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Sorry I can't get all hyped up about the hurt feelings of some because the Big Bad Atheists have a display up. Here is a post I wrote elsewhere:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Magritte25
When we can't even wait til 6 or 7am on Black Friday to feed our rampant consumerism, the holiday sure isn't about the man who preached "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven" or "Give to everyone who begs from you; and of him who takes away your goods do not ask them again. And as you wish that men would do to you, do so to them". When we can't even afford others a full holiday off (Thanksgiving) without having to be at work at 11PM or midnight to feed the greed, we aren't celebrating Christ's birth.
For them, it absolutely depends on the scenes NOT being there.
Intolerance goes both ways.
For them? Who's them?
The people who want government and religion to be separate?
Did Santa Monica pass a law forbidding any Christmas displays? Nope. You want to put up a Christmas display in front of your church, or in your front yard, or if the owner of the Hop N Stop wants to put a nativity scene in front of the gas pumps, it's all okay.
If people want to go Christmas caroling in the park, no problem. If they want to put on a Christmas play on the stage in the park, they only have to do what others do, reserve the stage and get any permits required. If people want to hand out church flyers or Christmas cards, they can do that too.
Santa Monica used to have a lottery where different individuals and organizations could apply for space to put up their displays during the holiday season. The lottery ensured that no particular religion was favored over another. The lottery also consumed city taxpayer funds, and city employee time. And last year the displays used up police department resources, as vandalism became a problem. The city decided that the displays were more trouble than they were worth. And discontinued the displays. Atheists didn't sue to stop the displays. Atheists didn't vandalize the Christian displays. Atheists weren't involved in the decision to stop the displays. The city made a budgetary decision.
And some Christians, in the spirit of entitlement, sued to force the city to allow them to put up their displays. Sued to force the city to use city resources for a Christian purpose. Those Christians lost. Because no one is stopping them from putting up displays on private property. They can put up a thousand nativity scenes all over the city if they want. Their freedom to celebrate Christmas hasn't been infringed upon one iota.
There is no war on Christmas. There are simply certain Christians who are so comfortable with being the dominant religion, that they feel entitled to celebrate their religion no matter what. That's not what freedom of religion is. That's not what tolerance is. In order to have freedom of religion, the dominant religion has to make room for other beliefs and non-beliefs. For everyone to enjoy freedom, the majority must accommodate the minority.
Here's an idea, the city has a specific area with a predetermined number of spaces. Anyone who wants to put up a display applies for a spot. The city then has a lottery to determine who gets spots. The lottery winners put up whatever they choose. If there is any vandalism then the city can shut down the whole thing, and people will then have to put up their displays on private property.
Here's an idea, the city has a specific area with a predetermined number of spaces. Anyone who wants to put up a display applies for a spot. The city then has a lottery to determine who gets spots. The lottery winners put up whatever they choose. If there is any vandalism then the city can shut down the whole thing, and people will then have to put up their displays on private property.
Oh wait, THAT is exactly what happened.
Yes, I read about the lottery.
18 spots to the atheists
2 to the christians
1 to the jewish
I can see why the display by the atheist was offensive. As a Christian, I'm offended.
The nativity scene is about hope, peace, new life, etc. The atheist's display was all about sh!tting on Christian beliefs. So basically, all negative and about hate rather than peace and joy.
Both extremes (Christian and atheist) need to eff off and let us normal folks enjoy the blessed day.
Corporations don't care about religion any more than they care about political parties.
They don't care because their customers don't care. If their customers took a stand and refused to shop at these ridiculous hours, corporations wouldn't be open.
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