Somebody Needs to Get a New Hobby.
I’m one of the strongest advocates for Separation of Church and State but this is truly overzealous.
SAN FRANCISCO — It was the week before Christmas when Irv Sutley, a former warehouse worker, first saw the offending ornament in a government building in Sonoma County, just north of here.
“I was turning around in the lobby, and I noticed the tree,” Mr. Sutley said. “And then, I noticed the angel.”
Mr. Sutley, an atheist, said he then went to the office of the county Board of Supervisors. “And there was a star,” he said.
It seems Sutley just runs around government buildings looking for things to be “offended” by. I’d suggest he take up reading but no doubt he would find plenty in the public library to complain about.
“For most people, a star atop a tree at this time of season represents the star of Bethlehem, which is a cult symbol, the cult being Christianity,” he said, adding that the government should be neutral on religion.
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Would you believe that Sutley is the Sonoma County Chair of the Peace and Freedom Party? Me either.
Irv Sutley
(Must restrain self from making snide comments about The Grinch…..)
“I don’t believe government has the right to use tax dollars to show favoritism to any particular cult like Christianity,” he said. “It’s just wrong. That’s why we have the Constitution, to protect minorities from the majority opinion.”
If Sutley wants to be protected from the opinions of others (which is not a right in any way guaranteed by the Constitution) he can stay home rather than purposely running all over the county seeking things to claim offense over. Speaking of opinions; my minority opinion is that Sutley is a boor, and an embarrassment to atheists everywhere.
9 Responses to “Somebody Needs to Get a New Hobby.”
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December 23rd, 2009 at 7:35 am
As a Christian I am very worried for Mr. Sutley. It is obvious that he has turned his beliefs into an imposing hobby and I find that bothersom. If you read further into the original article you will also see that he wants a cross removed that is in place to honor an accident victim. I believe that is just sad. Talk about someone that truly needs Jesus; as we all do!
December 23rd, 2009 at 9:30 am
[…] 65-year-old Marine veteran who said the symbols were … http://www.angrywhiteboy.org/ The Gaytheist Agenda » Blog Archive » Somebody Needs to Get a New … 8 hours ago SAN FRANCISCO — It was the week before Christmas when Irv Sutley, a former […]
December 23rd, 2009 at 1:28 pm
Hurt,
Sutley has indeed turned his lack of belief into an imposing hobby. But I don’t think Jesus is the answer for him. He’d no doubt turn that into just as an imposing hobby, probably going around town trying to find LGBT, Pagan, Muslim or “Satanistic” things to demand be removed from his “Christian Nation”.
December 23rd, 2009 at 1:39 pm
I think this comes under the heading of “technically a violation but why bother with piddling crap like this?”.
December 23rd, 2009 at 6:45 pm
When I worked in state government I noticed displays of Christian piety on certain peoples desks. I avoided them like the plague. We’re talking prayer cards, little praying figurines, crosses etc.
During the holidays yes there might be a tree setup but I recognize that for the pagan symbol that it is and heartily approve. However little Bible verse ornaments don’t meet with my approval.
That said, my SO is black and so every time we set the tree up there’s a little black angel on it. :)
December 23rd, 2009 at 6:50 pm
I don’t approve of the Christianist ornaments, but I’m in the Ebon camp of thought about them….“technically a violation but why bother with piddling crap like this?”.
December 23rd, 2009 at 7:43 pm
It appears the ornaments can go back up. Sutley will *really* have to get a new hobby now.
http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_14059142
December 23rd, 2009 at 8:49 pm
I’m sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo sick of these kinds of people who do NOT realize that the reason OUR system, that EVERYONE is scrambling to partake of, is the DIRECT result of having been derived from Christianity/ Judeo-Christian principles. In fact, I just had lunch today where a young lady, a muslim, from Turkey served us (very polite, sweet…). I asked her why she came to the US to work (restaurant/server) and she said she didn’t care where/ what, she just wanted to work in the US. Furthermore, due to Constantinople, the Turkish ALSO celebrate Christmas, among many other celebrations. WHY??? Because the Prophet Mohammed PROMISED (hand print) religious freedom and TOLERANCE!!!! Why is that people want to come to this country and change what made this country the best in civilization TO DATE! It is this type of weird, radical opinion that has been denegrating our country and is causing other countries, like Iraq, to scoff at our influence. We must realize that WE must honor our ancestors, traditions, and country that took so many others before us to do to make our country what it is today. It was Christianity that brought about awareness against slavery and discrimination- NOT atheists. It was Christianity that helped us realize to be generous (charity) in order to help others- NOT atheism! And, yes, it is Christianity that helps us to look into our hearts and love others unlike ourselves and tolerate their differences and learn to live around and appreciate them. We still have a long way to go. However, let us embrace our past and welcome others as well as the future- NOT destroy it!!!
December 23rd, 2009 at 8:55 pm
Lisa,
As a lesbian atheist I rather disagree with your assessment that Christianity has brought so much tolerance and benevolence to our nation. But rather than write a book about it here in the comments section I’ll just invite you to peruse my blog.
But really, most atheists and other non-Christians are not trying to “destroy” anything. They’re just asking for a place at the table. Sadly many Christians don’t want to provide it.