Town is Aswarm with Protesting Santas

Baltimore Sun ^ | December 3, 2001 | Michael Scarcella

[Angry Republican]

KENSINGTON - Santa Claus wasn't on the official guest list. But about 50 of his impersonators showed up as this Washington suburb - whose officials did not invite the bearded guy to its festivities - held its annual holiday tree-lighting yesterday.

Hundreds of people, and a few apparent grinches basking in an accompanying media frenzy, turned it all into a raucous and at times un-Christmaslike affair for the 1,700 residents of the Montgomery County town.

[Angry Republican]

Yes, Kensington, Maryland, there is a Santa Claus. :-)

[freedomcrusader]

Politicians are so stupid... I hope the two families were even more upset/offended than they otherwise would have been...

[Khepera]

[LarryLied]

Two men identifying themselves as Bill White and James B. MacArthur were part of the dispute - holding a 10-by-5-foot sign that read: "If Jews can ban Santa, why can't we ban Jews?"

Sooner or later, this was bound to happen. If people would back off everyone would be better off. But some people can't leave Christians in peace:

FLUSHING PUBLIC SCHOOL DISCRIMINATES AGAINST CHRISTIANS

[chainsaw]

If I were one of the other 1698 people in that town I'd complain to the mayor that I have been grieviously hurt because I find the lack of Christmas and the symbolism of the birth of Christ lacking in my city.

However, in the next election, if the people would like to change mayors that would be alright. If they don't then citizens are to blame.

[wildconservatism]

Quick! Hide the children's eyes, before they realize there's no Santa...or worse, that Santa has been cloned!

[lowbridge]

bump

[UB355]

Go here for 50 great pictures from the Kensington Fire Department web sight.

http://www.kvfd.org/events/santa/photos/index.htm

[JAWs]

And they're all delivering coal!

[TADSLOS]

It's a Santa Jihad!!

[Angry Republican]

In response to post 4, I like to be as anti-PC as the next guy, but this took it to far. You don't do things like that in a large crowd. Not everyone will get the point of the sign.

[Calpublican]

Have seen several articles about this but no pictures. Would love to see pictures. Did anyone take any?

[LarryLied]

I wouldn't do it either. That is exactly what the ADL crowd wants. I do however believe it is time to stop being cowered by the threat of name calling and point out what faith is often behind driving Christians out of the public square. It can be done politely.

[MadameAxe]

bling

[maxwell]

Not everyone will get the point of the sign.

Yep-- do folks know for a fact that this was the origin of the protests-- Jewish families protesting what they saw as a Christian tradition? If the Jewish twist was just speculation, no matter how educated, then those guys shouldn't have jeopardized the Santa message like that...

"...Why can't we ban Jews?" That's just a bit crass for that particular forum. I understand where it's coming from, most of us do I believe, but I think the protest would've been represented better without it. In fact, does anyone know if these two guys were even part of the Santa group? If I were a liberal disruptor, I'd do exactly that-- show up with borderline-outrageous misrepresentations of what the protesting group was trying to get across, to try to alienate folks to the message...

[Sir Gawain]

Hey, that's my word!

[Exigence]

However, in the next election, if the people would like to change mayors that would be alright. If they don't then citizens are to blame.

Let's only hope that the electorate doesn't, once again, prove how short their memories are. :o(

[stlrocket]

Cal - see post #8 - The pictures are great!

Maybe we should just get the council members a few of these pillows and they won't have to worry about seeing Santa!

BE NAUGHTY!

[LarryLied]

They do sound like agents provocateurs. Many people are disgusted by the unrelenting attacks on their faith and traditions but I don't know anyone who would think this a good way to stop the attacks.

[MadameAxe]

:-b