Athens, Tx courthouse square....

**coppertales** · 12-23-2011, 01:22 PM

I drove by the Athens courthouse where the idiots from Wisconsin are complaining about the Christ manger scene. I was impressed. On the SE corner is the life size manger scene. On the SW corner is a Santa and some elves. On the NW corner there is a family of deer set up among some Christmas trees. Halfway down the block is a Santa's workshop. Large decorated Christmas tree. On the NE corner is a life size group singing Christmas carols. on the east side of the courthouse is a large Santa, sleigh with 9 raindeer. All the light poles along the square have a lighted angle blowing a trumpet. So................those idiots in Wis can go fudge themselves. If they don't like it, don't come here..............chris3

**alismith** · 12-23-2011, 01:39 PM

I wonder if those who are protesting are showing their convictions by working Christmas Day? It's only fitting that they show their disapproval of Christmas by working and refusing to take time off.

**Warthogg** · 12-23-2011, 01:43 PM

Hmmmmm......Athens, Texas just might not be the place for those Wisconsin boys and girls.......to demonstrate.

Wart

**mriddick** · 12-23-2011, 02:18 PM

Maybe to bring some of us to speed on all this, why exactly are people from Wis protesting in TX about a manger scene?

**imanaknut** · 12-23-2011, 03:38 PM

Unless you are being forced to view those scenes, there is nothing even remotely unconstitutional about the display. Enjoy the scenery!

**old Grump** · 12-23-2011, 03:48 PM

If those morons doing the complaining ever manage to find Texas on the map and make their way down there to demonstrate would you do us cheeseheads a favor and keep them. I will be happy to donate the cost of ammo and send you a brand new shovel.

**coppertales** · 12-23-2011, 05:53 PM

that ended this was the TX attorney general telling Athens that he had their back if those idiots decided to sue.

The folks in Athens are looking for the local person that started all this. Can you say "get a rope"........Athens is a nice quiet town. My south camp is 7 miles south of there......chris3

**Warthogg** · 12-23-2011, 06:37 PM

Originally Posted by coppertales

Athens is a nice quiet town.

Yup. I remember when the Holiday Inn was built and you could finally buy liquor by the drink. Place was crawling with womenz.

Wart

**Oswald Bastable** · 12-23-2011, 07:12 PM

Originally Posted by mriddick

Maybe to bring some of us to speed on all this, why exactly are people from Wis protesting in TX about a manger scene?

They're part of the 'Freedom From Religion' group, which is run by local WI atheists and general whackos.

**insider** · 12-23-2011, 09:49 PM

Originally Posted by Oswald Bastable

They're part of the 'Freedom From Religion' group, which is run by local WI atheists and general whackos.

How about we start the 'Freedom From Wackos and Atheists' group?

**mriddick** · 12-23-2011, 09:56 PM

Originally Posted by Oswald Bastable

They're part of the 'Freedom From Religion' group, which is run by local WI atheists and general whackos.

Thank you, I haven't heard of this.

**Prometheus168** · 12-24-2011, 06:38 PM

They might not want to screw around to much in East Texas.... lots of places to get lost there....

Rusty

**LAGC** · 12-24-2011, 08:04 PM

Wow, I guess the leaders of Athens want to get sued.

Allowing only Christian decorations on public property to the exclusion of all others? Blatantly unconstitutional, and even the conservative SCOTUS agrees.

Wonder how Athens' taxpayers will like the big judgment against their city which they will have to pay? Bet the city's leadership gets booted in the next election.

Reminds me: I need to kick down a few bucks to the FFRF for all the good work they do in fighting these Christian extremists.

**old Grump** · 12-24-2011, 09:24 PM

Originally Posted by LAGC

Wow, I guess the leaders of Athens want to get sued.

Allowing only Christian decorations on public property to the exclusion of all others? Blatantly unconstitutional, and even the conservative SCOTUS agrees.

Wonder how Athens' taxpayers will like the big judgment against their city which they will have to pay? Bet the city's leadership gets booted in the next election.

Reminds me: I need to kick down a few bucks to the FFRF for all the good work they do in fighting these Christian extremists.

