JB, Chicago (12/20/2007 10:03:31 AM)

It's really easy: public space, especially a government building, either be fair and represent all major religions, or none. Private space, knock yourself out.

In my city, we have a giant christmas tree in the center plaza. There is also a giant menorah and (gasp!) a large crescent. Everybody's happy!

forall, tulsa (12/20/2007 12:26:19 PM)

I am glad that they put the religous displays back. Let's all take an example from the Taliban and follow their direction on what religion can can mean to a county. It's great. As long as it is your religion, your do what they say, and enjoy hangings in the town square.

BB, (12/20/2007 12:28:50 PM)

The human race is becoming pathetic. I thought the USA prided itself on freedom of religion. Why, why, why are people so offended by Christian symbols, scriptures, etc.? Too much time on their hands I suppose.

Jack Z., (12/20/2007 12:58:32 PM)

Answer to #3

Non-christians are more sensitive to it then you because maybe you don't realize that as a christian you are agreeing to the idea that 4 out of 5 humans are not spirtitual.

osufan, Tulsa (12/20/2007 1:11:40 PM)

#5 WHAT? Since when did gay pride parades have anything to do with religious symbols? NEVER. The article deals with separation of church and state. I am only assuming that you are one of the opressed christians. Let me call the WHAmbulance for ya all. I for one do not have to put a sign on me saying I am a christian and no one really cares if I am or not. If everyone kept their religion to themselves we would all get along.

Bogan Brown, Ada I.T. (12/20/2007 1:22:48 PM)

I did not know there was a separation of church and state. I thought the state was controled by the christians. Hua?

Anna C., (12/20/2007 1:53:24 PM)

#1 I'm with ou. I'm a christian and even I don't have a problem with not being allowed to display religious symbols in my own place of government employment.

If I'm going to do it, I want a Jew to put up a Menorah, and I want the Muslims to put up the crescent moon. Would you be offended by that # 3?

JK, (12/20/2007 4:02:51 PM)

Where in the constitution does it say "seperation of church and state"

Look really close. You will not find it!!

OUFan, Tulsa (12/20/2007 4:05:43 PM)

I've got to agree with osufan on this one. If people would just use some common sense and good manners, these things could be worked out without the lawsuits, lawyers, and judges.

As a Christian, I think my fellow Christians might think about how effective a witness they are making for their faith when they are suing people and standing on their "rights." Being faithful, long-suffering, charitable, and patient is a powerful witness to non-Christians. Suing people -- not so much.

Civil Rights, Broken Arrow (12/20/2007 4:42:46 PM)

Liberals champion only the civil rights that they find personally unoffensive. Christian symbols are all over Washington, D.C. Leaders like George Washington, Abrahma Lincoln, and Teddy Roosevelt can be referenced multiple times over expressing their desire that their office be a platform for the furthering of the Christian faith and its values. Liberals that are against the US and its governance being influenced by Christianity have every right to be against these things. They should also be intellectually honest when doing so and not act like their desires were the original intent of our nation's founders and past leaders. Separation of church and state is the biggest hoax of the last fifty years. Our government was set up to protect the church from the state, not the other way around.

Chet Lemon, (12/20/2007 6:13:38 PM)

"I for one do not have to put a sign on me saying I am a christian and no one really cares if I am or not. If everyone kept their religion to themselves we would all get along."

#6 -- For clarity's sake, would you agree if I made this statement:

"I for one do not have to put a sign on me saying I am gay and no one really cares if I am or not. If everyone kept their sexual behavior to themselves we would all get along."

If you agree with this, you are consistent. If you don't you are a hypocrite.

For the folks who claim their is no relation between banning religious speech and the promotion of homosexual behavior in public places of business, you ain't been taught too much critical thought in publik skoolz. Individual religious expression IN PUBLIC IS PROTECTED BY THAT PESKY LIL' THING KNOWN AS THE FIRST AMENDMENT. This is what was being targeted for suppression -- INDIVIDUAL speech in a public workplace (hello Earth>>>they were told to take their PERSONAL displays down from their own workspaces). This has nothing to do with the tiresome "separation between church and state" meme that is repeated mindlessly by so many.

