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BY BOB HOLT
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
The so-called “war on Christmas” has come to southern New Jersey.
Some residents of Pitman have contacted the Freedom from Religion Foundation from Wisconsin because they believe that a sign in town from the Knights of Columbus, reading “Keep Christ in Christmas,” is a violation of the Constitution.
According to Fox News, the Freedom group’s constitutional consultant Andrew Seidel said the problem was that the sign was hanging on city property. "Either it's city property or some level of government is endorsing that sign by allowing it to be stretched over a public street," he said. The sign stretches between two light posts across Main Street, only one owned by the town.
Pitman Mayor Michael Batten said the town has seen the banner hang over Broadway during the season for the last half century. Batten said the sign will remain in place until he hears something different from Pitman’s attorney. Pitman attorney Brian Duffield said the matter would be addressed through the zoning board to see if the proper permit had been obtained.
Co-president of the FFRF Annie Laurie Gaylor said, according to NJ.com, the banner offends “non-believers, Jews, Wiccans and Americans of any religion.”
A letter sent to Batten from Freedom Foundation officials read: If the Christian banner is allowed to remain, FFRF want hang a banner reading, “At this season of the Winter Solstice, may reason prevail. There are not gods, no devils, no angels, nor heaven or hell. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds. Freedom From Religion Foundation.”
The Courier Post reports that Pitman was originally founded as a Methodist summer camp. It included an auditorium on a central meeting ground, and had 12 roads that came from that center like spokes on a wheel, which some say represent the disciples of Christ.
The Knights of Columbus said the "Christ is Christmas" program has existed for over 60 years. Anderson said: "We have to have a certain amount of tolerance and respect for each other's viewpoints. Tolerance means listening to what others have to say; not depriving others of making their views known."
Oh, and I love people declaring war on things; I would love to hear how the soldiers fighting overseas defending our rights of freedom from religion feel about that. War is hell. This is not war.