West Chester, PA is a lovely, historically important town. Some years back, Newsweek voted it as one of the top ten small towns to live in. I live here, and I understand, and agree. It's really a wonderful place, most of the time.
You might recall that this is the courthouse building which proudly displays a bronze Ten Commandments plaque by the front door - and won a legal challenge by closing that door to traffic and calling the plaque 'historic' not 'religious'.
It's also the birthplace of the Tree of Knowledge winter holiday display. The ToK has been a symbol of non-theist participation in the holidays, and as such, has given non-theists and other believers who treasure learning and knowledge a public representation of their own.
Sadly, however, the Christian Right in this town have organized behind a former Commissioner to get the current county council to pass a resolution which would make the community holiday display become the commissioners' choice display.
Yesterday, I wrote about the runaround that the Freethought Society has received regarding this year's Tree of Knowledge display. Now, we know why. The commissioners plan to vote on "Resolution 58-10” which will "revoke" and rescind all private unattended winter holiday season displays on the Chester County Historic Courthouse property.
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JUST ADDED: WE HAVE A PETITION: Please sign asap, as the vote is tomorrow at 10 AM!
http://www.change.org/petitions/view/keep_the_chester_county_courthouse_winter_display_open_to_all_groups
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The resolution expresses the Chester County Commissioners' desire to "own, erect and maintain its own seasonal holiday displays to celebrate the traditions of the holidays." The resolution states that the Commissioners desire "to celebrate peace and foster and promote commerce."
The passage of Resolution 58-10 would authorize the "County to acquire such holiday decorations and displays and erect and maintain such decorations and displays as it determines appropriate on the grounds of the Chester County Historic Courthouse consistent with and as otherwise constitutionally permitted by applicable law."
This has been openly done in order to STOP the Freethought Tree while still erecting a creche and menorah.
I have written the following letter to the Chester County Commissioners, pleading with them not to exclude the Freethought display. I ask all of you, no matter where you live, to email or call these commissioners with your comments regarding the freedom of speech violated by denying ONE group representation based on their 'religious (or non-religious) beliefs.
My letter, in its entirety:
Dear Chester County Commissioners,
I'm a citizen of Chester County, and have lived in or near the borough of West Chester for over 31 years, just about all of my adult life. What happens in this town and county is of great importance to me. I have always prided myself on living in an area known for its openness and acceptance.
I just learned yesterday that tomorrow you are planning to change the Winter Display requirements at the Courthouse in West Chester by passing a resolution which will make it easy to eliminate any display you don't personally like.
I ask you strongly to give very serious consideration to the negative impact of Resolution 58-10, and further, I ask you to decide against it. Nothing which serves to divide the citizens of Chester County by excluding some of them and giving preference to some others on a purely religious basis is good for this county, or this country.
I believe that all communities, whether Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Freethinkers, etc. should be given equal opportunity and access to erect a display which conforms to set standards. I count members of all these faiths among my friends, and celebrate with them, not against them.
For me, personally, the Tree of Knowledge erected by the Freethought Society has become close to my heart. As you know, use of a decorated tree at this time of year long predates Christianity, and has been a symbol of unity for millennia. As non-theists, I and my family are usually left 'out in the cold' at this time of year, a time when we also celebrate the joys of being together, and it has been very satisfying to have something publicly displayed which also represents us.
Other than being non-theists, we are NO different than you. We love this town, this state and our country. We work, we pay taxes, and we send our children to local public schools. We hurt when we are excluded simply because we hold a different belief. And believe me, prejudice starts at ground level. When it is further condoned by the government, it destroys a community.
This isn't just about a tree with books on it. It's about the inclusion of ALL citizens, as our founding fathers intended. Don't you think it's about time they see the fruits of their labors?
Please, please, don't end a tradition which currently celebrates ALL Chester Countians and enables us all to participate in the holiday season here at home.
Thank you,
Carol Everhart Roper
West Chester, PA
Cc Editor, Daily Local News
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JUST ADDED: WE HAVE A PETITION: Please sign asap, as the vote is tomorrow at 10 AM!
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Please join the Freethought Society today in their protest of this blatant discrimination!
The contact information for the commissioners and the editor of the local paper is as follows:
Carol Aichele - caichele@chesco.org
Terence Farrell - tfarrell@chesco.org
Kathi Cozzone - kcozzone@chesco.org
Phone calls can be made to: (610) 344-6100
Daily Local News, Editor, Andrew M. Hachadorian, 610-430-1116, andyh@dailylocal.com
For further information, visit www.ftsociety.org and read about the Tree, or contact:
Margaret Downey
Founder and President
The Freethought Society
Secular Officiant
Phone: (610) 793-2737
Fax: (610) 793-2569
Cell: (610) 357-9432
Email: Margaret@ftsociety.org
Comments
If you email the above persons, please send a copy of the email to margaret@ftsociety.org or tickets@ftsociety.org and we will print them out and hand-deliver them at the meeting tomorrow am when they plan to vote on this resolution. Alternatively if you paste it here or on my FB page, I'll grab it and print it.
Thank you all for your super help and efforts to make sure that ALL faiths and those of no faith are equally represented by our government.
I"m curious as to why Resolution 58-10 text is not online? The Agenda says this is New Business. Doesn't there have to be a first or second reading??
I wonder how the citizens of Chester County feel about being drug into potential litigation??
Signed.
Oh, duh, just go to the county website and the text is after the end of the agenda for the upcoming meeting.
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