The Lincoln Tunnel in NJ is the latest center of a controversy. An atheist billboard was installed there last week. The American Atheist Alliance has sponsored this billboard, also as several others. The freedom of speech controversy around this billboard is hot.
Put up billboard for Atheist ‘celebrates’ Christmas
Next to the Lincoln Tunnel is where the billboard is. The American Atheists support it. There are three men traveling towards a star on camels making it look like a "standard" Christmas-themed billboard. The text on the atheist billboard, however, makes it very different. ”You KNOW it’s a Myth. This Season, Celebrate REASON!” is what the board claims. The American Atheists web address, atheists.org, is at the bottom of the billboard.
Atheist billboard dispute
Though this is one of the first atheist “Christmas” billboards by the Lincoln Tunnel, it’s not the 1st billboard backed by the American Atheists. All the other billboards have been vandalized in North Carolina, Sacramento, Idaho and Detroit. There was a billboard relocated in Cincinnati at one point. It had to be moved after threats to life and property came to the owner of the property where it was located. American Atheists and associated groups use billboards to recruit and get out data.
How the 1st Amendment applies to the atheist billboards
First Amendment rights have made it okay for the Atheist billboards to be there. This much is clear. Many religious groups have expressed frustration and anger with the atheist billboards, however. Some Christian conservative commentators have called these billboards “un-American.”. This only illustrates, though, the general misunderstanding of separation of church and state. Within the United States of America constitution, it states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion … or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” It is just assumed that "separation of church and state" happens even though it wasn't actually in there. This continues to be pointed out by several politicians. So, as much as some may dislike the atheist! billboards, they have as much of a right to be there as any other Christmas billboard.
Citations
CNN
ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-521921?npt=NP1
Atheist.org
atheists.org/press_releases/COLUMNIST_AT_CONSERVATIVE_WEB_SITE_DEFENDS_VANDALISM_OF_ATHEIST_BILLBOARD
KHQ
khq.com/global/story.asp?s=11355159
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