Do you want to see the traditional Nativity display go forward?

by L.A. Times Posted 2012/11/19 18:56:00

5,050 votes
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	Yes	4,096 votes	81%
	No	954 votes	19%

The city of Santa Monica can bar seasonal displays, including a Nativity scene that has appeared in Palisades Park for nearly 60 years, a federal judge ruled Monday.

In a closely watched case that has attracted national attention, Judge Audrey B. Collins denied a request from the Santa Monica Nativity Scenes Committee to erect multiple large displays depicting the story of the birth of Jesus in the park overlooking the ocean. The coalition of churches has erected the displays every December since the 1950s.

+19

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iamco2000 2012/11/19 23:52:55

Yes

+19
It is our foundational and inalienable right as American Citizens to openly speak and display our opinion as outlined protected speech in the American Constitution. NO WHERE does it say "Separation of church and state" in the constitution and no how should Christians or ANY religious groups be prohibited from openly and freely practicing and expressing their faith AS THEY CHOOSE AND SEE FIT.

The constitution PROTECTS rights TO exercise, it does not PREVENT anyone FROM exercising their perspective and rights and the sooner America wakes up and smells that coffee the better off we'll all be!

Grace to you, Glory to God!
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sm237 2012/11/27 19:21:39

Yes

Jesus is the reason for the season.....

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America... to sm237 2013/01/05 15:07:32

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DougE 2012/11/27 17:34:10

Yes

What's more offensive, homosexuality or Jesus? Funny what this demoralized socieity accepts and what it attacks. Can you say the fall of Rome 2?

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America... to DougE 2013/01/05 15:07:39

Jesus

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sm237 to America... 2013/01/06 22:57:29

I would never question your right to believe or not to believe. But I will leave you with this thought to ponder....If you are living like there is no God, you BETTER BE RIGHT...

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America... to sm237 2013/01/11 16:21:17

And you better be right about there not being a god that will punish you for being christian.

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l 2012/11/27 17:27:14

Yes

Live and Let Live! This kind of thing is unbeliveable!

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hiram 2012/11/27 17:25:07
America... to hiram 2013/01/05 15:08:02

I agree, the scene need to be banned.

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hiram to America... 2013/01/07 20:32:04
Old Salt 2012/11/27 16:31:58

Yes

+5
I JUST don't understand atheist? For they are declaring that it GRIEVES them to be forced to have their RIGHTS trampled upon by the Tradition of a Nativity Scene on this site that has been there for more than 60 years! For rather than simply NOT going to that area of the town, they tell those simply desiring to find the Peace, Hope and Love in that scene, they MUST not see it either! How HATEFUL and SELFISH these atheist can be!

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Soundstorm to Old Salt 2012/11/27 16:57:39

+3
Atheist activists are our modern equivalent of white Southern racists who were offended at sharing the same lunch counter with their black fellow citizens.

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America... to Old Salt 2013/01/05 15:08:49

Would you say the same to this?

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AdLib 2012/11/27 16:20:32

No

+2
The town center in which the Christians want to erect their nativity scene is for the (general public) not just for the believers. I think the NSC should move their display to church property.

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Soundstorm to AdLib 2012/11/27 16:55:29

+1
The town center is not just for atheists either.

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AdLib to Soundstorm 2012/11/27 17:00:04

Which is why it should remain neutral.

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Soundstorm to AdLib 2012/11/27 17:05:30 (edited)

Neutral is a partisan stance as well even if it's a meaningless one.

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AdLib to Soundstorm 2012/11/28 16:39:44

Then we should allow menorahs and the Islamic Star and Crescent to be displayed on public land right along side the nativity, because they are both symbols with secular meaning and not just faith-based. The nativity depicts a scene of questionable historic accuracy, therefore is purely religious in meaning and symbolism.

If we are to be a true free society, then it is imperative we keep any and all religious beliefs/symbols out of governance and public display.

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Soundstorm to AdLib 2012/11/30 04:28:10

The public displays of Judaism and Islam are best left up to their adherents rather than some government decree to represent a muddle of religious beliefs in one public spot in an obsessed attempt to be fair to everybody. And let's not forget that it's still the public municipality's duty to represent the community that elected it which is still in this day and age made up of a majority of citizens who celebrate Christmas. Being of no religious faith doesn't make you the boss of everybody.

What did Ernistine Rose think we'd end up with if children weren't taught religion by their parents?

