[Anamensis]

I'm an atheist who somehow agrees with you on this score. While I don't personally believe in God, I find much to appreciate in Christianity... The 9/11 experience has caused me to shift my sensibilities. I am firmly committed to separation of church and state, but the Christian right's agenda is much more comfortable to me these days. ...Extremists of any sort offend me, but Christian zealots are usually the kindest people you'd ever want to meet.

I agree 100%. I'm an atheist too, and 9/11 also made me realize something with blinding clarity: Muslims want to kill me. Christians just want me to marry the person I'm living with.

My only variance with you is in MY version of the Neimoeller saying:

First they came for the Communists, and I said nothing, because I hate those SOBs.
Then they came for the Socialists and I said nothing, cause I hate those SOBs too.
They never came for me, we're on the same side. The End. ;^)

[risk]

Muslims want to kill me. Christians just want me to marry the person I'm living with.

Yes! We have a small family squable about values and how they're enforced. But patriot Christians and patriot unbelievers in American mean each other and the Republic well. We can't say the same for the communist infiltrators and the jihadis.

First they came for the Communists, and I said nothing, because I hate those SOBs.

The thing with the Nazis was that they didn't believe in changing peoples' minds. They would just blow them out.

An American communist among us who simply thinks something with which I disagree, I'll tolerate (and even defend). There is no place for thought police in this great land. Besides, I think we have a good chance of changing his mind over time. Only if he takes any physical steps toward destroying our nation, or if he incites others to do so, would my sense of tolerance vanish.