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Was this really necessary?

Checkmite

Skepticifimisticalationist
Checkmite
Joined
Jun 7, 2002
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Atheists intend to sue over street sign

Manhattan-based atheists are poised to sue the city for installing a street sign in Red Hook that endorses the religious view that afterlife exists.

To honor seven firefighters who died in 9-11, a portion of Richards Street was renamed “Seven in Heaven Way,” a move that prompted criticism, national news coverage — and now an apparent lawsuit from atheists who say the sign is akin to spiritual “product placement.”

“We see religion imprinted in our culture from the time we’re young enough to remember,” said Ken Bronstein of NYC Atheists, who has met with lawyers and plans to file a lawsuit over what he considers a church-and-state issue. “We can show injury — and the impact of what the city is doing.”

The dedicated street sign — which city officials hung on June 11 at Seabring Street — pays respect to seven fallen firemen assigned to Engine 202 and Ladder 101.
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The article doesn't specify; but if the seven specific individuals the street is renamed to honor happened to be Christian, I really can't see the problem with this sign. It would be like suing to keep NYC officials from ever referring to the Sullenburger river landing incident by its colloquial "Miracle on the Hudson" name because "the city shouldn't be promoting the factual existence of miracles".
 
Why such a cryptic thread title? Why not give threads titles descriptive enough that people know what is being discussed?
 
Checkmite said:
Atheists intend to sue over street sign



The article doesn't specify; but if the seven specific individuals the street is renamed to honor happened to be Christian, I really can't see the problem with this sign. It would be like suing to keep NYC officials from ever referring to the Sullenburger river landing incident by its colloquial "Miracle on the Hudson" name because "the city shouldn't be promoting the factual existence of miracles".
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Because you shouldn't endorse any particular religion from civil/federal areas.

I mean that's simply the issue, I think atheists should take a stand just because you can't allow it at any level, regardless of tact. What if I ran in to say "They should rename it to 'Seven in Tartarus Way" regardless of their religion you can't endorse their particular religion. And that's what the argument is, if the city does does that constitute endorsing religion.
 
Waste of time and resources, and a bit sociopathic.

Nothing about the name change requires any change in belief systems.

Your freedom from religion depends on others being free to express their own religious beliefs.
 
These guys need to learn how to pick their battles. Heaven is a broad concept that has been used in non-religious ways for some time now. Trivial and mean-spirited.
 
Does the ordinance have a secular purpose?
Yes, commemorating the secular actions of a group of people, under a name already in use.

Does it have the primary effect of advancing/restricting religion?
No, see above.

Does it create excessive government entanglement with religion?
No, the choice of name does not create any ongoing obligations between the city and any religious group.

Good luck getting past summary judgement.
 
After this battle the atheists should sue to force Hell's Kitchen to change it's name to "Previously Slummy Kitchen". Then off to Corpus Christi!

After the sign goes up I will take some of my atheist friends to Brooklyn where I will ask them to look at the sign. I'll report back on how many of them immediately began to belive in heaven.
 
I don't know what the problem is, just provide the evidence to the atheist group that the seven are in heaven and I'm sure they'll withdraw their threat..... ;)

It does seem a rather petty protest but I can understand where they are coming from, for me it's a "meh".
 
In life, war, love and politics, it's vitally important to pick ones battle wisely.
 
seems stupid to sue.
when someone can or should sue about that is the family of the honored in case one of them was not member of a cult that believes in a heaven.
on the other hand i can understand it from a point of strict separation of state and religion.
 
DC said:
seems stupid to sue.
when someone can or should sue about that is the family of the honored in case one of them was not member of a cult that believes in a heaven.
on the other hand i can understand it from a point of strict separation of state and religion.
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That's the ticket. If this were a case of one of the guys being an atheist and everyone's ignoring the fact and declaring that he was in heaven, I could see the family suing. But it's not like that. These particular gentlemen have been colloquially known as the "Seven in Heaven" apparently for nearly a decade. I mean, if I found out my kid had been roped into a game of "Seven Minutes in Heaven" at a sleepover, I wouldn't be suing the parents of the other children for attempting to force a religious belief on my kid.
 
Alt+F4 said:
After this battle the atheists should sue to force Hell's Kitchen to change it's name to "Previously Slummy Kitchen". Then off to Corpus Christi!

After the sign goes up I will take some of my atheist friends to Brooklyn where I will ask them to look at the sign. I'll report back on how many of them immediately began to belive in heaven.
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They should just head right out to Los Angeles... go for the gusto, guys! :)
 
Slimething said:
These guys need to learn how to pick their battles. Heaven is a broad concept that has been used in non-religious ways for some time now. Trivial and mean-spirited.
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Err... not.

No need to pick battles. More than enough of us to battle on all fronts.
 
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