Separation of church and state was in national headlines yet again this week, inciting a firestorm of public debate across the country. While gay marriage has been the most pressing issue within the debate in recent weeks, a new story arose this week in Olympia, WA.
An anti-religious billboard placed next to a nativity scene at the state capitol building sparked the controversy. The message advertised on the sign read, At this season of the Winter Solstice may reason prevail. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds."" Provocative? Yes. Offensive? I think not, but the protests outside the Washington capitol last week have proven that a sizable amount of the population thinks otherwise.
Bill O'Reilly quickly pounced on the issue during his talk show last week, referring to Gov. Christine Gregoire, D-WA, as a ""pinhead"" and a ""coward"" for not removing the sign immediately. The Fox News host claimed the sign should be taken down because it violates ""appropriate decorum.""
In an extremely far-fetched analogy, O'Reilly went on to compare the incident to a hypothetical situation involving Martin Luther King Day. The outspoken right-winger claimed the state was effectually allowing any kind of hate message to be posted, including imaginary signs that state ""Dr. King is just a myth and superstition, and his words and ideas harden the heart and enslave minds.""
Hold your horses, Mr. O'Reilly. I appreciate well-founded analogies, but comparing racially discriminatory beliefs with spiritual beliefs is absolutely ludicrous. The two systems of thought are completely unrelated.
O'Reilly's personal attacks on the Washington governor only expose the weakness of his overly porous argument. Gregoire took a stand, much to the chagrin of a large fraction of her voter base, when she defended the legality of the billboard's presence. Her actions demonstrated more heroism than cowardice.
In a joint statement with Attorney General Rob McKenna, R-WA, Gregoire reiterated that policy allows groups to sponsor displays regardless of their views. ""The U.S. Supreme Court has been consistent and clear that, under the Constitution's First Amendment, once government admits one religious display or viewpoint onto public property, it may not discriminate against the content of other displays, including the viewpoints of nonbelievers,"" the statement said.
As it turns out, the group responsible for the sign is the Madison-based Freedom From Religion Foundation. The FFRF is a non-profit organization founded in 1976 ""to promote the constitutional principle of separation of state and church, and to educate the public on matters relating to nontheism."" Litigation is the organization's main weapon against Establishment Cause infringements, and it has been successful in multiple lawsuits.
Controversial billboards are nothing new in Madison, where the foundation placed a similar sign at the Wisconsin state capitol building last week for the 13th consecutive year. A new billboard displaying the phrase ""Reason's Greetings"" was also unveiled in the Atwood neighborhood, adjacent to Wilson's Bar & Grill.
Freedom of speech is one of the most important pillars of American democracy. It is upsetting that American citizens continually attack this freedom of expression under the guise of protecting our nation's ideals. All human beings have the right to choose and express their beliefs freely. We are fortunate to live in a society that promotes this ideal. I do fear, however, that continuous encroachments on the separation of church and state weaken this essential principle. I therefore commend the FFRF, Gov. Gregoire and Attorney General McKenna for their efforts to preserve our personal freedoms.
Tom Hart is a senior majoring in political science and history. Please send responses to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
