I started this meetup group to combine two things.. Dancing and as a social group for freethinkers.. This meetup piggybacks on a dance meetup, so most people there will be dancers.

"Freethinker" is an umbrella term for atheists, agnostics, as well as the occasional Buddhist or deist, classical freethinker (like the American Founders), and many Unitarians. It is the fundies who should be singled out (not freethinkers), so I would rater have a freethinker meetup, rather than an atheist meetup.. Basically, if you want to make America a Theocracy, you are "not" a freethinker..

It seems so many freethinker groups are political/protest driven (reactionary in nature).. I believe this is short sighted, and forever puts us at a disadvantage. I believe it is much more effective in the long run to throw a party. Throwing a party builds the freethought community.. I challenge you to name any minority that didnt need to fight for their rights (which requires a vibrant community).. This has worked well for churches throughout history. There has never been any reason for atheists/freethinlkers/agnostics, etc to band together (there is no glue like the churches have), but we need to band together to protect each of us from the assault of the fundies (but political discussions is not the main idea here).. The tip of the iceburg (politically) is prayer in schools, religious laws on the books, tax money going to churches, demonization of people who hold different opinions on religion, all the discrimination gays face, etc.

FREETHINKER announcement BELOW:
(and below that is the regular meetup tango annc)..

THE NEW DANCE SPACE IS FANTASTIC!
You have to see it to believe it.. One long (and tall) wall of mirrors, and the other wall are very tall curved windows overlooking a lake.. The feeling in the room is like being outdoors and overlooking a vista.. It is a "luxury" health club, so studio-A equals WOW!

In a nut shell:

We have many more people show up than RSVP on the meetup, because dancers from other groups show up too (the vast majority are already tango dancers).. Show up and help make this monthly tango dance another social option for freethinkers.

The beginner lesson will get you started dancing tango (to find out if you like it or not).. If you do like it, this sounds corny, but dancing can change your life (as it did for me).. This group is very beginner friendly.

Socials historically have worked very well for the religious community, and their religion is the glue holds their community together. We need a vibrant community for freethinkers for social as well as political reasons. Typically something bad happens to a freethinker, then we get mad, then we get labeled the "hateful" atheist when we complain (because there is no community to back us up). I am trying to set in motion a "proactive" solution (by emphasising the importance of community to support us all as individuals)..

bob

ABOUT:
The main reason for this group is to create a social place for freethinkers.. Meetups at bars and restaurants popular today.. Now lets enrich our freethinker community by adding a social dance option.. Please show up and help make it happen.. This is a tango dance venue (most people who show up are tango dancers / not from this meetup), but you do not need to dance (and the class is beginner friendly).. All ages show up, but this is not a kids night club (not too crowded, and not too loud either).

MODERN DANCE:
Dancing is fun, and in a modern sense, who leads and who follows a thing of choice, rather than dictatated by gender. Modern to me also means same sex dancers are welcome, although this is a straight venue as far as I can tell.. We ask for rotation during the class, but it is entirely optional.. If you choose to rotate with the class, we teach open embrace, and there should be no uncomfortable contact (in beginner classes)..

PRICING: $10

This meetp is piggybacking on a tango dance.. Tell bobbler you came from the freethinker meetup, so I can try to herd all the freethinker cats together.. My picture is on the meetup (and I usually teach one of the classes)..

WHEN AND WHERE:
JANUARY 9 ~ Sunday (2011)
Concourse Athletic Club..
8 Concourse Pkwy NE, Atlanta, GA 30328
(770) 698-2000
This is one of the most beautiful venues I have seen..

IS THIS A SINGLES DANCE?
The answer is in this story: I spent 20 years breaking up over and over again, because of my lack of religion.. It got to where I didnt want to risk getting attached to anyone (thank you Jesus). Now that I am older I have a whole new perspective; people have told me over the years, and I fought the idea too, but the bottom line is to do things you like, and singles are all around us.. It is so much better (and I cannot over emphasize this point) to meet your future special someone while you are in your element doing something you like.. When you are doing something you like, you will be at your best, and meet people naturally. This is how we freethinkers can overcome the 10:1 odds (since I estimate freethinkers are relationship compatible with only 10 percent of society)..

