http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/...orations_N.htm

The gist:

Aurora, IL wants to start enforcing it's ordinance that limits "seasonal" decorations to 60 days before and after the holiday. First you get a 14-day warning and if you don't comply, a $50 fine. They say it's a "quality of life" issue and that out-of-season holiday decorations say that people don't care about the neighborhood.

This is a TOWN ordinance. It's not part of an HOA or a condo association or anything like that where you would have to sign papers agreeing to the bylaws.

This is a 2006 city ordinance.

If decorating your house with a wreath isn't "free speech" - as in an expression of your ideas - then I don't know what is.

Some of you may have been wondering what it would take for me to be "on the side" of a religious-based controversy. Well, this is an example of it.

Perhaps Aurora, IL needs a refresher course in the Constitution. The 10th Ammendment says the state can regulate what they want so long as it's not in the Constitution. But the 1st Ammendment quite clearly says:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Well, they're not "respecting an establishment of religion" but they ARE prohibiting the free exercise thereof - and even if it was a "Season's Greetings" message (as opposed to Christmas-specific), that still "abridging the freedom of speech".

Aurora, IL has some lawmakers that need educating. Only the fact that there hasn't been a legal challenge (YET) has kept this ordinance on the books.

Let's see now, 60 days before and 60 days after. That is 4 months to keep your Christmas Spirit. Sounds excessive to me. I think it should be 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after. My dizzy neighbor has had hers up since November and they are still lit every night. I wish we had an ordinance.

Let's be consistent... In principle, djplong is right on this.

Originally Posted by Allen

Let's be consistent... In principle, djplong is right on this.

Great song Allen...really enjoyed the slide show, too!

Originally Posted by ceejay

Great song Allen...really enjoyed the slide show, too!

Thank you, ceejay...

Originally Posted by Allen

Let's be consistent... In principle, djplong is right on this.

Principle? How about being a good neighbor? In principle, maybe my neighbor could put a 30 foot statue of an elephant on her front lawn. Would it be right? Is it good principle to have the value of your home go down because your neighbor cites the constitution?

You ready????

I'm gonna have to go with djplong on that one.

Originally Posted by Donna2

In principle, maybe my neighbor could put a 30 foot statue of an elephant on her front lawn. Would it be right?

Unless I am mistaken, we line up on the same side on most issues, Donna2... so no offense intended at all. Then again, if my neighbor put a 30 foot elephant in the front yard (or perhaps worse yet, a 30 foot donkey), I would not be happy about it, and would do what I could to protect my property value. That's why I said "in principle".

I am fully aware that local ordinances are sometimes necessary (within reason). Conversely, issues such as these are best resolved without getting the government (or the attorneys and the courts) involved if at all possible. I also concur with you that we must all be good neighbors. I hold out hope, however, that we can be good neighbors without having a government mandate to do so. Granting too much power to government is what got us into the mess we find ourselves today... I think we can both agree on that one.

Just as you don't have the right to yell "fire" in a crowded movie theater, you don't have the right to be obnoxious about other aspects of free speech.

A 30' elephant statue? Could be a risk to the community. There are a number of reasons for being against it.

A *sign* of an elephant in your window? Free speech.

A wreath on your door, proclaiming that you wished the spirit of Christmas survived year-round? Free speech.

In fact, I forgot to take the wreath off my door this year. A couple of weeks ago, my fiancee reshaped the ribbon into a heart-shape for Valentines Day

Want to be more controversial? Put up a flagpole and fly the Stars and Stripes.

Now.. If you believe the country is in dire trouble, fly it upside down. See how long it takes before someone gets their panties in a wad. Doesn't matter. It's free speech.

dklassen: I knew there would one day be somewhere we would find common ground.

Donna2: I'm going to be a bit sarcastic here and say that I'm sorry you feel that the Sprit of Christmas should have a time limit on it. How many times have we seen stories on the news where people lament that "Christmas spirit" doesn't last longer than the immediate holiday season?

Though, now that I think of it, I wonder if they also would enforce that ordinance on anyone flying a flag more than 60 days before or after July 4th.

Bah Humbug

Originally Posted by Donna2

Bah Humbug

Ok.. THAT made me laugh