Denver Mayor to Light Community Menorah (He's the "Merry Christmas" censor)

Jewish Colorado ^ | Dec 04 | Jewish Colorado

[mvpel]

Strode frowns on the idea of adding a Hanukkah menorah or other religious symbol because, he said, "it would open the door for every other religion" to add their icons to his display.

The simple solution would be for the city to adhere to Article II, Section 4 of the Colorado Constitution, to wit:

No person shall be required to attend or support any ministry or place of worship, religious sect or denomination against his consent. Nor shall any preference be given by law to any religious denomination or mode of worship.

[Liz]

How to explain the Denver Mayor who censors "Merry Christmas?"

For those who believe in Christ no explanation is necessary.

For those who do not believe in Christ, no explanation is possible.

[SJackson]

Clearly he misspoke, you keep opinions like that to yourself. My impression, other posters who aside, is that Denver has an active athiest community. They'll make use of that.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Why do the Jews get to call it Hanukkah but the Christians can't call it Christmas? This isn't "inclusive", it's divisive.

Christians must learn to be more tolerant.

[Liz]

Laura Ingraham had an African-American guest on her radio show today who tried to get a religious float in the Denver Christmas parade. Maybe a choir, possibly even singing secular songs at times. Nope - no chance.

These calculating politicians are obviously trying to curry favor with select voting blocks to the exclusion of others. They'll sing a different tune when they see this. map. (MAP UPDATE Bush won Iowa and New Mexico later.)

[Liz]

But, but, but...people can see that menorah from public streets, and might become offended! They should put it where it can't be seen by the general public, or even accessed from public property, because we just can't run the risk of offending skinheads or other neo-nazis like the ACLU.

The ACLU's silence on the Denver government's sanctioning, and even participating, in a public display of faith is deafening.

[longtermmemmory]

The reference to "festival of lights" blah blah blah is serving and actual legal function. There is a school of legal thought that as long as Hanukkah is referred as a "historic" event they can BS their way out of religion status.

(it does not pass the duck test but we are dealing with lawyer speak)

I am really appreciating my Greek Satellite TV. They seem to have nooooo problems with Merry Christmas.

[SJackson]

The reference to "festival of lights" blah blah blah is serving and actual legal function. There is a school of legal thought that as long as Hanukkah is referred as a "historic" event they can BS their way out of religion status...(it does not pass the duck test but we are dealing with lawyer speak)

It's irrelevant to the thread, but do you have any citations for that?

[Mo1]

But maybe someone can explain to me just how Jews or Chanukah are involved in this story

Ummm because it's the Jewish people who celebrate Hanukkah and light a Menorah maybe

[SJackson]

Ummm because it's the Jewish people who celebrate Hanukkah and light a Menorah maybe

In the public display, which is the topic of the threads? Or involved in the Mayors aborted name change? I missed that.

[Mo1]

This thread is about the lighting of the Menorah

The banning of the word Merry Christmas information you can find on this thread

Denver bans words 'Merry Christmas' from traditional downtown parade of lights

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

This is the part stupid leftists don't realize. I know Christmas is over commercialized, but can you see the libs getting their wish? The economic part would follow Christmas down the drain. It would only be a time of brisk sales as gift giving would drop severely. There are other unintended consequences the left hasn't begun to consider. Wait until being anti Christmas hurts their bottom line. They would be screaming for Christmas to come back.

[SJackson]

Needless to say you missed the addendum in post 1 relating to the commentary in the "title", as well as many of the posts. Or do we ignore those.

[RFEngineer]

"Isn't it, a mayor, here in America, in attendence at a Jewish Community center. Horrorible!!"

No, it's not horrible. Religious tolerance in America is the legacy our Protestant forefathers who fled religious intolerance in Europe. That's what this is all about.

Are you saying it's tolerant for a mayor to further and actively emasculate a Christian celebration in a predominately Christian nation like this guy did? Sure he caved, but it will be the same crap next year.

Christmas celebrated by Christians does not threaten religious tolerance. Yet we've been forced to secularize it gradually to the point where any non-Christian can derail any expression of Christian faith anywhere, anytime.

That is just as bad for Judaism as it is for Christianity.

[Mo1]

You seem to be assuming many are against the lighting of the Menorah or that we are against him being there

Re-read the posts .. that is not what's being posted

I myself have no problem with the lighting and have stated so in an earlier post

Folks (including myself) have a problem at the double standards and actions from this Mayor

[SJackson]

No, it's not horrible. Religious tolerance in America is the legacy our Protestant forefathers who fled religious intolerance in Europe. That's what this is all about... Are you saying it's tolerant for a mayor to further and actively emasculate a Christian celebration in a predominately Christian nation like this guy did? Sure he caved, but it will be the same crap next year.

No, read the thread, I've said nothing of the sort.

Please note that the comment you're responding to was to a poster who, in regard to the Mayor's visit, commented.

This is unbelievable!

I don't think it's unbelievable that a Mayor in America would visit a Jewish Community Center, it seems as normal to me as attending a Christmas tree lighting.

[SJackson]

You seem to be assuming many are against the lighting of the Menorah or that we are against him being there

Not many, some. I'd disagree on the double standard, at least if you're contending it's in "favor" of Chanukah though. See post 73. Merry Christmas, Christmas Tree and Creche, all displayed on public property, with the Mayors support, at least this year. I've no problem with that. The display of a Menorah is banned, because the city doesn't want to include other religions. I've seen no indication that anyone want's a Menorah there, and personally I think the display is silly in that context. But if there's a double standard there it's not anti-Christian.

[Just mythoughts]

Where oh where is the Reverend Jesse Jackson, ACLU, I know, I know.

Those who enjoy and take for granted the blessings of this nation because we are a Christian nation might be in for a rude awakening.

[Liz]

Those who enjoy and take for granted the blessings of this nation because we are a Christian nation might be in for a rude awakening.

Amen and amen.

[RFEngineer]

"No, read the thread, I've said nothing of the sort."

I read it, I was responding to you. I don't think you said you felt he was tolerant at all, but I did think that you all but called the poster anti-semitic with your sarcastic tone. I thought the discussion needed to evolve to one of our tradition, as Americans, of religious tolerance.

I wouldn't want an anti-semite lighting a Christmas tree anymore than you'd want someone hostile to Christianity lighting a menorah.

I'm not sure this mayor is either, but I don't see him as a good steward of our tradition of religious tolerance either.