From the National Review Online
A New York–based Satanic church has revealed its design for a statue of Satan that it wishes to erect next to a Ten Commandments monument in the Oklahoma state capitol.
…Late last year, the American Civil Liberties Union contested the placement of the Ten Commandments on the grounds of the state house, arguing that if the legislature allowed the Ten Commandments, it must allow other religious groups to put up monuments as well.
Following the ACLU’s lead, several other groups requested to erect monuments, including a Hindu group, an animal-rights organization, and the pastafarian Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.
I would say that this is an effective way of making a point if I thought the median Oklahoma voter would see the irony. Also, it may not elevate the discourse. But protest works in mysterious ways.
Hat tip to @zackbeauchamp
5 Responses
@Congo Sam. You’re actually exactly right. It would be an effective form of protest on behalf of white supremacists.
The question is, where is the moral principle highlighted by the protest? What group is offended by the MLK statue, and what threat do they see to themselves or the country from allowing MLK statues to be placed on public property? The only answer I see is white supremacy in the NBF case.
In the Satan case, however tasteless the gesture, the principles behind it are (1) non-Christians feel it symbolizes that they are unequal before the law, and (2) non-Christians are concerned that this is one facet of one religion exercising undue influence over the law.
Cool, then we can toss up a statue of Nathan Bedford Forrest next to MLK! Right?
What was that you said? Ohhh, it’s virtuous to shit on the sacred things of POOR white people, not rich ones! Now I get it. It’s different when somebody does it to you. Reverence for YOUR pieties must be enforced by the state. Because tolerance lol.
You’re just bullying little shits. Even the most benighted Christians handle dissent better than you guys. Their beliefs are just as dumb, but at least they’re adults half the time.
Happened in upstate NY “Pastafarian politician takes oath of office wearing colander on his head”
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/pastafarian-politician-takes-oath-office-wearing-colander-head-article-1.1568877
Well, the irony is not lost on all of us in Oklahoma. On seeing this story, a friend of mine commented: “but why are we honoring Sally Kern* with a statue in her likeness?”
*c.f. http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2011/09/09/315628/gop-legislator-homosexuality-is-more-dangerous-than-terrorist-attacks-because-we-have-to-deal-with-it-every-day/
I think this is a brilliant idea. What state capitols clearly need are monuments representing the beliefs and allegiances of the politicians who enact legislation and the lawyers who enforce it, and images of the Flying Spaghetti Monster and the Prince of Darkness fit the bill perfectly.