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The freethought blogosphere is abuzz regarding the Freedom From Religion Foundation's (FFRF) attempt to display an anti-religion sign next to a Nativity scene and a Christmas tree at a public area in Olympia, Washington. A few have questioned the display's efficacy, questioning whether it could convince people to abandon religion and embrace atheism. I think they're missing the point.

It's not about proselytising, it's about protest. The FFRF is committed to untangling religion's cozy relationship with the state, and this is no different. Their display is obviously confrontational. It's to remind those who support displaying sectarian religious symbols in public areas that it could be both a blessing (pun intended) and a curse. If they want their beliefs to be showcased in public property, then so can other belief systems, even those by groups they despise. The only way to prevent anti-theists from displaying their sign, legally, is to prevent everyone from doing so. No one religion ought to be privileged. If the FFRF decided on a less offensive sign, the status quo (over-accomodation of religion in state affairs) would not change. And that is nothing less than failure.