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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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.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 Tony Leonard,Jr. on
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Political Correctness or COMMUNISIM?
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Permalink Reply by Angela McCleskey on
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And what would your agreement be Jack?
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Permalink Reply by Capt.Jocelyn Chiasson on
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Ho o.k i see but here in canada we call that christmas wreaths .
but thank you for the info Jack.
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Permalink Reply by Rob Young on
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Why would you need to reconsider your "agreement"?
Which part are you disagreeing with? I have read your other posts, as you already know, and I am sure that you don't agree that this is over doing the separation clause, but I do. I don't see how this is "promoting" any religion. It's simply allowing the citizens of this country to express their beliefs as we are allowed to do in the Constitution. I still disagree that the separation of church & state precludes allowing relgious symbols to be displayed on public property. I agree that we do not want a "church state", but what harm is there in allowing our citizens to display a sign that says Merry Christmas. The government recognizes Christmas as a federal holiday, so why such a big hubbub about a nice, traditional sign? Or a Menora? Or other religious symbols for that matter?
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Permalink Reply by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on
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http://www.firefighternation.com/profiles/blogs/straight-to-the-point
Plus; I'm punching out on this one.
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Permalink Reply by Robert Craig (Chappy) on
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Well I'll tell ya this. As a fire department chaplain. When my men and women go into harms way, it's not happy holidays I pray for. It's (Christ)mas at this time of the year. I pray that these brave souls will come out and go home that night to their loved ones and enjoy a Merry Christmas with their families. A Christmas that God has provided. As far as happy holidays. . .we are a Christian Nation, founded on Christian Principles, guided by God's Holy Word, and as far as me and my household (home & department) we will continue to worship the Father that goes into each life numbing situation with us that we are called to handle.
"One Nation Under God."
Chaplain Bob Craig
Gosport, VFD #19
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Permalink Reply by Jack/dt on
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I have no objection to either a xmas display or a menorah or anything else that someone might want to display. The issue is what occurred in north andover ma.
The fire chief was told to remove the sign, he did. It is town property and if the town government lawfully decides, it needs to be followed. To me it begs the question, why was the menorah allowed last year for the full 8 days but not this year? Also, would the town/fire department have allowed the menorah to be displayed on/from the firehouse? Those are questions that need to be answered.
Insofar as religious displays, I have no objection to them. They are neither here nor there so far as I am concerned. I just object to the favoritism of one over another. In this case, the xmas sign would have been displayed all season while the menorah was only allowed 1 day, and both were on public property. So it does appear to be a form of favoritism. I firmly believe we do not have all of the information to decide what actually is going on and what caused this stink, in north andover.
Clearly this has become (at least as I've interpreted it) to many, a you're-either-with-us-or-you're-against-us situation. People are failing to seek and find any common ground. Most of the respondents I suspect haven't bothered to read the link, view the video and read any of the previous replies.
As to my reconsideration, in light of your other posts I'm really NOT sure what you were saying in the one above to which I agreed. I'm thinking I read into things that you did not say. My bad.
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I'm sure the jewish, muslim and hindu believers all support you in your endeavor.
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Permalink Reply by J.B. Kimble on
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I THINK ITS TIME OUR TOWN LEADERS GROW A SET OF YOU KNOW WHAT AND TELL THESE PEOPLE THAT IF THEY DONT LIKE WHAT THEY SEE, MOVE ON
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Permalink Reply by Mike R on
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because, you know, it's not like our country was founded on the principles of freedom or anything. let's see freedom of religion, speech, i could go on and on; freedom goes as long as you're not hurting anyone. United States of America: freedom OF religion guys, not freedom FROM religion. this is absolutely ridiculous
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