Posted on 12/02/2001 2:06:48 PM PST by Hail Caesar
At this point in time, I am just listing the highlights of subjects that those of you who were there and/or saw this on the news should comment on. I will post more detail later as verified information comes in. Thanks to everyone for your support and especially to those who showed up today. Also, may God Bless Free Republic for helping us communicate this way.
1. Kensington Town Kouncil "Taliban" were nowhere in sight today.
2. Mayor Raufaste spun this event out to the press as a "patriotic tribute" rather than a Christmas tree lighting.
3. Santa was NOT allowed to light the tree. The mayor used a wall of firefighters and rescue personnel to hide that fact.
4. All the major networks and news wires were there.
5. FReeper Santas dominated the event and made it very enjoyable for the children of Kensington. The oohs and ahhs from the kids were plentiful! Much more to be posted, soon...
Honor Roll: Doctor Raoul, Gore_War_Vet, lurkette & son, kristinn, marylander, viadexter & sister, tgslTakoma, IMSAMBO, leadpenny, Jimmy Valentine's Brother, spaceman spiff, TBP & wife, drZ, lurker John & lurker wife Terri, ToleranceSucksRocks, Mister X, Clay More, Hail Caesar, plus many others whose handles I did not get at the scene (so please post your name/handle on this thread below!). Fellow FReepers: please make sure to COMPRESS any photos or graphics you post on this thread! Thanks, in advance, for your cooperation.
God Bless you wonderful folks! Thankyou!
Formerly NoDemocratsIn2000
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.
I personally think Mr. White is a true anti-semite like I'm a black woman, but that's another story...
You Freepers are the best Christmas present I could get. Thank you, you wonderful people.
Good show!
AWESOME!!!One correction is in order, however. Those idiots who banned Santa are not "LIBERALS" in the strictest or traditional sense of the word. Actually, FReepers are true liberals, in the Jeffersonian tradition. Those we have been referring to as "liberals" are actually the most illiberal sort of people. Let's call them LEFTISTS, NAZIS, or whatever. But they are definitely NOT liberals.
That link to ABC 7 you provided in #139 above has a great message board just waiting to be FReeped bigtime!
Thank God there are still a few good men with guts to stand against the putrid tidal wave of PC. Every FReeper should send
the Kensington Fire Department, especially the Chief, a note of thanks and a Merry Christmas!
(Actually this is more of a personal opinion piece from me :-)
Even though the Kensington Town Kouncil Taliban did NOT legally reverse their original Santa ban decision, the children of Kensington, plus the rest of the townspeople and the whole world nonetheless, got a clear demonstration of how widespread Santa is considered as a symbol of the Christmas Spirit. The Mayor did do the "politically correct" thing by allowing Santa to stand near her, on the podium, when the "holiday tree" was lit. This was a huge victory for us all and especially delighted the children. Though American pop culture has (vulgarly?) commercialized and businesses worldwide have grossly profited from the exploitation of Santa's persona as a tool of rank capitalism, he nonetheless remains an important symbol of goodness in the minds of our innocent children. IMHO, he also represents the kindness and generosity of the American People and that was one of the main reasons I felt this particular FReep was important one for us all to do.
And to those naysayers here on FR, I say to you: if we do not continue to publicly stand up for what is good in this great country of ours, then, what good are we as opinion leaders anyway. And if this makes me appear to be a CONSERVATIVE "do-gooder", so shall if be! Enuff said.
Hail Caesar
(Volunteer "coordinator" for the FReepers and TRT members involved in this most glorious FReep)
P.S. Merry Christmas and may God Bless each and every one of you.
Perhaps you would like to explain his sign then? Hmmm.....?
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