I Can See Banning Political Themes But. . . .
this is absolutely ridiculous. This is a Christmas tree. Now what next, calling it a holiday tree???? This is PC BS gone amuck. It is also clear what those in charge thing of the average American & their beliefs. There is no way you can package this as anything but an attack on Christain faith. OK, they use the generic religious term, but we know that the odds are there wouldn't be any ornaments with a muslim or hindu theme. & the few with Jewish referneces would probably tie into the fact that Jesus is the Messiah.
I am sick & tired of the bastardization og the US Constitution by those who hate God. The 1st Amendment makes it clear that there can not be any law (rule) banning the free expression of their faith. & this clearly goes against that.
You know what, I can even come up with some ideas for ornaments that would be both religious as well as fitting into the theme. But they would definitely PO those who deny that God created Arizona.
Arizona schoolchildren chosen to decorate tree told to keep religion out
PHOENIX, Arizona, September 30, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) called on Arizona state and federal officials on Monday to stop enforcing a requirement prohibiting the state's schoolchildren from expressing religious viewpoints through Christmas themes while decorating ornaments for the 2009 Capitol Christmas Tree.
Arizona was chosen this year to present 4,000 handcrafted ornaments made by elementary, middle-school, and high-school students to decorate Washington, D.C.'s annual Christmas tree.
Guidelines for the ornaments include specifications for their size, weight, composition, and the directive that "Ornaments cannot reflect a religious or political theme… Instead share your interpretation of our theme 'Arizona's Gift, from the Grand Canyon State.'"
In a letter to federal and state officials, including Arizona Governor Janice Brewer, ADF attorneys demanded that they abandon the discrimination against religious viewpoints.
"Banning Christmas from the Capitol Christmas tree is just absurd. Christian students shouldn't be discriminated against for expressing their religious beliefs," said ADF Litigation Staff Counsel Jonathan Scruggs.
"The First Amendment does not allow government officials to exclude schoolchildren's ornaments for the capitol's Christmas tree merely because they communicate a religious viewpoint."
The request was issued on behalf of a mother whose son expressed a strong desire to submit three religious ornaments for the tree: One reading "Merry Christmas," another "Happy Birthday, Jesus," and the third portraying a manger scene with the Christ child.
Each of these ornaments will also honor Arizona, using as a theme the state's history, geography, or motto, "Ditat Deus," which means "God Enriches."
ADF attorneys indicate in the letter that they will take legal action if officials do not comply by October 4, the day before the deadline to submit ornaments for consideration.
"It is well established that expression of religious beliefs is protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution," the letter reads. "Religious expression is speech and is entitled to the same level of protection as other kinds of speech ... even expression that comes through symbols, such as ornaments."
Arizona was chosen this year to present 4,000 handcrafted ornaments made by elementary, middle-school, and high-school students to decorate Washington, D.C.'s annual Christmas tree.
Guidelines for the ornaments include specifications for their size, weight, composition, and the directive that "Ornaments cannot reflect a religious or political theme… Instead share your interpretation of our theme 'Arizona's Gift, from the Grand Canyon State.'"
In a letter to federal and state officials, including Arizona Governor Janice Brewer, ADF attorneys demanded that they abandon the discrimination against religious viewpoints.
"Banning Christmas from the Capitol Christmas tree is just absurd. Christian students shouldn't be discriminated against for expressing their religious beliefs," said ADF Litigation Staff Counsel Jonathan Scruggs.
"The First Amendment does not allow government officials to exclude schoolchildren's ornaments for the capitol's Christmas tree merely because they communicate a religious viewpoint."
The request was issued on behalf of a mother whose son expressed a strong desire to submit three religious ornaments for the tree: One reading "Merry Christmas," another "Happy Birthday, Jesus," and the third portraying a manger scene with the Christ child.
Each of these ornaments will also honor Arizona, using as a theme the state's history, geography, or motto, "Ditat Deus," which means "God Enriches."
ADF attorneys indicate in the letter that they will take legal action if officials do not comply by October 4, the day before the deadline to submit ornaments for consideration.
"It is well established that expression of religious beliefs is protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution," the letter reads. "Religious expression is speech and is entitled to the same level of protection as other kinds of speech ... even expression that comes through symbols, such as ornaments."
posted by Al @ 2:56 AM
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