When rednecks go wrong

No Religious-Themed Decorations Allowed At Old Court House
By S. L. FRISBIE, IV, Publisher

There will be no religious-themed Christmas decorations at the old Polk
County court house this year.

Not Christian.

Not Jewish.

Not Muslim.

Not Wiccan.

Not Snake-Worshipers.

The newly-reconstituted county commission, with two new members taking
part in their first meeting, responded with silence when Commissioner
Randy Wilkinson moved to allow "a holiday display" in which "we can
recognize faiths."

In October, Wilkinson proposed a Christmas display in which symbols of
Christianity, Judaism and Islam would be included. That brought a sharp
rejoinder from then-Commissioner Don Gifford, who objected to display of
Muslim symbols.

"When people blow up our buildings, I'm not putting those symbols up
there," Gifford said at the commission's Oct. 6 meeting.

Rather than decide the question at that meeting, commissioners chose to
wait until the Nov. 16 meeting, at which Commissioners Sam Johnson and
Bob English were sworn in, taking the places of Neil Combee and Gifford.

At Tuesday's meeting, Abdurrahim Al-Khatib of Winter Haven, a chaplain
at the Polk Correctional Institution, said he was disturbed by Gifford's
remarks.

"I'm not a terrorist; I did not blow up a building," he said.

"If we allow one display," Commission Chm. Jack Myers suggested, the
county would have to allow "everything from witchcraft to
snake-worshippers." He said the county should not allow any decorations
with a religious theme.

"People should celebrate in their own way with their family and
friends," he added.

Wilkinson then offered his motion to allow a multi-faith display. After
a few seconds of silence, Myers ruled it dead for lack of a second.