Signs of the Times

by: deciminyan

Thu Dec 15, 2011 at 11:55:00 AM EST

Cross-posted from deciminyan.org

If you drive through Pitman, NJ, you will see a banner hanging across the main drag which has in big letters, "Allah Akbar." That's a transliteration of the Arabic that means "God is Great". No one should object to that. After all, our national motto is "In God We Trust." We pledge allegiance to the flag "under God." But there's a large contingent of people in that town who object to the banner praising God. They're not atheists, but Christians who object to extoling God's greatness in another language. (I'm pretty sure God understands Arabic.)

deciminyan :: Signs of the Times

Most of the above paragraph is a lie. Yes, there's a banner in Pitman, but the words were Photoshopped. The real image is here; the banner says "Keep Christ in Christmas."

I don't celebrate Christmas, but if those that do want to remind people about the religious meaning in their holiday, that's their business. But they have no business using public facilities to do so. They can put the slogan on their homes and churches, but by placing it on a main thoroughfare, they are using public resources to promote a religious belief. I'm willing to bet that many of these same so-called religious Christians support Lowe's bigoted decision to withdraw advertising from a television program that depicts Muslims in a positive light.

Those that wear their religion on their sleeve must be insecure in their beliefs. My message to my Christian friends is keep Christ in Christmas and follow the teachings of your Jewish carpenter by feeding the hungry, supporting the poor, and promoting peace instead of conflict. Don't disenfranchise your non-Christian fellow citizens like the Tea Party wants to do (below). Merry Christmas.

Tags: Pitman, Christmas, god, Arabic, Muslims, Lowe's, discrimination, bigotry, tea party, (All Tags)

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Signs of the Times | 7 comments

It's not often I quote the New Testament... (4.00 / 1)

...but aside from the Constitutional issues a play here, a very simple commandment attributed to Jesus immediately comes to mind whenever I see overt demonstrations (and imposition) of religiosity:

Do not make a show of your religion, or it will be in vain.

M.6:1-18

Not only should some people reacquaint themselves with this country's Constitutional framework, but perhaps they might want to spend more time actually reading the commandments of their savior. They might be surprised at what they learn.

by: Alex @ Thu Dec 15, 2011 at 19:39:54 PM UTC

by: you @ soon

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I think that sign is really akbar! (0.00 / 0)

Or at least as nice as the others.

Let's keep (or put) the United in the United States of America!

by: Nowlan @ Thu Dec 15, 2011 at 23:02:27 PM UTC

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I like this (0.00 / 0)

I've posted elsewhere that this is largely a zoning issue as the banner is attached to utility polls owned by Verizon and or PSE&G. As long as they have the appropriate sign permit they won't have to take it down. However, FFRF has indicated they will put up their own sign, and apply for the necessary permits to do so. Of course, if they are denied the permits then they have grounds to sue. But if they do put up a sign, I can't think of anything more appropriate.

http://christiegonewild.blogsp...

by: ken bank @ Fri Dec 16, 2011 at 02:02:47 AM UTC

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A few years ago in Tenafly (0.00 / 0)

when I was on the Council, we had a religious dilemma. How do we honor the age old tradition of decorating the center of town? For decades it traditionally had a nativity scene with live animals yet, but in recent years to avoid controversy we got rid of the creche. We were petitioned by residents who wanted to bring it back.Our solution was extremely easy and satisfied everyone. We simply eliminated worded signs. We allowed all the symbols, lights you name it - including a nativity scene in Huyler Park. The secular parts of town - in the shopping district where we wanted folks to get in the spirit (& spend some $$$ on Christmas presents at our shops) we allowed a committee made up of Borough residents to come up with whatever symbols they wanted - Jewish, Christian, Muslim whatever in the park, such as a Nativity scene. What we did not allow were worded signs because that is what gets everyone up in arms. Everyone knows what a nativity scene represents - or a menorah. These symbols were allowed to be used in the downtown shopping area while we kept a separation of church and state by keeping the Public Town Hall undecorated. It satisified the folks who wanted religious symbols associated with the holiday to be shown, while it satisfied those who didn't want us to express an opinion on any one religion. It worked remarkably well in a town where there is a large Christian population AND a large Jewish Population.

One Vote. Yours. It really does matter.

by: carolh @ Fri Dec 16, 2011 at 16:11:50 PM UTC

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I did not know.. (0.00 / 0)

..that the Knights of Columbus was a Muslim organization ;)

Blog: Pick's Place

by: jeffpickens @ Fri Dec 16, 2011 at 23:43:59 PM UTC

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You didn't? (0.00 / 0)

You should watch Glenn Beck in order to stay informed.

Blog: http://www.deciminyan.org