"Irv Sutley ... is a lifelong atheist and is also chairman of the Sonoma County’s Peace and Freedom Party."
Maybe those skin lesions are cancerous.
Posted on 12/23/2009 9:10:48 AM PST by markomalley
SAN FRANCISCO — It was the week before Christmas when Irv Sutley, a former warehouse worker, first saw the offending ornament in a government building in Sonoma County, just north of here.
“I was turning around in the lobby, and I noticed the tree,” Mr. Sutley said. “And then, I noticed the angel.”
Mr. Sutley, an atheist, said he then went to the office of the county Board of Supervisors. “And there was a star,” he said.
Technically, neither stars nor angels belong to any particular religion. But to the mind of Mr. Sutley, 65, a veteran who has fought to keep religion out of public meetings and buildings, the symbolism was clear.
“For most people, a star atop a tree at this time of season represents the star of Bethlehem, which is a cult symbol, the cult being Christianity,” he said, adding that the government should be neutral on religion.
Sonoma County officials conferred with their lawyers, and on Monday the acting county administrator, Chris Thomas, asked county departments to remove stars, angels or any other religious symbols “so that we can celebrate the season yet not appear to endorse Christian or other religious doctrines.”
Mr. Thomas cited a 1989 Supreme Court decision, Allegheny v. A.C.L.U., which stated that while Christmas trees could be seen as secular, they could also be seen as religious if decorated with religious symbols.
All of which pleased Mr. Sutley, who said he had found about a half-dozen stars on other trees around the building in Santa Rosa. He said he found none in the social services department, in which he found a religious placard during the holidays last year. (It, too, was removed.)
(Excerpt) Read more at elpasoinc.com ...
Bingo, we have a winner !
I find HIM offensive and demand HE be removed ! And I'm an agnostic !!
I’d bet good money that Mr. Sutley lives an unhappy, miserable life, filled with an all-consuming hatred and jealousy. I’m not surprised that he lashes out at everything even remotely associated with Christianity. Hate will make you do that.
I truly hope he opens his heart to Jesus Christ before his time comes. I really do.
These are the fruits of subjective reality, brought to you by public education.
What an assclown!
There are no “atheists” - just God haters.
Why do they listen? Ignore this schmuck for a few days and it’s over. If he sues and wins a judgment, let him sue the county to collect. Enough already.
"The Peace and Freedom Party is an open, multi-tendency, movement-oriented socialist party. We are united in our common commitment to socialism, democracy, feminism and unionism and our common opposition to capitalism, imperialism, racism, sexism and elitism."
http://www.peaceandfreedom.org/home/
Christianity is a cult , yaknow.
Boy, is he in for a shocker.
I wonder when he is going to sue God for putting stars in the sky? Or does he just stare at the ground to keep from seeing the heavenly stars?
I wish someone would stick star up his behind.
Hey, Irv, that’s not a star, it’s a light bulb.
people really suck sometimes..
And still needing to grow up.
If all the religious symbolism is removed, it is no longer “Christmas” that’s being celebrated. I wish these atheists would put their money where their mouths are and work on Christmas day.
What would happen if these rulings were ignored?
Huh. Some interesting stuff comes up if you search that name.
Keep the angle on the tree.
Well, I’m offended by its removal!!! Maybe it’s time those of us, the majority, start suing over the REMOVAL of things like this!
And Obama hangs a Mao ornament from his Christmas tree in full view of everyone.
"Irv Sutley ... is a lifelong atheist and is also chairman of the Sonoma County’s Peace and Freedom Party."
Maybe those skin lesions are cancerous.
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