Holiday Freedom of Expression

[Rathpig]

A current event from the Hartford Courant:

In Rockville's Central Park, a local group, the Connecticut Valley Atheists , have posted what became a controversial sign on a small public billboard. Using a line that recalls the John Lennon song "Imagine" , the group posted an image of the New York City landmark World Trade Towers prior to September 11, 2001 and the caption: "Imagine No Religion". They applied for and received permission for the use of public space as would any organization, but it seems that local religious groups have taken offense at this freedom of expression.

Do all citizens have a right to use public space to display their ideology, or is this merely the purview of the dominate groups?

And in a larger philosophical sense, why are Christian groups offended by what seems to be a direct accusation on Islam?

[MikeH]

Do all citizens have a right to use public space to display their ideology, or is this merely the purview of the dominate groups?

All citizens have the right to use public space to display ideology, especially if they paid for the ad space. The obvious exception would be if the advertisement was meant to incite violence against others.

And in a larger philosophical sense, why are Christian groups offended by what seems to be a direct accusation on Islam?

Because Christians are commonly lumped in with militant Islam and terrorist groups. I can see see how Christians would be offended. What if the billboard pictured Pol Pot and read "Imagine no Atheism?"

[Beto]

And in a larger philosophical sense, why are Christian groups offended by what seems to be a direct accusation on Islam?

Because Christians are commonly lumped in with militant Islam and terrorist groups. I can see see how Christians would be offended. What if the billboard pictured Pol Pot and read "Imagine no Atheism?"

Pol Pot is a very bad example. Guess what kind of school he attended when he was a boy. We can only wonder what influence a different school might have had. Reminds me of Stalin's upbringing as well...

[Beto]

And in a larger philosophical sense, why are Christian groups offended by what seems to be a direct accusation on Islam?

Because Christians are commonly lumped in with militant Islam and terrorist groups. I can see see how Christians would be offended. What if the billboard pictured Pol Pot and read "Imagine no Atheism?"

Pol Pot is a very bad example. Guess what kind of school he attended when he was a boy. We can only wonder what influence a different school might have had. Reminds me of Stalin's upbringing as well...

Even Hitler. They can all stand beside an "Imagine no Religion" billboard.

[Rathpig]

And in a larger philosophical sense, why are Christian groups offended by what seems to be a direct accusation on Islam?

Because Christians are commonly lumped in with militant Islam and terrorist groups. I can see see how Christians would be offended. What if the billboard pictured Pol Pot and read "Imagine no Atheism?"

I think Beto answered this laughable strawman, but the bigger issue still hasn't been addressed. Christians are not "commonly lumped in" with militant Islam in the sense that is being demonstrated here. Most, if not all, of the lumping in occurs from a historical perspective which is accurate and valid.

Why this doesn't apply to socialist dictators, who may have also been atheists, is the same reason it doesn't apply to Christians who happen to be dictators but acted outside their religion. September 11 was, if the government story is accurate, only an act of religion. Pol Pot, Stalin or any other example along these lines have never been shown to have acted because of atheism. Atheism can not be shown to be a doctrine that even addresses a reason to murder.

On the other hand, religion, especially Abrahamic religion, preaches murder for the infidel and heretic. This murder is central to it's doctrine. Many argue that these religions also teach the opposite, but that is merely another unresolved contradiction.