1) Atheist group asks to put up sign
2) Town cancels Christmas

I'm going out on a limb here, but it kind of sounds like the town canceled Christmas, not the atheist group.

Conservative whining has destroyed Christmas.

And anyway, Chambersburg, don't you have enough organized crime, Asian massage parlors, underage prostitution, and drug dealing to worry about? I know this is crazy talk, but maybe try knocking those out of the park before you thrust your attention-starved selves into the spotlight like this.

"The down side of 'everything' is it means everything," McLaughlin said. "It would mean this group, and groups that are much more odious." That was something, he said, council could not live with.

coughcoughmuslimscough

The change came after PA Nonbelievers Inc. (PAN), an organization of atheist, agnostic and secular humanists from around the midstate, notified Chambersburg it wanted to erect a sign reading "Celebrating Solstice - Honoring Atheist War Veterans."..."This is Christ-mas. It's a no-brainer if you ask me," Blackstock said. "There's no way people in Chambersburg should let (PA Nonbelievers) win."

OK two things here:

1. Technically it was the solstice first and Christians co-opted the holiday to attract pagans to the religion. Unless this woman really believes Jesus was born on the 25th of December.

2. What do you think they are trying to win exactly? They didn't want the nativity out they wanted to put up something else too. The town council is the one that went all Madagascar on the town square.

floor9: And anyway, Chambersburg, don't you have enough organized crime, Asian massage parlors, underage prostitution, and drug dealing to worry about? I know this is crazy talk, but maybe try knocking those out of the park before you thrust your attention-starved selves into the spotlight like this.

I had no idea it had gotten that interesting. Asian massage parlors you say?

Gwendolyn: I had no idea it had gotten that interesting. Asian massage parlors you say?

A friend and neighbor used to make a point of driving to Chambersburg every week. You're obviously familiar with the area, but to those who don't know, Chambersburg is pretty barren. It's a dead down with high crime and not much else. So it's pretty odd for someone to make the hour drive from Harrisburg, which arguably has a bit more going for it, to Chambersburg so religiously. I always assumed it was for family or something like that. Never really gave it much thought. '

Until one night at a party, when the individual mentioned going to Chambersburg the next day. Another party-goer and mutual friend asked "what's in Chambersburg?". "Duuuuuuuude, there is this HOT place right off the strip and all these Asian girls will do ANYTHING for like two hundred bucks!"

None of us really talk to him anymore. This was five years ago, so the place is probably gone. Then again, knowing Chambersburg, maybe they've expanded.

come on chambersburg, you're smarter than this.

Lame. I'm an athiest, but seriously Chambersburg, leave Christmas alone. It's a holiday celebrated by America, not just Christians. The only reason they want to "celebrate Solstice" is to make a political point.

This is just douchebaggery, imo.

I just love it when us atheists get accused of being at war on Christmas. I particularly love the whole, "They are trying to take the Christ out of Christmas" whargarbl. Damn straight we taking him out, little bastard never belonged there in the first place. Farking Christians hi-jacked the holiday from the pagans, stuffed Jesus in where he had no business being. Jesus wasn't born in the winter he was born in spring. Sweet Baby Jesus Beer-Battered and Deep-Fried some people are so stupid it makes me want to puke the stupid out of them.

ToxicMunkee: Conservative whining has destroyed Christmas.

Will that be made into the newest audio-animatronic TV holiday special? :D

GraysonAC: ...It's a holiday celebrated by America, not just Christians...

I haven't actually met any atheists offended by Christmas because most seem to know this.

As an agnostic I quite like the Christian Christmas bits, they don't seem as cheap and tacky as the whole commercial Christmas shtick. And Christmas Mass, at least for this former Catholic, is one of the more unapologetically joyful services. Christmas seems to be a race for the bottom these days, but it isn't Christians or atheists or Jews or Muslims that ruin it, its money and douchebags.

Gwendolyn: The town council is the one that went all Madagascar on the town square.

*snort!*

Oh god. Coke came out my nose. Goddamnit.

Sumo Surfer: I haven't actually met any atheists offended by Christmas because most seem to know this.

I haven't actually met an atheist that has rejected a Christmas present.

Sumo Surfer: GraysonAC: ...It's a holiday celebrated by America, not just Christians...

I haven't actually met any atheists offended by Christmas because most seem to know this.

They know that Santa Claus doesn't exist EITHER.

The solstice is an astronomical event; it happens no matter what your religion is. Recognizing it seems, well... whatever- any excuse to celebrate is fine with me. Recognizing vets in a public park seems like a good idea. All that PAN wanted to do was add a sign that reminded people "hey it's also the shortest period of daylight all year, and what about those vets? They're pretty great!"

The city council freaked out and pulled the creche scene as well, which seems like an over-reaction to me, but I guess I can see their point.

Fortunately, the Central Presbyterian Church might display the Nativity scene on their property, which seems appropriate, since they're the ones who believe in it.

djkutch: Sumo Surfer: I haven't actually met any atheists offended by Christmas because most seem to know this.

I haven't actually met an atheist that has rejected a Christmas present.

