To its credit, the ACLU takes civil liberties very seriously, and therefore has been willing to defend even Nazis, the KKK, and others whose opinion and beliefs are not accepted by mainstream society. But now we learn that there's finally an organization that is "too controversial" for the ACLU:
ACLU rejects donation from American Humanist Association
This story is still developing, so stay tuned.
The Washington-based American Humanist Association may bear the proud title of being the first organization that is "too controversial" for the ACLU. The AHA offered $20,000 to help sponsor an inclusive prom in Mississippi in response the prejudice that was shown by school officials there toward a lesbian student (school officials cancelled the prom rather than allow a lesbian couple to attend). After first accepting the AHA's officer, a spokesperson for the Mississippi ACLU wrote to the AHA yesterday and said that the offer would be rejected because humanism is too controversial for the locals in Mississippi.
"The majority of Mississippians tremble in terror at the word 'atheist'" the ACLU spokesperson said. "These Southern Baptist types are mainly what makes up the town of Fulton," she explained. "We have fears that your organization sponsoring this prom could stir up more controversy."
It's not easy to insult atheist and Southern Baptists simultaneously, but the ACLU has doine it!
What this really illustrates, of course, is the ridiculous social stigma that is attached to atheism and humanism. If ever we needed proof of this problem, here it is.
I tend to think that the good people of Mississippi could handle the trauma of having a humanist group sponsor a prom.