General Discussion

Algernon Moncrieff

(5,790 posts) Mon Dec 15, 2014, 02:58 PM Dec 2014

NBC Poll: Most OK With Nativity Scenes on Government Property

The pollsters found that 44 percent of those questioned think it's fine to have a Christian display in those places, even if no other religions are represented. Another 28 percent say nativity scenes and the like should be allowed but only if menorahs or symbols of other religious holidays are included. One in five people say there should be no religious displays on government property.

Complete story and accompanying video at link.

23 replies

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Highlight:

NBC Poll: Most OK With Nativity Scenes on Government Property (Original Post) Algernon Moncrieff Dec 2014 OP

Which is why civil rights should never be up to a vote. nt stevenleser Dec 2014 #1

absolute truth! spanone Dec 2014 #3

Damn skippy! hifiguy Dec 2014 #9

Exactly! DavidDvorkin Dec 2014 #10

+1 Johonny Dec 2014 #20

Do polls on NBC trump the Constitution? n.t 99Forever Dec 2014 #2

My poll: Most ignorant of U.S. Constitution. Arugula Latte Dec 2014 #4

"Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion". Nye Bevan Dec 2014 #14

Uh huh. Arugula Latte Dec 2014 #18

I haven't seen one by a government building. HappyMe Dec 2014 #5

That's very interesting because 73% of the population is Christian Xipe Totec Dec 2014 #6

Aren't they adding 44 and 28? joeglow3 Dec 2014 #8

There's no sound reason for religious displays to be on public government property. LuvNewcastle Dec 2014 #7

The nativity scene is a sign some people think there shouldn’t be a separation of church and state, yortsed snacilbuper Dec 2014 #11

^ This!! AzDar Dec 2014 #12

As long as other religions are permitted to erect displays on the same property, Nye Bevan Dec 2014 #13

^ is pretty much where I land on the issue Algernon Moncrieff Dec 2014 #16

So you wouldn't have a problem with this being next to every nativity scene? LostOne4Ever Dec 2014 #21

Not at all. Inclusiveness is good (nt) Nye Bevan Dec 2014 #22

+1000 (nt) LostOne4Ever Dec 2014 #23

Majority votes on public issues by the American People don't mean "squat". ladjf Dec 2014 #15

zzzzzzzzzzz. is this still a problem? Baclava Dec 2014 #17

I'm an atheist and I don't give a shit about nativity scenes in the public square. Throd Dec 2014 #19

stevenleser

(32,886 posts)

1. Which is why civil rights should never be up to a vote. nt

Reply to Algernon Moncrieff (Original post)

Mon Dec 15, 2014, 03:01 PM

Dec 2014

spanone

(135,831 posts)

3. absolute truth!

Reply to stevenleser (Reply #1)

Mon Dec 15, 2014, 03:10 PM

Dec 2014

hifiguy

(33,688 posts)

9. Damn skippy!

Reply to stevenleser (Reply #1)

Mon Dec 15, 2014, 04:15 PM

Dec 2014

DavidDvorkin

(19,475 posts)

10. Exactly!

Reply to stevenleser (Reply #1)

Mon Dec 15, 2014, 04:59 PM

Dec 2014

Johonny

(20,849 posts)

20. +1

Reply to stevenleser (Reply #1)

Tue Dec 16, 2014, 01:12 AM

Dec 2014

99Forever

(14,524 posts)

2. Do polls on NBC trump the Constitution? n.t

Reply to Algernon Moncrieff (Original post)

Mon Dec 15, 2014, 03:08 PM

Dec 2014

Arugula Latte

(50,566 posts)

4. My poll: Most ignorant of U.S. Constitution.

Reply to Algernon Moncrieff (Original post)

Mon Dec 15, 2014, 03:12 PM

Dec 2014

Nye Bevan

(25,406 posts)

14. "Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion".

Reply to Arugula Latte (Reply #4)

Mon Dec 15, 2014, 06:02 PM

Dec 2014

Allowing members of different religions to erect holiday displays on government owned property arguably does not contravene this.

Arugula Latte

(50,566 posts)

18. Uh huh.

Reply to Nye Bevan (Reply #14)

Tue Dec 16, 2014, 12:42 AM

Dec 2014

Riiiiiiight.

HappyMe

(20,277 posts)

5. I haven't seen one by a government building.

Reply to Algernon Moncrieff (Original post)

Mon Dec 15, 2014, 03:13 PM

Dec 2014

I don't know if polls are a big deal. I would bet if they took a poll, they would find that more people vote for Dancing with the Stars or American Idol rather than actual elections.

