What about the grievances?

[Sue U]

Here's something you don't ordinarily see in the "holiday season" -- or any season, for that matter: Florida gets it right.

Festivus pole to go up in Florida Capitol rotunda

By Jim Turner, News Service of Florida

1:26 p.m. EST, December 9, 2013

TALLAHASSEE —A nearly 6-foot-tall "Festivus" pole made from empty beer cans will be put up in the Florida Capitol this week as a not-so-subtle protest to the recent placement of a Christmas nativity scene.

The mock monument will be erected most likely on Wednesday in the same first-floor rotunda as a nativity scene depicting the birth of Jesus Christ put up last week by the Florida Prayer Network.

"I still chuckle, I literally can't believe there will be a pile of Pabst Blue Ribbon cans in the state rotunda," said Chaz Stevens, a Deerfield Beach resident who applied to the state Department of Management Services to put the Festivus pole on display.

Stevens, who operates a blog that focuses on South Florida politics, said the intent of the Festivus pole is to make a political statement on the need for the separation of church and state.

He compared the Festivus pole with the nativity scene as "my ridiculous statement versus what I consider, as an atheist, as their ridiculous statement."

Festivus is a "holiday" created for the TV sitcom "Seinfeld" as a non-commercial festival "for the rest of us" in the Christmas and year-end holiday season. Festivus, celebrated Dec. 23, comes with a ceremonial post-dinner "airing of the grievances" in which participants describe how they have been disappointed by others in the past year and engage in "feats of strength."

Festivus purists may favor a more-simple unadorned aluminum pole, but Stevens said the use of beer cans is in line with the irreverent spirit of those who celebrate the holiday.

Late last week, the Madison, Wisc.-based Freedom From Religion Foundation, which advocates for non-theists and promotes the separation of church and state, also set up a "Bill of Rights nativity" banner in the rotunda. The foundation's banner states: "At this season of the Winter Solstice, we celebrate the Birth of the Unconquered Sun — the TRUE reason for the season."

Pam Olsen, president of the Florida Prayer Network, said last week that such displays only "shine more light" on her group's message that she said isn't to be viewed as a state-sponsorship of religion.

"It's their right, they have a right to exercise freedom of speech, that's what America is about," Olsen said. "It doesn't faze me, it doesn't faze the God I serve."

Stevens, a member of the American Civil Liberties Union, requested the Festivus display space from the state Department of Management Services after reading about the nativity display. A preliminary approval was given Friday with the formal approval made Monday.

Ben Wolf, a spokesman for the Department of Management Services, said as long as there is space available, and the proposed display meets state guidelines, it would likely get approval.

"As long as it meets those guidelines and there is space available in the capitol, DMS is happy to allow all cultures, and denominations, and committees and groups to put up their holiday displays," Wolf said.

The department does limit the height of displays based on where they are located in the rotunda, and prohibits displays from blocking permanent memorials such as the Civil Rights and Veterans halls of fame. There are rules against noise and impeding official business.

Copyright © 2013, Orlando Sentinel

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/pol ... 9699.story

[Big RR]

Gotta love it.

[Lord Jim]

I think it was a great idea...

It puts the jackassery of those nimrods on full public display...

[Gob]

"I still chuckle, I literally can't believe there will be a pile of Pabst Blue Ribbon cans in the state rotunda," said Chaz Stevens, a Deerfield Beach resident who applied to the state Department of Management Services to put the Festivus pole on display.

I can't believe it either!

They found someone who was willing to drink that piss...

[dgs49]

December 25th is a Wednesday, right? I assume these people will be at their desks, working on that day.

And of course Thanksgiving is a total bit of nonsense unless one believes in "god."

[Rick]

Athiests/Agnostics can't say thanks?

[Sue U]

December 25th is a Wednesday, right? I assume these people will be at their desks, working on that day.

For most of my life, I've spent December 25th eating Chinese and going to the movies.

And of course Thanksgiving is a total bit of nonsense unless one believes in "god."

I thought it was for those who believe in football?

[Crackpot]

December 25th is a Wednesday, right? I assume these people will be at their desks, working on that day.

For most of my life, I've spent December 25th eating Chinese and going to the movies.

THat's because you're unamerican.

[TPFKA@W]

For most of my life, I've spent December 25th eating Chinese

Do you live next door to the Bumpuses?

[dgs49]

Eating Chinese?

Fucking cannibal.

[MajGenl.Meade]

Hmm, doesn't look as if Dave's quite got the hang of how to eat people yet.

[Big RR]

December 25th is a Wednesday, right? I assume these people will be at their desks, working on that day.

since when were national/state holidays supposed to be recognized only by those who believed in the premise behind them? I didn't work the Friday after Thanksgiving (a holiday in my state), but I have no idea what is being celebrated on that day (shopping?). Likewise, I don't know what is being celebrated on Nov 11 after its name was changed from Armistice Day (exactly what are we recognizing on Veterans Day and why did it replace Armistice Day?). What do we celebrate on January 1; I guess if we accept that jesus was born on Dec 25 (and that's a stretch with some biblical evidence) it could be the day of Jesus' bris, but how many Christians know what a bris is (or even accept that jesus was jewish and would have had one); we spend it drinking champagne and watching football, not eating sponge cake or bagels.