TO INSIST that the placing of a nativity scene in a government building at Christmastime represents an effort to establish a state faith is a laughable absurdity, and there's an appropriate way to describe those who carry on about it: secular fanatics. ]/quote]
I wrote a letter to my local paper with the following response:
Jay Ambrose’s column on religious symbols in public does not acknowledge the consequences of his desires. Constitutionally, if we allow symbols from one religion then we must allow symbols from all religions. Our country has hundreds of religions and each has numerous holidays. New Jersey recognizes 14 religious holidays in the month of April alone. Do we allow symbols for each one?
What happens when numerous sects want their own decorations for the same holiday? Could there be different Christmas trees for Lutherans, Catholics, Baptists, Methodists, Mormons, Quakers and Presbyterians? Would anyone be able to use the building with all the trees? If there is only one tree, then who chooses the correct tree?
What about the religions that people find offensive? Would we allow a Satanic symbol to celebrate Walpurgisnacht? Or a statue of David Koresh on his birthday?
I love the idea of including all religious symbols. Imagine lawmakers attempting to draft a law that is both constitutional and workable. Religious zealots would have to either accept the symbols of so-called cults or ask for theirs to be banned as well. It would be a wonderful civics lesson.
CBL
