The Public Opinion Soapbox

Coppy · Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 2413 Location: Chambersburg

Has anyone noticed that there is a new billboard eastbound on Route 30 just before Chambersburg that says something to the effect of "Imagine No Religion" (or something like that). It seems to be sponsored by a freedom from religion organization and I was wondering what everyone thinks considering how many Christian-oriented billboards there are in the county.

Torgo · Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 8:33 pm Post subject:

You mean the one at U.S. 30 and Warm Spring Road? By the Sunnyway? That's been there for weeks, like mid-December.

Unless they put up another...

Coppy · Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 2413 Location: Chambersburg

I just noticed it; I don't go that way very often.

koozie · Joined: 27 Oct 2007 Posts: 123

There was an article in the PO about it and lots of comments too. Some were rather interesting.

Coppy · Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 2413 Location: Chambersburg

I'm bummed I missed that; I was probably away when it went up if it was in early/mid December.

People pretty pissed about it?

koozie · Joined: 27 Oct 2007 Posts: 123

http://www.publicopiniononline.com//ci_7706113
This is the site if you want to read the article. The comments were a mixture. Some stated the obvious freedom of speech, others saying it was an abomination for it to have been put up at that time of year. It was interesting reading. And, yes it was during mid December, probably why you missed it.

Coppy · Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 2413 Location: Chambersburg

The billboard has been taken down and replaced with one that now reads, in huge, obnoxious lettering:

"IN GOD WE TRUST."

Below this is the Keggeries logo. Below this is a small sentence that is difficult to read when driving by, but it says something to the effect of "The previous billboard did not reflect our morals and values, blah, blah, thank you."

I don't know, this makes me a little upset. Not because of what either billboard said or has said, but suggesting that maybe this company's "values" don't include freedom of speech or the United States constitution. Are they suggestion that people who don't believe in God are immoral? Or did they simply cave to public pressure as an advertising company to prove that they are a Christian organization who would never allow such blaspheme. This despite a very tasteful article in the newspaper and some great comments from a local church leader explaining that this is a free country and whether or not people believe in the message, those who paid to display have every right to do so.

I realize that Keggeries isn't breaking any laws or violating the constitution by deciding what can or cannot go on their billboards, but I do think that removing a billboard because of "morals and values" is at the very least a violation of free speech on principle alone.

Torgo · Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 2:57 pm Post subject:

I doubt they removed it. More likely FFRF bought a fixed amount of time, and that period elapsed. I hear the old billboard is now somewhere on U.S. 11 south of town.

What bothers me about this story is the company's claim it was "deceived" into erecting the message in the first place. Don't they vet what they put up? And if they were truly deceived, why wouldn't they claim breach of contract and remove the offending message, if they objected so much?
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Coppy · Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 2413 Location: Chambersburg

Interesting...

Bobo · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 173 Location: Chambersburg

Yeah Coppy, I too was bothered by the fact that Kegerreis put up its own message. In God We Trust. How original. How predictable. How sad.

I hate the fact that in this country, EVERYONE seems to assume not only that everyone around them believes in God, but also that they are a Christian. They do this without any thought whatsoever about where that kind of thinking can lead, and they have absolutely no sensitivity as to the fact that there might be other views than their own.

Is it just me, or are Americans extremely stupid?
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The sun, the moon and the stars would have disappeared long ago... had they happened to be within the reach of predatory human hands. ~Havelock Ellis, The Dance of Life, 1923

.45chel · Joined: 26 Oct 2007 Posts: 2859 Location: Chambersburg

A little off-topic:

I was in a store the other day and in the corny lighting section (you know the area, where they have lava lamps and glitter lights) they had a smiling buddha lamp where his belly was on of those charge balls (where you touch it and the 'lightning' moves has your hand does.)
I see things like that all the time, I'm sure ya'll do too, but this particular time it dawned on me, "How would Christians like it if somebody did that to Christ?" Turn his crucifixion into a lamp, push a nail to turn it on, put a spear in his side to turn it off.

And Yeah, I have a little Buddha figure, also a Ganesha and Kali figures, as well as, a wooden meditating yogi. I used to have a Buddy Christ too before I gave him away.
But somehow that stupid light seemed SO wrong. Mad

I consider myself spiritual, but not religious. Maybe I'm not even spiritual, who knows. I don't think you need to go to church to be a good person. And, yes, I often find myself frustrated with the hypocrisy and hatred expressed by self-professed Christians. (I struggle to remind myself they do not represent all Christians, but it is so hard sometimes, especially when they are never struck by lightning)
Anyway, consider that my attempt at full disclosure.

I just think its awfully strange that no one blinks an eye when tacky representations of other religions are marketed, but my Grandma gets mad at me for sending this card:

Inside said "I forgot your Birthday"

Oh and anyone who starts selling the crucifixion lamp owes me a cut, darnit.
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Coppy · Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 2413 Location: Chambersburg

You bring up an interesting point chel, and it also reminds me of a story I heard on This American Life a few weeks ago. It seems that the chamber where the Supreme Court sits, there are statues that line the walls depicting famous people throughout history. There's Napoleon, Confucius, John Marshall, Hammurabi and.... Mohammad? The Islamic prophet?

Of course, it's well known by now that any depiction of the prophet Mohammad is strictly forbidden under Islam. It was such a depiction in a Danish cartoon that caused many young Muslim men to riot in Europe a few years ago.

So how did an actual depiction of Mohammad end up in the US Supreme Court chamber? Well, that's a long story, but the long story short is that Muslims are upset about it. And it's just another example of American ignorance that further creates a cultural gap between us and nearly every other nation and ethnic group on Earth.

koozie · Joined: 27 Oct 2007 Posts: 123

I think the Muslims need to get over themselves. I'm sure that the statue is not meant to dishonor or disgrace the Muslim faith. It's probably to signify the many cultures and religions that are represented in America.

Bobo · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 173 Location: Chambersburg

Love the card, 'Chel! Laughing

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The sun, the moon and the stars would have disappeared long ago... had they happened to be within the reach of predatory human hands. ~Havelock Ellis, The Dance of Life, 1923

AnonyMouse · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 453