Santa Monica had a Christmas Chrisis on their hands not so long ago. The park that anually holds the Nativity scene around Christmas time has now been auctioned off to various religious (and non-religious) groups as a way to keep the peace. Atheists decided that this year, they couldn't stand the scene in the park, intruding on their peaceful wintertime walks through the snow, so they decided to do something about it. They argued that because Catholics got a religious display in the public park they should, and any other religious groups that want to throw their name in, for that matter. Out of the 21 spots auctioned off, atheist groups ended up with 18 of them, a Jewish group got one, and Catholics were squeezed into just two of the spots they normally got. One of the atheist groups isn't even planning on doing anything, they just didn't want Catholics to get the spot for their scene.
The author used mostly pathos throughout this article. He portrays the atheists as the bad guys, and I have to agree with him on this one. The Nativity scene is a classic one, and I hardly think seeing it in a park is going to ruin your day. Despite being an atheist, the scene definately puts me in the holiday spirit and brings back childhood memories. I think it's ridiculous that people could get so worked up about it, especially to the point where you would be rude enough to buy a spot of land for decoration, not to decorate but to prevent others for decorating it. Behavior like that is childish, and I don't see how people expect the world to be a more tolerant place if people can't even let something as insignificant as this go.
"Santa Monica gets wrapped up in Christmas flap"
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-ed-nativity-20111216,0,1493408.story
That's really silly! Christmas is a Christian holiday, so it sounds perfectly reasonable that they should be able to decorate for it. It's not like a Nativity scene would hurt anyone. Jewish people can decorate for Hanukkah. And if Atheists want to, they can make their own holiday. They can celebrate some sort of scientific discovery or something.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with kelly! I think it is ridiculous that the religious decorations set up as a tradition every year by catholics were questioned. I think that instead of ridiculing others religions we should should support each other.
ReplyDeleteYes Nora!!!!! I so agree with that last sentence. Atheists celebrate Christmas, have Santa and all that, where do they think that cam from? THE CHRISTIAN CELEBRATION for the birth of Christ.
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