Written by Why does it seem like our state always has more trouble than the other 49 in dealing with holiday displays? A year or two ago things went crazy at the airport, with the “holiday trees” doing the hokey-pokey (in, then out, then in), and this year we are being nationally ridiculed because of an atheist’s sign criticizing religion right next to the “holiday tree” (and right where we have placed a “holiday nine-branched candelabrum” in past years). Here is the story .
Isn’t there some other way to better manage all this? Maybe we should agree that the atheists (or secular humanists, or whatever the correct term is) can put their display in the capitol building on the summer solstice, and let people of Christian and Jewish faith use the display space on the end of December.
Do we need to become the nation’s laughing stock every holiday season? I’m sure we could be handling this better.
Along with people getting uppity about “High Maintenance Bitch” the name of a boutique for dogs near Freemont, having no idea how to handle Mardi Gras; bans and attmpted bans on smoking, smoking bars, bottled water, beer and wine, plastic bags, microwave popcorn, and pit bulls. Northwesterners aren’t happy unless they’ve got their panties in a bunch about something…but it’s never important stuff *cough*checkpoints*cough*. I suppose we could blame the media… oh wait, they already do that.
In the words of The Great Philosopher Dave Barry, I do believe Washington is competing with California for the title of ‘The Doofus State’.
*facepalm*
Could it be some in Washington worry to much about hurting someones feeling?
Dave
As much as I loath the current state government, they did handle this correctly.
I have no problem with a Christmas Tree but putting a Nativity scene is over the line and that’s what caused the sign to be placed.
Leave your myth out of my life and I’ll do the same.
I do not believe the issue is a case of one display or another, but rather the point of Christianity being attacked by an opposing group. It is one thing to put a display up that touts the elements of our beliefs (i.e. the nativity scene) and another to display an offensive sign that states the Atheist definition of Religion (Religion is a myth, enslaves, ect.) You would be hard pressed to find a Christian display in a Government building that specifically calls out another religion to attack.
Can you imagine the moral outrage and angst if a Christian nativity scene included blatant statements that Islam is a myth, and enslaves the minds of those who believe?
Atheist may in fact believe Christians are being fooled and just plain wrong, and that is their right- but it is wrong to condemn Christianity in a public setting.
Christians may in fact believe that salvation is obtained through the blood and flesh of Christ, and those who do not believe will not receive eternal life and that is their right- but it is wrong for Christians to condemn atheist in a public setting
It’s funny that simply stating your believe is considered an attack.
No wonder some in the world can justify killing the unbelivers. The nativity scene is a statement of believe so is the sign. It’s as much as an attack on your believe as much as the nativity display is a attack on my believe.
Careful there… state mandated atheism is no panacea from mass murder.
Witness Stalin and Mao’s regimes – millions dead at the hands of atheist state.
Of course….
Here’s another example. I’ll be honest, I don’t care about the gay marriage issue. When Prop 8 passed in California, data showed that 70% of the African-American community voted for it. Where did they protest? The Mormon churches. Why didn’t they protest the African-American churches? Why not protest a mosque? Muslims don’t believe in gay marriage. I’ll tell you why, they are afraid to. They don’t want the confrontation. Also, it wouldn’t be politically correct for them. They would lose all of their sympathetic support from the left. They knew that the Mormons wouldn’t come out and get in their face. TCC
Renton Administration tried to ban Community Christmas nativity scene
The Highlands Community Association had a similar situation when the City of Renton tried to ban a nativity scene at their annual Neighborhood Christmas party.
This event was not a City of Renton sponsored or chartered event. It was sponsored by the Highlands Community Church and other churches up here on the Hill. The Highlands Community Association Rented the space for the Churches to use (at the Highlands Community Center on Edmonds) from the City of Renton Parks Department for this Christmas event. There was no intention by either the HCA or the Highlands Community Churches to promote any specific religious belief over others. Singing Silent Night, Frosty the Snow Man and other Christmas carols at this event only bolstered the Christmas spirit for many of the children who attended with their mothers and fathers. It was a well attended community event.
The nativity scene that the city was worried about was comprised of a cardboard box with some straw, a cardboard camel and a small paper tree.
The HCA was disappointed that Kaite McClincy (City Of Renton’s Liaison to the HCA and Renton Police Commander) went to Larry Warren (City of Renton’s Lawyer) when she found out that the HCA planned to have a nativity scene at our Christmas Celebration. Larry supposedly told Katie and Suzanne Dale Estey (Alex Pieches Economic and Development Director) that the HCA could not have a nativity scene and Suzanne passed that statement on to HCA Board when she meet with them to discuss their concerns about the planned Community Christmas event.
At the meeting with the city director, her staff and City Liaison Katie McClincy, Suzanne Estey said that she would have Larry Warren send the HCA Board a letter (within the week) telling the HCA Board of Directors why the HCA could not have the nativity scene or play at their planned Christmas event. The week went by and no letter was received. A call was placed to Norma (City Administrator for the Neighborhood Program) to find out why. Her response was, “that’s privileged information”. Not exactly a straight forward answer but in light that the city did not have any policy and procedures document that speaks to such things as nativity scenes at a neighborhood sponsored events the HCA Board and elected officers made the correct decision to celebrate their community Christmas events in the “Old Fashion Way”.
And for the readers information if you were not able to attend the HCA Christmas Party, the center was packed to its capacity. This was another well planned HCA community event, and there will be many more to come.
Norma McQuiller E-mail
Norma McQuiller Neighborhood Program Coordinator
City of Renton
1055 S. Grady Way
Renton, WA 98057
425-430-6595
Would it be possible to schedule a meeting as soon as possible?
I think there are some issues we need to address such as:
(A) Is doing a nativity play at the Christmas party a Highlands Community Association sponsored event?
(B) Is opening HCA meetings with prayer going to be part of every HCA community agenda?
(C) Can the City of Renton Neighborhood Program continue certification and funding of an association with religious overtones?
Would it be possible to meet tomorrow, say at 12:15 or 12:30 p.m., here at City Hall to discuss these issues?
I think they are things that need to be addressed face to face rather than through emails.
Katheen McCincy E-mail
I think there are some obvious issues doing a nativity play at the Christmas party.
Yeah – I’ve got to talk to Terry P about the Nativity stuff – probably more
appropriate for church; not so much for a city sanctioned neighborhood
association in a city building at city cost. Not everyone in the neighborhood
worships the same god, even if they enjoy Christmas/holiday season
Re: Renton Administration tried to ban Community Christmas nativity scene
As much as I want to open up a can of worms on this one, I won’t. This decision does not surprise me at all due to what I have seen in the past. TCC
Re: Renton Administration tried to ban Community Christmas nativity scene
Ben, I’m glad that you can see both side of things.
Oh, the sign has been stolen now and found in a ditch… too funny. This entire thing is of high comic value.
Re: Renton Administration tried to ban Community Christmas nativity scene
I think people are getting too much when it comes to Xmas.
Let people enjoy their holiday the way they please. Bring Peace
people to all. All this kinds of things I feel is what starts
wars. And it’s supposed to be peace on earth and good will to men.
Everyone have a joyus and great holiday season.
Sandel DeMastus
Re: FYI
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06000.html