Bill Donohue and Bill O'Reilly (is there a correlation between Right-Wing blowhards and the name 'Bill'? Just kidding, sorry Mr. Maher) have both called the FFRF (Freedom From Religion Foundation) sign 'Hate Speech'!
Hate speech. I though hate speech had to be against a person, not an idea. Can you have hate speech against an idea? Bill O'Reilly compared the sign to the KKK putting up an anti-black sign beside a monument to Martin Luther King. But the FFRF sign criticized religion, not religious people. The foundation of Freedom of Speech demands that ideas be criticized and discussed.
But, Bill Donohue inadvertently let the cat out of the bag! While O'Reilly was making non-sequitors, Donohue told us exactly what the problem was with the sign in the eyes of the religious: "...this is designed to neuter our message." Gotcha Donohue! The purpose of your nativity display is to promote the message of Christianity using a public forum. Strictly forbidden by your constitution! Put the display on the lawn of a church or believer's property but not in a secular, public arena. Microsoft and Coke can't do it and neither can you!
It just doesn't matter if the religious really, really beleive their message is so important. It applies only to the religious and not on public display. Secular messages are likely more important and apply to everyone.
The good news is that controveries like this can only benefit secularists and atheists. Ignorant people likely already side with the religious but the educated, informed and enlightened religious people will understand what is going on and begin to support 'our' side. This can only swell our ranks and truly allow our secular societies to emerge.
Donohue with Dan Barker:
Bill O'Reilly spouting emotional nonsense to keep the money coming in:
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