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<H1>'Seinfeld' Festivus display vies with Nativity</H1>
<H3>Christmas scene allowed on public property, so are other religions </H3>
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<FONT size=1>Thursday, December 23, 2004 Posted: 12:07 PM EST (1707
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<P><B style="FONT-SIZE: 14px">BARTOW, Florida (AP) -- When a Florida church
group put a Nativity scene on public property, officials warned it might open
the door to other religious -- and not-so-religious -- displays. They were
right.</B></P>
<P>Since the Nativity was erected in Polk County, displays have gone up honoring
Zoroastrianism and the fake holiday Festivus, featured on the TV sitcom
"Seinfeld."</P>
<P>The Polk County Commission voted 4-1 Wednesday to permit the Nativity scene
to remain across the street from the courthouse, as well as to make that area a
"public forum" open to any type of display.</P>
<P>But the commission insisted that unless someone claims a particular display
and submits a written request asking it remain, it would be removed. By
Wednesday evening, no one had claimed the Festivus display, and the commission
said it would come down; a woman claimed the Zoroastrianism display, which was
to stay.</P>
<P>The debate began December 15 when a handmade creche with the figures of
Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus was erected by a Bible study group from the First
Baptist Church of Bartow.</P>
<P>"The real spirit of Christmas is the birth of Christ," said Marvin Pittman, a
retired law enforcement officer and member of the congregation. "We felt it
needs to be in the public eye, so we did it."</P>
<P>Other displays are fine, too, he said, adding, "If somebody wants to do that,
it's their right."</P>
<P>And true to form, the site almost immediately sprouted alternative displays,
including a simple sign that reads: "Festivus for the Rest of Us -- Donated to
Polk County by the Seinfeld Fan Club."</P>
<P>The display, a reference to the fake holiday featured on an episode of the
television sitcom, did not include the totem of Festivus -- a bare aluminum pole
instead of a tree. Key rituals of Festivus include accusing others of being a
disappointment and wrestling.</P>
<P>Another display celebrating Zoroastrianism was erected by Stella Darby, who
wanted to encourage people to research the ancient Persian religion.</P>
<P>Richard Blank, a member of the American Civil Liberties Union, objected to
the Nativity scene's presence on public property, arguing it violates the
constitutional separation of church and state.</P>
<P>"The Nativity scene is totally celebratory of the birth of Christ," he said.
"Not everyone subscribes to that, and those who do should put it on their own
property."</P>
<P>But a board member who voted to allow the creche as part of the "public
forum" disagreed with Blank. "A group had asked to display a scene important to
their beliefs; I felt we shouldn't suppress their right to do so," said
Commissioner Samuel K. Johnson.</P></DIV></BODY></HTML>