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Last post 20 years ago by MDavis. 12 replies replies.
Mom Sues School to Allow Nativity Scene
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65gtoman Offline
#1 Posted: Fri, Dec 5 2003, 11:20 AM EST
Joined: 06-12-2003
Posts: 858
Friday, December 05, 2003
By David Lee Miller
FOX NEWS

NEW YORK — If a Christmas tree can stand in a school's halls during the holidays, then a model of baby Jesus and his manger should also be welcomed, contends a Queens, N.Y., mother who is going to court to prove her point.

Andrea Skoros (search) sued the New York City public school system after being told her kids' Nativity scene could not be a part of the holiday display although a Hanukkah menorah (search) and the star and crescent representing Islam could be exhibited.

A federal judge in Brooklyn Thursday held a procedural conference on the suit and Skoros hopes the ban will soon be overturned.

School officials say that all displays must be secular in nature and chose a Christmas tree to symbolize the holiday but Skoros said this a double standard.

"I felt that it is only fair if they are going to display the menorah, which is a religious symbol, that they also display the Nativity scene instead of just snowmen and stockings and Christmas trees."

While school officials wouldn't discuss the lawsuit, legal briefs filed said it has "drawn an appropriate line between secular holiday decorations and those that are purely religious."

The New York Civil Liberties Union (search) agreed: "The Constitution prohibits government from promoting religion, any religion, and that means that public schools can be in the business of promoting religion," Donna Lieberman of the NYCLU said.
Sylance Offline
#2 Posted: Fri, Dec 5 2003, 11:46 AM EST
Joined: 06-19-2003
Posts: 592
Yea, I just got done reading this. I say it's about time people start bringing this stuff to the courts.
JonR Offline
#3 Posted: Fri, Dec 5 2003, 12:19 PM EST
Joined: 02-19-2002
Posts: 9,740
What's next the atheists demanding an empty picture frame. JonR
Sylance Offline
#4 Posted: Fri, Dec 5 2003, 2:02 PM EST
Joined: 06-19-2003
Posts: 592
That is too funny!!
0patience Offline
#5 Posted: Fri, Dec 5 2003, 2:45 PM EST
Joined: 07-20-2003
Posts: 1,023
Maybe the parents should take over the schools and make them private schools instead of govt run.
About 20% of the kids high school age in our town are home schooled and those who are home schooled are alot further ahead than the ones who are in the public schools.

Personally, as long as the religion isn't pressed upon kids, I think the major religions should have representation. Maybe I am thinking too much. LOL!
RICKAMAVEN Offline
#6 Posted: Fri, Dec 5 2003, 4:34 PM EST
Joined: 10-01-2000
Posts: 33,248
this entire "no nativity scene, but a menorah is allowed, is nonsense. you all know i have no religious convictions, but people that do should all be allowed their symbol, or no group should.
Cigarick Offline
#7 Posted: Fri, Dec 5 2003, 5:52 PM EST
Joined: 07-28-2002
Posts: 3,078
That's precisely why no group should. Public schools are for education, not indoctination. Religion should be taught at home and in church (or whatever).
tailgater Offline
#8 Posted: Fri, Dec 5 2003, 6:56 PM EST
Joined: 06-01-2000
Posts: 26,185
Nobody is trying to recruit new members with a Nativity scene nor a Menorah.

Recognizing this time of year as a Holy time for many religions is healthy.

Although I now have many friends of the Jewish faith, I had none in my classes when I was in elementary school (at least none that I know of). Were it not for the schools teaching and recognizing important aspects of the other religions, I would not have known anything about them.

Nobody is making the kids kneel before the Baby Christ. Why is everybody hypersensitive?
Homebrew Offline
#9 Posted: Fri, Dec 5 2003, 7:05 PM EST
Joined: 02-11-2003
Posts: 11,885
Damn,
I agree with Tailgater, the world must surely be coming to the end, or at Least Hell has frozen over. LOL I believe either they all go or all stay. I mean, if the Christmas tree is there, an ancient Pagan symbol for the Winter Holiday, than the Nativity scene and the menorah, should be allowed.
Later
Dave (A.K.A. Homebrew)
Homebrew Offline
#10 Posted: Fri, Dec 5 2003, 7:08 PM EST
Joined: 02-11-2003
Posts: 11,885
By the way, I am all for mandatory Comparative Religion classes, in all schools, to help educate everyone, about their neighbors religion, and reduce the tensions between differing religous groups.
Later
Dave (A.K.A. Homebrew)
Cigarick Offline
#11 Posted: Sat, Dec 6 2003, 6:37 AM EST
Joined: 07-28-2002
Posts: 3,078
That's a great idea. I have Christian friends, Wiccan friends, Buddhist friends, and Muslim friends, and I really enjoyed Comparative Religion and Cultural Anthropology. The point is (the original point of founding this country) to avoid having a State-sponsored religion, and once the religious right whackjobs get a toe-hold, that would just be the beginning.
DrMaddVibe Offline
#12 Posted: Sat, Dec 6 2003, 7:20 AM EST
Joined: 10-21-2000
Posts: 55,647
There is no state sponsered religion!

This is the same tripe that the seperation of church and state yo-yo's misconstrue to form the basis of their beliefs.
MDavis Offline
#13 Posted: Sat, Dec 6 2003, 3:06 PM EST
Joined: 11-11-2003
Posts: 94
There is no state sponsored religion ---- yet. Sure is lot's of chatter about amending the Constitution to reflect our Christian-Judeo heritage. Dangerous times we live in.

But this case is nuts. How can you display obvious symbols of two religions and select the Christmas tree as representing Christianity? The school board must have relatives who are lawyers and needed some Christmas money.
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