Manger scene can stay, Festivus must go, both on government land.

In case anyone wants to try tomorrow to get a straight answer on this topic....Try 863-534-6000 for the county commissioners of Polk County.

Manger can stay on government building grounds, though put up without permission. "Festivus for the rest of us" must go, though put up without permission. They do NOT know why....they have no answers.

http://news.tbo.com/news/MGBCCWUQ13E.html

BARTOW - A controversial Nativity scene can remain in front of a Polk County government building until Dec. 27, county commissioners decided today.
Commissioners voted 4-1 to allow the scene that includes figures of Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus by declaring it a temporary, public forum. However, a sign reading ``Festivus for the Rest of Us'' that showed up next to the Nativity display will be removed, the commissioners decided.

The commissioners said they'll allow the display while a committee studies the possibility of setting aside some county property, perhaps in a park, as a permanent forum for public opinion. Commissioner Bob English cast the lone dissenting vote, saying allowing a Nativity scene in front of a county administration building sets the stage for other groups to put up displays....." END SNIP

So some of us called the county commissioners at 863-534-6000. We tried to find out basis for the votes. The general consensus from our commissioners is that they don't really know. One said to me, "how does the baby Jesus in the manger hurt you." I said try thinking in broader terms of separation of church and state. I then said how does the Festivus sign hurt you? He said he did not know why they voted that it had to come down. Talk to the lawyer, whose name is Jarrett.

I reiterated that this was done in the dead of the night with a commissioner looking on, knowing they did not have permission......so why was it ok? Why ok for the manger, but not for Festivus. He told me God and government should not be separated. Another did not go quite that far, but he did ask me why I was even asking? He said aren't you a Christian?
I said as a matter of fact, yes, I am...but why should that matter in the case of following the law.

He said keeping Christ in Christmas was everything. The religious right now control our county, the government, the sheriff's department, and they are getting a good hold on the public schools.

As I always say, when I push for separation of church and state....I am a Christian, raised Southern Baptist, and I am very fearful where they are taking us here. Are you worried yet? I am.

Helllo, lawyer?

(See bottom right corner of sign, perhaps a joke, but still, Sienfeld is Jewish.. Festivus is fictional.. (OK Atheists, don't get on the so-is-Christmas bent) but there is a "lot of nerve" there to take it down...)

Our county is all this way now. They said something in the meeting that they did not know what Festivus was, but they did not want to know.

A solstice rite where we godless secular humanist blue state types gather together to mutually praise our denial of the weirdly rule-crazy Judeo-Christian Deity and exalt our sodomite, gay friends. It begins with the ritual sucking down of lattes, after which we watch midget porn, listen to the Grateful Dead or the Butthole Surfers, drink ourselves silly, offer rites to the great teflon goddess Non-Stick Pan, then end up rolling around naked on a giant blue tarp, covered in cream cheese, in one giant, orgiastic, squirting, mulitisexual heathen mass.

like a CHUMP.

:-)

and the Nativity display itself, kidda tacky looking

Asks me if I'm a Christian, my reply is "No. I hold myself to higher standards than that."

Let's see you walk on water and raise someone from the dead. Your standards higher than that?

Seems to me, hobbit was not comparing himself to Jesus, but with Christians. I thought there was a difference.

little girl in the blue dress with the dog, the dancing scarecrow, the metal man and the scared lion.. as they walk the magical yellow road towards the shining green city and the special wizard.

in other words, :boring:

wait til it freezes. why raise the dead, they've earned their rest.

My higher standards include tolerance, letting people be, and believe what you will without forcing it on others. Unfortunately, most self-professed christians forget all about what Jesus said and do the opposite.

but i do hold myself to higher standards than judas, paul, etc.

the witness protection program of the times. And just like the CIA and FBI they double crossed poor Judas.

I came to clear his good name