Slews of Santas crash Kensington lighting

Washington Times ^ | 12/03/01 | Jabeen Bhatti

[veronica]

There are many.

And they came to town yesterday despite being disinvited to the official tree-lighting ceremony by the Town Council last month.

"They know I'm here," said Ken Forte, a Kensington, Md. volunteer firefighter who has portrayed Santa for 20 years, "and I'm happy to be here."

[Neets]

The Town Council said in a statement issued last week that "All the attention is missing a key point: This year is different from most years. The events of September 11 require a different kind of ceremony."

Different such as?????????????????????????

[Fred Mertz]

Way to go FReepers!!

[YourAdHere]

A clarification. The two scuffles mentioned involved the same man. The guy whose horrible sign was torn down was the same one, who a few minutes later, had his bullhorn smashed by the biker Santas. This guy had no place at the protest. I just hope no one associated him with the Freepers.

[GailA]

This is just a cop out. An excuse to impose their PC wills.

[DainBramage]

And all this time I thought there was only one Santa.

[cascademountaineer]

Way to go TRT and Santas. I hope the mouth breathers on the city council and every one of the mean spirited jerks who supported their decision are deeply ashamed of themselves. How anyone could advocate taking the joy out of a festival for children is unbelievable.

Way to go and a big thumbs up. Those kids need to be allowed to have some joy in their lives.

[vrwc54]

http://www.sunspot.net/news/local/bal-te.md.santa03dec03.story?coll=bal%2Dlocal%2Dheadlines:

Two men identifying themselves as Bill White and James B. MacArthur were part of the dispute - holding a 10-by-5-foot sign that read: "If Jews can ban Santa, why can't we ban Jews?"

The two were ordered by police to move from the sidewalk and take their large sign across the street.

But the moment they started to move the sign, a teen in a Santa suit leapt toward them and ripped down the sign, answering the chants from the red-and-white crowd: "Take it down! Take it down!"

[veronica]

Those kids need to be allowed to have some joy in their lives.

Exactly. This year more than ever. I am just glad I did not have to clean up after all those reindeer. (-;

[norton]

At least now you know how he manages to hit every house in the neighborhood.
Another mystery of science resolved!

[Valin]

Leanne Pfautz, Chris Bruch, Glenn Cowan and Barbara Scharman

Something for you.
"He's making a list and checking it twice,
Gonna find out who's naughty or nice."

Someones getting a lump of coal this year.

[Whilom]

We Believe. Has a nice sound to it.

[Alberta's Child]

Since then, the town has debated about how to make its annual tree-lighting ceremony as secular as possible.

If it is secularism they are looking for, then they should eliminate all trees and lights from the tree-lighting ceremony.

[tgslTakoma]

A clarification. The two scuffles mentioned involved the same man. The guy whose horrible sign was torn down was the same one, who a few minutes later, had his bullhorn smashed by the biker Santas. This guy had no place at the protest. I just hope no one associated him with the Freepers.

That guy, and his little friend were banned from FR forum, and from DC Chapter FReeps months ago; although some of his lackeys are suspected of lurking around here from time to time.

DC Chapter FReepers are aware of this guy, and recognized him immediately at the Santa-thon, and they made sure that they were not anywhere near his hate-filled sign and rantings.

Thank you for your vigilance (now and at future events) regarding this guy and his followers.

tgslt

[Doctor Raoul]

There was a little old lady dressed in all red that I met up the street from the armory, who thanked me for coming as "Santa" was getting something from the trunk of the car. We talked and I told her were she could get a sign from my stash down at the armory.

I followed a few minutes later and as she was browsing the signs, either the reporter or the photographer from the Wasington Times asked her for an interview. The old lady went on for 5 minutes thanking the reporter (photographer?) for being part of the WT. I shook the WT representative's hand and said "thanks" too.

[RnMomof7]

The Town Council said in a statement issued last week that "All the attention is missing a key point: This year is different from most years. The events of September 11 require a different kind of ceremony."

Yea wouldn't want to invite the Prince of Peace would you?

They could have a moon god celebration..

[RedBloodedAmerican]

And is Santa black or white? Male or female? Or is it Al Gore (none of the above)?

[Chief Inspector Clouseau]

Hundreds of Santas — some with patriotic hats and flags — came by motorcycle, pickup truck and fire department vehicle.

I don't have time to retrieve it, but the Baltimore Sun's article (not surprisingly) stated there were about 50 Santas. They couldn't be engaged in revisionism here, could they? < /sarcasm>

It sounds like the next phase of this is to expose the fraud in reporting...will these people ever stop? (Don't answer that...I know...)

[Irene Adler]

I'm just glad you didn't go as Satan.