Flying Spaghetti Monster takes up residence at county courthouse

[Holly_Hobby]

By Gary Nelson / [e-mail]

Among the county's historic directional sign post, farm equipment and gazebo stand several monuments and expressions of free speech. The displays include an Iraq and Afghanistan Soldier's Memorial, Statue of Liberty, chainsaw-carved monkeys and bears, Jesus carrying a cross, and the most recent display added — a Flying Spaghetti Monster.

Several onlookers and tourists have stopped to take pictures of the sculptures.

The Flying Spaghetti Monster is the latest display to a slew of others that have been erected on the lawn over the past year. Several marches and demonstrations have also taken place on the courthouse grounds.

A free speech zone?

...

http://www.crossville-chronicle.com/archivesearch/local_story_084161126.html





Other displays include a memorial to soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, a Statue of Liberty, historic farm implements and fundraising totals.

[Sulawesi]

1. Yay!!

[shadowknows69]

2. That's an exceptionally made idol of the Noodley One.

[Ian David]

3. His noodly appendage touches us all!

[Ian David]

4. Here's more...

This morning at 8:00 AM the Flying Spaghetti Monster was put up on the Cumberland County Courthouse Lawn.

http://bp0.blogger.com/_iLavlLrMQko/R-O9VSOaxmI/AAAAAAAAAEU/GWgcep-ad9g/S240/FSM+Courthouse+1+043.JPG

"Once a public forum is established, government may not discriminate against other speakers (. . .)"- The Christian Science Monitor...Sound Familiar?

Cumberland County is not the only place struggling with the place of religious symbols on government property. Check out The Christian Science Monitor's article by Warren Richey on the U.S. Supreme Court deciding another 1o Commandments case- this time in Utah.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0401/p02s01-usju.html?page=1

Posted by Ariel at 1:51 PM 4 comments
http://itlovesyou.blogspot.com/2008/04/once-public-forum-is-established.html

[sinkingfeeling]

5. Finally somebody has honored the FSM!!

[havocmom]

6. When xians grumble and insist it comes down...

fine. ALL religious displays will have to come down off PUBLIC (no state promotion of any religion) property.

Great job with The Flying Spaghetti Monster!

[Swamp Rat]

7. RAmen!

[Zookeeper]

8. I love this part from the newspaper article..

"...the committee could ultimately decide to remove all displays, but at this point, we haven't. I think a time limit on the displays could be enacted, though. I do think that too many of these displays tend to distract from the beauty of our courthouse lawn. I think our courthouse lawn is among the prettiest in the state. I hate to see that sacrificed," First District Commissioner Sabine said.

Not the courthouse, the LAWN!

:rofl:

[Sabriel]

9. Speaking of sacrifice, someone needs to place bowls of pasta around the base

Some wheat needs to give up its life to honor Him (preferably organic and fresh, not dried).

[DCKit]

11. And when it gets moldy and "takes on a life of it's own"...

Will it have been proven that FSM is the giver of all life?

[Bigmack]

10. Holly..

can you keep us up-to-date during the upcoming flap over this display?

I'll pop some corn and watch with interest.

[BryMan]

12. Ramen

May we all be touched by his noodley appendage, even those that don't believe....yet hehe.

[mondo joe]

13. That's a beautiful sight. Thank you. :-)