Andrew Pauley
11-08-09
6:10pm
Washington State is trying to avoid another holiday-season controversy by barring religious and other non-governmental displays inside buildings at the Capitol campus in Olympia. The new rules were signed Friday by the director of the Department of General Administration. They still allow the annual state-sponsored holiday tree inside the Capitol rotunda. Last year, a Nativity display at the capitol stirred controversy after a Wisconsin-based atheist group put up a nearby placard mocking religion. A number of other displays followed, and the state eventually declared a moratorium that froze several pending permit requests. The fight might just move outdoors. Under the new rules, religious displays are OK outside the Capitol buildings. "It's a shame that the state is basically shutting down 95 percent of Americans that celebrate a federal holiday, which it is," said Ron Wesselius, a Thurston County realtor who put up the Nativity the past two years. "They are not letting them celebrate.” General Administration spokesman Steve Valandra said that by allowing the displays outside, the state is simply trying to accommodate free speech while maintaining some decorum. "We found last year a lot of people are for free speech as long as people agree with their particular point of view," Valandra said. "At some point, you have to honor the Constitution."
Information from: The Olympian, http://www.theolympian.com
My reaction to this was what happened to freedom of speech that is granted to everyone equally under the law? Now if these people were putting these displays up in an area that is not their own or putting things up despite the denial to do so by building and land officials that is different. This however was not the case, the initial display was set up to celebrate a holiday. I guarantee you most people who put up this display would not mind if their fellow respected co-workers who were Jewish placed décor celebrating their holiday up. Just how people are free to say they do not believe in God, why is it that people who do are not allowed to show their faith publicly? I believe that people are all entitled to their beliefs and opinions, therefore whether I like their view, faith, or opinion or not I should and do respect it. Free means free.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010176967_apwacapitoldisplays1stldwritethru.html
2 comments:
I believe in free speech absolutely, I couldn't care less if I see a nativity scene, a menorah, or a sacrilegious image of the prophet Muhammad; as long as they're all banned or allowed equally. From your description I took that the displays were banned only after an atheist group put up their own decoration. It sounds to me like Washington state doesn't like atheists. You also omitted the part where a Fox news commentator called for his audience to call the Governor and complain about the atheists' sign. And finally we must all consider the harmful affects of the flying spaghetti monster, kansas churches slam of Santa and the Jerry Sienfield festivus pole losing that valuable, free advertising space right outside the capital.
Joy Weems
I beleive in everything you were saying. It is a violation of freedom of speech, press, and religion. It is ok as you stated for people to express their Non belief opening but for those that ARE believers it is shunned upon now. I undestand from the offical side by just wanting peace without the controversy but just allowing people to do their will when celebrating their religious beliefs I think would be more suitable for all.
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