Humanists Launch "Naughty" Awarenes Campaign

[NMMNG]

This is a holiday themed campaign to promote awareness of the bias faced by atheists.

<snip>

The billboards and full-page newspaper ads contain the message, “Bias Against Atheists is Naughty, Not Nice,” and features Santa Claus making up his “naughty” list. The ads are placed in cities across the United States where atheists have experienced discrimination due to their lack of belief in a traditional god.

<snip>

Speckhardt continued, “Many humanists and atheists in America experience hatred in their own communities when simply standing up for the separation of church and state, or fighting for other rights that should be afforded without question.”

For example, the AHA placed an ad in the Cranston Herald newspaper because a high school student, Jessica Ahlquist, endured harassment and threats—one even called her a “stupid atheist”—for objecting to the display of a religious prayer banner hanging in her public high school auditorium.

Another ad was placed in a newspaper near Bastrop, Louisiana, where a student named Damon Fowler was ostracized by his community—even his own parents kicked him out of his home—for objecting to a Christian prayer that would be held during his graduation ceremony.

<snip>

I have to wonder how many of the billboards will be vandalized by people who totally miss the point of the message.

[MarkCharles]

1. Don't know how many will be vandalized, but I'm willing to bet that

about 10,000 times more people of the Christian persuasion will take offense at atheist using Santa Claus!

They will not blink an eyelash as they proudly proclaim that Santa Claus is a CHRISTIAN image.

They might even go as far as saying Santa Claus is a Christian myth!

Atheists celebrating Christmas is anathema to them, no matter how many of their Jewish and Muslim friends and co-workers are often invited to participate in Christmas parties, secret santa office grabs, etc.

[MarkCharles]

2. By the way, I wonder how many Christians know the original story of

Santa Claus, and what nation it came from.

I'm willing to bet less than 50% of Christians actually know, without doing "the Google".

[NMMNG]

7. He shared the manger with Jesus, silly.

:P

[MarkCharles]

8. I knew that!

:+

[humblebum]

3. Oh give me a break. nt

[cleanhippie]

4. Give yourself one.

[NMMNG]

6. Someone dismissing the claim that atheists face discrimination?

I can't imagine who it is. :sarcasm:

[deacon_sephiroth]

10. a long one... n/t

[cleanhippie]

11. + infinity

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Goblinmonger]

13. Looking in the mirror is hard, ain't it? n/t

[LeftishBrit]

15. Give atheists a break, then

I have no problem with religion, or with philosophical/ theological *disagreement* with atheism, but I have a severe problem with political or personal hostility toward atheists.

[NMMNG]

16. But if he doesn't keep up the holy war against us

the US will turn into another atheist nation with gulags for anybody who refuses to worship no-god.

[Nihil]

17. And - honestly - no-one wants that ...

... we might end up having to take back the religious nuts that we got rid of
back in the early 17th Century ...

:hide:

[NMMNG]

18. The US got the religious nuts

Australia got the prisoners. I think Australia got the better deal.

[Goblinmonger]

19. I've got a whole bit about that when I teach my Brit Lit class

and we get to the Renaissance. The kids realize what a great time that would have been. I then remind them that we got all the people that hated it. All the uptight, not-have-any-fun types. Which is why we lagged behind Europe in literature for centuries.

[NMMNG]

5. There are more stories of atheist discrimination at the website

Stories of Atheist Discrimination

<snip>

Creationist History Teacher Confronted — Kearny, NJ (2008)

During his junior year of high school Matthew LaClair, of Kearny, NJ, took a history class from a teacher who used his position to promote his personal religious beliefs, including creationism. Matthew went to school officials and his teacher and was rebuffed. It was only after he produced audio recordings of his teacher in class did he get any attention. This resulted in LaClair becoming a target of harassment, including death threats. He also lost friends and many of the people in his town turned against him. It took many months of working through the tactics of a non-responsive school system before his determination resulted in teachers being trained on state-school separations issues.

<snip>

Atheist Marching Band Hated For More Than Blowing Vuvuzelas — Bryan/College Station, TX (2010)

During the annual Bryan/College Station Christmas parade the Brazos Valley Vuvuzela Atheist Marching Band took part. The 18-person band played “Jingle Bells” while wishing people a merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah, and merry Kwanzaa.

Many residents declared their disdain, likening atheists to the Ku Klux Klan, pedophiles, and labeling them a “hate group.” One local resident was quoted as being concerned for her children because “it was hard for them to believe and understand that there are actually people out there that don't believe in God." Video

No Pray, No Play — Hardesty, OK (2007)

Nicole Smalkowski, a public school student at Hardesty High School, ended up in court after incidents at her school over her family’s atheism. As a member of the basketball team, Smalkowski refused to take part in The Lord’s Prayer offered by coaches. She was soon kicked off the team, after being accused of hurting morale and stealing someone’s shoes, which she denies. Back on the team the next year, she was once again kicked off for not taking part in the prayer and for saying the Pledge of Allegiance without “under god.” School officials said she was kicked off for threatening to kill someone. Again, Smalkowski denies the allegation.
<snip>

Likening atheists to the KKK and labeling them a "hate group". Gee, that sounds awfully familiar...

[MarkCharles]

9. Sounds very familiar! hmmm! n/t

[Goblinmonger]

14. Is one of our members from Bryan/College Station, TX? n/t