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.

[oneamericanvoice]

"Actually, a Christmas tree is a religious symbol (whether or not it's your religion is the question), but a creche is hardly religious. It's simply a grouping of statues of Jews and animals."

This is one of the most ridiculous arguments I've ever seen for displaying a creche/nativity. If you think that it's just a grouping of statues, you might want to take a look again. You forgot the angels, the Wisemen, and the star, which make it a religious display.

[Lancey Howard]

against officials in the Village of Briarcliff Manor who refuse to allow a crèche display in a public park

Does a citizen need to get permission from the government in order to take a soap box to a public square and speak? That rumbling you feel at your feet is the rumble caused by the framers of the United States Constitution spinning in their graves.

[oneamericanvoice]

"Nevertheless as an Orthodox Jew I say let there be creches and/or Menorahs in every town that wants them..."

G-d bless you for saying so. I love both holidays, and don't have a problem with a creche and Menorah sharing the space.

Happy Hannukah! And Merry Christmas!

[taxesareforever]

You've lost your way. Why should the menorah be allowed but not the creche? Just what would you advocate in this circumstance?

By the way, if you haven't noticed it by now this country is going secular. But one thing it shows in doing so is that Christians should not expect government to do God's bidding. There is a religious realm and a civil realm and we do not need the civil realm to spread the Gospel message. Matter of fact, the civil realm would most likely get it wrong and it most definitely would not agree with everyone's religion.

[oneamericanvoice]

"PETA has taken to harassing those who stage "living Nativity scenes" even when there are no live animals involved."

They must be worried about those plastic critters, because they sure aren't worried about the people.

[oneamericanvoice]

"Some battles aren't worth fighting. As for Christianity, ask yourself whether the depth of your faith should be measured by the number of "creches" you place in the public square."

Battles like these are extremely important, because it is the Left that wishes to alter our culture into one that is Godless and devoid of Christianity. Creches aren't about the depth of faith. They are a celebration of the birth of the central figure of it. Celebrating and worshiping are expressly protected by the Constitution. I believe that the presence of a creche reminds us of the freedoms we are given.

I'd like to see everyone put up a creche and a menorah this year, regardless of your religion, for two reasons. 1) Jesus was a important figure, whether you believe in his divinity or not, who taught wisdom for the ages, and 2) to show solidarity in the fight against those who would suppress the freedom to worship.

[oneamericanvoice]

"You could try hibernating for the month like a bear."

"I wish I friggen could! And miss my stupid birthday as well."

You must be a December child like myself. My birthday was yesterday. I may not know you, but I'll bet your being here is worth it. Think of what you'd be missing...So for what its worth, Happy Birthday!

[RobbyS]

Is giving government workers a holiday on December 25 constitutional? Why not abolish the whole celebration as they did in the old Soviet Union.

[ZULU]

If Mr. Ritell wanted to march up and down in the park in support of pronogrpahy on the Internet, that would have been fine and dandy with the effete leftist western-culture hating morons who run that despicable little burg.

[dr_who_2]

Battles like these are extremely important, because it is the Left that wishes to alter our culture into one that is Godless and devoid of Christianity.

Going by what you're saying here, "the Left" just sounds to me like a convenient straw man.

BTW, I doubt you'll find any mention of Christmas trees in the bible ...or creche's in the sermon on the mount. Look up what Jesus had to say about praying and carefully count the number of paragraphs in the Lord's Prayer. Christianity isn't that difficult to understand, but there seem to be so many versions of it floating around, selective readings of passages, and endless controversies over what others would consider to be technicalities. But the worst is when there is no honest debate at all.

I'd like to see everyone put up a creche and a menorah this year, regardless of your religion, for two reasons. 1) Jesus was a important figure, whether you believe in his divinity or not, who taught wisdom for the ages,

Well, in the interest of solidarity with Detroit-area muslims, we should also recognise the importance of Mohammed-oops-peace be upon him!-so I guess we should all observe the fast come Ramadan, right? Wrong. I have few bones to pick with the man, and there are fewer hours in a day than there are religions. The constitution gives me the right to speak my mind, and I value that, too.

and 2) to show solidarity in the fight against those who would suppress the freedom to worship.

