The Governor Chet Culver of Iowa has now voiced an opinion on the issue of the atheist advertisements appearing on the busses in Des Moines. He reports that he, too, is disturbed by the message that atheists decided to put on the side of the bus.
(See: Radio Iowa, Governor 'Disturbed' by Atheist Signs on Busses)
I am certain that the question that pops up my mind on reading such a comment is the same question that others ask.
What message?
"A person who does not believe in God is not alone."
That is the message that disturbed these people. This is the message that causes them distress when they see the message on the side of a bus.
We can assume, then, that the message that they are comfortable with and the state that they want to see preserved is one in which those who do not believe in God are isolated and alone.
"If you don't believe in a God, why don't you give me a call and we'll chat." This is offensive speech. This is a statement that must not be spoken out loud.
It reminds me of a comment that, once upon a time, I heard far too often. Some of the people I encountered up in Montana would tell me, "I'm not prejudiced against blacks. Heck, when a black person is alone he can be quite nice and we get along real well. It's when a bunch of them get together that they turn into a pack of niggers."
Any decent person would find this sentiment shocking and repulsive.
Yet, it is quite similar to the sentiment expressed by those who find themselves disturbed by the thought of a group of atheists getting together and talking to each other.
These are the types of people who are protesting the signs in Des Moines. These are the types of people that the Governor of Iowa identifies with and supports. And these are the types of people that the Des Moines Area Regional Transport office has decided to pander to.
3 comments:
An agent of the state should keep their damn mouth shut on any matter that veers close to religion.
The removal of those signs was a clear violation of Freedom of Speech.
But before you scream about my post limiting the Governor's FoS, he's a public figure in a role where anything he says is going to be taken as a view of the state. When a politician is asked any question that concerns religion, the only answer they should be able to give is "No Comment".
Keep religion out of politics, and keep politics out of the church.
I have to agree with you Mike. I want to see a campaign to get the religious signs removed but know it will fail because it is just angry atheist complaining.
This post is not about a campaign to get religious signs removed.
It is about a campaign to demonstrate that certain attitudes towards atheists are examples of unjust and unfounded hatred and bigotry.
If, by acting, a group of people get the percentage of people who recognize this fact up from, say, 18% TO 23%, then progress has been made.
If, by inaction, a group of people keeps the percentage of people who recognize this fact at 18% when it could have gone to 23% - well, thos who do not act have done the bigots a favor.
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