Atheist Bus - Following up in Valencia

So after yesterday's post, I opened the newspaper today and what a coincidence! The headline on page 21 says (for those who can read spanish) "Las cosas de la EMT van despacio". The EMT translates as the Municipal Transportation Company. According to the Levante, city officials are taking extra long to approve the solicitation for the popular atheist message. The solicitation is now pending 12 days. Eventhough, the spanish govt is reknown to delay solicitations of all kind. Speedy approvals are in coorelation to spanish beauracratic interest. Obviously, if the message, permit, event, or company's function is in the interest of the spanish officials, then a speedy approval is put in place. However, as we see in this case, there happens to be a lot of negative publicity created by christian organizations and officials and it seems that the Ajuntamiento de Valencia is taking its time to think it over. Not to mention that 12 days of thinking puts $4000 on the line.

The UAL (local atheist union) has put up the money for these advertisements to go in effect during Fallas (March festival). According to Levante, a similar union executed the same process in Madrid and the the Madrileños quickly approved the advertisement after one week, following suit of Barcelona. Meanwhile, the ex-consulate of the Generalitat de Catalunya and the president of E-Christians are presenting a counter ad in Barcelona with plans to continue to Madrid and Valencia. Supposedly, this counter ad will state "When all the others abandon you, God is still with you." Does this remind you of the little comment from yesterday? "Burn and Burn...because thats how these things go". Ha ha!

Anyways, for my opinion, I think that Valencia is holding up on the approval for the opportunity for other businesses to jump in and put a higher bid for the same advertisement space. If it were not for this, then why? It seems to me that Valencia is looking for an excuse to drop the solicitation. Afterall, Valencia does not want the image of atheist or conformist. Remember, the UAL wants this image in FALLAS! This is a very good strategy on part of the UAL organization. Fallas is one of the two largest festivals in Spain (behind San Fermin) in terms of international influx. Young people from all over europe will plague the city to the point where civilian vehicles cannot circulate, but the municipal buses still move. Furthermore, does Valencia want to follow Madrid and Barcelona? You have to really take a look at what Valencian politicians are promoting in the past couple of years with huge international events like the Formula One and America's Cup.

These events are directed, watched, sponsored, and taken part by mostly white, christian, conservative individuals. Does Valencia want to bite the hand that feeds? The city apart from Barcelona and Madrid must look out for its interests, so they sit back and wait till the last minute or wait until there is too much pressure from citizens or the media.

I'll follow up some more as I get more info...

as for now...be looking for my two cents on our Mr. President OBAMA.