On the flip side, I bet some silly "Diversity Week" thing goes on in these public buildings with all the requisite solemnizations of every form of aberrant sexual practice.

Jason, (12/20/2007 6:17:01 PM)

What was the name of the company? I noticed that it was conveniently left off.

B.A. Dad, (12/20/2007 6:22:14 PM)

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!

(hope this doesn't offend anyone)

LS, tulsa (12/20/2007 6:44:18 PM)

It is amazing that peole feel that governmental property (paid by all) is the place that relious ideas must be fought. Put it in your yard, window, bumper, business, or hang it around your neck. This is just a bunch of bullies saying they can cram it down our throats.

mark4jc, Anchorage (12/20/2007 6:51:41 PM)

I too am a Christian and I agree with OU Fan from Tulsa (#10). Remember when Stephen was being stoned after speaking to the religious leaders of the day. He said (God, don't hold this sin against them -Acts 7:60). Essentially Jesus said the same thing when being crucified (Father, forgive them, they don't know what they are doing - Luke 23:34). Persecution is inevitable for Christians! Turn the other cheek. Humble yourself as Christ did and let God take care of your enemies. He's never failed yet.

raymond v. epps, crowley , tx. (12/20/2007 9:28:07 PM)

certain dedicated people in high places are determined to remove "in God we trust" from our currency as well as "one nation under God" from our pledge of allegiance. the removal of the 10 commandments from public display and

all references to Christianityu are only the tip of the iceburg, so to speak. Christians make up the vast majority abd if we get off our haunches and seek to put a stop to this anti-christian madness, we will lose our freedom by default. as for me and my house, we are fighting for religious freedom. if we lose that, we have nothing left but outward oppression.

Betty Wayman, Oklahoma City (12/20/2007 9:31:29 PM)

How ridiculous can we get !!!! Those who oppose Christian Christmas symbols are the very ones who want ALL that vacation time (AND gifts) that comes with this blessed Season.

JESUS STILL REMAINS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON !! Should we really show our stupidity that much !!

Chris, Tulsa (12/20/2007 10:01:17 PM)

Seperation of Church and State is very clear. I'm so tired of Christians trying to push their own agenda. They are out of place on this. I hope that the ACLU steps in and fights this.

Take down your Jesus Bull Crap, I don't want to see it. It offends me.

Dave, Moore (12/20/2007 11:00:05 PM)

#19 - If you really think separation is clear, then OK, here's a little history: In the Declaration of Independence, our founding fathers cited 27 different reasons why we must separate from England. Did you know that one of those reasons was the need for the formation of a missionary society to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ? This missionary society proposal had been vetoed by King George III. And did you know that of the 56 signers of the Declaration, 24 had Seminary degrees? Did you know that John Quincy Adams was a very strong Christian and co-founder of the American Bible Society? He was a great American and a great example of a "politician" who believed that a man's private beliefs and policy beliefs were one in the same. Did you know that during the 19th Century, the Capitol Building served as a church building on Sundays with an average of more than 2000 attenders per week? And that the Presidents designated the Marine Corps band to help out by playing for church services every Sunday? And did you know that of the 15,000 writings by our founding fathers, 34 percent of all quotes were directly from the Bible, and the Bible was the number one source quoted in the founding era? Did you know "separation of church and state" never appears in any of our founding documents?

TB, (12/21/2007 12:00:38 AM)

I think Jesus is looking down from heaven with a heavy heart to see that the season designated to celebrate His birth has become a time of bickering and strife. Let's focus on what He has done for us and treat our neighbors keeping that in mind.

