Corn Nut Cases

Saturday, 04 February 2012

Have you seen the billboards Minnesota Atheists and American Atheists have put up in Minneapolis and St. Paul lately?

If not, here’s an article about them.

Here’s another one.

And here’s another one, complete with footage from a local news crew.

Here’s the one in St. Paul:

And here’s the one in St. Paul’s suburb, Minneapolis:

Let me tell you what you’re thinking: they’re ugly. Yep, they certainly are. When prototypes were posted online, my one and only contribution to the discussion was, “I don’t think you could pick a worse font than Comic Sans.” Well, they didn’t go with Comic Sans, they went with Chalk, which, to many people, is indistinguishable.

The other, general ugliness was due to an attempt to emulate pro-life billboards (you know, the one’s that say, “Daddy! Save me from Mommy’s body!” and “I could fart five days from conception.”

Let me tell you what else you’re thinking: That’s not the best message. Yeah, I agree. I think the “born-again” idea is funny, but it might turn off people who are “on the fence.”

Still, considering the main idea is to show non-believers that they’re not alone, I think they do the job, especially since I know people have contacted both organizations saying they were, until now, unaware there were atheist groups in the metro area. And, in fact, Minnesota Atheists’ Meetup site has seen the biggest jump of its five year history, increasing by 35 members since the billboards went up two weeks ago.

But here’s the funny thing: Though this has certainly peeved a few theists (watch the above video for that), none of them have commented on the easy targets: bad font and color choice. One of them wrote to me. Not sure why…maybe because I’m listed as the editor of the newsletter and that means I MUST be responsible for the billboards. And while I don’t think he’s representative of most theists, he is the only one who wrote to me about the billboards.

Anyway, he wrote to me and said:

> So you nutcases are now concerning yourself over how people raise their children?  My God, just when you  Think you’ve heard it all, the circus comes back to town. I think I’m going to start concerning myself Over how the people on the next block over cut their grass. Makes about as much sense. You people Really should get a life. By the way, are you NOT teaching your children to be aethiest’s, go ahead lie, say you aren’t. What’s The difference? None. Even a moron can’t argue trhat.

(Speling, Capitalization, and grammary errors were in original message.)

So I wrote back and said:

Mr. Corn:
Thank you for your email; it has been great to hear from a diverse group of Minnesotans. As you probably can surmise, one of the billboards’ purposes is to raise awareness of the atheist community here in Minnesota, so emails like yours show that they are doing their
job!
Your email indicates an unease regarding atheists being concerned about how children are raised. Yes, of course atheists are concerned about how children are raised! We all should be and, in fact, I think most people – regardless of ethnicity, age, religion, economic bracket, or sexual orientation – are concerned with how children are raised. Contrary to your assertion, I believe how my neighbors raise their children is infinitely more important than how they cut their grass. To that end, we as a society have seen fit to enact laws
protecting our children and punishing those who harm them. We also use our tax dollars to educate our children and to provide assistance to parents who, due to limited resources, are unable to feed, clothe, or shelter their children.
Of course, as a diverse society, we do not always agree on how to best care for children. There are many examples I could cite here, but the most relevant has to do with religion. I’m sure you would agree, for example, that the men who carried out the events of 9/11 would have been better citizens had they not been indoctrinated with religion.
So, the religious indoctrination of others, and their children, affects us all.
You are correct that most aethiest’s [sic] naturally raise their children free of religion. Catholic parents, by comparison, likewise raise their children as Catholics. In that way, there is no difference. However, in this society, we are free to express our views and to claim them as preferably to other methods. To use my own parenting as an example, some people may feel it is proper to beat their children. I feel that is not an effective or loving way to raise children, so I do not beat my children. I teach them to not hit other people. I would support a billboard campaign that read “Please do not beat your children.” Of course, someone like you would be correct to assume that I teach my children to not beat up other people and, in that way, I am not different than someone who instructs their children
to beat up people. But rather than just noting that all parents raise their children to share their values, a more effective way to dissent would be to offer specific criticisms or to provide evidence as to why your viewpoint is superior.
I hope this gives you a clearer understanding of the billboards’ message.
Truth be told, however, I did not personally play a role in this billboard campaign. I am therefore attaching the Minnesota Atheists’ Board of Directors to this email; perhaps they can offer further insights or clarifications on the matter.
Thank you again for writing and, by the way, the word is spelled “ATHEISTS.” Even a moron can’t argue trhat [sic].

