The Springfield American Civil Liberties Union erected its second annual display in the Capitol rotunda Tuesday, but is hoping to avoid the same backlash from right-wing critics who last year argued that the group was cleverly trying to stamp out God.
Last year, Fox News host Bill O’Reilly stood by as his guest, author Ann Coulter, bashed the display and the ACLU, saying it’s “America’s leading anti-Christian hate group.”
The ACLU display, which sits next to a Jewish menorah and a Christian nativity scene, is a large winged poster board with text from the First Amendment, which establishes Americans’ freedom of religion, of speech and of the press. The display also quotes well-known leaders, both religious and secular, who revered the First Amendment.
Springfield ACLU’s Don Hanrahan says last year’s backlash was almost amusing. “Our display itself celebrates that the First Amendment allows all of the different things to be in the rotunda at the same time.”
Hanrahan says the ACLU not only defends the freedom of religion but also the freedom from religion. “The government has neither the right to proscibe the rights of citizens to practice religion, nor the right to prescribe certain religions. The common thread is the First Amendment, enacted to keep the government out of religion, period,” the group says in it’s press release.
Last year, Fox News host Bill O’Reilly stood by as his guest, author Ann Coulter, bashed the display and the ACLU, saying it’s “America’s leading anti-Christian hate group.”
The ACLU display, which sits next to a Jewish menorah and a Christian nativity scene, is a large winged poster board with text from the First Amendment, which establishes Americans’ freedom of religion, of speech and of the press. The display also quotes well-known leaders, both religious and secular, who revered the First Amendment.
Springfield ACLU’s Don Hanrahan says last year’s backlash was almost amusing. “Our display itself celebrates that the First Amendment allows all of the different things to be in the rotunda at the same time.”
Hanrahan says the ACLU not only defends the freedom of religion but also the freedom from religion. “The government has neither the right to proscibe the rights of citizens to practice religion, nor the right to prescribe certain religions. The common thread is the First Amendment, enacted to keep the government out of religion, period,” the group says in it’s press release.
I agree that those in the ACLU and Mr Hanrahan have the right to NOT participate in the celebration of Christmas. HOWEVER, I respectfully request that they NOT participate in Christmas Day off from work, Easter Day off from work and ALL religous Holidays. Saturday and Sunday are Jewish and Christian Sabaths so they (ACLU) should report to their employers for work on these days also. They should not be found observing any religious days off and celebrations. After all it's THEIR WISH to be free from religion. Oh, they should also ignor Thanksgiving day off because the Pilgrims used that day to thank GOD for their blessings.
MERRY CHRISTMAS ACLU !
Astonishing ignorance is displayed in the above comment! The ACLU would go to the wall to defend this person's right to celebrate Christmas, and has represented countless religious people in their struggles against government entities who take away that right. That's part of the point of the display: We as Americans can celebrate the holidays of many faiths, and they can all be represented in the free speech forum of the state capital building. Why don't you go read the display? You might learn something. It's very enlightening to see what Christian religious leaders have to say about separation of chruch and state.