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VA Bans Christmas Trees as Holiday Decorations in Public Areas
wspa.com ^ | November 20, 2015

Posted on 11/20/2015 12:58:29 PM PST by ilovesarah2012

SALEM (WSLS 10) – Christmas trees will not be allowed at the Salem VA Medical Center this holiday season in public areas.

“Displays must not promote any religion. Please note that trees (regardless of the types of ornaments used) have been deemed to promote the Christian religion and will not be permitted in any public areas this year,” reads an email sent to employees. “Employees are permitted to engage in private religious expression in their personal work areas that are not regularly open to the public. Religious expression will be permitted as long as it does not interfere with carrying out of official duties and responsibilities.”

The letter explains “When the public (Veterans and beneficiaries) accesses the Federal workplace, their reasonable impression should be that the government is not sponsoring or endorsing on religion over another.”

Brian Sipp, a Salem VA spokesman says after the initial message was sent out they received a lot of backlash and emails and now they are trying to find a balance between celebrating the holidays and federal law.

(Excerpt) Read more at wspa.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government
KEYWORDS: antichristmas; husseinobama; veterans
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To: ilovesarah2012

I know atheists that celebrate Christmas (not sure why) and put up trees. I can certainly think of more Christian-like symbols than a tree to upset a liberal.


21 posted on 11/20/2015 1:18:20 PM PST by al_c (Obama's standing in the world has fallen so much that Kenya now claims he was born in America.)
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To: beelzepug

VA


22 posted on 11/20/2015 1:18:45 PM PST by ilovesarah2012
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To: SkyDancer

Interesting how liberals do Christmas parties.”

And buy Christmas gifts wrapped in paper in Christmas colors. I have also noticed that none of them work on Christmas Day when it falls on a normal workday.

Selective liberalism.


23 posted on 11/20/2015 1:19:12 PM PST by Grams A (The Sun will rise in the East in the morning and God is still on his throne.)
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To: PJammers
Druid to be more precise. In addition to decorating trees, they would fire flaming arrows into the sky to keep the sun from burning out. December 25th, being about the earliest the ancients could tell that the amount of daylight was beginning to lengthen, was the culmination of their celebration.

The old German professor who told me the tale said that in the beginning they actually believed that. By the time they begin conversion from Paganism around the 5th century, however, it was just a good time to get together, drink brewskies, copulate under the northern lights and celebrate the old traditions.

I'm sure the ruling class could find it in themselves to love Christmas again if they could only get the celebration back to what it was then.

24 posted on 11/20/2015 1:22:17 PM PST by Vigilanteman (ObaMao: Fake America, Fake Messiah, Fake Black man. How many fakes can you fit into one Zer0?)
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To: ilovesarah2012

Get the Chowerhead that thought up this insane
ruling and FIRE HIM. Enough is enough, and what
is too much even the Pigs don’t want.


25 posted on 11/20/2015 1:22:55 PM PST by YOMO
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To: ilovesarah2012
THIS DISCRIMINATION IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL ...AND LIBERTY COUNSEL WILL PROVIDE FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO THOSE FACING PERSECUTION FOR CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS.

A PUBLICLY SPONSORED NATIVITY SCENE ON PUBLIC PROPERTY IS CONSTITUTIONAL IF THE DISPLAY ALSO CONTAINS A SECULAR SYMBOL OF THE HOLIDAY

In other words, the government may publicly display Mary, Joseph and Jesus so long as part of the display includes a secular symbol such as Santa Claus.

PRIVATELY SPONSORED NATIVITY SCENES THAT ARE ERECTED BY PRIVATE CITIZENS OR GROUPS IN A PUBLIC AREA ARE CONSTITUTIONAL WITHOUT SECULAR SYMBOLS

“We are resolved to stop ‘grinches’ from stealing Christmas. This Nation was founded by people who sought to freely exercise their religious liberty. We have no intention of letting these liberties be chilled every Christmas season by uninformed or hostile government officials.” - Mathew Staver, Esq. Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel.

IF YOU ARE FACING PERSECUTION FOR CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS, CONTACT LIBERTY COUNSEL FOR FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE 1-800-671-1776 ● Liberty@LC.org ● www.LC.org

26 posted on 11/20/2015 1:23:19 PM PST by PROCON (Proud CRUZader!)
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To: ilovesarah2012
and now they are trying to find a balance between celebrating the holidays and federal law.

So up until 2015, it was against the law for a federal building to put up a Christmas tree in December? This is a new phenomenon? What a load.

27 posted on 11/20/2015 1:23:49 PM PST by Opinionated Blowhard ("When the people find they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.")
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To: ilovesarah2012

How about sending every vet in every hospital everywhere...a Christmas card showing Washington kneeling in prayer.


