"Showdown at the Rotunda"

It seems that there is quite a struggle over Christmas in the state capitol building in Olympia Washington. On December 1st, a Christmas tree was erected in the capitol building, followed quickly by a nativity scene. Things heated up when the group Freedom From Religion Foundation posted a sign that reads "religion hardens hearts and enslaves minds".

Now according to seattlepi.com the Westboro Baptist Church, a controversial Kansas church known for blaming American casualties in Iraq on nationwide tolerance for homosexuality has asked the state for permission to erect a sign stating that "Santa Claus will take you to hell."

The text of the Westboro Baptist Church's message would read;

(Let's all sing along!!!)

"You'd better watch out,
get ready to cry,
You'd better go hide,
I'm telling you why
'cuz Santa Claus will take you to hell.

He is your favorite idol,
you worship at his feet,
but when you stand before your God
He won't help you take the heat.

So get this fact straight:
you're feeling God's hate,
Santa's to blame for the economy's fate,
Santa Claus will take you to hell."

So, I had to look into the "church". According to wikipedia.com, the church is headed by Fred Phelps and based in Topeka, Kansas. The group carries out daily picketing in Topeka purportedly six per day with fifteen on Sunday. It's members travel nationally to picket the funerals of gay victims of murder, gay-bashing or death related to AIDS, as well as other events related or peripherally related to gay people. They have been known to protest outside theaters in Topeka, under the premise that live theaters, especiallyBroadway musical productions, are a haven for homosexuality.

Is this a great country we live in or what???