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Atheist Action Halts Calif. Nativity Display; Churches Go to Court

spanky

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Atheist Action Halts Calif. Nativity Display; Churches Go to Court

Churches are going to federal court to reclaim their freedom of speech after the city of Santa Monica, Calif., decided to end a nearly 60-year tradition of having Christian displays of the nativity in a public park due to an uproar caused by atheists' anti-God signs.

"It's a sad, sad commentary on the attitudes of the day that a nearly 60-year-old Christmas tradition is now having to hunt for a home, something like our savior had to hunt for a place to be born because the world was not interested," The Associated Press quoted Hunter Jameson, head of the nonprofit Santa Monica Nativity Scene Committee, as saying.

The committee, comprising churches that are behind the nativity display, is suing in federal court, claiming the city violated their freedom of speech by stopping the holiday tradition. A court hearing is scheduled for Monday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles.

Read more at Atheist Action Halts Calif. Nativity Display; Churches Go to Court

Just so I get this right, these churches are suing the government claiming their rights to freedom of speech were violated because the government wouldn't provide them a soapbox and place in the park?

Found this gem lower down...

The atheists used half their spaces, displaying anti-God signs, most of which were vandalized. This led the city to effectively end the tradition that began in 1953.

So the city ended the practice because the religulous were vandalizing the other displays.
 
and the war on Christmas begins! Just in time for the 2012 season. Bring up a lawn chair and watch the fireworks.

Current score: Christians, 0, Atheists, 0, but the Atheists have the ball. This one could be an exciting game.
 
and the war on Christmas begins! Just in time for the 2012 season. Bring up a lawn chair and watch the fireworks.

Current score: Christians, 0, Atheists, 0, but the Atheists have the ball. This one could be an exciting game.

Yay!! Love this blood sport!!
 
These atheist are what give us a bad name. You can't stand to see a nativity scene? Really? You going to get Christmas banned altogether? The whole holiday is based on pagan foundations, so to fight any part of the holiday is to effectively fight the entire holiday. It's silly, it's petty, and it's not what any decent atheist would/should do. Pathetic.
 
These atheist are what give us a bad name. You can't stand to see a nativity scene? Really? You going to get Christmas banned altogether? The whole holiday is based on pagan foundations, so to fight any part of the holiday is to effectively fight the entire holiday. It's silly, it's petty, and it's not what any decent atheist would/should do. Pathetic.

I'm sorry, what did the atheists do to get Xmas banned?
 
Never said that, my point is where does it stop?

Seems to me it wasn't the atheists fault. They did what they were supposed to and they purchased half the spots which then got vandalized and the city banned everything.

The atheists were not the ones at fault here.
 
and the war on Christmas begins! Just in time for the 2012 season. Bring up a lawn chair and watch the fireworks.

Current score: Christians, 0, Atheists, 0, but the Atheists have the ball. This one could be an exciting game.

Has any else gotten their draft notice?
 
So the city ended the practice because the religulous were vandalizing the other displays.

To be fair, I don't see any indication from the article that "the religulous" were responsible for the vandalism.

In any case, being non-religious and non-atheist, this is a non-issue for me.
 
Seems to me it wasn't the atheists fault. They did what they were supposed to and they purchased half the spots which then got vandalized and the city banned everything.

The atheists were not the ones at fault here.

The fact that they flooded the city for spaces in the park, while not illegal, is ridiculous. Their message isn't one of christmas cheer, or in any way supporting the season, it was merely an anti-religious message. They turned what used to be a nice trip for a family to take to get in the spirit and turned it into a spectacle. It's a park, it's a Christmas display, have a damn heart.
 
To be fair, I don't see any indication from the article that "the religulous" were responsible for the vandalism.

In any case, being non-religious and non-atheist, this is a non-issue for me.

True, nobody was arrested. It might have been the atheists vandalizing their own displays.
 
The fact that they flooded the city for spaces in the park, while not illegal, is ridiculous. Their message isn't one of christmas cheer, or in any way supporting the season, it was merely an anti-religious message. They turned what used to be a nice trip for a family to take to get in the spirit and turned it into a spectacle. It's a park, it's a Christmas display, have a damn heart.

The the churches can erect their displays on their own property. IMO they have no place on public property, period.