Bogan Brown, Ada I.T. (12/21/2007 9:11:31 AM)

Now is not the Christian American Nation responsible for murdering the Indians, stealing their homelands, taking over thier governments, and slavery. Goodness! Merry Christmas

ClosetChristian, (12/21/2007 9:16:22 AM)

I believe that religion is a personal relationship between you and your god, your beliefs, whatever. The Christians who need to be outspoken about their beliefs are doing it simply to challenge others to question it so they can then cry 'Freedom of Religion' - don't these people realize that if there really was freedom of religion that Christians might be outnumbered???

Display what you want where you want it, as long as it isn't in a government sponsored/supported place, and as long as it doesn't greatly offend others.

Think about this one: If you are a red-blooded male who enjoys looking at naked women, would you take a Playboy or Hustler to work? How about one of those calendars? Would you cry 'Freedom of Expression' or 'Freedom of Speech' if someone asked you to take it down? If you're a woman, would you be offended? Why is this different? The first amendment gives equal protection to speech, religion, press, assembly and petition. Religion is not a more important protected right simply because it invokes stronger feelings than the others. Unless the man (or woman for that matter) put such a thing in everyone's direct sight or carried it around to show to everyone, we should all stick by this creed: TO EACH HIS OWN. As long as you aren't impeding the rights of another you should be free to do as you please. Unless it involves living in Oklahoma and not believing in God. Then you should just stay in the closet. DON'T ASK DON'T TELL would probably work better for you. :>)

Bogan Brown, Apology (12/21/2007 9:22:30 AM)

I apologize if I offended anyone by wishing them a Merry Christmas. I should have said have a Merry Day.

P,M., Sapulpa (12/21/2007 9:47:58 AM)

I'm sensing a theme here that tells me it's okay for Muslims, atheists, gays, and everybody else to state their opinion but the Christians are being "pushy" when they stand up for their beliefs. Let's face it. This country was built on Christianity whether anyone likes it or not. That's simply a historical fact. Thanks to this "Christian holiday" all the rest of the ingrates have a reason for a paid day off work, a reason to eat way too much, spend too much money, and receive gifts from others.

An American, Tulsa (12/21/2007 9:48:11 AM)

The only reason we're having so many arguments about religious displays and rights to practice faith is there are fewer

and fewer moral people in this country than ever before. It's so sad how, as Americans, we have completely forgotten our heritage. We have no idea what it means to be an American anymore. What is the American culture anyway? Don't you people want to be unique and special in the world? We are Americans, we are different than muslum nations, different than atheist nations, different than budhist nations. Nothing like us has ever existed. We are a country established on the Holy Bible. Christianity is the dominant Faith and must continue to be

the dominant Faith if our Constitution is to work. Of course all religions have the rights the Constitution affords to be practiced in this country. But, do we as Americans want budhists or muslums or even atheists to immigrate to this country and try to change it to be like a chinese, iranian or russian nation?

Immigrants aren't supposed to come to our country to establish their own little iran or their own little north korea. We are a melting pot where cultures from all countries come here and assimulate into the American culture, to be Americans. Like it or not, every other nation in the world is going to have to get used to the idea that we Americans do have a culture and it's completely founded on Christianity and we're not giving that up...we're not denying our roots for anyone. So, quit trying to change our history just because your history sucks!! England may have been controlled by a Christian culture decades ago and caused alot of violence, which people like to use to beat up other Christians with, but, they weren't protestants. We Americans are primarily protestants and our Founders were as well. Not to mention our Founders had to fight those non-protestant English armies to gain our Independence. Our Founding Fathers didn't slaughter women and children to win our Independence either. We are a good country...a righteous country and we deserve respect. Our history deserves respect. Stop hating America! Love your country, love the Red, White and Blue, love America the land of the free and the home of the brave!!! I am an American and I love this country. I won't let it be hijacked by every two-bit revolutionary-wanna-be who migrates here from their God-forsaken country.

But, God bless you immigrants who do want to be Americans, I'm with you all the way!!!