Now the orthodox are screaming, "Those damn hellenists (Reform/Conservative), they are the one's responsible for the whole mess in the first place back during the Second Temple."
One never wins in such debates. Why can't we all do our own thing and leave our neighbors along. In my town, all religions and fraternities co-exist. The Jew, Jehovah's Witness, and sabbatarian don't mind the overt christmas decorations at the town square. Conversely the town is very tolerant of their beliefs in a quid pro quo. Meanwhile, the Catholic doesn't mind the FreeMason who doesn't mind the Baptist who tolerates the occasional witch. People are seen going to synagogue and church while others happily work 24/7. There is rarely a fuss let alone a hiss or cat call.
I blame big mouths on all sides of this argument to cause the uproar now present. You have the bitter atheist that claims to speak for all atheist and agnostics. You have the in-your-face religious nut with the messiah-complex that must witness while his family is largely ignored for loving attention. You have that one instigator Yeshiva drop out-type that has a bee in his yalmulka. And worst of all, you have your fascist liberal that must weaken others for her own empowerment and overbearing arrogance.
After the dust clears, then the reaction ensuse by the majority of people that on a normal day would not give a rip but follow the crowd in some unknown righteous indignation that lasts as long as the next episode of The Sapranos or Rome. Live and let live.
Hitting Google today I note small Jewish settlements beginning in 1654 - pretty much makes them part of the fabric and maybe why we called it "Judeo-Christian" when I was growing up.
Also when growing up I had Catholic friends whose grandparents sniffed a bit at my De Molay membership but never ragged on me for it.
Living in small towns and again in the military I knew I could find good conversation among ministers, rabbis, and brothers from most any sect in country.
So much for the past.
Today it seems that the left pines for the same religious strife that so many people left 300 - 350 years ago, the same newly legitimized strife that the news presents us from Indonesia, Iraq/Iran/Sudan/'Palestine' and dozens of other poster places for 'diversity'.
If there is a war to be fought, it's a war for the inclusion of differences and assimilation of the best of each group.
It's pretty easy to see where the opposition is and it is absolutely clear that they are in the minority - these senseless attacks on long accepted symbols are only a means of dividing the majority into fragments.
PS: I go to church for weddings and funerals but this is getting personal anyway!
Your town sounds great - everybody getting along. Maybe it's something in the water. We should all be so lucky.