There are a bunch of things you *should* do in life and when you don't there might be consequences. You *should* follow the traffic laws, and you effectively committed to them when you obtained a driver's license, but many don't and when they get caught there is often a monetary penalty. You signed up for deed restrictions and you *should* follow them but many don't and when they get caught they need to fix the problem or there will be a monetary penalty.

What you *should* do and what you actually do are often two different things. I have no control over what you or others do and unless you put a car up on concrete blocks in my neighborhood I probably don't care. I can only point out what you signed up for, and it appears that many people have no idea what they signed up for with the deed restrictions. Also, trying to discuss deed restrictions and traffic laws in the same sentence is sort of silly since one falls under criminal law and the other is strictly civil. I think that is enough philosophy for the day, don't you?

Quite agree:beer3::beer3:

Happy biking

Yes...let's just all agree I'm right and be done with it!!

That works for me!

Nonsense. If it wasn't a white cross but instead a little white bird no one would say a thing.

Religion is a Personal Thing and Should Not Be Broadcast!
 

You are correct, Gordon82, but it isn't nonsense.
Most people would prefer to see a little white bird, not a white cross.
Personally, I find it offensive.
I don't want to see anyone's religious item on their front lawn, or anywhere else that is visible when passing the property.
It is not in good taste and at this stage of the game, I see defiance in those who refuse to remove it.

PennBF is correct in that if you want to carry on the work of a missionary, go somewhere else and do it.
Those crosses do not belong in a residential area. Period!

Little white crosses, big white crosses. Very different powerful messages from each. Keep it private, keep it inside. Deed restrictions apply to ALL.


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It doesn't matter one bit if you find it offensive, or what most people prefer. If you want to take the deeds argument, then fine. ALL yard art should be removed. Short of that, a small white cross is not different than anything else that identifies someone as being part of a group (a Patriots fan, a Wisconsin resident, etc.). Your idea of what is in good taste, or my idea of what is in good taste, is not at issue. We're talking about a one foot high white cross, which is much smaller than most other things found in people's front yards in The Villages.

I'm glad you see defiance. I don't have one of those crosses, but if I did I would refuse to remove it. I'm tired of people thinking they have a right to not be offended at someone else's beliefs or opinions to the point of casually throwing away the right of free speech and expression. Should people with a cross on their driveway or lamppost sign be forced to remove those because you are offended? Apparently so, since you don't want to see anything religious when passing someone else's property.

Again, if The Villages wants to take the deed restriction to 100% enforcement, that is fine. But it is not fine to selectively enforce it against yard art that is religious in nature.

And that says it all

Religious Items are NOT Landscaping!
 

Wiotte -- You made it very simple and without a lot of fanfare.

Gordon82 -- My thoughts must have bothered you greatly since you sent your dissertation (above) via your Iphone.
Let's get something straight. I am not offended by anyone's belief.
But religion is a personal thing and should be practiced in a place of worship or in one's own home, not on a residential front lawn!

You say that one of these crosses is tantamount to someone displaying a Patriots' something-or-other?
Surely you jest???
That small white bird in lieu of a cross is becoming a better and better idea, thanks to your suggestion.

All "yard art" should be removed? I presume you are referring to what I would call junk or an eyesore, however, there are tons of properties that are landscaped beautifully with some unique and different items which add to an overall "wow" look.

The size of a cross is not the issue. The issue is that it is a cross, which could never be considered part of landscaping under any circumstances.

Should interpret my deed restrictions to mean that I really can only have two fish in my aquarium and comply, or should I be a scofflaw and sneak a third one in under the radar?

My friend Ruthie is gone now. Breast cancer took her away. She had on her front door a little Jewish sign that someone gave her affectionately, just as I gave her a star of David necklace, me her Catholic friend.. She was a dear friend to me and my next door neighbor and she had her port for chemo and I had mine when we moved in next to each other in Hadley. We shopped for stuff for our homes and ate lunch out and laughed at the same things. Ruthie was not a religious Jewish girl, didn't do the holidays or keep the Sabbath, but she put up her mezzuza and I touched it each time I went in her door.

Religion or lack of it isn't the dividing factor. It is lack of kindness that divides us. I miss you Ruthie. I think I will find a Mezzuza and put it on my door.

