Wtf??!!

[cocky4ever]

Nothing spreads holiday cheer like displaying a dead and gutted Rudolph hanging from a tree in your front yard.

:mad: :( http://www.wftv.com/news/5540774/detail.html :( :mad:

[palmettocock]

wow............right down the road from me;)

[RW13]

ha ha, that's pretty creative....

[jneesy]

have you seen the guy who has santa hanging from a tree in his front yard from a noose?

[GamecocksRule]

have you seen the guy who has santa hanging from a tree in his front yard from a noose?
You mean THIS guy?:
http://www.local6.com/news/5491296/detail.html

And both of these sick people are in Florida...hmmmm. Don't think I want to visit Florida anytime soon. What's next? :( Would YOU want to be driving your children around to see Christmas lights in neighborhoods and see Rudolph dead and bleeding from a tree or Santa hanging by a noose?

[GeauxTo]

You mean THIS guy?:
http://www.local6.com/news/5491296/detail.html

And both of these sick people are in Florida...hmmmm. Don't think I want to visit Florida anytime soon. What's next? :( Would YOU want to be driving your children around to see Christmas lights in neighborhoods and see Rudolph dead and bleeding from a tree or Santa hanging by a noose?
Florida is a state with a large population. They have many great folks, like GateauxNation, my sister's family, etc., but they also seem to have the largest group of weirdos, sickos, and child predators in the nation, along with California, of course.

[GamecockDieHard]

I love Florida! Especially their law that says ANYONE may be packing a piece and waste your sorry arse if you fudge with them. Gives the scumbags something to think about when they need another pipe-full. Although, I gotta say these two are over the top. I've got an 8 year old that would be troubled by these sights. That would trouble me and then, I'm afraid that would lead to a serious discussion with these offenders. I guess some jerk will have Jesus hanging from a tree next year just to get their 15 minutes of fame. Then what? It's tough trying to explain stuff like this to young kids. What do you suppose they are trying to do? Adults need to just handle it, but kids???

[rabidcock]

have you seen the guy who has santa hanging from a tree in his front yard from a moose?

Don't you mean.....a reindeer? :(

[GamecockDieHard]

Don't you mean.....a reindeer? :(


You got me on that one rabidcock. I had to look again to make sure he said noose and not moose. :D

[rabidcock]

You got me on that one rabidcock. I had to look again to make sure he said noose and not moose. :D

:D :D :D :rolleyes:

[rebeldude]

Nothing spreads holiday cheer like displaying a dead and gutted Rudolph hanging from a tree in your front yard.

:mad: :( http://www.wftv.com/news/5540774/detail.html :( :mad:

What kind of message does this send to our Kids? I am old enough to ignore this kind of crap, but kids are not! The people responsible for this act need serious medical attention and quick, I am afraid they might start lynching some elves next. OH NO they got Santa too. Well there goes Christmas, NO wait we can still have Christmas, You won't find Jesus hanging from a tree, he already did that and overcame. He will be with us every Christmas.

Seriously, What in the world has happend to respect for your Neighbor?
I hope the local authorities make these sickos remove these displays from their yards and have them commited to a round room with rubber walls until they come to their senses.

BTW, don't even go to that freedom thang, This isn't freedom, This is SICK as in Mental.

[SeattleGamecocks]

How many points are on that buck?

[Cianne]

I hope the local authorities make these sickos remove these displays from their yards and have them commited to a round room with rubber walls until they come to their senses.

If I recall correctly, the police on the hung Santa detail said they cannot do anything about it as it is protected under the 1st Amendment as they see it. It's going to take a lawsuit most likely to get them down.

[sportsgirl]

This takes us full circle to an issue that has been heavy here for awhile... when does freedom of speech cross the line? And WHO decides when it has crossed the line? We all certainly have our breaking point when it comes to freedom of speech. I'm sure all of us here are glad for the 1st Ammendment and recognize that we are blessed to have the freedom to speak what we feel without fear of jail or death. Almost all of us here have been offended by each other at some point but have received what we perceived as racist, homophobic, or just plain stupid remarks with a polite reply... respecting each other's "freedom of speech." I'm not sure where I stand on this issue, but I'm wondering is there a point where people just stand up and say, "This is going too far! You CANNOT say this anymore!" I know that people cannot yell fire in a crowded building or scream other such statements that may compromise the safety of others. There seem to be statements or beliefs that get expressed and the majority of us find it incredibly offensive... what about those statements? It seems that the freedom of speech line is being pushed to new levels every day. I'm just imagining this situation to a final conclusion and wondering what will come of it? Tying and hanging Santa from a noose... wow. The only good thing that comes from this is that it demonstrated to me that I'm not half as crazy as I thought I was. I can't keep my own mind straight half the time, but I've never even considered lynching Santa in my yard... whew, maybe I'm ok after all.