Xipe Totec

(43,890 posts)

6. That's very interesting because 73% of the population is Christian

Reply to Algernon Moncrieff (Original post)

Mon Dec 15, 2014, 03:25 PM

Dec 2014

The majority of Americans (73%) identify themselves as Christians

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_the_United_States

So if only 44% of those questioned think it's fine to have a Christian display in those places, there's a LOT of Christians who are opposed to it.

Oh, and 44% can't in any way be considered 'most'. Most would have to be north of 50%.

joeglow3

(6,228 posts)

8. Aren't they adding 44 and 28?

Reply to Xipe Totec (Reply #6)

Mon Dec 15, 2014, 03:43 PM

Dec 2014

LuvNewcastle

(16,844 posts)

7. There's no sound reason for religious displays to be on public government property.

Reply to Algernon Moncrieff (Original post)

Mon Dec 15, 2014, 03:29 PM

Dec 2014

We have private property all around where people can express what they and/or their organizations like. There's absolutely no need to have these displays on public property as well. If the churches, private homes, and privately owned businesses can decorate, I think that's enough. There's no need for a religious scene at the county courthouse, though. Why is it that some people aren't satisfied unless every square inch of town is decorated?

yortsed snacilbuper

(7,939 posts)

11. The nativity scene is a sign some people think there shouldn’t be a separation of church and state,

Reply to Algernon Moncrieff (Original post)

Mon Dec 15, 2014, 05:22 PM

Dec 2014

or that we are a Christian nation somehow. Which couldn’t be further from the truth.

AzDar

(14,023 posts)

12. ^ This!!

Reply to Algernon Moncrieff (Original post)

Mon Dec 15, 2014, 05:25 PM

Dec 2014

On edit: Meant to reply to first response!!

Nye Bevan

(25,406 posts)

13. As long as other religions are permitted to erect displays on the same property,

Reply to Algernon Moncrieff (Original post)

Mon Dec 15, 2014, 06:00 PM

Dec 2014

I don't see an issue. Because then it is clearly not a government endorsement of a particular religion.

Algernon Moncrieff

(5,790 posts)

16. ^ is pretty much where I land on the issue

Reply to Nye Bevan (Reply #13)

Mon Dec 15, 2014, 06:31 PM

Dec 2014

Most folks are celebrating either Hanukkah or Christmas, and Christmas is essentially a religious holiday (Joesph, Mary, Baby Jesus, wise-men, maybe St. Nicholas) intertwined with a secular holiday (Frosty, Rudolph, Santa-as-envisioned-by-Coca-Cola, naughty girl elves, and the Lexus-December-to-remember-sale).

I say put it all out on the village green: the Nativity, the Menorah, Santa with a sleigh led by Rudolph, some models in Vic's Secret underwear and Santa hats, and a Lexus with a big red bow.

LostOne4Ever

(9,288 posts)

21. So you wouldn't have a problem with this being next to every nativity scene?

Reply to Nye Bevan (Reply #13)

Tue Dec 16, 2014, 04:46 AM

Dec 2014

[font style="font-family:papyrus,'Brush Script MT','Infindel B',fantasy;" size=4 color=teal]I have no problem with your proposal so long as no favortism is given to any one religions over other religions and non-religion. Be they satanic statues or alters to Cthulhu. [/font]

Nye Bevan

(25,406 posts)

22. Not at all. Inclusiveness is good (nt)

Reply to LostOne4Ever (Reply #21)

Tue Dec 16, 2014, 07:22 AM

Dec 2014

LostOne4Ever

(9,288 posts)

23. +1000 (nt)

Reply to Nye Bevan (Reply #22)

Tue Dec 16, 2014, 07:30 AM

Dec 2014

ladjf

(17,320 posts)

15. Majority votes on public issues by the American People don't mean "squat".

Reply to Algernon Moncrieff (Original post)

Mon Dec 15, 2014, 06:16 PM

Dec 2014

We are one of the most ignorant industrialized countries. nt

Baclava

(12,047 posts)

17. zzzzzzzzzzz. is this still a problem?

Reply to Algernon Moncrieff (Original post)

Mon Dec 15, 2014, 07:38 PM

Dec 2014

Who cares?

I'm putting up solar X-mas lights in my magnolia tree...with my giant natural crystal in the center....I'll celebrate by own winter solstice on December 21.

the hell with the govt....I don't care what they do

what was the question?

Throd

(7,208 posts)

19. I'm an atheist and I don't give a shit about nativity scenes in the public square.