28 posted on 11/20/2015 1:24:55 PM PST by Sacajaweau
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To: ilovesarah2012
MERRY CHRISTMAS MERRY CHRISTMAS MERRY CHRISTMAS MERRY CHRISTMAS MERRY CHRISTMAS MERRY CHRISTMAS MERRY CHRISTMAS MERRY CHRISTMAS MERRY CHRISTMAS MERRY CHRISTMAS MERRY CHRISTMAS MERRY CHRISTMAS MERRY CHRISTMAS MERRY CHRISTMAS MERRY CHRISTMAS MERRY CHRISTMAS MERRY CHRISTMAS MERRY CHRISTMAS MERRY CHRISTMAS MERRY CHRISTMAS MERRY CHRISTMAS MERRY CHRISTMAS MERRY CHRISTMAS MERRY CHRISTMAS MERRY CHRISTMAS MERRY CHRISTMAS MERRY CHRISTMAS MERRY CHRISTMAS MERRY CHRISTMAS MERRY CHRISTMAS MERRY CHRISTMAS MERRY CHRISTMAS

And lest I forget:

MERRY CHRISTMAS MERRY CHRISTMAS MERRY CHRISTMAS MERRY CHRISTMAS MERRY CHRISTMAS MERRY CHRISTMAS MERRY CHRISTMAS MERRY CHRISTMAS MERRY CHRISTMAS MERRY CHRISTMAS MERRY CHRISTMAS MERRY CHRISTMAS MERRY CHRISTMAS MERRY CHRISTMAS MERRY CHRISTMAS MERRY CHRISTMAS

29 posted on 11/20/2015 1:25:21 PM PST by onedoug
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To: ilovesarah2012
Please note that trees (regardless of the types of ornaments used) have been deemed to promote the Christian religion and will not be permitted in any public areas this year

Perhaps these morons think we should clear-cut all the national forests and the redwoods, since those are public areas. We cannot have God's creation promoting Christianity, can we? The stupidity of liberals continues to astonish me. Whenever I think they have reached a peak that cannot be topped, they outdo themselves once more.

I'll bet there is a current article circulating now, or will be within a week, about how Christmas trees are really pagan. Are decorated trees, shrubs, and trees in general promoting Christianity, paganism, or both?

30 posted on 11/20/2015 1:29:21 PM PST by Pollster1 ("Shall not be infringed" is unambiguous.)
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To: ilovesarah2012

31 posted on 11/20/2015 1:29:42 PM PST by OwenKellogg (CRUZ to Victory! Donate at tedcruz.org. The Trump Tsunami does not need your money.)
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To: Vigilanteman
"In addition to decorating trees, they would fire flaming arrows into the sky to keep the sun from burning out."

AHA!

It was those darned Druids who initiated global warming. Way back then.

/s

32 posted on 11/20/2015 1:29:57 PM PST by SnuffaBolshevik (Enter something.)
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To: ilovesarah2012

“And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”


33 posted on 11/20/2015 1:31:33 PM PST by Argus
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To: ilovesarah2012
And what of this one in front of the White House?


34 posted on 11/20/2015 1:31:36 PM PST by xp38
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To: ilovesarah2012

Cannot wait until the leaders who are trying to destroy every beloved tradition we have are driven from office and their scum followers are discharged from their jobs. Meantime make a point of saying Merry Christmas with a big smile straight into their scowl. If they object laugh and say it again, louder and close enough to their face that they can smell the rummy eggnog on your breath. Repeat as necessary.


35 posted on 11/20/2015 1:31:54 PM PST by katana (Just my opinion)
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To: ilovesarah2012

Maybe just a manger with a braying mule and a protesting liberal and a lump of coal in a cradle .. Minimalist is in lately Yaknow.


36 posted on 11/20/2015 1:35:00 PM PST by NormsRevenge (SEMPER FI!! - Monthly Donors Rock!!)
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To: ilovesarah2012

Next thing you know, Christian holy days will stop being public holidays.


37 posted on 11/20/2015 1:39:08 PM PST by Zhang Fei (Let us pray that peace be now restored to the world and that God will preserve it always.)
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To: Zhang Fei

The VA is too preoccupied with murdering Veterans through neglect to give clear thought to other things.


38 posted on 11/20/2015 1:41:34 PM PST by hal ogen (First Amendment or Reeducation Camp?)
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To: ilovesarah2012
...find a balance between celebrating the holidays and federal law.

WTF does federal law have to do with Christmas trees?

39 posted on 11/20/2015 1:44:33 PM PST by Road Warrior ‘04 (Molon Labe! (Oathkeeper))
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To: ilovesarah2012

I guess this means there will not be a White House Christmas tree this year, since this VA idiot said it would be against Federal law.


40 posted on 11/20/2015 1:45:11 PM PST by octex
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