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Complaints snuff holiday decorations in firehouse
Chicago Sun-Times ^ | Dec 22, 2003 | LUCIO GUERRERO

Posted on 12/22/2003 6:49:51 AM PST by microgood

Firefighters in Glenview have been told to take down their indoor Christmas decorations after some residents complained that they were offended.

The decorations -- which included lights, a Christmas tree and a Santa Claus -- were inside Glenview's Station No. 7, at 3507 Glenview Rd., in the firefighters' main living area. Although the decorations were all inside, they were visible from the street if someone driving down Glenview Road peered into the windows.

"We need to serve all our residents and customers, and we had been receiving calls from citizens who were not happy seeing what they perceived to be Christmas or Christian decorations on a particular firehouse," said Janet Spector Bishop, a spokeswoman for the village.

"We felt the fairest thing to do was to make sure that our public buildings remain neutral."

Last week, the village manager sent an interdepartmental memo reminding department heads that they need to remove decorations on the exterior or interior of village-owned buildings, including firehouses.

The firefighters had decorated the outside of the station earlier in the season, but a resident complained to village officials that the decorations violated the separation of church and state doctrine. They were told they could leave the decorations up inside, but the village attorney said that would still be a violation of village policy.

"We don't want to be seen as favoring one religious group over another," Bishop said.

Because they don't want to upset anyone, Glenview's Village Hall is devoid of any holiday decorations. The lampposts along Glenview's downtown streets, however, are all wrapped in garland, with a "Seasons Greetings" sign and red ribbon on each.

Firefighters at the station were reluctant to talk about the issue. The firehouse is along Glenview Road on the western edge of the north suburb, near a neighborhood that is full of homes with Christmas lights and Santa statues. The only decoration on the outside of the station is a yellow ribbon tied around a large tree.

Village officials said it was more than just the fire station that caused the village to send out the reminder about holiday displays.

Along with the fire station at 3507 Glenview, village officials used the policy to turn down a member of an ultra-Orthodox Jewish sect who requested that the group be permitted to display a giant menorah on public property.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Illinois
KEYWORDS: antichristmas; christmas; decorations; glenview; purge
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It makes you wonder what kind of lowlife complained about that. What a miserable existence they must lead.
1 posted on 12/22/2003 6:49:52 AM PST by microgood
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To: microgood
These people who are "offended" sure care nothing about the feelings of the other party.
2 posted on 12/22/2003 6:51:51 AM PST by biblewonk (I must try to answer all bible questions.)
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To: microgood
Thank God that firemen don't ask about religious preference prior to going out on a call.
3 posted on 12/22/2003 6:52:01 AM PST by baltodog (When you're hanging from a hook, you gotta' get a bigger boat, or something like that.)
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To: microgood
Beyond pathetic.
4 posted on 12/22/2003 6:53:36 AM PST by Skooz (If everyone knew everything about everyone, no one would have anything to do with anyone)
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To: microgood
People who live such lives are their own punishment.

Pathetic.
5 posted on 12/22/2003 6:56:54 AM PST by gridlock (There's no such thing as idiot-proof, only idiot-resistant. The ingenuity of idiots knows no bounds)
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To: biblewonk
I think some people claim to be offended just to be obnoxious. Remember two years ago in Kensington, MD when they canceled Santa's arrival because some secular jews complained about it. There was a backlash and a FReep. Imagine, people who don't even celebrate the holiday try to deprive others of enjoying it themselves. These people are pathetic.
6 posted on 12/22/2003 6:59:03 AM PST by rabidralph (Merry Christmas to all.)
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To: All
I hope to live long enough for "That offends me" to become the punch line is the "famous last words" joke.
7 posted on 12/22/2003 7:01:32 AM PST by WilliamofCarmichael
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To: microgood
Is anyone sure that people DID complain. Maybe someone in city hall fabricated the complaints. I want to see names!
8 posted on 12/22/2003 7:03:38 AM PST by basil
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To: microgood
I have decided when I hear the words "I'm offended" what the person really is saying to me is "I'm a complete horse's *** ".
9 posted on 12/22/2003 7:04:06 AM PST by Semi Civil Servant
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To: microgood
Firefighters in Glenview have been told to take down their indoor Christmas decorations after some residents complained that they were offended.

I am deeply offended when members of the Moslem faith blow up innocent people. I am not offended by their religious symbols.

10 posted on 12/22/2003 7:04:18 AM PST by w1andsodidwe (recycling is a waste of time for hardworking taxpayers, hire the homeless to sort garbage)
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To: microgood
Satan is going to have to put some new additions onto hell, to make room for the soon-to-be overflow of 21st century arrivals. These miserable b*st*rds need a sincere lesson in respecting other people's beliefs, and the sin of selfishness. This is such petty meanness, it just disgusts me.
11 posted on 12/22/2003 7:04:43 AM PST by jim35
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To: microgood
It seems that the ONLY rights that prevail are from those that are incessantly offended by my rights. Leaves one feeling rather jaded at best.
12 posted on 12/22/2003 7:06:06 AM PST by ChynaMdsn
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To: microgood
"We need to serve all our residents and customers"

And what has decorations to do with serving the residents as firefighters. The atheists are winning the war.

13 posted on 12/22/2003 7:06:50 AM PST by NTegraT
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To: microgood
"It makes you wonder what kind of lowlife complained about that. What a miserable existence they must lead."

Yes, but it also makes me wonder what kind of firement would comply with such a stupidly unreasonable demand. Won't ANYBODY stand up to these busybodies??

14 posted on 12/22/2003 7:09:00 AM PST by redhead (Les Français sont des singes de capitulation qui mangent du fromage.)
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To: redhead
The only decoration on the outside of the station is a yellow ribbon tied around a large tree.

We can't ask them to risk death for our freedom, why would they risk their candy butts to pull us out of a fire?

15 posted on 12/22/2003 7:14:29 AM PST by Reeses
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To: microgood
INTREP - SECULARIZATION OF AMERICA ALERT!
16 posted on 12/22/2003 7:21:22 AM PST by LiteKeeper
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To: Reeses

17 posted on 12/22/2003 7:23:40 AM PST by LibFreeUSA
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To: microgood
What a load of HORSESH*T.
18 posted on 12/22/2003 7:27:10 AM PST by ampat (to)
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To: rabidralph
But the very same people im willing to bet WOULD not be offended if we changed christmas to satanmas and put up lights and wreaths and tree's to celebrate satan's reign on this earth now would they?
Iam really getting sick of this nonsense,these types of people have to live in a black world to even contemplate the kind of things that come of their offensive mouths.
19 posted on 12/22/2003 7:37:16 AM PST by suzyq5558 (Deenie has no claim to national leadership. but he does claim lots of theory conspiracies!)
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To: microgood
Our local volunteer firefighters have Christmas decorations set up outside their firehouse every year. The locals look forward to seeing the display. Of course this is Upstate NY, one of the red bits. Sanity and good will toward men still rule around here for the most part.
20 posted on 12/22/2003 7:42:25 AM PST by mewzilla
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