Flying Spaghetti Monster Appears in Tennessee

March 24, 2008

While my artistic skills are limited to stick figures, I gotta say that I enjoy the new public art project in front of the Cumberland County Courthouse in Crossville, Tennessee.

According to the blog of the group that built the art piece, the 21st of March celebrates "the day the Flying Spaghetti Monster appeared from the giant pasta pot....or so the the Cook Book says."

The Flying Spaghetti Monster first appeared in 2005 when Bobby Henderson, a "concerned citizen" who was trying to avoid a job as a slot-machine programmer in Las Vegas, sent an open letter to the Kansas Board of Education prior to their hearings on the teaching of evolution in science classrooms.  In the letter Henderson satirically posited the existence of a new deity, the Flying Spaghetti Monster, and in essence claimed that his new faith-based deity had as much reason to be taught in classrooms as a faith-based theory like Intelligent Design.  Since then "Pastafarianism" has grown and become a de facto symbol against Creationism and Intelligent Design.

Here is the text of Installation Ceremony Speech, via BoingBoing.

    Statement at Installation Ceremony
    March 21, 2008

    We are lucky enough to live in a country that allows us, its citizens, the freedom of speech. I have chosen to put up a statue of the Flying Spaghetti Monster to represent the discourse between people of all different beliefs. The many faiths, ethnicities and backgrounds of Cumberland County’s residents make our community a stronger richer place. I respect and am proud that on the people’s lawn, the county courthouse, all of these diverse beliefs can come together in a positive dialogue. Here, we are all able to share the issues close to our hearts whether it is through a memorial to the soldiers killed fighting for our country, the Statue of Liberty honoring our nations welcoming promise to all, a group’s fight to stop homelessness, or powerful symbols of faith. I greatly treasure this open forum between everyone in the community.

    The Flying Spaghetti Monster is a pile of noodles and meatballs, but it is meant to open up discussion and provoke thought. Being able to put up a statue is a celebration of our freedom as Americans; a freedom to be different, to express those differences, and to do it amongst neighbors -— even if it is in a noodley way.

Comments

[John Redford]

Tracy you are beautiful smackkk