The “establishment of religion” clause of the First Amendment means at least this: Neither a state nor the federal government can set up a church. Neither can pass laws which aid one religion, aid all religions, or prefer one religion over another. Neither can force nor influence a person to go to or to remain away from church against his will or force him to profess a belief or disbelief in any religion. No person can be punished for entertaining or professing religious beliefs or disbeliefs, for church attendance or non-attendance.

No tax in any amount, large or small, can be levied to support any religious activities or institutions, whatever they may be called, or whatever form they may adopt to teach or practice religion. Neither a state nor the Federal Government can, openly or secretly, participate in the affairs of any religious organizations or groups and vice versa. In the words of Jefferson, the clause against establishment of religion by law was intended to erect “a wall of separation between church and State.”

You mean like you did in another one of your rants?

ProudArmyParent – “if you can’t enjoy Christmas and what it stands for, then stay in your own little world you call home or better yet move to a country that doesn’t believe in anything. Oh I know pull your lip over your head and swallow… Lol The whole world would be better off with out you…”

The White House is the President’s residence.

You CAN have a nativity scene on your lawn, your church can, any privately owned property can display any religious/mythological symbol.

Neither you nor any xian mob can commandeer government property in an act to promote, nor can the government promote, religion – the doctrine of subservience to a mythological being.

First of all, “freedom of speech” isn’t absolute.

Second, neither you nor anyone else, nor any xian majority mob have the right to use government property as you please, especially when it violates Constitutional jurisprudence.

You haven’t been deprived of any Constitutional rights.

Why is it the when anyone speaks in favor of keeping any of our Constitutional Rights from falling from the wayside “Bullies”, come out and start trying to down grade those that have an adverse opinion from their opinion. Hmmmmm, that would their Right under the U.S. Constitution, we refer to it as Freedom of Speech.

Here is the catch though, you can speak out, but if you were raised right, you’d do it politely!

To begin with, I am an atheist and staunch supporter of FFRF and it’s efforts to ensure that public, tax supported money is not used to advance or support a specific religious belief. I view with disdain many of the arguments put forth above: “but this is a Christian country”, or “but no one in this town or school or sport’s team’s history has ever complained” or “it’s all the fault of these “outsiders”! “How dare you come into our communities and tell us how we should worship”. Sound familiar?
The courts have made it abundantly clear that the First Amendment prohibits the government, i.e. the city, state or federal, from supporting a religious event . And this most definitely includes allowing religious observations on public property. I love the Christmas season. I love the ambiance and the feelings of good will. What I don’t support is my tax dollars enhancing a religious display to which I profoundly, and constitutionally, find objectionable.
I look forward to viewing Christmas displays, as long as they are on private property. If my child wants to bow his head and pray before his school lunch, I would totally support him.
It’s really very simple. Express your religious beliefs however you wish. But do it on your own time, in your own place, WITHOUT financial support from the community.
Dave Godfrey