Art Works Stirs Cries of Separation of Church and State

Newport’s Main Street is coming to life with color. A group of local artists, and other area residents, have been festooning the fence in front of where the “Spates Block” once stood with their unique brand of work. Seems like everybody has an opinion about the art work. Some people love it, saying it helps cover the blight of what has become known as “the pit”, the hole in the ground left behind by the demolition of the block. Other people see the artwork as little more than graffiti. Personally, I don’t have a strong opinion one way or another, however, in the last day or so I have been reading on FB that this particular scene on the fence is causing debate. How can anybody debate a typical Vermont country scene? Here is how. Note that white building on the right? That is a church. Apparently some people have approached city officials that they are offended – or something like that – by the sight of the church, citing the separation of church and state. From reading online, there is a growing number of liberals, conservatives, believers and atheists etc., who agree such complaints in this case are over-the-top. In MY opinion, this church is not about promoting a religion. It’s art, a rendition of a traditional Vermont landscape scene. I welcome people to respectfully share their opinions on this topic.————– Scott

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