Enough already, Mr. Greene

Opinion

Discussion

January 11, 2013

Enough already, Mr. Greene

Anonymous Athens Daily Review The Athens Daily Review Fri Jan 11, 2013, 05:21 PM CST

Athens — We were not surprised to hear reports that San Antonio atheist Patrick Greene has once again dropped a lawsuit related to the Nativity scene placed on the Henderson County Courthouse lawn each Christmas season.

In fact, we expected it.

Greene has been threatening legal action and filing lawsuits since his name became attached to the controversy regarding the Nativity scene — which earned international attention in 2011 when the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation tried to have it removed from the courthouse square.

Last February, Greene filed a complaint with the State Commission on Judicial Conduct against County Judge Richard Sanders after Sanders failed to remove a county commissioner who said the Nativity scene was only going to be taken down in one of two ways — “after Christmas, or when hell freezes over.”

Greene backed off, citing a health scare that potentially could have cost him his eyesight. Christians reached out in support, including members of Sand Springs Baptist Church in Athens, sending money to assist in the cost of medical care. The response initially led Greene to proclaim a newfound faith in Jesus Christ, but he later reneged and accused those sending money of trying to “buy him off.”

Last December, Greene — representing himself — filed a lawsuit in Bexar County against the City of Athens. His claim? That the city, by providing funds to Keep Athens Beautiful, was “instigating an atmosphere that gave the public the impression that government gave preference of one faith over all others.” Light Up Athens, which installs and takes down the Nativity scene each year, is a committee under the KAB umbrella.

Greene withdrew the suit after learning that Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott had asked for a copy of the suit.

A few weeks ago, he turned his crosshairs back on Sanders by filing another lawsuit in Bexar County — this time saying the county judge abused his position by giving private citizens permission to display the Nativity scene.

But earlier this week, he withdrew that suit, as well, saying he’s turning his attention to other legal matters not related to the Nativity scene, Athens or Henderson County.

Greene’s actions lack sincerity of purpose and smack of an attention-grab. We’ve grown tired of the charade, frankly, and don’t even want to imagine still wrangling over the Nativity scene in May when we’re corn-dogging it up at the Old Fiddler’s Reunion.

Our county and city officials — while standing firm — have extended to Greene courtesy and patience. Our church congregations have showed him uncommon kindness rooted in their faith.

We acknowledge everyone hasn’t been so courteous to him — including whoever reportedly carved the word “evil” into a doormat near his apartment. We condemn such mischief, for which there is no justification.

However, there also is no justification for Greene’s repeated, pesky efforts to harass the hard-working and honest people in our county.

Enough already, Mr. Greene. We’re moving on.

Text Only

Opinion

KATHI NAILLING: I’m not ready to retire just yet — I’m just thinking about it
Retire? Who retires? I have reached that age where retirement could be part of my future. Too many times I hear my friends say I can’t afford to retire.

May 18, 2013 1 Photo
5/18 MAIL CALL: Patriots, or traitors?
The supposedly patriotic racist white supremacist and radical secessionist groups, the Glen Beckian, (fired by Faux News for his off-the-cliff conspiracies) and the NRA/Gun Lobby sheeples who all claim that background checks on guns favored by 90 percent of Americans would violate the second amendment, and, if enacted, would start a “culture war!”

May 18, 2013
EDITORIAL: Seizure of phone records an insult to free press
Distrust of government secrecy has been elevated to an exceptional level with the disclosure the Justice Department covertly examined two months of Associated Press phone records to determine who leaked details to the AP about a foiled terrorist plot.

May 18, 2013
RICH FLOWERS: The Splash Pad will be an asset to Athens, not a drain
The long, hot, summer is about to set in and there will be plenty of dog days between now and the time the Splash Pad opens.

May 17, 2013 1 Photo
5/17 MAIL CALL: You might want to check those ‘numbers’ again
My thanks to our congressman who stood up for the Second Amendment. They obviously read the proposed background check bill and determined that it was a “feel good” bill that would not have prevented the shootings at Newton, Tucson or Aurora.

May 17, 2013
MAIL CALL: Are the facts becoming inconvenient truths?
I read with interest an article in the Dallas Morning News, May 8, 2013, concerning gun crime over the past 20 years.

May 16, 2013
JOE ELERSON: I’m still amazed at the superhuman feats of mothers
This Sunday marks another day where we give special attention to the mothers in our lives for all they have done to make us the men and women that we are today.

May 11, 2013 1 Photo
JEFF RIGGS: Boy, have newspapers really changed over the years!
How newspapers have changed! And, much of it has to do with modernization through computers.

May 10, 2013
5/9 MAIL CALL: America needs a serious change of heart
When God destroyed the Earth with a flood because of the evilness of man I’ve often wondered what those people were doing that men and women are not doing now.

May 9, 2013
JAYSON LARSON: Pennies on the dollar and worth so, so much
Sometimes I wish I could get back all the money I ever spent on baseball cards.

May 4, 2013 1 Photo
More Opinion Headlines

Opinion

Search Results

Discussion

Enough already, Mr. Greene

Site Map

Contact Us