December 6, 2009 8:58 PM
Loudoun still bans Leesburg Courthouse Christmas Tree, Nativity, Menorah
[Though it is called the Leesburg Courthouse, this ban on holiday displays is the fault of Loudoun County, which owns the land where the Leesburg Courthouse stands.] Apparently, though the Board of Supervisors last Tuesday overturned the ban on holiday displays - handed down at the last minute by a behind-closed-door committee -
Nothing has changed! Apparently, we were hoodwinked!
The Rotary Club has still been prohibited from putting up the annual Christmas Tree (a 50 year old tradition) and the Welshes have still not been allowed to put up the Nativity Scene they've put up for the last 20 years.
No explanation has been forthcoming. Only this ominous statement by the Board:
December 4, 2009
Board to Hold Special Meeting on Use of Courthouse Grounds December 10The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors will hold a special meeting at 5:30 p.m., Thursday, December 10, 2009, on the use of the Loudoun County Courthouse grounds, to include pending applications for use and any rules, regulations or conditions for the use of the grounds.
The meeting will take place in the School Board Meeting Room of the Loudoun County Public Schools Administration Building, 21000 Education Court in Ashburn, Virginia, 20148.
Directions to the Loudoun County Public Schools Administration Building are available on the Loudoun County website.
Friends, please plan to attend, wearing red. Please continue to circulate the petition. And please call and email the Board of Supervisors to demand an explanation.
Please remember that this committee is not living up to what are know as the Sunshine Laws. And what has happened in the past week - publicly voting to overturn the ban, then backpedaling with no explanation - seems very disrespectful of the citizenry. The kind of thing you need to remember next election. . . .
Posted in Christmas, Loudoun County, Oppression | Permalink
Comments
Oh, come on! Really? I've lived here in Leesburg for a little more than a decade, and knowing that no atheist or other secular Loudouner has objected to the display (at least publicly), this is just nuts.Indeed, at one time, they said that this wasn't right for public officials to interfere with the usage of public grounds because of the 1st Amendment. But now they're turning their back at us? Even if they at least stuck to a secular position, I'd like to know where they actually stand.
Better to have a stand than have none, right? (At least another church-state issue, the use of zoning permits of church-building, is no issue at all: the Leesburg Town hall is holding a hearing on the building of a bigger St. John's Catholic Church. I don't think they'll put on a fight for that. *wink* ;-D)
Posted by: Jean-Therese Delacroix | December 6, 2009 10:02 PM
I wish it was just Loudoun County...the Town of Leesburg engaged in its own bit of PC whitewashing on Friday night at the tree lighting ceremony...whose programs described the event as a "Holiday Tree" lighting ceremony.
EXCUSE ME?
Of all places one would think to find people offended by the word Christmas, a tree-lighting ceremony would seem to be the last, and yet whoever put together the paper programs apparently could not bring themselves to use the C-word. Thankfully, Christmas did make an appearance in the actual ceremony and carols, but the program left a bad taste.
How extraordinarily sad...and ridiculous!
I wish I could be at the meeting Thursday, but unfortunately will be out of town on business. Give 'em what-for for us, Barbara! I'll be there in spirit!
Posted by: Andrew | December 7, 2009 1:27 AM
Actually, Andrew, "Christmas" trees are based on pagan customs that the church adopted in an effort to welcome conquered Pagans into the Church.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_tree
As long as the County is willing to allow other religions to put up displays, I see no reason why the Christians to put up a display of nativity and a tree.
If the Board is unwilling to allow Jewish residents to display a Menorah, or even allow the Satanists to display a pentagram, then this controversial conversation will have to continue.
[Libby, the county has had Menorah for many years. In fact, Ken Reid - the Leesburg councilmember who has spearheaded the pressure on the county is Jewish.]
Posted by: Libby | December 7, 2009 10:08 AM
Luckily not all towns or areas are like this. Just stopped by the downtown green (community park at the heart of downtown) and there it was: the Nativity set up just as it has been every year:). There's even a sign saying that the City of Plymouth maintains the set. There's also a menorah, snowman and Christmas tree:).
So, there's still some hope in small town Michigan:).
Posted by: Sarah | December 7, 2009 1:32 PM
