Atheist messages displace CA park nativity scenes
Most of the Christmas nativity scenes that churches had placed in a Santa Monica coastal park for decades have been displaced by non-religious displays — and the churches are crying conspiracy.
The Santa Monica Nativity Scenes Committee, a coalition of 13 churches, and the Santa Monica Police Officers Association, has traditionally claimed 14 of the 21 display spaces, which are vandal-proof, cage-like areas surrounded by chain-link fencing.
The coalition displays have featured life-size depictions of the story of the birth of JesusChrist.
But atheists got all but three of the spaces this year because of a new lottery system. The coalition got two spots, and one went to Isaac Levitansky of Chabad Channukah Menorah.
Adding to the loss, the atheists have used only three of the display areas to promote their message.
One reads: "Religions are all alike — founded upon fables and mythologies. — Thomas Jefferson."
"Happy Solstice," reads another.
And a display with photographs depicting King Neptune, Jesus Christ, Santa Claus and Satan reads, "Million Americans know MYTHS when they see them. What myths do you see? American Atheists. Since 1963. athiests.org."
"Our belief is that these new applicants have been working together to displace and push out the nativity scenes from the park, rather than erecting a full display of their own," said Hunter Jameson, a spokesman for a coalition of the city's churches.
The Santa Monica Daily Press (http://bit.ly/tr8h1T ) reported that churches had little or no competition for the spaces during the past 57 years. This year, 13 people bid for spaces, prompting City Hall to use a random lottery system to allot the spots.
Two individuals got 18 spaces. One person can request a maximum of nine.
Damon Vix is behind the effort to allocate the spaces by lottery.
Last year, he put up a sign with the Thomas Jefferson quote and selections on U.S. Supreme Court decisions about the importance of separating church and state.
Vix now helps other atheists acquire the park spaces, including American Atheists Inc. and the Freedom From Religion Foundation.
Secularists feel a need to be more vocal and express their civil rights, he said.
"For 60 years, it's almost exclusively been the point of view of Christians putting up nativity scenes for a whole city block," Vix said.
Jameson pushed the city to give local preference in awarding the spaces. Vix doesn't live in Santa Monica.
City Attorney Marsha Moutrie wrote, however, that the Christmas displays cross the boundary into First Amendment free speech rights, which know no geographical boundaries.
"Everyone has equal rights to use the streets and parks for expressive activities, irrespective of residency," Moutrie wrote.
December 14, 2011 @ 9:15 am
Yeah this year they only got three with 18 going to atheist groups. The spokesman claimed that it was a fare lottery. I don’t buy that. The odds of there being that must difference in the outcome is astronomical. This is just another attack by liberals against Christmas and Christians. I hope they all rot in hell!
IMPEACH OBAMA NOW! ! ! ! !
December 14, 2011 @ 9:53 am
I totally agree that atheist and religions are overpowering our Christian traditions but I would not want any of them to go to hell for all eternity. I would want them to come to the full knowledge of Jesus Christ and perhaps we can have the opportunity be witnesses to them. However, I believe they are more active now because of 0 and perhaps we are closer to the coming of the Lord.
II Pet 3:9 -The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance (change of mind towards Him).
December 14, 2011 @ 10:18 am
Let the Churches place their Nativity scenes on their own property, thereby preserving the message of the Birth of our Savior, and maintaining a separate place for their message. Only the athiests and pagans have a problem with religion, so keep what we believe in a Christian arena so they can’t fuss. I must agree that religion (not our Savior) seems to be the root of a lot of strife in this world, and the best way to stop that, is thru tolerance and acceptance, that not everyone believes the same, and in the end, the truth will be revealed. If we believe in peace, and act in a peaceful manner, our actions will speak much louder than the screams of the non-believers. People will start asking what their complaint is all about!
December 14, 2011 @ 10:45 am
Yep…rot!
