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Counterpoint: Take down the atheist sign, and the nativity scene, too
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This is part of an occasional series of point/counterpoint articles about local issues. To read the views on this issue from Michele Johansen, click here.
Leave it to Washington State to get caught up in the crosshairs of Bill O'Reilly! This holiday season down in Olympia, there are seasonal displays in the capitol building. One is of a Christian Nativity scene, another, placed right next to it, is a sign endorsing atheism. To be clear, the sign states that "Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds."
Bill O'Reilly has attacked Governor Christine Gregoire- he claims she "decided to add [the atheist sign] to the display," as though she was sitting around one day and thought, 'Hey, you know what would make Washington State look good? A sign attacking Christians!' The truth is that she, a Democrat, and State Attorney General Rob McKenna, a Republican, felt they were not allowed to turn anyone away. They released a joint statement, saying, "The U.S. Supreme Court has been consistent and clear that, under the Constitution's First Amendment, once government admits one religious display or viewpoint onto public property, it may not discriminate against the content of other displays, including the viewpoints of nonbelievers." So when an atheist group wanted to create a display, they felt they couldn't say no, simply because they were "nonbelievers."
Here's the thing: I completely agree that the sign endorsing atheism does not belong in our state capitol. But I also believe that the nativity scene belongs somewhere else, too. The are many places our citizens can display nativity scenes and other religious symbols- in the windows of their businesses, on their front lawns, in their cars, in their places of worship. But 6 million people own the state capitol, and it is not the right place for religious displays.
So why not just let every religion display something? Glad you asked! According to the Seattle Times, right now, applications are in requesting a display for "Festivus," the fake holiday created by Jerry Seinfeld, as well as a religious-themed "balloon display." When does it stop being a respectful honoring of varying beliefs and turn into a circus? Who decides which religions count? Certainly the Jewish faith counts, how about Scientology? Wicca? You don't like those beliefs? Who makes the final call?
In China, the government makes the final call, and they say only five religions count. Yet, according to the Council on Foreign Relations, they also have an official policy of "freedom of religious beliefs." When they display religious scenes in their government buildings it is a message to its citizens- "obey or else." If someone from China visited our state house, who could blame them for being a little confused, seeing a nativity scene and an atheist poster? What would they assume it meant?
So it comes down to this. The atheist poster is offensive and completely inappropriate. But in our country, where freedom of religion actually means something, it is all or nothing, and "all" becomes a circus. That only leaves "nothing" in the statehouse. Everywhere else is open for religious business, so it is in no way oppressing the faithful. My own faith is not in jeopardy if it is not on display in the statehouse. I know what the nativity scene looks like, since I have one in my living room. And that is exactly where I think it belongs.
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