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Huntington almost lost Christmas tree-lighting
Long Island Newsday ^ | 12/10/05 | CARA TABACHNICK AND CYNTHIA DANIELS

Posted on 12/10/2005 6:20:08 AM PST by mslee

Huntington officials worked all night readying staff for the coming snow, but instead they woke up to a different storm Friday: a local lawyer sued to remove a nativity scene from the town's public lawn and stop Friday's Christmas tree-lighting ceremony. Mitchell Pashkin, 39, an attorney from Huntington, filed his suit in U.S. District Court in Central Islip, saying the nativity scene, Christmas tree and two signs on the Village Green that read "Peace on Earth" violated his constitutional rights because of their religious overtones. The display -- at the corner of Park Avenue and Route 25A -- included a menorah, which Pashkin wrote was "dwarfed in significance and stature" and "appears as nothing more than a token attempt to be inclusive to the Jewish population." Judge Leonard Wexler helped broker a compromise between Pashkin and the town Friday afternoon that allowed the tree ceremony to take place, Huntington Supervisor Frank Petrone said. The deal calls for the town to put up large signs stating the nativity scene was donated by Huntington's Knights of Columbus and that the menorah came from the Chabad-Lubavitch in Melville, Petrone said. The signs are expected to be up Saturday and also must say that the nativity scene and the menorah are not town property. The town board has scheduled a vote to approve the settlement Tuesday, officials said. Also, Wexler has scheduled a hearing at 6 p.m. on the same day in case the board does not approve the deal. "I'm not anti-religion or against Christmas. This is not an attack on Jesus or Christians," said Pashkin, who declined to disclose his faith, saying it has nothing to do with his position. "I just don't want the town endorsing one religion. Lots of people out there don't celebrate Christmas."

(Excerpt) Read more at newsday.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism
KEYWORDS: antichristmas; christmas; christmasdecorations
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To: Sociopathocracy

I have been pretty disappointed with a lot of FOX attitude lately so i do not watch as much at all any of their programing...And this is just another thing they have done..I wonder if they see or read any of FR, maybe if they do they will start decorating..I doubt it...If they keep this stuff up then they will be in last place instead of CNN..We sure made them and the Christians sure can break them..


21 posted on 12/10/2005 3:15:29 PM PST by Beth528
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To: mslee

Another delusional, hyperventilating, greedy Christophobe.


22 posted on 12/10/2005 4:56:02 PM PST by ViLaLuz (Stop the ACLU - Support the Public Expression of Religion Act 2005 - Call your congressmen.)
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To: Beth528
Well I wrote to FOX & Friends and ask[ed] why

And as soon as they find someone intelligent enough to read it to them you might get an answer.

23 posted on 12/10/2005 7:44:07 PM PST by solitas (So what if I support an OS that has fewer flaws than yours? 'Mystic' dual 500 G4's, OSX.4.2)
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To: moonman
Yeah, and his email address is there too.
24 posted on 12/10/2005 7:52:45 PM PST by MamaB (mom to an Angel)
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