Hey Dad, Let's Talk 2| Double Standards in 2009 |
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It started with a bunch of buses in the UK, and now we're going to start seeing it plastered all over the Toronto Transit System: signs advertising "THERE'S PROBABLY NO GOD. NOW STOP WORRYING AND ENJOY YOUR LIFE." 1. This ad promotes intolerance. Yes, Bible-believers have promoted scripture on buses and trains for a long time, but they do it by saying things like "Jesus loves you." Whether you believe that or not doesn't really matter: it's not offensive. It's positive, not negative. These ads ("There's probably no God") on the other hand are directly putting down a particular group of people. The difference? Think of a Wendy's ad. It says "Eat at Wendys". That's it. These ads however, follow a different formula. They throw a negative spin... "McDonalds burgers are probably made of cardboard. Stop eating crap and eat at Wendys." Somehow, I think that ad would not make it to the TV. And if it ever did, McDonalds would be outraged. And rightly so. 2. What if the Bible-believers were to change their campaign: "Allah is a hoax. Believe in Jesus." See the difference? Regardless of what I do or do not believe about Allah, it is wrong to post such a thing. Do you think there would be some outrage about this? I think there would. So why is this campaign being allowed? In a phrase, and absolutely regardless of even if the phrase were "truthful", this is hate propaganda. 3. The campaign itself basically says three things about you, if you believe in God: 1) You're believing in something which probably doesn't exist (condescending!), 2) You worry a lot, and 3) you do not enjoy your life. I think it's fair to say there are at least the same number of people who do not believe in God who worry, and struggle with happiness. I do not believe this in any way reflects upon the existence or non-existence of God. |
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