Some atheists are not content to believe what they choose.
They're not satisfied with exercising their freedom not to worship God.
They demand that others be prohibited from exercising their right to worship. They want references to God be completely stripped from the public square.
They refuse to tolerate others' free exercise of religion.
Atheist groups are so intolerant that they are making an issue out of a Brooklyn street named in honor of seven firefighter heroes who died on 9/11, "Seven in Heaven Way."
To honor seven dead 9-11 firefighters, a portion of Richards Street has been ceremonially renamed “Seven in Heaven Way” — prompting tributes to the heroes and complaints from critics who say that the government should not be in the business of advancing one religion’s notion of the afterlife.
“It’s improper for the city to endorse the view that heaven exists,” said David Silverman of American Atheists. “It links Christianity and heroism.”
Local atheists also insisted that public signs should be non-sectarian. “It falls under the umbrella of Church and state,” added Ken Bronstein of NYC Atheists.
The new street sign — which city officials hung last Saturday at Seabring Street — honors seven firemen assigned to Engine 202 and Ladder 101, who were killed after at the Twin Towers.
Teary-eyed widows, dozens of uniform-clad firemen and civic leaders paid respects outside the firehouse at the intersection, explaining the men were killed while pulling victims from burning rubble.
“They are heroes and should be rewarded in a place like heaven,” said Tom Miskel of Community Board 6, which unanimously supported the name change in December 2009.
“Almost every religion has some form of heaven,” he added. “It’s not just specific to Christianity.”
The “Seven in Heaven” firemen — Joseph Gullickson, Brian Cannizzaro, Salvatore Calabro, Thomas Kennedy, Patrick Byrne, Joseph Maffeo, and Terence McShane — were among the first firefighters called to the towers, making it there before the second airplane hit.
“They gave up everything to help — and that’s what sets them apart,” said Ralph Gullickson, Joseph’s brother.
...First Amendment caselaw suggests that government must allow both religious and non-religious speech when it opens a forum for expression — provided it’s clear that religious references are attributed to the individuals making the expression, not the government.
That's not the way atheists see it.
From the Heritage Foundation:
New York City Atheists’ president Kenneth Bronstein told reporters, “There should be no signage or displays of religious nature in the public domain,” adding that it was “insulting” to use the word heaven in the street sign. “We’ve concluded as atheists there is no heaven and there’s no hell,” Bronstein explained.
As common sense and U.S courts have pointed out, however, merely feeling insulted does not a constitutional argument make.
...As for the sign constituting a government endorsement of religion, applying the same scrutiny to other publicly named places would necessitate renaming streets, towns, and cities across the country, a multitude of which have religious connotations.
Secularists’ insistence on eradicating any allusion to religion or religious beliefs from the public sphere distorts the foundational American idea of freedom of—not from—religion. Atheists’ argument in the Brooklyn sign situation, like the National Day of Prayer case and Pledge of Allegiance case, misunderstands the First Amendment’s intent to allow robust religious freedom in the public sphere, not hermetically seal it within the walls of churches, mosques and synagogues.
These people are so intolerant.
They've concluded that there is no heaven or hell.
Good for them.
Others have reached a different conclusion. Why don't atheists respect that?
They are attempting to infringe on the right of individuals to exercise their religious beliefs, as well as the right to freely express their beliefs.
Is that simple street sign really so offensive to the atheists that they can't bear to live with it in place?
I find the atheists' dismissal of the First Amendment to be extremely offensive.
The atheists are offended.
So what?
It's not insulting to use the word "heaven" in a street sign. But if they are insulted, too bad.
They have to learn to embrace diversity and show religious tolerance instead of forcing their will on others.
I don't think they understand what it means to be an American.
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