The fight over the peace wreath in Colorado is over, and peace prevailed. Lisa Jensen and Bill Trimarco of Pagosa Springs, which is about 200 miles southwest of Denver, put a wreath in the shape of a peace symbol on their house. But their homeowners’ association threatened to fine them $25 a day until they removed it. The association thought it was politically divisive (Trimarco said the wreath was a symbol of peace on Earth, not a commentary on the Iraq war). One board member said he thought the symbol might be a sign of the devil.
After protests — and media attention — the association backed down, and three board members resigned. Now the town is building its own peace wreath that it will display on its bell tower.
Sounds like the makings of a TV Christmas special.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
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32 Comments
YAY! What a great revenge!
Oh get real people.
I tell ya! These power hungry people who sit on Home Association Boards have nothing else to do but try to nit pick at everything.
I just saw the movie “Over the Hedge” this past weekend, and they protrayed one of these Home Association freaks perfectly.
I prefer lighting candles or bake sales to attain peace. I don’t think the wreath will work, but it might.
stomps on ground, claps hands with huge crowd…
“All we are saay-ing, is give peace a chaaa-aance.”
People who lived in the 1960s will get that.
Man…this is the kind of shit one can only find on the Lifetime Channel.
I should get me one of those just to piss the bushbot across the street off.
JM,Love John Lennon.Hate the fact that some people think terrorists will lay down their weapons if we’ll just give ‘em a hug and listen to their problems.
GolfNut you just don’t get it. Hugs and listening will not work. I’ve already said it’s wreaths, candles and bake sales. Maybe holding hands across the street or something.
And don’t forget…singing Kum-by-yah.
Hey Lefties!This is how we talk about you people when you aren’t around.Ain’t it grand!
Better to show your stupidity to your own than to share it with the masses, eh, fleettwood?
RD- What surprises me is that it seems to be an endless supply!
Is this a bottomless pit?
When I received a new catalog in the mail a couple of weeks ago, my daughter and I went through and chose some “lawn adornments.” (Catalog: Toscana–Historical Reproductions for Home and Garden)
We decided to start out with a large nativity scene, and then add the following:
Bust of “His Holiness John Paul IISitting angel sculpture (18 1/2″ tall)St. Francis sculpture (37″ tall)Gargoyle sculpture (37″)Buddha sculpture ( 30″)Hebe, the Goddess of Youth sculpture (63″)Bacchus wall sculpture to hang on the front of the house10 Commandments tablets sculptureTemptation of Medusa sculpture (this one’s a nude)and to top it off: “Manneken Pis” (The peeing Boy of Brussels) sculpture and fountain.
It all seemed to encompass as many faiths and ideals as we could find.
Anyone have a problem with those?
I like the peace wreath. Everyone should have one.
I have my own idea for a door/window wreath that displays my own holiday celebration, but I don’t relish the idea of someone burning down my house for it, so I probably won’t do it.
The fundamentalist Christian war on Christmas takes another step backwards. Oh wait, weren’t the liberals supposed to be taking down Christmas wreaths? I’m so confused about the little fictions that run around in the head of insane, religious nuts.
I love the peace wreath. I said when I heard this story I was going to run out and make a wreath out of a pentagram ha! (the pentagram is not a satanic symbol either) I’m not a pagan, wiccan or anything like that- but I’m finding a new respect for their history.
And just because you prefer peace to war, doesn’t mean we’re anti-war and going to sit here waiting for a terrorist to come blow us up. Nor do I think a peacenik would go hug a terrorist and expect him to change.
PS anyone who feels like this peace symbol is wrong, make sure your xmas decor doesn’t have doves on it. That’s a symbol of peace on earth ya know.
And don’t sing any songs that have those words either.
This was somebody’s house right and not a rec center of some kind in the neighborhood?Freedom of Speech simple as that.But don’t come a knocking on my door about my nativity scene on my lawn either.
PMom, don’t steal my pentacle wreath idea. LOL
The five points of a pentagram represent Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit. Not a lot of santanism in that. There are other definitions, but they’re basically the same as that.
By the way, gang, the greenery wreaths are also a part of the pagan celebrations of Yule (Winter Solstice), so there’s one more to add to the list. Christmas merely borrows the pagan rituals of Yule.
Better to be informed than to live in prejudiced darkness.
KIA,
Nope, I don’t have a problem with nativity scenes…on private property. One question though. Is the baby in the manger prior to Christmas in your nativity scene?
That’s a good point RD.It’s an inflatable lawn ornament so the whole family is in at once yea.
KIA, I’ve noticed most do, probably more from construction of them than anything. However, it isn’t “right.” That’s the one thing I remember when attending all those Midnight Masses as a kid.
F-Wood et al.
While you people THINK that we liberals are swaying to kumbaya (a song I have never actually sung, IIRC), we left-wing activists are quietly subverting your way of life.
The 2006 sweep of both Houses of Congress was just the beginning.
Have a nice day.
Damn, Cap’n, you weren’t supposed to tell. It was a secret.
It is stories like this fight over some peace wreath that make the majority of Americans want to puke. So some narrow minded Home Association members didn’t like their wreath? Some homeowner thought it was the sign of the devil? Where do they find these stupid people with enough money to buy property in that subdivision?
Get over it people - if you don’t like someone else’s decorations - tough. Maybe there are people that don’t like your decorations and want you to take them down.
There are more problems in the world than this nonsense.
People who move to Homeowner Association type housing know the rules and are expected to abide by them. It’s not for me. All the houses look alike. If the rules don’t allow things like Peace Wreaths, then that’s the way it is. That’s why 3 people resigned. They made the rules, then didn’t abide by them.It’s CHAOS!
“That’s why 3 people resigned.”
Actually, Kearns fired all five members of the Homeowners Association.
But the point is, the rules did not prohibit wreaths - the Peace Symbol offended Bob Kearns - no one else.
Reminds me of when the kids at an expensive private school made a peace sign for a class project, only they got it wrong, they mistook a Mercedes symbol for the peace sign.Only in this country do people have the time and silly priorities to bitch about something like someone else’s Xmas decoration. I’m embarrased to be an American sometimes.
Even if it is the sign of the devil (which historically you could argue is is), the intent is obviously different and the symbol is not something completly different than it was 1,000 or 2,000 years ago.However, to get to my point :-)even if it was a sign of the devil, it’s still a freedom of speech issue.
Bumper sticker:
Pursuing the insidious liberal agenda.
I agree with Joe that HOAs all too oftenbecome NAZI wannabes. They try to micromanage everyone while all too often lining their pockets with dues money.
As for Nativity scenes etc in people’s front yards they are fine IMO. Merry Christmas to you all. And to those who have holly and have trees for the season - Joyous Solstice and Happy Saturnalia. Those are the holidays yu are commemorating. That is why the Puritans banned them.
Happy Solstice to you too Rox with the five points. I guess since I am a secular scientist I use only four of them - the elements air/earth/fire/water.
Why, thank you, Ben. Actually, I welcome any seasonal greetings. Back atcha on the same.
A 4 pointed cross, huh? Cardinal points, depicting the 4 elements? Good one!