Inclusion and Discrimination

Polish Americans join fight to allow Nativity Scenes in N.Y.

From The Polish Am Sunday, June 24, 2007

Sunday, June 24, 2007

With Christmas 2007 exactly six months away, New York City's Christians openedtheir campaign against the prohibition of Nativity scenes during the holiday season.

At the invitation of the well-known Irish organization, the Ladies of the AncientOrder of Hibernians, the Polish American Congress entered the fray with itsparticipation in a demonstration and press conference on the steps of City Hall on June 23rd. 

It's purpose was to support the efforts of City Council Member Tony Avella ofBayside on behalf of the Christmas displays. 

Frank Milewski, president of the Downstate N.Y. Division of the Polish AmericanCongress, represented New York's Polish American community at the event. Another participant was William A. Donohue, president of the Catholic Leaguefor Religious and Civil Rights, a longtime friend of the Polish American Congress.

At the press conference, Mr. Avella announced his plans to introduce a CityCouncil resolution that calls upon the N.Y. City Department of Education (DOE)to amend their holiday display policy for public elementary and secondary schoolsto include a Nativity scene or Creche. Currently, DOE's policy allows a JewishMenorah or Islamic Star and Crescent to be displayed during the winter holidayseason so long as they are displayed together.

"My resolution is purely about inclusion," stated Avella.  "The Menorah and Starand Crescent are religious symbols.  By adding a Nativity scene/Creche to theholiday display, Christianity will receive equal representation with other religiousfaiths during the holiday season."

Bill Donohue of the Catholic League added, "The Second Circuit Court of Appealsnever said that a Nativity scene could not be displayed alongside a Menorah anda Crescent Star (though schools could elect to substitute a secular symbol like theChristmas tree).  Therefore, it is up to the New York City authorities to eitherpractice inclusion and allow Creches to be displayed or practice discrimination anddeny them."

As head of an organization with many members who lived in Poland when theSoviet-imposed Communist regime put on all sorts of restrictions on religious practices,the PAC's Milewski believes "this is a fight we have to be in."

When the Communists attempted to force everyone to celebrate the Christmas season"with a tribute to a phony snowman they called Father Frost, the people of Polandgave the whole idea an icy chill and never budged.  We need to have that samedetermination over here," he said.