Recently I wrote about a series of atheist messages that I saw chalked on the sidewalks at the University of Alabama.  I received an immediate response from one of the people responsible for the messages.  Since I do not have permission to post his email to me, I will only post my reply to him.  Perhaps you can deduce from it what he had to say.

Dear __________,

Thank you for your thoughtful email.  I sincerely apologize if I have misrepresented you or your group and will happily correct any factual errors.  Before I do so, perhaps we can clarify what those errors are.  I will respond to you systematically:

1) I, of course, have no way of knowing the intentions or the history behind these chalked messages and was left to draw my own conclusions.  

2) I did not call your messages "graffiti."  I simply called them "messages ... written in chalk."  No need to be defensive with me on this point.  I accept your explanation that chalked ads are commonplace at Bama.  It's a clever way to get a message out.

3) You say that you have been discriminated against and, at some level, mistreated by the UA staff.  I am grieved to hear this.  Again, those walking around the campus reading your messages have no way of knowing this. (I suppose this explains a puzzling message we saw: "Who would Jesus silence?" or something to that effect.)  

4) At no point did I suggest (in my blog or anywhere else) that you should not have the right to free speech.  That you would read my blog and arrive at this conclusion is mystifying.  If you are only remotely familiar with Fixed Point, you know that we believe quite the opposite.  We have engaged some of the English-speaking world's most hostile opponents of Christianity and have done so with gentleness and respect.  A courtesy, I might add, that frequently is not extended to us.  Free speech was not addressed in my blog.  Rather, I was offering my thoughts on the messages themselves, not your right to express them.  Your provocative approach invited it.

5) You say that the purpose of the messages was simply to help atheists find like-minded people.  I can see where messages like, "Don't believe in God?  You're not alone," may have that end in view; but a message like, "Religion iz teh opiate of teh massez" (sic) is surely intended to offend. (See attached photo.)

Finally, let me say that I would welcome an opportunity to engage you and your group.  Not to argue with you, but to hear what you are about and to share with you what we are about.  I am delighted to hear that you want to hold discussions and debates on these subjects. May they flourish.

With Kind Regards,

Larry A. Taunton