Should The Chattanooga Downtown Partnership Continue To Have The Live Nativity Scene (sponsored by a local church) at Chattanooga's Christmas Holiday Grand Illumination Celebration?

Christmas Holiday Grand Illumination and The Nativity?

This morning in a front page article in a local publication, it was announced that the Chattanooga Downtown Partnership had decided to eliminate the customary Live Nativity Scene (put on by a local church) from the 2007 Grand Illumination Celebration.

WDYN radio this afternoon asked its listeners to sound off on the matter and one caller reported that an employee of the Downtown Partnership told him that they had already decided to rescind the earlier "pre-mature" published decision due to public outcry on the matter.

Now, what do you think?

Should the Chattanooga Downtown Partnership continue to have the Live Nativity Scene, which one local television news station has reported is "one of the most popular displays" at the annual event celebrating Christmas and the "holiday" season?

Or should Nativity scenes or any reference to "religion" be excluded from public view at the annual Christmas Holiday Grand Illumination?

Chattanooga Nativity Scene - GO or NO?

Please note that all fields followed by an asterisk must be filled in.

First Name*
First Name*

City*
City*

Country*
Country*

Should the Chattanooga Downtown Partnership agree to bring back the Live Nativity Scene (provided by a local church) that they have had for quite a number of years?*
Should the Chattanooga Downtown Partnership agree to bring back the Live Nativity Scene (provided by a local church) that they have had for quite a number of years?*

	Yes! Bring back the Nativity scene on public or city property! Christmas is not Christmas without celebrating Christ's birth!
	No. The Nativity scene should not be held at the Chattanooga Grand Illumination Celebration.
	Yes, but the Nativity should be only on private property.
	Not sure.
	Don't care either way.

Further comments for or against the Live Nativity scene at the Grand Illumination

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What others surveyed have said about Chattanooga's Christmas Holiday Grand Illumination...

Affirmative Comments Regarding Displaying the Nativity Scene Chattanooga's Christmas Holiday Grand Illumination

Chattanooga is a Christian-based faith-filled city. Just because the critical are vocal doesn't mean they are the majority. Stand up for Christ for the sake of the city. - Christa L. from Summerville, GA

Christmas would have never happened without the nativity scene in the first place. Americans need to stop being so 'politically correct' about everything and realize that our country was founded on Christianity! Our forefathers would be very disappointed with the way this country has turned out. It seems we are so quick to get rid of everything to do with Christianity as soon as a few atheists start running their mouths! Get some back bone! You all should be ashamed of yourselves for even considering eliminating the nativity scene! - Katie from Knoxville, TN

Christmas is all about Christ. We have gotten away from this. People need to know the true meaning of CHRISTmas. - Tony M. from Easley, SC

Why would there not be a nativity scene? - Kay from Cleveland

Why are we letting the minority dictate what we do? I am originally from Chattanooga and would be very disappointed not to see the Nativity scene around there when I come home for Christmas! - Annette from Hampton, VA

I think that it should be displayed b/c it is truly the reason for the season. To me, GO FOR IT!!!! I will be there to see it! - Ashlee from Chattanooga

The reason for Christmas is the birth of Christ. - Kristie from Knoxville, TN

The Nativity is the history of the Christmas Holiday. - Kristen from Chattanooga

As a Christian I have rights under the constitution . It is my right to have the display. Others can skip the display while I stop and enjoy! - Sheila from Chattanooga

I find it ridiculous that Chattanoogans have become "sensitive" to a thing like a Nativity Scene. With everything going on in the world today, I say, if you don't like it, keep on walking. It's my freedom to enjoy, just as it is yours to choose not to. - Brendan B. of Chattanooga/Brainerd

Like it or not, this nation was founded as a Christian nation by Christians...and therefore, by nature, it affords all groups the right to freedom of expression and freedom of religion. This fact, however, does not give the rights of any group or individual the right to publicly or privately suppress that of others.

In short...Celebrating Christmas is a right of the people just as the right of others to celebrate other religious or secular holidays. Christmas is also an American public and private tradition which should not be suppressed or taken away just because a few (or many) folks are offended by it.

I and my family do not put any emphasis on Santa Claus at this time of year, even though we do exchange gifts, but I do not protest his inclusion in Christmas celebrations because his appearance does not include any immorality or any "good" reason to be banned from public celebrations. - C.

As a Citizen of the United States of America, I see our religious freedoms being taken away, one by one. If we as Christians do not stand up against the enemy, we are letting our freedoms diminish before our very eyes. If we don't stand for something, we will fall for anything. - A resident of Rossville, GA

Negative Comments Regarding Displaying the Nativity Scene Chattanooga's Christmas Holiday Grand Illumination

Other religions should be allowed to be represented also. Christmas was originally a Pagan holiday that Christians took and adapted to fit their beliefs, Believe it or not other religions celebrate Christmas in their own way: Kwanza, Hannukha, etc. - Andraya from Chattanooga, TN

Obviously you only have one viewpoint and, like all christers, don't allow anyone else freedom OF religion or freedom FROM religion. Which, incidentally, is the premise this country was founded on, you m___ns! - Elmira from Knoxville, Tennessee

Editorial Comment regarding "other religions celebrating Christmas in their own way: Kwanza, Hannukha, etc.":

These other religious celebrations, although held around the same time as Christmas each year, are not Christmas celebrations. They are totally separate holidays that celebrate totally unrelated things and events. Christmas, as it has been celebrated in America for over 200 years, is and has been the celebration of the birth of The Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the town of Bethlehem around 2,000 years ago.

That being said, if people of other religions want to participate and celebrate their holidays at and around the same time, even in the same public festivals or events, they should be able to. Or folks that do not celebrate at all should have their right (and so far they do) to abstain from celebrating. But in the process, nobody should try to suppress or eliminate the right of any one group to celebrate or not their way as long as it is not immoral or unethical. That truly is the freedom of religion that our U.S. Constitution guarantees.

So feel free to celebrate at Chattanooga's Christmas Holiday Grand Illumination...or not!

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