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What Have the Atheists Won in Santa Monica?
The city has decided to do away with religious displays, the Atheists have won what, exactly?
Santa Monica has hosted nativity scenes in Palisades Park for 60 years. Beginning in 1953, a coalition of 13 churches joined a local police organization to put up nativity displays. The displays consisted of more than a dozen scenes from the birth of Jesus as depicted in the Gospels created out of sets and using mannequins dressed in period costumes.
But in the last few years atheist groups have challenged the practice and demanded space for their own displays. Last year, the display area was divided up into small display spaces and split up among dozens of applicants. The coalition of churches which had been using the park got just three of the spaces, meaning the majority of their display remained in storage. One space went to a Jewish group and two to other churches. Eighteen of the spaces went to atheists groups.
jwm
June 15th, 2012
How the Grinch sued Christmas.
JWM
Unneutral
June 15th, 2012
The squeeky wheel triumphanting over the silent majority.
ChiefIlliniCake
June 15th, 2012
When the Devil wins, who loses?
Yeah, you do, numbnuts.
Chuck U Farley
June 15th, 2012
Can someone tell me what, exactly, would an atheist display?
I mean, they believe in nothing, so….?
scr_north
June 15th, 2012
My question would be why didn’t the city council allow space based on representation within the population? I have to suspect that the vast majority of Santa Monicans (California location notwithstanding) would not represent themselves as atheists. I believe that at the end the day most of these atheists groups complaining probably had few members. Funny thing is I think that real atheists wouldn’t give a damn and would rather not be thought of as ruining Christmas for a lot of their neighbours.
Chuck U Farley
June 15th, 2012
Does anyone find it a bit ironic that a town named after a Catholic Saint is banning Nativity Scenes?
I guess the next step is to just rename it ‘Monica’.
SR
June 15th, 2012
Silly Atheist…Now here’s a cause to fight for.
‘Moderate’ Indonesia Imprisons Facebook Atheist (2.5 Years)..
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2159530/Indonesian-man-jailed-half-years-writing-God-doesn-t-exist-Facebook-page.html
Roscoe P. Soultrane
June 15th, 2012
@Chuck U Farley: “I guess the next step is to just rename it ‘Monica’.”
The proper term is “Soviet Monica.” Sadly, I live there. Oddly enough, I’ve never heard any of the locals complain about the Christmas display, and there were usually a fair number of people down there every Christmas.
Left Coast Dan
June 15th, 2012
Hey Roscoe!
I haved helped put up one of the displays for the last 10 years or so. A real shame, but no surprise if you knew who runs the city. Like most liberal towns the elected pander to the itinerants but make lucrative deals with their buddies. It only survives because it is a hugely popular tourist destination, and because wealthy people are willing to put up with the politics in exchange for great weather & location.
Bad Brad
June 15th, 2012
I haven’t met an atheist yet that wouldn’t turn devout Christian upon their inevitable demise.
Efficacy
June 15th, 2012
Dante has reserved many places for them.
Cruisin' Cat
June 16th, 2012
The same reason we always lose: we have manners, and we’re just too goddamned polite for our own good.
RANDO
June 16th, 2012
Good one, Chuck.
Seriously, this is the kind of crap that is ruining Ca, and many other parts of this country.
It is true that the larger cities in California seem to be going down the toilet, but as Brad mentions in the post about Texas, those cities are not all of Ca.
It’s sad to see Reagan’s state turning into a liberal drool-bucket.
Maudie N Mandeville
June 16th, 2012
Let the atheists smirk as they come upon these displays:
It may be time to utilize the three remaining spaces to explain to children what happens without Judeo/Christian influences. 1) Pile of nude mannequins in trench circa 1943. 2) Stack of skulls Khmer Rouge style 3) Life-like smiling Obama mannequin with piles of dolls decapitated and assorted body extremities at his feet.
TooMuchTime
June 16th, 2012
@Maudie — Great idea! But the city will demand that you use the space(s) for “Christmas-themed” decorations. While the atheists will be allowed to just put up a sign that says religion sucks.
Pickled LIver
June 16th, 2012
To bad the atheists can’t get a life!
Praise the Lord, Glory be to God, Peace be with you, Praise to Budda, Fuck Islam!