Posted on 12/13/2005 5:21:08 AM PST by Quilla
Slay bells are ringing outside a $3 million brownstone on East 18th Street in Manhattan, where, rather than your typical jolly St. Nick, a skinny, bloody-bearded Santa holds a knife in his left hand and the severed head of a doll - blood gushing from its eye sockets - in the other.
This 'tis-the-season-to be-creepy display - which has drawn no small amount of community ire - can be found in the front yard of Joel Krupnik, 58, and his wife, Mildred Castellanos, 43, who said they are protesting the commercialization of the Yule season.
In another touch of Christmas jeer, the Santa dummy is standing behind a tree whose bare branches are adorned with beheaded Barbie dolls.
"Christmas has religious origins. It's in the Bible. Santa is not in the Bible. He's not a religious symbol. Santa Claus has become a piece of Americana," Krupnik explained yesterday.
Krupnik, who dabbles in real estate, said if anyone was offended, they could simply cross the street. Some children have done just that.
Other people have called the cops - only to be told there was nothing they could do. And one woman chased Castellanos down the block, screaming epithets at her.
Outside the home - also decorated with gargoyles, lizards and dragons - there were many who accused the couple of dreaming of a fright Christmas.
"This is like a nightmare before Christmas. These people are possessed," fumed Laure Levinson, 50. "I thought it was very gory and bloody. Christmas is not supposed to be gory," said Jimmy Crevier, 9, who was passing by. "It's bad," agreed Sean Conlon, 5. "Santa's face and hair are red - Santa shouldn't look like that."
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
I was watching. It really is disturbing. Even more so that the one who came up with the idea was a 16 year old girl.
ping
There are a lot of families with small children in the Gramercy Park area of Manhattan.
I assume that local citizens will help this display disappear in the next few days.
I know (a) I wouldn't want my kids looking at that and (b) I wouldn't prefer to walk blocks out of my way to avoid it.
I don't think merely crossing the street will be any less traumatic for the children viewing this spectacle.
Saint Nicholas is a religious figure.
This guy is creepy and out of his mind.
Oh for crying out loud...Most Halloween displays are no better than this; leave the people alone. They are not traumatizing kids anymore than someone who puts a plastic bloody dismembered corpse in their yard.
Last week, some nut in Florida had Santa hanging in effigy in their front yard. I understand it is still there (freedom of speech) despite neighbors' complaints.
I'm just speculating here, but anybody who could be so gratuitously cruel does not strike me as a person with deep religious understanding. If (and I say "If") this person is not particularly religious, why is he protesting the commercialization of Christmas? Why should matter to him?
If this person is religiously inclined, I would urge him to pull out his dog-eared and well-read Bible and take another look...
From the article it states they are nonpractices Jews.
They're doing it to Santa Claus. Do you really not understand the difference? Do you honestly not realize that kids identify Santa Claus with family Christmases and gifts and fun and cheer, not blood and death?
The thickness of some so-called conservatives never ceases to amaze me.
The individuals who are doing this are Christophobic Jews who do not even practice their own religion.
A lot of people expect everybody to respect their watered-down non-religious version of "The Yule Season" as a time of content-free good feelings and family togetherness. But once the heart has been removed, the body cannot survive. If divorced from Christ, Christmas is doomed.
They wanted to get on the front page of The Post, and the only other ways are to get killed by a cop, kill a bunch of people or win a really big lottery.
Hmm let's see...Santa isn't in the bible...we could go with a manger scene...but everyone does that...OH I KNOW I KNOW...Gory Barbie Killer Santa!!! Our church will be so proud!
Excellent advice for non-believers whether it be religion, symbols, smoking or what have you - just leave.
Freedom requires a lot of patience with nuts, fruits, and flakes from all areas. But liberty and freedom also carry responsibility, this man and his wife forgot that.................
That seems a little wordy. Let's see if we can tighten that up a bit...
The individuals who are doing this are Christophobic Jews who do not even practice their own religion a$$holes.
There... Much better!
But seriously, why should these people care about the commercialization of Christmas? They should delight in the self-destruction of the Christmas holiday.
I don't personaly object to anything people put in their yards or the way they feel about christmas.
But I am stumped everyday at the lengths people go to to say "Hey! Look at me. Look at me!"
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