(This letter originally appeared in the Westerly Sun on December 17. It is being reposted here today in honor of the birth of Roger Williams on December 21, 1603.)
Freedom From Religion Foundation representatives Debbie Flitman and Tony Houston installing the FFRF statehouse display. |
But alas, you’d be wrong.
Late in November, holiday displays were erected at the statehouse.
Shortly after, State Rep. Mike Chippendale (R-Foster-Glocester-Coventry) and a
group of freshman Republican legislators, including Sen.-elect Elaine Morgan,
who was elected in my district, toured the statehouse. On the second floor,
where displays by “minority” religions are relegated so as not to distract from
the state-sponsored Christian displays (plus a token menorah) in the rotunda,
the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) had posted a sign inviting readers
to “let reason prevail.” Chippendale photographed it and posted it on his “State Rep. Mike Chippendale” Facebook page (which is separate from his personal
page), ranting that “the atheists just can’t keep
their non-beliefs to themselves.”
This of course is the cri de
coeur of bigots everywhere: “Why can’t they just keep it to themselves?” Show
of hands: How often has an atheist (or for that matter, a member of any
religious group other than Christians) knocked on your door trying to convert you?
But I digress.
The Humanists of RI statehouse display celebrates the birth of Roger Williams and separation of church and state. |
Chippendale also began blocking
everyone who disagreed with him from his page. Which got a legal analyst for
HRI wondering about the constitutionality of a legislator blocking constituents
from an avenue by which they could petition for redress of grievances. Another HRI
member pointed out that Chippendale was violating Facebook’s terms of service (TOS)
by including a professional title in the name of his profile. (Facebook
“profiles” are reserved for private individuals, whereas “pages,” which any
Facebook user can view without being “friended” by the owner, are for
businesses, organizations, and professionals.)
Other secular displays included a Tree of Knowledge installed by the RI Coalition of Reason. |
Chippendale then changed the profile to a page—and doubled
down on his attacks on nonbelievers. He denied the very principle of separation
of church and state and called those who believe in it “communists,” a curious
stance for a state legislator to take in the birthplace of said principle. And he
continued to delete messages he didn’t like (including the Roger Williams
quotes contained herein) and block those who disagreed with him.
Chippendale’s original post calling the FFRF sign a “message of hatred” … “hate-filled message” … “spread[ing]
hatred” still stands on his State Rep page. Here’s what the sign says in full:
“At this Season of the Winter Solstice
LET REASON PREVAIL
There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world.
Religion is but myth & superstition that hardens hearts & enslaves minds.”
Ironically, by reacting so violently to this message, Chippendale
proves its creators’ point. The FFRF does not actually seek “equal time” with
religious groups; it rather seeks an end to all government-sponsored religious
messages, displays, or rituals. So thank you, Rep. Chippendale, for helping to demonstrate
why religious displays on government property are inherently divisive.