* 2015…
A giant Christmas tree, nativity scene and menorah have been fixtures in the rotunda at holiday time for years. More recently, the Statehouse has become host to a few less conventional displays.
A pole commemorating the holiday Festivus, invented by the character Frank Costanza in a 1997 episode of “Seinfeld,” now is part of the display. Considering that the main activity of Festivus is the “airing of grievances,” perhaps it’s appropriate that this made-for-TV holiday is recognized in the seat of Illinois government. If you’re not familiar with the Festivus tradition, here’s all you need to know:
Also among the decorations is a placard from the Freedom From Religion Society. It’s not exactly in keeping with the spirit of the season. It “celebrates” the winter solstice by informing onlookers that, “Religion is but a myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds.”
And why are all these displays allowed? Another placard explains that the First Amendment requires the state to allow “temporary, public displays in the state capitol so long as these displays are not paid for by taxpayer dollars.”
* The Festivus pole wasn’t around when I was there during the veto session. But we do have something new…
* Bernie explains…
A display from The Satanic Temple-Chicago has been placed in the Statehouse rotunda, joining the Nativity scene to mark the Christmas season and the Menorah to mark Hanukkah.
According to the Satanic group’s application to the secretary of state’s office to allow the display, the sculpture is called “Knowledge is the Greatest Gift,” and it depicts the forearm of a young woman extended, with her hand holding an apple.
The whole structure, including the base, is about 4 1/2 feet tall, and the arm and apple statue is about 18 inches long. […]
According to the group’s application, it is “a non-theistic organization, the mission of which is to encourage benevolence and empathy among all people, reject tyrannical authority, advocate practical common sense and justice, and be directed by the human conscience to undertake noble pursuits guided by the individual will.”
The group’s website is here.
* Meanwhile, speaking of the holidays…
* I asked John to post some of the songs on YouTube. Here are the links…
* “The First Time the Christmas Story Was Told”
* “Christmas Has Come…Joy to the World!” (excerpt)
* “Silent Night” (excerpt)
* “A Visit From Saint Nicholas”
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 11:12 am:
–According to the group’s application, it is “a non-theistic organization, the mission of which is to encourage benevolence and empathy among all people, reject tyrannical authority, advocate practical common sense and justice, and be directed by the human conscience to undertake noble pursuits guided by the individual will.”–
LOL, and who better to symbolize those humanitarian goals than……Satan?
Some screwballs really have a lot of time on their hands.
- OneMan - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 11:13 am:
Any other state have two senators in their history who have won Grammy awards?
I don’t think so.
- WSJ Paywall - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 11:13 am:
Satanic Temple monument is super chic.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 11:14 am:
Don’t you wish there were recordings of Dirksen covering tunes like “Roadhouse Blues” or “Tell Me What I Say?” That would make for an extra-special Festivus for the Rest of Us.
- Henry Francis - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 11:17 am:
So the symbol from the Satanic Temple is . . . an apple?
I don’t remember ever seeing satan and an apple together.
Are we sure this “Satanic Temple” isn’t part of the extensive org chart of IPI or Proft’s media empire?
- A guy - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 11:18 am:
It’s a panoply of symbols now. They’ve almost accomplished the true goal of no acknowledgement of any kind at all. We’ve reached ridiculous already…
- Northsider - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 11:18 am:
Nothing from the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster? Come on, Pastafarians, get on the (meat)ball!
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 11:19 am:
===I don’t remember ever seeing satan and an apple together===
Um, remember Eve?
- lakeside - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 11:20 am:
Bruce Rauner: “See, SEE - I told you that apple every day meant something sinister.”
- Arsenal - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 11:23 am:
==It’s a panoply of symbols now. They’ve almost accomplished the true goal of no acknowledgement of any kind at all. We’ve reached ridiculous already…==
Oh, simmer down. The spirit of celebration this season needn’t be exclusive to any particular religion.
- City Zen - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 11:26 am:
Satanic Temple is my favorite album from The Cult.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 11:29 am:
Another thing to get Ives’ group riled up.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 11:31 am:
–It’s a panoply of symbols now. They’ve almost accomplished the true goal of no acknowledgement of any kind at all. We’ve reached ridiculous already…–
It’s a First Amendment thing. Kind of a big deal here in America.
