Dreaming of a (Secular) Christmas

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
A manger scene espouses a particular religion. Thus, the government can't do it. With all the private friggan property available, can't all these religionistas leave public property alone?

Didn't you just get through saying that you disagreed with the town's actions? Why are you defending them now?

[Imran Siddiqui]

[q=Berzerker]This is why "The War on Christmas" has legs, because this sh*t happens and people wonder why the traditions they've practiced there whole lives are being swept off "public" property.[/q]

There has been a "War on Christmas" for over 50 years? Because that is at least how far back rulings against nativity scenes on public property have been handed down by the Supreme Court.

[Sikander]

Originally posted by Ogie Oglethorpe


TBS was playing "Christmas Story" non stop for 24 hours.

Deck the harrs with bows of horry!! Fa-ra-ra-ra Ra-ra-rar!!

You'll shoot your eye out kid!

One of my all time favorites!

(Drink more Ovaltine!)

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
There has been a "War on Christmas" for over 50 years? Because that is at least how far back rulings against nativity scenes on public property have been handed down by the Supreme Court.

You of all people should know that the precedent on this subject is confused and unclear at best.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
You of all people should know that the precedent on this subject is confused and unclear at best.

Nativity scenes in the public square, however, have been struck down for decades. The only leeway is if it is in the middle of a cheesy Holiday wonderland. I fail to see a 'War on Christmas' being ongoing since the 1950s.

[DinoDoc]

Nativity scenes in the public square, however, have been struck down for decades. The only leeway is if it is in the middle of a cheesy Holiday wonderland.

And what does that have to do with the town in question? How are there actions legally defensible?

[Imran Siddiqui]

If someone wants to sue on the stars of David, they can go ahead, but I doubt that anyone will claim a War on Judaism or Hanukkah. However, there is nothing wrong with that particular statement about the manger scene.

[DinoDoc]

You see nothing wrong with it in the context of a town with Stars of David decorating lampposts and a giant menorah donated by a synagogue sitting on public property?

[Imran Siddiqui]

Well it's a ****ing true statement! Who cares if they are being hypocrites, they'll get theirs for that.

[DinoDoc]

In any case, you are correct. Nativity scenes on public lands are illegal ... except when the courts decide they aren't.

http://www.slate.com/id/2060070/

[Straybow]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

Originally posted by DinoDoc
You of all people should know that the precedent on this subject is confused and unclear at best.

Nativity scenes in the public square, however, have been struck down for decades. The only leeway is if it is in the middle of a cheesy Holiday wonderland. I fail to see a 'War on Christmas' being ongoing since the 1950s.

The fact that arsehats have been "offended" by nativity scenes (and prayer, and all other reference to religion in the public sector) to the point of carrying a case all the way to SCOTUS shows that there has been a ongoing war against Christianity in general since the '50s (or whenever you can rustle up the earliest case).

[Arrian]

War against Christianity

How about war against pushy religionistas ramming their particular delusions down the rest of our throats?

Exaggeration? Sure. But no more than "there's a WAR on CHRISTIANITY! OMG, TEH EVIL LIBERALS!"

-Arrian

[Straybow]

It's always the one who attacks the status quo who starts the "war." In a case of real injustice that's good. But when it's arsehats who want to stir up trouble because they're so insecure in their anti-religionism that they can't stand to have religion mentioned, it isn't good.

[Arrian]

Who is insecure? I'd say it's the religionistas who are so insecure in the power of their message that they freak out if the government is no longer helping them uphold the status quo. What, you can't worship at home or in a church? You can't lead a good, Christian life w/o Nativity scenes on public land? You can't find converts w/o government endorsement of your religion?

Hmm.

-Arrian

[Straybow]

It's something called tradition and culture. The culture of the country is nominally Christian; get over it. The tradition of the creche is not something new; get over it.

Used to be deists and other nonbelievers were content to say "bah, humbug" and leave it at that. Now they gotta be arsehats.

The point is that being a Christian is all about being good, which even the old deists and nonbelievers recognized. The Christian holidays celebrate the good things in Christianity: a birth that gives hope, and sacrifice that gives faith. To the arsehats, it's whining about how they don't see hope or faith in these things. Get over it.