The downside, the idiots lit the tree while it was still very light out, and you couldn't see the red, white and blue colors. I suspect that the "city fathers (and mothers) just wanted to get it over with.
There was some mention of a scuffle, with a guy with a bull-horn. More at 11.
Somebody just sent this to me and I thought it was fitting.
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Highlights of Sunday night's television news coverage by major network affiliates, in other words, the lamestream media's "FULL SPIN ZONE" versions:
Note: all of the news reports did show the Kensington Fire Department's Santas and our FReeper Santas, too!
1. CBS affiliate WUSA-TV Ch. 9 (to my surprise, this CBS crew actually gave the most accurate coverage regarding what really happened today) -
Reporter stated: "First after Jewish Kensington residents raised the issue of including a Chanukah menorah and asked questions about the religious nature of the annual ceremony, the town council came up with a compromise that pleased few people, if any. What they came up with was more Santas that they can shake a Christmas tree at." (After several cutaway crowd scenes shots of hundreds of people, CBS showed some local citizens arguing with each other) "The end of the ceremony didn't bring an end to the controversy" (cutaway to a large group of Santas singing " God Bless America") "Some of these protesting Santas said they will be back next year to make sure Santa has a presence. It appears from talking to some of the citizens that this issue may not die come reelection time for some of the Kensington politicians."
2. ABC affiliate WJLA-TV Ch. 7 - coverage was lame, stating that Santa has returned to Kensington, then showing one demonstrator's "Jews for Santa - Rockville Chapter" sign, then some of Doctor Raoul's FReeper signs "No Santa No Peace", etc., while remarking about "offensive signs" then immediately showing the bikers physically attacking another protestor right in front of small children while mentioning that a "brief scuffle ensued." THIS was a deliberate misrepresentation by this local ABC reporter who is a member of the so-called Million Mom March organization and had, coincidentally, also MISreported the TRT FReep of the MMMs last Mother's Day. In other words, she was underhandedly trying to associate our FReepers with the Santa bikers' violent behavior. Since her report was quite brief, I don't think her lame attempt to discredit our FReepers will stick.
3. NBC affiliate WRC-TV Ch. 4 - coverage was mediocre, showing crowd shots, the Mayor's "spin" and stated that the "Santa Ban has been lifted" One shot of cute kids saying "it's so cool that there are so many of them (Santas)".
4. I missed the local Ch. 5 Fox News coverage (SORRY - I didn't get home in time for theirs)
5. 24 Hour Cable News Channel 8 - Led in with "over 100 Santas moved in to protest the recent town council's action to ban Santa from the annual tree lighting ceremony..." Rest of report was very similar to Ch. 9's (above). However, this reporter mentioned that a fight broke out with "one protestor who had his sign torn down that had a hateful message."
Disclaimer: FReepers please note the important FACT that NO FReepers had attacked a certain NON-freeper protestor nor were involved in any acts of violence on Sunday. Reliable witnesses reported that in both "scuffles" that protestor was first physically assaulted by some punk wearing a Santa hat, then later by some bikers wearing Santa gear, too. At this point in time, no arrests have been made of those attackers.
Regardless, our FRreeper Santas, other FReepers, TRT members and signs had quite a POSITIVE impact on this event. However, most of the crowd there, including all the OTHER Santas (bikers, other visitors, firemen, local townspeople, etc.) present, was NOT affiliated with our FReepers or the TRT.
You're probably right. However, there was also the possibility that the crowd may have angrily lit up their not-so-little pagan tree into one heck of a bonfire. (After all, with the fire department already there, no one would been hurt by that). ;-)