Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt ‑ Ignorance and Bigotry Personified

No doubt, Green Bay City Council President Chad Fradette was expecting raves from everyone when he decided to place his holy relic of plastic and electric lights on the overhang at Green Bay City Hall.

Fradette sneaked this display on the ledge in the dark of night with the blessing of Mayor Jim Schmitt. But, Fradette did say he welcomed other symbols from other religions. So did Schmitt, except Schmitt had no intention of honoring his promise.

A Wiccan Star was placed next to the barn scene. That night the Star was removed and damaged. Circumstances were odd. A ladder was left in place. A witness flagged down a city policeman. But nothing more has happened. Perhaps the police returned the ladder to the city. I suspect that Schmitt was behind this vandalism since he refused to allow the Star to be reinstalled.

Schmitt then arbitrarily and flatly refused to install anyone’s display. He just said no.

Schmitt demonstrated his profound ignorance when he claimed that Wicca was a practice of witchcraft and is not a religion. He said he would not have allowed it if he knew it was witchcraft. But, he still doesn’t know and it is doubtful he will be able to research the matter since he is a religious bigot. The Ayatollah Schmitt has placed himself in the sacred spot of defining what is a religion and what is not.

He bemoaned the controversy that arose after his posturing, declarations and flip‑flops. He is a public figure, and he is fair game when he puts on his dunce cap.

His claim that this is the birth time of Jesus has no historical basis. But, that is not of interest to Schmitt. He believes it is no matter what. Even his apparently favorite story of the birth of Jesus does not pass historical muster. But, as Schmitt demonstrated with his characterization of Wicca, facts don’t mean much to him.

He attempted to provide a set of guidelines for future displays. These included, size and residency restrictions, and the display can only be appropriate to a holy day in the last three weeks of December.

But, on city council day, he conveniently didn’t have anything ready. The Council split on removal of the blatantly religious display and Mayor Schmitt broke the tie. So the plastic and lights will remain. No other religious symbols will be allowed. This is now beyond a slippery slope and Green Bay deserves to pay financially for electing these yahoos to lead their city.

Many step forward to claim that this is a great victory. Yet, there are Protestants who consider this to be idolatry. Schmitt would be happy to claim these are witches as well.

The day after he cast his tie breaker for his favorite religion, city workers were placing reindeer on the overhang. This is a transparent effort to get around Constitutional issues. First, Schmitt allows only the nativity display and then adds to secular stuff in an attempt to make this legal. That is criminal thinking. Plus, it is contrary to the council vote.

One thing is very clear from this incident. Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt cannot be trusted to keep his word. And a final question. Was Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt involved in the removal and damage of the Star?