DENVER - A homeowners association in southwestern Colorado has threatened to fine a resident $25 a day until she removes a Christmas wreath with a peace sign that some say is an anti-Iraq war protest or a symbol of Satan.
Some residents who have complained have children serving in Iraq, said Bob Kearns, president of the Loma Linda Homeowners Association in Pagosa Springs. He said some residents have also believed it was a symbol of Satan. Three or four residents complained, he said.
"Somebody could put up signs that say drop bombs on Iraq. If you let one go up you have to let them all go up," he said in a telephone interview Sunday.
Lisa Jensen said she wasn't thinking of the war when she hung the wreath. She said, "Peace is way bigger than not being at war. This is a spiritual thing." [...]
Kearns ordered the committee to require Jensen to remove the wreath, but members refused after concluding that it was merely a seasonal symbol that didn't say anything. Kearns fired all five committee members.
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I don't know what's more upsetting, the fact that this little dictator was ABLE to fire an entire committee for not upholding his fanatical decree (if that organization's bylaws allow for this, it is really messed up) or the fact that there supposedly are several people who allegedly complained and even think that the peace symbol has some unholy connotation!?!
Come on, people! The 1960s and '70s weren't THAT long ago! The woman who placed the wreath claims that no political message was intended, but even if there were one, so what? In the first place, this is a country that supposedly values freedom of expression over almost all other rights. Second, this is a symbol of PEACE! You know, that concept that your alleged messiah, known as the "Prince of PEACE," came to impart to the world. Remember?
The angels heralding Christ's birth allegedly sang, "And on Earth, PEACE, goodwill toward men." It seems to me that there are a few folks who have missed the message in an amazingly big way, looking for (and determined to find) offense in the strangest of places. Merry freakin' Christmas.
~David D.G.
The part I found the most odd is that he ordered a committee to decide a particular way. Then, when they decided in a way he didn't like, he fired all of them. So ... as FishyFred said ... why even have a committee? That's some incredibly childish behaviour.
Wow, that guy is fucked up. Just a little more than the people who complained, but anyways; if a peace symbol is satanic, what is a pentagram (it's from witches who didn't necessarily get their powers from the devil and before that a symbol of the druids, not satan but let's humour the ignorant)? Maybe we should ban every not strictly christian symbol. We'll have a nice assortment of...
Pictures of the pope. Congratulations, we saved humanity.
"Somebody could put up signs that say drop bombs on Iraq. If you let one go up you have to let them all go up,"
So, you're banning expression of both pro war and anti war sentiment? Why don't you just force every resident to have their tongues and eardrums surgically removed while you're at it?
Kearns ordered the committee to require Jensen to remove the wreath, but members refused after concluding that it was merely a seasonal symbol that didn't say anything. Kearns fired all five committee members.
Nicholas II, eat your heart out.
I am disgusted that some of the residents who complained are parents of children serving in Iraq. You'd think they, of all people, would desire peace, but, noooooo, these arsewipes would prefer for their sons and daughters to face death in a senseless war???? Sheesh!
Wow, Bob, way to tell the world that you're a despotic asshole. And if you're an elected president, watch the association kick you to the curb next election. Over a hippie Christmas wreath!
Peace on earth, Goodwill toward men.
Merry friggin' Christmas to you too.
I never quite got the whole neighborhood committee thing of the states.
My house, my land, my choice.
Anyone attempting to enforce anything other than official national law over me on my property better be ready to do so by strength of arms.
EmFinn, unfortunately there are things people can enforce over your land without force of arms - loud music, bonfire smoke and dazzling lights at night are three that spring to mind (I've encountered all three of them and personally, I consider thumping 'music' loud enough to make itself heard through closed, double-glazed windows to be a form of trespass). Homeowners' associations are, I believe, an attempt to prevent things like this - notice, however, that all the things I've mentioned force their way onto your property - you have to actively look out at your neighbour's house before you see a peace sign on their door.
If one is allowed to display a Xmas wreath, one should be allowed to display a Xmas wreath with a peace sign. Simple as that.
How is the peace sign connected with the delusion of Satan, other than (he said sarcastically) that true peace may also be a delusion.
That peace is anti-war is patently true, but, as LJ said, true peace is a much bigger concept than just anti-war.
FOLLOW UP... after receiving so many angry phone calls that he had to change his number, Kearns has relented and dropped the issue and the fines. The Jensen family has reported that they received a huge outpouring of neighborly support as well as many offers to pay any fines that were levied. Suck it Scrooge!
Cerebulon: And God bless us, everyone![/TinyTim]
Hurray! I'm glad that this guy got the awakening he so richly deserved. He probably won't turn over a new leaf, as Scrooge did, but at least Cratchett gets some relief.
~David D.G.
And is that the land of the free?, what if she really has a brother serving in Iraq WHO HAS BEEN KILLED?. One, prove that she is doing that against the war, and AGAINST THE SOLDIERS. Second, if you fire people because they air their opinions, don´t ask to be listened when you say yours, SPECIALLY IF IT´S A PRAYER THAT YOU FORCE INTO EVERYBODY.
TauRaven: I'm not arguing, but where did you read/hear this? Every article on the topic that I can find so far has been stating that Kearns fired the committee.
Also, how many of these various mainstream news sources would you consider "propaganda"? What sources would you recommend as alternatives?
(By the way, to any moderators reading, the link above didn't work for me for some reason when I tried it just now. Is it broken?)
~David D.G.
"Somebody could put up signs that say drop bombs on Iraq. If you let one go up you have to let them all go up," he said in a telephone interview Sunday.
That is correct. You have to let them all go up, whichever religion, whoever is complaining. That is the law. And the god-damn government better remember that.
Confused?
So were we! You can find all of this, and more, on Fundies Say the Darndest Things!
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