As previously reported, the Washington state Capitol's open forum policy for holiday displays has led to a flurry of applications after a Humanist group put up a controversial sign calling religion a "myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds." The state Department of General Administration has had enough. KOMO News reported yesterday that the Department has declared a moratorium on any more displays while it reviews its policy. The Department says it has received more applications for displays than can be reasonably accommodated. This means that all the new proposals, including the one for a Festivus pole, remain on hold. Apparently the nativity scene, the Christmas tree and the Humanists' sign remain in the Capitol.
UPDATE: One of the applications put on hold by the moratorium is from the notorious Westboro Baptist Church, best known for picketing Iraq and Afghanistan veterans' funerals. Its proposed display was a poster captioned "Santa Claus Will Take You To Hell!" Dispatches from the Culture Wars (12/14) has more, along with a photo of the proposed display.
