UNC Keeps Christmas Trees In Storage
Saturday, December 6, 2008 Labels: atheist, Christian, religion 1 commentsAs many bloggers posted about the atheist sign in the Washington state capital this past week (Video). I came across an article in which the University of North Carolina decided not to display Christmas trees in their main libraries this year. Displaying the Christmas trees in the lobbies of the libraries has been a long tradition.
The decision came after complaints from employees and patrons who did not like the Christian display. When making the decision the chief librarian contacted other universities such as Duke and N.C. State and found that no other local university displayed Christmas trees.
The chief librarian was quoted as saying “We strive in our collection to have a wide variety of ideas,” she said. “It doesn't seem right to celebrate one particular set of customs.” This goes back to the classic argument of just because we acknowledge/celebrate one thing doesn't mean we have to do the same for all. To explain the stupidity the question was raised about having MLK Jr. day and not having a KKK day. While that illustration is not to be taken literally, just to show that we don't have to accommodate all views.
Questions:
- Have you witnessed a decrease of public Christian displays?
- Do you ever hear of any complaints?
- Do you think there is a level of tolerance between Christmas trees and nativity scenes?
FULL ARTICLE
Maybe the solution is for Christians to forcefully take down other religions' displays on campus until they are respected as equals. I know Christians have a tendency to say that we should just be meek and accept our fate here, but unlike in ancient Rome, the university has two choices under federal law and the US Constitution: take down all religious displays or allow all of them.
I'm secure enough in my faith that if a pagan wanted to put a tasteful winter solstace display up, it wouldn't bother me, so long as they reciprocated by defending our right to put up a Christmas tree.