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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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.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.
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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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jack/dt on
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I think the more salient point is that that exact point, almost word for word was already brought up and discussed.
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Permalink Reply by Derek R. on
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PS, WTH is this "civilization" coming to? Maybe another holy war? let's hope not.
EXAGERATING.....
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Derek relax already I wasn't biting your head off. That's the problem with such a 2 dimensional conversation such as these, there's no expression :D no body language to indicate what the person means beyond the simple words.
I understood that you were joking, perhaps my failure was to clearly indicate that I understood it and enjoyed it. However, as for your desire to say what ever you wish, have at it. But not to put too fine a point on it, when you say you didn't put words in my mouth, I'm kind of going to have to disagree here with you.
ok...so Jack....seems like what you are saying is that the people who wish to put up their lights and signs to decorate their property are the "whackers" of the religious world?
Granted you didn't "quote" me but to many small minded people with limited reading comprehension skills, they would see that as something I said. I've been roundly attacked for voicing my opinion clearly, I just didn't want to have to defend myself for something I hadn't actually said. That was all I meant.
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Permalink Reply by Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd on
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Looks like some common sense ruled this time... Merry Christmas!
Published: December 02, 2009 04:42 pm
Christmas sign back on display at North Andover fire station
By Brian Messenger
bmessenger@eagletribune.com
NORTH ANDOVER — A controversial Merry Christmas sign has returned to its traditional spot outside the Main Street fire station, after the town reversed an earlier decision to take it down.
The decision to put the homemade sign back on display was made this afternoon, after residents protested its removal this morning outside Town Hall.
"The townspeople have spoken," Selectman Richard Nardella said.
Firefighters put the sign back up around 4 p.m.
Selectmen Chairwoman Tracy Watson said the board will meet in executive session Friday, where she will recommend the town also allow Andover Rabi Asher Bronstein to display a menorah on the Town Common for the eight days of Hanukkah, as he had originally requested last month.
Selectmen voted on Nov. 23 to allow the menorah for one day only, prompting the threat of a lawsuit from Bronstein.
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Permalink Reply by Aussie on
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"Wheres my rights?" Your rights end where someone else's rights begin. "...reclaim some of our rights?" You have lost no rights and you have lost no freedoms. Hey, you even have the right to be offended. Anybody has a right to put up a Christmas sign - on private property! A person has a right to put up whatever type of Christmas, or other religious symbol they want on their own private property. A firestation is not private property - it is municipal. So you like freedom? Well, this is freedom. Everybody has the freedom to celebrate their own religious holidays as they choose, but the government cannot show favoritism towards a particiular religion. There is that little thing called "separation of church and state" that comes into play.
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Permalink Reply by Shawn on
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I agree, nastiness and name calling is wrong, rude, and immature and making statements like "get out" are wrong too...what else is there to say?
only if you've served for 20 years can you understand diversity and tolerance...
I didn't say that at all...it was to illustrate a point and I would think you, having been in the service yourself no matter when or where, would have understood that point.
As for serving during the 70's I'll simply say that I can't imagine how that was but I WILL say THANK YOU for serving from one veteran to another.
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Permalink Reply by Shaun Hansen on
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I mean whats next. Are they going to tell us that we cannot fly our flag because it offends others from other countries whos heritage are elsewhere. This stuff has to stop, in order to maintain our heritage.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!
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Permalink Reply by lutan1 on
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Anybody has a right to put up a Christmas sign - on private property!
And that's the crux of it.
I can't believe the hype and discussion that has taken place over this. It's not private property- we may not like the ruling, but it's the ruling. Move on....
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Ok people. Once and for all. Christmas originally was a Pagan holiday - it wasn't always "Christian", so quit the whinning about losing our Christian values. You have lost no rights; you have lost no freedoms; you can still fly the flag, and yes, your children can even pray in school as long as it doesn't disrupt class or is school mandated prayer. I'm getting off topic here, but my point is that all of the hooting and hollering about losing freedoms, etc. are just unfounded. A post I read several posts back said "how would they feel if we didn't put their house fire out because they were not Christian?" I can't even begin to comment on how immature and silly that is. By the way - who are the "they" and "them" everybody is referring to?
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