Nativity Scene Controversy in S. Florida

Fox News ^ | 12-08-2004 | Fox News

[RepCath]

MIAMI — A debate is brewing in a south Florida town over a nativity scene. For the past two years, Sandra Snowden (search) has been asking the town council to place a manger display next to the Jewish menorahs and Stars of David that decorate Bay Harbor Islands (search). But the town has refused, calling the controversy trivial and saying the existing display is fair because plastic snowflakes and Christmas trees are part of it. So Snowden filed a federal lawsuit, saying she will “fight this to the bitter end.” The judge expects to have the decision by early next week. In court, the town said it has the right to display whatever decorations it wants — but one town lawyer’s comments that the menorah (search) isn’t a religious symbol raised some eyebrows in the courtroom, including the judge's. Advocates of the separation of church and state say governments shouldn’t be displaying any religious symbols and should stick to secular winter decorations like snowflakes.

[Red Badger]

I wonder if Snowden

[Red Badger]

I wonder if Snowden wirks fir target?.....

[L98Fiero]

Advocates of the separation of church and state... Advocates of something that doesn't even exist are telling us how society should be?

[truthseeker04]

Info about this was posted last week as well with more detail on the case and the anti-Christian mayor of the town.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1293649/posts?page=19#19

[nathanbedford]

It is becoming less and less PC for secular Jews to be transparently anti Christian.

They will have to become more clever.

[trebb]

but one town lawyer’s comments that the menorah (search) isn’t a religious symbol raised some eyebrows in the courtroom, including the judge's.

I guess that settles it; the only true religious symbols are those of the Christians, which must not be displayed where they might hurt Satan's minions; all others are just seasonal or special occasion symbols and therefore allowable.

[AmericanInTokyo]

We ought to start setting up 501(c) religous organizations, one after another, for the sake of "Worshipping the ______". Whatever symbol for Christmas they put out to ignore Christianity and Jesus (which is really what they want--who are they fooling) then we could "religious"-ize it, and then claim it, too, should be taken down. "First National Church of Snowflake Adoration". Just keep doing this and wear them down till they have no choice but to accept a Traditional Christmas scene.

[Red Badger]

How about Pontif of Poinsettias? and Bishop of Bows or Cardinal of Nutcrackers?......

[AmericanInTokyo]

Hey, now WHY didn't I think of your TAGLINE!? LOL.

[Jim Noble]

What's wrong with people?

Luke 21:17 explains it rather well, I think.

[Lancey Howard]

The people of the town should be able to do whatever they want to do, whether that means displaying a nativity scene, Jesus on the cross, Jewish menorahs, Stars of David, the ten commandments, whatever. Nothing in the Constitution of the US gives the government the power to stop the people or their town from doing whatever they want to do.

There are some very confused people out there, and I'm afraid that the sneaky scumbags of the ACLU and the Democrat Party are taking advantage of their ignorance by spinning and fabricating a mythical "separation of church and state", and trying to convince the especially confused that it's in the First Amendment somewhere. It is not, of course.

Just for reference purposes, here's the First Amendment. It tells Congress what kind of laws they cannot make:

AMENDMENT I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

[Red Badger]

I didn't either, It's thanx to Michael Moore......

[Lancey Howard]

BUMP

[NCC-1701]

"...It tells Congress what kind of laws they cannot make:..."

You see, the libs get around that by having activist judges create law from the bench to suit their needs. If congress dosen't do their bidding, then the judges will. That's at the crux of the problem. So sad. I hope thet the backlash agaist political correctness begins in earnest soon. Put the lid back on the Pandora's box of pc and send it to he!!.

BTW, Merry CHRISTmas!

[Liz]

The Secular Taliban strikes again.

Why don't these people get professional help for their self-esteem problems instead of beating up on Christians.

[Cindy]

ON THE NET...

