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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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.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 Old Fireguy on
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This is the continuation of a debate that has been going on since we were founded as a nation. It is simply a tyranical minority attempting to repress the majority. And, sadly, because we are the Christian nation that we are, the majority has let it happen. It is time to say "NO MORE!" This nation was founded in Christianity and if you don't believe it, read the writings of our founding fathers. George Washington said “Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.” We need to remember that and reassert those values and traditions.
The "separation of church and state" is a term coined by an over-reaching judicial system in 1875 (even then they had issues with activist judges). You will not find it anywhere in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, or the Bill of Rights (which is technically part of the Constitution).
I say Merry Christmas because I am sharing my celebratory Christian spirit with those I encounter. If that offends someone else, too bad. My Jewish friends have attended my Christmas dinners just as I have attended their Passover Seders. They respect my beliefs and I theirs. That's what America is about!
If the majority of firefighters in that station want that sign up, then it should go up (majority rule and all that). It is not depriving anyone of their inalienable rights to life liberty or the pursuit of happiness. If it makes you unhappy, you are free to take a route around it.
So, to those who would deny us all the right to express our beliefs (and thoughts), I would say, return to your history books and learn why this is the greatest country in the world. To those who are now complaining that we are being forced into "political correctness," I say get off your behinds and do something about it. As much as they would like it otherwise, those people still work for us (as of now anyway) and we are their bosses.
To everyone, MERRY CHRISTMAS!
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Permalink Reply by Tim Brooke on
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Dear Editor—
I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, “If you see it in The Sun, it’s so.” Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?
Virginia O’Hanlon
Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours, man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.
Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies. You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if you did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.
You tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived could tear apart. Only faith, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.
No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives and lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.
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Permalink Reply by John Malcom on
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Because you are a PUBLIC servant and not all the public believes the same way. A stupid sign should not be the end of Christmas as you know it. Let alone the fact that America has bastardized the true meaning of Christmas. And if you are a true follower of Christ I believe the main thing Christ was teach was acceptance and tolerance of all.
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Permalink Reply by Michael A. Pimental on
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Actually that is just what they need to do! They took an oath to represent the majority and to protect our constitution from enemies foreign and domestic. DAMN RIGHT THATS WHAT THEY SHOULD DO! What about all the men and women who died so we have the rights that these actions are taking away one at a time. Just because they want to be cowards! What happened to land of the brave?! I can see it now no american flags but spanish flags and national anthem will say land of the politicaly correct cowards. In Massachussetts we no longer get to say "christmas tree", under god", or even wear a shirt that has any sign of religion on it. That's the beginning We won't get into not being able to buy alcohol in some towns or having the right to own a gun to defend your family. Or the fact that our school kids that play sports can no longer win the game recieve a jobe well done or even keep score, because the loser may get offended. So yeah it's time we stand up and DEFEND OUR FREEDOMS BEFORE THERE ALL GONE!!!
To me it is very simple, If the people in charge ordered that all rights should be taken away should we just obay out of fear or fight back and stand up for what we believe in? because thats the message your sending.
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Permalink Reply by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on
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I will secretly observe the Christmas season while in the public domain.
Locally, I have two snowpeople, a tree, a Santa Claus and lights along my sidewalk.
Please don't think bad of me.
TCSS.
Art
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Permalink Reply by Tony on
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Hey jack/dt, you need to get a life...seriously.
Let's ad up the "fors" and the "againsts" (jack/dt) so far in this thread.
Ya, you lose....LARGE TIME!
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I sure hope the new rules apply to political signs come election time.
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I thank this is a bunch of crap what has happend to are world today they dont want you to pray in school lord knows they need all the help they can get. Now some crap like this. I thank it is just messed up.
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Permalink Reply by Carmella Hoffman on
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What is this world coming to--pretty soon we won't be able to say even "happy holidays" because it will offend someone--we need to go back in time and get back to the life we once knew before our children and grandchildren have NO HOLIDAYS to celebrate--when will they take away our birthdays??
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Permalink Reply by Jack/dt on
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Hey tony, tell me why exactly I need to get a life, say more than you or anyone else that's responded? Because I'm virtually alone in my opinion? Oh yeah that's really cool, let me change my opinion so I can be like everyone else. So because I disagree with the (vast) majority in here I should what??
Man I really like that christian compassion. Thanks bro.
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