Atheists are protesting a poster that reads "God Bless America," in a Simi Valley courthouse. Some may find it offensive, but the people protesting this poster are correct. Hanging religiously-inspired imagery and propaganda in a government building is offensive and against the United States Constitution, among other documents.
Among the group of atheists protesting the poster, 51-year old Stuart Bechman is better known for his protest of the McCoy Cross, a large cross on Mt. McCoy. His endeavors paid off and the land was sold.
In his latest endeavor, Stuart Bechman wants the poster removed from the city hall, and so do other atheists and those who find religious imagery unsettling in government-run environments. It's indicative of the local government endorsing a religion, which is blatantly in contradiction to the constitutional rights of those who live in the area.
The poster reads "God bless America," and "God bless you."
Stuart Bechman makes a really valid point about the disrespect this poster represents. With it being a military poster, what of the soldiers who are atheist or of non Christian-Judaic faith? This poster clearly discriminates against non-Christian soldiers and the fact that the Simi Valley city hall is displaying it shows that they are not only endorsing Christianity but they are lending to the discrimination of non-Christian people.
Certainly some people get themselves all in a tizzy when someone mentions the fact that the United States of America isn't a Christian nation. In fact, some people get the vapors like they're southern belles in the 1800s. It doesn't seem to sink in with some people that this is a nation based on freedom and tolerance of all beliefs and even non-beliefs, as they are.
Bechman and co. aren't the only atheists making headlines these days. In fact, a group of "nonbelievers" are suing to have the "Ground Zero Cross" removed from the 9/11 Memorial Site. This cross, idolized by rescuers and those near the site of the historic attacks, is a blatant symbol of Christianity. Davide Silverman of American Atheists is a smart guy, like Stuart Bechman; both men honor the freedom of all Americans, and they don't take it lightly when someone tries to blatantly misstep these freedoms by force-feeding Christian imagery down the throats of the masses.
This isn't a christian country. Deal with it.
Government funds whether directly or indirectly should never pay for this. Period.
Displaying propaganda and "monuments" honoring one religion immediately ties that one religion to an entire nation. This is not only disrespectful but it's downright falsifying and alienating each and every person who isn't of this one faith.
---~~*~~--- ©Chelsea Hoffman is the Author of "Chloe and Louis," and the "Fear Chronicles," series of books. She also covers a myriad of true crime stories online. Click the banner for Chelsea's official site and updates, including free excerpts to her novels. 
recommend
Facebook
Twitter
bookmark 
print
Comments: 53 ( 6 removed by Chelsea Hoffman )
It's enough to make somebody want to throw up to hear a puppetized president stand up there and give their deceptive speeches and then utter, "And God Bless America," at the end of their spewing their garbage out of their buttmouths.
You say "Some may find it offensive, but the people protesting this poster are correct. Hanging religiously-inspired imagery and propaganda in a government building is offensive and against the United States Constitution, among other documents."
This logic fails because it would also prohibit the display of the Declaration of Independence. The poster does NOT mention (regardless of what it might intend) the Christian God.
You do not have the right to NOT be offended. Deal with it.
It is her right to be offended if she choses, and not one can tell her different, that is freedom of choice, and you cannot tell her otherwise.
While the sign does not offend me. I do believe it is disrespectful to those who have served and do not believe. I think elected officials should be considerate of all that have served.
By recalling Ben Franklin's words "We must, indeed, all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately." [In the Continental Congress just before signing the Declaration of Independence, 1776] and contemplating the personal attacks on their family, fortunes, and property his statement anticipated (and which actually occurred) we can conclude the Declaration of Independence signers DID take it seriously.
But at issue in the post is that whatever kaka logic is being used to try and ban the city hall poster would equally ban the DofI. Bad idea. You might want to consult history from some place other than MSNBC.
Not that you care about facts in the slightest but even Frederick Douglass disagreed with you on the very issue of slavery which you are using to fuel your misguided and erroneous rant. http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474978905477
Pastor Ted Haggard is destroying Christianity,
Rev. Fernando Lopez Lopez, Pedophile Priest is destroying Christianity, along with the apartus that hid his crimes in other countries.
Rev. Grant Storms, a renowned anti-gay Christian pastor from Louisiana who was caught masturbating near children, is hurting Christianity.
Pastor of Church of the Living God in Dallas, Sandy McGriff who got caught apparently trying to pull a reverse Santa Claus—hauling away $10,000 in computers and furs—on a member of her flock on the day before Christmas. SHE is HURTING Chrisitanity.
I would prefer the company of atheists than these "Christians" The atheists could NOT chip my faith more than these "Christians"
GREER, S.C. -- An Upstate pastor was arrested and charged with solicitation of prostitution, Greer police said.
Carl Smith is pastor of River Road Baptist Church. He was arrested last week in Greer during a prostitution sting.
Read more:
http://www.wyff4.com/news/28742695/detail.html#ixzz1U1H1qgqs
http://www.wkrg.com/alabama/article/pastor-arrested-on
-pornography-charges/1204958/Feb-21-2011_4-26-pm/
what a sick guy.
