Santas Not Coming to Town

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XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX WED NOV 28 2001 11:14:49 ET XXXXX

FIRST NO SMOKE, NOW NO SANTA: MARYLAND TOWN TELLS JOLLY 'OLE NICK TO STAY HOME

A Maryland town in the very same county that tried banning cigarette smoking in homes, has now told Santa Claus to stay away from a public Christmas tree lighting!

The Montgomery County community of Kensington has banned the jolly old man from its annual tree lighting ceremony this Sunday. "Because two families in our town felt that they would be uncomfortable with Santa Claus being a part of our event," Mayor Lynn Raufaste said.

The Town Council banned Santa after the complaints.

In years past, Santa would arrive on a fire truck and light the tree with the mayor. But on Sunday, the mayor will do the honors herself.

"This is a part of the American life, and I just think it's a shame that we can't have one in our town this year," Raufaste said.

Montgomery County lawmakers recently passed legislation that would have regulated smoking in the privacy of people's homes.

The county reversed course this week after a rash of worldwide attention and a public opinion backlash.

"At least now Santa can stay at home and smoke, if nothing else, since he is now banned from the tree lighting," mocked one Montgomery County lawmaker on Wednesday. "We have become a national embarrassment."

This has to be political correctness at its' best. Anytime anyone is "uncomfortable" with something it is banned. I am uncomfortable with many things in this country, but to have them banned would probably in the long run destroy this country.

What do you think?

Talk to you later.

-- Bob in WI (bjwick@hotmail.com), November 28, 2001

Answers

I think the guy summed it up pretty well. Certainly is a national embarrassment. Perhaps the one thing that would be okay to ban is stupidity, but even that gets dicey.

-- Doreen (bisquit@here.com), November 29, 2001.

Careful Doreen! I support the Constitutional right to stupidity and practice it regularly.

-- JOhn in S. IN (jsmengel@hotmail.com), November 29, 2001.

I agree with Rush on this one--if two families didn't want to see Santa, two families could have stayed home. Mind you, I always told mine that Santa is pretend, but I don't see how he's offensive. If I am offended by something, I simply don't go.

-- mary (mlg@aol.com), November 29, 2001.

I agree with you Mary. I have always wondered why if someone doesn't like something they seem to always get their way, and the majority who do want it can't have it because of the complainer.

In our area the group Freedom From Religion wants to remove a ten commandments plaque from a park. They say it does not allow for separation of church and state. The paper did a survey and over 98% of those questioned wanted to leave the plaque there. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. If it is like other places the very tiny minority will win again and the average guy gets the shaft.

Talk to you later.

-- Bob in WI (bjwick@hotmail.com), November 29, 2001.


Unbe-freakin-lievable! A national embarrassment in quite an understatement.

-- Cheryl in KS (cherylmccoy@rocketmail.com), December 03, 2001.


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