Posted on 12/21/2004 8:25:30 PM PST by Coleus
Columbia High School, Parker Avenue, Maplewood, NJ Merry Christmas
http://www.somsd.k12.nj.us/admin.htm
Having heard about the event on the Free Republic I decided to go down and check out the action and participate in the “illegal” rally singing those “illegal” religious songs. I arrived about 5:00 PM the time it was supposed to start and joined in the crowd, about 100 people, which was already singing Christmas Carols. We were standing in the middle of the road in front of the school where the police had blocked off the street with barricades and police cars and about 5 police were there for crowd control. It was an easy night for them with no incidents. We were not Counter protested. There was a young lady handing out packets of music containing Christmas and Chanukah songs.
I noticed that just about every NJ and NYC news vans were there (Fox-5, UPN-9, News12, NBC, CBS, ABC, MSNBC) with their cameras and bright lights going. The reporters were out interviewing the crowds.
There was a nice group of black students singing songs and holding signs. They were students in the school who belonged to a Gospel Choir in town who were very enthused and sang very well that complemented the others who were singing. I just noticed the Channel 9 reporter didn’t do them justice, she interviewed them for a few minutes and did NOT show anything on this evening’s news. What a shame, I guess the reporter didn’t like what they had to say.
We sang such songs as: I have a little Dreidel, Silent Night, Joy to the World, Hark the Herald Angels Sing and O Come all Ye Faithful. There were many people of many faiths and political parties in attendance, it wasn’t just republicans who attended.
One person was dressed in a Grinch Costume. Among those interviewed there was Susan Rosenbluth, of the Jewish Heritage Magazine and some students as well as the republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Lonegan who organized the event. Not everyone there was a Lonegan supporter or republican for that matter.
The music director came out and introduced himself and spoke to us for a minute inviting us to attend his Concert and handed out the programs. We chose not too. I asked him if he were a democrat, which elicited no response from him.
I was surprised that I did not see any Knights of Columbus members there with their banners. The National Organization pushes and sponsors the “Keep Christ in Christmas” Campaign and no Catholic Priests or other Protestant and Jewish clergymen were in attendance. Oh, that’s right, the rally involved a “republican”. There was an Immaculate Conception Church down the street, maybe it was dinnertime and they couldn’t come.
The event ended early at 5:30 pm (now I know why, they had to appear on Scarborough Country in Fort Lee) . Many people came afterwards and were very disappointed that it was already over. I met people who came from Rahway and NYC. This poor old guy from NYC came by bus and had to walk a mile or two from the bus stop to the school. When we were about to leave I offered him a ride to the grocery store and bus stop.
Mayor Steve Lonegan, Ambassador Ray Flynn and atheist Ellen Johnson appeared on MSNBC Scarborough Country with Pat Buchanan interviewing them.
I was looking for ya, sorry you had to leave.
Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) - http://www.alliancedefensefund.org
Thomas More Law Center (TMLC) - http://www.thomasmore.org
American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) - http://www.aclj.org
The Rutherford Institute - http://www.rutherford.org/
Stop the ACLU Coalition - http://www.stoptheaclu.org
Here are a few examples of how two of those organizations are fighting back:
ADF Contacts Over 3,600 School Districts Over Attempts To Censor Christmas
ADF: 700 lawyers ready to fight ACLU lawsuits
ADF: Pentagons' Warning About Boyscouts Is Absurd
Thomas More Law Center: Town of Palm Beach Pays $50,000 In Attorney Fees Apologizes To Women In Nativity Lawsuit
Additional information:
The ACLU must be destroyed: Joseph Farah supports Boy Scouts, urges Americans to fight back
Citizens mobilized to stop ACLU (seeks to consign group to 'ash heap of history')
ACLU fulfilling communist agenda
I think the point that MC was making was that the event wasn't publicized locally in Maplewood and surrounding communities.
Merry Christmas FRiend and a joyous Hannukah.
I was there, too. I brought my editor, Susan Rosenbluth, of the Jewish Voice and Opinion. She appeared on Channel 9 News and on an Ohio radio station last night. Lonegan was on Hannity & Colmes last night, too.
Ah well, there's always next year. I would have come, but Phoenix AZ is too far away ;o)
Why the anti-police statement? Do you always bash them for no reason?
Thanks always for your activism, Coleus. It's appreciated.
Attendance at the concert was, in the words of a music director "less than average." It was the usual gathering of parents, armed with camcorders. But it seems that there were less general community members there than usual. Our school music program has a strong following among residents, but that was not as obvious at the last concert. However, it was by no means empty.
Congratulations and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all.
This carol event had all the characteristics of a'Waco' disaster.....Never forget!!!!.......fenway
Eagles Up 2005!
LOL.
I don’t know if there’s a Kirkland’s near you, but I found a very nice ceramic set for undeer $15. It was pretty good quality, too. They’re out there. Also check places like BJ’s or Sam’s Club.
A mixed race couple.
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