Henderson County folks create national news again, pro-Christian rally scheduled for Dec. 17

by David Webb

David Webb is a veteran journalist who has written for the mainstream and alternative media for three decades. He is now a freelancer who lives in the Cedar Creek Lake area. He is a regular contributor to cedarcreeklake.com. E-mail story ideas to davidwaynewebb@yahoo.com.

ATHENS -- For the second time this holiday season Henderson County folks are making the national news over a local religious controversy.

Right around Thanksgiving the New York Times published a story about Gun Barrel City residents feuding over extending late-night alcoholic beverages sales in restaurants. The unsuccessful opposition to the measure was fueled by Baptists who objected to the measure on the basis of moral and safety reasons.

Now several Baptists pastors have called on county residents to attend a rally at the Henderson County Courthouse Square on Dec. 17 from noon to 3 p.m. to protest a call for the removal of a nativity scene from the courthouse lawn.

The development is scheduled for national coverage by Fox News, and other network news shows will undoubtedly run the story as well.

The controversy erupted when the Freedom from Religion Foundation of Wisconsin sent a letter to County Judge Richard Sanders demanding the nativity scene be removed because of claims it "sends a message of intimidation and exclusion to non-Christians and non-believers this time of year."

The Wisconsin group sent the letter to Henderson County on behalf of a county resident who reportedly complained to it about the nativity scene.

Sanders told Fox 4 News he would not order the removal of the nativity scene because he believes the inclusion of other decorations such as Santa Claus and Frosty the Snowman make it legal.

The Wisconsin group's co-founder, Annie Laurie Gaylor, said she would file a lawsuit against county officials if they failed to remove the nativity scene.

County residents came out in strong support of the pastors, promising to attend the rally. E-mail messages and Facebook postings began flying after news of the controversy spread.

Michael Hannigan, editor of the Malakoff News, posted an announcement of the rally on his Facebook page where he posted the newspaper story about the controversy.

"If ever there is a time for the believers of our county to unite together in prayer and unity it's now!" the announcement read. "Please make plans on being there!"

The pastors also received support from another unlikely quarter. A Jewish resident wrote on Hannigan's Facebook page that he opposed the removal of the nativity scene.

"The nativity scene does not offend me or my family," he wrote. "Even though this group from Wisconsin may be right on interpreting the law, I hope the county fights this. None of us need the Freedom from Religion Foundation telling us what to do in Athens. Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!"

In another twist, Joey Dauben, a Henderson County resident who is publisher of EllisCountyObserver.com, wrote on his Facebook page that he supports the pastors even though he disputes that Christmas Day represents the birth of the Messiah. He also suggested that Christmas trees are actually phallic symbols.

"The establishment clause doesn't prohibit the erection of such scenes, no matter how Biblically inaccurate it may be," wrote Dauben, who describes his faith as Messanic, Torah-observant.

And the resident who kicked up the fuss in in the first place by complaining to the Wisconsin group has chosen to remain anonymous and not make any public statements.

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