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speechlesstx · Jun 22, 2011, 02:20 PM

Atheists are pi$$ed and offended, but what else is new? This time NY atheists are having a hissy fit over a street name honoring firefighters killed on 9/11.

New York Atheists Angry Over 'Heaven' Street Sign Honoring Sept. 11 Victims

A group of New York City atheists is demanding that the city remove a street sign honoring seven firefighters killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks because they say the sign violates the separation of church and state.

The street, “Seven in Heaven Way,” was officially dedicated last weekend in Brooklyn outside the firehouse where the firefighters once served. The ceremony was attended by dozens of firefighters, city leaders and widows of the fallen men.

“There should be no signage or displays of religious nature in the public domain,” said Ken Bronstein, president of New York City Atheists. “It’s really insulting to us.” Bronstein told Fox News Radio that his organization was especially concerned with the use of the word “heaven.” “We’ve concluded as atheists there is no heaven and there’s no hell,” he said.

And so, because they've concluded there is no heaven we should all bow to their beliefs. Bwa ha ha!!

David Silverman, president of American Atheists, agreed calling on the city to remove the sign. “It implies that heaven actually exists,” Silverman told Fox News Radio.

“People died in 9/11, but they were all people who died, not just Christians. Heaven is a specifically Christian place. For the city to come up and say all those heroes are in heaven now, it’s not appropriate."

Mr. Silverman needs to study up on his religions, most believe in some form of heaven or heavenly state. But then again, I think he knows this and is just showing his anti-Christian bigotry. That's what it's really about, now isn't it?

tomder55 · Jun 22, 2011, 02:50 PM

I may be wrong... but I don't think there is an establishment clause in the NYC charter ;nor in the State Constitution.

What will they do next ? Demand Corpus Christe change it's name ?

paraclete · Jun 22, 2011, 02:54 PM

Sounds like a storm in a teacup to me

excon · Jun 22, 2011, 02:55 PM

Originally Posted by tomder55

What will they do next ? demand Corpus Christe change it's name ?

Hello tom:

That, and Chris Christy too. He's a GOVERNOR, isn't he?

excon

speechlesstx · Jun 22, 2011, 03:02 PM

Originally Posted by tomder55

I may be wrong... but I don't think there is an establishment clause in the NYC charter ;nor in the State Constitution.

What will they do next ? demand Corpus Christe change it's name ?

Think about California, most of the state violates the establishment clause. San Diego, San Francisco, Los Angeles...

paraclete · Jun 24, 2011, 05:55 AM

This is ridiculous debate, it has gone from precluding a government in making a law to precluding any display of religion. Freedom of religion is a right therefore displays of religion are not precluded. Athiesists are equally protected by freedom of religion why should they preclude anyoneelse? The government is just as precluded from banning a religion or lack of it as it is from establishing a religion.

There for I say to athiestists, pull your head in!

excon · Jun 24, 2011, 06:18 AM

Originally Posted by speechlesstx

I think he knows this and is just showing his anti-Christian bigotry. That's what it's really about, now isn't it?

Hello again, Steve:

I don't know what's in his heart.. But, speaking as an AVOWED atheist, when I oppose government involvement in religion, it's NOT because I hate Christians... It really isn't... It's because I LOVE the Constitution..

For example, I'm against the words "under God" being in the pledge of allegiance... I'm against it, SIMPLY, because for ME (an atheist) to say the pledge, I MUST say that my country is "under God", when I absolutely don't believe it is. That has NOTHING to do with the rights of Christians, but my OWN right to utter a pledge that I agree with...

The funny part here, is that before those offending words were inserted, (they were NOT part of the original pledge), the pledge of allegiance could be said by EVERYBODY, because it INCLUDED everybody... The pledge of today EXCLUDES me, and I don't like it one bit...

But, I LOVE my Christian friends... Why would you think the view I expressed above is ANTI-CHRISTIAN?? Why? What would possess you to say that?

excon

speechlesstx · Jun 24, 2011, 07:10 AM

Originally Posted by excon

I don't know what's in his heart.. But, speaking as an AVOWED atheist, when I oppose government involvement in religion, it's NOT because I hate Christians... It really isn't... It's because I LOVE the Constitution..

Ex,

I love the constitution, too and as I read it, it doesn't ban God from government.

For example, I'm against the words "under God" being in the pledge of allegiance... I'm against it, SIMPLY, because for ME (an atheist) to say the pledge, I MUST say that my country is "under God", when I absolutely don't believe it is. That has NOTHING to do with the rights of Christians, but my OWN right to utter a pledge that I agree with...

OK, don't say "under God." We can both be happy.

But, I LOVE my Christian friends... Why would you think the view I expressed above is ANTI-CHRISTIAN?? Why? What would possess you to say that?

I'm sure you do, and I love my atheist friends but I wasn't referring to you. It was plain in the OP why I said it. He complained that "Heaven is a specifically Christian place." He singled out Christians and he's wrong, heaven is NOT a specifically Christian place. He just crapped on most religions but singled out Christians, that's why.

excon · Jun 24, 2011, 07:20 AM

Originally Posted by speechlesstx

OK, don't say "under God." We can both be happy.

Hello again, Steve:

Nahhh.. What would make me happy, is for those OFFENSIVE WORDS, to be REMOVED, from the pledge because they violate MY RIGHTS under the Constitution... THAT would make me happy.

PRETENDING that OFFENDING words are NOT in MY pledge of allegiance doesn't sit well with me, because I DON'T pretend when it comes to MY RIGHTS and MY COUNTRY. Pretending is a right wing affliction.

excon

NeedKarma · Jun 24, 2011, 07:20 AM

Originally Posted by speechlesstx

And for the psychology experts (or those who just need the help), the Mental & Emotional Health board is here.

That's not fair steve, not all religious people need such help.

speechlesstx · Jun 24, 2011, 07:31 AM

Originally Posted by excon

Pretending is a right wing affliction

Nah, pretending the establishment clause bans God from the public square is not a right-wing affliction.

tomder55 · Jun 24, 2011, 08:56 AM

Next the words 'under God ' can be purged from the Gettysburg Address and 'Nature's God' from the Declaration of Independence.

To the issue of the OP... it is not a Federal concern how a municipality names it's streets .If they named it Beelzebub Blv . It still wouldn't be the Federal Government's business.

speechlesstx · Jun 24, 2011, 09:05 AM

Exactly, and if atheists believed in anything I'm sure we could name a few streets for them.

excon · Jun 24, 2011, 09:10 AM

Hello again,

There's a town in the Cayman Islands named Hell. I stay there every time I go.

excon

earl237 · Jun 24, 2011, 12:34 PM

I'm not religious either, but I think they are making too big a deal about this.

Handyman2007 · Apr 11, 2012, 10:07 AM

These people have nothing better to do. If they do not believe, that is their personal choice and they have no right to take away the rights of those that do believe.

paraclete · Apr 11, 2012, 03:56 PM

Wouldn't it be more appropriate to call it hell street

Handyman2007 · Apr 11, 2012, 04:38 PM

Originally Posted by paraclete

wouldn't it be more appropriate to call it hell street

Really??

paraclete · Apr 11, 2012, 05:01 PM

Originally Posted by Handyman2007

Really???

Yes the events that took place there could hardly be described as heavenly, whether the fire fighters are in heaven or ought to be in heaven is hardly a reason for honouring them in this manner since their last moments were undoubtedly far from heaven a better name would be the avenue of victims of Muslim extremism