Here's an account of the Bill O'Reilly-fomented public square rumble between atheists and the religious believers in Washington state. Background fyi: A holiday Christmas tree, a nativity scene, and a Hanunkkah menorah adorn the capitol building in Olympia, Washington. The Freedom from Religion Foundation, Inc. got into the act by posting its own billboard at the capitol critical of religion.
Mr. O'Reilly took offense and reportedly urged his viewers to call the governor's office to complain. Apparently, he was offended by the content of the Freedom from Religion message.
Here's the problem with Mr. O'Reilly's outrage. If we are to allow religious displays and symbols in our government buildings, it's a all-or-nothing proposition under the First Amendment. You don't get to bar displays based upon the content of the message. According to the U.S. Supreme Court, that includes the content of non-believers' messages.
Mr. O'Reilly famously asserts that there is some sort of war on Christmas. To the contrary, some would see this as the simple fact that we live in a pluralistic country. More important, if Mr. O'Reilly has his way, then we must either throw out all religious displays in public areas, or make a mockery of the First Amendment. In the end, Mr. O'Reilly and his followers need to acknowledge that our founders created the First Amendment to protect speech. That includes speech that we don't like.
Comments
Bill O'Reilly is an American Fascist.
The fact that he is allowed to dominate the airwaves with his fascist rhetoric is a tribute to the First Amendment right to freedom of speech and expression. Ditto such fascist Americans like Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Michael Savage, Michael Reagan, etc. American Fascism is on the rise, and the Bush administration, the main stream media and your religious institutions are all complicit in this troubling phenomena. Yet Americans continue to harrass organizations such as the Freedom From Religion Foundation, as if THEY were a problem in America.
Thanks for the comment. But I have to take issue with one thing. The First Amendment is about government action. It rarely applies in a private setting. Unless the government tries to prohibit, punish or penalize speech, it doesn't apply to those who blow hard on the cable or radio.
Strictly speaking, I don't think Mr. O'Reilly et al are fascists, though I can think of plenty of choice adjectives that are none-too-flattering. Though I'm a quasi religious person, I think it's totally outrageous that FFRF and other similar entities get hammered the way they do. To the contrary, I think they're doing great and important work, even when and if I disagree with them.
David
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