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12/22/2008
Meyer: The tyranny of the emboldened minority
Virtually every year at this time, an issue over Christmas displays on public property, or some related church and state issue pops up. I call discussion of this topic, "The Christmas Cacophony Carefully Considered."
It seems the voices in the media and in editorial-land criticizing public officials for allowing Christmas displays are numerous—and the voices criticizing the organizations filing lawsuits protesting the practices are few, if any. Strangely enough, one hears no pejorative discussion about the boorish and ill-spirited attitudes displayed by the organizations or individuals engaging in legal proceedings—no call for them to "mind their own business in their own backyard."
This is in spite of the fact that those approving of religious displays are not staking any new ground of proselytizing, but merely assenting to traditions observed for decades.
Some secularist will observe that Pagan traditions predate Christian observations at or around December 25th and, that early Christians in America banned the celebration of Christmas.
Obviously, this time of the year has numerous pagan traditions associated with it, but that is not what atheists are protesting. When some official affiliated with the Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF) says we should wish each other a "happy solstice," they aren't opposed to the observance of pagan holidays. Neither are atheists protesting Christmas displays for the reasons the Puritans did, so the history lessons are really a moot point in the discussion. I doubt atheists are concerned with emphasizing the authentic practice of Christianity when they file lawsuits.
By a similar manner, Jesus condemned the Pharisees for the practice of lofty public prayers as a self-serving demonstration of their personal piety. That passage has been used excessively, often by secularists, to claim that it is against biblical teaching to offer an invocation at a solemn public event, such as an inauguration. But the biblical edict of Jesus "to pray in your closet" has nothing to do with those public practices.
All this is really a program of sophistry to take advantage of religious people who have a deep desire for fidelity to the tenets of their faith. This is a form of getting people to shoot themselves in the foot with their own pistol.
We must certainly be respectful of all, acknowledging the rights of the minority. But in this case the pendulum has swung too far, so that we are now facing the tyranny of the angry and emboldened minority.
So please wish me a Happy Holiday, but don't ask me not to wish you Merry Christmas.
Robert E. Meyer, Fox Valley
COMMENTS
Good article.
My conclusion is that city/state property should not be used for Christmas scenes. This includes street lights decorated with angels.
Let people decorate their homes. Let store owners decorate their shops. Lets have the cities/state concentrate on government.
David (Mon Dec 22 09:33:25 2008)
Some of the Christian Christmas displays (case in point: Manitowoc Co.)are donated by public/Christian organizations to be displayed on public property. The point is, government doesn't own public property and it doesn't own the displays--the people do. So why do two or three people (Manitowoc Co. and Wisconsin Rapids) get to sue the entire city through a non-governmental, litigious organization known for targeting anything Christian? The rest of the city/county doesn't have a problem with it...
Curly (Mon Dec 22 09:53:25 2008)
It appears to me that bullies have found they can bully and they like it. With no opposition they go on to bigger and better bullying.
I think it's time to bloody noses, the only sure way to deal with a bully. Pointing out the error of their ways certainly hasn't done the trick.
I think suing them might help instead of just answering suits begun by the FFRF.
They are, after all, destroying (or trying to destroy) traditions of long standing.
C.R. Stevenson (Mon Dec 22 10:08:41 2008)
Curly make an excellent point. The whole point of political correctness is to get people thinking in terms of what is "allowed" or "not allowed". Why stop at angels, David? Even though they are considered part of Judaism, Islam, and Chrisitanity?
Why not just ban all lights, as they are associated with Christmas? Why not insist lights go up for the Hindu festival of Holi? C'mon!
The politically correct want everyone to think in their terms, and accept their pronouncements of what is right and wrong. They want to usurp the place of God, and that is why, for example, they hate displays of the 10 Commandments: they want their own "commandments" to take precedence.
The idea that "morality can't be legislated", is rubbish. The only question is WHOSE morality do you legislate? So, do you want a standard that never changes--or one that is always in flux? If you believe "there are no absolute standards" I'm going to want to watch my wallet when I'm around you!
emily matthews (Mon Dec 22 15:47:22 2008)
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