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Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers (IAF) is in the news again. Earlier this month it got national attention when its ads were pulled from Des Moines area buses within days of them having gone up. The Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART) claimed that the ads were put on the buses accidentally - they were reportedly never approved. However, it was suspected that the real reason they were pulled was that DART had received complaints about them. Even the governor chimed in about his dislike for the ads.
The whole controversy caught the attention of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). They reportedly had questioned the legality of DART's action and requested a letter from DART explaining its actions as well as copies of internal communications concerning the ads.
Soon after the ads were pulled, a meeting took place with DART and IAF representatives in attendance. The meeting led to DART's decision to put the ads back up.
IAF got more publicity than it bargained for because of the media attention it got when the ads were pulled. In fact, their membership reportedly grew substantially following the hubbub. And just when it was thought that the controversy would die down, IAF is at the heart of a new story.
Apparently, according to a report, a driver for DART refused to drive a bus that had the IAF ad on the side of it. It happened during a shift change. The bus that he was supposed to drive had passengers on it at the time. DART was able to get another driver on the scene quickly enough so that passengers only had to wait about 5 minutes before their commute resumed. The driver is facing disciplinary actions.
It was also stated, in the same report, that DART said that "...a handful of fairgoers... refused to board a state fair shuttle bus because of the ads."
Comments
I am glad that the driver is facing disciplinary action. It is not his place, as an employee, to critique the ads on the buses. His company has people who decide what is appropriate. Don't get me wrong, everyone has the right to have their opinion heard, but with civil disobedience comes consequences. I would also be happy for disciplinary action over a driver leaving passengers stranded over a religious message as well.
@Rex: "...with civil disobedience comes consequences."
Without irony, amen. I have respect for people who are involved in civil disobedience - but only the ones that actually stand up and face the consequences for their actions to show how ridiculous bad/offensive laws are.
Personally, I'd agree - the bus driver is there to drive a bus. He's not there to worry about the commentary or the like. And if he does, then he has to be willing to pay the fine or whatever disciplinary actions for violating the terms of his job.
My bet, though, is you'll never see an atheist bus driver refuse to do their job when the bus has a church advertisement on the site - but if they do, they'd better be willing to take the consequences like a grown up.
Very Sad. The amount of attention this has got is completely out of proportion to the messages being said.
dangeroustalk.net/billboard-wars.html
I found this link interesting, it shows the two different styles of adverts on billboards. One side Christian, one side Atheist...Spot the subtle difference.
I can relate to the publicity and growth for sure. We experienced a similar effect here in Ponca City, Ok when our restaurant faced a potential boycott over Freethinkers Meetings. We created quite a buzz and saw membership jump from 15 to 80 in a 25,000 resident town.
The crazy thing about this whole issue is that the atheist bus ads and billboards are just so INOFFENSIVE. It's apparently an affront to even remind people that non-believers exist.
Sorry, it's our world too. Get used to it, because there's just going to be more. At least we're not saying that you deserve to burn for eternity because you don't believe what we do.
I agree the driver should be disciplined. He did refuse to do his job. Maybe because DART in a dismissive manner towards atheists, he thought he could too. Do you think they're only saying they'll discipline him?
And christians keep insisting no one ever discriminates against atheists.
Thanks Trina for keeping us in the loop.
Should say "Dart acted in a dismissive manner". Oops.
Someone should call the WHAAAAAAAAAmbulance for those "fair"goers to ride.
the driver should be disciplined. he is paid to drive a bus...period. he is NOT paid to decide the advertising campaigns, nor stage personal protests on the company/state's dime/time.
So if it had said Buddhist? You are not alone, would anyone, let alone the driver, have complained? Afterall Buddhism does not require belief in a god or gods.
Boo hoo. Christians have been putting up their ads everywhere for centuries, often with threats of hell and claims that people who don't believe are "fools" or worse. Now there are even billboards hinting that if you don't believe you'll become a serial killer (Answers in Genesis). Yet these silly people get their panties in a wad because of an ad that simply acknowledges atheists exist and provides information for them to contact one another?
Let the offended bus riders walk if they're that weak of faith, and the bus driver should be harshly disciplined for his childish insubordination.
This is fantastic! More free publicity. This has worked soooo much better than anyone could have imagined!
I am sure the "Law of Unintended Consequences" is working over time, here!
BOYCOTT, NOW THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOOUT BRO.
I drink Pepsi, so I refuse to drive a bus with Coca-Cola ads on it.
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