Star-Bulletin staff
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When the Honolulu City Lights show opens tonight on the City
Hall lawn, there will be four displays celebrating the birth
of Jesus.
Nonprofit organizations are permitted to present their holiday
messages in a corner of the municipal holiday exhibition that
features bigger-than-life displays of toys, elves, snow people
and Santa.
In other cities the use of public property for religious displays
has led to lawsuits, protests and bans. In Honolulu a complaint
about a Christmas Nativity scene on the City Hall lawn was resolved
in 1998 with a system in which five spaces are set aside for
private displays. Nonprofit organizations apply and are chosen
by lottery to fill the five small spaces.
This year, there were only five applicants.
The story of Jesus' birth is presented in the Good Shepherd
Lutheran Church booth. Cartoon characters of a camel and a mouse
are guides to the action and meaning in the Bethlehem stable
scene created by artist Chuck Gooch.
"Jesus, the Greatest Gift of All" is the theme of
a display by the Lutheran Campus Ministry at the University
of Hawaii. An image of the Christ Child is presented in a large
gift box amid presents around a Christmas tree. The display
was created by campus ministry director Janelle Dryden, who
has entered exhibits for eight years.
The Knights of Columbus also erected a Nativity scene, using
commercially made wire figures outlined in lights with a backdrop
saying, "Keep Christ in Christmas." Kin Borja, an
officer of the Catholic men's organization, said, "We're
not trying to impede on anyone else's beliefs, just expressing
our own feelings about the holiday."
A picture of Jesus is imposed on a U.S. map in the display
by Stand Up America. Mike Gabbard, the organization director,
said the display "has a simple message: to remind people
that we are 'One Nation Under God' and that this wonderful season
is a celebration of the birth of Lord Jesus Christ."
A Christmas tree in rainbow colors was erected by the Parents
and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG). Gift boxes around
the tree spell out the message "All You Need Is Love."
"The spirit of the season is love," said Carolyn Golojuch,
spokeswoman for the advocacy group, "and we need to include
everyone in that."
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