CHATTANOOGA: City disallows live Nativity

AP via KnoxNews ^ | 10/18/7

[SmithL]

CHATTANOOGA - A live Nativity scene that has been part of Chattanooga's annual Grand Illumination has been scrapped.

Chattanooga Downtown Partnership executive director Carla Pritchard says the representation of the birth of Jesus Christ was eliminated after several people complained.

The Partnership receives funding from the city.

The illumination event takes place the day after Thanksgiving and begins the holiday shopping season and the downtown Winter Days & Lights event.

The Nativity had been performed since the 1980s by First Baptist Church of Soddy-Daisy.

Church pastor Dr. Seton Tomyn says the decision is disappointing, but understands diverse cultures are part of the city.

[Godwin1]

“Diverse cultures” my foot. Anyone—Jew, Muslim or Hindu--who decides to move to Chattanooga knows the great majority of the people there are Christians. And have been since the city’s founding. If people don’t like Christians, they can move to Brooklyn or Dearborn.

What kind of bigot is it that objects to a Christmas display? Who are these bigots? Can’t we know their names and their rationale? And why is it that the sensitivities of anti-Christian bigots are honored? No one seems to care about the sensitivities of believing Christians, who see their faith relentlessly mocked and ridiculed on TV, in the movies and in the popular culture.

[Badeye]

Yep.

I don’t think this will play well, given the region’s known bible belters.

[atlaw]

The few people need to literally go to hell! The City of Chattanooga needs to be boycotted for at least a decade!

I sincerely hope that you are true to your word. For at least a decade.

[PAR35]

My advice for Chattanoogans to shop elsewhere this year.

The sales tax should be lower across the line in Georgia. Looks like Chattanooga is 9.25% (Local rate PDF file: http://www.tennessee.gov/revenue/pubs/taxlist.pdf ) Looks like the Ga suburbs would be 7% http://www.etax.dor.ga.gov/salestax/salestaxrates/LGS_2007_Oct_Rate_Chart_Moore_rates_07.pdf

[Roses0508]

I’ve had one foot in Chattanooga and one foot in NC for more than a year now. I’m always bragging about what a wonderful place Chattanooga is to live and work. I certainly found it a good place to raise my kids.

Maybe its time I sell the house and settle in NC more whole-heartedly.

[My dad was in ww ll]

I cannot believe that some people actually complained about this. I would like to know what they actually said to have this city scrap such a peaceful loving thing as the birth of Christ. what next no easter services?