Posted on 12/14/2011 1:54:22 PM PST by jazusamo
Driving through the tiny rural town of Athens, Texas, and youd be hard pressed to find something that might catch national attention -- or so it was until about a week ago.
An hour and a half outside of Dallas, the Athens town square is dominated by the county courthouse, and this time of year, Christmas decorations are on each corner. But it is the nativity scene across the street from the Taco Bell that has caused controversy.
It started with a simple letter. As Jefferson County commissioner Joe Hall tells it, he received the shock of his life when he found out a Wisconsin group was demanding that the nativity scene be taken down.
We get a letter saying you better do this or we're going to do that," Hall said.
A letter from Wisconsin telling Texans what they ought to do?
You come to my house looking for a fight, you're gonna get one," he said.
Since then, many folks in the county have come out in support of the nativity scene, which has been on the square in some form or another for three decades. But the group asking for it to be removed says it has legitimate concerns.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is an atheist group based out of Madison. Co-founder Annie Laurie Gaylor says the group received a complaint from one of its members in Athens. She says since the display is right in front of the courthouse, the nativity scene makes it look like county government is endorsing Christianity.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
There’s going to be a rally there Saturday. I’m going!
Any sign ideas?
I learned a LONG TIME AGO how to completely discredit an atheist.
Tell them that you think Atheism is a FINE RELIGION, that requires as much faith as yours does.
Then ask them why they think THEIR religion is so much better than yours, and should take precedence over how you celebrate it??
Then snicker at it, as it begins it’s angry tirade.
The meltdown is a thing of PURE JOY to watch.
Just arrest the atheists for violating our “Freedom of Religion” laws.
These freedom from Religion people are freaking nut cases. I am an athiest but stand behind Athens 100%.
The people of Athens should add to the nativity scene, add better lighting, etc.
Jefferson County Commissioner Joe Hall “says the nativity scene will come down ‘after Christmas, or when hell freezes over.’
We're Texans.
What Country are You From?
In other words, one person, fearing that someone might be fooled the scene as being sanctioned by the government is reason enough for the scene being made illegal, in the face of an entire towns desire.
Amazing the strength of a fools offense vs liberty these days. No longer a free country, obviously its being run by Offensive Fools.
There can’t be a battle without weapons.
Last I heard, Texas has open and concealed carry. What do atheists have?
I love Commissioner Joe Hall’s statement, he’s not afraid to say what he thinks.
Thanks for the notice!!
Athens is a very nice quiet little city, but like most of us Texans, not much for having some leftist cheesehead or that indo-kenyan squatin in the Whiteyhut come down telling us what to do about Christmas or much else for that matter.
Texas is God's Country.
Why do you think he put
you in Madison, Wisconsin?
I doubt there’ll be any Freedom From Religion Foundation people show up in Athens, if any do it’ll be the seriously crazy ones. :)
I am so sick of liberals. I wish we could literally split the country.
"You see, I look as Christians as members of a pagan religion," --- donmeaker, post #1848 from this thread: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2791353/posts?q=1&;page=1801
NOW GO HOME!
Or suffer the consequences.
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.