Look around America…what do you see? Peace? Tranquility? Freedom of religion w/o attack? etc…all this because we gave a black person who had no experiencce, who had a subversive history, who hated America, who hates the Military, who considers our Constitution an obstacle, who hates Christians, who hates the rich who exercised their right to get off their butts and work hard, who encourages the Black Panthers’ intimidating presence at our voting places, ACORN buyng derelects, drunks, the dead, illegals, to vote several times, financial depression, NO JOBs, Muslim Brotherhood being forced down our throats, …I could go on and on but would run out of space…
Now, look around again…what are the good and productive things OBIMBO has accomplished….I’ll take notes for you…its OK, I have space here, you won’t need much…
All this because we wanted warm feelings about hiring a poor black boy to the highest political office in this WORLD…and allowed another black person (who is a citizen, legally born here) to go down the tube when he was a threat to the present President…why?…he was a hard worker, loved this country, smart, an asset to us all….again I could go on…
Even if it was nice of us to elect the first person I refer to knowingly recognizing his inabilities and lack of past performance…it is WRONG to risk this country’s existence again on anyone as incompetent or hateful of us and our Costitution again…just to as an “experiment”…
DEMS, GOP, RINOS, LIBERTERIANS, INDEPENDENTS….its time we SAVE AMERICA…its time we select a winner, a patriot, a person who would die for AMERICA if need be…
I don’t see the DEMS offering anyone and I wonder why not! DEMS, many of you love this country as much as most, but your apparent insistance on supporting a dangerous boy in the Oval Office escapes me, especially when there are so many in your Party who are highly qualified.
I see you are overrun by very dangerous members…in Congress, the Senate, the Oval Office…and are afraid to step forth and challenge them, lest they PUNISH YOU.
WELL…AMERICA is not looking for that type of Democrat…one who fears attempts to punish him or her…or any other party’s member who has that fear…
I challenge you DEM patriots to step up to the plate…man-up, …for AMERICA
What you are currently supporting is a dangerous road to hell, and you ain’t coming back…there is nothing in it for you no matter what is promised…remember, you know the lies that have been thrown around just to fool you and others…when (God forbid) a dictatorship comes about us, run and caused by a Muslim Brotherhood supporter, by one who has led us here…you shall be set aside, you are no longer needed, you are not of the faith, you are expendable, you may be considered their path to their heaven because you are a non-believer….
STEP FORTH…but think it out…find a maverick for us…find a patriot with substance…we out here are still looking…
December 14, 2011 @ 11:00 am
commonsenseneeded The atheist in this country have zero tolerance to all things christian. I have never herd them complain about anything Muslim and Obama has been pushing it down our throats. I didn’t hear one complaint about government funds being made available for building the “Ground Zero Mosque”
You same foolish beliefs as most people who became subjugated. Believing in peace does not create peace. Nor does allowing people to silence your voice. The Bible says there is a time for everything and now is the time to speak up! We have turned our cheek two many times. These peoples complaints amounts to nothing more than act of jealous children. If I’m not happy then I will go out of my way to ruin your happiness.
We have done it your way far too long and the only thing we have to show for it is less religious freedom. Along with a bunch of idiots who want us to say happy holidays. Well I wont I will celebrate my Holy Days not someones else. I have no problem with people celebrating their religious holidays as they should not be offended by mine. I am however offended by the atheist behind this as it was done out of spite. I also do not wish to offend real atheist as they are not bothered by us and our religion. They do no more than laugh at us for believing and don’t care what we do.
IMPEACH OBAMA NOW! ! ! ! !
December 14, 2011 @ 11:55 am
I’d love to give the atheists a few permanent spots in the park. The Nativity Scenes could be placed atop them yearly. Why are so few are permitted to impact so many? Why non-residents of Santa Monica are permitted to join in this lottery is the big question. Christmas is a Christian Holiday, just as April 1st is the atheist’s. We don’t foul theirs – they need to stop $htng on ours.