Gov. Rick Scott allows ‘militant atheist’ to erect beer can Festivus pole at Florida Capitol [View all]

[octoberlib]

Gov. Rick Scott’s (R) office has approved the request of a self-proclaimed “militant atheist” to install an 8-foot-tall Festivus pole made of Pabst Blue Ribbon beer cans in the Florida State Capitol building.

According to Tamarac Talk, Deerfield Beach resident Chaz Stevens asked for permission to honor the holiday created by the television show Seinfield after learning that there was a Christian nativity manger and a Three Wise Men display.

“I figured one ridiculous act required another,” Stevens noted.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/12/09/gov-rick-scott-allows-militant-atheist-to-erect-beer-can-festivus-pole-at-florida-capitol/

"I still chuckle, I literally can’t believe there will be a pile of Pabst Blue Ribbon cans in the state rotunda,” said Chaz Stevens, a Deerfield Beach resident who applied to the state Department of Management Services to put the Festivus pole on display.

Stevens, who operates a blog that focuses on South Florida politics, said the intent of the Festivus pole is to make a political statement on the need for the separation of church and state.

He compared the Festivus pole to the nativity scene as “my ridiculous statement versus what I consider, as an atheist, as their ridiculous statement.”

Stevens, a proud card-carrying member of the American Civil Liberties Union, requested the Festivus display space from the state Department of Management Services after reading about the nativity display. A preliminary approval was given Friday with the formal approval made Monday.

Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2013/12/to-rival-nativity-scene-beer-can-adorned-festivus-pole-of-seinfeld-parody-fame-to-rise-in-fl-capital.html#storylink=cpy









http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/12/09/gov-rick-scott-allows-militant-atheist-to-erect-beer-can-festivus-pole-at-florida-capitol/