IL Secy. of State Allows Symbol of Fictional Holiday Festivus to Join Nativity Scene & Menorah in State Capitol by Dan Gura

RFFM.org NEWS

 

Springfield, IL  --  Earlier this week, an 18 year old man from Springfield was allowed to put up a symbol at the State Capitol Building Rotunda in recognition of a fictional holiday.  Michael Tennenhouse applied for and received a permit from the office of Jesse White, Illinois' Secretary of State.  White's office is responsible for issuing permits to groups who desire to participate in a public forum inside Illinois' state Capitol building.

 

Tennenhouse claims he sought permission from White's office to honor something called "Festivus" which was a story line from an episode of the Jerry Seinfeld show.  One of the Seinfeld characters came up with the idea of Festivus as a celebration of nothing, supposedly in protest of the commercialization of Christmas.  Tennenhouse also said he put up the pole which sits in a Christmas tree stand in response to the controversy over a Nativity scene, Menorah and a sign that was put up by a group of atheists in the Capitol Rotunda earlier this month.

 

"It's the theater of the absurd," said Daniel Zanoza, Chairman of the Springfield Nativity Scene Committee.  "I'm very disappointed with the Secretary of State's office.  They are supposed to be the 'gate keepers' regarding control of the Rotunda Building space.  According to this latest farce, the message sent from Jesse White is that anything goes.  I suppose since our government is fraught with corruption, I could put a mop and a bucket in the Capitol Building and receive a permit because it would symbolize that our state government needs a good cleaning."

 

The Springfield Nativity Scene Committee collected private donations to purchase a three-piece set which depicted the birth of Jesus Christ to celebrate the state and federal holiday of Christmas.  Shortly afterward, a sign disparaging all religions joined the manger scene in the center of the state Capitol Rotunda.  Finally, a Menorah was erected by a Jewish group to commemorate Hanukkah.  All the displays are near what White's office calls a "holiday" tree at the center of the Rotunda space.

 

"It's nihilism," said Zanoza.  "This demonstrates that there are those who want to tear down any symbolism or tradition which celebrates the Judeo-Christian heritage which most people in America adhere to.  White's office does not seem to understand that not all speech is protected.  You can't yell 'fire!' in a crowded theater and you can't scream obscenities into an open window of a house of worship.  At least the sign from the atheists group presents some sort of a message.  The Festivus symbol should be put in a corner where White's office originally placed the Nativity scene.  It took me six months to get a permit from the Secretary of State, but it seems the Secretary of State's office is cranking permits out like there's no tomorrow and it's one more sad statement about Illinois.  Jesse White needs to get a back bone because it's obvious he has lost his.  So, I guess the message is 'come one, come all,' no matter how ridiculous your message is.  It's turning into a circus and White wants to be the ring master.  Very sad."

 

The sign from the atheist group was stolen early last week, but the group replaced it on Monday and added a religious warning saying "Thou shalt not steal."

 

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Comments

[Charlie]

"The mop and bucket" does not sound like a bad idea, considering the amount of cleaning up needed in Springfield right now. As you indicate, the other stuff is an attempt to reduce the effect of the true symbols placed there.

[EconomicGeography]

You guys are lame. What makes a holiday 'fake' or 'real'?

Just another instance of the War on Festivus

I for one think this is great, as it shows the power of religious diversity in this country. There's no reason why Festivus shouldn't be added to the Christian holiday of Saturnalia, oh, I mean Christmas.

Just a coincidence that the two holidays line up, right?

EDITOR'S NOTE: OBVIOUSLY, THE INDIVIDUAL WHO POSTED THE ABOVE COMMENT IS IN SEARCH OF THE KIND OF DEBAUCHERY THAT LED TO THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE. THANKFULLY, THIS "EXPERT" ON REVISIONIST HISTORY IS A LONELY INDIVIDUAL WHO WANTS TO CORRUPT A SEASON WHICH IS BASED UPON LOVE FOR OUR FELLOW MAN AND REVERENCE FOR THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST WHO CAME TO WIPE THE SLATE CLEAN FOR THOSE WHO ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT HIS MESSAGE. MY SUGGESTION TO THIS WRITER IS TO FIND A NICE DINGY STRIP CLUB NEXT CHRISTMAS AND REVEL IN THE DEBAUCHERY WHICH SATURNALIA REPRESENTED.

I WON'T HONOR THESE COMMENTS BY SAYING THEY ARE OFFENSIVE TO THOSE OF US WHO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS AS THE BIRTH OF MANKIND'S SAVIOR. BUT IT'S A FREE WORLD AND MOST AMERICANS WILL CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF CHRIST AS IT WAS MEANT TO BE CELEBRATED, WHILE THE WRITER CAN WALLOW IN HIS OWN FILTH AND TELL THE WORLD ABOUT IT.

SO, MERRY CHRISTMAS, "ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY" AND HAVE A BLESSED NEW YEAR.