It took a little time, (more than a long weekend). But now the ValleyCoR.org billboard is clean and new again.
The previous vandalism by a tagger altered the message by whiting out the word “Don’t”. A tagger’s signature was also added.
Although the tagger who attacked the orignal sign is statistically likely to be a Christian, it is unlikely he or she vandalized our sign out of any sort of religious conviction. No, the vandalism seems to have been calculated to take advantage of the controversy.
What is offensive to me personally about the vandalism is the extremely poor quality of the tag. “MADC” is a pretty famous graffiti artist who creates some beautiful work. (Yes, her work is on public and private property – I have a problem with that.) The Fresno tagger who took her signature in vain clearly failed his or her second grade fingerpainting class.
Regardless of the intent of the tagger, the results have been greater coverage of the ValleyCoR message. There have been comments of thanks in the ValleyCoR Facebook page and in email from atheists who would not have heard of us from the orignal advertisement.
In addition to this, ValleyCoR is the recepient of additional advertising from a local individual who has opened a “hate” web site against us. His web site has also directed positive atheists and skeptics to ValleyCoR and CVAAS.
This hate website is valleycorsucks.com. I am showing the link to his website in order to point out that the First Presbyterian Church of Fresno (highlighted in this website’s banner) does NOT support valleycorsucks. First Presbyterian has told ValleyCoR that the website owner does not represent them, and is not a member of their church. I would like to personally say that First Presbyterian has been very kind and gracious to ValleyCoR and to CVAAS, and I encourage CVAAS readers who wish to send a respectful note of thanks to First Presbyterian.
