The Grinch did not steal Christmas in Ft. Collins
posted at 9:42 am on November 21, 2007 by Bryan
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Last week we discussed the Ft. Collins, CO decoration task force’s attempt to scrub the Christ right out of Christmas. This week, there’s good news. Sort of.
Council members voted on Tuesday night that the holiday lights will stay on and rejected a proposal to ban colored lights, trees and wreaths. Instead, they agreed on a compromise.
The Fort Collins Museum will add a multicultural display and the debate over appropriate city holiday displays will move forward.
By a 6-1 vote Tuesday night, the Fort Collins City Council rejected key recommendations of a citizen task force in adopting a plan that combines some task force suggestions with current city policy and some new wrinkles.
The hybrid plan allows for colored lights and Christmas trees and wreaths on the exterior of city buildings and other city property, but allows for only secular displays and messages in building interiors. Religious and cultural symbols are allowed under the plan at locations other than the museum but only if part of a larger, educational piece of artwork.
Ft. Collins’ plan is still very PC. But perhaps the bruising that the city has taken over the whole thing has taught its leaders and others a lesson.
Mayor Doug Hutchinson, the subject of much criticism over the issue in recent weeks, said the issue has hurt Fort Collins’ reputation and image.
“I think this is a very strong success story,” Hutchinson said after the vote, calling the multicultural display at the museum a positive new step for Fort Collins. “I think there is going to be a residual effect from this, though. The traditional Christmas displays were never in jeopardy, but it came across that way because of misinformation in the media.”
Hutchinson later explained that he meant that it was never the council’s intent to put Christmas displays in jeopardy by forming the task force.
“But, of course, the task force recommendations put Christmas in jeopardy,” Hutchinson said.
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AP can take that city off of his lists of places to visit.
right2bright on November 21, 2007 at 9:45 AM
I’ve finally figured it out. Allahpundit is actually Mitt Romney! That’s the only way r2b could wake up with this much derision for the man.
I say, good show Mitt: you “atheist,” “beta-male,” “New Yorker” you.
(Yes, I do know Bryan posted this topic.)
BKennedy on November 21, 2007 at 9:54 AM
The wussification of America marches on… and on… and on.
Christmas is/was the designated time to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, period. It has been and continues to be perverted in so many ways over the centurys, that in the foreseeable future those who want to actually celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ will have to do so in darkened rooms and hushed tones in hiding for fear of being arrested for being under the influence of joy.
SilverStar830 on November 21, 2007 at 10:22 AM
Christmas as an “educational artpiece.”
You know what? This is probably more offensive to me than the concept of simply banning Christmas! This is the season and holy-day where Christians celebrate the birth of the Messiah Who died so that we might recieve salvation. Can’t Christians even have that without a bunch of anti-religion zealots spoiling the whole thing by making Christmas into some sort of performance art?
highhopes on November 21, 2007 at 11:05 AM
No, Christians can’t have their holidays. This is an ‘age’ of ACLU minority run local governments. Christians have to stand aside, turn the other cheek, as it were. Someday, I hope soon, this whole thing will come to a head, as infections do, and the ACLU and these ‘minorities’ will a get a good punch in the mouth from the majority. This is a DEMOCRACY! Majority rules! If you don’t like it – LEAVE! Sure, you have a right to protest and/or have your own thing, but no right to ruin long established holidays everyone else enjoys.
countywolf on November 21, 2007 at 11:39 AM
I seem to recall a certain collegiate newsprint editor coming under fire in Ft. Collins recently for publishing an incredibly un-PC headline on the front page, hmmmm.
I’ve already busted my wife’s chops enough about being an alum from CSU, guess I’ll have to let her slide this time.
But, yeah, no plans to spend any of my hard earned pesos in that town.
Biffstir on November 21, 2007 at 12:20 PM
I expect things like this from Boulder, not Ft. Collins. Glad to see that they “saw the light”.
RMCS_USN on November 21, 2007 at 12:36 PM
With only 130,000 residents, why did the city council need a “task force”? Is the city council really that busy?
nottakingsides on November 21, 2007 at 12:36 PM
Cowardice. That way, they can duck all responsibility, no matter what the decision, and lay all the blame on the task force. My city council does the same thing all the time.
Occasus on November 21, 2007 at 1:47 PM
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