I know someone in another thread mentioned being offended by the "soft porn" in BOTD. I've been hanging out here for a few weeks and had never checked it out. I decided to see what the big deal was about. It's actually pretty tame compared to what I was expecting to see. I guess my husband hasn't figured out who I am yet (despite the blatant hints left in many posts), but I was pleased to see that he was not a frequent visitor of BOTD. I'm proud of you, Honey. I know he prefers brunettes and redheads like myself ;)

[rebeldude]

If I recall correctly, the police on the hung Santa detail said they cannot do anything about it as it is protected under the 1st Amendment as they see it. It's going to take a lawsuit most likely to get them down.

Well if it were in my Neighborhood it wouldn't be there. Ever heard of Vandalism? Ha :D

[uscrebel]

It occurs to me that this display was probably no surprise to the neighbors. It is unlikely that these were decent, contributing members of the community who suddenly took leave of their senses. Our little neighborhood has two such families, referred to as "the crazy folks in the cul de sac" and "the crazy folks on the corner." Several years ago, the cul de sac crazoids put up a large (6' x 8') sign that read,

No Jesus. No Peace.
Know Jesus. Know Peace.

Bear in mind that our neighbor is VERY multi-cultural, with three Buddhist, two Muslim, and two Hindu families in the area immediately adjacent to the sign. One of the Muslim fathers is a good friend whose son played soccer for me for three years. His said to me that he didn't mind the sentiment, he just hated the ugly piece of plywood and the crappy hand painting. The police were called. The sign was vandalized and late stolen. It was always cleaned up or replaced.

Several neighbors approached me and asked me to go with them to the house to confront the family. I said that I would not for two reasons. First, he had the right to do what he was doing. Despite the fact that it hurt and bothered people...he still had the right to do it. Second, I felt that as long as people let him know it bothered them, he would keep the sign there. A couple of days later, some of us caught some kids throwing mud at the sign. We stopped them and took them to the neighbor's door and told him we had caught them. We told him that we didn't agree with his sign, but we wanted to protect his right to express himself. About four days later we saw him cutting the sign into scrap wood.

Quite honestly, I am more upset that our government feels that it is okay to spy on its own citizens than I am about the display of an electrical Rudolph.

[cocky4ever]

Well if it were in my Neighborhood it wouldn't be there. Ever heard of Vandalism? Ha :D
I guess we do think alike on some issues.


As far as the whole freedom of speech thing I will say that I think its a great right that we have in this country. However, I dont really see what these people are trying to say. The guy with the reindeer in his yard refused to talk to people from the news station. If he had something that he really,truely wanted to express from all the effort he put into his scene then why wouldnt he talk to the news and tell people what the point was? Obviously he isnt as concerned about making his statement heard as he is about offending people. If thats his sole purpose then freedom of speech shouldnt apply because there is no statement being made. The same rationale applies to the lynched Santa.

[cocky4ever]

Quite honestly, I am more upset that our government feels that it is okay to spy on its own citizens than I am about the display of an electrical Rudolph.

You have a damn good point there.....

[Cianne]

If thats his sole purpose then freedom of speech shouldnt apply because there is no statement being made. The same rationale applies to the lynched Santa.

If it were against the law to be an ass, I think most of us would be incarcerated.

[uscrebel]

If it were against the law to be an ass, I think most of us would be incarcerated.

I would probably be a trustee on Cell Block Nine by now.
:cool: :cool:

[rebeldude]

It occurs to me that this display was probably no surprise to the neighbors. It is unlikely that these were decent, contributing members of the community who suddenly took leave of their senses. Our little neighborhood has two such families, referred to as "the crazy folks in the cul de sac" and "the crazy folks on the corner." Several years ago, the cul de sac crazoids put up a large (6' x 8') sign that read,

No Jesus. No Peace.
Know Jesus. Know Peace.

