Atheists Angry over Street Sign Honoring 9/11 Victims
A group of New York City atheists is demanding that the city remove a street sign honoring seven firefighters killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks because they say the sign violates the separation of church and state.
The street, “Seven in Heaven Way,” was officially dedicated last weekend in Brooklyn outside the firehouse where the firefighters once served. The ceremony was attended by dozens of firefighters, city leaders and widows of the fallen men.
“There should be no signage or displays of religious nature in the public domain,” said Ken Bronstein, president of New York City Atheists. “It’s really insulting to us.” Bronstein told Fox News Radio that his organization was especially concerned with the use of the word “heaven.” “We’ve concluded as atheists there is no heaven and there’s no hell,” he said.
“And it’s a totally religious statement. It’s a question of separation of church and state.” He was nonplussed over how his opposition to the street sign might be perceived – especially since the sign is honoring fallen heroes. “It’s irrelevant who it’s for,” Bronstein said. “We think this is a very bad thing,”
David Silverman, president of American Atheists, agreed calling on the city to remove the sign. “It implies that heaven actually exists,” Silverman told Fox News Radio.
“People died in 9/11, but they were all people who died, not just Christians. Heaven is a specifically Christian place. For the city to come up and say all those heroes are in heaven now, it’s not appropriate.”
“All memorials for fallen heroes should celebrate the diversity of our country and should be secular in nature. These heroes might have been Jews, they might have been atheists, I don’t know, but either way it’s wrong for the city to say they’re in heaven. It’s preachy.”
City leaders seemed dumbfounded by the atheists’ outrage because no one complained about the sign as it was going through a public approval process. “It’s unfortunate that they didn’t raise this as an issue while it was undergoing its public review either at the community board level or when it came before the City Council on their public agenda,” said Craig Hammerman, the district manager for Brooklyn Community Board 6.
Hammerman told Fox News Radio that the community was “solidly behind this proposal. Not a single person stood up to speak out against it. I think it’s a little late in the process for someone to be bringing this up now.”
“When you think you’ve heard it all, you haven’t,” Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz told Fox News Radio. “These seven brave souls who put their lives on the line and ultimately gave up the most precious gift that could be given, believe me are in heaven for serving us so admirably,” he said.
RL
if they really believed what they bitterly fight for, they would try to enlighten people.
They really are just looking for a purpose. Better they should visit the sick in hospitals or help in Random acts of Kindness…..
nebach on them
that they think there is nothing else besides this world
and that there is no Hashem, chas v’sholom
what a terrible burden to bear when you think that everything that happens is your doing and that there is no Higher Power=Hashem
R. Gould
these people fear the morality associated with G-d so they refuse to believe and want others not to believe. this country allows for freedom of speech and using the word heaven can have many connotations, for them it is just a make believe place. so whats the issue.
I do not like when others try to proselytize whether it be the j4j’s or atheists.
eh
separation of church and state is the law
A mom!
I have a bridge for these idiots to jump off of,,, Or make it cheaper for the rest of us,, go upstate, there are plenty of lakes there,,,
Yidden MAaminim bnei MAaminim
Bronstein and Silverman!
Thinkster
When these ‘atheists’ have given their lives in the service of others, then they’ll have a right to speak. This sign was approved and honored by the Firefighters. As far as I’m concerned, that’s good enough.
RABBI THE MAN!!
HEY GUYS, MAYBE YOU SHOULDNT USE MONEY ANYMORE, IT SAYS “IN GOD WE TRUST” A BUNCH OF DOOFISES ,MAKES ME SO ANGRY WHEN I SEE PPL SPENDING TIME AND ENERGY FOR THIS NONSENSE!!! DUDE THE UNITED STATES BELIEVES IN GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HOPE YOU GUYS DIE AND REINCARNATE AS A TREE SO WE CAN CHOP YOU UP AND PRINT THE BIBLE ON YOU!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAHA
Critical of New York Judges
Only in NewYork and Clifornia do we have such people!!!!
#5, you do not want to polute the lakes in upstake new York because the only redeaming quality about New York is the fishing opportunities in upstate new York
dr
they are in non-reality. they would see that if they would try to tell this business directly to the families who lost loved ones in 9-11.
thats just plain not thinking clearly. its an insult to those families. they are using this issue to make their own agenda and its so narcissistic.
Maybe these people have Borderline Personality Disorder.
its about principle
its funny because we yidden scream all the time about our sensitivity’s when it comes to other ppls actions but god forbid someone else stand up for what they believe in, not endorsing them but this is about PRINCIPLE! you cant just require it regarding yourself!
dave
freedom of religion means freedom to practice any religion one deams fit! it doesnt mean as is thought all to often that one is free of all faiths,no no no…
disgusted & disappointed
Waaaaaaaaaaaaa! Get a life. The “atheists” are not real! They are actually a bunch of whiny liberals who oppose anything that goes against their agenda Seven in heaven is not offensive & is very respectful. the truth is anything that mentions or reminds them of 9/11 & terrorists is politically incorrect to them. According to Liberal theology they are just misunderstood people fighting for freedom!
What diversity?
“should celebrate the diversity of our country and should be secular”
diversity=secular.
I knew it.
First it starts by claiming appreciation for diversity. Then equality. Then it goes on to secularity. Than Atheism. Next plain old antisemitism.
oye vey....we believe in heaven too
It is freedom OF religion – not freedom FROM religion
COMMENT . . . . .
RIGHT ON #8 !!!! MAYBE THESE GUYS SHOULD ALSO PROTEST
AGAINST THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE WHICH USES “GOOD BYE”, AN
ABBREVIATION OF G-D BE WITH YOU !!!! AND JUST MAYBE
THEY SHOULD PROTEST AGAINST THE SEVEN-DAY WEEK
WHICH HAS AS ITS SOURCE THE TORAH !!!