Comments on: Halifax says no to Atheist Bus Campaign slogan.

By: Trevor

Trevor — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 19:16:45 +0000

Darren MacDougall Says: “This is a tough one in the Maritimes. Being from here, I know that this would be a poor sell here, like it or lump it.”

A ‘poor sell’ means only that the campaign loses its money when the campaign runs. It is insufficient reason, and is contrary to the right to free thought written into the Canadian Charter, to discriminate against the ad, since free thought ans expression a federal right (where they do not, for example, promulgate a proven falsehood (to the level required by a court of law)). There’s no right to NOT have one’s feelings upset. These cases are known as ‘eggshell’ cases in the legal community (i.e. one feels one has to walk around these people as if one is on eggshells). Laws are not made for the eggshell cases, nor simply because someone or two or three take offence. The argument that “it’s offensive to me” is, at best, an unequal, biased, and, therefore, discriminatory position.

We’re not talking about exposed genitals, here. For this, see how a well known clothing chain, American Apparel, is upholding Canadian rights to free speech and artistic expression, at about the same time the Atheist Bus campaign started: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2009/01/13/bc-american-apparel-butt.html

This whole Halifax issue speaks to the simple question often noted by Richard Dawkins: “How comes religion gets a ‘free ride’?”

At least UCC and the Trinitarian Bible Society (interview with Ariane Sherine: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7875834.stm) are prepared to accept, even encourage, open debate of both sides of the issue, even if it means they might lose the debate. It’s necessart to hear both sides, otherwise one ends up in the Orwellian situation of “1984,” where debate is not possible because the words do not exist or cannot otherwise be heard (see the lack of debate of dissent in other countries). Again, see Voltaire.

By: Bus Wars « Saskatchewan Skeptics

Bus Wars « Saskatchewan Skeptics — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 05:40:04 +0000

[...] Canada, groups in Toronto, Calgary and Halifax have been planning similar campaigns. Unfortunately, the Halifax transit authority has deemed the [...]

By: Sarniaskeptic

Sarniaskeptic — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 20:45:56 +0000

The right to free speech isn’t trumped by some right to have your feelings protected. As Carlos Mencia says… “If your pussy hurts, get some vagisil.”

If they’re so strong in their faith, can’t they pray that god will make the ink invisible as soon as it is put on the buses? Surely that is easier than flooding the earth, wiping out entire civilizations, talking 600 year old men into building boats, rescuing one person (out of hundreds of thousands of people) from a tsunami or providing miracle cures to 1/5,000,000 followers.

By: Galen Thurber

Galen Thurber — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 20:34:03 +0000

I suggest we get someone to:
approach KISS to see if any advertising can be done at their Halifax concert,
through a banner on stage, or run across the stage with it

By: Devon

Devon — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 18:52:51 +0000

Josh, I agree, at the very least this is a tyranny of the majority.

They are no letting the adds run because it isn’t a popular view in their area. I assume that if their area was full of racists they would pull any adds the racists deemed against their views.

Like I said tyranny of the majority, they won’t let the minority voice their opinion.

By: Wisdom Hunter

Wisdom Hunter — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 17:29:16 +0000

You guys are upset because Halifax Metro Transit doesn’t want to run your ad – why wouldn’t you publish my comment yesterday? Is it just because I was coming from a theistic point of view? What about free speech? By and large I’ve found that humanists and atheists only favour free speech if you agree with them … sad isn’t it?

By: Darren MacDougall

Darren MacDougall — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 15:40:18 +0000

This is a tough one in the Maritimes. Being from here, I know that this would be a poor sell here, like it or lump it. I would go with “Live Life Beyond Belief” here and I think that would have the effect of stirring up dialogue without causing the hard feelings that would be caused by the current slogan. Quite frankly, no one would ride the buses here with that on them, again, like it or not.

By: Josh

Josh — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 15:35:23 +0000

Would Halifax Transit run an ad from a church group that featured a Bible verse? Would this be deemed acceptable simply because those that hold “traditional values” are still the majority?

What exactly is so inflammatory about saying “There’s probably no god”, anyway? Is denying something for which there is no evidence really inflammatory? Just because some people don’t want to hear it, doesn’t mean it isn’t true. And it certainly doesn’t mean we don’t have the right to say it, and to be allowed the same privileges as church groups that freely advertise in our cities.

By: Ty

Ty — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 14:23:39 +0000

That could be one response to this. If they won’t run the atheist bus ads due to them offending a subsection of the population, people can make damn sure they know we’re unhappy about other ads they’re running. We’d find out real quick whether that’s the ‘real’ reason they won’t run an ad.

By: Nick

Nick — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 14:14:24 +0000

Freedom of speech means tolerating (not agreeing with) speech and views you disagree with!
As Voltaire said, “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it!”.
Our right to free speech is enshrined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms!
Our right to free speech is grouped separately, above and distinct from other rights as one of the “Fundamental Freedoms” as described in the Charter as “2. Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms: b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication;”

We need to take them to court right away so they get the message loud and clear!