White cross on lawn in letters to the editor
 

Gracie - I've been to more memorial services for friends in the past year, than in all my prior years. I'm a religious person so I'm not offended at all by the little white crosses. They represent a peace we can believe in now, and realize later. For those who are offended, I'm sorry they don't get it. Some soul searching on their part is in order.


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But you see none in those who refuse to accept it?

[emoji41][emoji106]


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How ya feel about Burqa's? They look kinda stand outy to me. I always think they mean that the man IS the man of the house, that folks in the family don't like gay people a lot and they probably won't have a Blessed Virgin in the landscaping. And they look HOT. Worse than bras. But to each their own you say...and I say. I think sometimes some of us including me shouldn't share their thoughts on personal things like religion. It is very tricky these days to get along.

Much like our ever expanding universe, the distant between ourselves grows and the attraction that once binded us lessens ever more. Human fractionization by way of religious intolerance is our current reality as it has been through the ages and only through humanistic tolerance can we all get along. :beer3: Let us now pray...

I don't have a cross in my yard. Mine is in my home & heart.


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Since enforcement of the deed restrictions is complaint driven, unless you invite someone into your home and they see the third fish you are probably good to go ;-)

We don't either. We have three very small ceramic gecko's hidden on a ledge under a bush that were made by our resident artist Helene. The real gecko's sit on them...

until the snake comes. I think there is a religious allegory there somewhere.....

The more appropriate location.

I agree.

I notice this thread is about placing various articles in the landscaping in the front of the house. Do the same rules apply to the rear of the property? What about if the back of your house faces the street?

I would love to see it work this way too.

Yes

The Villages have tried to stay out of these kinds of situations where THEY are left to decide what is bothering people and to levy fees and fines. AND...If this was a manned job..then it would require remuneration to the hunter of restriction rule breakers...and his/her riding around in a car and that my friends is where all those taxes get raised or fees get heisted up and that is when the real bitching begins. If you are annoyed report them. Anonymously. They shouldn't have done it and if they figure out you dropped the dime. Well, there you are.

Gracie the fiscal conservative.

This fight over the small White Crosses is what started the Lutherens, of which I am not, in Frankenmuth to start the campaign.

Want to see Burgas, go to Bad Toelz, only one so far. We sent them to Fr. Merkel.

Be respectful, just shape a hedge into a cross.

Lutherans. I think it was more than that.

Shhhh! (he's German GG, don't get him upset) And please don't let him know he misspelled Lutheran.

But I admit he does make fine cars.


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There was one time about 1986 I saw a cross and it was scary. I was driving into Chapel Hill, NC about 10:00 at night. I was to pick up a bicycle I had ordered from Performance Bikes. After you get off I-95 it's just 2 lane country roads until you get to town. Just a couple of miles before Chapel Hill, home to a huge university, I saw about a 10' tall burning cross. I didn't slow down to take a good look. I caught the news that night on TV and it was the KKK having some fun. It was scary to me, I hate to think what a black person felt like.

bravo!

Re: Religious tolerance
 

You really need to do some reading of history.

Look at these posts. People in the villages are older, more educated and wealthier than the general population.
Sadly even here you cannot discuss religion or politics.
SADLY IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN SO

I do think it is possible to discuss religion here, but politics is an intolerable mix of oil and water on TOTV. People have lost the ability to debate. It has been replaced by posting links and citing sources both reasonable and unreasonable. Above all else people have lost their sense of humor...much more rant than laugh. Thank goodness for the ignore button.


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Everything is a thing now a days but rules are rules
 

I read through this thread and the immaturity of some of the posts for older adults. It is simple justvlike when we had our golf cart outside in our yard for sale. The enforcement officier knocked on our door stating that is against the deed you signed having items for sale in your yard. I simply aid thank you for the information I was not aware and put it in a parking lot in a square or ref center at his suggestion. Whether that legal or not J don't know but if told it is against the deed remove and move on period. Most people donhjngs then are told because really not everyone reads every little things they signed propbably 85% don't.

I think this horse has been beat to death. :crap2:

Excellent summary. I stand with deed restrictions. It is one of the top reasons we moved HERE.

I just hope that no one near me begins to let their landscape take care of itself and save water in the name of green. Florida Friendly seems like such a lovely NAME,...........

Ugly, some of it. Looks like lazy people live there.