A Nativity scene in Lansing, MI? Place of my birth...

From MichiganLive, a source for local news in Lansing, Michigan, we have this article titled, "Christian Nativity scene proposed for Michigan Capitol lawn; will Spaghetti Monster be next?" Here are two excerpts:

The Michigan State Capitol Commission is seeking legal advice over a request to set up a Christian Nativity scene on the Capitol lawn in December, a move that could open the floodgates for other holiday displays.
The newly formed commission, in a Monday meeting, agreed to contract with the Michigan Attorney General’s office for a part-time staff attorney over six months at a cost of around $37,000, which will come out of its general operating appropriation.
The assistant attorney general will be retained to advise on a number of issues, including the Nativity request.
“We think it’s prudent in this case,” said commissioner John Truscott. “We’d rather not be stuck behind the eight ball if somebody decides to go to court over this, and part of it is just researching what’s allowed at the Capitol.”

[later in the article]

“It’s best to just keep the space neutral from religion,” said FFRF attorney Rebecca Markert. “Once you open up that door you have to allow everything, and you can see that has turned into a circus in other areas of the country.”
Last year in Florida, the Department of Management Services reportedly approved a Nativity scene for the state Capitol, prompting a slew of other requests, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
FFRF put up “Happy Winter Solstice” banners celebrating the "birth of the Bill of Rights." Another atheist group erected a “Festivus pole” made of beer cans in homage to the television show Seinfeld.
The “Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster,” a parody religion that satirizes belief in creationism and intelligent design, also put up a noodle and meatball display honoring its “Pastafarian” deity.

The article above got the attention of our good friend Chaz Stevens, here is an excerpt of an email that Chaz sent to the Michigan State Capitol Commission:

Greetings good people of Michigan.
Chaz Stevens here, emailing in from South Florida.
I just became aware that someone up yonder had requested permission to set up a Christian Nativity Scene on the Capitol lawn.
Oh goodie!
Well then, make that two requests to install a display on the Capitol’s lawn, only mine isn’t for a Baby Jesus Motel 6, but rather permission to erect the world-famous Pabst Blue Ribbon Festivus Pole!

You can read the entire Chaz Stevens story here.

For all of you who are unaware of the holiday called Festivus, the role of the unadorned Festivus Pole, the "Feats of Strength" and the all-important "Airing of Grievances" you can educate yourself and your friends by watching this short video: