Charleston fire station modifies nativity display, puts it back up

Associated Press
Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009 7:41 PM
Last updated 8:02 PM
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    CHARLESTON, S.C. — A South Carolina fire station that removed a nativity display after a complaint has put it back up after adding other holiday decorations.

    The Charleston Fire Department announced today that one of its stations has modified its holiday display to comply with U.S. Supreme Court rulings. It has added a menorah, Kwanzaa Kinara, Santa Claus, elves and reindeer.

    Chief Thomas Carr Jr. says the nativity scene is one part of celebrating the holiday season.

    The Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation sent a letter dated Dec. 17 asking city officials to remove the display because it promoted one religion over another. It was taken down in response.

    Foundation co-president Annie Laurie Gaylor says that the change is a sham but that the display now appears to fall within the law.

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    Does_it_really_matter
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    Does_it_really_matter 12/22/09 - 08:51 pm
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    sham? give me a

    sham? give me a break..........

    YellowHammer
    0
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    YellowHammer 12/22/09 - 09:07 pm
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    What the h*** is a Kwanza

    What the h*** is a Kwanza Kinara? I thought the Muslims used the Crescent moon as their symbol.

    Asitisinaug
    2
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    Asitisinaug 12/22/09 - 09:20 pm
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    Christmas is about Christ and

    Christmas is about Christ and if you don't agree with it then don't celebrate it. They should also be allowed but not forced to put up dispalys for other holidays for Jews, Muslims, etc. if desired but this anti-religion has gone way overboard and it is time for others to stand up for what is right. Even the Athiest demand a sign board to be placed up during holidays. The state is not endorsing a specific religion by acknodlidging it and therein lies the difference. The liberals of this country including the idiots in this current administration are doing everything in their power to destroy this country and all it was founded upon.

    scoobynews
    1803
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    scoobynews 12/22/09 - 09:21 pm
    0
    0

    Kwanzaa is an African

    Kwanzaa is an African American cultural holiday that falls on Dec. 26th. It is not religious but promotes cultural awareness. It had it's high day back in the 80s but now kids have no idea what I am talking about when we discuss winter holidays in school.

    fatboyhog
    785
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    fatboyhog 12/22/09 - 09:58 pm
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    Kwanzaa is a made up

    Kwanzaa is a made up "holiday." It was made up by a racist felon. Why in the world is this foolishness even included in a Christmas nativity scene? What a slap in the face.

    Fiat_Lux
    8100
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    Fiat_Lux 12/22/09 - 10:54 pm
    0
    0

    I wish this ridiculous

    I wish this ridiculous organization had a local office so I could go spit on their front door.

    baronvonreich
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    baronvonreich 12/22/09 - 11:31 pm
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    It is a sham. The problem

    It is a sham. The problem with us, who aren't Christians and don't buy into these myths like Christmas, still have our tax dollars supporting organizations like this fire department that was clearly promoting one certain religion. If they want to put up a santa and reindeer then fine. Religion has absolutely no place on publicly funded property.

    the_source
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    the_source 12/22/09 - 11:36 pm
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    0

    What if the Satanists are

    What if the Satanists are offended? They must add a pitchfork and plastic flames or else it is not in compliance with the law!

    CalvinCool
    0
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    CalvinCool 12/22/09 - 11:55 pm
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    Fiat_Lux: if you would like

    Fiat_Lux: if you would like to talk to the "Freedom From Religeon" folks, you can call them at 608-256-8900. Just be polite when you call them. Maybe have your like-thinking friend call them as well.
    You should note that I am not commenting on Kwanza. If you would like to research it yourself, just type "United Slaves" into your search engine...

    freespeach
    4
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    freespeach 12/22/09 - 11:56 pm
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    Fatboyhog is right. Kwanzaa

    Unpublished

    Longtime CSRA resident
    1
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    Longtime CSRA resident 12/23/09 - 12:07 am
    0
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    I noticed the wise men in the

    I noticed the wise men in the display had on fireman's hats. At first, I thought it was just because the display was at a fire station. I asked, and was told it was because the wise men came from a far.

