Perhaps someone can explain it to me... why is it that those who don't believe in any religion feel it necessary to deliberately offend those that do?
In recent years, the Freedom From Religion Foundation, a nonprofit advocacy group based in Madison, Wis., has used the public-forum rule to crash civic Christmas displays with deliberately provocative signs declaring, "Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds."
The goal: To offend the faithful, in hopes that they will come to understand that a creche is equally offensive to nonbelievers. (source)
So, the point is this: I don't like what you are displaying so I'll display something that pisses you off. Ah, great way to convince people - anger. If that is your argument, I'll ask you a question in the style of Dr. Phil: How's that working out for ya?
Certainly I agree that fair is fair. If a private group or organization can receive permission to put a display on city/county/state/federal property, then any group should be able to do so, provided the isn't vulgar or inciteful, right?
But, why must this fairness be enforced concurrently? If a religious group wants to put up a display at the time of a recognized by government religious holiday, why must a non-religious group be allowed to put one up at the same time? How about putting up your "religion is stupid" display in December? Or January? And you get to display your "religion is for fools" tree for as long as any other group can receive a permit to display the creche or manger scene or menorah or whatever.
After all, fair is fair. But being deliberately inciteful is just plain rude.
UPDATE: It's everywhere!
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