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Home Front: Culture Wars |
Nativity banned but Muslim, Jewish symbols allowed |
2004-12-10 |
![]() Both cases are being argued by attorneys with the Michigan-based Thomas More Law Center. "Christmas is under siege throughout our nation, and the cases in New York and Bay Harbor Islands demonstrate the kind of hostility and double standard being used by officials to deny Christians the right to publicly celebrate one of their holiest seasons," said Richard Thompson, president and chief counsel of the Law Center. The New York suit against the city's Department of Education is in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit after after senior U.S. District Court Judge Charles Sifton ruled the city's discriminatory policy was permissible because it was an accommodation of "multiculturalism" and "an attempt to diversify the season and provide non-Christian holidays with parity." In Miami, Law Center attorney Edward White argued in a hearing this week that Bay Harbor Islands is discriminating against Christians by violating the free speech rights of resident Sandra Snowden, who had been denied the right to display her private Nativity in a public forum. 'All I'm asking for is inclusiveness," Snowdon told the St. Petersburg Times one year ago. "I do not know why a baby Jesus in a manger would be so offensive to this town." Defending the policy, town attorneys argue the Menorah can be displayed because it is a secular symbol and not a religious one, unlike the Nativity. Bay Harbor Islands attorney Craig B. Sherman told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel he believes the town will prevail. "All the town's holiday decorations are in compliance with applicable law," he insisted. |
Posted by:tipper |
#2 Will the judge will find a separate--but equal--place for the Nativity scene? |
Posted by: eLarson 2004-12-10 2:11:23 PM |
#1 Either allow the symbols of all religions, or ban all religions. Halfway is clearly and unacceptably discriminatory. Not to mention ridiculous! And only an ignorant fool would argue that the Menorah is not a religious symbol -- it was kept lit in the Sanctuary as far back as Moses' time, when the Sanctuary was a tent in the desert!! Arrgh!!! (Sorry for the rant, but this is soooo stupid.) |
Posted by: trailing wife 2004-12-10 12:48:32 PM |