    InChristLove
    11677
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    InChristLove 12/23/09 - 12:26 am
    0
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    Complaints were made that the

    Complaints were made that the nativity scene didn't abide by the law so they took it down. Now that it's back up along with other holiday season symbols it's within the letter of the law. So deal with it.....if you don't like the nativity scene, too bad...just look at the menorah, Santa or any of the other decorations. Baronveonreich if Satan celebrates Christmas then by all means put up your pitchfork and flames but I guarantee you the nativity scene will shine brighter than all the rest because Jesus is the reason for the season and his light will outshine it all. Merry Christmas and may Santa bring you a new heart.

    UncleStrom
    2
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    UncleStrom 12/23/09 - 12:59 am
    0
    0

    LOL, Longime. Good one!

    LOL, Longime. Good one!

    CoastalDawg
    90
    Points
    CoastalDawg 12/23/09 - 02:14 am
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    Someone in Charleston isn't

    Someone in Charleston isn't acquainted with the law if he believes that adding other "decorations" to a display about the very subject of Christmas brings them into compliance with a NON-EXISTENT law. There is NOTHING in our constitution that requires that and being afraid of some woman in frozen Wisconsin makes that civil servant one that should be removed. It is TIME to stand up for reality, to stand up for what has brought our country so far, to stand up for AMERICA. The very best thing that official could have done was to completely ignore that letter. What a wimp!

    CoastalDawg
    90
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    CoastalDawg 12/23/09 - 02:23 am
    0
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    Will someone who really knows

    Will someone who really knows please tell us WHAT law was broken? Displaying the nativity on public property, funded by ALL taxpayers not just those who believe in nothing, is NOT a violation of law - the constitution states that CONGRESS shall not establish a state religion. That's the extent of it - religious freedom is also for Christians, believe it or not. Kwaanza is a made up thing - Jews have recently celebrated Chanukkah so that holiday is over - Christmas is the celebration of CHRIST's birthday, thus the term "Christmas". How dumb can one be? If we continue to run scared and allow those who are supposedly knowledgeable take down everything on which our country is based we soon will be people without a country - that is rapidly being forced upon us from the White House and congress. Time to step up to the plate and stop all this foolishness.

    helpicantfindthespacebar
    1
    Points
    helpicantfindthespacebar 12/23/09 - 03:11 am
    0
    0

    CoastalDawg, Google the

    CoastalDawg, Google the 'Plastic Reindeer Rule'.

    overburdened_taxpayer
    93
    Points
    overburdened_taxpayer 12/23/09 - 06:55 am
    0
    0

    I'm pretty sure it does not

    I'm pretty sure it does not say "freedom FROM religion" anywhere in the Constitution.

    sgachief
    0
    Points
    sgachief 12/23/09 - 07:44 am
    0
    0

    Christmas is about CHRIST and

    Christmas is about CHRIST and His birth, not about all of these other rediculous fake festivities and holidays. Just another example of this nation going down the tube.

    mercyme
    0
    Points
    mercyme 12/23/09 - 09:37 am
    0
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    When it is all said and done

    When it is all said and done and it is all over ,When our Lord and Savior returns and He will, the people that are making such a fuss about this ( the ones who do not believe) will get the shock of their lives. The Bible says " That at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW, of those who are in heaven, of those on earth and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father!!!! God is in Control!!!

    crackertroy
    533
    Points
    crackertroy 12/23/09 - 09:39 am
    0
    0

    The Freedom From Religion

    Unpublished

    corgimom
    1559
    Points
    corgimom 12/23/09 - 12:03 pm
    0
    0

    Scoobynews, only 2 kids in

    Scoobynews, only 2 kids in our class had even heard the word.

    corgimom
    1559
    Points
    corgimom 12/23/09 - 12:28 pm
    0
    0

    Sorry, I was referring to

    Sorry, I was referring to Kwanzaa, the made-up holiday.

    Still Clarks Hill 2 Me
    0
    Points
    Still Clarks Hill 2 Me 12/23/09 - 09:34 pm
    0
    0

    So much to do over nothing.

    So much to do over nothing. It's easier to be and act wrong than right these days. Too bad. We all lose.

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