Nativity at City Hall, and Hanukkah Downtown
Is It Civil Disobedience if Nobody Cares?
By Jill Kuraitis, 12-21-06
Local Christians who are part of a national campaign called "The Nativity Project: A Public Witness to Keep Christ in Christmas," will set up a Nativity Scene in front of Boise’s City Hall on Friday, December 22, at 11:00 a.m. The display is sponsored by Generation Life and America’s Renewal.
According to their press release, these groups “have called for the faith community across America to apply for permits to set up nativity scenes in front of their city halls, government centers or state capitol buildings December 19 through the 22.”
From the groups’ release: “The Nativity Project is a public witness to remind people of the powerful message delivered on the very first Christmas. And that is, "Peace on Earth. Good will toward man." It is also a witness to address the growing hostility toward public expressions of faith, especially during the Christmas season.”
Elizabeth Duncan, Boise Mayor Dave Bieter's spokesperson, said that as long as the group has the same permits required of any group - which may be none at all, since City Hall is public property - "there's no problem."
Organizers are inviting the public to drop off donations for the Idaho Food Bank, at the Nativity Scene display Friday, December 22 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Boise has a large downtown Hanukkah display - a menorah at the corner of Capitol and Myrtle. Friday, the 8th and last day of Hanukkah, the menorah will be fully lighted. The fundamental message of the Jewish Festival of Lights is "the struggle, of 'the few against the many, the weak against the strong,' - the eternal battle of the Jewish people for its faith and its existence. To the world it proclaims the eternal message of the prophet Zechariah: 'Not by might, nor by Power, but by My spirit.' " says Isaac Klein of The Jewish Theological Seminary.
"We welcome all people to share in the beauty of the season," said Duncan.
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