PA City Finally Removes Veterans Memorial Bench That Denigrated Atheists

[NeoGreen]

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2017/07/04/pa-city-finally-removes-veterans-memorial-bench-that-denigrated-atheists/

PA City Finally Removes Veterans Memorial Bench That Denigrated Atheists
July 4, 2017 by Hemant Mehta

For more than a decade, Justus Park in Oil City, Pennsylvania was home to a bench honoring veterans that read “Men Who Aren’t Governed By God, Will Be Governed By Tyrants.”

As if our only options were God or tyranny.

It was a slap in the face to atheist veterans — and everyone who gives a damn about the Constitution, since this was clearly government promotion of religion, breaking the very laws our vets fought to uphold.

Last November, the American Atheists Legal Center sent a letter to Mayor William P. Moon, Jr. noting that, while the bench had been around since 2003, that wasn’t an excuse to allow it to remain there.

Quote:

After receiving the complaint, American Atheists obtained pictures of the entire VFW Memorial and understands the intent of the obelisk and two benches is to honor those who have served and died overseas. However, the Tyrants Bench contains an overtly religious message which endorses one particular religious viewpoint: Christianity. The statement that “Men Who Aren’t Governed By God, Will Be Governed By Tyrants” not only has absolutely nothing to do with honoring our service members but is derisive toward the all non-Christian American service members who have served and died for this country.

Endquote:

American Atheists offered to replace the bench, at no cost to taxpayers, with a more inclusive message that both sides would find “mutually agreeable.”

Or they could duke it out in court.

Cross posted in Veterans (Group)

[BigmanPigman]

1. Atheists need to be more outspoken and not feel ashamed.

Mentally ill people and Atheists have been denigrated by society and this must stop. Religion has caused half of the wars throughout the history of mankind but no one mentions that EVER!

[progressoid]

2. Most of the vets I know who are younger than Korean War age,

are secular and/or atheist. There are plenty of atheists in foxholes. One even told me that it was the war (Vietnam) that made him an atheist. He didn't think a loving god would allow what he seen there.