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UPDATED
The Iowa Atheist and Freethinkers (IAF) group met today with the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART) to discuss the above ad that was pulled from Des Moines buses just days after they went up. DART pulled the ads, supposedly, because they were never approved in the first place. However, the ads somehow were produced and placed on buses - even without approval.
The pulling of the ads has raised suspicion that the real reason they were pulled was because the transit authority received complaints about them. This, of course, caught the attention of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
Today DART representatives met with representatives of IAF to discuss where to go from here. DART proposed that IAF alter their ad to be better suited for... (I am not quite sure what they want them better suited for) - Christian public consumption maybe? Who knows.
Although IAF appreciated that DART offered them a formal apology, the ACLU feels that IAF should not have to change its ad. Ben Stone of the ACLU said, according to one report, "'There doesn't need to be a different message. They have the right to express their original message and there's no reason they shouldn't be able to.'" Further, IAF wants to retain the original integrity of their ad and doesn't want to change it.
The meeting today ended without a resolution. DART reps said they would get back with IAF on Monday.
UPDATE: Shortly after I posted the above story, it was reported that DART had contacted IAF with a decision about the ads. According to the report, the ads will go back up and DART said in an e-mail:
By honoring the freedoms protected through our shared civil liberties, DART, like other businesses that accept advertising, will be in the position of displaying messages and images that may be controversial or uncomfortable to some, but legal and protected by civil rights.
Further, they said:
The Des Moines region, and the state of Iowa is developing a positive reputation as a place that accepts diversity, new ideas and is civil in its discourse of even the most controversial of topics — for example same sex marriages. ... It is altogether appropriate for our policies to keep pace with this progress.
Meanwhile, IAF wrote a letter to the governor of Iowa, Chet Culver, addressing his expressed dislike for the ad. In the letter they said:
Governor Culver, the members of IAF are your constituents just as much as any Iowa member of a Christian church or any other religious group. We are also citizens of this state and this country and, therefore, entitled to the same constitutional rights to free speech no matter what religion we belong or don’t belong to.
As our highest-ranking elected official, you don’t have to agree with all your constituents or like the message that we chose to sponsor. However, we expect our governor to set an example of respect for diversity and tolerance of others’ beliefs and ideas in this state.
We are disappointed that you chose to take sides in a free speech issue, offended by your choice of words regarding our bus ads, and also frustrated that you ignored an opportunity as the senior representative of Iowans to ask your constituents to open a dialogue with each, instead we believe you chose to be divisive and deliberately offensive to nontheists and those who believe in free speech for all people.
They also invited the governor to their next meeting.
Comments
I expect there will be boycotts, unfortunately.
It's am absolutely beautiful ad. There is nothing provocative or controversial. It's not saying to become and atheist. It's saying there are atheists. Everyone knows there are atheists. There might as well be an ad saying the sky is blue and pointing to the weather.com website.
I know if I lived in Iowa I would be thrilled to see such an ad.
AS a Brit living in Manchester (United!) can I say how heart - warming it is to read of the American struggle for atheism and rational thought! If the latest report on the Des Moines buses ad proves to be true, then the bus company is also to be congratulated - it is not the easiest thing in the world to (publicly) do an 'about turn.' I hope the governor turns up to the next meeting of the IAF.
Best wishes from us rationalists here in the UK...keep up the rational struggle....!
David Milne
There is a click-thru ad, directly above the comments section. It is probably from a religious organization... on this occasion, on my machine, it is titled "Is There a god?" If you encounter such a religious ad, please do them the favor of clicking on it... as many times as you have the patience for. They get to pay for each click.
(At the instant that I clicked on the 'SEND' button for my preceding post, I noticed that the character count said "666 characters left." I love coincidences like that.)
They should have pointed out to the Governor that 15% of the population of Iowa are non-believers. That is a lot of votes. Also, I have an article dealing with a comparison of atheist billboards and Christian billboards. I think that is a strong strategy for Iowa Atheists to use.
DuckPhup - You Rule!
I can not think of a better scenario.
DMART looks doubly stupid - first banning the ads, then restoring them! - and all that wonderful publicity.
The IAF ought to be very thankful!
Maybe next time, there won't be a "next time" - but I suspect the lesson will not be learned anytime soon.
It just amazes me that anyone could be offended by this ad, it's the least offensive way to go. It's just a note to non-believers that there are other people out there like them. It's not telling anyone to act or think a certain way.
Glad to hear it's being restored.
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