Bus signs and freedom of expression…

There is a group here in Canada that is campaigning to have the a contraversial sign put on every major bus system in Canada. If they have their way, you might see the following sign coming to a bus near you:

This is something that is being done in other countries around the world. The allication of these exact signs in the UK (London specifically) has caused an uproar and on bus driver refused to work because the bus he was assigned had such a sign on it. that’s a very bad precident to set as far as I’m concerned, does that mean some drivers can start refusing to work if they put up a promotional poster of Marilyn Manson, or can an Atheist refuse to work on a bus that has posters that promote religious groups like the Salvation Army? Letting someone refuse to work because of a sign will cause a lot of trouble for that company, which is why I am surprised the allowed that one driver to open this can of worms without a fight. Companies and people pay a lot of money to have a sign put up on a bus, and last time I checked an Atheist’s money is just as good as anyone else’s. If that was my company and the driver was refusing to do his/her job for such a stupid reason as a sign, go home for five days… you’re suspended without pay. Next time you’ll be fired and your overpaid, unionized job will go to someone who really wants the good cheque. That would have halted that protest instantly.

Getting back to Canada, based on the info I got from their site and facebook page, the signs are on the buses in Toronto. So far there have been no news stories of people rioting or bus drivers walking off the job. They also posted a few pictures of the sign on Toronto’s buses, take a gander:

I don’t see anything to harmful about that. I mean it makes a profound statement but it doesn’t go out of it’s way to say something mean like ‘religion is evil’ or ‘religion is the cause for most of the world’s violence’ and stuff like that. Since announcing their campaign in January of this year, the group that is putting the signs on buses across Canada has raised over $30,000 to get the job done and have the signs put on. Unlike Toronto, some cities are not amused with the idea and have refused to let them go up on their buses. Ottawa, Halifax and Vancouver have all denied the group… telling them their signs are not welcome. Problem with this is they had no problem taking money and posting signs that were pro-religious, so the issue now becomes one of freedom of expression. If the money isn’t going to spent on signs, chances are it might go to a lawyer to file suit against these transit companies for exercising bias against the Atheist group for not taking their money and their sign for obvious reasons.

It’s a simple case: if you take money from one group that makes a profound statement that promotes religion, you can’t deny the group that wants to respond to it with a message of their own. If the sign doesn’t break the rules that are already present for decency and other regulations, you have no reason to turn down the sign and their money. This is discrimination and there is a good chance the courts are going to tell the bus companies that their signs are allowed to go up. I think Vancouver should be a priority rather than Ottawa and Halifax. If they file now, they might be able to settle or win the case before the Winter Games comes in 2010. That to me should be their biggest legal priority… but that’s just my opinion. I really don’t think a judge will ever rule against the charter of rights and freedoms, and if one is dumb enough to, I’m confident the Supreme Court definitely will let that fly without a swift overturning.

Apparently the ad campaign is going to the United States next. Will be interesting to see how well received they are in the ‘land of the free’. I personally don’t care about bus signs, most people don’t even pay attention to them in the first place. As for the theists who have a problem with these signs being pasted onto buses around the world… my recommendation is to practice a little of that ‘cheek turning’ that was preached in that book that is alleged to be the word of God. As far as I’m concerned, if I saw a sign on a bus that stated I was going to hell if I didn’t believe in Jesus (yes there are bus signs that say that, that is what started this whole thing) I wouldn’t care. I’d laugh at the sign and move on when my bus reaches is eventual destination. I wouldn’t call for the sign to be banned, because to do so would limit the free speech and expression that we greatly enjoy here in Canada.

Peter