I certainly don't. Why would I? I also give Christmas presents to my Christian friends and relatives. I even attend Christmas services when I visit my mother, because it makes her happy.

Why is that worth remarking upon?

Can't we hold off the Christmas nonsense until after tomorrow? I would be very thankful.

/Thank you.

FloydA: Why is that worth remarking upon?

Peace and glad tidings, poser;)

djkutch: FloydA: Why is that worth remarking upon?

Peace and glad tidings, poser;)


Excuse me?

This is as bad as people whining that they hate Christmas carols because they work in retail and have to listen to them all day. I didn't tell you not to go to college, don't be dragging your minimum-wage seasonal misery into my life.

The true spirit of the holiday (new window) season. Share and enjoy.

40below: This is as bad as people whining that they hate Christmas carols because they work in retail and have to listen to them all day. I didn't tell you not to go to college, don't be dragging your minimum-wage seasonal misery into my life.

Oh, shutup and go submit some headlines. Use my name derogatorily in 'em for an added difficulty.

I didn't know the Christmas spirit involved being a big fat whiny baby.

FuturePastNow: I didn't know the Christmas spirit involved being a big fat whiny baby.

No, no you've got Christmas all wrong.

The big fat one and the whiny baby are actually two different guys.

FloydA: No, no you've got Christmas all wrong.

The big fat one and the whiny baby are actually two different guys.

I thought about the baby it was "no crying he makes," no doubt due to a little nip of eggnog?

floor9: And anyway, Chambersburg, don't you have enough organized crime, Asian massage parlors, underage prostitution, and drug dealing to worry about? I know this is crazy talk, but maybe try knocking those out of the park before you thrust your attention-starved selves into the spotlight like this.

They have cows. Many, many cows.

/lives one town over.

Pst. Hey. Its the guy with mormon in his name. The city is doing it wrong. The sign that they proposed is the very epitome of trying to peacefully co-exist.

A solution may be on the horizon. Central Presbyterian Church, on the square across from the fountain, is considering construction of a perch on its property where the Nativity scene could be displayed.

Wow. Brilliant. How come nobody thought of this before?

Atheists are amoral assholes responsible for the destruction of society and civilization. Because their lives are so empty, they have to try to make us all as miserable as their pathetic, hollow selves.

I've always wanted to add an Aztec winter solstice display to the public square- nothing says 'seasons greetings' like a feathered priest using an obsidian knife to cut the heart out of a captured enemy.

FuturePastNow: I didn't know the Christmas spirit involved being a big fat whiny baby.

that gave me a comfortable little chuckle

Let atheists put up as many signs as they want. Who cares? If the stance is so fragile that a couple of signs are going to make a difference, then you need to figure out your own religion/ faith.

Seems as silly as the opposite signs - the ones with the witty comments telling you to get to church. Their impact is probably marginal.


/Catholic
//Not "raised Catholic," but actual mass attending scripture reading Eucharist taking Catholic.
///DNRTFA

And the problem is?

That has to be the dumbest thing I've heard in the last 90 days at least.

If Jesus Christ does/did exist, he'd probably ask for his name to be removed from all this Xmas bullshiat, since his main message was tolerance and loving thy neighbor, IIRC.

Just saying.

Hey, did the Christians put up a sign next to the display on National Heathen Atheist Icon Birthday?

lordaction: Atheists are amoral assholes responsible for the destruction of society and civilization. Because their lives are so empty, they have to try to make us all as miserable as their pathetic, hollow selves.

So, tell us how you really feel.

lordaction: Atheists are amoral assholes responsible for the destruction of society and civilization. Because their lives are so empty, they have to try to make us all as miserable as their pathetic, hollow selves.

Not sure if serious...?

F*cking stupid on all sides.

Straelbora: I've always wanted to add an Aztec winter solstice display to the public square- nothing says 'seasons greetings' like a feathered priest using an obsidian knife to cut the heart out of a captured enemy.

I'd love to see captured turbanites have thier hearts removed.

What I find amusing is your run of the mill religious right, pure Capitalist loving dimwit, has allowed corporate America to bastardize their Christian holy day into a commercial blood bath.

ITT: Rednecks who thought jesus was white

FuturePastNow: I didn't know the Christmas spirit involved being a big fat whiny baby.

The guy with the frankincense and the guy with the myrrh beg to differ.

While too far is too far, I believe there is a little bit of a point here. I know plenty of Jewish people who are actually offended that their Hannukah stuff can't go up alongside Christmas decorations in their cities. We're supposed to be a country built on religious freedom. Weren't we founded by a significant number of people who were being persecuted for their religious beliefs?

/I know. It's Fark. Intellectual discussion has no place here.

I'm declaring the War on War. I hate that phrase, "The War on ____". It should be thrown under a bus.

These atheists are douchers out to fark w/ people. The townies overreacted.

//not Christian
///not even remotely into any organized religion

This is why I hate the religeous, you'd rather burn the whole world down than play nice and share the gifts that you didn't earn or create.

SobrietyFighter: ITT: Rednecks who thought jesus was white

You shut your whore mouth. Everybody knows Jesus looked like Jimmy Swaggart.

This is how we (real Atheists) feel about dead soldiers:

De Fark