Madison atheists draw ire nationwide

The latest in the brouhaha over a plaque erected by Wisconsin's Freedom From Religion Foundation in Olympia, WA:

Using a loudspeaker, pastors prayed,* sang Christmas carols and criticized Gov. Chris Gregoire for allowing the atheist sign in the building.

"Reverend" Kenneth Hutcherson said the government should represent everyone in the State, except those with whom he has some kind of theological issue, apparently.

"It is time to chase out of the house of God all the unbelievers and evildoers," said Republican State Rep. Jim Dunn.

Since when is a State Capitol building the "house of God" and what is a nativity scene doing in there in the first place?

Personally, I think the plaque stunt is pretty lame, but the State can't disallow its irreligious content — "religion is but myth and superstition," it reads — in favor of strictly religious messages.

During a similar kerfuffle last year in Green Bay, somebody observed that there were eleventeen churches within a few blocks of city hall, each with its own crèche set up out front. Isn't that enough?

The FFRF's 50-pound plaque was reinstalled after unidentified persons stole it early one morning last week and it later turned up at a country music station, of all places, and subsequently in a ditch.

I can't say whether the plaque's message is one of "intolerance," but ripping it off and tossing it into a culvert almost certainly is.

* Sans SUVs.