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decking the city halls
Dec. 16th, 2007 10:16 amWhile I'm quietly wrapped up in my dark spiral of contemplation, there are battles being fought in public squares and city halls across the nation. As far as I can tell, there are three armies engaged in combat for what gets to be displayed at the holiday season:
Army of the SELF-righteous (with full emphasis on self) These are the people who want their own religious display front and center, and nothing else is to be permitted at all. Look, folks, we'll be setting up classes on remedial constitutional law next week. Please come.
Army of the Bah HumbugThese are the people who probably teach the remedial constitutional law classes. Their agenda is to have no holiday decorations in public places at all. It's fair. It's legal. It's also heartless to spoil the celebrations of others. Auditions for the part of Tin Man begin next week.
Army of Inclusivity These are the people who smile, wave and offer to help you put up your holiday display. They are willing to scrunch everthing closer together to make room for one more. I'm not totally sure how legal it is, but it is very fair and lots of fun. If I actually felt that my holiday needed a display in the public square, I'd join this army.
This year in Green Bay, WI and Olean, NY, pentacles were put on display to celebrate the season. As a witch, I support their efforts. And, yet, as a witch, I was initially puzzled that the pentacle was chosen as the symbol of the season. It is the symbol of the Wiccan religion, so that places it on par with the star of david or cross. It doesn't place it on par with a menorah or nativity. If I had to chose a seasonal symbol, it would be the yule log.
The humble yule log has a few problems with marketing and brand recognition. Unless blazing, it is not particularly attractive, lying there like a bump on a log. It also has been co-opted, name and all, as part of other holiday celebrations, so it doesn't promote brand recognition. And afer the long and successful campaign to embarass the Veterans Administration into permitting the pentacle on veterans' grave markers, the pentacle is our most recognized symbol.
Army of the SELF-righteous (with full emphasis on self) These are the people who want their own religious display front and center, and nothing else is to be permitted at all. Look, folks, we'll be setting up classes on remedial constitutional law next week. Please come.
Army of the Bah HumbugThese are the people who probably teach the remedial constitutional law classes. Their agenda is to have no holiday decorations in public places at all. It's fair. It's legal. It's also heartless to spoil the celebrations of others. Auditions for the part of Tin Man begin next week.
Army of Inclusivity These are the people who smile, wave and offer to help you put up your holiday display. They are willing to scrunch everthing closer together to make room for one more. I'm not totally sure how legal it is, but it is very fair and lots of fun. If I actually felt that my holiday needed a display in the public square, I'd join this army.
This year in Green Bay, WI and Olean, NY, pentacles were put on display to celebrate the season. As a witch, I support their efforts. And, yet, as a witch, I was initially puzzled that the pentacle was chosen as the symbol of the season. It is the symbol of the Wiccan religion, so that places it on par with the star of david or cross. It doesn't place it on par with a menorah or nativity. If I had to chose a seasonal symbol, it would be the yule log.
The humble yule log has a few problems with marketing and brand recognition. Unless blazing, it is not particularly attractive, lying there like a bump on a log. It also has been co-opted, name and all, as part of other holiday celebrations, so it doesn't promote brand recognition. And afer the long and successful campaign to embarass the Veterans Administration into permitting the pentacle on veterans' grave markers, the pentacle is our most recognized symbol.
