Posted on 12/09/2005 5:37:14 AM PST by Pikamax
When the Rev. Nick Zientarski invoked the name of Jesus Christ during his traditional blessing of the official Christmas tree lighting in Manhasset last week, he had no idea he had signed on as a soldier in the culture wars over Christmas.
Even as he spoke, the Roman Catholic priest said he could hear North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman angrily objecting behind him, "this is inappropriate." Then, Kaiman got up and told the crowd, "I just want to make it clear that this is in no way a religious ceremony."
A collective gasp came from the 200 adults and children gathered around the gazebo across from Town Hall. Nothing has been the same since in this well-heeled community that counts at least a dozen houses of worship in about 2 square miles.
"I have to tell you that Manhasset is in an uproar" over Kaiman's remarks, said Christine Roberts, who is Jewish and attended the ceremony with her two sons. "It really was the wrong thing to say at the wrong time. There is a lot of hostility going around. Angry letters to the editor of the local paper. Angry conversations. Insanity has absolutely overtaken this town."
(Excerpt) Read more at newsday.com ...
Nice story, thanks for posting it.
lol. Kaiman's insane. the unreligious blessing by a priest. lol.
Happened to me last evening. Wished a storekeeper a Merry Christmas. He told me he was Jewish. I then wished him a Happy Hanukah, he wished me Merry Christmas.
Simple enough.
The only challenge I've directly received was by the muslim male who told me I couldn't say Merry Christmas to him or anyone else because "this is America and you're not allowed to do that"...
So who really is behind getting rid of Christmas and Hanukah?
I am so glad people fought back. Thank God Kerry was not elected.
Death by a thousand [nativity] cuts, as it were.
"I have to tell you that Manhasset is in an uproar" over Kaiman's remarks, said Christine Roberts, who is Jewish and attended the ceremony with her two sons. "It really was the wrong thing to say at the wrong time. "
What in the heck did she expect? It was a CHRISTmas Tree Lighting.
Ms. Roberts is not the problem. She was upset that Kaiman (the town official) gave the Catholic priest a hard time about giving a blessing. (And since she's Jewish, she's one of the ones that Kaiman was SO worried about offending . . . sheesh!)
As a Jew, I have particularly great insight into this situation: She was probably expecting a Chistmas tree lighting, not hate speech from some lame liberal politician.
it's not the same nassau county i moved into twenty-five years ago.
Why was she there then???????? It is a Christmas tree. Duh!
The irony of the "happy Holidays" crowd is they don't even realise the derivation of the word "holiday"..
Think about it....
Oh well we misunderstood. The way it was written it made it look like SHE was upset. I understand now...she was upset at the so called Town Official. Well, good for her.
This country is beginning to wake up. The demand for religious freedom in stirring. Keep it up! Write or phone your stores, local government, etc., and keep the wave going. WE MUST SPEAK UP or lose our religious freedom rights.
It IS ironic . . . but they have spoiled the word, much as other activists have spoilt such words as "gay" . . .
hmmmm, I might start saying Happy Holy Day.
I am so sick of the entire situation. Everyday there are posts about this subject. I can't wait until 26 December when we will be discussing the issues again. Believe me, I am Catholic so I take Christmas very seriously, but for goodness sake, this has just really gotten out of control. I am glad that I am stationed in Italy (extremely Catholic Country, they had off yesterday for Immaculate Conception (Federal Holiday)!!!) and except for this great website, I am out of the entire mess. Merry Christmas everyone!!!!!
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