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Massachusetts FD Ordered to Remove Merry Christmas Sign
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. - An annual "Merry Christmas" sign on a North Andover fire station has been ordered removed.
Town officials told firefighters last week to take down the homemade sign after they said people complained.
Fire Chief William Martineau said Monday that the sign was made by firefighters about 50 years ago and never had been an issue before.
The order comes a week after selectmen voted to allow a menorah display on the town common for only one day instead of all eight days of Hanukkah. They said a new town common policy only allows displays to stay up for one day, no matter what they are.
Town Manager Mark Rees said the town's public buildings should not be displaying things specific to a particular religion.
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Information from: Eagle Tribune, http://www.eagletribune.com
Related
Bah! Humbug!: Town outlaws Merry Christmas sign
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Fire Chief William Martineau said Monday that the sign was made by firefighters about 50 years ago and never had been an issue before.
The order comes a week after selectmen voted to allow a menorah display on the town common for only one day instead of all eight days of Hanukkah. They said a new town common policy only allows displays to stay up for one day, no matter what they are.
Town Manager Mark Rees said the town's public buildings should not be displaying things specific to a particular religion.
___
Information from: Eagle Tribune, http://www.eagletribune.com
Related
Bah! Humbug!: Town outlaws Merry Christmas sign
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by FIREMAN BRAD on
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somebody is always trying to ruin it for others.
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Permalink Reply by Loyd Dittfurth on
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ok im lost you for or against?
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Permalink Reply by Eric Beaulieu on
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I can't understand how we have let it come to this. I am a firm believer in saying Merry Christmas, always have and always will.
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Permalink Reply by Jack/dt on
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WP, I'm not wrong (although clearly I'm a very small minority), I'm simply expressing my view point, my opinion, exercising my freedom of speech (which so many in here have claimed as their own.) That people disagree with me (some vehemently) I would hope would not diminish my equal right to express a personal view.
Again, my opinion isn't "wrong", it's different, it's certainly contrary to the majority and it may not be acceptable to many, but I think you may have overstated it in calling it wrong.
Old Fireguy, no worries, I don't back down simply because I'm outnumbered or because my opinion is disliked. And I much prefer your choice of words, "disagree" which is all it is (or should be.)
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Permalink Reply by WestPhilly on
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Jack,
You're telling me I'm wrong for telling you you're wrong? But I was just expressing my opinion. And my opinion of your opinion is that your opinion is wrong. Right?
But keep on keepin' on. That's your right. (In my opinion.)
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Permalink Reply by R. G. Rumsey on
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Personally, I am completely tired of dealing with POLITICAL CORRECTNESS at all levels...
First and foremost, if the group of "selectmen" is wasting their TAXPAYER-FUNDED" time on petty issues such as this sign thing, then they need to be publicly put through the gauntlet at one of their meetings. Remember, they are "just" a group of local politicians elected to represent the PEOPLE... not contrive a policy they think insulate every single persons/groups "feelings" about a religious belief.
And if ANYONE is offended by my unforgiving, unabashed, crass, cavalier, response to this asinine decision, then TOO BAD...adjust.
PS: How's that "Hope and Change" workin' for ya?
Likely, its only gonna create more of this type of crap!
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Permalink Reply by Vic Silverfish on
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Actually, the winter holiday was traditionally the Roman holiday of Saturnalia, and can trace it's origins back even further to pagan celbrations of the Solstace. The early Christian church adopted the date the better incorporate local tradition. Several historians agree that the shephards mentioned in Luke 2 (I think) would not have been there during the winter, the flocks would have been elsewhere.
Look, I hate the loss of tradition as much as the next guy. The fire department is a tradition-heavy service, so this is a double whammy, but we need to be aware that not everyone is Christian.
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No no no, I never said you were wrong, you said I was wrong, right? Because even though I thought I was right, (although I didn't say you were wrong, which was the right thing to do) you thought I was wrong and while I didn't say that you're saying I was wrong was wrong, I can understand you're thinking I said you were wrong. possibly because I was thinking you were or could be, wrong. But then again do two wrongs make a right? Or did I get that wrong and that two wrongs don't make a right. I know that two rights don't make a wrong, so I guess that if you're right and I'm right, then two rights makes it all right. Right?
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Permalink Reply by David Shaw on
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This is once again a complete misunderstanding in our Country. Seperation of Church and State simply means that the United States government can not force you into a religion. Not that you can not celebrate Christmas or any other holiday. We Americans need to start stepping up for our own freedoms! I hope that Chief Martineau does not back down but step up for the fight!
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Permalink Reply by Brian Dale Alderman on
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Tell your city manager that Christmas has not been a religion day for years. The city uses it to see how good the economy is doing.
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