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Firefighters in Glenview have been told to take down their indoor Christmas
decorations after some residents complained that they were offended.
The decorations -- which included lights, a Christmas tree and a Santa
Claus -- were inside Glenview's Station No. 7, at 3507 Glenview Rd., in the
firefighters' main living area. Although the decorations were all inside,
they were visible from the street if someone driving down Glenview Road
peered into the windows.
"We need to serve all our residents and customers, and we had been receiving
calls from citizens who were not happy seeing what they perceived to be
Christmas or Christian decorations on a particular firehouse," said Janet
Spector Bishop, a spokeswoman for the village.
"We felt the fairest thing to do was to make sure that our public buildings
remain neutral."
Last week, the village manager sent an interdepartmental memo reminding
department heads that they need to remove decorations on the exterior or
interior of village-owned buildings, including firehouses.
The firefighters had decorated the outside of the station earlier in the
season, but a resident complained to village officials that the decorations
violated the separation of church and state doctrine. They were told they
could leave the decorations up inside, but the village attorney said that
would still be a violation of village policy.
"We don't want to be seen as favoring one religious group over another,"
Bishop said.
Because they don't want to upset anyone, Glenview's Village Hall is devoid
of any holiday decorations. The lampposts along Glenview's downtown streets,
however, are all wrapped in garland, with a "Seasons Greetings" sign and red
ribbon on each.
Firefighters at the station were reluctant to talk about the issue. The
firehouse is along Glenview Road on the western edge of the north suburb,
near a neighborhood that is full of homes with Christmas lights and Santa
statues. The only decoration on the outside of the station is a yellow
ribbon tied around a large tree.
Village officials said it was more than just the fire station that caused
the village to send out the reminder about holiday displays.
Any suggestion? Who know abt history of Christmas decorations? |
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Fair enough.
If (for example) Muslims waved their festival-celebration of 'Ramadan' in
our faces, as much as we wave our festival-celebration of 'Rampant
Consumerism' in everyone else's faces... there would be trouble indeed. In some ways I agree with you but here is something for you to think
about Icon.
When you say that people should get back to the spiritual meaning of
Christmas...you might want to read up on the TRUE history of
Christmas. You will find out that it didn't start as any kind of
spiritual holiday and indeed was a Pagan holiday. It had nothing to do
with Christianity until the church wanted to get the people back into
the churches and get some of the holiday money that was being spent.
This is something you may want to check out before telling us all how
spirtual of a holiday it is. Christmas is not originally a Christian holiday and that is something
many of you need to understand. It is nothing more than a holiday and
not anything to do with the birth of your Christ. Read your history
and you will find some interesting information concerning this holiday
you cherish so much. |
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