If you want the government deciding what religions are worthy to be represented in the public square, I hear Riyadh is sunny and warm most of the time. You won’t be troubled by crosses and menorahs there.
(Unless, of course, you witness a public crucifixion; our good friends there still use crosses for that).
- Alternative Logic - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 11:32 am:
The “apple” is, dare I say, considerably more appealing than the huge “Baphomet” that Arkansas had on its capitol lawn.
- TaylorvilleTornado - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 11:33 am:
I love The Satanic Temple and the point they’re trying to make. There are way too many people in this country that think that “freedom of religion” means “freedom to choose a branch of Christianity”.
- Anon324 - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 11:33 am:
==Another thing to get Ives’ group riled up.==
Something for her next campaign ad.
- John Amdor - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 11:36 am:
It’s a much better listen than Mike Madigan’s “The Passion of the Speaker.”
- A guy - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 11:37 am:
==Oh, simmer down. The spirit of celebration this season needn’t be exclusive to any particular religion.==
One thing I’m always aware of is, I believe we have the most beautiful Capitol Building in the country. The menagerie of nothingness diminishes it’s majesty for me. The “season” Ars, is Christmas. It is in fact meant to have some meaning. Hanukkah season is also time honored. Throw in every other religion as far as I’m concerned. The Anti-Religion stuff is just ridiculous to me. Pick another month and celebrate that…
I wasn’t simmered up, so I don’t need to simmer down. I know “stupid” when I see it, and this has become very stupid.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 11:45 am:
- I don’t remember ever seeing satan and an apple together. -
So obviously no lunch meetings with the Speaker for you, huh? /s
- Arsenal - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 11:48 am:
==The menagerie of nothingness diminishes it’s majesty for me.==
You will live easily with less-than-ideal aesthetics on a temporary basis. You may even thrive.
==It is in fact meant to have some meaning.==
Yes, like “peace on earth and brotherhood of man”, not “beliefs that are too different from mine are stupid.”
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 11:49 am:
===I don’t remember ever seeing satan and an apple together===
Um, remember Eve?–
I assumed it was Madigan.
- Arsenal - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 11:50 am:
==I wasn’t simmered up, so I don’t need to simmer down.==
https://twitter.com/dril/status/549425182767861760?lang=en
- Medvale School for the Gifted - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 11:52 am:
A satanic display is more of a Christmas protest, as in anti-Christ. Therefore, satan should be constitutionally disqualified from participating.
- Skeptic - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 11:54 am:
“Throw in every other religion as far as I’m concerned.” Satanism isn’t a religion? And what about Kwanzaa? That should be ignored because it isn’t religious?
- benniefly2 - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 12:02 pm:
They should have set up a butter satanic sculpture for the win.
- Twirling Towards Freedom - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 12:03 pm:
The apple and the quote go well together. They are saying Satan gave humanity the gift of knowledge when he introduced sin into the world. The tree the fruit came from was called “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” Very clever, Satanists, I’ll grant you that.
- Responsa - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 12:09 pm:
==They should have set up a butter satanic sculpture for the win.==
Wisconsin might be interested in pursuing this idea,
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 12:49 pm:
Rauner was going to put up a fancy decoration from Italy. It was fra-gee-le. And a Major Award.
- JoanP - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 12:51 pm:
= Hanukkah season is also time honored. =
Not really. There’s no “Hanukkah season”, and it’s one of the least important Jewish holidays (no work restrictions, etc.)
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 1:08 pm:
–A satanic display is more of a Christmas protest, as in anti-Christ. Therefore, satan should be constitutionally disqualified from participating.–
So how’d you score on that Constitution test after they made you retake it?
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 1:13 pm:
Where’s ChurchLady?
- NeverPoliticallyCorrect - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 1:13 pm:
I’m sure this will be laughed at but no matter. This is another example of weak civil servants and cowardly courts. There is no reason for any displays other than Christmas and Hunakkah. The others aren’t related to this time of year or are simply just made up (Festivus) While the Athiests destest any acknowledgement that religion is alive and well and followed by millions their disgust doesn’t negate that reality. If the Satanist want a display then put it up at a time that doesn’t trash Christmas. And leave TV themed icons-the Festivus Pole- on TV. BTW, the Christmas tree is so secularized as to have almost no religious meaning what so ever.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 1:23 pm:
The solstice isn’t made up.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 1:40 pm:
We can always just legislate that the solstice come around some other time.
