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

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Permalink Reply by John Malcom on December 1, 2009 at 6:51pm

What does that have to do with Christianity, "In God We Trust"? And, "One nation under God"? The main Major Religions of the World all believe in the same God and they are not all christian. And by the way God was added a long time after the pledge was established. If you are a religious person, you are being stopped in believing your way a simple little sign should not be a stumbling block in how you believe. Sorry rather silly!

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Permalink Reply by John Malcom on December 1, 2009 at 6:53pm

YES!

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Permalink Reply by Mike Puchol on December 1, 2009 at 7:01pm

OK everyone, simple exercise: reach into your wallet, and pull out a $1 bill. Yeah, I know the economy isn't all that good right now, that's why I didn't ask for a $20. Turn to its back side, and read what it says right in the center: "IN GOD WE TRUST". Now, last I heard, the USA was a capitalist country, meaning that it gives money quite a bit of attention. Don't you think that having those four words printed on every single bill is promoting a religious view? And this is The Government's paper! They can print religious propaganda (that was meant to be sarcasm) on their currency but we cannot wish visitors a Happy Christmas?

IMHO, it is those guys place of work, even if it is government-owned. It's where they spend endless hours training and waiting for the bells to go off. They should be allowed to put up a sign to celebrate Christmas, if they all mutually agree to it of course. Many decisions around the house are taken by consensus, so why not this one? Also, if the firehouse was all muslim, then they should also be free to put up whatever sign they wanted to celebrate Ramadan, as an example. It is all about TOLERANCE. Once you lose it, the path is only a downward spiral.

Oh, I almost forgot, let's all sign a petition for the Red Cross to become the Red Doughnut. They already had to change their name and logo in Israel and muslim countries, so why be different? Jeeez....

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Permalink Reply by Tony M on December 1, 2009 at 7:02pm

How can a Liberal state like Massachusetts complain? What do you expect. You get what you vote for.

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Permalink Reply by John Malcom on December 1, 2009 at 7:04pm

Here let me help you answer this, YES. Lets break it down too Christ / mas(S) does that help? Why isn't a Menorah hung, Wy arent decorations hung during Kwanzaa the list could go on.

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Permalink Reply by Tim Brooke on December 1, 2009 at 7:04pm

Thats it I'm taking my Maltese CROSS off my helmet now and my STAR of life off too.

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Permalink Reply by scott stribling on December 1, 2009 at 7:05pm

This is BULL$#(! Our country was forged and built on the foundation of God...."In God We Trust".......and "When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bonds which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed."

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Permalink Reply by Tim Brooke on December 1, 2009 at 7:05pm

Oh and the Old Glory on my sleeve is probably next!

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Permalink Reply by John Malcom on December 1, 2009 at 7:09pm

Or A Muslim Cleric?

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Permalink Reply by Jack/dt on December 1, 2009 at 7:12pm

Mac
Really, what kind of logic are you applying?
It is incidental to me who comprised the mob that trampled a man to death. That they did it and the reason that it happened, to me, is what is important. And my saying it is not nor could be construed to be, racist, except perhaps, by a racist.

Again, using your logic please explain how my freedom of religion trampled yours? And your freedom of speech? Perhaps more it is your inability to clearly read and or comprehend what the article was about. The town manager ordered the sign taken down from town property. Seems both clear and simple enough. And unless you're working in North Andover I really don't think the issue of freedom of speech applies to you here.

Simply because you disagree with me in no way implies that I see myself on, or that you can infer that I am on, a high pedestal (please note that I spelled pedestal the correct way, for your future reference.)