Just wait until the Muslims start erecting their dioramas in public parks about Islam and Mohammed. I'll have my popcorn ready...
 
The fact that they flooded the city for spaces in the park, while not illegal, is ridiculous. Their message isn't one of christmas cheer, or in any way supporting the season, it was merely an anti-religious message. They turned what used to be a nice trip for a family to take to get in the spirit and turned it into a spectacle. It's a park, it's a Christmas display, have a damn heart.

So because they followed the law, their stuff got vandelized and the city cancelled the practice it's their fault? Sorry, don't see that.

As much as you want to blame the atheists, it's the fault of those that decided to vandelize.
 
The the churches can erect their displays on their own property. IMO they have no place on public property, period.

Just wait until the Muslims start erecting their dioramas in public parks about Islam and Mohammed. I'll have my popcorn ready...

So YOU have a problem with Islam and Mohammed which means Muslims should have to not celebrate their culture in public? Seems like YOU are the one being intolerant. :shrug:
 
So because they followed the law, their stuff got vandelized and the city cancelled the practice it's their fault? Sorry, don't see that.

As much as you want to blame the atheists, it's the fault of those that decided to vandelize.

I blame the atheists for making this an issue. They weren't setting up non-religious displays of cheer for the season, but anti-religious messages. They knew what they were doing and the reaction elicited was probably the one they were going for. I would have no problem with this IF their intentions had been to spread cheer, or spread a message of giving, or helping out during the season. You know, things the Christmas season is about. But they didn't. That's what is pathetic.
 
I blame the atheists for making this an issue. They weren't setting up non-religious displays of cheer for the season, but anti-religious messages. They knew what they were doing and the reaction elicited was probably the one they were going for. I would have no problem with this IF their intentions had been to spread cheer, or spread a message of giving, or helping out during the season. You know, things the Christmas season is about. But they didn't. That's what is pathetic.

And people are free to ignore it, but they didn't and instead chose to vandalize. Then the whole thing gets cancelled. The blame lies solely on those that can't control themselves and had to vandalize.
 
So YOU have a problem with Islam and Mohammed which means Muslims should have to not celebrate their culture in public? Seems like YOU are the one being intolerant. :shrug:

Heheh...I'll probably have a beer in my hand as well
 
And people are free to ignore it, but they didn't and instead chose to vandalize. Then the whole thing gets cancelled. The blame lies solely on those that can't control themselves and had to vandalize.

I'm not abdicating blame of those who vandalized the signs. But don't think that the atheists didn't know what they were doing.
 
These atheist are what give us a bad name. You can't stand to see a nativity scene? Really? You going to get Christmas banned altogether? The whole holiday is based on pagan foundations, so to fight any part of the holiday is to effectively fight the entire holiday. It's silly, it's petty, and it's not what any decent atheist would/should do. Pathetic.

Im an atheist and my reply to this whole thing is fehhh! I dont care. However, i think the atheists here are standing on principle and not "ohhh my gawd! look! it's a nativity scene. I must look the other way kind of thing.
 
I'm not abdicating blame of those who vandalized the signs. But don't think that the atheists didn't know what they were doing.

The atheists were posting THEIR message which was THEIR right. Those that vandalized could have ignored it. Sorry but it works both ways. If it's there LEGALLY, then if you don't like it ignore it.
 
Im an atheist and my reply to this whole thing is fehhh! I dont care. However, i think the atheists here are standing on principle and not "ohhh my gawd! look! it's a nativity scene. I must look the other way kind of thing.

And what principle is that? The one where they shouldn't have to walk done the street and see anything remotely religious because it offends them? Look, I am an atheist also, but I fight when religion actually encroaches on my rights. When they try and do away with evolution in school and replace it with creationism. That's a fight. Raising a stink about a nativity scene in a public park? That's just petty and pathetic.
 
And what principle is that? The one where they shouldn't have to walk done the street and see anything remotely religious because it offends them? Look, I am an atheist also, but I fight when religion actually encroaches on my rights. When they try and do away with evolution in school and replace it with creationism. That's a fight. Raising a stink about a nativity scene in a public park? That's just petty and pathetic.

I'm sorry, what stink did they raise?
 
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