Sincerity is a prerequisite for solidarity. It's hard to be sincere about doing something that is imposed upon you. If you want to put a creche or a menorah up in your front yard, maybe I'll come by and admire it, but no one tells me to put up anything for anybody, whether in the interests of "solidarity" or whatever other agenda you might have in mind. And no, the constitution doesn't give you the right to impose your religious practices on me or anyone else. Lights, wreaths, poinsettias, and ribbons are just great for Christmas, but people have had just as much to celebrate when few of those things were available. And seeing a big menorah on some street corner every day on my way to work doesn't mean anyone is infringing on my rights.

[taxesareforever]

Is giving government workers a holiday on December 25 constitutional?

I do believe it is not just government workers. How about Thanksgiving Day? Easter is actually a more important day to Christians but it isn't a holiday. The government has the power to grant whatever holidays it wants. The government is an employer and can grant days off as it desires. Just because the government grants a holiday doesn't mean that it is because it is a religious day to be observed. You may argue that point but it is true.

[trisham]

“It is outrageous that a private citizen has been denied the opportunity to celebrate Christmas in a public park,” said ADF Senior Legal Counsel Brian W. Raum. “The Village’s decision to purchase, maintain, and display secular seasonal elements and a menorah in the park while prohibiting a privately sponsored nativity scene is not only hypocritical, but unconstitutional.”

“Mr. Ritell’s request is entirely constitutional,” Raum explained. “The Village’s claim that a ‘public’ park is somehow not a public forum for free expression is unfounded. More importantly, it is a blatant denial of Mr. Ritell’s First Amendment rights.”

**************

Instead they chose to take everything down. Sad.

[trisham]

Thank you. Happy Chanukah to you and yours!

[Edit35]

You've lost your way. Why should the menorah be allowed but not the creche?

I sorta feel misunderstood here.

I'm not saying the creche should not be allowed. I like both. They compliment each other, in fact.

I guess its just my increasing frustration that whenever anyone in the US sees a nativity or a menorah, they suddenly feel so insulted that they immediately DEMAND the right to put up the other alongside.

Why all this hypersensitivity?

[Alouette]

What else is there? Gelt looks like an ethnic joke, and latkes are not so good.

[AlexW]

"This creeping insanity has nothing to do with "separation of church and state" - it is about the elevation of petty personal grievances over a sense of community that used to define the uniqueness of America."

Andy, that was very well said...
I doubt that the crap that has taken place over the last 10 years is just that, political crap, and has nothing to do with religion.
I grew up in Memphis in the Episcopal church, and had many Jewish friends as a kid. My father was district manager for a large NY clothing company, owned by Jews.

There was never such animosity as there is today.
Christmas was what it is, CHRISTmas, and everyone got along just fine.

We went door to door, singing Christmas carols, and the Jewish families enjoyed them as much as anyone. I do, however, remember asking my parents why all the Jewish Christmas cards said "Seasons Greetings", haha.
To you and your family, Merry Christmas, and Seasons Greetings.

[andy58-in-nh]

Thank you Alex, and a very Merry Christmas to you and your family.

A few years back, I used to join along with carolers and go from door to door, helping to supply the baritone and low tenor parts. Everyone appreciated it, regardless of their faith; no one took offense. That is the kind of spirit I would love to see restored in America - a shared sense of community and destiny among free individuals of diverse interests and backgrounds.

[ArrogantBustard]

but a creche is hardly religious. It's simply a grouping of statues of Jews and animals.

Depends ... if you've got the full setup, there are also three statues of Persians, and at least one representation of a non-corporeal being.

[muawiyah]

Ah, yes, if Persians then a flying Garuda ~ on the other hand recent researchers have suggested that the three wise men came from just East of Judea ~ from the desert area we now call the West Bank.

That's a long way from Persia.

If so they too would have had their heads covered. Alternatively, they could have been other Jews recently arrived from the large Jewish community in the cities along the Euphrates.

[RobbyS]

In my opinion the Christmas holiday is simply a recognition of the religious beliefs of the general citizenry, and that refusal to accept Christian displays is inconsistent with that. Likewise the display of menorahs etc. should be considered simply signs of respect for the Jews. If blacks want to celebrate Kwanzah, more power to them. But a true recognition of diversity in this country must proportionately acknowledge the religious views of the Americans people. Symbols matter, and minorities should not object to the public display of symbols that are important to the majority.