Glenview, IL - Complaints snuff holiday decorations in firehouse

Chicago Sun Times ^ | December 22, 2003 | Lucio Guerrero

[TheEaglehasLanded]

Complaints snuff holiday decorations in firehouse

December 22, 2003

BY LUCIO GUERRERO Staff Reporter Advertisement

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.

[TheEaglehasLanded]

If they are in their own living quarters where is the right to privacy? The fireman should fight this

[ysoitanly]

Once again, Christmas under attack. I thought it was bad in Kollyfornieeyah, but apparently it's everywhere. There is a clear ruling that Christmas trees have been ruled by the Supreme Court as 'secular', as sad as it seems, yet these people continue to run Christmas out of the public theatre altogether, religious or secular or not. Seen the case in Manatee, Florida, where a person displaying a statue of the Virgin Mary in HS OWN YARD has been ordered to remove it? And then the nimrods wonder why sales aren't as good as predicted. I don't know about you, but what gets me in the mood to shop is CHRISTMAS - decorations, music, etc. at the stores.

[SandRat]

All too sad but all too true.

[ysoitanly]

Well, all I can say is the ACLU and all of the 1% of the atheists, 'diversity and understanding' and all of the other special interest groups in this country which only serve to restrict, not expand, everyone's rights, is we are sitting here WATCHING THIS, but we are not sitting here ACCEPTING THIS. Don't know about you, but methinks people are sitting at home PIS$ED off. We elect 'em, need to reject 'em. ENOUGH...

[gipper81]

What would happen if the firefighters just said "no, we aren't taking down no CHRISTMAS decorations?"

[jocon307]

"...the ACLU and all of the 1% of the atheists, 'diversity and understanding' and all of the other special interest groups..."

You know, all the people who might conceivably be offended by this are probably more than 1%, but they can hardly be more than 15%. By which I mean atheists, Jews, Muslims, Homosexuals, Buddhists, Jehovah's Witnesses. I'm NOT saying all members of these groups, or all these groups, ARE offended by Christmas, or Christmas decorations. The point I'm trying to make is, it seems to me there are so many complaints that SOME of them must be coming from Christians, or rather, nominal Christians.

This is what is beginning to frighten me. It fits in with the current crises in the Episcopal church. Maybe the founding fathers screwed up, maybe they should have made this nation "officially" religious in some way.

[ysoitanly]

I have thought this over and over. Can you imagine what an outpouring of the community there would be if this went to court? Since all of the politicians only care about VOTES, not what WE WANT, it would make better TV than 'Miracle on 34th St.' Why doesn't anyone have the nads, though - just to SAY ***NO***????

[SandRat]

As for the ACLU and their fellow travelers I hold Saddam and Osama in higher esteem; and I hold no esteem at all for those two.

[gipper81]

I think that is the bottom line here - who's got the nads.

[Savage Beast]

This is ridiculous.

"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"

Evidently they were Christmas AND Christian decorations. Janet should have told these "citizens" to go to hell.

The United States needs a Constitutional Amendment to protect the rights of citizens to private property and from government seizure under the guise of imminent domain or anything else.

We also need a Constitutional Amendment to protect the right to Freedom of Religion. People like Janet need to be able to tell such "citizens" to go to hell with impunity.

[lowbridge]

bump

[Old Professer]

If the LAFD had to give up their Penthouse and Playboy magazines, it's only right that we get rid of the rest of the pornographic filth.

[ysoitanly]

Amen. Dead, copying you because I know you believe in nads and I love to torment you! :) But seriously, it's not just NADS, - it's all about money. The ACLU alone has a budget of over $45 million/year. People like ADF, NumbersUSA, Consumer Freedom, etc., rely on donations only. THAT'S 40% of the problem; the 60% or more of the problem is you have to know the politicians only want to be re-elected; they don't give a CR#P about you or this country. We need to keep the pressure on - constantly, and resist.

[GRRRRR]

FoxNews BUMP--

From Hannity and Commie---Left wing extremist Ellis Henican supports the pulling of Any and ALL Christmas symbols...waddaya expect??

He says there are RULES, like things you CAN'T DO AT WORK!!
Hey, Ellis how about BJ Clinton doing things in the OVAL OFFICE??

Colmes actually says this is PC run amok...he's being QUITE sarcastic to his leftist leaning friend.

"Government property, you can't celebrate on Govt property" said Hellican...so, I guess we're going to ELIMINATE CHRISTmas as a National Holiday??

Save us from these IDIOTS!!

[auboy]

"What's that, Ms. Bishop? Your office is on fire? Sure, we'll be right over, as soon as we finish taking down our Christmas lights!"