- Skeptic - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 1:51 pm:
“There is no reason for any displays other than Christmas and Hunakkah.” Well, based on the First Amendment, I would argue that there’s no reason for Christmas or Hanukkah either.
- Cubs in '16 - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 2:01 pm:
Luke 23:34–’And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.’
- Steve Rogers - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 2:07 pm:
Twirling: I saw a conversation between Stephen Colbert and Neil DeGrasse Tyson, and they talked about the knowledge question as a good philosophical exercise. Would you rather know or not know?
I would rather know. Ergo, I must be a Satanist.
- Demoralized - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 2:10 pm:
==The Anti-Religion stuff is just ridiculous to me.==
That’s the price you pay when you allow religious displays on government property. It’s all or nothing. Which is why I generally favor no religious anything on government property.
- A guy - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 2:18 pm:
==Satanism isn’t a religion?==
NO
==And what about Kwanzaa?==
Perfectly ok and within the season. We have been celebrating Kwanzaa for some time. It’s actually a beautiful and reflective holiday tradition now.
==There’s no “Hanukkah season”==
I beg to differ. The festival of lights is celebrated over a series of days. It’s very much a season. I completely agree it’s not a High Holy Day on the Jewish calendar. Christmas is not as high a holy day as Easter either.
Satan in the Rotunda isn’t odd? Whatever.
- Medvale School for the Gifted - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 2:26 pm:
—“So how’d you score on that Constitution test after they made you retake it?”—
I must admit that we at the Gifted School were not required to pass a constitution test. It is not necessary.
- Cheryl44 - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 2:35 pm:
Medvale doesn’t even realize the Constitution tests are requirements to graduate from high school.
- Timmeh - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 2:50 pm:
>BTW, the Christmas tree is so secularized as to have almost no religious meaning what so ever.
For someone so hot-blooded on this topic, you walked straight into the “but the Christmas tree was originally pagan” response that inevitably would come up. Are you praying to Jesus or Odin or Perun, or are they the same thing in your book?
- Medvale School for the Gifted - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 2:56 pm:
Cheryl44-
Now don’t go making assumptions, lest I guess that 44 represents the year you graduated HS.
Medvale is a place after HS.
- Bourbon Street - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 2:58 pm:
I worked at the Daley Center in the Loop for 12 years. The Freedom from Religion Society has had a display at the Christkindlmarket for years. People stop and read what they have to say and sometimes take photos by the big red “A”.
Everyone survived with their beliefs intact.
- I Miss Bentohs - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 3:10 pm:
All of these things, including Christmas trees, should be banned from all State buildings.
- Jibba - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 3:13 pm:
Demoralized wins. All or nothing, people, Nothing is probably the best choice for the majestic Capitol. Other places may make different choices, such as a town square. Private property may do as they wish.
- Arsenal - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 3:38 pm:
==There is no reason for any displays other than Christmas and Hunakkah.==
What’s the reason against them? They’re not hurting anyone.
- Montrose - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 4:02 pm:
My celebration of Christmas is not diminished by others celebrating their traditions, even if that tradition involves protesting my celebration. I’m glad my faith is strong enough to withstand a diversity of opinions.
- Dead Head - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 4:14 pm:
==There is no reason for any displays other than Christmas and Hanukkah.==
FYI, this was a Pagan holiday, winter solstice, before religion stole it from them.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 6:02 pm:
==There is no reason for any displays other than Christmas and Hunakkah.==
Theocracy in action.
Guy, I’m sure it’s a great relief to many that Hannukah and Kwaanza pass your test of what’s acceptable.
But it’s also irrelevant. You don’t get to decide what’s legitimate or not.
The First Amendment isn’t there to shield your delicate fee-fees from uncomfortable ideas, it’s to protect others from the likes of you who think they’re entitled to dictate free expression in the public square.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 6:48 pm:
=All of these things…should be banned=
You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Dec 5, 18 @ 9:11 am:
@BourbonStreet
=Everyone survived with their beliefs intact.=
Perfectly stated.