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.