Today Councilors voted 13 - 7 to overturn the ruling that disallowed atheist ads on Ottawa buses. According to a report on the Ottawa Citizen Web site, "Bay Councillor Alex Cullen, chairman of council’s transit committee, said the right to express opinions is fundamental to a free society and a precious part of Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms."
Reportedly Cullen went on to say that just because an opinion makes people uncomfortable doesn't mean that it is okay to stop that opinion from being he(a)rd. He also mentioned the power of transit buses in terms of being effective tools for movements. He said "that city buses are not a trivial matter, since it was on buses that American black people gained civil rights in the 1960s."
According to the report, another Council member, Somerset's Diane Holmes, said that "it’s a good thing to have an open discourse about religion with diverse views, as long as those views do not express hatred."
The only person to openly express dissent was "Orléans Councillor Bob Monette, who said that council should show respect for the church and should never condone the placement of offensive ads on public property." Thank goodness not all people are as narrow-minded as Monette seems to be.
It was reported that a crowd of people wearing t-shirts with the atheist message, "There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life," on them sat quiet through the deliberations. They were pleased by the outcome, not surprisingly. One of those onlookers, Paul Bendus, said "Do we have the right to be non-religious? Council has voted that yes, we do."
Not all people see this as just a "godless" victory, they see it as a victory for religious people as well. "David Burton, director of the Humanist Association of Ottawa, said that the council decision isn’t just about the ads. He said the decision was a victory for people with all kinds of religious beliefs and faiths."
Cheers to the Ottawa citizens who support freedom of speech and to the Councilors who voted to allow the ads!
Comments
I love that this article includes several puns, one by way of typo:
"it is okay to stop that opinion from being herd".
&
"the power of transit buses in terms of being effective tools for movements"
So then wouldn't this be considered state-sponsored atheism?
And Mr. Bendus is a moron. What does having or not having your faith or lack thereof sponsored and promoted by the state have to do with your rights?
Jinx McHue, I believe to "sponsor" atheism, the state (or city, in this case), would actually have to take some action, rather than do what it did, which is agree to inaction.
If the council had voted to remove the non-atheist bus ads, or not charge money for atheist bus ads while charging for those with religious messages, or voted to attach little cookie tins to the atheist bus ads that are filled with gourmet jelly beans, then that would indeed be state-sponsored atheism.
Now the hard question. Are the busses sufficiently pleasant and efficient that atheists want to be associated with them?
Here's a sign that I'd like to see...
"Belief... the ILLUSION of knowledge."
everyone is entitled to their opinion/message and if they are willing to pay for it, then there is no legitimate reason why this cannot occur.
I am offended by ads using sex to sell, or even animals, but the secret is stop letting the little things bug you and get on with your life.
Duckphup
Here's a sign I like to see.
My greatest enemy "the illusion of knowledge"
A victory for free speech is great, but am I the only one who is has lost all interest in the whole "atheist bus" saga?
If Christians don't want atheists being aided with government aided space, then they shouldn't do the same.
Christians don't seem to understand that "Private" does not mean out of view. It merely means "Private sector" vs "government sector".
A privately owned billboard, TV stations, radio stations, websites, church marquees, private business, private stadiums, newspapers, magazines, books, ect ect ect....are all things a secular government should protect in being free speech. But Christians do not own a monopoly of government where all other citizens are mere guests.
BUT, the only reason atheists have jumped into the government issue, is because Christians started it by taking something that is there for all, and peeing on it like a lion marking it's territory. If theists don't want us going there, then they shouldn't either, considering all the non-government venues available to the public in the private sector.
yes Jason, you're the only one.
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