I am offended....

Babies are offensive:

I am not a big fan of babies. I don’t mind admitting it. Of course there are exceptions to this rule. I liked my own children when they were babies. Occasionally I see cute babies that other people have but I guess I am missing the “love babies” gene. It’s more of a preference and it may have something to do with my age. I no longer have the patients I did when I was younger. Call me crazy but I never cared for poopy diapers or baby vomit or pee in my face. I do however like the Baby Jesus.

Firemen are courageous:

Each year, for as long as I can remember I look forward to seeing those Manger Scenes around town. Lots of people have them in their front yards and some even contained live characters. Then there were the ones at Fire Stations. Those were always the best. My father was a fireman and he actually used to set up the Manger Scene where he worked. Firemen are a special breed of people and my hat is off to them for their sacrifice and courage. Even though I was trained to fight fires when I was in the Navy I always wondered if I had the courage to enter a real burning building. In addition to courage and trust, it takes a great amount of faith.

Firemen have to rely on their fellow firefighters to back them up and to always be there for them. I remember when I would go through firefighting training I would have to go into a building that was on fire and the only thing keeping me from catching fire myself was the person behind me keeping me cool. If he became afraid and left, I would die. It is as simple as that. But I had faith in my fellow Navy men just as I have faith in my God. I know he will be there no matter what happens and that he won’t give up on me even though I don’t always feel worthy of that love.
During this time of year, firemen are particularly busy because of all the careless things that people do with heaters, lights and trees. So when firemen want to put up a Nativity Scene in front of their station I am all for it. They have a right to express themselves and since they spend long hours at the station, whatever makes them happy makes me happy. Obviously not everyone shares my feelings.

People are crazy:

For the past 5 years, Larry Carter Center has complained about the Nativity Scene at the fire station near his house. He said it is a violation of the Constitution and that it needs to be brought down. He went on to say that he is a Veteran which makes him a patriot and that he just wants to see the Constitution upheld. He didn’t say that the scene bothered him, he said that it infringed on the rights of others. Then he contacted some anti religion group up in Wisconsin and they protested and the Nativity Scene was taken down. Well I did a little investigation and this is what I found.

Larry is an outspoken atheist. He has been protesting against expression of religion even before he served in the military. And speaking of that, he didn’t go in because he was a patriot. He was drafted in 1971 and got out two years later after his two year tour in Vietnam. I am sure he protested against the war too. (Hardly a patriot and barely a Veteran.) He is a big advocate for atheism and frequents many internet pages where he tries to recruit others into not believing. He keeps his address private so that no one can find him but I do know that he isn’t from Charleston. He is from Iowa which is where I wish he would go. Isn’t it amazing how people move into an area and then try to change the things that are there? If I could only get his address; I want to send him a Christmas Card. Here is a photo of Larry:



The latest update is that the fire station was able to put the manger scene back up as long as they included other religions. So now there is also a Menorah and the Kwanza candle and Oh yes, a Santa too. But Larry still isn’t happy and is trying to get a lawyer to sue the city for him. I am sure some lawyer will take the case.

Merry Christmas Bloggers,
Greg

Comments

Monogram Queen said…
I wondered who the silly ass was in the picture. Just excercising my freedom of speech Larry ol' pal.

I had to snort and roll my eyes when I saw we had two menorahs in the lobby of our building next to the big Christmas tree. I'm all for inclusion but I highly doubt any jewish people were complaing - but you never know.

How I would love to tell Larry that i'm praying for him.
Edie said…
This is why our culture is the way it is now. Because people like that will battle for what they don't believe in but Christians won't battle for what we do believe in. #%U***(%$%#@!!!

Sorry Greg. I had to let that out. Yay for your firemen for putting up the manger scene. At least there is one up somewhere in this nation. They need to take the rest of the crud (that's not the word I wanted to use, I'm being nice) down and all the people need to get behind them and take a stand for their Constitutional Rights! It's called Freedom of Religion. There is no Constitutional right to freedom from religion. If there is then I want to exercise that right against all other religions except Christian!

