Are the cops hinting they will brutalize nonbelievers in Tazwell, iL?

[es35]

http://atheistnexus.org/forum/topics/are-the-cops-hinting-they-are-going-to-discriminate-or-brutalize

The photo in this site shows cops in this town posing beside their police cars that have In God We Trust painted on them. They are clearly showing off their sidearms and adopting tough postures as though they are ready to use force against all who disagree. What is the real purpose of posing with their guns showing beside these religious signs? Is this not a not too covert warning that they are planning to enforce the respect or observance of their religion by force? Are they hinting that they will brutalize atheists who show disrespect of religion? Are these guys, in fact, launching their form of a Holy Inquisition? Why don't we publicize what we think are their likely motives and let the chips fall where they may? Sure we may get lambasted as paranoids but there is a lot of evidence that many cops see themselves as defenders of the faith and are ready to use force. We will thus introduce an idea that may explain much of their future behaviors and one that will be hard for them to escape or ignore.

[PeoViejo]

1. In God we trust

originated during the Civil War on coinage. It was meant as a patriotic gesture in the War against the Confederacy.

https://www.treasury.gov/about/education/Pages/in-god-we-trust.aspx

[el_bryanto]

2. That's a stretch I think.

1. They are cops; of course they are taking tough postures. Cops are mostly authoratarian assholes.

2. They aren't brandishing guns or making a big deal out of having guns; they are simply on their holsters.

3. There's no evidence besides this picture; if there was anything else, presumably the author would have put it up, but instead they are simply a bunch of cops standing near the police cars (several of them are smiling).

Now you can make the argument that having In God We Trust on the police cars is inappropriate; that's a fair cop, and something we should be discussing. But to make the jump from that to "these cops want to enforce religious practice by force," is a pretty big jump.

Bryant

[es35]

4. Cops have a history of brutalizing nonbelievers in the US

I don't agree that it is a jump. Madelyn Murray O'Hair was viciously stomped by 5 Baltimore policeman who then charged this 50 year old woman with assaulting them. She suffered permanent damage to her spinal cord and severe pain for the rest of her life. The police then took their good time in investigating her kidnapping and subsequent murder and we think could have saved her life. They have refused to protect atheist demonstrators against assault and have even threatened the protesters themselves. They have invaded a home of an atheist woman in Florida on a charge that she was having a noisy orgasm and have manhandled a guy simply for going to the bathroom in Yankee stadium during Kate Smith's singing of God Bless America in the 7th inning stretch. So putting In God We Trust on police cars is likely just a continuation of their religious bias.

They also failed to protect mostly secular hippie protesters of the war in vietnam from vicious attack by construction workers, most of whom are believers, in the Hard Hat Riot of 1970 even thought they were standing only a few feet away. Of course one can't prove that was religiously motivated but in view of their history I think it more likely than not.

With respect to displaying their sidearms notice how they are standing with their arms held away from their sides which allows us to see the guns unobstructed. I interpret that as displaying their sidearms for all to see. I also think that most people would agree that their posturing is very suggestive of aggressive intentions.

[panader0]

5. I met O'Hair in '69.

Back then, I think she could have taken down five cops.

[el_bryanto]

6. Cops have a history of brutalizing everybody except wealthy white guys.

Were any of the incidents you mention committed by this police department?

Bryant

[es35]

7. police brutality toward nonbelievers

have not researched this dept.

[el_bryanto]

8. So the only evidence is this picture? Than I stand by what I said. nt

[PeoViejo]

3. I hate to justify your worse fears, but....

If you read that link I put up, it shows the real meaning behind In God We Trust.

[struggle4progress]

9. Since "In God We Trust" is the US motto, this particular line of argument

is politically useless

[PeoViejo]

10. Oh, no, it's not

Since when did it become the National Motto, and who are the Racist Tripe that authored it?

[LanternWaste]

12. 1956 when signed into law by Pres. Eisenhower

"Since when did it become the National Motto..."
1956 when signed into law by Pres. Eisenhower (Title 36, § 302 of U.S. Code).

"who are the Racist Tripe that authored it?"
First attributed to Francis Scott Key.

[PeoViejo]

13. In Good We Trust

..would be more fitting.

[Albertoo]

14. It's been the motto for just 60 years, so it can be changed

Post #12 pointed out Ike made this sentence a motto in 1956.
So it's not going to be a biggie if it's reversed as it should.
And as it probably will be if current trends in (un)beliefs carry on apace.

[struggle4progress]

15. I'd be happy to see it go, but none of that changes the politics of complaining about it today

[Oneironaut]

11. That looks like sensationalist clickbait.

Had they stood next to a sign that says, "Kill non-believers," then I would be worried. I don't see anything close to what the author describes in the image.