There's a nativity scene in front of the Shelby County Courthouse.

I'm in a red, red part of Ohio & I'm new to the area (moved from one of the most progressive cities in the US) probably the only Jew for miles (the only person who's being excluded by this display of religion).

Is this normal? Constitutional? Should I be outraged by this? I'd be lying if I said I were. It obviously doesn't sit right with me, but it's hardly surprising. Not worth taking on the whole town over, being the new guy and all.

Happy holidays, anyways.

front of the courthouse unless court clerks put it up. If it was done by a local church, it was most likely done to spark a confrontation.

They'll handle it.

My own feeling is that if a church wants to pay for it, maintain it, and repair any damage done to the lawn by it, then it's OK. I also feel that access to that area has to be given to Jews for a large menorah and Muslims for anything they want to do seasonally. Shoot, let the town Hindus put in a Shiva Lingam. I'd love to see all the Puritans deal with that one.

Great idea. Or the pagans could put up a big sheela-na-gig.

this is pretty clearly a "public square" setting. imagine the clock tower in Back To The Future. it's just like that.

don't know if it's an ACLU matter or not, but it's worth dropping them a line and let them decide.

I know there needs to be representation of other faiths if they were going to do something like that in public schools.

This isn't as obnoxious as the 10 commandments, but it's a pretty good example of on-your-sleeve church & state. symbolically, at least.

ACLU or bring it up yourself. Just be careful of the incoming.

until there are nativity scenes everywhere, in front of every building.

After another two years of ChimpCo there will be police knocking on your door. When you answer the door the cops will point to your front lawn and ask you, "Where is your nativity scene? Ya gotta put out a nativity scene during December. It's the law. We'll be back tomorrow. If you don't have a legally compliant nativity scene on your lawn by then, we'll have to arrest all of you for heresy. And you know what the penalty for heresy is."

Of course, the penalty for heresy will be the same penalty as the penalty for shop lifting, for rape, for murder. In ChimpCo's new Murica there will be only one penalty: torture and then death.

Welcome to ChimpCo. Have a nice day.

....taking on a small-town holiday display can devolve into fighting with RWers on their own level. A few plastic figures in a little cardboard stable aren't nearly enough to get my blood boiling.

A county that feels it is OK to do this will also likely not take action when a Jewish high school student comes to the board of education complaining that his principal did nothing when his good KKKristian classmates paint "Jew killed Jesus" and "Hitler was right" on his locker. They'll be the counties where Bubba the Town Cop uses his new powers under the REAL ID Act to arrest a Muslim man for the suspicious activity of standing on a streetcorner, or where a judge awards custody to an abusive parent because the other parent is Wiccan.

If we don't fight for the little things, the major religious discrimination will follow. Hell, you need no better example than the rise of the Religious Reich on school boards. For years, no one paid much attention to school board races because there were apparently bigger fish to fry. But now we're in a country where in some public schools science is being eschewed for mythology.

Honestly, I wouldn't give a shit. If another religion tries to put something up and isn't allowed, then I might be pissed.

It is Christmas time and the people who celebrate Christmas put things up. I'm not as radical as some are about this issue. I see burning, bloody bodies in Iraq, I see my paycheck not increasing in 5 years and the price of living through the roof, I see a government that has destroyed a country I live in and many many other atrocities, that a few plastic figurines don't really get under my skin.

That's just my opinion.

Like Evil Emperor Bean Bag Toss:

"Town Square"...sort of a Town Square. It's an area the town decorates for every holiday. It wouldn't bother me so much if they INCLUDED a Menorah or a Kwanza Kinara, but they don't and it's on PUBLIC property.

It's only fair, imo. After that I want each and every Muslim to march down there and demand a giant quote from Mohammed be put up. Buddist, HIndu's, Bahais - you are next. After that, the Wiccans, etc...

I'm dead serious...all these righties that want religious displays up, really only want CHRISTIAN displays. Call them out on this now! Let's have a cornicopia of displays from all faiths representented in America put up ALL OVER THE PLACE. I love it! Do it! Do it! Do it!

Happy Channukah, btw...

<snip>
"Should I be outraged by this? I'd be lying if I said I were."
<snip>

If you're not threatened or deeply offended--then leave it alone. I'm an atheist, BTW, but these types of displays don't bother me at all. Now, if I was required to take a religious test to get a job, or confirm a belief in Jesus when I went to court for justice, or there was a Nazi flag display put up, something like that, then yeah, I'd be outraged and would take action.

Point being--don't waste your time and energy being an ass unless it really matters.

My city has a nativity scene every year, although they also put up a menorah made out of x-mas tree lights. They actually have 2 scenes, but I think one is sponsored by the local catholic church.

I do think that the right/FOX News is being childish in their "Liberals are stealing Christmas" silliness. There's that whole mentality that "people are trying to martyr us" mentality that is being fed by all this alleged controversy. Why give their arguments any credence whatsoever? Ignore it, celebrate the holidays your way, and let it go.

I also think it's cranky to file a complaint about a nativity scene. I am a christian, albeit a very liberal one, so perhaps I'm somewhat biased in my not being offended by the christian side of the holiday season.

Everybody's always looking for a fight, and this is so not an issue worth fighting over. At least, that's what Jesus told me (if he talks to Pat Robertson, he talks to me).

I was really wanting to know if this was normal in the "heartland".

Warren is not the only one that puts up the nativity scene.