So he wrote back:

The point is that in this overly Liberal society we are having forced down our throat, some people
Have taken it upon themselves to be excessively concerned over other people business. It works both ways.
I was not specifically addressing the situation of violence, hunger, and education, merely the idea of
The mentality of “meddling” in someone else’s affairs. Some people might object to tricycles, where does it end.
Would you like to be dragged into a courtroom simply because some group thought tricycles were “inappropriate” for
Children? I hope not.   P.S. Exremists always show their true colors in the end. Re:
the word is spelled “ATHEISTS.” Even a moron can’t argue trhat

So I wrote back:

Mr. Corn:
I am not a fan of billboards, either. I feel they clutter the landscape and distract drivers. However, I don’t think it’s quite fair to say that messages displayed on billboards are being “forced down our throat;” to the contrary, they are quite passive.
You are right, some people might object to tricycles and, in this society, they are free to litigate against tricycles. I guess I would need to know more about the objection before passing judgement. Are tricycles the number one killer of preschoolers? Does the paint on tricycles make children sick? Are they manufactured in unsafe conditions?
People can and have litigated against all sorts of apparently benign apsects of childhood: stollers, cribs, and baby formulas. Some of the claims have merit and, regardless, I think it’s good to hear them out.
Atheists feel that religion causes much damage in our society and that people would be better off without it. A billboard message requesting that parents not indocrinate children with one worldview but, instead, teach them to think for themselves is among the most passive methods of getting this message across.
Finally, regarding my correction of your spelling: I meant it tongue-in-cheek. My attempt at humor evidently failed but, you are correct, it does reveal my true colors in that I am a stickler regarding the language and I enjoy a good joke. If we are talking about “true colors,” I think addressing a group of people as “nutcases” and telling them to “get a life” speaks volumes.

So he wrote back:

society we are having forced  down our throat……I didn’t mention BILLBOARDS…..

the paint on tricycles make children sick?….Yeh, two cases in 51 years, lets ban ‘em all………..

Let’s all “litigate” against something, ANYTHING, please any any anything………it’s the America way.

I’m perfectly fine with you and your “organizations” beliefs. My opinion about these matters is more in regard

To such notions as, we will sue you if you put up a cross, but in the meantime

We can put up a billboard stating our objection to it. Once again, for those who have not read the constitution, a cross

On a watertower has NOTHING to do with religion and government promoting it. But those that don’t understand

The Simplicity in this now, never will, so the argument is moot.

Another perfect example, people of the Muslim

Faith are specifically exempted for O’bungle’s healthcare mandate. So typical of this group of sideshow entertainers

that wound up in the White House. What could be a more obvious example of government promoting a religion?

I’m telling you, people in this country are about fed up with this dog and pony show that used

To be the greatest country on earth. This one guy don’t like it, the the rest of 350,000,000 can

Go without mindset is ruining this country.

Anyway, have a nice day. Nothing personal, I’m just saying the pendulum always swings, historically,

in the matter of social extremism. It usually takes about 20 years to go full cycle. Someday it will

be alright to have a Santa Clause in the mall again, and our children will no

longer be taught the roll homosexuality has played in history.

Later, dude……..gotta read RT, MHz Worldwide, BBC, etc and see whats really happening in the world today, rather than the liberal bias

medias interpretation of it.

So I wrote back:

Mr. Corn:
For the record, I would never pursue a lawsuit against people’s rights to organize and install a cross on their property, and I think you’d be hard-pressed to find an atheist who would.
I think your thoughts in this exchange would make interesting reading for the atheist community as an example of the response the billboards have generated. I will use it in a future issue of The Minnesota Atheist, but please let me know if this is unacceptable.
Thank you again.