FOX NEWS.com: "NATIVITY SCENE CONTROVERSY IN S. FLORIDA" (December 8, 2004)

ACLJ.org: "READ THE ACLJ's POSITION IN OUR RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY DISPLAYS INFORMATION LETTER - AMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE - Jay Alan Sekulow Chief Counsel"

AGAPE PRESS: "LEGAL EXPERT: SCHOOLS SECULARIZING CHRISTMAS VIOLATE STUDENTS' RIGHTS" by Jim Brown (December 7, 2004)

ABC NEWS.go.com: Maplewood, New Jersey - "DEBATING CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS IN PUBLIC PLACES" (December 7, 2004)

ReligionNewsBlog.com (REUTERS via YAHOO!): Rome: "JESUS BANNED FROM CHRISTMAS CAROL" (December 7, 2004)

FOX NEWS.com: "CHRISTMAS UNDER SIEGE: THE BIG PICTURE" -Column by Bill O'Reilly (December 7, 2004)

RUTHERFORD.org - THE RUTHERFORD INSTITUTE: "THE TWELVE RULES OF CHRISTMAS" by John W. Whitehead (December 6, 2004)

CHICAGO TRIBUNE.com: "SCHOOL'S INCLUSIVE CHRISTMAS EXCLUDES CHRIST" by Jeff Long (December 6, 2004)

WorldNetDaily.com: "GROUP TO SING CAROLS IN FRONT OF ACLU OFFICE Hopes Spirit of Christmas will Persuade Lawyers to Embrace Moral Values" (December 4, 2004)

WorldNetDaily.com: "CHURCH LEADERS THREATENS TARGET BOYCOTT Seeks Meeting with CEO over Ban on Salvation Army Ringers" (December 4, 2004)

A Discussion on FREEREPUBLIC.com regarding a MAINE TODAY.com article: "GROUP WANTS END TO 'HAPPY HOLIDAYS'" (December 4, 2004)

AGAPE PRESS: "'TRIVIAL' MATTER LANDS FLORIDA COMMUNITY IN DEEP LEGAL WATERS" by Jody Brown (December 3, 2004)

CNS NEWS.com: "CHRISTIANS SEE CHRISTMAS UNDER PC ATTACK IN AUSTRALIA" by Patrick Goodenough (December 3, 2004)

WorldNetDaily.com: "CHRISTMASTIME EVENT IS NO-CHRISTIAN ZONE Santa, 'holy homosexuals' OK for parade, but no floats with direct religious themes" by Joe Kovacs (December 2, 2004)

RAMBLINGS' JOURNAL: "A LUMP OF COAL IN DENVER'S STOCKING" (December 2, 2004)

A Discussion on FREEREPUBLIC.com regarding this topic: "DENVER MAYOR TO LIGHT COMMUNITY MENORAH (He's the 'Merry Christmas' censor") (December 2, 2004)

AGAPE PRESS: "PRO-LIFE ADVOCATE: HOLIDAY CARDS EXPOSE PLANNED PARENTHOOD'S 'ANTI-GOD NATURE'" by Jody Brown and Bill Fancher (December 1, 2004)

A Discussion on FREEREPUBLIC.com regarding a RockyMountatinNews.com article: "PARADE PROHIBITION PUZZLES PREACHER" (December 1, 2004)

HUMAN EVENTS Online.com: "POST OFFICE TREATS CHRISTMAS STAMP LIKE PORNOGRAPHY; SELLS IT FROM 'UNDER THE COUNTER'" by Mike Thompson (November 30, 2004)

CNS NEWS.com: "SCHOOL'S CAROL RULE FOR THE GRINCH?" (November 30, 2004)

AGAPE PRESS: "CHRISTMAS CAMPAIGN TO PROTECT RELIGIOUS LIBERTY LAUNCHES AGAIN" by Allie Martin and Jenni Parker (November 29, 2004)

WASHINGTON TIMES.com - OpEd by Burt Prelutsky: "ACLU AND HOLIDAY SPIRIT" (November 23, 2004)

AGAPE PRESS: "CHRISTIAN HOLIDAY DISPLAYS AT RI CITY HALL RULED CONSTITUTIONAL" by Allie Martin (November 18, 2004)

AMERICAN DAILY.com: "HOW THE ACLU STOLE CHRISTMAS" -by guest author Jen Shroder (January 7, 2004)

AGAPE PRESS: "INDONESIAN CAROLERS ATTACKED NEAR POLICE HQ" by Allie Martin (January 5, 2004)

AGAPE PRESS: "NO ROOM FOR JESUS" -Column by Rev. Mark H. Creech (December 23, 2003)

COVENANT NEWS.com: "'HAPPY HOLIDAYS' --- BAH! HUMBUG!" -Commentary by Chuck Baldwin (December 23, 2003) (Read More...)

