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Christmas debate at Manhasset tree lighting
Newsday ^ | 12/09/05 | CAROL EISENBERG

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 ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: New York
KEYWORDS: christmas; christmastree; manhasset
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To: PeteB570

Yes, it was a nice story, and one that didn't end with lawyers and lawsuits. One with appropriate apologies and everyone coming to a reasonable acknoledgment of each others' diverseness, particularly their religious diversity.


21 posted on 12/09/2005 6:41:16 AM PST by Lou L
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To: AnAmericanMother

You are missing the point.

The secularists object to the word "Christmas" because of it's religous meaning and insist on replacing it with the word "holiday" ...which is a derivative of "HOLY day"...LOL


22 posted on 12/09/2005 6:50:54 AM PST by Wil H
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To: Wil H
No, I do understand that.

But the secularists have hijacked the word.

23 posted on 12/09/2005 6:51:54 AM PST by AnAmericanMother (. . . Ministrix of ye Chace (recess appointment), TTGC Ladies' Auxiliary . . .)
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To: Pikamax

"The reaction also has stunned and humbled Kaiman. 'I overreacted and handled the situation poorly,' he acknowledged in an interview yesterday. Kaiman said he had arrived at the park expecting a more nonsectarian holiday event because it is sponsored by the Manhasset Park District, the town and the local Chamber of Commerce."

Wow. It's a Christmas Miracle. The dope realized his mistake and made good on it.

Maybe there is hope for the secularists out there? *Long Pause* Nah. ;)


24 posted on 12/09/2005 6:56:32 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (Save The Earth. It's The Only Planet With Chocolate.)
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To: Wil H

Wish I could have been there. It was the time for everyone to lock hands in fellowship and sing "Hark the Herald angels sing.........


25 posted on 12/09/2005 6:58:58 AM PST by OrangeBlossomSpecial (DEAN, KERRY & HERPES : The gifts that keep on giving & giving & giving)
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To: Pikamax

I wonder if O'Reilly will comment about it on his show. He lives in Manhasset.


26 posted on 12/09/2005 7:13:38 AM PST by franky (Pray for the souls of the faithful departed.)
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To: Pikamax
Kaiman, who is Jewish, said that his reaction to the blessing had nothing to do with his own faith, but related to his concern the town might be perceived as sponsoring a sectarian religious event. (My emphasis)

Perceived by whom and what would the punishment be?

It seems people are obeying a dictate issued by some invisible entity to eradicate Christmas from public places, events and speech? I am really curious just who do these people answer to or do they not even know themselves? Bunch of brainwashed zombies.

It frightens me in knowing how easily an enemy could get control of our public consciousness.

27 posted on 12/09/2005 7:22:23 AM PST by varon (Allegiance to the constitution, always. Allegiance to a political party, never.)
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To: cubreporter; Mathews
You guys have got to read the article.

She was siding with the "Christians" and was annoyed with the town supervisor and what he said against the priest and against Christmas.

28 posted on 12/09/2005 8:28:48 AM PST by It's me
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To: cubreporter

And I have to read all the posts before I reply.

Sorry.


29 posted on 12/09/2005 8:29:33 AM PST by It's me
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To: milford421
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"...

You should have told him Christmas has been a federal holiday for decades, maybe even a century now.

(And then you should have told him to get over himself.)

So who really is behind getting rid of Christmas and Hanukah?

The aclu, who else?

30 posted on 12/09/2005 8:33:01 AM PST by texasbluebell
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To: texasbluebell
So who really is behind getting rid of Christmas and Hanukah?

The left..

So they can destroy religion and the family values, replacing them with their libertine values and government control of the people.

Most sane people value God, family and country.

Now look at what the left are doing; they are trying to stamp out the major religion, they are deliberately undermining families with their agenda of gay marriage, abortion, no parental notification, and they blame this country first for everything wrong in the world.

God, family and country are perceived as rivals to the government for the alliegence of the masses by the left. If the people will forsake their religion, dissolve their family and hate their country, the government becomes the sole power in the masses' sorry lives.

31 posted on 12/09/2005 9:56:29 AM PST by Wil H
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To: OrangeBlossomSpecial

..Better yet.. "O Come all ye Faithful"......:-)


32 posted on 12/09/2005 9:58:32 AM PST by Wil H
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To: It's me

Already cleared that up but...thanks anyway. Am proud of that woman and as for the official he should go do something constructive with his life. Merry Christmas!


33 posted on 12/09/2005 11:29:45 PM PST by cubreporter (I trust Rush. He has done more for this country than anyone will ever know. He's A++)
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To: It's me

Well perhaps I should have too but just misunderstood. No big deal.


34 posted on 12/09/2005 11:30:30 PM PST by cubreporter (I trust Rush. He has done more for this country than anyone will ever know. He's A++)
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To: milford421
So who really is behind getting rid of Christmas and Hanukah?

That's easy to answer: The demonRATs and their allies the Muslims.

35 posted on 12/09/2005 11:38:54 PM PST by twntaipan (MERRY CHRISTMAS WAS NOT A PROBLEM UNTIL THE DEMOCRATS MADE IT A PROBLEM)
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To: texasbluebell

"You should have told him"

I told him plenty....


36 posted on 12/10/2005 6:41:30 AM PST by milford421
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To: milford421

Excellent.


37 posted on 12/10/2005 7:08:07 AM PST by texasbluebell
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To: milford421

Ha! I see I just replied to you on another Christmas thread!

No doubt we'll be meeting again.


38 posted on 12/10/2005 7:08:59 AM PST by texasbluebell
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To: texasbluebell

"No doubt we'll be meeting again."

No doubt. Like minds, you know.


39 posted on 12/10/2005 7:15:24 AM PST by milford421
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To: milford421

Exactly!


40 posted on 12/10/2005 7:19:32 AM PST by texasbluebell
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