The 74-year-old Alamo was charged under a federal statute with having knowingly transported a minor across state lines with the intent to engage in sexual activity
http://articles.cnn.com/2008-09-25/justice/childporn.alamo_
1_tony-alamo-christian-ministries-children-into-temporary-
custody-sexual-activity?_s=PM:CRIME
The list goes on and on.
I fail to see how a relatively small group of people can be so greatly offended by "something" they don't believe in.
Secondly, how would you feel if a giant satanic pentegram was erected instead of the cross, or instead of a "god loves you" poster in your local city hall, how would you feel if it was a large poster reminding people that "satanism is awesome." or what-have-you?
But allow me to pose a similar question back to you: Would you be as offended by a Satanic reference as you are a God reference?
It directly offends a particular faith and all faiths (and non faiths) are protected by the United States. (so yes, this would be the case of an atheist protecting a christian)
and it's offensive because that shows that the government in this scenario is endorsing satanism, one religion, and whether I believe in it or not, someone out there does and for the amount of people who do there is an equal or greater amount of people who not only believe in it, but fear it, find it hurtful etc etc etc.
I would feel the same if it were satanism, hinduism, paganism, etc etc etc being endorsed by a government body. It just simply is not right, regardless of who is being inflicted.
God is most often conceived of as the supernatural creator and overseer of the universe. Theologians have ascribed a variety of attributes to the many different conceptions of God. The most common among these include omniscience (infinite knowledge), omnipotence (unlimited power), omnipresence (present everywhere), omnibenevolence (perfect goodness), divine simplicity, and eternal and necessary existence.
God has also been conceived as being incorporeal (immaterial), a personal being, the source of all moral obligation, and the "greatest conceivable existent". These attributes were all supported to varying degrees by the early Jewish, Christian and Muslim theologian philosophers, including Maimonides, Augustine of Hippo, and Al-Ghazali"
Source: Wikipedia
I think that should cover the Muslim population as well as the Christian and Jewish population along with Hindu, Buddist, Sikhism, Juche, Baha'i, Shinto, Cao Dai, Zoroastrianism, Tenrikyo, Rastafarian and yes even Scientology. God IS NOT exclusively Christian!!!
Please remember that America was founded on the premise of "freedom from religious persecution."
"Many of the British North American colonies that eventually formed the United States of America were settled in the seventeenth century by men and women, who, in the face of European persecution, refused to compromise passionately held religious convictions and fled Europe. The New England colonies, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland were conceived and established "as plantations of religion." Some settlers who arrived in these areas came for secular motives--"to catch fish" as one New Englander put it--but the great majority left Europe to worship God in the way they believed to be correct. They enthusiastically supported the efforts of their leaders to create "a city on a hill" or a "holy experiment," whose success would prove that God's plan for his churches could be successfully realized in the American wilderness. Even colonies like Virginia, which were planned as commercial ventures, were led by entrepreneurs who considered themselves "militant Protestants" and who worked diligently to promote the prosperity of the church."
Source: Religion and the Founding of the American Republic
As for Atheists/Agnostics...the smallest percentage of population in the world of Atheists/Agnostics is in the USA (3-9%), the largest percent of population is Vietnam (81%)/Sweden (46-85%).
So I might suggest that if as little as 3% of the US population DOES NOT like how we do things here...there are many alternative countries who might be better suited.
"In God We Trust."
So I might suggest that if as little as 3% of the US population DOES NOT like how we do things here...there are many alternative countries who might be better suited.
I honestly expected better of you than a sentiment of this type.
I'm glad that I can keep surprising you after ALL that we have been through...lol!
Scott, I am so tired of having to be politically correct with regard to others who blatantly attack my faith, my beliefs, my values and yet I am supposed to play all nicey-nice.
"GOD" is a generic term used to be "inclusive" of all religious beliefs NOT soley Christianity. Christianity is being singled out because it plays into the "far-right" rhetoric so apparent here on Gather from those on the far-left. "Right-wingers are Christians (false assumption) - thus Christians are idiots (larger false assumption)."
I am NO LONGER content to play along with this garbage...this country was founded on a beleif that there is something greater than you and me...a "Higher Being" - I DO NOT care if that "Higher Being" is male, female, element, matter, etc. But for me and others to have to walk on egg shells so as to NOT offend a minority of perhaps as litttle as 3% of the US population is in my opinion a total waste of time and effort.
I am not in favor of ALL of our laws, our currency, our "Pledge of Allegiance", our federal and state buildings, etc. having to change to satisfy a few. I'm a blond haired, blue eyed, fair-skinned, left handed Irishman...I'm a minority!!! I DO NOT walk around complaining about all the doors on federal and state buildings being hinged for right handed people. I do not complain that most posters hanging in court house buildings depict other males with hazel eyes and brown hair and how offended I find that and that I should be able to put up poster that I like..
GROW UP!!! You can believe whatever you wish...but PLEASE alllow the rest of us the same privledge to do the same. This is still America where majority rules...and the vast majority of Americans have some degree of religious belief...GET OVER IT!!!!!!!
"One Nation Under God (encompassing ALL religious deity)!!!!"
Your logic fails miserably.
The First Amendment says: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof>>
It seems that anti religious people act like the second half of the statement doesn't exist. Also, since "God" is worshipped by multiple religions the poster certainly doesn't try to establish a federal religion. And by the way, the Constitution doesn't ban states from establishing their own state religion.