Illinois Sec. of State Jesse White Says "Anything Goes" at the State Capitol Rotunda
Grants Permission for the Celebration of Nothing, Alongside Nativity Scene and Menorah
It was a great moment. On December 2nd, a Nativity scene was put on display in the state Capitol Building of Illinois. Standing in the Rotunda, a scene depicting the birth of Christ was meant to celebrate the Christmas season. It was truly an uplifting moment for 85% of the population who call themselves Christians. However, I suppose, with the good must come some bad. It is a mark of our society. Sadly, just days after the manger scene went on exhibit, a group of atheists felt the need to erect their own sign. Even though this organization is against the display of any religious message in such a public venue, they decided to put up a sign of their own. Despite facing charges of hypocrisy, the group's disparaging message stands just feet away from the Nativity scene.
The same scenario took place just weeks earlier in the state of Washington when the same atheist group felt the need to go against what it claims to stand for. The Nativity scene in Washington's state Capitol was also joined by a message from the atheists which created a tremendous controversy involving that state's Governor.
In Illinois, Governor Rod Blagojevich had bigger fish to fry, including an alleged attempt to sell the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama. Subsequently, the firestorm over the atheist sign took a back seat to Blagojevich's legal travails and the debate over the propriety of the atheist message faded from the public's attention. Some saw this as a good thing. However, today we live in a culture where celebrity and attention must be obtained at any cost.
Therefore, during Christmas week, an 18 year old from Springfield received a permit from the Secretary of State's office allowing this individual to put up a symbol which symbolizes nothing, but shares a space in the Rotunda with iconography celebrating Christmas and Hanukkah. Obviously, the Secretary of State, Jesse White, believes anything goes as far as the use of the public forum. That has to be the reason why White allowed a pole set in a Christmas tree stand to occupy space in the Illinois Statehouse. The message is clear. No matter how ridiculous, no matter how offensive, White's office does not possess the courage to say no, even to an 18 year old who was obviously seeking publicity. Someone needs to inform Mr. White and the lawyers who advise him that free speech has its limits. For example, you cannot scream "fire!" in a crowded theater or yell obscenities into an open window of a house of worship.
Interestingly enough, Mr. White dragged his feet when it came to issuing a permit for the Nativity scene. First applied for in January, permission was not granted by the Secretary of State for the Nativity scene display until July 12th. Yet, the atheist group applied for and received a permit in days instead of months. The 18 year old may have broken a record. But why? When is Festivus, and is the permit for the "display" open-ended? What state and federal holiday does it commemorate? Of course, the answer to the last question is none. The idea came from the long-canceled Seinfeld show, when one of the characters came up with the fictional holiday, supposedly in protest to the commercialization of Christmas. In fact, that wasn't the character's reason at all. The shallow individual didn't want to go through the trouble and expensive of buying and giving Christmas gifts or gifts to celebrate Hanukkah. It was and is a celebration of nothing and it's apparent the Illinois Secretary of State has joined the non-celebration.
Perhaps the actions of Jesse White are a greater reflection of our society where nihilism now rules the day. What makes the story even more depressing is the fact White's office thought they could take political advantage of the Nativity scene which was originally assigned to a dark corner of the Rotunda space. But when the Nativity display received a great deal of positive media attention and praise from the public, a decision was made by White's office to move the scene depicting the birth of Christ to the center of the Statehouse--where it now stands--along with a Menorah, a sign disparaging religion from a group of Madison, Wisconsin-based atheists and a Christmas tree which the Secretary of State conveniently calls a "holiday" tree. White even found a way to tout himself and the inclusiveness of his office by erecting his own plaque, extolling the Secretary of State's observance of the First Amendment. However, while all the other signs and displays were allowed and are Constitutionally legal because they were paid for with private funding, the same probably cannot be said for Mr. White's message.
So what is the message being sent by the Secretary of State? No matter how foolish, disparaging, or inappropriate, the public space in the Illinois Rotunda is open to any fool who desires to use it for any purpose. The Secretary of State needs to demonstrate some common sense when granting permits. The application filled out by the Springfield Nativity Scene Committee was quite elaborate and quite specific. Subsequently, Mr. White must have some kind of criteria he uses in determining who is qualified to receive a permit and who is not. Otherwise, there is chaos which sends the message "come one, come all" -- anything goes in the Illinois state Capitol.
Illinois is already the brunt of jokes by comedians who see the state as a place of corruption. Perhaps ignorance should be added to the list of this state's sins.
Daniel T. Zanoza, 54, is a free lance journalist and political analyst. He has a degree in political science and social work. Zanoza formed RFFM.org nearly fifteen years ago, in an attempt to encourage fair coverage of political and social issues in the mainstream media which are important to pro-family conservatives. Zanoza often works behind the scenes with journalists in a non-confrontational manner to achieve this goal.
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