Atheist Sign Placed and Stolen
Dan Barker, Co-President of Freedom From Religion, presents the placard
Earlier this week the Wisconsin based group, Freedom From Religion, was granted permission by Washington State governor, Christine Gregoire to place a sign in the Washington State Capital Building in Olympia.
The sign, which reads, “At this season of THE WINTER SOLSTICE may reason prevail. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds” was placed next to a Nativity Scene. Dan Barker, Freedom From Religion’s co-President stated that, “Our members want equal time. Not to muscle, not to coerce, but just to have a place at the table."
The sign has caused major protests from citizens and also drew insulting criticism from Conservative pundit, Bill O’Reilly who called Governor Gregoire a “weak, confused leader” and has stated that the sign is “political correctness gone mad.” O’Reilly also told his legion of listeners to call the Governer’s office and tell her to have the sign removed. Office staff has reported that over 200 calls per hour and a mass of e-mails “with no end in sight” has been the result.
Governor Gregoire and Republican Attorney General Rob McKenna put out a joint statement decreeing that, “The U.S. Supreme Court has been consistent and clear that, under the Constitution's First Amendment, once government admits one religious display or viewpoint onto public property, it may not discriminate against the content of other displays, including the viewpoints of nonbelievers.”
On Friday, the sign was reported stolen. The group is not surprised at the theft. According to the group, there has been a sign placed at the Wisconsin Capital Building for years. In the first few years of the sign’s placement, the sign has been stolen, turned around to face the wall, and even had acid thrown on it.
The Washington members of Freedom From Religion placed a new sign in its place until the old one was brought back. The sign was discovered by a radio station 60 miles north of Olympia in Seattle. It has since been brought back to Olympia and placed back in the display.
Sources:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28072481/
http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/12/05/atheists.christmas/index.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRQ0Jkjglog
