Posted on 11/29/2001 9:27:31 AM PST by UB355
PRESS RELEASE IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 29, 2001
Not even Dr. Suess could have attracted this much attention to our annual Tree Lighting in Kensington, but we feel all the attention is missing a key point: this year is different than most years. The events of September 11 require a different kind of ceremony.
We want to be responsive to all those who need to come together for a moment of unity and family togetherness this holiday season. That's why in October, at our Town Council meeting, we made changes to our program to accommodate our response to the aftermath of the terrorist attacks.
We now suspect that Santa Claus(es) will show up one way or another. Santa is always welcome and we sure won't send him to the hills above Whoville, even if he doesn't have a formal invitation from the Town of Kensington.
One way or another, we will have a ceremony that celebrates our local heros from the firefighters, police, postal workers and military. We will show that the Town of Kensington knows how to come together and knows not to take itself too terribly seriously. Most of all, we will have some fun with our kids which is what this event is all about in the first place.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Kensington, Maryland - Like many other communities around the nation, the Kensington Town tree will be lit up in red, white and blue this holiday season. On Sunday, December 2nd, the community will celebrate the American spirit and will honor the first responders to the tragedies of September 11th and its own fire fighters, police officers, mail carriers and military with lights and music.
In a flyer mailed to all Town residents earlier this month, the modified annual tree lighting ceremony was announced as an opportunity to come together as "we aspire for peace and unity throughout the world." "This year, more than ever," the Mayor said, "we need to come together as Americans and celebrate our freedoms and the men and women who have risked their lives to ensure our freedoms."
The festivities will begin at 4:00 p.m. with music performed by students from the Levine School of Music who will be on hand to perform some of the songs that bind us together as Americans. Community members will enjoy hot chocolate and cookies during the performance. Children have been asked to bring decorations of peace to be placed on a Banner of Peace. The Banner will be displayed in Town Hall throughout the holiday season.
The ceremony will be capped by the traditional lighting of the tree. This year the community has decided that instead of Santa at the switch, the Mayor will be joined by a local firefighter, police officer and U.S. Postal Service mail carrier. The tree will be lit in red, white and blue lights.
During the ceremony, charitable donations will be collected for Crossways Community, a residential/day care facility in Kensington for underprivileged children. Residents have been asked to bring diapers, baby wipes or formula which will be delivered to the Crossways Community nursery.
Really, they must think a lot of people out there are stupid, with limited capabilities to read the larger reality of what they have done under the slick, PR veneer.
I'd like to show up chainsmoking, drunk and surly. I'd give the townsfolk good reason to toss ole' Santa out.
The town tree? The TOWN TREE? What the hell is a "town tree?" These pathetic pantywaists can't even bring themselves to say Christmas Tree? This is freakin' ridiculous. Somebody in that town needs a good caning.
Blame Canada? Thank Canada.
Twenty years from now, Kensington Maryland will still be known as the town that banned Santa because he might "offend" someone.
Some guys ought to show up as Taliban and some women in full burka, with signs in Arabic and English saying, "Down with the infidel, Santa Claus"; then some real Santa Clauses can come into the crowd to the applause of the people and the bad guys/girls can leave looking dejected and defeated.
I bet they wont be singing any Christian songs.
This event represents a de-Christification of a Christian holiday by non-Christians and anti-Christians.
You're such an ignoramous, Fred25. Some of our best Christmas songs were written by Jews:
White Christmas" was penned by the fabulous and Jewish Irving Berlin.I guess, Fred25, you won't be singing or listening to any of these songs."The Christmas Song" was written and performed by the equally chosen Mel Torme.
Frank Sinatra's songwriter Sammy Cahn wrote "Let It Snow."
"Santa Baby" may have been performed by Eartha Kitt and Madonna , but it was written by a Jew, Joan Javits.
"(There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays" is by Al Stillman, Jew.
And although not old enough to be a classic carol yet, there's Beck's "Little Drum Machine Boy."
Some other holiday faves were written by Broadway composers. Betty Comden and Adolph Green wrote "Be a Santa" for the little-known musical Subways Are for Sleeping.
Jerry Herman wrote "We Need a Little Christmas" for the musical Mame, and "A New Deal for Christmas" reflected the spirit of the Golden Age in Annie, written by Charnin and Strauss.
Donald Gardner, who wrote "All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth."
Albert Hauge, who wrote "You're a Mean One Mister Grinch." If he isn't mishpucha in real life, then his television character counts. He was the music teacher on Fame.
Felix Bernard and Richard Smith wrote "Winter Wonderland."
Oh, Holiday Tree, Oh Holiday Tree......
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