It seems like lately people in Washington have been playing a game of “Who is the biggest religious jackass?”
Now I know I’m probably just asking to stir up a lot of crap here as I have friends who are both ends of the spectrum, and others who are probably more like me and smack dab in the middle. I have friends who are Atheists, Agnostics, Pagans, Christians, Jews, potentially even a Muslim or two. However, this story just keeps on getting more and more ridiculous as the time goes by.
People who know me will know I’m not a terribly religious person. I grew up in a Baptist Church, my dad is a minister, mom’s dad was a minster, dad’s dad was a minister, all of dad’s brothers… are car mechanics. No, I’m kidding. They’re ministers too. It seems to run in my family’s blood or something.
Me? I guess you could best call me an unaffiliated Christian of sorts. I believe there is a God, I can’t necessarily say He’s the Christian God, but if I really sat down and broke it all down he’d probably be closer than any other ones out there. Call me a Christmas-Easter-Thanksgiving-Mother’s Day kinda Christian I guess. Or to put it more simply… An “Anytime there’s food” Christian. 
(I kid, I kid). Just wanted to throw that out there so you know where I’m coming from.
Let’s start at the beginning, shall we?
Story #1 – The Atheists Sign Goes Up
It all started 20 years when a privately sponsored Christmas tree was put up in the State Capitol building. In 2006 another group sponsored to have a Menorah also put up in the Capitol building. Upon hearing about this a local real estate agent named Ron Wesselius decided he wanted to sponsor a nativity scene to also be put up in the Capital building. His request was denied, state lawyers saying they didn’t have time to wade through the laws of government religious endorsement. He sued them and the display was put up in 2007 and again in 2008.
This year the Freedom From Religion Foundation has decided to get into the game with a Winter Solstice display. That’s all good by my book, put up a tasteful display about the Winter Solstice and let’s get on with our lives.
It just can’t be that easy, can it?
Say what you will about it, but in this situation I think the FFRF drew first blood with their sign with the text:
“At this season of the Winter Solstice may reason prevail. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds.“
Ouch.
That’s some pretty harsh stuff there in that last sentence. I’m all about expressing what you believe, which was really what the sign was about, until the last part that went a little bit too far. I really liked this person’s view on the sign, asking the question of: “What if the Atheists had not judged?”
And what did Wesselius have to say about all this:
Asked whether he was bothered by the atheist display next to his Nativity scene, Wesselius said, “I think the Nativity scene will speak for itself.” But he added, “I appreciate freedom of speech and freedom of access. That’s why they’re in there, and hey – you know, that’s great.”
I also couldn’t agree more with this sentiment right here:
On Friday, some nonbelievers said they had very mixed feelings about the sign.
Part 2: Stolen Sign and Retaliation
On December 5th the Atheist’s sign was stolen by an unknown man. It was later recovered when it was dropped off at a radio station and was returned to the Capital building. This had been amid a series of protests, phone calls and angry letters that had been received over the past week.
There were also other people who had applied for permits to put up other signs including another one that scored the Christians their first point in this religious jackass match-up:
“There is one God. … Atheism is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds.”
“The fool hath said in his heart, ‘There is no God.”‘
On top of it all Ken Hutcherson, a local preacher had this to say:
“Hey, I believe in Jesus Christ and if you don’t that’s OK because you’re going to fry like a Jimmy Dean Pork Sausage on Judgement Day,”
Stay classy guys… Stay classy…
Atheists – 1
Christians – 1
Halftime:
For today’s halftime show we’re going to have the people who are taking this whole thing with good humor and trying to not get their panties in a wad or perhaps even have a little fun and enjoy the holiday.
Nice. A Festivus Pole… I love it!
Alright halftime is over and it appears that a new player has stepped into the ring… Oh no… can it be… It’s…
ENTER THE WESTBOROUGH BAPTIST CHURCH!!!
Yes ladies and gentlemen, we now bring you a new player in this farce of the holiday season. The Westborough Baptist church has demanded to have a display in the Washington Capital also.
Part of me starts to wonder at times if Fred Phelps and his family are just now laughing at us as they continue on this streak of self parody. If they’re like some shock rock DJ who sits around with his writers and co-hosts and goes “What kind of crazy thing could we do next?”
I mean, seriously:
“You’d better watch out,
get ready to cry,
You’d better go hide,
I’m telling you why,
‘cuz Santa Claus will take you to hell.
He is your favorite idol,
you worship at his feet,
but when you stand before your God
He won’t help you take the heat.
So get this fact straight:
you’re feeling God’s hate,
Santa’s to blame for the economy’s fate,
Santa Claus will take you to hell.”
I mean… That’s just almost genius! I’m serious! Oh gosh, TWBBC has managed in one play to score a remarkable number of points in this fiasco.
Atheists – 1
Christians – 1
TWBBC – 500
What are my ultimate thoughts on all this?
Basically it comes down to one thing: Everyone needs to chill the fuck out. Christians, Atheists, Fred Phelps, Bill O’Reilly, everyone. Chill out for a minute and think about what you’re doing and saying. Ultimately for me it comes down to a simple rule of if you want my respect, you also need to respect me. You’re not going to get it from me by insulting my beliefs or the beliefs of people I love just as they have not gained your respect by disregarding how you feel about things. Constantly poking the other with a stick and then wondering why they get pissed off is not the way to go.
As for this mess… It’s the holidays people. Instead of trying to make your political agenda, make plans to go see your grandmother or your parents. If you don’t like Christmas decorations, that’s fine. However, let those people who enjoy them do so. They only get to do it once a year.
As for the decorations in the Capital building? Since everyone has decided that we can’t play nice, then they should all go. Yes, that means Christmas trees, nativity scenes, signs, festivus poles, all of it. It’s sad to say it, but a few bad apples spoil the bunch, and the end the only people who are really losing will be the organizations who use the Christmas trees and other decorations as places for people to bring charitable donations or host events for children during this holiday season.
Oh well, screw the kids, the agendas of adults have to come first!
