Cenk Uygur to Speak at the FFRF Convention

by Jesse Galef –

I’m going to the Freedom From Religion Foundation convention is this weekend! If you can’t join Hemant to go gallivanting off to the Rally to Restore Sanity in DC, come to Madison, WI with me! It should be an awesome time.

Look at some of the lineup: Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Linda Greenhouse, Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton, Julia Sweeney, and — of course — Dan Barker and Steven Benson.

I’m really looking forward to meeting Cenk Uygur, who is receiving the “Emperor Has No Clothes Award.” Cenk is the host and founder of The Young Turks, a huge web & radio show. Check out his announcement that he’ll be coming:

This should be good!

Not only was I a guest on The Young Turks to talk about our Secular Coalition for America policy briefing at the White House, but they also had Jen McCreight on via webcam to talk about Boobquake. When secular students drew the Muhammad stick figures, they had a segment defending the students.

Cenk has no qualms saying things that might offend people, and has been delightfully strident on the issue of religion. Considering that the award is for “celebrating ‘plain speaking’ on the shortcomings of religion by public figures” he seems like an excellent choice.

If you’re coming to the convention, be sure to find me and say hi!

Michelle

The clip gives me more reason to like him. Hooray.
Claudia

Err I like Cenk and all Hemant, but me thinks you’ve sort of buried the lede:

Look at some of the lineup: Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Linda Greenhouse, Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton, Julia Sweeney, and — of course — Dan Barker and Steven Benson.

This is a prominent elected official coming to an explicitly pro-secular event full of godless heathens. Right before an election. Wow.

I call this progress.
Jim T

Cenk rocks. He typically describes himself as agnostic, but talks like an atheist.
Peter Mahoney

I think that Cenk was raised Muslim.
He is a great spokesperson against religion. He not only quickly gets to the core of the craziness in many religions, he does a great job of both making the serious/content points, and also LAUGHING at the religious wackiness. Religions crumble when people publicly laugh at the foolishness of their foundations.
Cenk rocks.
Jesse Galef

@Claudia – For one, don’t blame Hemant – I wrote this one. I’ll look into Lt. Gov. Lawton more, but I don’t think she’s running for office this term –
http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/65989207.html
Still, we’re not completely toxic, which is a good sign!
Danny Wuvs Kittens

Cenk’s pretty intelligent, but he’s a little depressing to listen to. If Beck is a fear monger, Cenk is a sad monger. Also, sometimes he doesn’t investigate stories thoroughly. He’s also agnostic. Everything else though, spot on; the guy kicks ass.
Pali

…damnit, I have to work all weekend. This is two blocks from where I live. *mutters*
A Portlander

Cenk kept me sane during the ’08 election build-up. Go get ’em, Hoss.
muggle

I wish I could get to one or the other but not only can’t I afford to travel but we’ve Halloween plans this weekend.

I will get to an FFRF convention before I die. I will damn it.
bismarket

Very pleased to see Cenk being invited (& accepting). Can’t wait to see this on YouTube!