As a citizen of Loudoun County, who truly loves and respects the place where he lives, as well as his fellow neighbors and county residents, regardless of their religious beliefs or ethnicities, I wish to express to all of you just how insulting and offensive I find your anti-Christmas displays which you are responsible for erecting on the Loudoun County Courthouse lawn during the celebration of the Christmas Holiday Season.

I wish to make it clear that while I do not object to your right to voice or express your atheist beliefs. I strongly object to the manner in which you have opted to do so, and as I am sure you are well aware, I do not stand alone in this view. 

Your actions show a tremendous degree of disrespect as well as a disregard, to all those who wish to enjoy the celebration of what should be the most joyous holiday of the year. 
Simply put, it is a most selfish and self-serving act that you all have decided to embark on at the expense of your neighbors.

All of you refuse to recognize the fact that Christmas Day is a national holiday that was established by our Congress and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on June 28, 1870.  While this holiday, pays homage to the birth of Jesus Christ, whom those, of the Christian faith (like myself) recognize and revere as the son of God, it cannot be disputed that many others who do not accept Jesus as such, still accept the fact that he did exist and walked this earth for some 33 years;  and many of those others, including those of the Jewish and Muslim faiths, recognize and accept Jesus as a great prophet.

Another undisputed fact that you all seem to ignore is that accordingly, the crèche, or nativity scene,  is not necessarily perceived by all to be solely a “religious” symbol or structure per se.
Therefore, the crèche, as well as the other widely recognize symbols that pay homage to Christmas which include the Christmas Tree and Santa Claus, should be allowed to adorn the Loudoun County Courthouse or for that matter, any other government owned property, whether it be federal or state (commonwealth) held, without the need of being faced with any public displays or outcries challenging it.

What I also find curious is why you are so focused on only Christmas, which I repeat—is a national holiday - -and seem to ignore the many public celebrations of Hanukkah in which its “strictly religious” symbol the “Menorah,” is openly displayed on the lawns of many government-owned properties, including that of the Town Hall of Leesburg, which I am sure you know, is a stone’s throw away from the courthouse?

Why weren’t you or your colleagues or other members of your atheist organization present at the Ellipse in Washington, D.C. this week to voice your objections over the lighting of the “National Hanukkah Menorah” by President Obama, as the U.S. Marine Corps band played Hanukkah tunes? It’s a band I might add whose members are paid with taxpayer dollars.

Now, how come you ignore Hanukkah, which is not a federal holiday, but wish to make a mockery of Christmas?  Is it that you all subscribe to some form of hypocrisy?
By the way, please do not construe the comments or challenges I am making here about Hanukkah as if I personally object to its public celebration, for that would be quite far from the truth.  I only raise this issue to point out what, in my view is a huge inconsistency or disparity in your organization’s so-called (and misunderstood) “separation of church and state” stance.

In closing, I believe that what your organization needs is the establishment of atheism as a National Holiday that is celebrated by all 50 states. 

Might I suggest that you start lobbying members of Congress as soon as possible to get this enacted.  I think that you should shoot for the first of April, as your organization’s official day of celebration, for what other day in the year could be more appropriate?

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah, to all.

John Mileo

Lansdowne