Baby steps to oblivion: satanism on display at the state capitol

We are all familiar with the famous quote incorrectly attributed to the French writer Voltaire:

I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.

Everyone recalls the latter half of the quote. Few focus on the former.

In that spirit, here goes: I disapprove of the display of satanism on exhibit in the Minnesota State Capitol building.

Personally, I subscribe to the philosophy that the best cure for offensive speech is not censorship, but more speech. In my world, there should be no limits on speech. Which is a very different concept than that I must support the speech of others.

In the interests of decorum, I will not post a photo or link to the sponsors of the satanist exhibit. It’s obvious that those behind the stunt are just seeking publicity to stir up controversy.

As far as I can tell, AlphaNews was the first local outlet to report on the display, under the headline:

Minnesota Capitol hosts Satanic ‘holiday display’ days before Christmas

Recognizing the clickbait potential of the “story,” legacy media outlets soon piled on:

Fox 9: Satanist holiday display at MN State Capitol: Why is it there?

WCCO 4: Satanists’ holiday display at Minnesota Capitol sparks outrage

National news coverage was inevitable for something of this nature:

Newsweek: Outrage as Minnesota Satanists Given Holiday Display at State Capitol

Those looking for actual examples of outrage will find them thin on the ground. Newsweek and WCCO-TV quote two Republican congressmen from Minnesota opposed to the display.

Local media are long on explanation and context for the display. The Minnesota Star Tribune posted three (3) “breaking news” posts (1, 2, and 3) on Twitter (X) about the non-controversial controversy. As of Wednesday evening, the current Star Tribune headline reads:

Satanic holiday display briefly removed, then returned to Minnesota State Capitol

Briefly removed? “Removed” seems far too strong a word. At some point, reportedly, the display was knocked over (on accident? cleaning crew? on purpose?), was reassembled and quickly returned to service.

As for “outrage,” the paper quotes the same two congressmen and adds a comment from a former state senator.

The Star Tribune tries to explain that the “satanists” behind the display are not real “Satanists,” more like militant atheists. And for the public display, state government had no real choice, you see. The Star Tribune reports:

A permit for a “holiday display” was issued by the Minnesota Department of Administration, which is responsible for such permits at the State Capitol and grounds, spokeswoman Julie Nelsen said. She added that “a permit for a First Amendment protected speech event does not imply an endorsement by the state.”

The Governor appears to agree, stating that he “does not agree with the display and did not approve it. But the First Amendment means that he does not police speech in the State Capitol.”

The Star Tribune adds that the display is not alone:

A Christmas tree is set up in the rotunda, a nativity scene was on the front lawn and soon there will be a Hanukkah menorah also on display on the Capitol grounds, Nelsen said.

Of course, the Star Tribune doesn’t picture any of the above, and the menorah has yet to arrive. But you’re expected to infer the plurality of it all.

Speaking of “more speech,” later in the day Tom Hauser of KSTP-TV reported that,

Satanist display at Capitol countered with prayer, Christmas music

Dozens of Christians showed up to offer some counter programming to the display in a show of defiance.

And as for “not policing speech at the Capitol,” that is demonstrably false. You will recall the large, bronze statue of explorer Christopher Columbus (which has its own Wikipedia page) at the Capitol. After adorning the capitol grounds for nearly 70 years, it was toppled in June 2020 by George Floyd rioters. The damaged statue has remained in state storage since.

As MinnPost reported in March 2024, the statue’s ultimate fate appears to be in the hands of an entity called the Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board. The Governor appoints four of the twelve members of the Board. The Board is currently chaired by Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, herself a native-American political activist opposed to the restoration of the statue.

So, this Governor is very much in the business of policing speech at the Capitol, elevating and honoring the speech of violent rioters and dishonoring the speech of many thousands of Minnesotans of Italian descent.

On a personal note, I’m old enough to have seen this sort of “public square” controversy wax and wane over the decades. But there is another quote that goes along the lines of what we tolerated yesterday must be celebrated today and made mandatory tomorrow.

I’m also old enough to recall when our public institutions — governments, universities, legacy media — used to celebrate the events and people who made our society great. Now they champion the nihilism of those who would destroy it.

Decline is a choice.