atheists going too far?

[loosechickens]

well, as long as you can accept that when many folks think of weed smokers, they see layabouts, slackers, ne'er do wells, and no motivation........ ;-)

I've always been of two minds regarding religions, all of 'em......they've certainly done a lot of good, and helped many people have a standard for living their lives, but most have been sources of a lot of discord, and even lots of wars and killing, so on balance, the jury is still out, as far as I am concerned. But that's just my personal opinion.

[loosechickens]

we probably have a lot more areas of agreement, Alan, than you realize........just as most other people. Both of us are very logical thinkers, try to have an open mind.....look to argue facts as opposed to emotion, but come from very different worldviews.....room for everybody.

Maybe we should both file these occasions in some word file on our computers so that when we are going at each other hammer and tongs we can remember these moments. ;-)

gotta go fix some dinner for my sweetie........then head to the pool for a swim....more tomorrow. g'nite.....

[Zigzagman]

well, as long as you can accept that when many folks think of weed smokers, they see layabouts, slackers, ne'er do wells, and no motivation........ ;-)

I resemble that remark!!

Peace

[Bronxboy]

Atheists, Muslims, and Satanists have the same right to be obnoxious and inflammatory as everybody else.

[creaker]

This is politcal correctness gone mad. I say these atheists are cruel and insensitive to victims of 9/ll and utterly arrogant. Comments?

A group of New York City atheists is demanding that the city remove a street sign honoring seven firefighters killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks because they say the sign violates the separation of church and state.
The street, “Seven in Heaven Way,” was officially dedicated last weekend in Brooklyn outside the firehouse where the firefighters once served. The ceremony was attended by dozens of firefighters, city leaders and widows of the fallen men.
“There should be no signage or displays of religious nature in the public domain,” said Ken Bronstein, president of New York City Atheists. “It’s really insulting to us.”
from Fox news

I wonder what the response would have been if the street sign had been somehow blatantly atheist - or pagan - or muslim- but honored the firefighters as well?

[jp1]

If we're going to go after taxpayer funded street signs that cross the boundary of church and state lets at least go after one that serves NO purpose other than promoting one particular religion. Back when i was still a taxpayer in Colorado it infuriated me to no end that they put a state funded sign on I-25 in Colorado Springs advising people of the Focus on the Family Visitor's Center. The sign referenced in the OP's post is completely different. As an atheist I personally have no problem with it. I may not agree with the predominant sentiment, but understand that there's much more in the overall sentiment than just espousing a particular religious belief, unlike my aforementioned visitor's center sign.

[Alan]

I wonder why they went after that particular sign when there's so many other bigger fish to fry? How about whole cities such as St. Paul, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Santa Fe, St. Charles, Bethlehem, or maybe the entire state of Louisiana where every county is a Parrish?

These guys just aren't ambitious enough.

[The Storyteller]

I wonder why all the other news outlets don't?

Because it's a non-issue.

Just like this entire thread.

[Alan]

Because it's a non-issue.

Just like this entire thread.

I disagree that it's a non-issue, as I suppose a group of atheists in New York would as well.

I would also disagree that the entire thread is a non-issue. This is just the sort of thread that helps put valid discussion points, with far-reaching implications, out for the community to examine/discuss/debate, you know, the things that discussion forums are designed to do.

Of course, no one is forced to participate if they don't think it's worthwhile.

[Gregg]

Sorry, but my mental image is of big fat pasty white people watching Fox News - stuffing their face, belching, and wearing a bib!

Peace

Just so you know Zig, I rarely wear a bib.

The only thought that popped into my mind regarding the street name "Seven in Heaven Way" is that it sounded, well...corny. I'm all for honoring fallen comrades, I just tend to lean more toward the scholarship fund method of doing it. I didn't know any of those firefighters so this may very well be exactly appropriate for them. Myself, I only use street signs for navigation so probably wouldn't think any more of the name than the aforementioned "corny". The atheists seem to have found a way to shed some light of publicity on their cause. Stirring the pot a little bit is an age old method for doing that. I don't know them either so can not comment on their level of sincerity, but they do have every right to oppose this if they want to.

It is interesting to see the reaction of some of our more liberal posters regarding Fox News. I think Zig was joking (a little bit anyway), but there definitely is a tendency to dismiss stories brought from Fox quicker than those from other sources like CBS or the New York Times or even something like Huffington. Just a case of reading the news through blue tinted glasses? They all spin everything, it's just a matter of which direction. Except NPR, of course. I'm an NPR junkie because, as everyone knows, anything they say is above reproach.