Mommy Life

November 27, 2009 11:28 PM

Leesburg Councilman Reid rebukes Loudoun Courthouse Christmas/Chanukah ban

Just for clarification: the action to remove religious symbols - which have included not only the Nativity but the Menorah - from the Leesburg Courthouse Lawn is the action of Loudoun County and not of the town of Leesburg. The courthouse is county property.

Also bizarre is that all non-religious Christmas traditions - the Christmas tree which has graced the lawn for 50 years, as well as Santa's appearance at the Courthouse following the Leesburg Christmas parade - have been banned.

This became clear to me tonight from the following forwarded email from Ken Reid of the Leesburg Town Council, which evidently does not support Loudoun County's decision to strip the town of a great part of its Christmas tradition.

And btw, to those who have mentioned not shopping in Leesburg, I would ask you to reconsider. This is not Leesburg's fault nor the fault of the shopkeepers there. As Julie Smith, founder of the National Organization of Conservative Women pointed out, the buck stops at our Loudoun County Board of Supervisors. And if they do not rescind this underhandedly last-minute attack on the rights of Loudoun citizens, I urge you not to forget at the ballot box. I know I will be here to remind you :)

But do know that the town of Leesburg is not the enemy here:

From: Ken Reid
Subject: Please sign the petition to re-instate religious symbols at Loudoun Courthouse
To: "Ken Reid"
Date: Friday, November 27, 2009, 9:28 PM

Dear Friends:

I normally do not use the computer on shabbat, but at services tonight, I was told the creche, menorah and other religious symbols of the holiday season are being banned from the Loudoun County Courthouse lawn! I am fuming and had to write you all.

Here's the Leesburg Today article, and there is one on News4, too.

Nativity, Other Displays Prohibited On Courthouse Grounds

Committee Rules No More Displays at Courthouse

Please email this link to a petition to reinstate the creche, menorah and other religious symbols. This decision by a courts committee should not stand.

Petition: Keep Leesburg Courthouse Nativity Scene

And, join me and the Leesburg Town Council at our tree lighting and menorah lighting this Friday on the Town Green, 6 p.m. I will be lighting the menorah. At least on town property, we're not afraid to say Merry Christmas or Happy Chanukah.

Please sign the petition and spread the word! .

-- Thanks!

Ken Reid
Member
Leesburg Town Council

Love,

Posted in Activism, Loudoun County | Permalink

Comments

Barbara, this is so upsetting! We lived in Leesburg and just two Christmases ago I was so happy to drive past the courthouse on the way to St. Johns and see the Nativity. I was so thankful I lived in a place where it was still allowed. So sad for that beautiful county and town.

Posted by: Bethany | November 28, 2009 10:56 AM

I fear this is spreading all over the country. In Austin, we've had a Christmas tree in our downtown park since 1909. It's a huge deal and local organizations like Salvation Army run a light show to raise Christmas funds. This year our city council decided that we couldn't have a Chirstmas tree anymore. It had to be a "holiday tree" whatever that means. We also can't have any specifically Christmas or Chanukah decor anywhere in the city. All just "holiday" again.

Pair this with that nauseating Gap commercial I keep seeing, and I'm ready to scream.

Posted by: Lauren | November 28, 2009 11:03 AM

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