So sorry our holiday spirit offends you!

[Aeris]

WOW!!

I'm very very very for separation of church and state and all, and I actually do think it means freedom *from* religion to some degree (not debating with anyone, just my view!!), but it's always implicit that that idea involves *government*!

This neighbor is NUTSO!

We have BOTH freedom of expression AND the establishment clause! This is not france, people. (unless you are in france, of course. But I'm assuming you're in the US - please correct me if I'm wrong.) We don't make people practice or celebrate their religion in dark closets.

"It offends my eyes."
"Then close them!"

[trailgrrl]

Heh.

I dare them to do that in my neighborhood.   My next door neigbors channel the "Connors" at christmas and halloween and the decorations are truly amazing.

Think Chevy Chase "Christmas Vacation" -  Oh and they are best friends with our postal delivery person, so if a letter like this showed up in there mail box there would be heck to pay

I'll post pictures on Monday  

[Twik]

Mr. Fed is right, of course, it could be a prank by someone who would normally be on the internet trolling forums, but decided to do it in real life. Some people would laugh themselves silly as the neighbours tried to figure out which of their number was judging them for their light displays.

However, real life these days is so weird, trolls have a hard time distinguishing themselves from the normal folks.

Foxxy, do you think the HOA anti-bagel lady has given up her subdivision and moved onto your street?

[LB]

This family must have a really hard time grocery shopping during the holidays.  I wonder if all of the local stores got this letter as well?

If the letter was serious and not a prank, then I wouldn't be surprised if they had sent it to local stores, actually.

[Bibliophile]

Heh.

I dare them to do that in my neighborhood.   My next door neigbors channel the "Connors" at christmas and halloween and the decorations are truly amazing.

Think Chevy Chase "Christmas Vacation" -  Oh and they are best friends with our postal delivery person, so if a letter like this showed up in there mail box there would be heck to pay

I'll post pictures on Monday  

We had a neighbor who LOVED multi-colored flashing lights - everywhere.  My brother's bedroom faced their house & we called it the "All Night Liquor Store" - my bro's room was lit up like the red light district.  We still laugh about that one.

[Heat04]

I'd be tempted to put it in a frame and then put lights around it on my porch 

[Felica]

See, Jimithing, that's the thing. We have NO idea who it could be. As I said, the neighborhood has seen a lot of turn over in the last two years. I don't know all my neighbors, and even the folks who were here 20 years don't know all the neighbors now. It could be a prank. Or it could be real. We just don't know.

There are some folks in the neighborhood now that I would *guess* aren't Christmas celebrators due to their ethnicicitiy(sp?) and style of dress, but that would be a HUGE guess on my part, and even then, it doesn't mean they are the ones who shoved this letter in everyone's box. There are a couple of familys that I am almost sure of their religion and don't participate in this holiday, but I still couldn't say they'd sent out such a letter. There are also several teenage kids who might be smart enough to know that this sort of thing would cause trouble. But I can't say they did it.

So, really, who the heck knows? I told the neighbor I talked with on the phone that the best thing to do would be pretend we never got it and go on as usual. I don't know if the others will agree with that, but we'll see.

I just can't get over it if it is real.

[Red1979]

Now this makes me angry.

What on earth do reindeer or blow up santas have to do with christianity in the first place.  If you want to build a shrine to the madonna in your front yard, you can because this is america and you are allowed to express yourself freely.  But we're talking reindeer--and santa and pretty lights.  These are not religious icons.

Not only would I not comply with the request I would put up EXTRA decorations.  I wonder what these people would say about those who like to put up xmas lights year round--just cause they like the lights.  And the people who decorate for halloween?

If you have a name on that letter, you should write your own in response.  Stating that removing their decorations would be forcing their beliefs on you and you have your own traditions for the season.  If they are bothered by christmas decorations they should either live in an area with strict rules about them or simply shut their eyes.

[JanetCinNC]

Isn't it a federal offense to put non-stamped mail in someone's mailbox?  I would call your local Post Office and ask.  

And ignore their request.  Some of us who don't celebrate Christmas *enjoy* looking at your decorations!!  

Yes, it is a federal offense to put non-stamped mail in someone's mailbox.  I'd be tempted to report it to my mail carrier or perhaps to the local postmaster.

I'm sorry, but couldn't this attitude be considered a hate crime if you really wanted to press the issue?  It seems that if a Jewish person put a symbol of one of their holidays in the yard or in a window visible from the street and received an anonymous letter saying these decorations were offensive, it would be considered a hate crime.  As I was typing this, I saw that RegentMom relayed such a story.

We don't normally decorate outside, but I think I'd make an exception this year if I lived in the OP's neighborhood and do it up right!

[Brentwood]

Mr. Fed is right, of course, it could be a prank by someone who would normally be on the internet trolling forums, but decided to do it in real life. Some people would laugh themselves silly as the neighbours tried to figure out which of their number was judging them for their light displays.

However, real life these days is so weird, trolls have a hard time distinguishing themselves from the normal folks.

Foxxy, do you think the HOA anti-bagel lady has given up her subdivision and moved onto your street?

Hmm. Maybe it's time to break out the cavorting snowpeople.

[Aeris]

I just had a nasty thought. You say you've had a lot of turnover.... If the religious makeup/ethnicity has changed a lot during that turnover.... and maybe you have a cranky neighbor who isn't happy about that - they could have faked the note trying to cause trouble for all the new 'different' neighbors???

Ok, probably not, but it just popped into my head as an icky possibility.

[LB]

I told the neighbor I talked with on the phone that the best thing to do would be pretend we never got it and go on as usual.

I agree with you that this is the best way to handle it. I would have a hard time resisting the temptation to put up extra, lavish decorations. But, when it came down to it, I would prefer to decorate the same way I always do, because I do it that way for a reason, and they are not going to change that for me.

[Felica]

Cathy, you read my mind. I was thinking a cavorting snowlady and some synchronized lights and music. And maybe a villiage of blow up elves. Oh, and the live nativity idea sounds good, if someone else volunteers to come clean up after the livestock!

[jimithing]

Isn't it a federal offense to put non-stamped mail in someone's mailbox?  I would call your local Post Office and ask.  

And ignore their request.  Some of us who don't celebrate Christmas *enjoy* looking at your decorations!!  

I'm sorry, but couldn't this attitude be considered a hate crime if you really wanted to press the issue?  It seems that if a Jewish person put a symbol of one of their holidays in the yard or in a window visible from the street and received an anonymous letter saying these decorations were offensive, it would be considered a hate crime.  As I was typing this, I saw that RegentMom relayed such a story.

Could you imagine someone doing this in some of the neighborhoods in NYC that are populated with a lot of Jewish families, asking them to please not display their menorahs because they offend them?  It makes no sense.

[hyzenthlay]

That has got to be a joke!

*digs out tin-foil hat*

I know, it's a ploy by a local church to make everyone go overboard in decorating for Christmas! Or it was sent by your local decoration supply store. Or by the Russians, so they can better satillite map your city!