Atheists require protection

The state should protect the atheists sign. The state is required to guarantee and protect freedom of speech. Christian bullies should not be allowed to silence the atheists.

How are they going to protect it?

If it's in their capitol building, maybe they should simply protect the premises. Any type of theft occurring in the public and important building is bad as this wasn't prevented. I think the building just has a security issue.

i bet it was an inside job .. question the custodian

um.. shouldnt u just protect the actual building.. cuz if someone can remove a sign.. someone can plant a bomb..seems reasonable

Bingo. Everyone who is saying "just protect the building in general" hit the nail on the head. It would look pretty strange to have like, armed guards standing in front of the atheist sign- I don't think that sends the kind of message we want.

The theft of the atheist sign has been the best publicity atheists have seen in years. They should hope it is stolen again.

Obviously security is pretty lax in the state building, they may want to work that out.

It does seem that if the building was secure in the first place the article would have never been stolen. Perhaps the deeper story here is that the Washington state capitol experienced a substantial breech in security.

The theft is positive publicity for the atheists. For some reason public sympathy goes to the victim. When the sign was first announced many saw Christians as victims. The theft changes the balance of victimization, with atheists the victim.

I wish the matter was decided on merit. But so many people want to protect the religious illusion of others. I understand the value of being kind to others, but is it really kind to allow our friends and family to live in deception?

Well I don't know who took the sign, but I am glad to hear it was returned anonymously or whatever to a radio station.

It could be a publicity stunt for all I know, or just some kids pulling a prank.

A lot of nativity scenes get stolen or they put a Barbie in the manger instead of a Baby Jesus or something and it hardly gets a news article.

But if religious people stole the sign and it can be proven, God wants spiritual fruit not religious nuts. :)

I have to agree with orionblastar. tons of crap happens to nativity scenes and such christian religious symbols, and i don't see anyone freaking out asking that their nativity scene is protected.

ya'll know it was some right wing nutjob security guard.

I see a lot of people saying nativity scenes get fucked with. Post those stories on Current! Can you guys give me some references?

I feel that freedom of speech is one of our most important rights. That right should protect the people you agree with as well as those you do not agree with. I am a born-again Christian who believes that the athiests who created that sign have the right to have their own personal beliefs, even if that belief runs counter to mine. Stealing the sign was a childish act. I am not afraid of people who don't share my beliefs & I will not try to silence them. As a Christian, I will pray for them but I will NEVER attack them for their lack of faith. It's counter-productive.

It's Olympia, Washington!!! I mean what is there not to get about this place. Live there and you'll know. I think most groups that don't agree with the Mainstream agenda of Olympia, Washington, especially the preachy ones should seek protection.

The sign was returned. It was fricking paper. If vandals had stolen it they would have just destroyed it. Only an idiot would believe this wasn't done for publicity. I call B.S.

Also, it is quite telling the these anti-religion manifestos have shown themselves conveniently attracting press in more than one State Capitol. Again, I call B.S.

These people are far of an example and they just look like screwed up war veterans... or worse

If a cross was stolen fromn a church would it be big deal?
I think so Athiests are entitled to thier beliefs as much as the next religon

Putting up this sign in the first place was a dick move, but that's not to say it isn't hilarious or that they didn't have the right. Atheists take crap daily, and I think a "you're wrong" poster is a pretty mild response.

But why must they whine so much? Get another sign or have one of your people sit next to it. Police escort just seems overboard, even though it's technically their right if they want it.

Just for full disclosure: I am an atheist.

No

Yeah seriously, it is just a sign. While I'm a non-religiously affiliated person myself, it's a sign kids. Make a new one?

As much as I can't stand the hypocrisy of religious people bellowing and crying over public messages touting the position of not conforming to religion, non-religious people have been stealing religious materials for years. It's a back and forth.

Plus, what's next? We have an armed guard to protect a placard with a message someone doesn't agree with; by that logic, we should have armed guards for the people standing outside family planning centers with 'God Hates Fags' signs, or the people who make kids wander around wearing images of bloody fetuses.

The whole theft thing shouldn't concern the atheists ( even though I KNOW it's wrong AND disagree with whoever stole it). That concept is one of the ten commandments...duh? Just accept your survival of the fittest mentality...atheists who can't protect their signs with guns adultery covetousness and lies like the rest of the world aren't gonna be around long...too bad. I agreed with a lot on their sign

Yawn....

find something worth talking about. Like Timcat says:
IT WAS FRICKING PAPER....move along, nothing more to see here.

Christians are an ideological minority in this country with the same rights as any other group. What would bigotry or hate speech against them be? I don't mean to suggest that this placard is, it's not even close. But what if it was discovered that the group that placed it also stole it with the intent of bringing disparagement against the Christian group? Would that constitute a hate crime? If not, what would?