"Santa Claus Will Take You to Hell"

[randy_byers]

Well, the battle of the religious displays at the Capitol here just gets better and better. "The Department of General Administration, which oversees the Capitol grounds, declared a moratorium Friday on any pending and future requests to put up displays in the Capitol building."

This all started when a Nativity scene was put up on the Capitol grounds and a hardcore atheist group (I think we need a new name for this type of atheist -- perhaps "anti-theist"?) requested their own display which says, amongst other things, "Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds."

Well, the requests for displays have flooded in since then. Now the jackasses from the Westboro "God Hates Fags" Baptist Church have gotten involved, requesting a display that says "Santa Claus Will Take You to Hell" and "Santa's to blame for the dead soldier's fate." (One of their hobbyhorses is that US soldiers are dying in Iraq because the US condones homosexuality.)

Says the Seattle Times: "The moratorium applies to Westboro's application, along with pending requests for a Buddhist display, a Jewish banner, a mannequin of Satan holding a statement against atheists and wishing them a merry Christmas, an aluminum pole in celebration of the invented holiday of Festivus, and a 'Flying Spaghetti Monster Holiday Display.' A menorah is still scheduled to go up Dec. 21, since that application had already been approved."

I actually think the moratorium is kind of bogus and they should let the shit fly. Where's the harm in it?

Comments

[n6tqs.livejournal.com]

Where's the harm in it?

It would detract from the "true meaning of Christmas", an excuse to shop.

[liveavatar.livejournal.com]

I think of that type of atheist group as "fundamentalist atheist," not having any other short and handy adjectives for groups that insist "it's my way or the highway."

Sure, why not have a "holiday free speech zone"? The editorial cartoons are practically drawing themselves (in my head, where they use less paper).

[orangemike.livejournal.com]

Speaking as a devout Christian, I say, "purge 'em all; declutter the public space."

[kdotdammit.livejournal.com]

Photos please! I want to see all of them. And I agree with you. Fuck the moratorium. This could me art!

[paulcarp.livejournal.com]

As long as Christmas is a federal holiday, there's a problem.

Thing is, I don't want Christmas to stop being a federal holiday, because I like the paid day off from work.

The state Capitol flap seems to be the SeaTac holiday tree flap in a new disguise. And at least it's not as ugly as this annual story about canceled events, rather than granted permits.

[alces2.livejournal.com]

Well, it provides items for the local news team. Gee, no Pagan Yule display? I agree, I want the 'Flying Spaghetti Monster Holiday Display'!