Atheists, whistle-blowers and Grinches should get over the fact that governments celebrate the holidays with Christmas trees decorated with stars and angels.
The acting Sonoma County administrator ordered Monday that county departments and offices remove angels, stars and other religious symbols from their Christmas trees after a Santa Rosa resident complained the decorations violate constitutional protections, according to a Press Democrat article.
Irv Sutley filed the complaint. He has a history of protesting religious symbols in government buildings, according to the article.
“I don”t believe government has the right to use tax dollars to show favoritism to any particular cult like Christianity,” Sutley said to the Press Democrat. “It”s just wrong. That”s why we have the Constitution, to protect minorities from the majority opinion.”
In a 1989 case brought by the American Civil Liberties Union, the U.S. Supreme court ruled that the government may celebrate Christmas but not if it endorses Christian doctrine. The court also found that a Christmas tree is not a religious symbol, but it can be if it is decorated with religious symbols, according to the article.
While I support the separation of church and state and don”t think the nativity, crosses, Jesus or God references belong in government ? stars and angels don”t say God to me.
As an atheist, when I see a Christmas tree with stars and angels I think about the holiday season and happy times with friends and family. I celebrate Christmas because it”s a family tradition that I enjoy, not because Jesus was born.
I respect that people have different beliefs, follow different religions and sometimes feel uncomfortable as minorities.
But I don”t recognize stars and angels as violations of my rights and they don”t make me feel uncomfortable.
What bothers me is God references during government proceedings.
Some may think I”m un-American but I choose not to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. I”m uncomfortable pledging to a republic under God.
I would support Sutley in an attempt to change such God references.
But I don”t see the harm in a star.
On Wednesday, so said the Sonoma County acting administrator Chris Thomas, who rescinded the ban on stars and angels.
Thomas encouraged department heads to use their best judgment for appropriate decorations in public places.
I say live and let live ? and take a break if you”re ranting about stars.
People can decide for themselves what Thomas Jefferson meant in 1802 when he sent a letter to the Danbury Baptist Association, leading to the protections Americans have now between church and state.
“Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his god, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, thus building a wall of separation between church and state. Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties.” ? Thomas Jefferson.
Katy Sweeny is a staff reporter for the Record-Bee. Contact her at ksweeny@record-bee.com or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
