shocker1
10-24-2007, 03:01 PM
No Nativity Scene at Grand Illumination
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) - A live Nativity scene that has been part of Chattanooga's annual Grand Illumination has been scrapped.
Chattanooga Downtown Partnership executive director Carla Pritchard says the representation of the birth of Jesus Christ was eliminated after several people complained.
The Partnership receives funding from the city.
The illumination event takes place the day after Thanksgiving and begins the holiday shopping season and the downtown Winter Days & Lights event.
The Nativity had been performed since the 1980s by First Baptist Church of Soddy-Daisy.
Church pastor Dr. Seton Tomyn says the decision is disappointing, but understands diverse cultures are part of the city.
http://www.newschannel9.com/news/chattanooga_963743___article.html/illumination_nativity.html
Then we have the flip side where the City government gets involved with religion.
Showcase to give information about Islam
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
By Yolanda Putman
Staff Writer
Negative images of Muslims in the media since the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and the start of the war in Iraq need to be dispelled, members of Chattanooga's Islamic community say.
"It's important for us as citizens to see that Muslims are not terrorists," said Kabah Raheem, resident imam, or prayer leader, at the Chattanooga Islamic Center. "You can't with one brush paint people one way or the other."
To deter negative stereotypes and provide information about Muslims, several members of the local Islamic community are planning a Chattanooga Islamic Cultural Showcase from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday at Coolidge Park.
Mr. Raheem said the event will help improve understanding of Islamic culture for people who work with Muslims or interact with them on a regular basis.
Imams will be available at the showcase to discuss Islamic culture and Muslim contributions to the community, said Yusuf Hakeem, a local Muslim and organizer.
"We Americans have a tendency to fear that which we do not know and understand," he said. "This is an effort not to bring anyone to the faith, but to bring about a better understanding."
The event also was organized by the city's Office of Multicultural Affairs, local mosque representatives and the Bridge Refugee Center.
"We have resettled many Muslim refugees over the past eight years," said Anne Curtis, Bridge Refugee Services coordinator and sponsorship director. "We feel a responsibility to them and to our community to bridge a lack of information or understanding."
She said the refugee center has resettled 644 refugees from Eastern Europe, Cuba, Africa, Vietnam and the former Soviet Union since 1996. At least 25 percent of the refugees are Muslims, Ms. Curtis said.
About 2,500 Muslims live in or near the Chattanooga area, according to the Islamic Education & Services Institute. The office closed in June 2006, but the information remains accurate, Mr. Hakeem said.
http://www.timesfreepress.com/absolutenm/templates/local.aspx?articleid=23819&zoneid=77
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) - A live Nativity scene that has been part of Chattanooga's annual Grand Illumination has been scrapped.
Chattanooga Downtown Partnership executive director Carla Pritchard says the representation of the birth of Jesus Christ was eliminated after several people complained.
The Partnership receives funding from the city.
The illumination event takes place the day after Thanksgiving and begins the holiday shopping season and the downtown Winter Days & Lights event.
The Nativity had been performed since the 1980s by First Baptist Church of Soddy-Daisy.
Church pastor Dr. Seton Tomyn says the decision is disappointing, but understands diverse cultures are part of the city.
http://www.newschannel9.com/news/chattanooga_963743___article.html/illumination_nativity.html
Then we have the flip side where the City government gets involved with religion.
Showcase to give information about Islam
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
By Yolanda Putman
Staff Writer
Negative images of Muslims in the media since the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and the start of the war in Iraq need to be dispelled, members of Chattanooga's Islamic community say.
"It's important for us as citizens to see that Muslims are not terrorists," said Kabah Raheem, resident imam, or prayer leader, at the Chattanooga Islamic Center. "You can't with one brush paint people one way or the other."
To deter negative stereotypes and provide information about Muslims, several members of the local Islamic community are planning a Chattanooga Islamic Cultural Showcase from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday at Coolidge Park.
Mr. Raheem said the event will help improve understanding of Islamic culture for people who work with Muslims or interact with them on a regular basis.
Imams will be available at the showcase to discuss Islamic culture and Muslim contributions to the community, said Yusuf Hakeem, a local Muslim and organizer.
"We Americans have a tendency to fear that which we do not know and understand," he said. "This is an effort not to bring anyone to the faith, but to bring about a better understanding."
The event also was organized by the city's Office of Multicultural Affairs, local mosque representatives and the Bridge Refugee Center.
"We have resettled many Muslim refugees over the past eight years," said Anne Curtis, Bridge Refugee Services coordinator and sponsorship director. "We feel a responsibility to them and to our community to bridge a lack of information or understanding."
She said the refugee center has resettled 644 refugees from Eastern Europe, Cuba, Africa, Vietnam and the former Soviet Union since 1996. At least 25 percent of the refugees are Muslims, Ms. Curtis said.
About 2,500 Muslims live in or near the Chattanooga area, according to the Islamic Education & Services Institute. The office closed in June 2006, but the information remains accurate, Mr. Hakeem said.
http://www.timesfreepress.com/absolutenm/templates/local.aspx?articleid=23819&zoneid=77