http://66.225.205.104/CW20100628.mp3
The phrase "under God" is now on an atheist group's billboard along the Billy Graham Parkway. The billboard was vandalized over the weekend. The billboard was erected last week, as part of a statewide campaign by The North Carolina Secular Association. It simply said "one nation, indivisible" and left out the "under God" language that many atheists find discriminatory. "There's nothing in the billboard that says 'one nation indivisible' is an attack on anyone's religion," said Fred Edwords, speaking on behalf of the Secular Association. "It's a call for equality-an indivisible nation in which we are all on a level playing field." But thanks to some vandals with a can of spray paint, there's now an arrow with the "under God" language. And it took planning. The ladder is set off the ground to discourage climbing. They needed a ladder to get to the ladder. "I don't think somebody had a cherry picker," explains Edwords, "so somebody had to put in some significant effort here. That's pretty zealous vandalism." But Edwords doesn't blame organized religion for the damage. He says, "We see these as acts by individual vandals, not as representative of the religious community." The Pledge of Allegiance didn't always include "under God." Congress approved the phrase in 1954 as politicians were trying to differentiate the U.S. from communist countries that were officially atheist. The Secular Association has put up signs in Winston Salem, Asheville, Greensboro, Raleigh and Wilmington. The Charlotte sign is the only one that has been vandalized. Edwords says it'll be replaced by Thursday, just in time for Fourth of July weekend.