Norm,
Yes, Atheists have a long way to go to become accepted as equal patriotic Americans by our own countrymen.There are still laws on the books of more than a handful of states (mostly in the Bible Belt) that forbid Atheists from running for office and serving on juries. But we are not just going to lay down and let the US become a theocratic nation. Let the religious right remove a brick and they'll try to tear down the whole wall separating church and state. Add to the mix way too many chicken**** politicians afraid to stand up for the First Amendment (all in the name of votes) and you have the current climate of incursions against the Constitution, ie. 10 commandments in city halls and public schools, sectarian prayers opening council meetings, creationism in text books, etc.
Just as some day there will be gay marriage, there will some day be an Atheist president. It is progressive thoughts and ideas that lead America and the world to its brightest days... quite unlike the 'dark ages' of theocracy, ie. the Taliban-led Afghanistan, the many religious wars going on presently, and, in the past, the Crusades and the Dark Ages itself.
Joe