Town is Aswarm with Protesting Santas

Baltimore Sun ^ | December 3, 2001 | Michael Scarcella

[Angry Republican]

KENSINGTON - Santa Claus wasn't on the official guest list. But about 50 of his impersonators showed up as this Washington suburb - whose officials did not invite the bearded guy to its festivities - held its annual holiday tree-lighting yesterday.

Hundreds of people, and a few apparent grinches basking in an accompanying media frenzy, turned it all into a raucous and at times un-Christmaslike affair for the 1,700 residents of the Montgomery County town.

[Katya]

They both happen to be banned freepers...but they are in no way right of center. They only lasted a few weeks on FR before making idiotic statements such as was stated on the banner. Their political ideology is self-described by at least one of them as libertarian-socialist, a paradox unto itself.

[thucydides]

The incessant efforts of ACLU to ban Christian observances are highly misguided and likely to lead to much anti - semitism. In fact, fundamentalist Christians whom they so fear are today highly friendly toward jews and toward Israel. It is the non - religious political left that is the main anti - Israel force in public life. While one can understand a certain amount of jewish paranoia over any manifestation of Christianity, given their long history of persecution, it just is wholly inappropriate today.

[Freee-dame]

Believe it or not, but the Washington Post wrote a very fair and postive article about the event. The headline reads "Santa Has the Last Ho, Ho, Ho." Their pictures were of a large crowd of Santas, a little boy in a Santa hat and a Santa holding a "Grinch for Council" sign. "Some hard words and scuffling here and there" was all the press they gave to the problem people. Equally surprising to me, the Washington Times showed a very negative picture of two county policemen grabbing a Santa-clad protester. The many, many Santas were the story. Maybe the Post wants us to buy it more often.

[Britton J Wingfield]

The only people that I have ever hear actually object to Santa were Christians, Jehova's Witnesses, and 7th Day Adventists. This wasn't Christmas-bashing, but secular-commercialization bashing.

Does anyone know for certain who objected, or is it a few buttheads assuming it must be Jews?

[LarryLied]

I have no idea what the case was here. But if you want to see anti-Christian sentiment, come to where I live: Palm Beach county. It is beyond belief. I was raised in CT, lived in AZ, NV,CA and KY. Never have I see such hate publicly directed to any group as I see directed toward Christians in South Florida. It is socially acceptable. Our largest radio station puts on Randi Rhodes for 4 hours a day, five days a week. Pure venom directed at Christians. No one would last a day saying what she does about any other group. When I first moved here I noticed Star of David wreaths at the shopping centers at Christmas. I thought that was great. Until it dawned on me that no Christian symbol was to be found anywhere. I don't even bother to go to the malls during the Holidays. Moscow had more spiritualy during the season when they celebrated Father Winter than we do in South Florida.

Btw...I am a lapsed Unitarian (if that is possible). Not exactly one who quotes the Bible everyday. Haven't been to church since 1978. But I don't like to see people of faith picked on. And Christians are picked on.

[ladylurker]

Our largest radio station puts on Randi Rhodes for 4 hours a day, five days a week.

Four hours? Wow! I didn't know she was on that long. I run to the radio 5 days a week to shut it off as soon as I hear that voice of hers. Her voice reminds of the sound of nails scratching a chalkboard. Totally unbearable!

It's good to know that the only reason she is there is to counter RUSH (the token liberal), other than that she has little value. I think it is really nice of RUSH to give people like that a chance at making a living in radio, what else could they do?

[Servant of the Nine]

Stand and Deliver

The Freepathon is on!!

This is an expensive operation

To keep it Going
Click the Logo
For the Secure Server

So9

[LarryLied]

I've tried and tried to listen to Randi Rhodes for any length of time but just can't take it (we have little choice here for those outside the Palm Beach area). The other day she was ranting about Lynne Cheney's group blasting college professors for being against the war. Censorship! Fascism! Christians running amok and taking away our right of free speech. What the bitch refused to mention was that the organization which ran this piece was also sponsored by Joe Lieberman. Can't have the elderly folks listening to Randi Rhodes, who cower in nursing homes in the Palm Beaches, terrified of the Tsar's cossacks or Hitler himself dragging them out of their sick beds, be aware that an Orthodox Jew agrees with Lynne Cheney.

[yawningotter]

I think that there is a good lesson to be learned from this, and it is that PC types will go to ridiculous extremes in pursuit of the PC agenda. Since they will go to such extremes, then why not see how far they can be pushed? What I mean is that we should complain about EVERYTHING even remotely related to religion in order to see if we can make some PC busybodies take positions which will make them look totally ridiculous.

December 25th is a religous holiday so government employees shouldn't get that day off(the same goes for Thanksgiving) No decorating, either.

Martin Luther King was a Christian minister, so observing his birthday endorses a religion, and we can't have that holiday.

The Declaration of Independence mentions God, so we shouldn't observe the day that celebrates it's signing.

No valentines on February 14th(SAINT Valentine)or costumes and candy on October 31st(Christian and pagan elements)

For that matter, Wednesday is named for a Norse god, so governments having Wednesdays are endorsing paganism, therefore we have to do away with Wednesdays on government calanders.

The scary thing is that some PC types might just agree to stuff like this, but they will look extremely silly if they do, just like our friends in Maryland.

[Ward Smythe]

Jingle BUMP!

[PA Engineer]

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!"

I think many here have misunderstood what happened. These were agent provocateurs trying to disrupt a funny and good natured protest. Turns out the Santas were true patriots here unlike alot of members on this thread. The media spin was in the first sentence and the truth in the last.

[PA Engineer]

Did you read the end of the story. According to what was reported one of the Santas tore down the sign while receiving support from the other Santas. Can you read or are you just another one of those inbred Einsatzgruppen types?

I see that you are a new member since "today" so I quess I'll cut you a break and just assume you were a breach birth with complications.

[dennisw]

Hehhehe... The Tamarac community center here in Broward has a big Menorah outside and no Christian display. Eat your heart out!

Just kidding really. I don't like to see Jews and atheists (sometimes synonymous) messing with Christmas displays, prayer and other Christian matters.

[ironman]

"And there were others who were simply Santa supporters, chanting, "No Santa, No Peace!" Some carried signs declaring, "Grinch for Mayor," "Mean Spirited Arrogant Santa Hating Liberals" and "PC = Stupid.""

[LarryLied]

Most people do enjoy seeing other faiths and cultures. Well known enclaves of Amish, Jews, Swedes, Najavos, Chinese, Japanese,Italians, Buddhists, Mormoms and others are gold mines for merchants. Some whacked out libs just have this thing about Christians. And I think they all live with 10 miles of me.

[Doctor Raoul]

Raufaste's term is nearing its end, and an election is scheduled for June. Also, two council seats will open up. Plank said she doesn't know what's going to happen then. But one resident said she wouldn't be surprised to see Santa on the ballot.

May in a Santa suit is going to be a bitch, but I'm going back!

[Doctor Raoul]

In response to post 4, I like to be as anti-PC as the next guy, but this took it to far. You don't do things like that in a large crowd. Not everyone will get the point of the sign.

I didn't consider him one of us. He just tags onto our events.