Heraldnet.com
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2009 5:11 am
LocalNorthwestNation & WorldPoliticsSpecial ReportsPhotosColumnistsMultimedia 
Herald Editorial Board

Bob Bolerjack,
Opinion Editor
bolerjack@heraldnet.com

Carol MacPherson,
Editorial Writer
cmacpherson@
heraldnet.com


Allen Funk,
Herald Publisher
funk@heraldnet.com

Kim Heltne,
Assistant to the Publisher
heltne@heraldnet.com

Send letters to the editor by e-mail to letters@heraldnet.com, by fax to 425-339-3458 or mail to The Herald - Letters, P.O. Box 930, Everett, WA 98206.

 
WEEK IN REVIEW
Tuesday


Arlington brothers’ fight led to death, p...
Burn ban issued in Snohomish County
Woman found dead at Bothell house fire
Monday


Pearl Harbor's voices of the past
Taxes needed to close state's growing deficit?
Grant could help county's residents all be heal...
Sunday


Swine flu lingers, making traditional flu seaso...
Two vie to serve as Snohomish County prosecutor
Families get an early gift: free Christmas trees
Saturday


Gift charity draws Snohomish County families in...
Fears over commercial air service at Paine Fiel...
Donated safe gives Marysville museum a mystery
Friday


From behind bars, pal tells Colton Harris-Moore...
Commercial airlines would cause few problems at...
Fund set up to benefit children of couple kille...
Thursday


5 die of swine flu in Snohomish County
Red Cross honors acts of heroism, many by ordin...
Barista clothing rules delayed by County Council
Wednesday


Father gets 13 years in 6-year-old's fatal shoo...
‘One bad choice' blamed in death of 4 fri...
Reps. Larsen, Inslee split on Obama's plans for...
 

ADVERTISEMENT

Editorials   Print This Article  Email This Page  Subscribe Now! facebook digg reddit del.icio.us fark stumble

 
ADVERTISEMENT

 
HAVE YOUR SAY
Feel strongly about something? Share it with the community by writing a letter to the editor.
You’ll need to include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) We reserve the right to edit letters, but if you keep yours to 250 words or less, we won’t ask you to shorten it. If your letter is published, please wait 30 days before submitting another.
Send it to:
E-mail: letters@heraldnet.com
Mail: Letters section
The Herald
P.O. Box 930
Everett, WA 98206
Fax: 425-339-3458
Have a question about letters? Contact Carol MacPherson (cmacpherson@heraldnet.com or 425-339-3472).
 
Published: Wednesday, December 3, 2008

IN OUR VIEW

Holiday display flaps: Oh, put a stocking in it

Ah, Christmas in the Evergreen State. On the 12th day of Christmas my true love gave to me ... yet another holiday display controversy. Get your cease and desist stocking stuffers now.

In 2006, the Christmas tree/menorah flap at Sea-Tac airport brought our state much worldwide attention, of the mocking type. Get over yourselves, was the main thrust. A Christmas tree is a Christmas tree is a Christmas tree, even if you call it a holiday tree. The enduring holiday icon manages a nifty trick -- it can be a religious symbol or a secular one, or both. You make the call.

This year, the magic of the holiday can be found at the state Capitol. Gracing the grand marble hallways this month are a Nativity scene, a charitable "Capitol Holiday Kids Tree," and an anti-religion placard courtesy of Washington members of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, a group based in Madison, Wis.

Missing this year is a menorah, which a Jewish group sponsored in 2006. The presence of the menorah prompted a lawsuit that brought the Nativity scene to Olympia in 2007. The atheist placard is in response to the Nativity scene. Sigh.

"Merry Christmas" is such a simple sentiment. The atheists are less succinct. Their message meanders right away: It mentions the "winter solstice," and states, in part, "There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds."

It seems problematic for one group to speak for all atheists. They don't believe in God; that they can agree on. After that, who is to say? Why would the foundation mention the winter solstice? Don't spiritual pagans celebrate winter solstice? Maybe not all atheists feel the need to criticize those who believe in a religion. Maybe some atheists are secure enough in their atheism that they realize their beliefs really aren't under attack. (Ditto for Christians.)

The foundation's co-president, Dan Barker, said that "Our members want equal time. Not to muscle, not to coerce, but just to have a place at the table."

OK, they have their symbolic place. Now how many citizens will wander through the rotunda this month to be unduly influenced by the Christmas/secular/atheist displays? How will future legislation be affected by all this religion in government?

There are real religion-in-government issues out there; let's be reasonable -- this isn't one of them. Getting all up in arms over a Nativity scene and insulting those who find meaning in religion isn't really the rational response we would expect from a group that believes so strongly in reason.

READER COMMENTS
Be the first to comment.
You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet.

To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click hereLog out

1. Arlington brothers’ fight led to death, police say
2. Detectives consider slaps to father lethal
3. Woman found dead at Bothell house fire
4. Two teens hurt in collision near Granite Falls
5. Lottery win helps Lake Stevens convenience store owner pay bonuses
6. Everett man shot in groin; two men, one woman are arrested
7. I-5 car chase was result of driver's medical condition
8. CBS cancels ‘As the World Turns’
9. Jail inmates’ meal complaint omits a crucial fact
10. Locker dips toe in NFL pool
Enterprise Newspaper Snohomish County Business Journal
Zambian woman thanks students for their help
Food banks see rise in use
‘Making Spirits Bright’ in Edmonds
Wolfpack takes aim at state
Seahawks help students smile
95 and still volunteering
Sno-King joined by local TV king
Veterans back for Wildcats
Lynnwood seeks to plug $2 million budget gap
The Enterprise Online Newspaper


$2 OFF
at Box Office

20% Off Dinner
Up to $75 Value!

15% Off
All Repairs!

$95 Dryer Vent Cleaning!
$99 Whole House Duct Cleaning!

$2.99 Chili Dog
$3.99 Fish Burger

FREE 6 lb. Pad w/
40yd Carpet Purchase

Buy 1 Get 1 FREE
Lube Oil Filter

Holiday Specials
up to 25% off!

Holiday Getaway
$99 dbl Occupancy

Nutcracker
Family Packs Available

Special Rebate Offers!
Plus Additional 30% OFF!

Always Free
Transmission Diagnostic

Oil - Snohomish County
Low Prices - Fill Now!

25% off Bath & Groom
New Customers

75% OFF
Many Items. Hurry!

Over 1 Million Lights
Lights of Christmas

20% Off Re-Upholstery
or Custom Furniture!

$5 Off
Stylecut

Buy 1 Dinner Entree
Get 2nd 50% Off

75% OFF
Many Items. Hurry!
Eagle Furniture
TODAY'S TOP JOBS
 View All Top Jobs 
Top Cars
Top Homes

ADVERTISEMENT