WHAT IS A FREETHINKER?
"Freethinker" is an umbrella term for atheists, agnostics, as well as the occasional Buddhist or deist, classical freethinker (like the American Founders), and many Unitarians. It is the fundies who should be singled out (not freethinkers), so I would rather have a freethinker meetup, rather than an atheist meetup.. Basically, if you want to make America a Theocracy, you are "not" a freethinker..

FREETHINKER COMMUNITY / Politics:
It seems so many freethinker groups are political/protest driven (reactionary in nature).. I believe this is short sighted, and forever puts us at a disadvantage. I believe it is much more effective in the long run to throw a party. Because throwing a party builds the freethought community.. And a vibrant community is necessary for freethinkers to live with rights and dignity with so many religious conservatives attacking us. I challenge you to name any minority that didnt need to fight for their rights (which requires a vibrant community).. This has worked well for churches throughout history. There has never been any reason for atheists/freethinkers/agnostics, etc to band together (there is no glue like the churches have), but we need to band together to protect each of us from the assault of the fundies (but political discussions is not the main idea here).. The tip of the iceberg (politically) is prayer in schools, religious laws on the books, tax money going to churches, demonization of people who hold different opinions on religion, all the discrimination gays face, etc.

OTHER FREETHOUGHT GROUPS:
Just google freethinker, freethought. atheist, atheism. There is a popular atheist meetup in Atlanta here on meetup (search for Atlanta atheist).

bobbler

REGULAR MEETUP TANGO OASIS ANNOUNCEMENT (below here):

Argentine Tango ~ Where Legs Entwine..
The best of MODERN & TRADITIONAL Tango Music.
2pm intermediate level lesson..
3pm Beginner friendly lesson..

We have many more people show up than RSVP on the meetup, because dancers from other groups show up too..

Changing lead/follow roles is always OK as a modern idea, just for fun, or to improve your dancing. Rotating with the class is always optional, but recommended. We teach open embrace style..

EVERY 2nd SUNDAY . .
www.tangooasis.com Listen to our music, maps, directions, etc.. Again the website is www DOT tangooasis DOT com (meetup keeps stripping out the dang URL's for some reason)..

TANGO OASIS EXISTS BECAUSE:
A handful of Tango dancers want more variety in tango music (as many other large cities already do). The Atlanta tango community strongly prefers traditional music (most play 100 percent traditional music only).. We find we are getting people who are new to tango (or previously dropped out because there was no variety in the music).. The people who show up love dancing and love the music, so its turning into something wonderful. The direction this is heading, soon we will have a new flavor of tango in the Atlanta area.. Thanks for making it happen..

TANGO LESSON:

There is a BEGINNER and INTERMEDIATE tango class during the traditional music part of the milonga.

MUSIC:

We are trying to make everyone happy. The first 2 hours is a traditional milonguero milonga. We play progressively more modern tangos (and altetrnative tangos) for the next 2 hours after that.. And during the last 2 hours we will play a swing set (or salsa, blues or chacha) if requested (because we have blues, salsa and swing dancers coming to tango)..

HAVE FUN & MEET PEOPLE: Its easy to get addicted to tango. Then you will meet other addicted people while having fun. It is always OK to lead or follow at oasis, no matter what your gender, because its fun and it makes us better dancers. The dance floor is large enough to practice without being crowded out.

LOCATION:
Concourse Athletic Club..
This is one of the most beautiful venues I have seen..

I N F O R M A T I O N :
Use the contact link on the tangooasis DOT com website, or the meetup link to contact us (spammers make it so we cannot put an email addrs here)..

Closed toe shoes are recommended for the follower. Everyone's shoes should allow you to pivot (IE: shoes should not stick to the floor; actual leather is the best).

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