Taking deep breaths now. Feel free to delete this comment if you want to Greg. :)
Edie said…
Oh, and have a very Merry Christmas my friend! :D
Deb said…
I've found myself fighting the urge to ask those opposing manger scenes and Christmas trees, if they are indeed taking Christmas day off from work? Are they putting up a Christmas tree? Did they accept any Christmas presents? See where I'm going with this? Don't jump up and down, yelling and screaming about Christmas and manger scenes when you are going to enjoy all the worldly benefits that come with it!
Have a Merry Christmas Greg!
Deb
Legare and I were just talking about this very situation. OH, what some people will do for attention. It boggles my mind. He must be a very sad and unhappy person. Oh well...Merry Christmas, Greg.
Greg, this kind of thing gets me ALL fired up (pun intended)!

Edie beat me to it, but I'm gonna say it anyway: Our Constitution does not say anywhere in it "Separation of Church and State" (that was quoted in a letter from Jefferson and had a totally different purpose in context); and the only protection that the Constitution itself was trying to provide is that the government would never legislate any religion. Totally different from the spin these athiests are putting on it.

Being a true patriot, you probably already knew that, but I had to say it. Because *ugh* it makes me mad.

LEAVE OUR CHRISTMAS ALONE!!!

Thank you, Greg, for the platform. :-)
Have a very Merry CHRISTmas, too!
Wanda said…
You know, I haven't seen a manger scene at any of our Fire Stations. But when my daughter and granddaughers stopped in a Bob's Big Boy for lunch, it was decorated with Christmas Tree, Santa Claus Menorahs, Nativity and Frosty the Snowman....Guess they are trying to make everyone happy!

Thanks for always having interesting, thought provoking posts.

Being in Vegas for 15 days with our son really cramped my visiting time with my blog friends.

Have a Very Merry Christmas and God's blessings on you and your family.

LOL:Wanda
My ADHD Me said…
Misery Loves Company!

What other reason would someone go so far to try to ruin the happiness, joy and faith of others?!

Unfortunately, firefighters are public servants and if he pushes hard enough, he just might win...unless the county gets together and backs the fire dept. The county supervisors just hate to get the future voters in an uproar.

Like you said, that is really their home andit is ther home SO THEY WILL BE THERE WHEN THERE IS AN EMERGENCY....even if it is at someone like this guys house....just hope the truck doesn't get a flat tire on the way ...or something....

Merry CHristas....after all, it is Christmas.

If you (ok, not you, but someone else....because I know you wouldn't

opps Monkeys are funny

If someone wished me a Happy Kwanza or Happy Huanikka (where is my calendar so I can spell that?), well, if they did, GUESS WHAT...I would just say Thank you. I wouldn't be offended. I expect the same respect when I say Merry Christmas....after all....isn't that what is written on the calendar????

Oh, and thanks for plugging the firefighters. This is a busy time for all of them. God Bless Them...

Oh yeah, and God Bless You!
Kelly said…
Wow, did you get Edie riled up or what? Woo! Too bad she doesn't live in Charleston. :-)

I can't say anything better or wise than you & Edie and all your other commenters, so I'll just say:

MERRY CHRISTMAS!
My ADHD Me said…
Merry Christmas + 1!!
Rena Jones said…
This bothers me too, as did the CA story about the other man who had the angels and stars removed from all government building Christmas trees. Stars are a religious symbol, you know. Last I checked, they were part of our universe and only religious if one chooses them to be. I'd never dream of asking someone to remove their Menorah or not celebrate their winter solistice celebration. It's gotten so out of hand, but it's not surprising. It will only get worse.

Merry Christmas, Greg!
Heckety said…
My Mom heard a funny comment in the hospital last week along these lines...'Isn't it great there are so many non-Christians in town these day because then the folks who really celebrate Christmas can take time off?' !!! She went home in whoops!
Its not really relevant to what you are saying but...
Anyhow I agree with just about everything you say except that I'd add dogs to your baby 'thing'- I like mine but I don't go gushy and knock-kneed overy one elses and don't see why I should, or babies.
And anyhow doesn't freedom also mean the freedom from having other people's opinions rammed down one's gullet?????
I think your comment about firemen and depending on each other woulf make a great homily for Church.
Next year they will have the easter bunny, a leprechaun, cupid,and the tooth fairy so it does not offend....GIVE ME A BREAK! Frustrating...it's all I can say and be nice.
Lavonda Pflug said…
I like your blog and love this post! This country came to be because people wanted the freedom to worship God and His only Son Jesus Christ. They wanted the freedom to exercise their Christianity. How far off the track we've wandered.
Hope all is well with you in the new year to come.
I'll be back to read more later. :)

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