[Uhmavano]

I wonder if it had just said "in honor of Fr. Ted Colleton." if there would have been a problem.

[GinaGomesz]

I have no idea why you think it's ridiculous to complain that somebody's using privileged access to city property to display a divisive political message

[Buyemae]

It seems like a classic example of Canadian good sense compared to the **** that happens in the US wrt religion.

Nobody gives a **** when it's just a manger. As soon as you add a giant sign that says "God Hates Fags" or something the city council tosses it out. No court actions necessary.

[indocrew]

Actually, I just as surprised that the city allows such a blatant display supporting the christian faiths. In many cities now, the Christmas Killjoys have sued to have any religious display removed from government land. You know, the old seperation of church and state stuff

Personally, I think some people have way too much time on their hands...

[Taunteefrurge]

Lori, the "battle" seems to be over with pretty quick. The manger stays, the plaque goes. There's no downside here. It's not like the pledge of allegiance lawsuit or something.

[ppfpooghn]

I'm sure the Fags wouldn't find it quite so hilarious.

[clitlyphype]

I know... but it's still funny reading about how the manger is fine, but the plaque if toast. I'm so used to reading here about how more and more municipalities are bowing down to a very small minority that has made it their mission in life to remove all mangers from every city.

We just don't care in Canada. Realistically a manger scene hurts no one.

But as KH said, using that to spread a political message crosses the line. If it was private property, of course there'd be no issue.

Pretty sure this is the first sensible thing Toronto has done all year.

[infollafago]

I think we can all agree that Canada handles these types of issues better. Maybe if we gave you Mississippi you too could be dragged down into that type of crap.

[Endatrybeeddy]

The UK is pretty much the same as Canada on this.

Mind you the UK doesn't have religious nuts/anti-abortion nuts anywhere near as badly as the US in the first place. I guess canada is the same.

[Liskaspexia]

I think we can all agree that Canada handles these types of issues better. Maybe if we gave you Mississippi you too could be dragged down into that type of crap.

It's not just Mississippi. Outside of a very few major cities people are a hell of a lot more religious in the US.

I don't think our compromise on religion and state would work in the US. Unfortunately, you're just going to have to keep dealing with god-bothering pols and anti-nativity lawsuits

[feeshyLew]

Gays frequently litter public places with condoms, and no one complains.

[vvxtiopmx]

Me, too, as long as other religious groups (and non-religious) get the same opportunity, of course.

Do they have a reason to put things up at Christmas? I mean, during the Feast of Lights, Christians don't (and shouldn't) have anything to put up. A manger or Cross wouldn't be appropriate.

What other religious/etc holidays are based about Dec 25? I mean, you can't just make something up...

Wiki suggests the following are appropriate:
# Christmas Day Christian Feast Day to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
# (Re) birth of Sol Invictus. The winter solstice feast in the Roman Empire from 274 to 391
# Quaid-e-Azam's Day – Pakistan
# Constitution Day – Republic of China now based in Taiwan
# The feast day of Anastasia of Sirmium
# Yule
# Malkh-Festival. Sun festival in pre-Islamic pagan religion of Nakh people. Chechenya and Ingushetia

In western civilisation, it would be Yule or Christmas... really.

JM

[pirinosa]

Well, it'd be based on December, wouldn't it? Because mangers just don't go up on the 25th. So Hanukkah stuff and if Ramadan is that month (it wasn't this year) and Kwanzaa stuff, etc.

[10traistintarry]

I mean, you can't just make something up...

Why should this be different for anyone else? Everything got made up at some point. December 25th doesn't even have a real connection to anything in the Bible, it was a date co-opted from the Roman holiday calendar.

Nor was I talking solely about Dec. 25 or thereabouts. I was just saying in general that if a certain religious group gets to display its message/icons at some point on public property, it's only fair that any other group gets the same access at some point. As for what is and isn't the appropriate date to do so, shouldn't that be up to the group to decide? How would the public entity be able to police that fairly?

[Dapnoinaacale]

I tried and failed to find a picture of a gay Jesus drawn in crayon

Edit: Best I could do

[tsovimnpb]

Atheists could do a combination of Hitler's Stalin's Mao's and Pol Pot's birthdays.

[fabrizioitwloch]

Atheists could do a combination of Hitler's Stalin's Mao's and Pol Pot's birthdays.

How would we celebrate? Kill lots of babies?


I'll just send $50 to Planned Parenthood!

[fapourfasiark]

Well, it'd be based on December, wouldn't it? Because mangers just don't go up on the 25th. So Hanukkah stuff and if Ramadan is that month (it wasn't this year) and Kwanzaa stuff, etc.

There are metal poles all over most major cities.

[boXGWf04]

Either one works for me. I'm ready for the feats of strength or naked ladies.

[harriettvanders]

Holy ****, Ben. Holy ****.

Abortions are publicly funded. Childbirths are publicly funded.

We're even, now **** off.

Nevermind that NO ONE IS EVEN TALKING ABOUT FUNDING YOU GIGANTIC ****ING IDIOT.