Iowa bus driver suspended over atheist ad

[WhollyHeretic]

Controversy over a bus advertisement promoting a local atheist group has found its way to the driver's seat.

On Monday, the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority suspended bus operator Angela Shiel after she refused to drive a bus with an Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers ad on its side. Shiel, 41, said the ad's message, "Don't believe in God? You are not alone," went against her Christian faith.

Earlier this month, DART removed the ads from the buses following complaints from riders. DART returned the ads to the buses after receiving new complaints, including from the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa.

The ads were put back on 20 buses in DART's fleet last week.
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090819/NEWS/908190370/1001/DART-suspends-driver-after-she-refuses-to-use-bus-bearing-atheist-ad----------

The poor dear :cry: has to drive a bus that says atheists exist. Truly a horror beyond words. Why are Christians always persecuted?

[ZombieHorde]

1. Bwahahahahaa! nt

[Strong Atheist]

2. !

:thumbsup:

[progressoid]

3. She's being oppressed!

Oppressed I tells ya!

[WhollyHeretic]

6. There was a thread about this in GD and there were several DUers seriously making that claim

:freak:

[progressoid]

7. Ugh.

Knowing Iowans, Christians, and Iowan Christians as well as I do, I was only slightly joking when I posted it. Too bad that attitude infests this site so much as well.

[prostock69]

4. Love it!!! n/t

[laconicsax]

5. Good call, DART

Good to see that they didn't just coddle her delicate religious sensibilities. She's no different than Christian pharmacists who refuse to do their jobs when they don't like the prescription they're filling.

[moggie]

8. I was wrong about the bus ads

When the idea of atheist bus ads was first floated, I said that it would be a waste of money. But the bans and the disproportionate shitstorm, worldwide, have been useful in exposing Christian intolerance and double standards.

[pink-o]

9. What people don't get is that you don't have 1st amendment rights on the job.

If you're at work and your personal sensibilities are getting steamrolled, you better either table them or find another job, because you have no rights to refuse to do your work if you're offended.

From the pharmacist who doesn't want to dispense the morning after pill, to me, myself and I--a secular vegetarian who works for an airline and has to check in hunting rifles, deer antlers, and put up with (seriously) prayer cards that come on the meal trays! If I can't hold my nose and be professional, I should be suspended.

It's very different from being harassed, underpaid or ripped off (Walmart), or put in situations that could harm you. One should always fight those issues.

Yay DART for doing the right thing. Iowa continues to surprise me!

[Lost-in-FL]

10. ...

Cry me a river. :nopity: