Do me a favor: go vote “no” in this poll (it’s about my hometown putting up a nativity on the courthouse lawn while simultaneously denying the local freethinkers a “Happy Solistice!” banner on the same grounds). And then share it for others to do the same. I know a lot of you think it’s just a poll and that tweaking it is just trolling, but trust me: the people in my hometown put a lot of emphasis on these polls so they can say “this is what the majority wants” as if the whims of the majority can negate the rights of all.

If you’re wondering to what this is pertaining, last year in my home town the local freethinkers asked to put up their own holiday display next to the nativity. They were denied. This year the nativity is back up after a year long threat of litigation from the AHA. They’ve pulled some attempts at sneaky tricks (I say attempts, because they actually put the county in greater legal trouble than they were already in) like renting the space on the courthouse lawn to a private citizen for $1 so as to attempt to separate themselves from government endorsement (as if renting the space, or essentially handing it to someone who plans to put up a sectarian religious message while denying such applications from other people with different beliefs is peachy keen legally).

Bear in mind, this is an area where local leaders openly advocate for running anybody who complains about this inequality out of town.

It’s just a sad state of affairs. All the county had to do was treat the freethinkers equally and the creche could’ve stayed up. But they haven’t done it and have dedicated their efforts to avoid doing it. These are the people who are supposed to represent all citizens equally. Unfortunately, if you’re not willing to treat all the religions equally, they all have to come down.

Rest assured I’ll be following this story as it develops. For now though, please help send a message to the residents of Baxter County.

At the time of this writing the poll is:

Who cares: 4%

No: 19%

Yes: 76%

Fly forth and destroy it.

Ah, we’re doing well. Now it’s 67% “No”, and 30% “Yes.” All of a sudden the majority doesn’t mean a whole lot, does it, Baxter County? Stay on ’em. Let’s get “Yes” down to single digits. It’s a lot harder to break the law when it’s apparent there’s a lot of people watching – and rest assured, the county judge behind this debacle is aware of this poll.

Thanks everybody. Your willingness to take a few seconds out to help with this means quite a bit to me. Hugs all around.

I went ahead and left a comment on it:

It is nobody’s religious right to have exclusive access to government property for their own particular religion. The creche would not have been an issue if Mickey Pendergrass had not denied another people of other persuasions equal space on the courthouse lawn. Allowing Christians and nobody else, even trying to be sneaky and give the space away to a private citizen they know is going to continue the practice, is legally (and ethically) dubious – and it’s going to cost the county when they lose a foredoomed lawsuit. The outrage should be over inequality. It should be about government treating one religion held by its citizens better than other religions held by its citizens. And the outrage should be pointed at Mickey Pendergrass and the ones maintaining this situation. Sadly, many Christians, despite assurances that their faith makes them more moral, will direct their outrage at the people committed to halting this injustice.

“No” is now at 80% with “Yes” hovering at 18%. That didn’t take long. But I believe in Father Christmas, and I think he can get “Yes” down to single digits. 🙂

It’s the devil’s work (click the image to embiggen it):