 On Point Vincent Carroll, editor of the editorial pages, writes his On Point column most weekdays. He is also an author and freelance writer. Reach Vincent Carroll at carrollv@RockyMountainNews.com. |
Carroll: Slippery holiday slope
We used to debate whether religious symbols were appropriate — or even legal — on public property at Christmas time. Now we apparently must debate whether anything that makes someone think of Christmas should be displayed.
A city appointed task force in Fort Collins has concluded that the answer is no. Even objects that have no more religious significance than a fat elf with a long white beard might jeopardize the civic goal of ensuring that all citizens “feel valued, welcomed and included.” As a result, for example, the task force would allow no colored lights on city buildings or in common areas inside. And no ornaments. It would even mandate that any “garlands of greenery” be “unadorned.”
Mustn’t let a ribbon give the public the wrong idea.
Apparently the worry is that someone who doesn’t celebrate Dec. 25 might notice a red ribbon and think, “Aha! They’re pushing Christmas.” The next thing you know, the poor fellow will be seeking advice from a therapist on how to cope. What kind of “inclusive” city would willingly subject its citizens to such traumatic ordeals? Better to limit displays to white lights, icicles, snowflakes, snowmen, penguins, polar bears, and skis (all declared harmless by the task force) rather than flirt with the harrowing possibility that a string of colored lights might trigger a bout of depression in a sensitive passerby.
Like all such regulatory schemes, however, the Fort Collins plan overlooks a couple of possible hitches. The first is that it’s not so easy to placate the modern American with a chip on his shoulder. Someone angered or alienated by the sight of a red ribbon on a green bough will very likely take offense at a string of white lights and a snowman, too. Isn’t there a famous snowman named Frosty associated with Christmas? Isn’t that proof that Fort Collins would be attempting to promote Christmas by approving a symbol with such obvious significance?
For that matter, think of the precedent the city would set by adopting the task force’s policy. Millions of Americans — including some who live in Fort Collins — celebrate Christmas purely as a cultural event. They are not professing Christians and do not believe any aspect of Christian theology, yet they put up a tree, exchange gifts and maybe hum a stanza from a nonreligious carol such as Deck the Halls. If Fort Collins officials concur with their task force that even the nonreligious components of Christmas — the purely cultural trappings — must be banned on public property for risk of offending someone, what will the city do about other holidays it keeps?
Some Americans are offended by displays of patriotism. They believe national pride is dangerous, that it is a springboard for military adventures, imperialism and a host of other ills. Does Fort Collins intend to make such people “feel valued, welcomed and included” on Fourth of July and Memorial Day by downplaying or even banning symbols of national pride and the military on its property? But why not, if the city’s goal is to exclude all cultural symbols that aren’t inclusive?
“In a pluralistic society, there’s nothing that everyone celebrates,” notes Kevin Seamus Hasson, founder and chairman of the Washington, D.C.-based Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, in his book The Right to Be Wrong.
This even goes for Thanksgiving. There are Indian activists who believe Thanksgiving — coming to your neighborhood in nine days — should be a national day of mourning. Will Fort Collins attempt to make them “feel valued, welcomed and included” by banning all traditional scenes involving Pilgrims, banquets and turkeys?
Officials who decide to scrub one holiday from the calendar in the name of a uniting “all city residents and visitors in the spirit of community celebration” may soon discover their work is more complicated than they thought.
Vincent Carroll is editor of the editorial pages. Reach him at carrollv@RockyMountainNews.com.
Have you seen the Denver's City Hall display? It's a nativity.
Posted by on November 13, 2007 06:07 AMDecember 25 on the calendar reminds me of Christmas. Has Ft Collins arranged to have special calendars printed that omit this date? Are Ft Collins city offices going to be open on December 25 when it would otherwise be a normal workday? What possible reason could they have for not requiring city employees to be at work on that day?
Posted by Harry Ladewig on November 13, 2007 07:44 AMI'm a veteran of the War on Christmas. I wanted to march last weekend and was not allowed.
Posted by Outrageous on November 13, 2007 08:11 AMThe flippant tone is never professional.
This started because last year they denied a Rabbi the chance to put a Menorah in the Christmas display.
Did you forget that?
