This came across the local paper today:
Atheists Sue Lackawanna County Transit System Over Refusal to Run Ad
The cliff-notes version:
- Scranton, PA (home of the US version of The Office!) is the 6th-biggest city in PA, with a population of about 75,000.
- Lackawanna County, where Scranton is located, has a public transit service that has run Christian (and even, according to the lawsuit, fringy, Holocaust-denial-type religious) ads on the sides of its busses.
- The local Freethinkers Group, led by a fellow named Justin Vacula (more on this in a bit), wanted to run ads on the sides of the buses too, but all ads including the word "atheist" were turned down because 1) they could offend the Transit Authority's riders and 2) they could hurt the Transit Authority's business.
- About 2 years ago, the Transit Authority decided, rather than run the "atheist ads," to forbid all "religious advertising."
I know this is nothing new, but the fact that it's happening in my back yard (I live in Wilkes-Barre, in Luzerne County, which is adjacent to Lackawanna; indeed, Scranton-Wilkes-Barre is sort of one big metro area) is interesting.
Now, this Justin Vacula fellow seems to be the self-appointed leader of the Freethought Group or whatnot around here. From what I can gather about him via google and such, he's very active in trying to ensure that non- (and anti-) religious viewpoints are given proper treatment. Also, from what I can gather, he's pretty full of himself, misogynistic, and just an all-around-not-nice person. Meh, I've never met the guy or really read any of his stuff, so I can't really comment, but I get a negative impression of him from writings within the atheist blogosphere.
At any rate... the ridiculous, inane comments on the article are worth a read. There are actually a couple people representing the pro-advertisement position quite effectively, I think, but there's also the assortment of crazies one is always wont to find commenting on such a piece.
Atheists Sue Lackawanna County Transit System Over Refusal to Run Ad
The cliff-notes version:
- Scranton, PA (home of the US version of The Office!) is the 6th-biggest city in PA, with a population of about 75,000.
- Lackawanna County, where Scranton is located, has a public transit service that has run Christian (and even, according to the lawsuit, fringy, Holocaust-denial-type religious) ads on the sides of its busses.
- The local Freethinkers Group, led by a fellow named Justin Vacula (more on this in a bit), wanted to run ads on the sides of the buses too, but all ads including the word "atheist" were turned down because 1) they could offend the Transit Authority's riders and 2) they could hurt the Transit Authority's business.
- About 2 years ago, the Transit Authority decided, rather than run the "atheist ads," to forbid all "religious advertising."
I know this is nothing new, but the fact that it's happening in my back yard (I live in Wilkes-Barre, in Luzerne County, which is adjacent to Lackawanna; indeed, Scranton-Wilkes-Barre is sort of one big metro area) is interesting.
Now, this Justin Vacula fellow seems to be the self-appointed leader of the Freethought Group or whatnot around here. From what I can gather about him via google and such, he's very active in trying to ensure that non- (and anti-) religious viewpoints are given proper treatment. Also, from what I can gather, he's pretty full of himself, misogynistic, and just an all-around-not-nice person. Meh, I've never met the guy or really read any of his stuff, so I can't really comment, but I get a negative impression of him from writings within the atheist blogosphere.
At any rate... the ridiculous, inane comments on the article are worth a read. There are actually a couple people representing the pro-advertisement position quite effectively, I think, but there's also the assortment of crazies one is always wont to find commenting on such a piece.
How will we know, when the morning comes, we are still human? - 2D
Don't worry, my friend. If this be the end, then so shall it be.
Don't worry, my friend. If this be the end, then so shall it be.
