Hey everybody. I wasn’t going to make this post, but I ran across an article online and just had to comment.
An atheist organization called Colorado Coalition of Reason (COCORE) in my neighboring state of Colorado is promoting their message and beliefs in a series of 11 billboards: 10 around metro Denver and 1 in Colorado Springs. They will be up November 17 so as to be visible for this holiday season.
Of course, various Christian groups have discredited the tactics. From claiming the billboards are merely a desperate attempt to downplay Christianity to stating that the atheists are ignoring the “evidence” that the Bible is true (faith, they say is enough to prove an Almighty Being), they have been denouncing the action.
Anyway, the billboards have a blue sky scene background (with clouds) that read “Don’t believe in God? You are not alone.” The website for the group www.PhillyCOR.com along with a hotline (1-800-NEW-REASON) is also on the sign.
Now, I vowed to keep this a non-religious site. My blog is about sexual orientation, not religion. I was about to brush this story off until I read further. Apparently, the group wanted to put signs up in the towns of Fort Collins and Greeley, but the billboard company there refused to carry the message so as not to offend the Christian population.
COCORE rejects this based on the First Amendment. Joel Guttormson of Metro State Atheists said, "And I've read the First Amendment up and down, and nowhere does it say that I have to care about your feelings. We're either 10 to 16 percent of the population, and the reason we don't really know is because people are scared to come out because they're ostracized by the people around them.”
Okay, does anyone else see the similarity between this and sexual orientation? I could use the same quote to justify this blog or being out and proud. Of course, I’m not insinuating COCORE is anti-gay (I’d hope not, being an atheistic group and all). My point is that Mr. Guttormson is right! Even though he may have come across as a real jackass, his statement is true.
By that same justification, however, the Westboro Baptist Church has every right to spread their homophobic and ludicrous beliefs. So does every other anti-gay group. It doesn’t mean their message is correct, but they do have every right to spread it. I know these people piss us off, but we just have to take it in stride and remember that the amendment works both ways. This blog is proof of that. I do respect Fred Phelps’ right to tell me that I’ll burn in some sort of fiery place underground after I die and that my homosexuality caused Hurricane Katrina, even though I think the man is a conflict-loving, bitter sociopath (and don’t say he’s gay, either. We do not need to be affiliated with that loony) and his message is a grossly interpreted part of the Bible.
Guttormson also said the billboard were "to let non-believers, free-thinkers and atheists know that they are not alone, especially in a country like ours that is predominantly Christian." Heck, replace a couple words and there’s another description of my goals with Rural Rainbow.
So anyone who doesn’t agree with this blog, there you go. If you hate it that much, go make your own.
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/17977308/detail.html#- My source for this post
BTW- did anyone else notice how much “COCORE” sounds like “coke whore?” LOL-just had to point that out.
So I haven't made a post in a while
16 years ago
1 comment:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
Mr. Guttmorson needs glasses! I think it quite clear that the thrust of the First Amendment is to prohibit governmental prohibition of free speech. As a private enterprise, the CO billboard company is well within their rights to choose with whom they do business, and how.
Now settle down, kiddo, that doesn't mean I support the far right anti-gay hysteria. I've been on the fringes of the gay community since way before you were born (and likely since before I was born...)
But I do believe that our forefathers did a fairly good job with the Constitution, it is up to us to interpret it as it was written. We just need to stop people like Mr. Guttmorson from using it during a temper tantrum when he doesn't get his way...
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