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<DIV>This is important for us UU's, that the US Government has, by this
law, affirmed that, “The freedom of thought, conscience, and religion is
understood to protect theistic and non-theistic beliefs as well as the right not
to profess or practice any religion.”</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>This is a landmark law protecting the rights of non-Christians as well as
Christians here in America. We can thank the American Humanist Association
for this, as the UUA has not taken a position on it.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>In religious freedom,</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Gerry Flakas</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
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From: aha@americanhumanist.org<BR>To: gerflak@aol.com<BR>Sent: 12/16/2016
4:47:15 P.M. Central Standard Time<BR>Subj: BREAKING: President Obama signed
the bill!<BR></DIV>
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<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; FONT-SIZE: 14px">Dear
<SPAN>Gerald</SPAN>,</P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; FONT-SIZE: 14px"><STRONG>I
wanted to be the first to share with you the big news: Just an
hour ago, President Obama signed the Frank Wolf International
Religious Freedom Act into law.</STRONG> It is the first law in
history to recognize “non-theists” and protect our community from
discrimination.</P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; FONT-SIZE: 14px"><STRONG>This
is a tremendous recognition of the humanist movement—we’re here,
we’re standing strong, and we will fight to protect our values.
</STRONG></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; FONT-SIZE: 14px">This
new law strengthens the government’s work to promote international
religious freedom and states, “The freedom of thought, conscience,
and religion is understood to protect theistic and non-theistic
beliefs as well as the right not to profess or practice any
religion.”</P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; FONT-SIZE: 14px">The
law also condemns “specific targeting of non-theists, humanists,
and atheists because of their beliefs” and all attempts to
forcibly compel “non-believers or non-theists to recant their
beliefs or to convert.”</P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; FONT-SIZE: 14px"><STRONG>Celebrate
with us, and share this historic achievement proudly with your
friends and family.</STRONG> Post it on Facebook. Tweet about it.
Take a selfie and show that you are proud to be a humanist.
<STRONG><A
title=http://secure.americanhumanist.org/page.redir?target=https://secure.americanhumanist.org/irf2016&srcid=55932&srctid=1&erid=16823517&trid=78c7ad3a-162d-4793-8cf4-ef67a8fccfb6
href="http://secure.americanhumanist.org/page.redir?target=https%3a%2f%2fsecure.americanhumanist.org%2firf2016&srcid=55932&srctid=1&erid=16823517&trid=78c7ad3a-162d-4793-8cf4-ef67a8fccfb6">And
please—donate generously to help make more of these legislative
victories possible</A>.</STRONG></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; FONT-SIZE: 14px">Together,
we made history. Thank you.</P>
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<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; FONT-SIZE: 14px">Sincerely,<BR><IMG
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src="https://secure.americanhumanist.org/image/signatures/Ardiente_MaggieSignatureBlue.jpg"
width=200><BR>Maggie Ardiente<BR>Director of Development and
Communications</P></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR>
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