New York Village Would Rather Remove 9-Foot Menorah than Allow Nativity Scene

Life Site News ^ | 12.19.06 | JORGE FITZ-GIBBON

[Coleus]

BRIARCLIFF MANOR, N.Y., December 20, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Village of Briarcliff Manor officials have decided to remove their entire holiday display, including a 9-foot-tall menorah, from a public park rather than allow a resident to add a crèche after Alliance Defense Fund attorneys and allied attorneys won a temporary restraining order Friday from a federal judge. The lawsuit and TRO motion were filed Dec. 11 after the Briarcliff Manor Village's Board of Trustees refused to permit the display.

"The village's constitutional violations regarding religious expression in public make them look like the grinches who stole Christmas and Chanukah from the citizens of Briarcliff Manor," said ADF-allied attorney John Stepanovich. "It is truly sad that officials have chosen not only to thumb their noses at religion but at the justice system as well, since our client's request of equal access for a privately-funded crèche in addition to the menorah was entirely constitutional."

In place of where the holiday display once stood, village officials displayed a sign criticizing U.S. District Judge William C. Conner's decision to grant the temporary restraining order. The federal court judge's decision forced officials to either remove the menorah or grant resident Henry Ritell's request to display a nativity scene alongside it.

The sign read, "The Village erected a menorah and Christmas tree display in a spirit of inclusion. In response to a federal court order the entire display has been removed. We disagree with the court." Following outcry from the public, village officials removed the sign.

[dr_who_2]

You broke your promise. You said you were through writing to me.

[Coleus]

I couldn't give a flip if it was a nativity scene dropped in a barrel of urine. It's still a stupid thing to get into a lawsuit over. >>

I can see that, and that's why you posted on this thread? right? because you dont't care? yea right.

oh, and btw, when you listen to rush and o'reilly, they frequently mention the culture war, o'reilly has a new book out. I suggest you read it and read ann coulter's, Godless...

Merry Christmas

[familyop]

"nice try...

now try again."

Okay!

[Coleus]

OK, now that's more like it.

[buccaneer81]

Played by the great Roscoe Lee Brown. The Puerto Rican couple trapped in the elevator with them included another great character actor, Hector Elizondo.

The whole cast was awesome. Best line "AITF" line ever: "Equal to me ? You ain't even equal to him!"

[Alouette]

They're on the multi thousand post Sea-Tac threads

Or else they're on the Tawana Brawlewitz "bus beating" threads.

[familyop]

dr_who_2 wrote:
"...putz!"

...not a nice decoration for any holiday! ...not at all! We don't want to see those in public!

LOL!

[durasell]

These people are idiots. I sentence them to a knock upside the head.

[freedomdefender]

I think no displays on public property is a defensible position, but if you're going to have them, why not a Nativity Scene and a Menorah.

Agreed. By the way, a Menorah should also be viewed as a Christian symbol, since we Christians believe we are the offsrping of the Jewish religion that was saved in the miracle of the Menorah. I am sure Jesus celebrated Hanakka.

[teeman8r]

well said andy and may your menorah stay forever lit... my lord lit the menorah and spun the dreidel and i see my jewish brethren as such... 'cept i am one messiah up on them...

have a blessed new year too.

teeman

[Cecily]

A Hanukkah study for Christians:

http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Holidays/Winter_Holidays/Chanukah/chanukah.html

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

The perversion of this ideal has led to the rise of a tyranny of perpetually aggrieved minorities who have used the naked power of government to relegate all religious expressions

This is but one tool in the arsenal that Socialists and even Communists have planned on using to destroy America from the very start.

[Coleus]

no, we sure don't!

Id rather see dr_who_2 decorated with some Cristmas lights or better yet, as part of a creche scene scooping the poop from the sheep.

[rmlew]

Roman Legionnaires removing a secular symbol from the Second Temple
It is a little more complicated. A Menorah is a even-branched candelabrum used for ceremonial purposes. It is also a symbol of Judaism. The great Menorahs were only used in the Temple.
What people put out for Hanukkah is a special type of Menorah used only for Hanukkah. It is called a Hanukkiah. (note this is a hard "h" at the beginning of the word but a soft one at the end) A Hanukkiah has 9branches, one for every day of the holiday plus one lighter and is only used on the holiday.

[ladyjane]

I am always suspicious of freepers who put the title doctor in their screen name. Perhaps they feel it will make people listen to them.

[jwalsh07]

And a Happy Chanukah to you Dov.

Why religious folks let the radical secularists divide and conquer is beyond me.

The proper course is to unite, pool resources and demand that religion gets the same access to the public square as secularists.

[dr_who_2]

I'm not into that sort of stuff. But if you want to defend your right to dress yourself in Christmas lights and shovel sheep poop in public, go see if you have any allies in the ACLU.

[dr_who_2]

I guess it worked for you, anyway. This being the internet and all, I'm always suspicious of posters who put the title "lady" in their screen name.