Athiest Bus Ads Create Free Speech Debate In Iowa

[Purveyor]

(08-14) 09:14 PDT Des Moines, Iowa (AP) --

A dispute about bus advertisements seeking to publicize atheist views has touched off a free speech debate after the signs were torn down — then posted again — on the sides of Des Moines city buses.

The ads, sponsored by the Iowa Atheists & Freethinkers, pictured white puffy clouds against a blue sky and read: "Don't believe in God? You are not alone." The Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority stripped the signs after receiving complaints, then after meeting with the atheist group, reversed course and put the ads back up.

The ad campaign is part of an expanding national effort by Washington D.C.-based United Coalition for Reason, which has placed ads on buses or billboards in several cities, including Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, Phoenix, New Orleans, Charleston, S.C., Philadelphia, Kansas City, Mo., Denver, Boulder, Colo., Long Beach, Calif., and Moscow, Idaho.

The issue with the ads in Des Moines was with the word God, said Elizabeth Prusetti, chief development officer for the bus agency.

"We have never allowed that word in our advertising, promoting a religion," she said. "We've never used the word God in any advertising to maintain some autonomy. We've had churches advertise but it's been for their church and not a belief."

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/08/14/national/a091406D16.DTL#ixzz0OAz0m17d

[wtmusic]

1. "We've had churches advertise

but it's been for their church and not a belief."

OK, then I wanna put up an ad for the Church of Atheism. :silly:

[YOY]

2. How do you advertise for a church and not advertise for a belief at the same time???

Am I the only one who finds that bug-fucking insane???

[rocktivity]

3. CUE THE VONAGE THEME!

:woohoo:
If the signs said, "DON'T BELIEVE IN GOD!" then they'd be right--but I would also object to a bus sign that said, "BELIEVE IN GOD!!!" And if the use of the word God is the problem, they can change the message to "Not religious? You're not alone."

But seriously, folks, being anti- or non-religious is neither illegal nor unconstitutional in this country. Thank God that free speech, religious equality, and common sense prevailed...ooops...

:evilgrin:
rocktivity

[defendandprotect]

4. Good move by athiests . . . but seems many don't like real free speech . . . ???

[KingFlorez]

5. Free speech isn't an issue here, it's advertising

A church advertising is completely different, that can actually be done without pushing any particular belief, they are just inviting people to come to their church.

[wtmusic]

6. It's advertising on city buses

and yes "inviting people to come to their church" does push that church's particular belief.

[KingFlorez]

10. It still doesn't fall under free speech, they still have to pay for the adverts

The city can choose what messages they want on their buses, they don't have to cater to anyone.

[wolfgangmo]

12. What?

Dude,

Any government that accepts any federal funds must comply with federal statute and rules which include not discriminating. Cities are NOT allowed to pick and choose without being cognizant of that.

It is a 1st amendment issue as is all advertising. I am not allowed to go outside what the law says is legal. For example, just because I own a road sign, I can't post a pic of 2 people fucking just cause I want to. It's illegal.

We all have to follow the laws of the land, including city transit authorities.

[KingFlorez]

14. I'm not sure what your point is

The city is under no obligation to maintain advertisements by any business or organization, they can terminate the contract.

[Rob Gregory Browne]

8. Everyone Knows What a Church is

and what it stands for. So while the belief may not be overtly stated, it's certainly implied.

Then, when you look at the NAME of the church, you'll almost always find the belief there: Oasis Christian Center, First United Methodist Church, Christ Temple Cathedral, etc., etc.

The removal of the ads is merely a sign of intolerance. Good to hear that the decision was reversed.

And I'm not even an atheist.

[KingFlorez]

13. That's a stretch

Even though it's obvious, church ads don't always have a message that overtly states any sort of belief, so you are comparing apples and oranges.

[Rob Gregory Browne]

15. A Stretch?

Oasis CHRISTIAN Center is a stretch? When you see a bus ad that has the name, what do YOU think they believe in? Winged hamsters?

[Gabi Hayes]

16. I think you're wasting your energy with that one. Here's an ad they should try to place:

[Gabi Hayes]

17. ''The inspiration of the bible depends upon the ignorance of the gentleman who reads it''

from the ad above

from Robert Ingersoll

[KingFlorez]

20. Whatever, you have your opinion and I have mine

I'm not going to argue back and forth about this.

[surrealAmerican]

7. The sign is NOT advertising "atheist views".

It's merely acknowledging the existence of atheists. They're NOT saying "there is no god"; they're NOT saying "you shouldn't believe"; they're saying "if you're an atheist, there are other people who think the same thing".

I just don't get why this is controversial at all.

[Gabi Hayes]

9. that's the most athiest bus I've ever seen. I've seen a few that were athier than others, but

that one is the athiest

[CanonRay]

11. Go to this link if you want to support these ads

http://www.ffrf.org/

[Gabi Hayes]

18. thanks

how does one combine theocracy and idiocracy?

theidiocracy?

[Gabi Hayes]

19. god save us:

http://challenge.visualessence.nl/C514241107/E1422649724/index.html



Is Christ going to sell socks tomorrow?

Catholic Church first in Italy now in France has won a court injunction to ban an advertisement based on Leonardo da Vinci's Christ's Last Supper.
The display was ruled "a gratuitous and aggressive act of intrusion on people's innermost beliefs", by a judge.

Funny, it looks like Da Vinci was God's personal portraitist.

Italians are arguing if they do not stop this on time: "Tomorrow, Christ on the cross will be selling socks."
The church objected to an almost all-female version of the fresco, including a female Christ, used by designers Marithe et Francois Girbaud.
The designers are said to be planning an appeal, saying they did not intend to offend anyone with the campaign.