The Lincoln Tunnel in New Jersey is the latest center of a dispute. An atheist billboard was installed there a few days ago. This New Jersey billboard is just one of many sponsored by the American Atheist Alliance. The billboard has launched yet another volley of freedom-of-speech debates.
Atheist ‘celebrates’ Christmas time with billboard
Next to the Lincoln Tunnel is where the billboard is. The American Atheists support it. It seems to be a “standard” Christmas-themed billboard, with three men on camels traveling toward a star. It is very different though with the text on the billboard. The board speaks for itself. It claims, “You KNOW it’s a Myth. This Season, Celebrate REASON!” At the bottom of the billboard is the credit for the American Atheists and also the web address atheists.org .
Atheist billboard dispute
This is the first atheist "Christmas" billboard to be posted by the Lincoln Tunnel. The American Atheists have backed billboards before though. Previous billboards were vandalized though. These were in Detroit, Idaho, Sacramento and North Carolina. There was a billboard relocated in Cincinnati at one point. It needed to be moved after threats to life and property came to the proprietor of the property where it was located. American Atheists and associated groups use billboards to recruit and get out information.
First Amendment concerns regarding atheist billboards
The First Amendment right of the Atheist billboards to exist continues to be repeatedly established. The atheist billboards are making some religious groups upset though. Some Christian conservative commentators have called these billboards “un-American.”. The separation of church and state is misunderstood as this is clearly shown. Just read the United States of America constitution. It reads, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion … or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” As pointed out by several politicians, there is no phrase saying "separation of church and state" although it’s expected. Some might be entirely disgusted by the atheist billboard. They still have a right to put it up just like any person else posting a Christmas time billboard during the holidays.
Details from
CNN
ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-521921?npt=NP1
Atheist.org
atheists.org/press_releases/COLUMNIST_AT_CONSERVATIVE_WEB_SITE_DEFENDS_VANDALISM_OF_ATHEIST_BILLBOARD
KHQ
khq.com/global/story.asp?s=11355159
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