Bear in mind that our neighbor is VERY multi-cultural, with three Buddhist, two Muslim, and two Hindu families in the area immediately adjacent to the sign. One of the Muslim fathers is a good friend whose son played soccer for me for three years. His said to me that he didn't mind the sentiment, he just hated the ugly piece of plywood and the crappy hand painting. The police were called. The sign was vandalized and late stolen. It was always cleaned up or replaced.

Several neighbors approached me and asked me to go with them to the house to confront the family. I said that I would not for two reasons. First, he had the right to do what he was doing. Despite the fact that it hurt and bothered people...he still had the right to do it. Second, I felt that as long as people let him know it bothered them, he would keep the sign there. A couple of days later, some of us caught some kids throwing mud at the sign. We stopped them and took them to the neighbor's door and told him we had caught them. We told him that we didn't agree with his sign, but we wanted to protect his right to express himself. About four days later we saw him cutting the sign into scrap wood.

Quite honestly, I am more upset that our government feels that it is okay to spy on its own citizens than I am about the display of an electrical Rudolph.

I understand what you are saying, however I believe there is a better way to express ones self other than using symbols of violence. I don't believe this is an issue of expression, but an issue of being a## holes with no respect for anyone. Sometimes people just cross the line, as these people have. I think our children have the right to view Christmas displays without seeing santa being lynched or Rudolph being dressed. As I said earlier if it were in my neighborhood it would be vandalized. By me.

[uscrebel]

I understand what you are saying, however I believe there is a better way to express ones self other than using symbols of violence. I don't believe this is an issue of expression, but an issue of being a## holes with no respect for anyone. Sometimes people just cross the line, as these people have. I think our children have the right to view Christmas displays without seeing santa being lynched or Rudolph being dressed. As I said earlier if it were in my neighborhood it would be vandalized. By me.

We agree on the violence thing and the a$$hole thing. My guess is we disagree on the vandal thing.

As a sidenote, we put up very little in the way of Christmas decorations and most of the external stuff is what I would refer to as "seasonal" for winter, so it stays up well past Christmas. This has nothing to do with the current politically correct holiday stuff.

About twenty years ago, I became very fed up with the commercialization of Christmas (and Channukah for that matter). I felt that the numina of Christmas was being usurped by Hallmark, Walmart, Sears, etc. My acts of rebellion were what you might expect from me. I stopped participating in office gift exchanges, although I continued to give cards to folks at the office that I really treasured.

I stopped giving "presents" to my sister, brother, and parents. Instead, I would make a donation in their name to a charity. My favorite gift is still buying a goat or sheep through the Heifer Project and donating it in the names of my family members, but over the years I have donated to Habitat, the Red Cross, the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation (My mother had diabetes and my son has it as well.), the Nature Conservancy, and the Sierra Club.

The decorations in our house are composed of several creches and a gazillion ancient Advent Calendars. I observe Advent in much the same way that I observe Lent...both are penitenial seasons focused on preparation and atonement. This year, I took on the discipline of reading one hour per day in lieu of watching the sqawk box. So, the decorations inside of our house are...well, very religious nature. We seldom have a tree, but we do use a good deal of greenery in garland form.

Finally, we go to church for midnight mass (the boys and I usually serve at the altar) and then we reappear the next day for Christmas Day Mass. I was astounded recently to read that the Mega Churches in the area have decided not to have services in the area on Christmas Day. One of the pastors was quoted as saying,

"We feel it is important to remember that Christmas is about being with family and we don't want to get in the way of that."

This is the single stupidest thing that I have ever heard, but it doesn't surprise me coming from these churches that are the Walmarts of Worship. My family WILL be together on Christmas Day and for two hours of Christmas Day we will be at church remembering that Christmas is about the gracious gift of God...not hanging out at home enjoying the new Xbox.

So, in large measure, I find neon candy canes, electric snowmen, and all reindeer...artifical or otherwise...to be mildly offensive, but I have decided to plow my own furrow on this one, I'll let others fight the culture wars in public.

Joyous Christmas to all.