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Cap 2012/11/27 16:03:03

Yes

+1
I see a bit of a disconnect here. I fully support opposition to judicial interference with displays of municipally-licensed Nativity Scenes. In this case, however, the municipality seems to be opposing such a display. Ordinarily that would mean I'd support the municipality. However, my understanding is that this municipality permitted 'Occupy Wall Street' demonstrations that were far more intrusive of resident sensibilities than the Nativity Scenes in question and derided the need to reconcile its position. In that case, an injunction to me seems appropriate.

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Elephant Lord 2012/11/27 15:51:49

Yes

+1
But then don't complain if you see a Hanukkah or Ramadan display on public property.

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Soundstorm to Elephan... 2012/11/27 16:54:22

+2
You never see me complain about anybody else's free expression of their faith. Only the left is constantly making all the fuss.

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Elephan... to Soundstorm 2012/11/28 04:06:25

+1
I wasn't complaining. I'm totally cool with Christianity, and think that it's a great religion. I was just stating a fact. And from personal experience, I have never seen anyone complain about Christmas decorations and people saying "Merry Christmas". You know what I do see? Idiots going on rants about the "war on Christmas" every time they see a store sign that says "Happy Holidays". So for your information, the right is also constantly making a fuss.

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Soundstorm to Elephan... 2012/11/30 04:35:50

Your experience doesn't speak for everybody else. Especially not for Christians who find themselves fighting a defensive war every Christmas season against being pushed out of the public square. We're justifiably worried about the constitutionally illiterate idiots running city hall who stir up trouble themselves by their administrative attempts to repress public expressions of Christian faith in particular as if this were Mainland China.

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JimTheGeek 2012/11/27 15:30:51

No

Maybe. I have no problem with churches and individuals erecting these dioramas on their property. However, on public/government property they should only be allowed if there is sufficient space to also allow Jewish, Muslim, LDS, Druid, etc. displays. The situation should be all inclusive, just like the rest of the U.S.
It's my understanding that the spaces available in this block long display area are raffled off to those who apply for space. If through this random lottery, the "Christian" applicants lose, then that's too bad. They have a chance just like any other group.

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Mandy 2012/11/27 15:26:54

No

It's up to the city to decide if they want to allow holiday displays, and they decided they don't anymore. It's not really that big of a deal. They're not outlawing the display of nativity scenes on private property.

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hippycat 2012/11/27 14:26:35

Yes

+2
sorry, I meant 'no'. times have changed, it's now a much more multicultural society. I wouldn't want to see large displays of the story of Jesus. Mind you, I am not really bothered.

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Soundstorm to hippycat 2012/11/27 16:59:30

+1
If you're so multicultural minded why would you have a problem with any public display of a faith you don't believe?

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hippycat to Soundstorm 2012/11/27 18:02:18

I said I'd be happy to see a 'faith week' or something similar where everyone can display what's holiest to their faith - that's a bit later on though. If you're interested, please read further posts.

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Soundstorm to hippycat 2012/11/27 19:03:43

The problem is the dates of observance are not negotiable for most particular faiths. Take the Jewish Passover, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur for instance. And it's not our government's constitutional role to assign dates of observance for any religious faith any more than it is to establish an official state religion. Now stop agitating to get the government to meddle in my religious observances and let me enjoy Christmas already!

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hippycat to Soundstorm 2012/11/27 20:13:00

LOL - I referred you to other posts - if you feel the need to respond that's your business. No one is establishing a state religion or trying to. I love the idea of a multi-cultural faiths week as all faiths are equally valid or invalid .the whole thing is not a big deal to me anyhow
I presume your last sentence was meant to be ironic.....

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Soundstorm to hippycat 2012/11/30 04:41:28

What other posts did you refer me too?

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hippycat to Soundstorm 2012/11/30 12:40:19

I was referring to my previous posts as I don't see why I should repeat myself over and over for you. what else could I have meant?

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wedge56 2012/11/27 14:06:57

Yes

+2
Bah! What harm can it do? If they have been doing it that long, then they should be grandfathered in or something.

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ivegotloveinmypants 2012/11/27 13:21:51

Yes

+4
Ehhh...what happened to religious freedom? And this is an agnostic asking.

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Che Guevara - Hero 2012/11/27 13:15:37

No

+7

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ivegotl... to Che Gue... 2012/11/27 13:23:21

+2
What is wrong with the separation of Church and State? Why should the church influence laws and wield them over seculars?

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Che Gue... to ivegotl... 2012/11/27 13:34:36

+6
I have no problem with separating Church and State. I do support the exercise of Religion but think our laws and government should be strictly secular.

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ivegotl... to Che Gue... 2012/11/27 13:51:59

+2
Same.

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hippycat to Che Gue... 2012/11/27 14:28:23

+1
agreed. clicked on 'yes' accidentally.

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