A couple months ago, Italian atheists were ready to purchase bus ads reading:
“The bad news is that God does not exist. The good news is that you do not need him.”
That slogan was deemed too offensive and advertising agencies turned the Union of Atheists, Agnostics and Rationalists (UAAR) down.
UAAR decided to use a slightly watered-down slogan instead — this one was approved and can be seen on a couple buses in the city of Genoa at least for another week or two:
“The Good News Is There Are Millions of Atheists In Italy; The Excellent News Is They Believe In Freedom Of Expression.”
Now, UAAR has a plan to fight back.
First, they are getting ready to sue the advertising agencies that turned them down. They have lawyers exploring “what constitutes a clear violation of the constitutional right to freedom of expression.”
Second, they are asking for suggestions for new atheist bus ads on their website:
”Supporters will put their ideas on our website and then they’ll vote on them,” [UAAR head Raffaele Carcano] said, stressing that sympathisers had donated more than 30,000 euros to get an atheist message out on Italian buses following similar initiatives in other countries.
Right now, the posting asking for suggestions has nearly 500 comments! None of which I can read.
But that’s why they invented Google Translator.
Feel free to send a suggestion their way. You have a few more days before their deadline.
And congratulations to Raffaele and the UAAR for fighting the good fight. They represent a voice that is being suppressed and they need to be heard.
(Thanks to Raffaele and Deirdre for the link!)