But, they are PC!
December 6, 2005
Provincetown will augment crèche with other symbols
By ERIC WILLIAMS
STAFF WRITER
PROVINCETOWN - The crèche at Bas Relief Park will soon be a little more crowded after the Provincetown selectmen voted last night to add a menorah, a holiday tree and a sign saying ''Peace On Earth'' to the seasonal display.
The selectmen had been forced to act on the matter after receiving a complaint letter about the town-owned crèche scene, which has been a fixture for many holiday seasons in the public park.
After consultations with town counsel, it became apparent that to stay within widely accepted legal precedent on such displays, the town would either have to remove the crèche or add other symbols that would allow the display to be categorized as secular.
While there was no sentiment from officials or from the public who attended last night's meeting to keep the crèche in place by itself, the ''remove it or add to it'' discussion was lively, with advocates on both sides.
The selectmen were split on the matter themselves, with the ''add to it'' faction winning the day by a 3-2 margin, with Dr. Cheryl Andrews and Richard Olson in the ''remove it'' minority.
''I think there should be added symbols,'' said Selectman David Nicolau. I think that's what Provincetown is ... it's about being equal.'' ''We obviously can't have just one symbol on town property,'' said Selectman Michele Couture, expressing support for additional symbols. ''I think it's a very fortunate thing that we don't have a state-sponsored religion.''
Selectman Richard Olson argued in favor of removing the crèche to private property, saying that adding symbols ''trivializes the whole thing.''
Before selectmen voted on the issue, members of the public had their say.
''The place for religious symbols is not on town property, the place for religious symbols is on church property,'' said Barbara Rushmore of Provincetown. ''It's hard, people love the warm feeling that they have from symbols that they associate all their life with their beliefs.''
Rushmore said the town would open a Pandora's Box'' by allowing other symbols. ''Do you want a Buddha? Do you want a Muslim symbol at the time when we're in a fight with a Muslim country? I think you best not try and even it up.''
But lifelong Provincetown resident Francis Santos argued for the inclusion of more symbols. ''This town is a mixing bowl,'' he said.
The selectmen indicated that the vote to add the menorah, tree and sign to the display was for this holiday season, and that they may consider other requests for future displays.
In a letter to the selectmen, Provincetown poet Dennis Rhodes, who is in favor of adding additional symbols to the holiday display, wrote that he had begun work on creating an ''Inclusion Fund'' for the 2006 holiday season, to purchase more symbols for the Bas Relief Park display.
Rhodes said the money would be used to obtain a ''beautiful all-weather menorah'' and perhaps an Islamic Crescent and Star.
Eric Williams can be reached at
ewilliams@capecodonline.com.
(Published: December 6, 2005)
One guy from P-town wrote a letter to the paper, he worships Zappa, wants the town to buy a 12 foot high chrome guitar to include too... maybe he will get it????
