All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. (Edmund Burke)

When I woke up on a recent morning, I had no idea that that was to be the day I took an important step toward becoming one of "those atheists" we hear so much about. You know, those atheists that are always "attacking" religion in the public square by asking believers to obey the law.

Sure, I have written to the elected officials who are supposed to represent me many times, and I have written letters to the editor of various newspapers using my real name. But I have generally avoided putting my job on the line in the name of atheist activism. That was to change on this day.

So, what happened? I am a state employee who has been required, as a function of his job, to attend official meetings and ceremonies in which sectarian prayer is a part. The most blatant example of this involves university graduation ceremonies in which the audience is asked to pray in Jesus' name.

On this particular day, I decided that I am not going to do it anymore. I cannot do it anymore. I also decided that I was through remaining silent about it even if breaking my silence endangered my job. I filed a non-anonymous complaint with my employer.

Am I scared? Damn right, I'm scared! I have already seen others lose their jobs for far less. But I simply could not endure sitting idly by while this occurs one moment longer.

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