The First and 14th amendments protect the right of individuals to worship (or not) as they please. The Pilgrims, Quakers, and Puritans came to this country to escape persecution by government sponsored religion. Many were put to death or tortured for being "heretics" because they expressed unpopular views.
While I absolutely support the Second Amendment right of individuals or churches to display Nativity scenes, it is not the proper function of government to do so, regardless of what percentage of the population agrees with it.
The Bill of Rights was written, after all, to support the rights of minorities and disadvantaged people (for instance women, people of color, and people who believe differently than the majority). Maybe 75 percent of people agree with the government Nativity scene, as one writer suggests. What about the rights of the other 25 percent? Although the majority of religious persons in the USA are Christian, there are also Jews, Muslims, and other religions - not to mention atheists and "none of the above." Are their rights to be disregarded?
If a government entity is to sponsor a seasonal display, I suggest that it be more inclusive: perhaps a dove representing "peace on Earth," or perhaps artwork depicting a variety of ethnic groups, representing brotherhood and sisterhood.
Patricia Scott
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Brainerd
