Nativity scenes, objects of hatred ......... ?

Question

Here in our little corner of the world, nativity scenes had been the focal point in a downtown park since time began, almost ! About five years ago, those who placed the nativities were forced to abandon this tradition, forced by a small minority of anti-religious people. Silly, since the nativity is what Christmas is all about. This year a group of citizens, at their own expense, put up a large nativity scene downtown, with the mayor's permission, and with the advice and permission of the city attorney. Now there is some real hatred going on over this innocuous nativity. Folks who hate it are in the minority, but vocal in their hatred and animosity, and demanding it be taken down. What is this, folks ??? Anyone and everyone of 'other religions' are welcome to put their own symbols and stuff there too, but they do not want to do this, no, they want to persecute the Christians by stubbornly making a big fuss over this. Are other communities having this fight? What do you think?

Check out this website......and related issues discussed here.

http://www.aclj.org/TrialNotebook/Read.aspx?id=282

Answer 1

Hmmm interesting. And to the people who say establishment clause, they have no idea what it must mean. If I pray and someone sees me they cannot say, "AH! The government is allowing it and hence they approve of it, so they are endorsing his religion above others!". Thats not true. Now if the government organized and funded a Christian prayer, and denied any Muslims participation, that would be wrong, but the government has to sit back and allow religious activities to commence. Since this event you speak of was privately and not publicly funded, it is not government sponsorship.

They may reply, "Oh but it may be on public property". That is equally stupid. That is like saying, "An atheist walked on the street, and the street was paid for by taxpayer money, so that is the government endorsing atheism" Its stupid. Public property belongs to the public, we can use it however we want.

Its like a public park. You do not have to go get government permission to play baseball there, you just do. In the same way you should not need government permission for nativity signs or for other religious events.

Answer 2

That small minority of anti-religous people you refer to is also me. I am Jewish. Ifind the Nativity Scenes on public property to be anti-Semitic. America is a Republic. Under our Constitution the rights of the minority have to be as respected as the rights of the majority. I am not Christian, I find the Nativity Scene at Church's to look wonderful. I see the menorahs at Jewish Temples to be beautiful. I also see the purple cloth on the crosses at churches during Easter as fine.

But I do not want them on public ground.

A good example of this is Stone Mountain, Georgia. The land was once owned by the Grand Dragon of the Klu Klux Klan. Every Easter he and his followers would climb the mountain and burn a cross. Then for tax reasons he gave the land to the State of Georgia. The next two years he continued to burn a cross. The ACLU and a bunch of individuals and other groups sued and won. The cross burning has stopped.

So if you put up a Nativity Scene on Public Property, can I burn a cross? Can I put up a Minorah? Can I erect a Buddah? Where does it end?

The Nativity scene on Church property are wonderful to look at. Nativity scene on Public Property are not.

Answer 3

The nativity scene is definitely NOT what Xmas is all about. This particularly onerous holiday is about BIG $$$$$$$ and greed which is instilled in kids from the time they imagine a an old fat fart squeezing down their grime-thickened chimney and hear a clattering on the roof which they mistakenly assume is caused by flying reindeer. Well, even though I'm not Jewish, I still don't like animals with cloven hooves. Especially when they're stampeding in my backyard. No, I don't believe in all that Xmas crap, now that I've learned what's actually causing all that noise on my roof. It's a bunch of neighbours in white hoods, preparing to nail me (ha ha) and then burn me at the stake. See, I live in Salem and they have my house surrounded. HELP!!

Answer 4

Just to cite the obvious - so many people have no idea what the Constitution says about such public displays (at least eight people who have already answered your question *completely* misconstrue and misunderstand Article One of the Bill of Rights, AKA: the First Amendment)! Such fights over Nativity scenes are a prime example of today's political correctness *and* just one more sign of the End of this Present Age! Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Answer 5

i exchange into all waiting to bounce in this one. yet then you took the ingredient out of it and gave me a snigger. thank you. it is so good to renowned we nevertheless have freedom of speech. take exhilaration in through fact the way issues are changing, I worry we can lose that alongside the way. If Christians do no longer take a stand and combat the atheist , then we can all lose. The morals of this u . s . have dropped to an all time low and nevertheless falling.

Answer 6

This is nothing new. It happens at least once every Holiday Season. Christians wanting to put a symbol of their faith up on PUBLIC PROPERTY, and demanding that the supposedly neutral city government "deal with it."

The problem is, the city government allowing a symbol of a singular religious belief system to be erected, on public property is ILLEGAL, as per the 1st Amendment. It's a governmental acknowledgement and endorsement of a specific religious practice. Once again, this is illegal, due to the 1st Amendment of the US Constitution.

If christians want to put up a nativity scene in front of their church, or in their own front yards...that's fine...be my guest...go for it. We can't legally stop you....

BUT don't think we're going to sit idly by while you break the law...

Deal with it.

EDIT: All that link shows is there is an organization of anti-constitutionalists out there who are determined to break the law and undermine everything the Founding Fathers stood for. Pretty sad...

Answer 7

I think if it's not on public property and not funded by tax dollars, have a blast. There's nothing to object to. Let'em have their Nativity. It's a free country, ya know?

Answer 8

Persecution is on the rise. This will continue to GROW till Christ comes, He said so!

How about LOWES SAYING they didn't know the COVER of their Christmas Catalog was covered with trees called "FAMILY TREES" not Christmas trees?! Give me a break!!!

Look for this NEW tradition of ELIMINATING the REAL meaning of Christmas to just get WORSE and WORSE!!!

Answer 9

As long as the nativity scene is on private property and is payed for with private funds, they can't do a thing about it :)

PS: If they try to sue, and the scene isn't on public land or payed for with taxpayer dollars, contact the ACLU, as they have been known to help the defendants in cases like this...

Answer 10

I think I don't care what scenes are put up in a public park. If I don't like or approve of them, I won't look at them. They mean nothing to me, positive or negative.