Oh what a tangled web we weave….

For years the Washington State Capital has had a Christmas tree in the Capital rotunda.  yes, they wimped out years ago and labeled it a “holiday tree”, but for all the political correctness, it is a friggin Christmas tree.

A Jewish group added a Menorah to the display, then another religious group petitioned to add a nativity scene, and won.

That brought us to the present debacle.

An atheist group placed a “winter solstice” sign that denounced all religion. 

And the fun started, as local groups expressed outrage.  The was transparently intended to be insulting and it worked.

It even made Bill O’Reilly’s show, featuring local horses ass David Goldstein (who also has a blog called horsesass)…

…twice, as it made his show again when he went head to head against Megyn Kelly of Fox News.

And the two latest news stories are that someone took the sign, it conveniently turned it in to a radio station, and it is back in place; and that a local pastor is seeking to place a clear anti atheism sign nearby

Now let me note that the atheists in their desire to be snarky and clever have insulted a fairly large number of religions that do celebrate winter solstice.  How I wish some Druids or Wiccans would speak up and be offended at having their celebration co opted for the purpose of insulting all religions in general.

But, while their message is insulting and deliberately abusive, they are unfortunately entitled to it.  It is telling, to me, that once again liberals stoop to such low brow childish measures to make a point.

I disagree with Megyn, I think the sign violates the fighting words test, the sign was clearly designed to provoke. 

On the other hand, stealing the sign was stupid, unless as some speculate and it was a stunt by the radio station.  Additionally, and with all respect to the pastor, the rebuttal sign is also useless, as it plays to their level.

Since the governor will not step in, we are stuck with this., and I suspect that future displays will be even more volatile.

The capital displays are about the season, which once upon a time people used to celebrate peace and joy and goodwill, and is now being used to promote intolerance and hatred.  I don’t even find that a tree is necessarily a religious symbol at all.  The Christmas tree is not a directly biblical symbol, it came about later.  If anything it has enough pagan roots make it as near a universal symbol as anything can be.  How many shows about Christmas feature no religious references at all?  Sure George is helped by an Angel in “It’s a wonderful life” but that is about the limit of the religion.  A Christmas Carole has next to none, as does the fames 24 hours of A Christmas Story on cable ever year.  Ralphie never prays or goes to church, yet Christmas is his entire world.

As has been noted, Christmas is a federal holiday, meaning that it cannot have any overt religious themes or it would long ago have failed the establishment clause.  All federal employees are granted the day off regardless of religion, culture or faith.

It is a national celebration, and it means so many things to so many people, that to pigeon hole it to a single faith is unfair.  And since long ago, it has been so secularized, that religion has nearly been lost.

Now, the Nativity scenes and Menorahs are directly religious, and they are allowed under a “be fair to everyone” rule which I personally have no issue with.  If the Celts want a tree, or whatever, let them come.  I have no issue with being fair.

But I will say, I would expect that groups doing these displays would bow to a minimum amount of common decency and respect.

Obviously I am wasting my hope, but that’s just me.

Religion is not a threat to those who hold other beliefs.  Only the selfish, paranoid delusions of a few unhinged atheists have made this an issue that any cares about.

This season used to stand for goodwill, and hope.  It used to be about giving, about bringing out the best in everyone.

And now thanks to all the government meddling and political correctness run amok, it has become about the worst in people, and about strife and intolerance.

Sad.

This is the sign I want to see posted:

Once upon a time, Christmas was a time when all people came together, to celebrate the spirit of giving.  We gathered together and sang songs about goodwill to everyone, and peace on earth.

Now, Christmas has become the center stage of those who want to disrespect religion, despite the strong secular roots in our culture that surround Christmas.

Christmas trees are barely tolerated as holiday trees, schools censor Carol’s and displays and even stores prefer Seasons Greetings to Merry Christmas, all because political correctness has taken the holiday and tried to reduce it to nothing.

And lost in all of this is the respect for other beliefs that used to be one of the frameworks of the constitution.

It is sad that the very Amendment that guarantees freedom of religion is now being used to promote free speech that seeks to stifle religion.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we actually respected each other’s beliefs?  Instead of trying to tear them down?

Trackposted to Hot Air, Sister Toldjah, The Pink Flamingo - Wordpress, Rosemary’s Thoughts, DragonLady’s World, Cao’s Blog, Democrat=Socialist, Conservative Cat, , third world county, Faultline USA, Allie is Wired, Woman Honor Thyself, The World According to Carl, Pirate’s Cove, Rosemary’s News and Ideas, The Pink Flamingo, A Newt One, and Right Voices, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.