TO OBSERVE the winter solstice, Connecticut Valley Atheists have erected this sign in Rockville's Central Park. It has offended some residents and rattled town hall, in background. The atheists say religion inspired the attacks of 9/11. Ironically, some see the image of a cross in the sunlight flooding the twin towers on the sign.
The sign — some call it a billboard — was erected on Dec. 1 by the Connecticut Valley Atheists, and as of Thursday was the only display erected in the town's center to mark the holiday season, aside from a Christmas tree just across from the town hall and some garland and white lights wrapped around light poles.
The three words on the sign are drawn from the John Lennon song "Imagine."
Asked if placement of the tree was intended to obscure the atheists' display, McCoy responded, "Of course not." When told that it appeared to be blocking the display, McCoy said, "Oh, really; that's unfortunate."
Town officials issued a permit to the atheists to place the sign in the park, effective Dec. 1, to mark the winter solstice. They also issued permits to a group of churches that plan to place a creche in the park, and to a local synagogue, which applied to place a menorah there. The atheists have been the only ones to show up so far.
"The majority are against it being there, but they pretty much all understand it has to be there," said Sandi LaChapelle, owner of Russ' Time Rock 'n' Roll Diner on West Main Street. "I think there's more concern as to why they're the only ones who have anything up."
The structure the atheists placed in the park features on two sides a dramatic image of the sun shining between the twin towers of the World Trade Center, framed by the words "Imagine No Religion." The image of the towers is meant to convey that without religion the towers would still be standing, said Dennis P. Himes, a Vernon resident and coordinator for Connecticut Valley Atheists. On the third side, facing the town hall, is information about the winter solstice.
Himes said he would have preferred no displays relating to religion on town property, but decided to apply to place one in the park because he expected Christian and Jewish displays.
"The town marked off three spots in the park," Himes said. "The notice to groups said first come, first served, so we picked the one right in front of town hall. We fully expected the other displays to be up around the same time we put ours up."
Clergymen at two nearby churches said they aren't bothered by the display.
Still, town officials say they are bothered by the tone of the atheists' message, which they say is political and not consistent with the description listed on their application: "triangular stand displaying information about the winter solstice, Atheism and Human Light observance."
People have called town hall, McCoy said, and expressed anger at the suggestion that their religious beliefs caused the tragedy of Sept. 11.
"People are not offended the atheists have something up there, and they're not offended by whatever they celebrate. What they're troubled by is they feel [their] religion is equated with being involved in terrorism," McCoy said.
The mayor added that it may be necessary to reconsider the town policy governing displays in Central Park and other town property.
Himes said the whole issue became political when the town decided to allow religious displays on town property.
"The original question was whether Vernon would have a nativity scene on church property or town property," Himes said. "The difference between those two is a political difference."
By using the image of the twin towers, the goal is to "simply emphasize an advantage of atheism, something good about atheism," Himes said. "Al-Qaida is not a terrorist organization that happens to be religious, it is a terrorist organization that is inspired by its religious beliefs."
The Rev. Ray Dupere, pastor of Union Congregational Church, the massive stone church that anchors the west end of Central Park, said the sign has caused people to think and talk about their faith, and to have conversations they might not otherwise have.
"It gives me the opportunity to talk to people about God [who] I might not otherwise get to talk to because they might not ask me what I think," Dupere said. "I think it's fine."
The Rev. John N. Antonelle, a priest at nearby St. Bernard Church, views the atheists' display as free speech.
"Many people kind of get comfortable in their faith and aren't challenged," Antonelle said. "This is a good source to enliven that faith and to open up the doors to discussion and be able to discuss it and reinforce their faith. It's working out, we think, in a very positive way."
At the same time, Antonelle added, he offers a prayer for those who don't believe. "We pray that they could always be enlightened and recognize God's goodness to all of humanity," he said.
Antonelle plans to pick up the new creche in the coming week and expects it to be placed in the park soon.
LaChapelle said Friday that in the days since the atheists erected their display, visitors to her diner have noticed something in the photo of the twin towers. "The sun forms a cross," she said.
"That certainly wasn't intentional," responded Himes.
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