[Arben72]

New year happy!

[catherineanh]

Happy 2014, wishing everyone happiness, health, and success.

[954Stealth]

Welcome to another edition of "Only in Florida". I am curious to hear some opinions on whether this should be allowed. Vote in the poll!

Today's segment is as follows:



Satanic Temple display approved for Florida Capitol
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/...204-story.html

tl;dr
1. Tallahassee holiday celebrations are every year
2. Christmas, Hannuak, Festivus, Pastafarians are all able to participate.
3. A church that worships Satan also wants to participate, historically its always be a resounding "NO"
4. Well this year they were approved to participate, citing their rights to free speech.

TALLAHASSEE — Unlike last year, a Satanic Temple display will be officially welcome inside Florida's Capitol during the holiday season..

And Festivus, a non-commercial festival "for the rest of us," will be back as a 6-foot stack of empty beer cans. Also expected are a pair of nativity scenes.

The Florida Department of Management Services this week approved a holiday display from the Satanic Temple, which a year ago was rejected because the agency said it was "grossly offensive."



The temple's entry was one of five displays approved to be put up in the first-floor rotunda of the Capitol for the holiday period.

Two additional requested displays, including one to mark the sitcom-created Festivus holiday, are pending final approval. The state agency offered no explanation with its approval of the displays.

John Tupps, a spokesman for Gov. Rick Scott, deferred comment to the department, saying, "DMS makes the rules for the Capitol."


Lucien Greaves, spokesman for the Satanic Temple, said in an email that "the difference seems to be in the fact that this time around we arrived with lawyers."

The temple, which threatened to sue after being rejected last year but never took action, is scheduled to put up its display Dec. 22.

The approved display will banner the phrase "Happy holidays from the Satanic Temple" atop a diorama of an angel falling into hell.

"We hope that, this holiday season, everybody can put their religious differences aside and respect that the celebratory spirit of responsible hedonism is available to all," Greaves said in the email.



Pam Olsen, president of the Florida Prayer Network and also submitted the application for an approved nativity scene for the International House of Prayer Tallahassee, said she doesn't have a problem with the others putting up displays. However, she questioned the motives of people again are putting up displays in reaction to the Florida Prayer Network's introduction of a nativity scene into the Capitol last year.

"This is not a religious endorsement by our state government. It's freedom of religion and freedom of speech, and we will all be up there," Olsen said. "But are they really putting them up to wish everyone a happy holiday from the atheists and the Satanists, or are they up there to protest baby Jesus?"

Last year, a nativity joined a Hanukkah menorah and Christmas trees that had been displayed for years on the first floor of the Capitol.

Department of Management Services spokesman Ben Wolf said in an email the state agency is waiting for Deerfield Beach resident Chaz Stevens, the sponsor of the Festivus pole, and the American Atheists of Tallahassee, to select the seven-day period for their displays to be set up.

Stevens, whose irreverent display made from Pabst Blue Ribbon cans went up last year to make a point about the need for a separation between church and state, said Wednesday he intends to ask for his display to go up Dec. 15, the same day as the Florida Prayer Network's nativity scene.

"The proud tradition continues forward for another year," Stevens said Wednesday. "I'm trying to be just a little more professional this year. I'm going on Craigslist to see if I can find a mariachi band to bring along."

Festivus is a "holiday" created for the TV sitcom "Seinfeld" as a non-commercial festival "for the rest of us" in the Christmas and year-end holiday season.

The state agency also approved a "Happy Winter Solstice" banner from the Madison, Wis.-based Freedom From Religion Foundation and an entry from the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

[UncleWede]

This just came up in our little 22,000 person city when some complained that the cross and menorah were NOT included in our "Holly-day" event/tree lighting/ stuff in front of city hall. Yet I'll be asked to freeze my ass off again to "volunteer" to ride on the Santa float thru the neighborhoods.

[E90-F30]

This political correctness bullshit is starting to get really fucking old now. Between these crazy religions and black people bitching that white cops are racist.

The Satanic Temple obviously does this for reaction.

Did people forget that Christmas is practiced by Christians and Hanukah is by Jews?

Or is Christmas now just any old holiday that people of no faith can still celebrate? If so, they're missing the point of what Christmas means, and the history behind it.

[kevinbahnz]

Originally Posted by E90-F30

This political correctness bullshit is starting to get really fucking old now. Between these crazy religions and black people bitching that white cops are racist.

The Satanic Temple obviously does this for reaction.

Did people forget that Christmas is practiced by Christians and Hanukah is by Jews?

Or is Christmas now just any old holiday that people of no faith can still celebrate? If so, they're missing the point of what Christmas means, and the history behind it.

Have you been to the malls lately and Black Friday?

[E90-F30]

Originally Posted by kevinbahnz

Have you been to the malls lately and Black Friday?

No actually I haven't lol

[Vanmarsenille]

Originally Posted by E90-F30

This political correctness bullshit is starting to get really fucking old now. Between these crazy religions and black people bitching that white cops are racist.

The Satanic Temple obviously does this for reaction.

Did people forget that Christmas is practiced by Christians and Hanukah is by Jews?

Or is Christmas now just any old holiday that people of no faith can still celebrate? If so, they're missing the point of what Christmas means, and the history behind it.

This^^^. It seems anything is allowed for Christmas now, except Christ. Holly Day? Give me a fucking break.

[kevinbahnz]

Dont forget , you can't say merry christmas anymore, its Happy Holidays, lolz

[upstatedoc]

Originally Posted by E90-F30

No actually I haven't lol

you got a big mall up there.

[Rotorocious]

Needed a pic of the pastafarians leader

[E90-F30]

Originally Posted by upstatedoc

you got a big mall up there.

Yeah, and it's way to nice for Syracuse.

All the Canadians flock to it.

[P1]

I'm from Belgium. Is anyone here familiar with Zwarte Piet?

[E90-F30]

Originally Posted by P1et

I'm from Belgium. Is anyone here familiar with Zwarte Piet?

Black Peter, St. Nicks buddy.

[MYovichZ4]

I know there's probably already a thread on holiday lights and decorations.....

But I wanted to show off the wreath my wife made for inside the garage this year.

[GOLFFRR]

Happy holidays

[954Stealth]

I like that! Mrs. Ovich is very talented

[Billup]

So this is the kind of crap I have to deal with now that I moved to the south....

[MYovichZ4]

Originally Posted by Billup

So this is the kind of crap I have to deal with now that I moved to the south....

I think I've seen that same tree in Wisconsin. Gotta love the shotguns shell lights!!

[Billup]

Originally Posted by MYovichZ4

I think I've seen that same tree in Wisconsin. Gotta love the shotguns shell lights!!

Hahaha, good so it's not just me then.

Yeah apparently his girlfriend wanted to make him a tree, so he got the antlers off of road kill.... yup.

[MYovichZ4]

Originally Posted by Billup

Hahaha, good so it's not just me then.

Yeah apparently his girlfriend wanted to make him a tree, so he got the antlers off of road kill.... yup.

I don't think there was any road kill in this one....

[Billup]

Damn, that one is actually pretty sweet. Only thing is...., storing it after Christmas...


Unless they have a decently large house with extra space, but I'm poor and don't know what that's like.