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"Atheists acknowledge their humanity and are constrained by the same compassion for their fellow man as any religion acknowledges. The only difference is that we believe that this compassion is not dictated to us, but created by us for the common good."

How can you talk about what all atheists feel or believe unless you've interviewed every single one on the planet? You only know about the very small number of atheists you have come into contact with. There is no universally accepted atheist manifesto. Hitler, Mao and Stalin were atheists who definately didn't feel your way. Since most people tend to run in circles who feel as they do your personal observations are meaningless. You sound like the New York socialite who says she can't believe George W. Bush won the election because "nobody I know voted for him."

How can you talk about what all atheists feel or believe unless you've interviewed every single one on the planet?

I don't mean to speak for all of them, but I do take strong objection to someone mischaracterizing what atheists do (or should) believe and how they do (or should) act.

There is no universally accepted atheist manifesto.

And I hope there never is one.

Hitler, Mao and Stalin were atheists who definitely didn't feel your way.

Although I disagree with you that Hitler was an atheist because I've read Mein Kampf, you're right. But they were morally wrong in what they did. I still contend that some people can be morally wrong, but atheism is no more an amoral path than any other religion. However, I agree with Dawkins that atheism IS less of an enabler. Many amoral acts (any amoral act?) are justified under the guise of religion. By claiming that an invisible power will reward your actions in the afterlife, anything is justifiable. Religion can enable logic to achieve horrible results. The examples you cite are men in great power taking advantage of the people who believed they could do no wrong. Evil people will do evil things.

You sound like the New York socialite...

I'm just trying to explain that atheists are not the sewer creatures alot of "compassionate Christians" believe them to be. Humans are moral, not just Christians.

"You sound like the New York socialite who says
she can't believe George W. Bush won the election
because "nobody I know voted for him."

I believe you actually have in mind the film critic for the New Yorker, Pauline Kael,
who reputedly said, in 1972,

"I don't know how Nixon won. No one I know voted for him."

though, apparently, this quote also is not quite accurate:

See this for the exact quote.