Ed Brayton is a journalist, commentator and speaker. He is the co-founder and president of 
A high school senior put up a Festivus pole next to a nativity display and the now-infamous FFRF sign at the state capitol in Springfield, Illinois, and it has led, ironically, to grievances being aired.
Funny, but nobody's laughing much about the Festivus pole that popped up under the dome of the Illinois Capitol this week.Not the people who set up the nearby nativity scene.
"I think it's a mockery," said Dan Zanoza, chairman of the Springfield Nativity Scene Committee.
There's only one way to settle this: let the feats of strength begin!
Politics
Comments
I think a lottery for say, 3 spots, ought to be raffled off each year for display spots. That way you'd never know what displays might end up erected for the holiday enjoyment of all!
Posted by: Mike | December 27, 2008 9:37 AM
Mike:
Great idea, except the organized folks like AFA and others would have it all over the athearchists like me. And you know they would start drives to have every member of their group submit multiple entries, under assumed names if necessary, to ensure that Baby Jesus wouldn't have to cry. Because, as you well know, if prayer alone can move mountains then prayer AND ballot box stuffing can win elections.
Posted by: democommie | December 27, 2008 9:46 AM
Posted by: Herod the Freemason | December 27, 2008 9:47 AM
demo,
You're right. Even if you offered one slot per group, they'd form more groups and enter from each. Maybe one slot per religion, sect or display type. Either way, iy's nice to see some variety. :-)
Posted by: Mike | December 27, 2008 10:17 AM
I believe the only fair way to settle this is for the applicants to wrestle the Governor of Illinois.
Posted by: Jeff Hebert | December 27, 2008 10:20 AM
Jeff, those display slots are f**king gold! The Governor isn't going to f**king give them away!
Posted by: Phillip J. Birmingham | December 27, 2008 10:31 AM
How does one become part of the Springfield Nativity Scene Committee? Is that a governor appointed position?
Posted by: yoshi | December 27, 2008 11:03 AM
It's bizarre how a Christmas-season sitcom gag is truly beginning to take on a life of its own. The Hollywood writer who invented Festivus must be smacking his head in astonishment.
Still, it's pretty funny.
I see Festivus as the anti-Christmas for those sick of how commercialized and money-driven the holiday has become. X-Mas is far more an event for retailers nowadays than the masses.
Posted by: CHV | December 27, 2008 11:52 AM
Now do they see the wisdom of not putting up displays of any kind on state property?
Posted by: Raymond Minton | December 27, 2008 1:18 PM
Posted by: Anyone | December 27, 2008 2:09 PM
Yes, a Seinfeld writer invented Festivus, but it predates Seinfeld by quite a few years:
http://www.religioustolerance.org/festivus.htm
Posted by: The Mad LOLScientist, FCD | December 27, 2008 4:08 PM
I will be very interested to see what Christmas 2009 looks like in state capitol buildings.
Posted by: chancelikely | December 27, 2008 6:44 PM
Isn't this precisely what we want? The more ridiculous it gets each year, the more likely people are to keep their religion out of the public sector. Put up your Nativity, put up ten, a hundred, a thousand, just put it on your own property or your church's.
Posted by: dogmeatib | December 27, 2008 7:10 PM
There's only one way to settle this: let the feats of strength begin!
It's be more efficient to just smack anyone who says "war on Christmas" non-sarcastically with the damned pole.
Posted by: schism | December 27, 2008 7:12 PM
Thanks for all the positive responses regarding our festivus pole in the Illinois state capitol.
See our website at
www.friends4festivus.webs.com
- we have a copy of the state permit, videos and links to printed articles about the festivus pole.
Happy Festivus to all
Posted by: Friends For Festivus/Tennenhouse | December 27, 2008 11:00 PM
Wrestle the governor? Hell, I say Festivus in Illinois ain't over until the baby Jesus is pinned to the floor!
Posted by: Moon Jaguar | December 27, 2008 11:47 PM
Yoshi asked:
"How does one become part of the Springfield Nativity Scene Committee?" (@11.03AM)
The answer is easy you just ask this guy. -DJ
Posted by: DingoJack | December 28, 2008 1:30 AM
A clock in a bag? That's easy, what we have there is a reference to spacetime. A high strength pole? Festivus is truly a honorable celebration science and technology as well.
I have a few grievances I'd like to air with Michael Griffin.
Posted by: Thomas Lee Elifritz | December 28, 2008 3:16 AM