Arkansas Refuses Winter Solstice Display. Bigotry? Ignorance? Both?
The Arkansas Society of Freethinkers put in a request, as it did last year, to have a Winter Solstice display at the State Capitol. As was the case previously their application was denied.
Two weeks ago we reported on the efforts of the Arkansas Society of Freethinkers to put up a winter solstice display on the grounds of the state Capitol. Their application had been denied the previous year because the secretary of state’s office said it was not clear on the type of display to be erected. This year, the group submitted a detailed description along with a website, complete with pictures, showing exactly what they had in mind. Their request was, once again, denied.
The reason? Tod Billings, founding member and president of ASF, isn’t so sure. The letter the organization received from Charlie Daniels’ office simply said their request had been denied and offered no further explanation.
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Natasha Naragon, the public affairs coordinator for the secretary of state’s office, said the request was denied because the “tone” of the display was “not consistent with the holiday tone that our office is striving to create on the Capitol grounds during the holiday season.”When asked what “holiday tone” meant, Naragon said, “You can look at the other decorations that we have on the grounds. That’s clearly what we’ve determined to be appropriate in the holiday tone that we are striving to create. This display, as explained to us, does not fit in with our holiday decorations.” The displays typical have included lights, a Nativity scene maintained by an independent organization and Christmas trees.
Chances are the fact that the proposal was from a freethinker (aka atheist) group was enough to get it nixed. But more disturbingly what Naragon seems to be saying in her statement is that only Christian holiday decorations are considered appropriate (Christmas lights, Christmas Nativity scenes, Christmas trees…). I don’t see mention of decorations for any other groups.
Does Naragon not realize Winter Solstice is a holiday, and an ancient one at that? Winter Solistice is a holiday celebrated by many people including Neo-Pagans, Buddhists, atheists, and others.
I don’t imagine Naragon or those for whom she speaks know that the display they’re shutting out of the State Capitol is much of what Christmas was co-opted from in the first place. Precious few Christians know about the full roots of their own religion.
So my opinion? The answer is “both”. The refusal to permit the Winter Solstice display is grounded in both bigotry and ignorance, which all too often go together.