NYC SCHOOLS GIVEN LUMPS OF COAL FOR BANNING NATIVITY SCENES" by Melanie Hunter (December 24, 2003)

ASSIST NEWS SERVICE: "PAKISTAN CHRISTIANS' LIVES THREATENED THIS CHRISTMAS Some In Hiding Amid Increasing Muslim Violence, Reports Say" by Stefan J. Bos (December 24, 2003) (Read More...)

JIHAD WATCH.org: "THREATS OF CHRISTMAS TERROR" (December 23, 2003)

WorldNetDaily.com: "TOWN REFUSES DISPLAY OF NATIVITY" (December 23, 2003)

WorldNetDaily.com: "CHRISTMAS CD BANNED FOR MENTIONING JESUS 'It could cause offense to those who are not Christian'" (December 22, 2003)

NY DAILY NEWS.com: "THE HOLY WARS" -Column by John Leo (December 20, 2003)

AGAPE PRESS: "MOM GOES TO BAT FOR SON'S 'MANGER' DRAWING IN SCHOOL'S HOLIDAY DISPLAY" by Jim Brown (December 17, 2003)

CNS NEWS.com: "PALM BEACH ACCUSED OF HOSTILITY TOWARD CHRISTIANS" by Susan Jones (December 16, 2003)

AGAPE PRESS: "PRO-FAMILY LEGAL GROUP PRESSURES SCHOOL TO LIFT SALVATION ARMY BAN" by Jim Brown and Jenni Parker (December 15, 2003)

CNS NEWS.com: "INDONESIAN CHRISTIANS ONCE AGAIN LIVING IN FEAR" by Patrick Goodenough (December 11, 2003)

NewsMax.com: "THE ANTI-CHRISTMAS ACLU" -Column by Mike Gallagher (December 10, 2003)

CNS NEWS.com: "OHIO SCHOOLS' TEN COMMANDMENT'S DISPLAY CHALLENGED" by Melanie Hunter (December 8, 2003)

WorldNetDaily.com: "OFFICIALS BOOT 'GOD' FROM PATRIOTIC SONG" (December 7, 2003)

WorldNetDaily.com: "TEACHER TAKES 'CHRISTMAS' OUT OF CAROL" (December 6, 2003)

AGAPE PRESS: "CHRISTIAN LAW FIRM WANTS TO STOP SECULARIST 'GRINCHES' FROM STEALING CHRISTMAS" by Allie Martin (December 5, 2003)

FOX NEWS.com: "MOM SUES SCHOOL TO ALLOW NATIVITY SCENE" by David Lee Miller (December 5, 2003)

TOWNHALL.com: "THE 'OFFENSIVENESS' OF CHRISTIANITY" -Column by David Limbaugh (December 5, 2003)

AGAPE PRESS: "PRO-FAITH FIRM SUES CITY FOR VIOLATING SENIORS' RELIGIOUS FREEDOM" by Allie Martin (December 4, 2003)

CNS NEWS.com: "EXPRESS YOUR FAITH THIS CHRISTMAS, GOVERNMENT MINISTER URGES" by Patrick Goodenough (December 3, 2003)

WorldNetDaily.com: "'CHOICE ON EARTH' RETURNS FOR ENCORE Planned Parenthood Says Criticism of Christmas Card Boosted Sales" (December 3, 2003)

NBC30.com - New Haven Hartford CONNECTICUT News: "MERIDEN LIBRARY BARS PAINTING OF JESUS" (December 3, 2003)

WorldNetDaily.com: "STUDENTS THREATENED BY CHRISTMAS? ACLU Warns of Lawsuit Unless Principal Censors Celebration" (November 21, 2003)

WorldNetDaily.com: "'NO CHRISTIAN SYMBOLS AT CHRISTMAS' Red Cross stores bar religious decor fearing it might be offensive" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Fearing they might offend someone, Red Cross stores in Britain have taken the Christian out of Christmas this year, banning any display of overtly religious decorations.") (November 18, 2003)

stepping back in time...WorldNetDaily.com: "CHRISTMAS IN AMERICA BECOMES BATTLEGROUND As holiday traditions draw national controversy, believers, pagans grapple over Jesus' inclusion" (December 14, 2002)

[Kuksool]

Since the town lawyer says Menorahs aren't religious symbols, then no one should get mad when people say Christianity is the only authentic religion.