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Earlier this week, the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART) removed atheist ads from its buses within days of them going up. Though it was said they were pulled because they were never approved, the group that put the ads up, Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers (IAF), maintains that the ads were approved.
There is speculation that the ads were pulled because DART received complaints following the ads' appearances on buses. Even the governor has chimed in on the issue referring to the ads as "disturbing" and "offensive."
Now, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has gotten involved, questioning the true motivation behind the ads being pulled. It has been reported that they are investigating the legality of Dart's actions. They have requested a letter from DART explaining its actions as well as copies of internal communications concerning the ads.
According to the IAF's Web site, the group is dismayed by this turn of events. A post reads, "Obviously this is a very upsetting turn of events. Our experiences dealing with the people at DART were very positive until now. We have a signed contract and they printed the signs for us." Reportedly, the contract was signed on May 27th.
IAF was made aware of there being a problem only after the ads had been pulled. They said, "The latest news is because of an 'overwhelming' number of phone calls DART has pulled our ads from their buses. We were informed of this [on the 4th]."
Supposedly, the ads did not receive the "final approval" they needed from the general manager of DART, Brad Miller, and its commission chairwoman, Angela Connolly. It is understandable that ads (once they are produced) would require final approval before being placed, but, that stage of approval is typically for quality not content.
It would be ridiculous for any company, including DART, to spend the money to produce ads before getting content approval. The story is a bit hard to swallow. Still, Miller and Connolly maintain that the ads did not receive approval to be run on Des Moines area buses.
Comments
This is why I LOVE the ACLU.
I saw a billboard the other day that said, "Wearing a red coat? You are not alone." I was not wearing a red coat, so I was "disturbed" and "offended."
Religious bullies at it again.
And you should have been, Reginald! I, an adamant green coat wearer, am offended that people would ever think of wearing a different colored coat. And displaying that in a public place? Highly disturbing.
This Hits Home I'm an Atheist and I live in Iowa I want the Ad's Back and I want Believers Accept Non-Believers like Myself what we can't Condemn God what kind of Country is this where People Have to Believe in God that's Brian-washing Man.
Bring the Ad Back
DART's reaction made me visualize the bus ad as being that of a painting of a dying, heavily bleeding, scrawny figured man nailed to a wooden crucifix, palms stretched with his mouth gaping as he screamed in agony while a spear was forced through his skin, into his rib cage and the caption read something along the lines of: "Your jesus is so dead and we're so glad." The ad was nothing close to that. They need to grow up!
The ads are offensive to my religion. They should be taken down.
Notice the signs don't say "Allah". The group is anti-Jesus and a hate group. And cowardly. They have no problem with religion, just Jesus. There is power in His name and they prove it with their all out war against Him.
It's funny how some Christians think they have a monopoly on God - as evidenced by the "anon" poster. Allah is just God in Arabic. How arrogant to suggest that the word "God" belongs only to you!
Besides, even if they suggest that "God" only means the Christian version of God then why talk about Jesus? The God story of Abraham belongs to Christians, Jews, and Muslims.
It's bigoted stuff like this "anon" says that makes these ads a good thing. "Anon" would probably call Allah a moon God, too, without any idea he was being insulting.
Christian-centric thinking is so ingrained that some feel it's OK to hate anything not Christian.
The sign is just saying - "Hey, you, guy that doesn't believe in God - you are not the only atheist in existence and not everyone wants you dead!"
It's funny how some Christians think they have a monopoly on God - as evidenced by the "anon" poster. Allah is just God in Arabic. How arrogant to suggest that the word "God" belongs only to you!
Besides, even if they suggest that "God" only means the Christian version of God then why talk about Jesus? The God story of Abraham belongs to Christians, Jews, and Muslims.
It's bigoted stuff like this "anon" says that makes these ads a good thing. "Anon" would probably call Allah a moon God, too, without any idea he was being insulting.
Christian-centric thinking is so ingrained that some feel it's OK to hate anything not Christian.
The sign is just saying - "Hey, you, guy that doesn't believe in God - you are not the only atheist in existence and not everyone wants you dead!"
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