Posted by Carroll's a putz on November 13, 2007 08:37 AMSnowflakes & polar bears!!! Oh no, that makes me thing of global warming and I get depressed. I'm being traumatized by the Fort's insensitive display. I'll sue for my pain and suffering! I'm being excluded! Why can't we all just be Stepford citizens? That way we'll celebrate nothing, offend no one, have no soul, no culture, no allegience to anything. It'll all be so grand. Wait a minute, "grand" might make us feel something. What to do, what to do .. . . . .
Posted by Coco on November 13, 2007 09:04 AMWill the traffic lights have to be turned off for the "holiday" (in fact the word indicates religion as in holy day) since the lights are red and green? They are on public property, paid for with public funds and can quite easily remind one of the typical red and green colors associated with Christmas.
Posted by art on November 13, 2007 10:06 AMHave you noticed with each passing year Ft. Collins is becoming more like Boulder.
Posted by on November 13, 2007 10:13 AMWill the traffic lights have to be turned off for the "holiday" (in fact the word indicates religion as in holy day) since the lights are red and green? They are on public property, paid for with public funds and can quite easily remind one of the typical red and green colors associated with Christmas.
Posted by on November 13, 2007 10:14 AMDon't forget the blantent displays of Festivus. All the aluminium poles in town. "It's made from aluminum. Very high strength-to-weight ratio. " Frank Costanza
Posted by on November 13, 2007 02:14 PMRegarding the post wondering whether Vincent Carroll forgot that this whole business started because a rabbi wanted to put up a menorah on public property and the city said no, my answer is "Of Course, Vincent Carroll did!" Vincent went into hysterics because the mayor of Denver suggested that "Merry Christmas" on Denver's City and County Building display be replaced with "Happy Holidays". Horrors! Last time I checked, Christmas was a holiday (holy day). Last time I checked, December has holidays celebrated by people other than Christians. But Vincent Carroll acted as if the mayor was bringing back the lions.
Fort Collins' proposed solution sounds silly, but the reaction in the other direction is just as silly. No one is trying to steal Christmasor declare war on Christmas. Some people just want to acknowledge that the United States and even Colorado has other religious groups.
Happy holidays everyone.
Halloween (all Hallows eve) is a Catholic holiday. LETS BAN IT.
Fort Logan Cemetery is a federally owned Cemetery which allows religious burial services. LETS SHUT IT DOWN.
The Denver Center for Performing Arts sometimes has religious plays and music. LOCK THE DOORS.
At student unions in public colleges and universities across the state, religious people say prayers before and after meals. LETS SHUT DOWN THE SCHOOLS.
The city of Fort Collins takes Thanksgiving off. Who do you think the people who made Thanksgiving a holiday intended the thanks to be directed to, Al Queda? No, Thanksgiving was intended to be a national day of thanking God.
I am not a Christian, nor do I like Xmas. But I am more offended by the people would want to control the world by censoring anything they disagree with. Make no mistake. This is an attempt to censor religious expression and to regulate the free exercise of religion. As such, it is forbidden by the 1st Amendment.
Posted by freethinker on November 13, 2007 03:27 PMIf the government is paying it should be censored to the degree that no religious message is delivered at the expense of competing views, but Ft. Collins has gone too far. No one's free expression is harmed as you can do whatever you want with your own property.
Posted by on November 13, 2007 04:21 PMcarroll is a "christianofascist"
Posted by on November 14, 2007 08:37 AMAnd I think that Matt Holliday should change his surname as that may be potentially offensive given that "holiday" comes from "holy day". How about Matt Genericday?
Posted by SlouchingtowardBoulder on November 15, 2007 04:02 PMIf they're so sensative about everything Christmas then they will next declare that churches remove there crosses from the steeples and the star of david from synagues. Maybe we should walk around with blinders on so we don't get stressed out by the sign/symbols which may upset us. Better still-don't go outside. I love the nativity at Denver and love to see other religious displays at Christmas time.
Ft. Collins has gone too far and outdone Boulder this time.
Peaceful
Ft. COllins has gone so far that it has outdone Boulder. Next they will be demanding that churches and synagoues remove all their religious symbols from the outside of the buildings. How insensative can they be to the majority of the people. I love to see the Denver nativity and ALL the religious and non-religious symbols.
Posted by Myrna Folsom on February 5, 2008 01:04 PM