Religion

rug

(82,333 posts) Mon Dec 12, 2011, 07:25 PM Dec 2011

'Crucified' Santa skeleton is decapitated [View all]

3 hours ago

The red-robed skeleton had been vandalized once before and taken down, but the owners, a Christian teenager and his atheist mother, replaced it Friday evening.

The display was one of 10 citizen-made holiday displays approved to stand outside the Loudoun County courthouse. Applications to place one of the displays are made on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Last week, the skeleton Santa touched off a debate on free expression in Leesburg, Va. Some said it was offensive, while others argued that it was an important statement on the holiday season. It was put up on Monday, and shortly after, was torn down.

"Clearly some people from the Christian community do not respect the free speech rights of others," Rick Wingrove, the Virginia director of the group American Atheists, said about the most recent vandalism. On Saturday, several other atheist-made displays were outside of the courthouse, but none of the others featured a crucified Santa Claus.

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/12/9394820-crucified-santa-skeleton-is-decapitated

This story has legs but, alas, no head.

Picture at link.

46 replies

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'Crucified' Santa skeleton is decapitated [View all] rug Dec 2011 OP

LOL-- I grew up in Loudoun County.... mike_c Dec 2011 #1

I suspect this asshat had something to do with it MNBrewer Dec 2011 #2

"the owners, a Christian teenager and his atheist mother" trotsky Dec 2011 #3

The difference is the mother is an adult. rug Dec 2011 #5

Then I totally understand why atheists should be attacked for this. trotsky Dec 2011 #6

The fact that this idiot is an atheist is totally coincidental. rug Dec 2011 #7

Then why in your first thread did you specifically claim it was atheists that did it? trotsky Dec 2011 #8

I didn't claim that at all. It was in the article. rug Dec 2011 #10

You put your own headline on it. trotsky Dec 2011 #16

You realize DU2 is still open. rug Dec 2011 #20

Read this carefully. trotsky Dec 2011 #21

Apology accepted. rug Dec 2011 #22

Am I silly to think that true "Christmas Spirit" could ignore a skeleton Santa? Demoiselle Dec 2011 #4

Why is Rick Wingrove confusing 'Santa Claus' with Christianity, or for that matter- kenny blankenship Dec 2011 #9

I see American Atheists Inc is brilliantly milking this for all the publicity advantages! struggle4progress Dec 2011 #11

Yes, by all means, lets make this about the atheists Goblinmonger Dec 2011 #12

To atheists, it is about the 1st Amendment. To most others it is about atheism. Many and possibly humblebum Dec 2011 #13

And that doesn't matter one bit. Tyrrany of the majority is still tyrrany, darkstar3 Dec 2011 #15

Did you ever think of maybe just putting up something like a Happy Winter Solstice sign with maybe humblebum Dec 2011 #25

No, because the shit your "many" put up is offensive, and it's time you learned that. darkstar3 Dec 2011 #26

Many things can be offensive but legal. that's life. As I have been told here before: humblebum Dec 2011 #27

You're the one who griped about the Santa, darkstar3 Dec 2011 #28

It wasn't a Santa. It was crucified skeleton Santa. I'm trying to present an idea humblebum Dec 2011 #29

I'm glad you're here to protect us from the tyranny of the minority. laconicsax Dec 2011 #30

When you use the word "Santa" in your own description, it's a Santa. darkstar3 Dec 2011 #31

A religious symbol is only offensive to those who take it as such. humblebum Dec 2011 #36

a crucified Santa is only offensive to those who take it as such lazarus Dec 2011 #37

Post removed Post removed Dec 2011 #38

So I'm glad to see Goblinmonger Dec 2011 #40

I asked a simple question. How about a simple answer. And I think the "new attitude" humblebum Dec 2011 #41

Please point out where I said that atheism can't be criticized. Goblinmonger Dec 2011 #42

"There is no difference, except maybe in the mind of those doing such things." - Both humblebum Dec 2011 #44

Glad you realize lazarus Dec 2011 #43

I think you would be very hard pressed to explain humblebum Dec 2011 #45

Regardless of offense taken, I would imagine intent is rather obvious LanternWaste Dec 2011 #39

Now you've just gone off the deep end. darkstar3 Dec 2011 #46

WOW the irony deacon_sephiroth Dec 2011 #33

"tell people, they can't be offended, tough shit" - that is a common atheist retort that humblebum Dec 2011 #35

"a Christian teenager and his atheist mother" Then what, exactly, IS this.... MarkCharles Dec 2011 #18

So are you going to take back your evil atheists comments Goblinmonger Dec 2011 #23

Perhaps you should complain to Rick Wingrove, who is managing to appear struggle4progress Dec 2011 #14

And you're helping him. trotsky Dec 2011 #17

OK. So Wingrove's a dick. Goblinmonger Dec 2011 #24

OH MY GOD THEY KILLED KENNY!!! beam me up scottie Dec 2011 #19

The picture looks more like a crucified Santa suit than a decapitated Santa skeleton. - n/t Jim__ Dec 2011 #32

Odd anyone would do that to something LanternWaste Dec 2011 #34