Elsie Miller

Mill Hall

I attended the LH City Council meeting on Nov. 25 to support the Downtown Manager, who was being harrassed. Her job is to increase business in Lock Haven, and she placed a Gingerbread display in Triangle Park to draw people from surrounding communities. She believed this was best for the business in Lock Haven, and had approval from the DLH Board of Directors. We’ve already lost Uncle Joe’s Woodshed and I don’t want to lose more hometown businesses.

The question at hand, the placement of a nativity in Triangle Park and what the proper way to have that done might be. The Council meeting room was more than full. Many “Christian nationalists” attended. I say nationalist because of the behaviors that were displayed. In fact, that is the reason I am writing this letter to the editor.

The people who had not followed proper procedure in applying for the display of the nativity were also people who did not understand that there is a procedure that is followed in Council meetings. They were under-educated about the functions of government and didn’t attempt to educate themselves. They were unable to grasp the direction of the Council Chair and continued to yell out and disrupt other members of the community and council members. As a Christian I was heartbroken because this was not Christian behavior.

The first person to speak identified herself as a leader. She, within the first few seconds, called the City Manager a liar — stating there were no ‘nasty posts’ on line. How could she possibly know what someone else had received? This kind of accusation is an attempt to hoodwink others… not Christian behavior but Christian nationalist.

My point is this: I am a Christian — not a Christian nationalist. I encourage Christians to consider who they are. Do you follow the kind, civil, and open preaching’s of Jesus Christ or are you angry, rude, uncivil and an uninformed follower of Christian nationalism? There is a HUGE difference.

The City Council, after much consideration, decided to share the space. The Nativity will be displayed in Triangle Park this year.