Wow I guess liberal vacuum heads don't believe in freedom of religion and insist that their minority view point of freedom from religion take precedence over the constitutional rights of those who are believers.

**LAGC** · 12-24-2011, 09:28 PM

Originally Posted by old Grump

Wow I guess liberal vacuum heads don't believe in freedom of religion and insist that their minority view point of freedom from religion take precedence over the constitutional rights of those who are believers.

Not at all. If the city would just allow other displays besides just the Christian ones, the FFRF would have no problem at all and the city wouldn't get sued.

Somehow I expect the city will choose to yank all displays before they allow Jewish, Muslim, and Flying Spaghetti Monster displays to be put up.

Just my gut feeling.

**N/A** · 12-24-2011, 09:58 PM

Originally Posted by LAGC

Not at all. If the city would just allow other displays besides just the Christian ones, the FFRF would have no problem at all and the city wouldn't get sued.

Somehow I expect the city will choose to yank all displays before they allow Jewish, Muslim, and Flying Spaghetti Monster displays to be put up.

Just my gut feeling.

Rep. Ted Poe

Party
RState
TXMr. Speaker, in the piney woods of east Texas, the small town of Athens in Henderson County is getting ready for the holidays. A group of local volunteers with Keep Athens Beautiful has placed a nativity scene on the far corner of the courthouse square. It has been there for the last 10 years with no complaints from residents.
But a group of out-of-towners, not from Athens, not even from Texas, but from a thousand miles away in Wisconsin, have self-righteously objected to the nativity scene. The antireligious hate group demands baby Jesus be evicted from the courthouse lawn.
The county judge politely said no local citizen has complained about the scene, and he really doesn't care what somebody from Wisconsin thinks. He even invited other religious groups to use the courthouse square, but no one has asked to do so.
The county officials don't appear to be succumbing to the intimidation tactics of the bigoted group that wants to censor religion. County commissioner Joe Hall made it clear: ``We will remove the nativity scene when hell freezes over. It's not going anywhere.''
And that's just the way it is.

**old Grump** · 12-24-2011, 10:05 PM

Originally Posted by LAGC

Not at all. If the city would just allow other displays besides just the Christian ones, the FFRF would have no problem at all and the city wouldn't get sued.

Somehow I expect the city will choose to yank all displays before they allow Jewish, Muslim, and Flying Spaghetti Monster displays to be put up.

Just my gut feeling.

Your gut should read the article more closely before you look like an idiot. Your gut lied to you but then I'm not surprised.

**LAGC** · 12-24-2011, 10:05 PM

Originally Posted by N/A

Rep. Ted Poe

Party
RState
TXMr. Speaker, in the piney woods of east Texas, the small town of Athens in Henderson County is getting ready for the holidays. A group of local volunteers with Keep Athens Beautiful has placed a nativity scene on the far corner of the courthouse square. It has been there for the last 10 years with no complaints from residents.
But a group of out-of-towners, not from Athens, not even from Texas, but from a thousand miles away in Wisconsin, have self-righteously objected to the nativity scene. The antireligious hate group demands baby Jesus be evicted from the courthouse lawn.
The county judge politely said no local citizen has complained about the scene, and he really doesn't care what somebody from Wisconsin thinks. He even invited other religious groups to use the courthouse square, but no one has asked to do so.
The county officials don't appear to be succumbing to the intimidation tactics of the bigoted group that wants to censor religion. County commissioner Joe Hall made it clear: ``We will remove the nativity scene when hell freezes over. It's not going anywhere.''
And that's just the way it is.

I find it kind of hard to believe that nobody local has complained... how did the FFRF even hear about the display if it wasn't a local who first brought it to their attention?

If its really true they are willing to allow other displays there, then the lawsuit will be dismissed. But that's not the impression I get from all the news reports I've read so far...

**LAGC** · 12-24-2011, 10:07 PM

Originally Posted by old Grump

Your gut should read the article more closely before you look like an idiot. Your gut lied to you but then I'm not surprised.

Which article? There isn't a single link in this entire thread, just a few cut-and-pastes. I'm only going off of what I've read in news reports I've come across elsewhere.