Deck the Capitol!

I just love this story:

The state Capitol [Seattle] hosts a Nativity scene and a 25-foot "holiday tree." The nearby atheists' sign that sparked a nationwide furor was back in place Friday after being stolen and then dropped off at a country-music radio station.

And joining those displays soon could be a 5-foot aluminum pole in celebration of "Festivus for the Rest of Us." Not to mention a protest, a balloon display and even more signs, this time supporting religion.

What started the ruckus? The Freedom From Religion Foundation's sign, which reads:

At this season of the Winter Solstice, may reason prevail.
There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell.
There is only our natural world.

Pictures of the sign available here.

And we must also thank the supreme court:

The U.S. Supreme Court has been consistent and clear that, under the Constitution's First Amendment, once government admits one religious display or viewpoint onto public property, it may not discriminate against the content of other displays, including the viewpoints of nonbelievers.

Hence the current multiplicity of signs and displays. Beautiful. I love the sense of a competition of ideas going on in these displays. I love that there isn't the usual monopoly of one display representing exactly one viewpoint. And I love the farcical nature of the whole thing. Now if only we could get some pagan groups in on it... I'd particularly like a representation of the sun's descent into the underworld for the three days of the solstice before returning triumphantly, bringing the promise of spring. ^/^