Festivus for the Rest of Us!

Second Holiday Display Put Beside Manger

BARTOW -- Like an episode out of "Seinfeld," fans of the defunct comedy series erected the second covert holiday display within a week at the Polk County administration building.

After a group of grandparents from First Baptist Church of Bartow put up an unsanctioned Nativity scene on public property, the Seinfeld fans placed a sign promoting a made-up holiday.

"Festivus for the Rest of Us" is the greeting on the sign placed next to the manger scene on the lawn of the Neil Combee County Administration Building.

Festivus is an invention of characters on the TV show "Seinfeld." It's celebrated with a pole, insults (actually, an "airing of grievances") and wrestling (the "feats of strength").

...

Commissioner Jack Myers, who warned his peers repeatedly that allowing one display would open the door for everyone...

Oh the horror of the door being open to everyone! No, being fair to everyone simply will not do. After all, inclusiveness is the gateway ideal to compassion and understanding.

"It's going to have to come down," Myers said. "But I'm going to give them time to get it down."

"I'll give them until, say, December 26th. How's that sound?", he almost went on to say.