Yes Virginia . . . .

It is starting to look like the holidays in downtown – the store window displays have mannequins in mittens, scarves, holiday dresses, ornaments hanging from the ceiling. They have started putting the lights up in the trees along the streets. Santa’s House has gone up outside Nordstrom’s. This morning as I was driving in to work I pulled up next to a Metro bus and saw out of the corner of my eye what looked like Santa. Wow – even Metro is getting in to the holiday spirit. I turned my head to read what is said – The picture was of Santa on top of a roof next to the chimney and it read Yes Virginia, . . . . . There is no GOD! In the corner was a logo which read Seattle Atheists’ Group.


WTH!!!! What is it about these people that they feel the need to come out and be unpleasant during the holiday season. Last year it was posting a sign next to the Christmas Tree and the Menorah at the State Capitol Building. (See Picture) They don’t post signs or pay for bus advertising during any other part of the year.



I’m all for freedom of speech and the Seattle Atheists’’ right to post whatever they want. You know darn well that if another group wanted to buy bus advertising that read – Illegal Immigrants Should Be Sent Packing, or if the KKK wanted to advertise their group by showing a black man hanging from a tree – There is no way that King County Metro would allow it. I’m not saying that these other signs should be posted – I just believe that there would be a double standard towards who would be allowed to buy advertising spots.


When this group was asked about this bus campaign they responded by stating they just wanted to get the word out to people who may not believe in God that there is a group of likeminded people they can get together with. If that is their purpose then why don’t they buy advertisements during any other time of year?


It just frustrates me that these types come out of the woodwork during a time when we should be showing goodwill toward our neighbors and friends. Isn’t that just a human belief and not just a Christian belief – The Freedom From Religion Foundation (Seattle Atheists’) says they want to live in a world where they don’t have to be around religion. Do the Atheists’ not believe in tolerance of others beliefs and/or celebrations?


The money that they spent on this advertising campaign certainly could have been put to better use such as helping out the homeless – How about an Atheist Soup Kitchen for those people who need help but are not religious. My friend Kevin called Metro to find out how much an advertising campaign would cost - Exterior ads range from $450 to $600 per bus per 4 weeks. Interiors start at about $15. So if they put their signs on 20 buses to run through Christmas (8 weeks) the cost would be $18K to $24K. Certainly could help out a lot of people and get the word out about their group to other likeminded people in a positive way.



Thoughts?


De