilled wine, good food sounds good to me.

[Homo economicus]

Video of the "March on Washington by atheists" done by healthyaddict can be found via this link on youtube:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=I2y7f4_zlyk

and have blogged about it here

Thanks to healthyaddict for video, Rob for being there and Josh for stepping in as photographer at the last minute. And all the people that took part in the march - if you are forum members do please let me know as it would be great to keep in touch - and who knows make it something that does not happen the once!

[flyingscot]

Thanks for sharing HE.....the blog and photographs are great.

[OneFineLady]

Looks like I missed alot from not being at the AAI ... maybe we should bring the AAI to England next, I have the venue if people are willing to come over

[Homo economicus]

There is a certain gentleman - Michael Brendan Dougherty - who has written quite disparagingly about the AAI Conference and been very insulting in how he has spoken about speakers. The Rational Response Squad informed friends on myspace and I have blogged a response, below which also links to Dougherty's article.

http://homoeconomicusnet.wordpress.com/ ... -believer/