Nativity scene on Deerfield town square

[cathleeninnh]

http://www.theunionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Deerfield%20OK's%20town%20green%20nativity&articleId=a6fbaeaa-f5fb-478d-97d7-70da489140ae

I am disappointed in this. I know local is better than state or federal but why can't these PRIVATE individuals be satisfied with private displays. Keep it at the American Legion or their rooftops or even their foreheads for all I care. Just off of the town square.

Better yet, buy the town square and go wild.

Cathleen

[JonM]

It's freedom OF, not freedom FROM.  If you've got a display to put up, see if they won't allow it, and then bitch if they don't.  If the town in common wants to allow the display, then why can't they have it?

[cathleeninnh]

If I wanted freedom from, I would object to the bombardment of religious displays, thus sending any display behind closed doors. I don't ask for freedom from except in the use of my tax dollars. If I can complain about my taxes supporting other things that I don't agree with, then I can complain about this.

I really don't have a dog in this fight because I don't live in Deerfield.

Cathleen

[Kat Kanning]

It's freedom OF, not freedom FROM.  If you've got a display to put up, see if they won't allow it, and then bitch if they don't.  If the town in common wants to allow the display, then why can't they have it?

I have to agree with JonM here.  Seeing a nativity scene doesn't hurt me.  I don't care.  They should be free to express their religion if they want to.  It's public property.  We hold demonstrations on public property and not everyone has to agree with us.

[AlanM]

It's freedom OF, not freedom FROM.? If you've got a display to put up, see if they won't allow it, and then bitch if they don't.? If the town in common wants to allow the display, then why can't they have it?

I have to agree with JonM here.? Seeing a nativity scene doesn't hurt me.? I don't care.? They should be free to express their religion if they want to.? It's public property.? We hold demonstrations on public property and not everyone has to agree with us.

I agree with this also, provided no particular belief or opinion is EXCLUDED. ALL should have access.

[JonM]

As far as I know, most nativity displays are purchased and maintained by private individuals and groups, at least in the ones I personally know of.  There may be somewhere that tax dollars are being used for that purpose, but that's an entirely different issue.

[cathleeninnh]

Public dollars are the ONLY issue. Taxpayers paid for and maintain that spot on the square. Public property may be unavoidable at this point, but demanding that public property remain secular (even if that precludes protests, Kat) may be the only way to convince people to switch from making demands on others to demanding PRIVATE property rights.

I would much prefer that our protests were on private property with permission than on public property and risk encroaching on taxpayers who don't agree with us.

Cathleen

[AlanM]

Public dollars are the ONLY issue. Taxpayers paid for and maintain that spot on the square. Public property may be unavoidable at this point, but demanding that public property remain secular (even if that precludes protests, Kat) may be the only way to convince people to switch from making demands on others to demanding PRIVATE property rights.

I would much prefer that our protests were on private property with permission than on public property and risk encroaching on taxpayers who don't agree with us.

Cathleen

But the only way to have a protest involving free speech is to have it on public property.

[Russell Kanning]

We also don't need to protest things. We could just ignore the government and see what they do.

[cathleeninnh]

I don't know about you, but I don't protest for the government. I'm only interested in issue raising. If we are going to reach the governement, it will be either through political means (still a bit skeptical here) or through the individuals. This is where I have a little hope. People do wake up sometimes and smell the roses. Even government employees.

Cathleen

[Russell Kanning]

They also sometimes get scared and give in.

[cathleeninnh]

I'm not going to hold my breath.

Cathleen

[president]

How about an armed protest?

Maybe Don "The Don" Gorman can head it....Doesn't he live in Deerfield?

Who is paying for the electricity for the "illuminated creche"?

[FTL_Ian]

Good question Fisher, unless they bought a battery, that might be an angle.

The last line in the article:

Turner said the town would be open to decorations for other holidays. "We're not trying to exclude anybody," he said.

Maybe there are some Flying Spaghetti Monster worshippers in Deerfield that could erect a display...

[Lloyd Danforth]

I don't care if they put privately funded and maintained religious/holiday stuff on the town common.
I love all the decorations on the lightpoles downtown, but, think the merchants should pay for them.
Although I am an athiest, I love Christmas.