Once again, atheists have shut down the First Amendment rights of Christians and Jews with the blessings of a federal court.
For
60 years, the city of Santa Monica, California, has allowed private
Nativity and Hanukkah displays in its Palisades Park, which overlooks
the ocean and the famed Santa Monica Pier.
60 years, the city of Santa Monica, California, has allowed private
Nativity and Hanukkah displays in its Palisades Park, which overlooks
the ocean and the famed Santa Monica Pier.
But as has happened in
so many other places, a tradition enjoyed by an entire community that
was just intended to make the world a nicer place drew the attention of a
mean-spirited atheist with his nose out of joint because he hates
Christians and Christmas.
so many other places, a tradition enjoyed by an entire community that
was just intended to make the world a nicer place drew the attention of a
mean-spirited atheist with his nose out of joint because he hates
Christians and Christmas.
Atheist Damon Vix wasn’t content with
just putting up his protest booth three years ago. Last year, he
recruited a bunch of other atheists to flood the city with applications,
packing what was supposed to be a fair lottery.
just putting up his protest booth three years ago. Last year, he
recruited a bunch of other atheists to flood the city with applications,
packing what was supposed to be a fair lottery.
The atheists
managed to steal 18 of the 21 spaces, leaving only three for Christian
and Jewish groups. They only actually used half of the spaces, leaving
the others empty. The ones they did use were filled with signs and
displays insulting people who believe in God, including one featuring
Richard Dawkins’ “Flying Spaghetti Monster.”
managed to steal 18 of the 21 spaces, leaving only three for Christian
and Jewish groups. They only actually used half of the spaces, leaving
the others empty. The ones they did use were filled with signs and
displays insulting people who believe in God, including one featuring
Richard Dawkins’ “Flying Spaghetti Monster.”
Rather than step in
and do something to preserve a community tradition, Santa Monica city
officials this year chickened out and just banned all holiday booths in
the park.
and do something to preserve a community tradition, Santa Monica city
officials this year chickened out and just banned all holiday booths in
the park.
A federal judge this week rejected the request by the
Santa Monica Nativity Scenes Committee to allow the display this year
while its lawsuit against the city proceeded. The judge ruled that the
city can bar Christian groups from putting up the Nativity displays in
the park and that the city had provided other avenues for religious
expression.
Santa Monica Nativity Scenes Committee to allow the display this year
while its lawsuit against the city proceeded. The judge ruled that the
city can bar Christian groups from putting up the Nativity displays in
the park and that the city had provided other avenues for religious
expression.
The city claimed that it wasn’t shutting down the
displays because of the religious dispute, but because of growing costs.
Yet, it still allows displays elsewhere in the city. The opening of the
city’s other parks to displays with permits was just an effort by the
city to appear blameless in all of this, and it worked.
displays because of the religious dispute, but because of growing costs.
Yet, it still allows displays elsewhere in the city. The opening of the
city’s other parks to displays with permits was just an effort by the
city to appear blameless in all of this, and it worked.
But
Palisades Park is the prime spot for community groups, providing
visibility on one of the city’s main thoroughfares and on the Pacific
Coast Highway, as well as from the beach and pier. It’s sort of like if
the city of New York decided there could be no Christmas tree in
Rockefeller Center, but offered a spot at a neighborhood park 10 blocks
away instead.
Palisades Park is the prime spot for community groups, providing
visibility on one of the city’s main thoroughfares and on the Pacific
Coast Highway, as well as from the beach and pier. It’s sort of like if
the city of New York decided there could be no Christmas tree in
Rockefeller Center, but offered a spot at a neighborhood park 10 blocks
away instead.
“Atheists won this one, and they will always win unless
we get courts to understand how the game is played and this is a game
that was played very successfully and they knew it,” said attorney
William Becker, who compared the city to Pontius Pilate.
we get courts to understand how the game is played and this is a game
that was played very successfully and they knew it,” said attorney
William Becker, who compared the city to Pontius Pilate.
Vix, the
troublemaker who started all the problems, said, “So many people don’t
understand atheists. If you read the signs we put up, one said, ‘Love is
all around you.’ That’s really a better understanding of who most
atheists are.”
troublemaker who started all the problems, said, “So many people don’t
understand atheists. If you read the signs we put up, one said, ‘Love is
all around you.’ That’s really a better understanding of who most
atheists are.”
That statement might be less laughable if atheists
weren’t perpetually trying to sue Christians into oblivion with the
excuse that they are “offended.”
weren’t perpetually trying to sue Christians into oblivion with the
excuse that they are “offended.”
By hiding behind the law and
claiming not to be religious, atheists have made serious inroads through
the courts toward the ultimate goal of keeping Christians and Jews from
participating in public life.
claiming not to be religious, atheists have made serious inroads through
the courts toward the ultimate goal of keeping Christians and Jews from
participating in public life.
With the liberal interpretation of
church-state separation — a concept not found in the Constitution — the
courts are effectively installing a state religion in violation of the
First Amendment.
church-state separation — a concept not found in the Constitution — the
courts are effectively installing a state religion in violation of the
First Amendment.
As more and more of our Western heritage is swept
aside by the courts, one day the atheist state religion will have to
reckon with the power of Islam. On that day, the atheists may long for a
little Christmas and Hanukkah.
aside by the courts, one day the atheist state religion will have to
reckon with the power of Islam. On that day, the atheists may long for a
little Christmas and Hanukkah.
