Posted on 12/18/2007 7:12:46 PM PST by OKIEDOC
Two Oklahoma City employees have sued the city over a memo from City Manager Jim Couch that the pair describes as "Anti-Christmas."
The fuss is about whether to allow city employees to display nativity scenes, crosses, angels, cherubs and other religious items in their offices.
Couch’s memo says such religious holiday items shouldn’t be displayed in government offices in order to “maintain neutrality” and avoid promoting one religion over another.
Employees Christopher Spencer and Kenneth Buck disagree. They filed a federal lawsuit Monday accusing Couch and other city employees of violating their First Amendment rights by asking that religious-themed decor not be displayed in their offices.
The pair also claims city officials forced the cancellation of an annual break room Christmas party that included an opening prayer and removal of a Bible from the break room.
This afternoon, a federal judge is being asked to grant a temporary restraining order that would allow the men to continue displaying religious items while at work.
According to the request for the temporary restraining order, the men should be allowed to display the items at work in order to “celebrate Christmas equally with other Oklahoma City employees who are free to adorn to their personal workspace with a Santa Claus or other non-religious symbols and text.”
Couch sent the memo to department heads Nov. 15, as the holiday season began.
The employees are being aided by attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund, a legal alliance that advocates for religious freedom.
Saying you cannot display Christmas or any religious items in your office or on your desk is asking for trouble.
This guy has probably sealed his fate in a very religious and conservative state like Oklahoma.
I wouldn't want to be in his shoes come contact renewal time.
I don’t understand. Christmas is a LEGAL federal holiday. It celebrates the birth of Jesus. Why then, is not a Nativity scene allowed?
There is Christmas stuff all over our building and we are a very large company. I even saw the name JESUS prominently displayed from one managers door. We have many nations represented and everyone can display year-round as they celebrate various holidays.
In OK, I say he needs to brush up his resume.
Why do I think these types will try to eradicate every vestage of Christmas *except* the actual holiday time itself?
Sooooo....does this City Manager take Christmas Day off????? HHHMMMMMMMM???? If there will be NO celebration of Christmas, then let there be NO HOLIDAY OFF! IDIOT!
Last time I was in an OKC office several years ago some gal from India had a religious statue displayed in her bookshelf and it did not bother me one bit.
Last time I was in an OKC office several years ago some gal from India had a religious statue displayed in her bookshelf and it did not bother me one bit.
Sounds as if he could use a visit from an angel named “Earl”.
(TV’s “Saving Grace”)
Yep, attempt to banish the time off and all these brain dead types would begin to protest big time. Call it Christmas, so what, paid time off is paid time off. Keep bitching and you will work 365. No, you will work 364, with May Day off to celebrate socialism (or mayhap, April 1st).
I’ll bet that big contention of Hamas Arabs who live in OKC are celebrating.
Even Jesus and nativity scenes are in stores.
The customer has been heard.
yitbos
Vee haf vays of makink you aseeist.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1941024/postsAlthough the other thread deals with the issue of the California public school teacher who was criticizing Christianity, the overall problem concerning that issue is the same as the one concerning this issue, in my opinion. The essay attempts to explain why the politically correct interpretation of our 1st A. religious freedoms is so prevalent today.
Also, I'm not trying to hijack this thread. So if you feel inclined to comment about the essay as it pertains to this thread then please do so in this thread.
You don’t want to offend the mooselimbs or Jews no do ya?
So you are supposed to subjugate your religion.
Personally I’d wear a huge cross around my neck and one on a tee shirt when ever I had to go in to this clowns office.
where “Santa Claus” came from (Saint NichoLAS)
http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=38
That’s why i do not hesitate to tell my kids that Santa Claus spirit exists, and he just needs parents to help him out.
Once these hayseeds figger it out, Santa will get the boot too!
http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=38
How about the mayor? Mr. up-and-coming Cornett? What’s his stated position? They give prayer in chambers? The state has a holiday that’s in the employee manual.
Our country is losing its friggin mind.
http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=38
Christmas is a legal holiday, and has its symbols that represent the holiday, including the Star of Bethlehem and the Nativity.
To disallow display of these symbols is the equivalent of disallowing the display of the flag on Independence Day.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.