Looks amazing, guys. Keep up the great work. Society thanks you.
Posted on 12/21/2012 4:56:10 PM PST by Coleus
It seems that those who favor the all or nothing inclusion of December symbols in the annual display in front of the municipal building have been successful in making that happen. Over the weekend - with it still unclear if the lighted tree is to be called a "Christmas tree" or a "Holiday tree" - a crèche and an atheist sign were added to the display. Meanwhile the official name for the lighted tree in the display remains an issue for some.
Resident Tim Wagner and others said they will continue to press for administrative action to call the "Holiday tree" a "Christmas tree." Township Administrator Nancy Gage on Dec. 7 responded to Wagner in an email. Gage said she had not been directed by the township council at the Dec. 5 council workshop to issue a public statement that the tree is now to be referred to as a "Christmas tree."
In a third round of voting the council majority vote changed from including any and all symbols in the display, to sticking with just a Holiday tree and finally, to open up the display area at the town hall complex to all.
Some residents recall there was an annual crèche display at Bubbling Spring Municipal Park about 30 or more years ago. Carl Dohm, then a township teacher, pressed the issue of separation of church and state to township officials.
The old timers recalled that the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said the nativity scene had to be removed but the holiday tree could stay. The ACLU got involved after local high school teacher Carl Dohm pressed the issue of separation of church and state. The officials followed the ACLU directive and took down the nativity display. It was never again displayed on municipal property. Dohm moved to Florida after retiring from his job in the local school system.
Since that time there has been a township holiday tree in front of the municipal building. A ceremony to light it is held the first Monday in December. There has been no reference to anything religious in the display or tree lighting program.
Things changed after Rabbi Mendy Gurkov of the Chabad Jewish Center of Upper Passaic County insisted to the current township council that the lighted tree is a Christian symbol and its proper name is a "Christmas tree." Gurkov maintained that the menorah is a universal symbol of freedom and light and not a religious symbol. The council majority soon afterward voted to allow inclusion of all symbols.
Township Attorney Fred Semrau's advice to the council to establish rules before allowing additions to the display was not followed. He had suggested that all organizations in the township be notified that they could add their symbol to the display. Semrau said those who showed interest in doing so should then be directed to present an informal plan to the administration with a deadline date to submit it. The attorney said someone in township official capacity should be present to oversee the installation and removal of symbols after the celebration period is over.
With this year's December holiday period close to an end a new council will be seated on Jan. 2, 2013. Officials have already said during their discussions that the subject of December holiday decorating and procedures on municipal property will be revisited prior to December 2013.
Prove the existence of “God”.
Looks amazing, guys. Keep up the great work. Society thanks you.
Your argument is in reaction to the belief of others. The burden of proof is with you.
First you prove with your evidence that God does not exist.
And then let me use your argument to disprove yours.
How does it feel to have the shoe on the other foot?
>Also, didn’t the exit polls showing atheists overwhelmingly voting for Obama?<
.
Didn’t muslims do the same thing?
You actually believe a dead Jew is going to come down to Earth and whisk you up in to the sky?
He is not dead.
And stop bashing our Christian beliefs.
Nope, not bashing. I just feel very sorry for you.
You are blind and naked and you don’t realize it.
I’ll pray for you.
It couldn’t hurt.
As my pastor says when the subject comes up, Athesim IS a religion, and it does have its own high holiday: April First, All Fools Day.
I would have no problem with atheists placing a display with a POSITIVE message; but all they ever do is place a negative attack on Christianity, and sometimes also Judaism.
Even such sad & bile-filled creatures as they are, they are still loved by God. Of course my father still loved me too, when I made those proverbial trips to the woodshed.
Good points all but i think Maryland is for queen Mary of France the mother or grandmother of several English monarchs......her son Charles II ....most notably.....the last absolute English monarch
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.