European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - December 15, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday december 15. 1968 the stars and stripes Page 3nativity, play Sparks tangled debate Parent questions Nellinger school s festivities by Joseph Owen and William Bartman stuff writers is christens a secular Holiday with religious roots or a religious Holiday celebrated publicly with government approval in trying to Stop a school Christmas play at incl Lingen elementary school in West Germany Melissa Johnson found that question has no easy answer. The school s iwo kindergarten classes plan to stage a 10 uni null performance for their parents this morning depict ing through poetry the Story of Jesus Christ s birth. The student actors play the rotes or donkeys sheep Wise men shepherds Angels and Mary and Joseph. Johnson whose daughter is in one of the classes said he play. Posters religious beliefs i n a Public school and therefore violates Cortili Lional guarantees of the separation of Church and slate. Department of defense dependents schools officials however say it does t. The school announced Lite play at Parent conferences in Early november to find whether anyone objected. Johnson could nol attend and Learned of the play Only when her daughter brought a synopsis Home just before thanksgiving. She said her daughter reported having been told the play was about the birth of Jesus lurking he father of the entire universe.1. Johnson is jewish but she said she told school officials her religious affiliation is irrelevant to the protest. I keep saying it does t mutter. We re talking about separation of Church and suite and teaching religion in a Public school she said. Marcia Johnson assistant  of the Stull Gart school District said she sanctioned he event despite the objection because its purpose is Only to Tali a Story. Basically if the intent is nol to Foster religion or teach religion then Christmas pageants to Rcpt she said adding that she had consulted a professional periodical and Dodds Germany Headquarters in Wiesbaden before reaching he decision. Smith Reeves chief of executive services for the Dodds Germany Region said the school system s Legal Scarf came to the same conclusion. It looked like it fit the requirements of the supreme court he said citing Lynch is. Donnelly a 1984 court decision allowing a municipally erected nativity scene or creche to remain standing in Paw Luckul Ell the court said the scene which included Reindeer Santa s House and Candy striped poles is As inseparably a part of american culture As it is of christianity. Principal Homer n. Smith said Johnson s complaint was the first of its kind he s received in his 16 years of heading the school. As Long As there s no discussion of religion it s of Smith said calling the play a depiction of a historical event however the american civil liberties Union disagrees. If this was a Case involving singing a Christmas Carol generally that s not a violation of the first amendment said attorney Barry Lynn of the Acle s office in washing ton. But when you take a major function such As an Assembly or a play certainly is and make that an explicit religious affair then 1 think you be crossed the line. This kind of action in a government school is clearly wrong. It s entirely  but a Harvard University Law professor said the Issue May not be As Clear As the Acle believes. He said any Legal Challenge of the incl Lingen performance could enter foggy ground. The government could argue that some Type of secular cultural significance could be seen in this  the professor who asked not to he identified said the overseas aspect also adds an Uncertain ingredient. You have the fact it s taking place abroad. So the applicability of the Bill of rights abroad comes into the picture he said. There could be some special arguments because of conditions in  he said a court might Sanction the play on grounds hat Tike Charles Dickens a Christmas Carol it has secular cultural significance. The army chaplains in Europe acknowledging their Lack of Legal expertise said the dispute Over the play also. Highlights the importance of being sensitive to beliefs other than one s on. Col., Sanford l Dresin the 7th medical come staff chaplain and he army s senior jewish chaplain said he believes such a play would be a religious event. Even paraphrasing scripture in poetic language is Reli. Pious. In my mind he said adding that Many christians and non christians dispute the supreme court s 1 a tuck it decision because in reduces the creche in a secular Symbol such is a Christmas tree. We have a National tree he said. We Don t have a National creche Dresin said he accepts invitations o explain the jewish festival of hanukkah in the schools. Hut he added. I Loo would have a problem i Fth kids put on a play depicting the cleansing of the Temple by the maccabees and the  -.-. Dpi. Stanley ii. Schwartz a jewish chaplain in inc Stuttgart area also backs Melissa Johnson s argument. If she were a moslem and i Gol involved i d have the same position Schwartz said adding he first thought school officials would relent. The chapels exist for the expression of their religion. The Dodds schools Don t exist for the expression of their religion col. Donald a Shea the Usa eur chaplain said he thinks a nativity play would be acceptable if not composed of scriptural citations but he acknowledged the potential for controversy. It s a Deal you can t win on because you re going to get somebody irritated either Way he said. The Acle s Lynn said most cases regarding religious symbols Are nol litigated Loo often because Peaple land to resolve these things without going to  however my Lissa Johnson said the local judge advocate general s office told her it has no jurisdiction Over Dodds administrative mailers. And she said she can t afford to pursue the Issue through Tal Ide courts. Legal debates aside school officials said they Don t want to offend anybody and plan to consider Johnson s complaint when deciding whether to repeat the play in 1989, but they said cancelling it on Short notice this year would be unfair to the students and parents who prepared Forit. Some of san a s friends worry Over his Waistline Santa is going to find a lot of Sweet surprises when he visits his friends on Christmas eve. Nicole Hollis tells Santa i m going to make you a a i i i a Choco late cake when you come to my  but she adds i Hope you like Low fat milk because that s All my Mommy  friends arc a Little More worried about adding to Santa s already expand ing Waistline. Justin Honey writes i saw d play at my school shaping tip Santa and for health reasons you need to go on a diet because he explains "1 w ant you to live for a Long time. Other friends who have written to Santa at the stars and stripes Rind can expect an answer Are. Mimi of Tel Sill plan watch Diluvio Lugo Mattco Tomin Canna Tamayo Larava Tamaya Cliff Enon Brian of Gas Mark to atm Lanny Edwardf Pawn rho Cufo i dug sch Winlun  -.-. A. B. Smith claw Chw inf Utt american school mra. Randall Aclair  Etem diary school eau Loran of Panzer cd one Lanark a  n amen Hilgh Strickland Bhagwan s former Secretary deported arrives in Germany Frankfurt West Germany a a Anand Sheila. The former Secre tary of Indian guru Bhagwan so acc Raj. Nemesh arrived in Frankfurt wednesday after being deported from the United Stales and said she will return to India bul has no plans to see the guru. The India born Sucela 39, arrived in Frankfurt or a flight front los Angeles. She was released after serving 2wheats for crimes ranging from atle pled Mur Der to wiretapping. She was released from a prison in California and deported after pledging not to return to the United Stales for five years. Sucela received a 4 a year sentence in july 1986, but was released Early because of Good behaviour i have no Money Sucela told re porters after arriving in Frankfurt with no Luggage. Sheila accompanied by her West Ger Man lawyer immediately left for the Southern West German town of Baden Baden. Rain Cash on whom followers be stowed More than 90 Rolls royces Al Lowed Sheila to Wield dictatorial control Over As Many As 4,000 followers who lived at the sect s now defunct com Mune Rances Puram in Central Ore gon. Living it up while it lasts s4s Linda w. Sulu breakfast in bed or Fri by their senior lenders gave members of \ in co 3rd Bri Gade 3rd inf div at ready Barracks in  plenty la smite about wednesday. The whole company per formed so Well in a division inspection Char senior a lers Florine chefs hats and aprons to serve Bacon eggs and More la about 60 soldiers in their bunks. Reap ing their Reward from 1st Sot. James Johns ire pfc. Andre thames top bunk and pc. Eugene resales