Posted on 12/19/2007 4:45:20 PM PST by doug from upland
Ontario, CA has not succumbed to the pressure felt in other cities across the country. The city of approximately 180,000 has large grass-covered median in the center of town with three lanes on each side.
Many years ago, long before I was a member of Ontario Parkway Kiwanis, the group acquired very heavy statues of the Nativity scene and other scenes in the life of Christ. After four years, OPK donated them to the Chamber of Commerce. Every year, we get them out of storage and put up the scenes that can be seen on both sides of Euclid Avenue.
The city has managed to fight off the ACLU, and the traditional Nativity scenes are a wonderful part of the real story of Christmas every year.
In truth, Doug, the city fought the ACLU until they gave-up and gave ‘em away.
I don’t know the entire history. Who gave ‘em away?
The ACLU has not prevented these from being displayed on city property.
O holy night
The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of my dear Savior’s birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
Fall on your knees
Oh hear the angel voices
Oh night divine
Oh night when Christ was born
Oh night divine
Oh night Oh night divine
Truly He taught us to love one another
His law is love and His Gospel is peace
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His name all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we
Let all within us praise His holy name
Christ is the King
Then ever ever praise we
His path and glory ever more proclaim
His path and glory ever more proclaim
At our little office Christmas luncheon today, my secretary decided to tell us that she can’t wait to see Golden Compass and she hates Narnia etc. I just found something else to look at and then the subject changed. I’d already given her Christmas eve (and of course Christmas day and New Years day) off but later this afternoon she was wondering whether she also got off New Years Eve. Nope. And I’m thinking March will be the end of that relationship. I have to be really nice about it though for reasons I can’t post here. sigh. I’ll keep praying for her.
Glad its still going, I grew up in Ontario.
I used to live in Ontario and would drive Euclid just about every day. It was refreshing to see the nativity scenes. I always wonder how they were able to get away with it.
The city fought off a lawsuit by a single plaintiff (can’t remember his name) with ACLU backing. Just as they were about to go to court, the city struck a deal to donate the decorations to a private group that would store them & display them without government cost albeit on city land. The atheist jerk still persisted and sued ‘em again but dropped his action sometime later (I think he moved). I guess no one else has bothered to press the issue.
Thanks for the history.
Inland Empire bump
(at least I think Ontario falls in that region)
Yes, Inland Empire.
And some VERY yummy tasting candy canes from one of the few places that still makes them by hand, and where you can also buy them still hot so you can form your own candy canes.
(And wow, I really feel bad NOT knowing about Logan’s Candy’s when my daughter was still young enough to enjoy such places. But it is now firmly affixed to our own Christmas traditions.)
Jerry at Logan’s is a great guy.
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