It's that time of year again, everyone ... the time of year when people start hating each other even more than usual, thanks to holiday decorations. A group of Christians in Santa Monica, California are in a federal court today in regards to a lawsuit they've raised against their fair city -- their fair city that wouldn't allow them to display an elaborate 14-scene nativity for the holidays.
No, Santa Monica officials don't hate baby Jesus. They're not letting any religious (or non-religious) group display "holiday" decorations or scenes. Because, to put it bluntly, they're over it.
A-men.
A little background information for you: Last year in Santa Monica, people entered a lottery to determine who would get to put up holiday displays in the 21 lots in one of the city's parks. Eighteen of the 21 spaces wound up going to atheists, who put up signs that read things like, "Religions are all alike. Founded upon fables and mythologies"; Christians won two spots, and a Jewish person won one. Needless to say, all was not calm during the month of December. Despite their efforts to be nonpartisan, city officials were accused of being anti-Christian. Hence, the lawsuit.
Here's what I think: I think everybody ought to fix themselves a nice tall glass of whiskey-spiked eggnog, or Manischewitz wine, or, hell, Zima, and simmer the crap down. Every single year, it's the same thing. This religious group hates this thing; another religious group hates another. It's ridiculous. November/December used to simply be a fun time of year where we eat more than usual and had time off from work. Now it's like a g.d. election. Santa Monica held a lottery (for decorations!), and that was the outcome. That's not being anti-anything, that's politics.
I honestly forgot about the "decor wars" until I came across this story, and I'm already dreading the annoying things to come. Each year, the arguing gets a little more elaborate, a little more nasty. Pretty soon, no one is going to be allowed to put up decorations anywhere, and we're all going to have to sit in our houses with our hands folded for a time out.
Would I enjoy seeing a giant, 14-scene Nativity while walking through a park? Yeah, that would be a no. And it would definitely be a little jarring seeing the cheerful holiday signs the atheists "decorated" with. But I certainly wouldn't wage a war against it either. I mean, aren't we all exhausted from the election?
Do you get offended by holiday decorations?
Image via danxoneil/Flickr
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Comments 82
Oh my word! This is so ridiculous! I hate to break it to people, but Christmas is a holiday to celebrate the birth of Jesus. All these people that have a problem with saying Merry Christmas, or having a nativity scene on display obviously have nothing better to complain about.
I am going to guess that the very people that complain have a Christmas tree in their house, and/or give/receive presents, don't volunteer to work on Christmas, and have a Christmas dinner with family and friends. Therefore, they are celebrating Christmas. Again, the holiday to celebrate the birth of Jesus.
What holiday are atheists celebrating?...
Right next to one that began centuries ago?
Somebody needs too much attention for themselves, like preteens do...............
I'm always amused when people argue so passionately about Christmas being about the birth of Jesus since he was between September and October, most likely in October.
As long as I can still do whatever I want on my own private property, I don't care. I'm a Christian and I firmly believe that I want government out of my religious business so that I can continue to believe in the Biblical truths. Christians should realize that government staying out of religion actually protects their religious beliefs. Do you really believe that our government will hold true to Biblical truths? So, while I think it would be nice to have a nativity display in a city park, I will simply shrug my shoulders if it is not allowed. It does NOT infringe on my rights, because I have no "right" to put up any decorations on city property anyway.
While I do feel that government shouldn't promote or degrade any spiritual belief system (that follows the law) I also really do enjoy the lights that get put up in the park and all of the decorations, though I AM Christian. I Also understand how other belief systems/views/religions could feel left out or overwhelmed/bombarded with Christianity during the holiday season. I feel that every one's views/beliefs/religions should be respected or at least tolerated. My views don't hurt you and in turn your views though different, don't hurt me.That being said, I think we should be able to celebrate (or not) however we see fit and not be so sensitive and judgemental about it. I think it's ridiculous to argue over decorations and forms of greeting and love. I will say Merry Christmas probably just out of habit, except to my Atheist friends of course. to people I meet at the store or in the street and say it to ,that aren't celebrating, shouldn't be offended at my "merry Christmas". saying Merry Christmas is just MY way of spreading cheer and the loving spirit of the season....just as I wouldn't be offended by someone saying Happy Hannakah, or happy Kwanzaa.... I don't want or like to offend anyone...but ppl need to quit being such sensitive p*ssies about the holiday season.....celebrate eachothers differences and spread love regardless.Damn.