San Diego ExperienceGodless Billboard Appears In La Mesa
Coalition of Reason-backed sign promotes non-belief “Don’t Believe in God? You are not alone.” That’s the message up on a billboard near Interstate Highway 8 in La Mesa. It’s funded through the San Diego Coalition of Reason, an umbrella organization of nine local chapters of atheist, humanist and rational thought groups.
 This billboard from the Coalition of Reason is up near the I-8 in La Mesa. Courtesy photo. The Washington, D.C.-based United Coalition of Reason oversees 14 city-based CofRs, including the fledgling San Diego coalition. Downtown resident Debbie Skomer, a direct member of two local humanist organizations, is the volunteer coordinator of the San Diego CofR. “The goal of the billboard is not that we’re looking for donations,” says Skomer. “But we do want to reach out to nonbelievers. Our organizations feel like it would be nice to have more of an impact on the community.” Skomer says she personally supports teaching science in classrooms instead of Creationism, and is behind seperation of church and state issues. The Clear Channel billboard is on the south side of I-8, just east of 70th Street. It’s 14-feet-by-48-feet in size, and as a “remnant,” is rented for just one month. The cost: $5,000. Skomer says that money comes from a wealthy donor through the United CofR. After the billboard’s first day of public exposure, Skomer says she has not personally heard negative feedback about it, except for “some man-on-the-streets” comments on local TV news. Given time and more exposure, that may change. In other cities, CofR billboards have been defaced. And in Iowa, signs that were plastered on busses prompted numerous complaints, and were taken down. “It’s a reality that some people are really offended that others might not believe in God,” says Skomer. “But we know that about 15 percent of the population is nonbelievers. That includes people who might be sitting next to you in church who go to be with their families but really, are beyond the religious dogma.” Skomer is eager to organize the nine groups in the San Diego CofR. That includes: Atheist Coalition of San Diego; Humanist Association of San Diego; Humanist Fellowship of San Diego; Rational Thought at UCSD; San Diego Atheist Parenting; San Diego New Atheists; San Diego North County Brights; San Diego Secular Humanist Outreach; and the SDSU Secular Student Alliance. On November 14, Skomer is putting on one of the coalition’s first group membership events. “On Saturday, at 11 a.m., we’re inviting all the groups’ members to come out to the billboard and have a picture taken,” she says. “We’ll put the pictures online, and put a face to our group. We’re normal people, you know—not some bunch running around in trench coats or something.” SanDiego.com welcomes your comments on this story...
 Ron Donoho About the author: Ron Donoho is Editor in Chief of SanDiego.com. More by this author Subscribe to Experience:
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I think when we atheists say "rid" we need to put that in proper perspective. Switching one's position to another, when done by one's own introspection and self examination, is a REAL change. Change by force does nothing but create bitterness and lip service.
I do want to see the end of religion and I do think it is dangerous, but we as atheists cant force people to take our position anymore than Muslims or Christians have been successful in forcing the other by gunpoint to submit to the other. Reason through the open market of debate without fear of blasphemy with the empathy of understanding that debate is important and that we don't have to like each other, but we do all want love, shelter, food, health and safety, and a voice, which is what all of us want.
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November 12, 2009
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Christians seem to always be insisting on their freedom to practice their religion whenever and where ever they want so how on earth do they justify messing with people who choose not to practice a religion?
I have to look at their ridiculous street signs like "Jesus is the reason" every year. Now they get to see a sign from an opposing viewpoint. Seems pretty fair to me.
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November 13, 2009
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Hmmmm... in response to Nancy you need to ask whenever have "rights of expression" (one of the many excellent amendments to the US constitution - (I am British BTW and often wished we had a written constitution!) ever really had anything to do with reason and rational thought. "One nation under God" is really where it all falls apart.
Reason and logic do not apply in the cases of politics and religion. Keep religion and state separate. In the UK in the last few weeks we have seen a separation of science and state. The chief scientific adviser to the government on drugs policy quoted scientific research saying that ecstacy and cannabis are less harmful than alcohol and tobacco and even horse riding... for this statement of scientific fact he lost his job as he was "criticising" government policy. Basically government policy is all belief based (no reason or logic and certainly no science). What do the electorate think and believe? If you match those then you will get elected/re-elected... hmmmmm smells of popularism and mind control.... a bit like religion. So the problem is that when I say with a smile and often to the surprise of the listener that I am an atheist they see me as a heretic, satanist, infidel, evil, whatever... perhaps deep down they know they are wrong.
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November 13, 2009
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As usual, the religious reich wants to suppress any speech or message that doesn't agree with what they want people to hear.
Freedom of though, speech and discussion will be totally forbidden if these people ever gain control of any country. This has happened in the past (called the dark ages) and is happening now in Islamic countries. Yes, it CAN happen in the USA.
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November 13, 2009
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I am delighted to see Brian's post above. I support non-believers as much as any forward-thinking movement so long as their is love, compassion and tolerance involved. I resonate with Buddhism, but not because I believe their is a fat-bellied happy man sitting under a tree in bliss. I enjoy the doctrine that asks you to go within yourself for reflection and transcendence. That really means that you rely on oneself not a deity to heal you, improve you or "save" you. To the countless times that religion has caused murder, pain, judgement and endless debates, I support your efforts with this billboard and I do not believe anyone should have to feel forced into a belief.
However, there are many paths to a destination and we should support one another in our own search and exploration to find peace.
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November 13, 2009
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Congratulations on writing an article that has spurred an intelligent discourse among SanDieog.com readers.
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November 13, 2009
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Ok, I was not going to comment on the billboard until I saw the pop quiz, "What is 69 plus 2?" The answer is "an orgy", of course.
Seriously, I think the billboard is a good thing. It can be very hard growing up an atheist surrounded by people who can become offensive about your beliefs. It IS good to know that you are not alone.
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November 14, 2009
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But Bravo, we need to rid this planet of the silly yet dangerous beliefs that are found in religions. They are destroying us!