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Wednesday, November 30, 2005




KEEP THE SANTA, LOSE THE CRECHE

A reader sent in this story from the Detroit News:

The multicolored nativity scene on the Samona family's front yard is under attack.

The Samonas' neighborhood association has ordered the Novi family to remove its seven-piece plastic display or face possible fines of $25 to $100 per week.

The family isn't budging and neither are its three wise men. The Samonas have vowed not only to keep the display, but also are threatening to enhance it."If you take this out, it's not Christmas anymore," said Joe Samona, 16, as he reached down and scooped baby Jesus from the creche on his parents' front lawn.

A letter sent by the association to the Samonas has brought to their front yard the nation's latest skirmish over just how and where the Christianity of Christmas should be on display.


There is a picture with the article which shows not only the manger scene but also Santa in a sleigh. No, it isn't my taste in lawn ornaments, but asthetics isn't the point of the complaint which targeted specifically the religious objects. Do we still live in a religiously free country, or not? The complaint filed with the association did not object to the Santa:

Dean Williams, the community association manager and author of the letter, said according to association rules in place since 2000 and signed by the Samonas when they bought the home in 2002, homeowners must request permission to place statues or lawn ornaments outside their home. The Samonas say they never signed any such document.

Asked why the letter specified that only the nativity scene be removed when several other objects stand on the lawn, Williams said the complainant -- another neighbor in Tollgate Woods -- complained only about the nativity scene.

"As a management firm, we do not go out and police. The community will decide what will be allowed and won't be," Williams said. "It's a community decision. It's not a management decision."

Williams would not reveal the identity of the complaining homeowner but read a portion of the complaint: "Although I'm not offended by it, I take issue about advertising personal beliefs and interests by putting them on display whatever the belief or interest may be."


The writer is being inconsistent. A personal belief in Christ generates his objections. A personal belief in Santa apparently does not. His letter displays his bigotry, his denial notwithstanding.



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