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Fight over CA nativity tradition

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    Debate over religious rights

  • Duration 5:43
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Right now several church groups in Santa Monica California are in federal court.

After the city announced it was canceling a nearly sixty year old holiday tradition.

For all those decades life sized nativity scenes and contained residents at a public park overlooking the ocean during the Christmas season.

That was until last year when several atheist groups filed petitions to set up their own this place.

And they actually got them like this one showing a picture of Jesus the dabble in Santa Claus and asking what myths do you see.

The atheist groups wound up securing eighteen of the 21 available displaced spots and because of the -- -- -- all caused.

Santa Monica is canceling the nativity displays all together.

Get a fair and balanced debate underway Tammy Bruce is a radio talk show host and a Fox News contributor Robert Boston senior policy analyst at Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

-- you don't.

Had a problem with with.

A public display is even on public land of the nativity scene.

-- you know I don't identifies a Christian but I do believe in god and I've always found it rather ironic.

That the atheist identity actually relies on christianity -- right.

And look if this is an issue about -- what is displayed on public land wherever there's a void on public land where there is no Christian symbol -- all.

Really my highlights the atheist point of view so I think I would have perhaps agree with this dynamic.

That wherever there is no -- No sign of anything at all public plan perhaps we need to make sure that some christianity is seen there considering there's -- that would only make it fair and balanced.

I find that the whole argument here really is about narcissistic self obsession.

And that there's a lot of minorities I'm one of them in this country not everything has to be about us doesn't.

-- we have been celebrating Christmas in this country since well before we were a country.

Why do some atheists have the right to to squelch the the holiday fun that everybody else has been having for years.

Free speech means free speech if there's a public space that's open up to different messages whether they be Christian Jewish Buddhist Muslim or -- -- That would also include the right of non religious groups.

To use that space for their signs and their symbols that to me it just seems like.

The more speech the better I don't know why the Christian groups are being sought -- and in this case that they can't accept the fact.

That the might be an atheistic sign a few feet away they could still put there.

Nativity scene up if they were just accept the fact that other groups will be using that space is.

Well apparently one of the ideas they're thinking about Tammy is is to require that.

And I guess the judge will decide -- they are in court today.

To require that these -- be attended so you can't just set it up and walk away you have to have somebody there.

Pretty much 24/7.

Is that is that a potential acceptable -- I'll turn it well look I think that there is obviously 95%.

Of people in America celebrate Christmas regardless of their religious ideology.

And I think Americans are serious about this I hope the people of Santa Monica.

That -- have a history of wanting people to be able live the lives that they see that that suits them best.

Up twice that I think we have no problem.

With rules I don't think that Christians would have problems doing that.

But I do think that there is got to be some recognition of if the antithesis of the Christian message and the message -- -- atheism which is nothing.

Then what's the problem every other space reflects the atheistic nihilistic message.

I think it's threatening to to that identity but I think that as a society we're healthier than that I liked the fact that this is going to court so it can be cleared up.

Now -- why not if you're gonna allow the churches to set up this this long established nativity scene set -- -- they've been doing for sixty years.

Maybe -- stick the atheist you give them another corner of the park and say you can have that over there want what's wrong with that.

-- in this case is Santa Monica they had a lottery and they were allowing all different groups to apply for spots to put up with a sign as it turned out.

The atheist simply worked harder and put -- more applications and -- most of the slots well because that's because -- have for years the 21 slots and apparently gone to different you know 21 different church organizations that the 8 -- -- I -- -- overwhelmed them analog and oh yeah they want on the other groups are asking for their right to speak -- I don't think that that's what you gonna -- out -- they -- their disparate there are plenty of churches and this community that would be happy you know probably do display nativity scenes.

On private property.

-- this this insistence that we must merge.

Religion and state to celebrate holidays the government to support vehicle for celebrating any religion that's best -- on private property on private.

This is this is the -- of being about bullies it ends up being about being intolerant the nature -- tradition in this country.

That is made this nation possible -- is nothing about free speech or anything else it's about imposing a dynamic.

That you want to feel as though you belong and in a society where you are -- minority.

And and ultimately it's about trying to change the face the majority to meet you because you can't adapt I think -- I don't see why -- atheist Hollywood.

It's good -- at the center right subsequently gotten hate bullies like -- -- you're asking for the saying your rushing an aggressive groups that.

For nearly all year just push them out and it's all the reserves they got a little worked -- it'll be put in more applications than they can put their simple yeah you you know you are telling yourself it's everybody's apparently ill and not everything is going to be about you.

All right well it isn't going to be about the dominant religion either I don't get up at least teach for everybody yeah freedom for everybody which is what has brought you by christianity by the way we are going to lead the discussion there the judge is hearing this case today we'll see if she comes to some kind of accommodation makes both sides happy but.

I don't know doesn't look good right now.

Thank you both thank you thank you from.

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