A simple nativity scene in a public park, part of the annual Christmas traditions of one Arkansas city for decades, is now the latest instance of a growing spirit of anti-Christian hostility and bigotry in America.
UPDATE: The Mayor of Eureka Springs announced that the display would be allowed in the park. Randall Christy posted this on Facebook:
“I want to sincerely, personally thank Eureka Springs Mayor, Butch Berry, who just notified me in writing that he has changed his mind and WILL NOT require us to remove our Nativity Scene out of the city’s Basin Park. He and I will STAND TOGETHER to fight this potential lawsuit. We stand together to keep Christ and the Nativity in Christmas in Eureka Springs!!! I’m proud of Mayor Berry for making the right decision.”
From Todd Starnes. Christians in Eureka Springs, Arkansas are openly defying their government leaders after they were ordered to remove a Nativity scene from a city park.
The Nativity scene had been a holiday tradition in Basin Park since 1950.
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Volunteers from the The Great Passion Play have erected the Nativity on behalf of Beta Sigma Phi for a number of years.
But Executive Director Randall Christy said this year he was ordered by the mayor and the city attorney to remove Mary and the Christ Child.
“This is Christmas,” he said. “Why is the Nativity such a threat to the mayor of Eureka Springs?”
Christy said he has no plans to comply. …
“I am fed up with it and I’m not going to do it,” he said in a video posted on Facebook. “I instructed my staff today – do not comply with the mayor’s request. … ”
… “We’ve got to stand up for what’s right. I’m tired of people demanding that we remove Jesus from Christmas. Doesn’t that bother you? …
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(Excerpt from Todd Starnes. Photo shows the nativity display at Basin Park in Eureka Springs.)